Step 1 results so far - word on the street from 5th sem.

[cpt.ricard]

So the history is that we were 198 when we did the orientation in first semester. We had 179 during first sem., then 160+ in second, 149 in third and 130+ in fourth. We are rumoured to be only 50, while picking up another fifty from previous classes. That's a little odd in terms of number it seems to me. But we had the first batch of test-takers go and about 15 who took the exam in the first week before classes have come back . . .. .and all have passed.

We'll see what happens in the future. There's something at stake here: we need to have a certain percentage pass for some reason and administration is completely pushing for it.

Interestingly we had a really really dumb psych midterm which was actually easier than the midterm we took in psych way back in second semester. AND we learned that it's not the translation!! The exam was SO badly written in Spanish that native speakers had problems deciphering it too. So, it happens.

Congrats to all who passed, and good luck to those who're still waiting out on results.

[rasputindoc]

wow!!!! that is impressive!!!! Never heard of such a good rally of passing scores before, hopefully all are telling the truth. The decrease in numbers, especially from 4th to 5th semester, is due to the new policy. It is important for students to make sure they can pass this test on their first try and not just because the school is pushing them to take it. There is so much at stake to go weakened into this test. Many opted to take the semester off and some even mentioned failing PMC and/or pharm in order to repeat the semester and have more study time available. Good luck to the rest of the students that took it after the first bunch.

[jgonza31]

sounds about right. so far, for 5th semester pass rate is 100%

[jgonza31]

P.S. the midterm was not that badly written.

[ringflip]

We'll see what happens in the future. There's something at stake here: we need to have a certain percentage pass for some reason and administration is completely pushing for it.

http://rpc.senate.gov/public/_files/073108ConReportHR4137DB.pdf (http://rpc.senate.gov/public/_files/073108ConReportHR4137DB.pdf)
Highlights of the Conference Report on H.R. 4137

The conference report addresses an issue of debate regarding foreign medical and nursing schools. It ensures that a for-profit, foreign medical school does not lose its Title IV student loan eligibility when it moves its clinical training from one state to another as long as the new program is approved by the state. It increases the pass rate on the U.S. Medical Licensing Exam required of foreign medical schools from 60 to 75 percent, beginning July 1, 2010. Additionally, the conference report requires the National Committee on Foreign Medical Education and accreditation to recommend to the Secretary of Education and Congress what criteria need be met by new foreign medical schools that wish to participate in the student loan program.

http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=110_cong_bills&docid=f:h4137enr. txt.pdf (http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=110_cong_bills&docid=f:h4137enr.%20txt.pdf) (warning large PDF)
Actual H.R. 4137

[brainteazer07]

what does it mean that it would increase the pass rate? i dont get it. how does loan eligibility improve passing rate? or how do u go about increasing passing rate just like that unless u r on purpose failing ppl?

[Karplus]

Brainteazer, the Government does not want to give easy loans to schools where the students can't pass the USMLE. It is bad business to loan money to students who come from schools that don't produce a certain amount of practicing physicians.

[cpt.ricard]

Well, that explains a lot. Thanks for the info.

http://rpc.senate.gov/public/_files/073108ConReportHR4137DB.pdf (http://rpc.senate.gov/public/_files/073108ConReportHR4137DB.pdf)
Highlights of the Conference Report on H.R. 4137

The conference report addresses an issue of debate regarding foreign medical and nursing schools. It ensures that a for-profit, foreign medical school does not lose its Title IV student loan eligibility when it moves its clinical training from one state to another as long as the new program is approved by the state. It increases the pass rate on the U.S. Medical Licensing Exam required of foreign medical schools from 60 to 75 percent, beginning July 1, 2010. Additionally, the conference report requires the National Committee on Foreign Medical Education and accreditation to recommend to the Secretary of Education and Congress what criteria need be met by new foreign medical schools that wish to participate in the student loan program.

http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=110_cong_bills&docid=f:h4137enr. txt.pdf (http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname=110_cong_bills&docid=f:h4137enr.%20txt.pdf) (warning large PDF)
Actual H.R. 4137

[brainteazer07]

Brainteazer, the Government does not want to give easy loans to schools where the students can't pass the USMLE. It is bad business to loan money to students who come from schools that don't produce a certain amount of practicing physicians.

ohhh got it. i was reading it all wrong. so now unless they have 75% passing rate, the loans are going to be hard to get.

that should push uag to make some changes.

[brainteazer07]

do u by any chance know the average score of those 15 students?

[jgonza31]

do u by any chance know the average score of those 15 students?

no, we havent asked each other. at this point everyone respects the hard work they have put into this exam and acknowledge that a pass means PASS.

