The Unofficial Guide to First Year - University of Oklahoma Health ...

UNOFFICIAL GUIDE
Welcome & Words of Advice
Welcome & words of advice from the President of the Class of 2012!
You can now kiss your old life good bye and usher in your new life as an MSI. But what to think about your
new life? Maybe you don’t want to give up your college fun? Maybe you wish you did things in the past and
now you think that you won’t have another chance? Maybe you think that your new life won’t be much of a
life at all? Well if you answered yes to any of these questions then you’ve got a warped view on medical school.
Let me start by giving you an insight into what my first year was like and then I’ll tell you a few helpful hints to
make sure you get the most out of your first year. I’m sure I don’t have to tell you anything though; you must
extremely smart and downright amazing to get into medical school. I would know, I’m pretty amazing myself.
Anyways, before my head gets too big for my shoulders, I’d like to personally congratulate you on this amazing
accomplishment. Go ahead and pat yourself on the back (right now!). Feels pretty good doesn’t it? You
should be proud of what you’ve accomplished and excited about what you will accomplish in the next 4 years.
But I digress; let’s get back to introducing you to your new life as a med student.
My first year consisted of studying, sleeping, and studying. But it also consisted of going to concerts, attending
bar tour, joining an indoor soccer league, going to the lake, watching movies the day they premiered at
midnight (since I was up studying anyways), working out, getting 7 to 8 hours of sleep a night, and so much
more. I tell you this not to make you jealous that I was able to adopt a pretty good lifestyle but to encourage
you to do the same. As long as you stay on top of your studies, you should never find yourself losing control
of your life. With a little time management, you’ll be able to do so much more than I did first year and have a
lot of fun doing it! If you need any help with that I’d be happy to help. I’m actually writing you this letter
from Army basic training right now and am learning to manage my time EXTREMELY well. I’m also an
excellent person to distract you from studying which is probably why no one in my mod studies with me
anymore. Now on to some tips that will make your first year one of the best years of your life.
First and foremost, GET INVOLVED! There are plenty of interest groups on campus and you are certain to
find one that fits your interests. Plus you get to meet a bunch of cool people who know some insider tips that
can make your journey through medical school that much easier. And if you’re looking for a significant other
who’s not in medical school you’ll probably find someone through these interest groups. For the men, the
dental hygiene students last year were pretty easy on the eyes and I’m sure they recruited some stunning ones
for this year (just a heads up). For the ladies, the male nurses had some studs last year (that’s what I was told, I
never took a look for myself).
Second, stay healthy and EXERCISE! I guarantee that you will fall behind in your studies if you get sick. If
you want to stay on top of your game, make sure you get a good amount of sleep (when you can), eat healthy,
and exercise regularly.
Third, go to bar tour and other functions to MINGLE with your classmates outside of the classroom.
Sometimes you’ll be surprised how much fun they can be when they’re not staring into a book. Especially get
to know your mod mates! You’ll be around them for the rest of your time in medical school and they’ll
become your second family. Also, just like you wouldn’t hook up with any of your family members, I
discourage you from hooking up with your mod mates. We call it modcest and it can sometimes lead to a lot
of unnecessary drama if things don’t work out.
Lastly and most importantly, HAVE FUN, study, and make sure to enjoy your first year!!!! I and the other
MSII’s are looking forward to meeting you and can’t wait for you to join the program. I’ll see you soon and
enjoy the rest of your summer!!!
Barton Blackorby
President, Class of 2012
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