Planning the Fourth Year of Medical School

Blame it on the type A personality or simply a mild case of obsessive-compulsive character, but my fourth year of medical school has been so busy I needed a way to organize my thoughts and tasks. Keeping rotations, auditions, interviews and contact information accessible and managed was a priority in obtaining my residency of choice.

Peripheral Brain

Some people have laughed at my excessive use of spreadsheets to organize my homework, life and other details. For me it relieves stress, especially because I tend to forget the little things easily. These also seem to help conserve space for school related information where patient care will thrive or suffer if it is not mastered. Once the information is typed or written elsewhere, the need to constantly remember it is no longer there and I know where to turn for a reminder of things forgotten or important. The above spreadsheet image is how I managed my busy schedule for interviews and residency details over the last year. It facilitated a well-streamlined interview season and even helped me develop a rank list when the time came.

Whether you are looking to plan your fourth year clerkships, keep contact information easily available, or strategize your residency interviews, this spreadsheet may prove beneficial for you. All I ask in return is $1 donation through PayPal for my time invested in its creation. Thank you in advance for any and all donations. Here is the Fourth Year Planner. If you have any problems or questions I am just an email away. This file saved me hours of headache and stress when things really became busy, I hope it can do the same for you during one of the most excitingly stressful times of medical school life.

Question of the Week

A 12 year old male comes to you after rolling his ankle on some rough terrain during a hike. He recollects hearing a popping sound at the time of injury and is having significant pain. You notice no obvious deformities of the ankle but suspect a fracture. On radiographic imaging you note a small fracture extending distal from the epiphysis. Using the Salter-Harris classification system, this is what type of fracture?

A. Type I
B. Type II
C. Type III
D. Type IV
E. Type V

Answer & Explanation