[bentonmedicine]

That's a great way to look at it. The actual score is just a means for evaluation by the future residency program. Besides that, any one person can have a score swing of the standard deviation amount from administration to administration of the test. no, we havent asked each other. at this point everyone respects the hard work they have put into this exam and acknowledge that a pass means PASS.

[rasputindoc]

That's a great way to look at it. The actual score is just a means for evaluation by the future residency program. Besides that, any one person can have a score swing of the standard deviation amount from administration to administration of the test.

6=MD

186+= pass usmle1

golden numbers :D...residency spots can care less about UAG grades especially when US system is based on Pass/Fail, not skewed grades. Meaning of USMLE grade depends on individual. Some of us dont care about becoming surgeons, anesthesiologist, cardiologist, etc. Even if I get 230+ on the USMLE1, I will probably stick to what I want. Numbers are relative, not absolute.

[bentonmedicine]

By the way though, PM me your score when you get a chance.

no, we havent asked each other. at this point everyone respects the hard work they have put into this exam and acknowledge that a pass means PASS.

[rasputindoc]

By the way though, PM me your score when you get a chance.
for some students grades/scores and money seem like a very touchy subject. I have always told my grades to whoever asked and was interested in knowing. I dont think I will have a harvard application that needs to be protected from another UAG student ready to apply to the same program:doh:. It is like the perfect time to brag:D.

[rokshana]

So the history is that we were 198 when we did the orientation in first semester. We had 179 during first sem., then 160+ in second, 149 in third and 130+ in fourth. We are rumoured to be only 50, while picking up another fifty from previous classes. That's a little odd in terms of number it seems to me. But we had the first batch of test-takers go and about 15 who took the exam in the first week before classes have come back . . .. .and all have passed.

We'll see what happens in the future. There's something at stake here: we need to have a certain percentage pass for some reason and administration is completely pushing for it.

but that looks as if there is a almost 75% attrition rate???!!!

i mean the drop doesn't look unusual for the 1st few semesters 10 -20%, but the last term...WOW!

are they only allowing those people the school knows can pass step I be certified to take step I? How do they decide who gets to sit for the exam?

[brainteazer07]

It's now mandatory to report a passing score to the school 9 weeks into the sem. So ppl who don't feel ready take semester off. Hence the drop in number. Only req for sitting in the exam is to pass kaplan course or if that doesn't happen then we have to pass one of the nbme's.

Atleast that's how I think it works.

[rasputindoc]

a number/score on a test doesnt define a student. There is an ultra-secretive behavior on who passed and didnt pass as well as scores. The ones that passed will move on to 6th semester and the ones that didnt will take time off; easy to figure out. Good luck to all especially those dear friends that took the exam last month.

[cpt.ricard]

It looks like there's quite a few people that are taking time off voluntarily. We've already seen some people drop off this week. Second wave wasn't as good I heard - single digit # of people with passing scores.

[jgonza31]

right now the number look good, i know of 18 that passed. im sure there might still be some that i dont know of.

goodluck to all those studying.

other good students should be getting their scores soon.

[Cheramie]

It has been quiet here for the fast few days.

Since it has been almost two weeks since the last posting on this thread, I wanted to know if anyone had an update.

How many people attempted step 1 vs how many passed?
Average scores?
How many are sitting out a semester to take it at a later date?

[brainteazer07]

thts hard info to come by...lets see if anyone has it.

[UAGrocks!]

This is information that we all would like to see, not just prospective students but also students that are already here. However, no medical school ever formally releases this information, not even a U.S. medical school. You'll never know a school's passing percentage or average score. Otherwise, we would all use that information to decide which schools to attend. At UAG, you are responsible for informing the administration once you have passed the test. Students who fail often don't report their failing score to the administration. They just take the test again and only tell the administration once they've passed.

If we had the kind of information you're looking for then a website like ValueMD would probably not exist. We won't have to sit here arguing about the pros and cons of one medical school over those of another school. We'd all just try and go to whichever school had the highest passing rate and average USMLE scores, and if we couldn't get into that school, we'd apply to whichever was second on the list, and so on.


It has been quiet here for the fast few days.

Since it has been almost two weeks since the last posting on this thread, I wanted to know if anyone had an update.

How many people attempted step 1 vs how many passed?
Average scores?
How many are sitting out a semester to take it at a later date?

[Cheramie]

I wanted to know the unofficial information about the people that may have received test scores since the last post was made two weeks ago.

[Karplus]

People are secretive when pursuing this path. The only thing that a premed will lie about faster than their weight is their MCAT scores and GPA. In medical school no one wants t give up this information. Someone who has a higher score may look down on them. Someone who has a ower score may resent them. Peope who have failed will make all sorts of excuses for taking a semester off to try and pass.

Sadly giving this information has not been compulsory in the past. Now I am sure that they only have to show that they have passed and the scores are soon forgotten.

