Thread: SGU Clinical Exams vs. Shelf Exams

How comparable are the SGU clinical rotation exit exams compared to the Shelf exams??? I've been told shelf exam questions resemble Step 2 questions.

Originally Posted by AD2008

How comparable are the SGU clinical rotation exit exams compared to the Shelf exams??? I've been told shelf exam questions resemble Step 2 questions.

You'll be hardpressed to find a SGU student who has ever taken a shelf exam. I think there was a recent post on this, but i could be hallucinating. I felt like all of the core exams had some questions on them from "left field".

Originally Posted by drnick07

You'll be hardpressed to find a SGU student who has ever taken a shelf exam. I think there was a recent post on this, but i could be hallucinating. I felt like all of the core exams had some questions on them from "left field".

actually I have!!!!! well it was the shelf for microbiology, so not sure how they compare for the clincal stuff, but the micro shelf was similar to pre-test and NMS questions, so i figure that the clinical shelfs are similar in that nature.

Originally Posted by AD2008

How comparable are the SGU clinical rotation exit exams compared to the Shelf exams??? I've been told shelf exam questions resemble Step 2 questions.

They are nothing alike. Your clinical rotation exams are worthless. SGU refuses to be proactive and get us access to the shelf exams like some other Caribbean schools have. You should bring it up to the administration. If enough people complain maybe they'll do something about it.

-The Trifling Jester

Originally Posted by The Trifling Jester

They are nothing alike. Your clinical rotation exams are worthless. SGU refuses to be proactive and get us access to the shelf exams like some other Caribbean schools have. You should bring it up to the administration. If enough people complain maybe they'll do something about it.

-The Trifling Jester

Does anyone really care?? Didn't think so. Funny how won can say "Your clinical exams" and then in the next sentence "SGU refuses to be proactive and get us access." I assume you've actually taken a SGU clinical exam? Didn't think so. And are you even a student at SGU?? Didn't think so.

Originally Posted by drnick07

Does anyone really care?? Didn't think so. Funny how won can say "Your clinical exams" and then in the next sentence "SGU refuses to be proactive and get us access." I assume you've actually taken a SGU clinical exam? Didn't think so. And are you even a student at SGU?? Didn't think so.

Well, whether he's an SGU student or not, he's partially right about the exams. THere are a lot of stupid random questions on our exams that are completely useless but some of the versions are better. In any case, any studying you do for the exam will be useful for the Step II so it really doesn't matter what exam we use. It's not like you will be studying the "wrong" material for the Step.

Originally Posted by drnick07

Does anyone really care?? Didn't think so.

Think again. Apparently AD2008 cares; he asked the question.

Originally Posted by drnick07

Funny how won can say "Your clinical exams" and then in the next sentence "SGU refuses to be proactive and get us access." I assume you've actually taken a SGU clinical exam? Didn't think so. And are you even a student at SGU?? Didn't think so.

I'm a graduate. If you're happy with the exams then more power to you. I thought they were a complete waste of time. Most of my classmates did as well. In fact, when ****** visited our hospital he even admitted that the school wasn't proud of the exams. Of course, that didn't stop the admin from administering them.

Good luck,
The Trifling Jester

The exams are pretty much worthless and don't really count for much. *depending on your center of course* But the course director and head of medicine at my center explained how worthless they think the exams are and go more for your oral exam and evaluations for your grade. So that is more important along with studying for step 2 and trying to do well there.

Originally Posted by drewscal

The exams are pretty much worthless and don't really count for much. *depending on your center of course* But the course director and head of medicine at my center explained how worthless they think the exams are and go more for your oral exam and evaluations for your grade. So that is more important along with studying for step 2 and trying to do well there.

this is VERY rotation dependent and hospital dependent!!!!! Don't blow off the written just because the questions are worthless (they are, but that's besides the point)- you never know how they will count this exam - but really its not that hard to get an "A" or a "B" on these exams if you just know your material.

Originally Posted by drnick07

You'll be hardpressed to find a SGU student who has ever taken a shelf exam. I think there was a recent post on this, but i could be hallucinating. I felt like all of the core exams had some questions on them from "left field".

Having transferred from SGU to a US Med School and having taken both I can assure you that the SGU clinical exams are worthless and NOTHING compared to the shelf. I still remember Paracetamol being in the question stem...PARACETAMOL?? Are you f'n kidding me? The first shelf exam I took i was blown away in how different and how much more difficult the questions were...just like step 2 questions, some of the question stems were like massively long.

THe shelf questions that are adminstered by majority of US Schools are dead on with respect to Step 2....The Trifling Jester is dead on with his assessment and as he/she eloquently put I'd complain to admin and hope that someday SGU will adminster the shelf.