surviving 5th semester

[NYGIRL117]

Does anyone know the logistics of 5th semester? We are not really told anything other than what we are to have done. Lots of "terms" only familiar to those coming off the island, but for those transfers....lost in translation. To begin with, what is a case study and what is expected? How are clinicals done with respect to hours since we have to somehow go to lecture AND study for step 1? I guess I will begin here and see what feedback I get. Thanks for your help

[popozao]

you're not really supposed to study for step 1. that occurs after 5th semester. if you try to focus on step 1, you will be overwhelmed by the classwork/pseudoclinicals.

case study is some stupid scientific article/study. you report on it. fidel castro should've outlined the case study for you. ask your peers what's required. it's only some stupid little thing you tack on to the end of your patient write up.

lectures and 'rotations' never overlap. but you'll be running all over town getting from A to B, and you could spend many hours in them.

[razorback831]

I studied during 5th for Step I so it is doable if you discipline yourself. You just have to utilize your time well i.e. no partying and maximizing available study time (I would get up early to beat traffic and study before rotations started or before wednesday lecture). I never neglected any of my 5th semester requirements either and ended up with an A. I took my Step I 2weeks after 5th ended and did just fine....

[heifetz]

You should be studying for Step 1 during Miami b/c you won't get much out of AICM. I guess you will hear about DM, HTN, asthma, but with regards to anything new or challenging concepts...forget it. Remember that it's up to you to teach yourself the material. R.O.S.S. = Rely On Self Study don't forget it.

[DrVinsk]

I studied during 5th for Step I so it is doable if you discipline yourself. You just have to utilize your time well i.e. no partying and maximizing available study time (I would get up early to beat traffic and study before rotations started or before wednesday lecture). I never neglected any of my 5th semester requirements either and ended up with an A. I took my Step I 2weeks after 5th ended and did just fine....

I don't know what city your 5th semester was in, but it sure doesn't sound like Miami. Get up early to study before rotations? Hell I had to be at many of my silly rotations by 7am which meant I had to leave the house before six, which meant I woke up around 5am......time to study...I think not. Studying before Wednesday lecture? That started at 8am and I had to leave my apartment by 6:45am at the latest to make it on time...I don't see where the hell you found enough time to prepare for the Step during 5th...you must be one of those gifted students who has no business going to Ross or any other Caribbean school for that matter....power to ya!

[FoxTrot]

I don't know what city your 5th semester was in, but it sure doesn't sound like Miami. Get up early to study before rotations? Hell I had to be at many of my silly rotations by 7am which meant I had to leave the house before six, which meant I woke up around 5am......time to study...I think not. Studying before Wednesday lecture? That started at 8am and I had to leave my apartment by 6:45am at the latest to make it on time...I don't see where the hell you found enough time to prepare for the Step during 5th...you must be one of those gifted students who has no business going to Ross or any other Caribbean school for that matter....power to ya!

wow, sounds like you got screwed then. :) I don't think I ever woke up earlier than 745am for the so called "rotations" we were scheduled to go to. And for Wed lectures, I left the apt by 720am to be there by 8am, that meant waking up by 7am and taking 20 min to shower and get dressed.

[NYGIRL117]

Sounds like some things have changed from what you all have been saying. We havnt started rotations yet, so I dont know what time they will start but our large group wed lectures are at 9am. Atleast they are for now.

[popozao]

some people don't start rotations because they rotate you through the available slots.

but lectures at 9 on wed has been in place for at least the past year.

go with the flow, and ask the TA's for clarification. It's best to avoid Fidel Castro at all costs. He's a sick sick man, and he will think lowly of you if you don't ask him an intelligent question. (I don't know what happened to him..... but he might have been abused as a child.;))

[NYGIRL117]

Ok, I am still learning. Thanks for your advice

[FoxTrot]

He was always a nice guy when I talked to him on the few occasions. He even taught me how to do the opthalmoscope exam when I couldn't do it properly due to my technique and didn't make me feel inferior about it. I think he can just spot those that are immature and shouldn't be a physician which we unfortunately have alot of at Ross.

[MylifeatDominica]

those that are immature and shouldn't be a physician which we unfortunately have alot of at Ross.

aren't you one of them? you exposed some alleged "personal information" about me on the world wide web, who you have never met.

[popozao]

Ok, I am still learning about the who and whats here at Ross. From what i have gathered from others, it seems like it is a common practice to call this person Fidel Castro Jr. Why? What makes this person like Fidel? Thanks for your input. I dont even know exactly who this person is, but I have an idea.

he's the man in charge.
he's cuban.
and he acts like a dictator.

we can't use real names on valuemd, so we use nicks

[FoxTrot]

aren't you one of them? you exposed some alleged "personal information" about me on the world wide web, who you have never met.

What personal info did I expose?

[NYGIRL117]

Hey thanks for the information....I guess we should all stay clear? I see people trying to kiss butt. Any oher inside info I should be aware of?

[MylifeatDominica]

and he acts like a dictator.


And he has outwit, outplay and outlast. Several deans got voted off the Dominica island by the Ross tribal council, while he still stands strong. he is the ultimate survivor after the merging the Ross tribe and Devry tribe on the Dominica island.

[DrVinsk]

You have to remember that Miami isn't really a US city anymore. Cubans completely dominate it. Of course they still want their benefits that US gives them so they never publish anything stating that they are by far the majority in the city..no minority status..no freebies. In order to continue to use the buildings Ross does, get the rotation slots, equipment etc. you have to grease the Cuban palms. Fidel is Cuban so Ross is able to get on the good side with the higher powers of Miami who are of course...Cuban. Yes, Fidel has occasionally helped a student with something...the least he could do for what he is paid don't you think? I have come to realize that anywhere you go there will always be people who have chosen to be rectal canals and want to rain on everyone's parade. Interns, Residents, Attendings, etc....you will always find that special someone who choses to make your life as worse as possible. It's such a shame to see an Intern or even a PGY-2 who so early in his or her career become such a rectal canal. People like Fidel are hopeless and it's not even worth trying to change their outlooks, but residents...there's still hope. So if you railed a student today, take a moment to remember your excitement on your first day of medical school, or your first day as a resident and then ask yourself how 'you' would've made 'you' feel on that day.

[razorback831]

Hate to rain on all of your parades but he's not Cuban...

[NYGIRL117]

I just wanted to thank everyone for all their help. So far 5th semester is going well. I do enjoy the lectures and feel that I am learning so much more than where I transferred in from. I do think that the program as a whole is intellectually helpful but I am a newbie. Again, thanks for your insights and good luck to you all.

[the_fat_one]

Hate to rain on all of your parades but he's not Cuban...

is he is not Cuban...could you be nice and elighten us on what ethinicity he is?

[NYGIRL117]

nevermind, I have already recieved my answer

[NYGIRL117]

sorry for multiple postings....I hit send too many times

[MylifeatDominica]

is he is not Cuban...could you be nice and elighten us on what ethinicity he is?

no way, he is purto rican. did you know that some black people also claim their ethnicity as purto rican? he could be a white dominican, born and raised in dominica. u just can't tell by looking at people's faces these days.