Remember we are still one of the few programs that have nearly half of the class that think the USMLE is a better choice bit not a live or die pass. Many Peurto Rican students in the past have tried the USMLE but depended on the Revalida to be able to practice at home. The percentage who passed the USMLE is also scewed by the number of students who fail it first time and tranfer to another school based on grades and those who do not take it until the end of their four years. In addition there is a much greater drop out rate for UAG students because they do learn that they are in over their head much later in the process and the USMLE may remain the fence they can't get over well into fourth year.

The percentage who pass the USMLE after second semester at UAG bears little significance compared to US medical school pass rates.

[UAGrocks!]

Plus, it's bad etiquette to ask someone there score here at UAG. At other schools it's no big deal to announce your score, but not so much at UAG. Pass/fail is fair game, but saying your score is a big no-no.

I wanted to know the unofficial information about the people that may have received test scores since the last post was made two weeks ago.

[brainteazer07]

Plus, it's bad etiquette to ask someone there score here at UAG. At other schools it's no big deal to announce your score, but not so much at UAG. Pass/fail is fair game, but saying your score is a big no-no.

why is that?

[Karplus]

A wise man once said.

People are secretive when pursuing this path. The only thing that a premed will lie about faster than their weight is their MCAT scores and GPA. In medical school no one wants t give up this information. Someone who has a higher score may look down on them. Someone who has a ower score may resent them. Peope who have failed will make all sorts of excuses for taking a semester off to try and pass.


Oh ... now I remember ... I said that.

[excmnd&bdy]

So why is it such a big no-no to reveal your score? If someone asks you surely can decide whether to tell them or not and leave it at that.

[cpt.ricard]

So why is it such a big no-no to reveal your score? If someone asks you surely can decide whether to tell them or not and leave it at that.
That's pretty much how it goes down.

[rasputindoc]

It is very simple. Students who passed the USMLE are eager to tell others, the ones that didnt tend to keep it a secret. Easy to figure out. Numbers are meaningless unless you want to be a plastic surgeon.

[brainteazer07]

numbers are meaningless only if u want to do family medicine.

[rasputindoc]

numbers are meaningless only if u want to do family medicine.

unfortunately MOST will fall into those "unwanted" residencies, some by choice and some by just mere lack of brain matter. 186-220 score + FMG in USMLE will fall on those residencies; the facts are in the residency numbers presented by school. I have met many top students with excellent USMLE scores which graduated from school, dreamed of becoming surgeons, anesthesiologists, plastic surgeons, etc, MOST of them didnt get what they wanted. I hate to ruin opium dreams, high expectations since for some it is the only way to become better students. The facts remain solid and tangible. As a former educator, I love for people to prove me wrong but at the same time as cruel as it might seem, I have to be realistic and sincere. It is ok to dream but know your limitations especially when some of those are not under your control. This will save you face later on OR make you feel great about your success. I wish you the latest but dont feel bad and denigrate a residency which the current factual numbers show you are very likely to fall into. :D

[Lucy May]

You can wait till 7th semester (or now 5th!) if you really want to see who passed. Most (with exceptions) will be off doing electives and pre-internado.

But you have to ask yourself why you care to know. This message board over and over has stressed that UAG (unfortunately or fortunately) really doesn't have much control over whether you pass. UAG does their best, I really feel that they do, but it's a given that many will not pass or not try till late in the game (although apparently not now! How is that "new" rule holding up?) or pass after a few attempts because of the kind of student he/she is, not because of the quality of the school's teaching. MCAT actually is a pretty decent measure of one's USMLE score (again-with exceptions).

[acgtacgtacgt]

I strongly disagree. Sorry.

You can wait till 7th semester (or now 5th!) if you really want to see who passed. Most (with exceptions) will be off doing electives and pre-internado.

But you have to ask yourself why you care to know. This message board over and over has stressed that UAG (unfortunately or fortunately) really doesn't have much control over whether you pass. UAG does their best, I really feel that they do, but it's a given that many will not pass or not try till late in the game (although apparently not now! How is that "new" rule holding up?) or pass after a few attempts because of the kind of student he/she is, not because of the quality of the school's teaching. MCAT actually is a pretty decent measure of one's USMLE score (again-with exceptions).

[jgonza31]

I strongly disagree. Sorry.
according to a few Drs, the 5th semester has it "lighter". apparently they do not assign us as much busy work. dr. F, the hotshot international man says this is to give students more time to study after classes. In actividad de discusion de casos clinicos we dont have to writeup anything, we just discuss. he claims that before, it was req to write up dx, pathophys, etc for every clinical case, now we simply just discuss in class.

they are trying, maybe not their best, but they are trying.
they have been very lenient with students asking to take days off to study...

