What’s in your Shelf?

[dora_the_explorer]

Now that the dreaded mystery shelf time approaches and tension soars among us, unknowing students, I marvel at what lingers for us. So far I have heard three theories/rumors about it:

1- The shelf will be on the same subject that your “randomized” survey was.
2- The hardest subjects will be given to the best students because the school needs to keep looking good with the board. Weak students, get the easy subjects.
3- Everybody will get the same shelf (as opposed to the alleged different subjects to different people) and the chosen one will be the easiest subject your semester.

I don’t know which one is factual, if any, all I know is I extremely dislike the idea of sitting for an exam and not knowing what it will be.

[FoxTrot]

I hope option #1 isn't true, because that means I'll be getting the shelf that I had hoped I wouldn't get. :oops:

[Cuando2]

while its kinda unfair that we had to take all of the shelf exams for all of the classes (more stressful for us non-cheating students), i do like the idea of making it randomized so that the plethora of fools out there who have the answers to the shelf exams each semester will have a hell of a time the night before the shelf, trying to memorize over 500 answers to 2-4 possible shelf exams. seems like a good idea...i wonder whats going to happen over the semesters with regard to average grades on each shelf in comparison to semesters who had all of them.

[Michael10101]

I can tell you that shelf is not the class you had on your survey, since I had DPS. Although I would love a shelf on DPS, I could ace it.

[BackindaUSA]

These are tests given by the National Board of Medical Examiners. We had shelves each semester, for each subject, except 3rd sem since pharm and micro are two sem classes.

Yes, I know they have changed things. But it will be impossible to give only the best students the shelves. Don't forget the knowledge spread is not that big. Your not talking about brains and retards.

Be rational, if only 4.0 students got the shelves, their score would end up lower than the others.

Humm, is this the Ross forum. Some of these questions scare me.

:roll:

[dora_the_explorer]

BackintheUSA, this is not what I said it could happen…you are scared of some of the questions and I’m scared of some of the readers, specially 5th semesters who can’t read a question right!!
“The hardest subjects will be given to the best students because the school needs to keep looking good with the board. Weak students, get the easy subjects.”, again…..weak students, those that can’t read right, get the easy subject shelf…got it?
I also heard this one today that the shelf will be on the subject you’re getting the best grades so far, I think it all **, but you never know…

[DrVinsk]

I know people have plenty of ideas as to how the whole "mystery" shelf exams are being handled. Unfortunately, unless you have the proper "requirements" to be in this aristocratic league you will not know what you are taking until you walk in the door. I understand that being able to acquire resources is part of being a good student. However, it's very frustrating when people don't remain honest in this acquistion of resources. I can't believe some of the resources I saw people with. It's never going to end. It's no different than crime, smarter cops, smarter crooks...a futile cycle. Now, in support of the dark side I realize that all this trivial memorizing done in first and second semester is nonsense and the true aspects of becoming a physician come much later. But these unfair behaviors simply rock the boat that we're all supposed to be a part of. Advantages exist for those with medical experience just as for those who are recent graduates. Medically experienced people get a real kick out of the no-experience 4th semester people who walk around with their white coats and stethoscopes who couldn't get a job as a phlebotomist, just as the recent graduates who come to first semester and say, "great, a four month review!" But at least those advantages are honest. The non-experienced 4th in the coat can feel proud and shouldn't have any shame in wanting to play doctor..they're on their way. But the student who has obtained copies of something they shouldn't have should not be proud. They are not "beating the system", they're corrupting it. If you are a planning on practicing in the U.S., then you are going to have to learn english. There's no way around it. Do you see anyone "cheating" to become better at English? No. You can't. You simply have to put yourself to work and learn it. That is the same attitude that should be portrayed with all this silly material. Well....that's just my opinion. What'cha think Cuando?

[Cuando2]

BackintheUSA, this is not what I said it could happen…you are scared of some of the questions and I’m scared of some of the readers, specially 5th semesters who can’t read a question right!!
“The hardest subjects will be given to the best students because the school needs to keep looking good with the board. Weak students, get the easy subjects.”, again…..weak students, those that can’t read right, get the easy subject shelf…got it?
I also heard this one today that the shelf will be on the subject you’re getting the best grades so far, I think it all **, but you never know…

see, Backindausa has been through half of the curriculum and has gained a lot of experience regarding many diff testing situations so far. you sound like an anxious, inexperienced, uninformed first semester or med prep student-to-be-first-semester-someday whose questions ARE a bit off-track...all backindausa is asking you to do, and I will reiterate in "nicer" terms, is to kinda back off the paranoia, stop being so suspicious, and just take the exams for what they are and let the school decide the rules...and to trust the admin somewhat with major things liek this, and believe that they know what they're doing and they are not trying to screw you! relax!

