Booking

Just finished a major pharmacology test today and getting ready to head to Chicago to celebrate Thanksgiving with family (woo!). This semester has been going quite well, mostly because I like the material a lot, but geez, it's disconcerting to consistently spend so much time just hitting the books (Microsoft Outlook schedule above, study time = purple or red).

One cool program that I found to be helpful is Mindjet Manager Pro, which allows you to quickly make a hierarchical outline of different drugs (see below)

In theory, you can use Mindjet Manager to make a more comprehensive outline with drug side effects and whatnot, but I suppose this may be more trouble than necessary. So far, I've found that the best things that help me learn material (in order) are:

1. A good friend that thinks / studies the same way (misery loves company)
2. Good textbooks ('Katzung's Board Review Pharmacology', 'BRS Pharmacology', and 'Clinical Micro Made Ridiculously Simple' are worth their weight in gold)
3. Good room (windows, nice table to spread out textbooks, no internet, computers, or other distractions)
4. Milk with Carnation Instant Breakfast (in two 34-oz Nissan Flasks, helps keep hunger pangs away)
5. Good tea (need a diuretic so don't get too complacent)
6. Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No. 2 on repeat (because Nodame Cantabile is awesome)

Anyway, am just looking over my satchel, and I've got a bunch of textbooks that I just *know* I'm not going to touch while on Thanksgiving break, but am bringing them with me nonetheless. I guess it's a safeguard if I get tired of playing Soul Calibur with A. and co. (hehe =) )