[acgtacgtacgt]

Hmm. Maybe dinosaurs can be taught to dance :shock:.

If they are, in fact, logically working with students, instead of against them (as they have done in the past), there is hope, and reason to give them credit for making the changes. That is good news :)

according to a few Drs, the 5th semester has it "lighter". apparently they do not assign us as much busy work. dr. F, the hotshot international man says this is to give students more time to study after classes. In actividad de discusion de casos clinicos we dont have to writeup anything, we just discuss. he claims that before, it was req to write up dx, pathophys, etc for every clinical case, now we simply just discuss in class.

they are trying, maybe not their best, but they are trying.
they have been very lenient with students asking to take days off to study...

[cpt.ricard]

There are 19 people who are "officially" continuing 5th semester past 11 Sep 2009. The rest will be taking their exam in September/October and based on those results will be asked to either leave or remain.

Personally, I didn't pass by 10 points, so I've taken the choice to sit out the rest of the semester to juice it up and pass the step 1 and then pick up on third block in March. Not broken up about it - just moving on. Admin at the hospital have been very good and understanding.

[cpt.ricard]

That's not how I have it - Dr. megaphone has us writing up and submitting a case in casos clinicos. Every class for me has a write-up, including: 2 SOAPs weekly, 1 article weekly, the online quizzes (which take an hour or so sometimes if one is not copying someone else's results to look up things not covered/ancient), the presentation and write-up bi-daily for internal med, the write up for casos clinicos, and of course the exams for sounds, ekg and written exams.

Oh, and our clinic doctora asked us to do a write up on some drugs.

But this is the best block - and I find I'm learning a lot, at least hands-on. I'm liking it but like you said, due to me getting lots of busy work I find minimal time to read.

according to a few Drs, the 5th semester has it "lighter". apparently they do not assign us as much busy work. dr. F, the hotshot international man says this is to give students more time to study after classes. In actividad de discusion de casos clinicos we dont have to writeup anything, we just discuss. he claims that before, it was req to write up dx, pathophys, etc for every clinical case, now we simply just discuss in class.

they are trying, maybe not their best, but they are trying.
they have been very lenient with students asking to take days off to study...

[jpudge12]

So if you dont pass the usmle 1 they kick you out of UAG? How many times do you get to take the usmle?
Thanks

[cpt.ricard]

No that's not it - you get put on "pause" until you do, at which point you resume your studies right where you left them. In other words, you will not get past second block in 5th semester until you pass the step 1. You do, however, need to keep them abreast of your situation if you don't pass, and have a plan, etc.

[brainteazer07]

cpt. ricard can u clear some stuff up...its getting really confusing for lot of students. s

lets say u take test in first week of july...and u dont pass..and then u decide it is best for u to sit out the 5th sem...so u take leave of absence...now, do u have to pay 11K for that sem, and can you still take usmle if u sitting out the whole semester?

second scenario, say u take the test 3rd of july, and u start school that week or next week, but then u find out that u have not passed. now since you have been in school for the whole month already [since u find out ur score in august], do you pay 11K for whole sem even if u choose to sit out?

thanks! and good luck studying!

[brainteazer07]

There are 19 people who are "officially" continuing 5th semester past 11 Sep 2009. The rest will be taking their exam in September/October and based on those results will be asked to either leave or remain.


wow only 19 ppl. that is a really scary number. are there any advices for current 3rd/4th semesters, that would help them pass the test?

[cpt.ricard]

Can't comment on some of this in a public forum, but as for the cash situation I'm going to talk to Texas and see what they say about it. As it stands, they're treating everything on a case-by-case basis I think until they get straightened out what the policies will be exactly.

cpt. ricard can u clear some stuff up...its getting really confusing for lot of students. s

lets say u take test in first week of july...and u dont pass..and then u decide it is best for u to sit out the 5th sem...so u take leave of absence...now, do u have to pay 11K for that sem, and can you still take usmle if u sitting out the whole semester?

second scenario, say u take the test 3rd of july, and u start school that week or next week, but then u find out that u have not passed. now since you have been in school for the whole month already [since u find out ur score in august], do you pay 11K for whole sem even if u choose to sit out?

thanks! and good luck studying!

[jgonza31]

wow only 19 ppl. that is a really scary number. are there any advices for current 3rd/4th semesters, that would help them pass the test?


it is the official number because there are still some people who have not turned in their passing score...

well, at least thats the case for one person.

