|
|
|
|
| There is
not much that goes on in Dominica other then studying and nowhere to
go to “blow off steam” so people tend to study really hard. Since
students tend to live in a small student pseudo-culture
competitiveness breads competitiveness. This means you will work
your butt off. I have found that I work harder then my old college
roommate who goes to the University of Penn medical school. In the
end everybody that works hard, never gives up, and keeps coming back
for more finishes Ross and becomes a doc in the US (unless they want
to practice in another country). Our curriculum is based on a traditional method of taking courses in each subject area (histology, anatomy, pathology, etc) and are geared directly to the material in each subject that is tested on the USMLE step 1. In fact at the end of each course the final exam is a subject exam made by the NBME (National board of medical examiners) called “Self Exams.” To study in the courses you should take time to study EVERY COURSE EVERY DAY. Then every weekend review all the material from the entire semester. You may ask how to do that since there is so much material. I highly recommend buying a good board review book for each course with plenty of “board style” questions. As you study the material from your lecture notes or text pay close attention to what the board review books talk about. Then with every chapter do all available questions. This will make sure that you are not just spinning your wheels studying the same old material and just forgetting to study certain “high-yield” points. For most courses I have liked the “BRS” (Board Review Series). At Ross you will have a midterm exam every 4 weeks. Across the semester you have three of these “mini-exams” and then the final. At the beginning of the semester you will want to get your hands on as many old “minis” as possible and use these for practice the week before the mini. One of the biggest problems with medical school is there is just not enough time for everything. Do not feel the need to go to all the lectures. I have heard it said and seen many people prove that sometimes you do not have time to attend all the lectures and pass. I suggest that you go to at least one lecture from all the professors but if you do not get much out of their lecture you may be able to learn more by spending the same hour in the library studying the same material. Just be careful as you learn the art of skipping class. Finally, how grades work. Very few of you will get a 4.0 and most will get C’s. Work for A’s but do not be heartbroken when you get C’s. Remember that C=MD and that the person that graduates last in their class at medical school is still called doctor. Here grades are computed by a statistical method. They take the class grades and remove the bottom part of the curve by computing a mark of the average minus two standard deviations. All grades below this are not used in computing the curve. Then grades are: A= the average plus one standard deviation B = Above the average up to the A mark C = The average down to 1.5 standard deviation below the average. In the 3rd and 4th semesters C becomes average minus 1.75 deviations. Just remember to work hard. |
|
Copyright © 2004 Brian Buschman |
|