[Cuando2]

I know people have plenty of ideas as to how the whole "mystery" shelf exams are being handled. Unfortunately, unless you have the proper "requirements" to be in this aristocratic league you will not know what you are taking until you walk in the door. I understand that being able to acquire resources is part of being a good student. However, it's very frustrating when people don't remain honest in this acquistion of resources. I can't believe some of the resources I saw people with. It's never going to end. It's no different than crime, smarter cops, smarter crooks...a futile cycle. Now, in support of the dark side I realize that all this trivial memorizing done in first and second semester is nonsense and the true aspects of becoming a physician come much later. But these unfair behaviors simply rock the boat that we're all supposed to be a part of. Advantages exist for those with medical experience just as for those who are recent graduates. Medically experienced people get a real kick out of the no-experience 4th semester people who walk around with their white coats and stethoscopes who couldn't get a job as a phlebotomist, just as the recent graduates who come to first semester and say, "great, a four month review!" But at least those advantages are honest. The non-experienced 4th in the coat can feel proud and shouldn't have any shame in wanting to play doctor..they're on their way. But the student who has obtained copies of something they shouldn't have should not be proud. They are not "beating the system", they're corrupting it. If you are a planning on practicing in the U.S., then you are going to have to learn english. There's no way around it. Do you see anyone "cheating" to become better at English? No. You can't. You simply have to put yourself to work and learn it. That is the same attitude that should be portrayed with all this silly material. Well....that's just my opinion. What'cha think Cuando?

I agree. The english analogy works great to help understand your points. However, many people also believe Step 1 for the cheaters will be extraordinarily difficult...which makes sense...a built-in, enormous hurdle for the cheaters to cross so as to eliminate a majority of those who would otherwise end up in the clinical realm and, well...as you've put it, must learn and work at english in order to get it.

[singer]

It would be nice to have an administrator or someone from Ross on this forum. Instead of rumors we would get the facts. Seems like even Mitchdc has disapeared.

[DrVinsk]

Yes Singer, facts are great. I'm not sure what you are refering to but if it is to what I wrote, those are facts. These are instances I was an eye and ear witness to. Now, you want facts? Well one fact is that truths that come out on this forum that don't paint a beautiful picture of everything about Dominica and school are very short-lasting and often obliterated. I've always thought Mitch was doing a good job but unfortunately even he has guilded the lilly a few times. Fact? Someone asked about cigarettes on the island. Mitch told him that they are too expensive and that he should quit anyway. Well, it's okay to voice one's opinion about the health aspect, but there's no excuse for lying. He should've been honest and said that they are easy to find and cheaper here than most states. That's the truth. Oh well, I'm through. By the way, Singer, your posts have been very informative and helpful for new students. I've appreciated your input on many occasions.

[dora_the_explorer]

So far two of the rumors have been confirmed. The shelf was on the same subject of your “randomized” survey and the subject in which, you are doing the best so far. Anyone knows otherwise?

[dimples]

I ended up getting a different shelf than the one on my survey, and it was not my best subject either, however, it was not my worst subject either. On the other hand, my friend got the subject exam in which he is doing the worse. So I guess it is randomized!

Here's a nice trick to figuring out what shelf you are getting before they hand out the exam: look at the repeaters. If a repeating student is only retaking that one class, and they are sitting next to you or in your section, then you will get that exam!

[FoxTrot]

1. You're wrong
2. You're wrong

Why are you trying to make up theories. It's obvious by now that it's totally RANDOMIZED. :roll: Because I didn't get the shelf that my survey was on and I didnt get the shelf for the course I'm doing the best in. But the randomization worked out well for me though and I didn't get Physiology which I hear alot of people saying was hard.
So far two of the rumors have been confirmed. The shelf was on the same subject of your “randomized” survey and the subject in which, you are doing the best so far. Anyone knows otherwise?

[Michael10101]

Well, all you have to do is look at the repeters to find out which exam you are going to get. Each room gives one shelf, so if your friend is repeating biochem, and you're in a different room. Then you didn't get the biochem shelf.

Just FYI, I feel that Ross did a F- job preparing me to take the shelf. It was so hard it was almost comical.

[dimples]

Well, 2nd semester students had 3 shelves split into 2 rooms. I think Ross does an okay job preparing you for the shelf. It's just shocking with the way the questions are worded, you have to pick it up quickly to know what they are asking, and then you have to think things through.

[FoxTrot]

Why are you blaming the school? A majority of it depends on you. In 1st semester I felt that everything we learned pretty much was on the shelf, so if you knew your stuff for the minis then you pretty much knew it for the shelf. But yes, Biochem was tough though. Histology will be the easiest shelf out of all of them most likely.


Just FYI, I feel that Ross did a F- job preparing me to take the shelf. It was so hard it was almost comical.

[mariahsoscary]

Michael is right. The semester's classes did not prepare us for the shelf at all. :(

[Havelock]

I took the biochem shelf and felt well prepared for it although it was difficult. Questions are longer and more twisted but ask the same basic question as our minis.

[razorback831]

Histology will be the easiest shelf out of all of them most likely.

Wait until Behavioral :)

[Michael10101]

Why are you blaming the school? A majority of it depends on you. In 1st semester I felt that everything we learned pretty much was on the shelf, so if you knew your stuff for the minis then you pretty much knew it for the shelf. But yes, Biochem was tough though. Histology will be the easiest shelf out of all of them most likely.


Just FYI, I feel that Ross did a F- job preparing me to take the shelf. It was so hard it was almost comical.

I blame the school because there were questions on the shelf which related to things that we have not covered in lecture. I will agree with you that everything we learned in class was on the shelf, it's what we didnt' learn that gave me problems. So let me restate my opinion, Ross did not prepare me for the Histo shelf. A number of my classmates agree that things on the shelf were not covered in class.

But this is strictly my opinon. If you think otherwise, as far as the histo shelf goes, kudos to you.

[FoxTrot]

It's a well known fact that there are going to be questions that you've never seen before, and thats the way its going to be on every shelf you take.

:D