[jods]

so far, the teaching in first semester, if its anything reflective of future semesters, has been pretty poor, to the point were i disagree that we are all just a bunch of party students who have low mcat scores. Many of us in first semester are older students who are not really into partying, some of us are. Some of the teachers at uag need to be FIRED!!!!!!!!:-devil I did hear about the old genetics woman being replaced because of some US organization saying she was not qualified to teach the class, is this true

[brainteazer07]

so far, the teaching in first semester, if its anything reflective of future semesters, has been pretty poor, to the point were i disagree that we are all just a bunch of party students who have low mcat scores. Many of us in first semester are older students who are not really into partying, some of us are. Some of the teachers at uag need to be FIRED!!!!!!!!:-devil I did hear about the old genetics woman being replaced because of some US organization saying she was not qualified to teach the class, is this true

yup its true. do questions and study study study. if they lift up their lovely attendance policy, some ppl might just to lot better; hopefully one of these days.

[cpt.ricard]

:)

It's a good class - I'm really sorry to leave it.

it is the official number because there are still some people who have not turned in their passing score...

well, at least thats the case for one person.

[absolutjag9]

it is the official number because there are still some people who have not turned in their passing score...

well, at least thats the case for one person.
as i have now heard from last night's class officers' mtg, 38 ppl in 5th semester have passed step 1...those who have not yet heard about their score have until the 1st week in october to submit it to the dean.

[absolutjag9]

so far, the teaching in first semester, if its anything reflective of future semesters, has been pretty poor, to the point were i disagree that we are all just a bunch of party students who have low mcat scores. Many of us in first semester are older students who are not really into partying, some of us are. Some of the teachers at uag need to be FIRED!!!!!!!!:-devil I did hear about the old genetics woman being replaced because of some US organization saying she was not qualified to teach the class, is this true
jods, what teacher in 1st semester should be fired in your opinion?

[absolutjag9]

cpt. ricard can u clear some stuff up...its getting really confusing for lot of students. s

lets say u take test in first week of july...and u dont pass..and then u decide it is best for u to sit out the 5th sem...so u take leave of absence...now, do u have to pay 11K for that sem, and can you still take usmle if u sitting out the whole semester?

second scenario, say u take the test 3rd of july, and u start school that week or next week, but then u find out that u have not passed. now since you have been in school for the whole month already [since u find out ur score in august], do you pay 11K for whole sem even if u choose to sit out?

thanks! and good luck studying!
brain, let me send u what i have written about a predicament similar to the ones u hypothesized (these are from my notes from the mtg last night for class officers and this was stated by nasa president p.s.):




What happens if a student takes the boards between 4th and 5th semester, starts 5th and discovers that he or she failed the boards? A policy must be enacted because students in this predicament have been dealt with on a case-by-case basis, meaning that some received a refund (since they could not continue in 5th semester) and some did not. Withdrawal policies are as follows: 1st day of class, one receives 75%, 2nd day, 50%, and 3rd day, no refund. What has been emphasized is that a student must pass Step 1 and present a passing score to the school by a designated date the school sets during the semester. No ifs, ands, or buts.
What a student can do if he or she is in this predicament: take a semester break to reprep for Step 1 or retake a class from 1st-4th semester that you received a low pass score so as to continue to receive loan money and defray payment of your loans.
An important note regarding Step 1: a student must be registered at UAG when signing up to take Step 1 (upon getting a 60% pass rate on the Kaplan midterm and subsequently becoming permitted by them to register for exam), the day in which they take Step 1, and the day in which they receive their score. Otherwise the score is cancelled and you have to retake the exam. Transferring between 4th and 5th semester to another medical school is subsequently hindered.

[absolutjag9]

unfortunately MOST will fall into those "unwanted" residencies, some by choice and some by just mere lack of brain matter. 186-220 score + FMG in USMLE will fall on those residencies; the facts are in the residency numbers presented by school. I have met many top students with excellent USMLE scores which graduated from school, dreamed of becoming surgeons, anesthesiologists, plastic surgeons, etc, MOST of them didnt get what they wanted. I hate to ruin opium dreams, high expectations since for some it is the only way to become better students. The facts remain solid and tangible. As a former educator, I love for people to prove me wrong but at the same time as cruel as it might seem, I have to be realistic and sincere. It is ok to dream but know your limitations especially when some of those are not under your control. This will save you face later on OR make you feel great about your success. I wish you the latest but dont feel bad and denigrate a residency which the current factual numbers show you are very likely to fall into. :D
i'm not giving up on my dream residency just b/c i go to school here.

[ajijicdoc]

Can we register to take the USMLE before we finish the 4th semester and receive grades? If not, how long after classes end are the grades available?

If a student finishes 4th semester in November, and wants to start 5th in January - there is only a five week break. Is this sufficient time to even register (if we have to wait for grade) and take the step 1? No way will the step 1 score be back before classes start. Is the June/August scenario the same?

Is there anyway to change the registration process to register earlier so that one can take the test as soon as classes are done, then they could conceivably have the scores before the 1st day of class?

Please forgive these questions if they seem naive - I'm just learning the process.

