1.5 year curriculum What should I do?

[Thangbill]

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I'm going to a school with a 1.5-year integrated curriculum in August. Our school provides 6 weeks after preclinicals for students to review and take step 1, but gives options to take it in the middle of second year. So I wonder:

1) if 1.5-year curriculum is doable with much condensed material and short study time
2) how one studies (for those who are going or has gone through the same situation)
3) when I should take take step
4) what I can do now, since I have a couple of months before med school (maybe I should start reading textbooks?)

Thank you for your time.

 

[trino]

1) absolutely doable. 1.5 years basically cut out information. You aren't learning more, just higher yield stuff

2) you'll figure this out in the first few tests. Everyone is different. Personally, I take notes on the slides to get the concepts and then study with a buddy to get the details

3) talk to older students. I haven't taken step 1, but the students I've talked to highly encourage us to take it after clerkships. Things come more naturally then

4) please don't do anything this summer. Have fun, and prepare to work hard during the year. Anything you learn now is only going to prepare you for the first test AT BEST. 1 test is not important at all in the grand scheme of things. Plus, it would be a waste of time. You want to have experienced lecture to see what professors stress

 

[operaman]

I would punt and decide later once you have a sense of how you handle the material. There are arguments both ways and in the end it's simply a matter of what works best for you. Personally, I would take it asap after preclinicals because there really isn't much/any truly clinical knowledge tested on the exam. I know some people argue this, but the question which asks a clinical "next step in management" question is truly a basic science question in disguise, at least on Step 1. For some people who have difficulty applying the underlying concepts in questions like this, some time on the floor may help them pick up a few points, but at the risk of losing points to forgotten minutiae.

 

[Pacna]

If anatomists, biochemists, physiologists, etc would teach what doctors actually needed to know rather than everything they thought could be squeezed into a class slot, I bet you could do better than 1.5 years.

 

[BDUS]

If anatomists, biochemists, physiologists, etc would teach what doctors actually needed to know rather than everything they thought could be squeezed into a class slot, I bet you could do better than 1.5 years.

Doesn't this separate doctors from a PA or NP. The fact that we understand anatomy, biochemistry, phys etc

 

[Pacna]

Doesn't this separate doctors from a PA or NP. The fact that we understand anatomy, biochemistry, phys etc

I'm saying that less than 100% of the things we learn in M1-2 add to our actual competence. If you feel that your school teaches 100% relevant material, then good on them.

 

[wiggitywack12]

Doesn't this separate doctors from a PA or NP. The fact that we understand anatomy, biochemistry, phys etc

I think what sets MDs apart it the longer, more extensive training in addition to deeper understanding of foundational sciences.

 

[trino]

If anatomists, biochemists, physiologists, etc would teach what doctors actually needed to know rather than everything they thought could be squeezed into a class slot, I bet you could do better than 1.5 years.

I'm even surprised how much "PhD elaboration" happens in 1.5 year curriculums

 

[ShabbaRanks]

I'm going to a school with a 1.5-year integrated curriculum in August. Our school provides 6 weeks after preclinicals for students to review and take step 1, but gives options to take it in the middle of second year. So I wonder:

1) if 1.5-year curriculum is doable with much condensed material and short study time
2) how one studies (for those who are going or has gone through the same situation)
3) when I should take take step
4) what I can do now, since I have a couple of months before med school (maybe I should start reading textbooks?)

Thank you for your time.

To add to this, does one see benefit in this type of curriculum versus one that does the 1.5 year preclinical, 1 year or clinical, and then step?

 

[Thangbill]

Thank you for your inputs!

Besides being 1.5-year, the curriculum is integrated and system-based. Do you think that would help with studying for step? I'm thinking since the subjects are all linked together for each organ system, review and step prep can be done right after each organ system?

 

[famoussquamous]

Thank you for your inputs!

Besides being 1.5-year, the curriculum is integrated and system-based. Do you think that would help with studying for step? I'm thinking since the subjects are all linked together for each organ system, review and step prep can be done right after each organ system?

First Aid is organized by systems, so it will help you in that sense.