Comprehensive shelf...

[Banker794]

What did u guys think?

I thought it was the toughest we have taken so far...

[ol' man]

ditto ......

[desai29]

http://www.valuemd.com/st-matthews-university-school-medicine/110003-todays-pathology-shelf.html

[AzDaku]

i thought it was tough, but doable. I just wish i had more time to prep for it, a lot of genetics such as protooncogene stuff showed up, and a lot of immuno popped up. I noticed a lot of the pharm questions were not asking for what the drugs were being used for in treatments, but the MOAs. Suprisingly, there were not a lot of specific path questions, and not a lot of biochem, neuro or physio questions. the exam turned out to be in my opinion a lot of micro and genetic pathology. All in all, I just hope i got high enough score to pass and get the heck out of here lol.

[Nawaab]

As the dudes from Brokeback Mountain would say, that was rough.

[AmericanIMG]

i thought the kap was WAY harder then the comp...the comp actually seemed really fair this time around (it was nice actually taking it for once having finished all the material...remember last sem and all the Qs on cancer drugs, even though we were having that lec the next week!?!?)

[Banker794]

Well the comp grades are in.... how did it go?

[Junito]

I always found the Kaplan Mock exam to be more difficult than the Comp. But the Comp was a better predictor of your performance, second only to the NBME self assessments.

[Junito]

Has the rule that you have to pass the Comp or Kaplan mock exam been implemented yet? Just curious.

[Jeep23Guy]

Kind've has been made a rule. I'm in 4th, so someone in 5th semester could probably say a little better, but they added a class to 5th semester that's basically a board review class (I think it's called FCM or something). The 3rd week they take a 1/2 length exam that's worth 10% of their grade and the 7th week they take a full length that's worth like 45% of the grade. Don't quote me on this, but this is what I remember. If a student passes, then they are done with that particular course. Any student that doesn't pass the 2nd step 1 practice must continue with the course and take another full-length at the end of the semester. If they don't pass that practice exam, they must EITHER retake the course until they pass, OR take a commercial review course AND pass a 1/2 length exam taken at a prometric center.

Again, don't quote me on this, but it's pretty close to correct if it's not exact...I think it's a good idea (even though it makes me a little nervous going into 5th next semester)...

[Baditude]

I wish we still had a comprehensive shelf option each semester. The comp shelf was a great indicator to how much you were learning and how close you were to being able to pass the USMLE.

[sbturner]

Agreed. Comprehensive shelf was much better, but should be extra credit as before.

[Nimmuk]

Agreed. Comprehensive shelf was much better, but should be extra credit as before.


nothing should be extra credit.

[Junito]

Offering the comp during 1, 3, and 5th semesters to track progress may be a good idea. Adding points to student's grades should be avoided.

[SillyDoc]

Agreed, giving bonus pts only hurts the student in the long run.

[you_make_me_sick]

Agreed, giving bonus pts only hurts the student in the long run.but i was going to do a report on the field trip i took to the turtle farm. can i please still do it? as long as i am real good?

[SillyDoc]

by all means, do the report. you're just not going to get points for it.

[Baditude]

I don't need or want the extra credit points just the option to take the comp shelf for my own information on how I am doing. I would be willing to do it on a weekend on my own time if they wanted to offer it is an optional exam.