Also, does everyone take the step 1 here in Guad? Or do some go back to the US during the break and take it somewhere up North? Does the location of the testing center have any bearing on the time it takes to get the scores back?

[rasputindoc]

i'm not giving up on my dream residency just b/c i go to school here.

sounds good, arent we all? make sure the "dream" part of you residency becomes a reality in spite all the obstacles and tribulations here. We tend to forget the reasons why we landed here in the first place. Make sure you polish those deficiencies and make it happen. Good luck

[brainteazer07]

Can we register to take the USMLE before we finish the 4th semester and receive grades? If not, how long after classes end are the grades available?

You would have to pass kaplan midterm in order to register for USMLE earlier. the only way u can register for is if u pass kaplan midterm or kaplan final or 2 [or 1, not sure] NBME exams [this are online exams for which u have to pay for urself] people have taken the test and got the score in timely manner, so it depends on individuals, some are ready to take it asap and some need more time.

If a student finishes 4th semester in November, and wants to start 5th in January - there is only a five week break. Is this sufficient time to even register (if we have to wait for grade) and take the step 1? No way will the step 1 score be back before classes start. Is the June/August scenario the same?

the break is equal btw june july and dec jan. so it doesnt matter. school starts in july and not august.

Is there anyway to change the registration process to register earlier so that one can take the test as soon as classes are done, then they could conceivably have the scores before the 1st day of class?

gotta wait till one of the above mentioned things are accomplished.

Please forgive these questions if they seem naive - I'm just learning the process.

Also, does everyone take the step 1 here in Guad? Or do some go back to the US during the break and take it somewhere up North? Does the location of the testing center have any bearing on the time it takes to get the scores back?

ppl have mixed feelings abt this; however, there are ppl who have taken in GDL and done extremely well.

remember also that you should be taking the usmle only if u r happy with your practice scores that you receive on practice NMBE's or kaplan exams. these exams are well known to reflect the usmle score [atleast the NBME are well known in this matter]. obviously, its not a guarantee because of stress level and other such reasons; however, from what i have read, NBME's do good job at resembling your real step score.

NBME's are online practice exams put together using old usmle exams by AAMC or USMLE or whoever takes care of those. you can google them.

[brainteazer07]

brain, let me send u what i have written about a predicament similar to the ones u hypothesized (these are from my notes from the mtg last night for class officers and this was stated by nasa president p.s.):




What happens if a student takes the boards between 4th and 5th semester, starts 5th and discovers that he or she failed the boards? A policy must be enacted because students in this predicament have been dealt with on a case-by-case basis, meaning that some received a refund (since they could not continue in 5th semester) and some did not. Withdrawal policies are as follows: 1st day of class, one receives 75%, 2nd day, 50%, and 3rd day, no refund. What has been emphasized is that a student must pass Step 1 and present a passing score to the school by a designated date the school sets during the semester. No ifs, ands, or buts.
What a student can do if he or she is in this predicament: take a semester break to reprep for Step 1 or retake a class from 1st-4th semester that you received a low pass score so as to continue to receive loan money and defray payment of your loans.
An important note regarding Step 1: a student must be registered at UAG when signing up to take Step 1 (upon getting a 60% pass rate on the Kaplan midterm and subsequently becoming permitted by them to register for exam), the day in which they take Step 1, and the day in which they receive their score. Otherwise the score is cancelled and you have to retake the exam. Transferring between 4th and 5th semester to another medical school is subsequently hindered.



thanks! i appreciate this. when is school going to let u knw abt the designated date that they want the score by?

i didnt know u were class officer. I hate the ** reason the school uses for attendence policy! lol o well. hopefully it gets better for you guys!

[brainteazer07]

from what i hear, about 38-40 ppl have came back for 5th semester now because new scores are in. from what i hear, ppl have been doing decent, if not well on the step exams. its refreshing but still the number of ppl is still not impressive.

[cpt.ricard]

We'll see. I have a feeling there's some number bloating going on in your neck of the woods. Monday'll be a more definitive situation.

[Karplus]

from what i hear, about 38-40 ppl have came back for 5th semester now because new scores are in. from what i hear, ppl have been doing decent, if not well on the step exams. its refreshing but still the number of ppl is still not impressive.

You are so wrong about this. :mad:
The numbers are great. :D
UAG finally has a 100% pass rate for 5th semester students. :rolleyes:
The glass is all full and still 60% empty. :confused:
It is all in the math. :?

[brainteazer07]

You are so wrong about this. :mad:
The numbers are great. :D
UAG finally has a 100% pass rate for 5th semester students. :rolleyes:
The glass is all full and still 60% empty. :confused:
It is all in the math. :?

