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

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.

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....

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.

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.

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.

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.)

Ok, I am still learning. Thanks for your advice

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.