? i dont get what u r trying to say

[brainteazer07]

ECFMG | ECFMG Reporter: Issue 144 (http://www.ecfmg.org/reporter/2009/iss144.html)

latest ecfmg email...

[cpt.ricard]

Sarcasm is not an effective learning tool ;)

[Karplus]

ECFMG | ECFMG Reporter: Issue 144 (http://www.ecfmg.org/reporter/2009/iss144.html)

latest ecfmg email...

Great link.

Remember, if you don't know the answer, just mark C. :eyebrows:

:faint:

:crazy:

[acgtacgtacgt]

If those retarded, inbred, lazy, worthless idiots were that concerned about "unfair advantages", they might want to make sure that testing conditions are satisfactory for all that take their overpriced rat maze of a test. Flat screens for some, and 60Hz CRT flicker for others? Screw them.

ECFMG | ECFMG Reporter: Issue 144 (http://www.ecfmg.org/reporter/2009/iss144.html)

latest ecfmg email...

[rasputindoc]

from what i hear, about 38-40 ppl have came back for 5th semester now because new scores are in. from what i hear, ppl have been doing decent, if not well on the step exams. its refreshing but still the number of ppl is still not impressive.

I dont know where I heard this number as well but I think I was smoking a pipe of opium with marihuana concentrate...:cool:...I would say real numbers are about half of it if not a little bit more (20-25); makes you wonder about of all those "cocky" students which account to a great percentage in every class ....what happened to them?:rolleyes:....this is why I say ....stay realistic and never forget why we are here. "Those who cant remember the past are condemned to repeat it"......SOOOOOO true!

[rasputindoc]

If those retarded, inbred, lazy, worthless idiots were that concerned about "unfair advantages", they might want to make sure that testing conditions are satisfactory for all that take their overpriced rat maze of a test. Flat screens for some, and 60Hz CRT flicker for others? Screw them.
You still mad at them...:confused:...I thought you joined brainteazer's all love club anf forgave the AMA and everybody else involved:hail:

[rasputindoc]

Sarcasm is not an effective learning tool ;)
I heard the USMLE is full of it. It can be hard for some to decipher the concrete full meaning of those twisted words. Karplus is the God all mighty when it comes to it; best teacher I have seen:hail:

[absolutjag9]

If those retarded, inbred, lazy, worthless idiots were that concerned about "unfair advantages", they might want to make sure that testing conditions are satisfactory for all that take their overpriced rat maze of a test. Flat screens for some, and 60Hz CRT flicker for others? Screw them.
so acgt do u recommend taking the test in the states rather than at a gdl testing center?

[acgtacgtacgt]

Yes, but check that they have flat screens. It seems that Prometric is too retarded to know how to increase the sync rate of a CRT. An LCD flat screen is the only sure way to know you will not be tortured for hours. (Other websites indicate that there are US Prometric sites with flickering CRTs).



so acgt do u recommend taking the test in the states rather than at a gdl testing center?

[acgtacgtacgt]

No. I am still waiting for a sign from Satan to have them returned to Hell :-devil
You still mad at them...:confused:...I thought you joined brainteazer's all love club anf forgave the AMA and everybody else involved:hail:

[Karplus]

I heard the USMLE is full of it. It can be hard for some to decipher the concrete full meaning of those twisted words. Karplus is the God all mighty when it comes to it; best teacher I have seen:hail:

Wow, Thanks, I wasn't really trying to teach anybody. I am just a student of the Socratic method. Hemlock anyone?

Remember, "imitation is the sincerest form of mockery," or something like that.

[UAGrocks!]

Is there anyone currently in 5th semester who can announce the number of people still left in the class? I hear that many people left after Cardio to study for the USMLE. I don't quite understand why the school thinks it's a good idea to hold a class with less than 30 people in it. What do you do with all the professors who now aren't needed because there aren't enough students for all of them to teach? How are students supposed to explain to whomever loaned them the money for medical school that they've been told to stop coming to school, based on arbitrary rules that keep changing.

[scientific88]

UAGrocks:
i am looking into UAG and noticed your last post.

first you say its not a good idea to have class for 30 students then you say
"What do you do with all the professors who now aren't needed because there aren't enough students for all of them to teach"
do you mean that students that passed the USMLE are going to be held back since there are no teachers.
for the loan issue it affects only those that take the semester to study for the USMLE right. Sorry but from your post it is not 100% clear as to which students the issues will affect, so could you please clarify.

[UAGrocks!]

No, students who pass the USMLE obviously can't be held back. As long as you pass the USMLE, you will remain in the school's good graces. The point I was trying to make is that these classes are designed for 90 students or more. It seems silly to me that they will be held for less than 30 people.

Imagine if you were going to be alone for Thanksgiving. It wouldn't make sense for you to cook a whole turkey knowing that you were the only one that was going to eat it, right? That's what UAG is doing with its 5th semester students right now. They told most of the people to NOT come to Thanksgiving dinner because they weren't invited, but they're still cooking a big turkey. It's not rational.

[jgonza31]

currently there are some 50 or so students. a lot of students took pneumo off to study, thus should be taking the exam some time soon. the students who took the block off will be returning for gastro, this means number should go back up.

[jods]

Based on what Dr H told me, the feds were putting pressure on UAG to increase our board passing rate,which was not so great. Island and US schools all require students to pass before going on to clinicals. Is this a bad idea, i dont think it is, we are now required to pass at the same time other school do, however, the teaching needs to improve for starters

[giddings]

I don't think you guys understand how little the professors are paid here.

[brainteazer07]

I don't think you guys understand how little the professors are paid here.

bad teachers are everywhere. we just have way too many of those rather than the rare ones. i dont care of those either, i just wish there was no attendence policy so that i dont have to sit thru with horrible lectures and so that i can do my own studying. thats it.

i m not asking for better teachers, just let me do my own thing as far as going to class is concerned.

and then these horrible teachers shake their head when ppl leave the class after attendence, wth are they expecting us do??

[giddings]

Was talking more in line with the economics of teaching a class of 30 students. It would still work out fine.

Because the attendance policy is never going to change, I honestly wish we could have the option to attend classes in English or Spanish. It would make for an interesting change and might even help my Spanish pick up faster. At least my medical spanish. I personally don't learn from lecture at all, which is not a fault of the staff here. Speaking of learning by myself, does anyone know where I can pick up those neat custom molded earplugs here in Guadalajara? I could get them at the gun store back home, but I don't think they have those here.

The quality of the teaching here is a separate issue. Anyway, I feel that the professionalism and dedication of the Latin staff is impressive to say the least, and it's true that the sole virtue of knowing English doesn't make you a better professor. Who am I to second-guess the UAG administration though.

I wonder what would happen if I did sit in on a Latin lecture.

[acgtacgtacgt]

The UAG is special in this way. You are forced to do things "their" way, but when their way fails to function, it is your fault, not theirs. Until the UAG accepts fault caused by thier micromanagement, there is no amount of deeper control that will resolve the problem. :doh:


bad teachers are everywhere. we just have way too many of those rather than the rare ones. i dont care of those either, i just wish there was no attendence policy so that i dont have to sit thru with horrible lectures and so that i can do my own studying. thats it.

i m not asking for better teachers, just let me do my own thing as far as going to class is concerned.

and then these horrible teachers shake their head when ppl leave the class after attendence, wth are they expecting us do??

[spiderchic]

Yup the GDL facility was high-tech. It had flat screens and you also were offered noise-reducing headphones. I found all the staff friendly and helpful. My advice is to take it in GDL; yes, its an extra $130 but that less than a round-trip flight to the states ;)

[absolutjag9]

hello spiderchic...how many ppl in your class have definitely passed step 1? if they have not received their results, they can still be in 5th, right? thanks for your insight on 4th sem and step qs.

[DaDoctorMD]

Yup the GDL facility was high-tech. It had flat screens and you also were offered noise-reducing headphones. I found all the staff friendly and helpful. My advice is to take it in GDL; yes, its an extra $130 but that less than a round-trip flight to the states ;)

I've gotta agree, the conditions are very good, and the testing room itself has better air conditioning than the whole building. Lockers and bathrooms are nearby, so it's a good enviornment...

[AspiringDoctor]

as i have now heard from last night's class officers' mtg, 38 ppl in 5th semester have passed step 1...those who have not yet heard about their score have until the 1st week in october to submit it to the dean.

Hey how are you?
Out of curiousity, I heard AUG has class sizes of about 100? sometimes in Med 1. Why is it that by the end only 40 ish people are left? Is it because the cirriculam is too hard?

Also, did 100% of the individuals really pass the step 1? How many of them are off doing their clinicals right now? Is there a definitive way of knowing?

Its just scary knowing that only about 40 people pass, when the class by the end of medical school could be more than 40?

[acgtacgtacgt]

This is not AUG. It would be a good start to know where you are really going, and the correct name of the school.


Hey how are you?
Out of curiousity, I heard AUG has class sizes of about 100? sometimes in Med 1. Why is it that by the end only 40 ish people are left? Is it because the cirriculam is too hard?

Also, did 100% of the individuals really pass the step 1? How many of them are off doing their clinicals right now? Is there a definitive way of knowing?

Its just scary knowing that only about 40 people pass, when the class by the end of medical school could be more than 40?

[AspiringDoctor]

Sorry my mistake,
/i'm new to the forum. I thought when it searched it would only be through the AUA category.


This is not AUG. It would be a good start to know where you are really going, and the correct name of the school.