block style schedule

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PsyDStar

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I have heard that some med schools setup class schedule in "block style" meaning an individual takes only one or two classes at a time over a shortended period (1-3 months) rather than 4-5 classes during a given period of time (such as the classical semester).

I have taken classes in this sort of condensed form over the summer and really like it! I loved just totally immursing myself in the subject matter of one course... I felt like it greatly enhanced my learning. Does anyone know if a majority of med schools do it one way or another or how one can find out? This is not a feature I have found listed on school websites or med school stat books (or the MSAR).

Anyone know?
 
PsyDStar said:
I have heard that some med schools setup class schedule in "block style" meaning an individual takes only one or two classes at a time over a shortended period (1-3 months) rather than 4-5 classes during a given period of time (such as the classical semester).

I have taken classes in this sort of condensed form over the summer and really like it! I loved just totally immursing myself in the subject matter of one course... I felt like it greatly enhanced my learning. Does anyone know if a majority of med schools do it one way or another or how one can find out? This is not a feature I have found listed on school websites or med school stat books (or the MSAR).

Anyone know?
Click to expand...

The majority of med schools don't....luckily I'm going to one that does because I also like it. Of the schools I applied to the only ones that did were UNC and Pitt
 
PsyDStar said:
I have heard that some med schools setup class schedule in "block style" meaning an individual takes only one or two classes at a time over a shortended period (1-3 months) rather than 4-5 classes during a given period of time (such as the classical semester).

I have taken classes in this sort of condensed form over the summer and really like it! I loved just totally immursing myself in the subject matter of one course... I felt like it greatly enhanced my learning. Does anyone know if a majority of med schools do it one way or another or how one can find out? This is not a feature I have found listed on school websites or med school stat books (or the MSAR).

Anyone know?
Click to expand...

I totally agree. It's much better this way. I'de be interested to know the schools that do this as well.
 
golftrippy said:
The majority of med schools don't....luckily I'm going to one that does because I also like it. Of the schools I applied to the only ones that did were UNC and Pitt
Click to expand...

There are many more schools than just those that do blocks. But it is a minority.
 
Georgetown has a block schedule.
 
I was hoping someone would know of a resource to consult. If asking the school admissions office, will they know what I am talking about using the "block scheduling" terminology? I am shocked that this is not considered highly important and included in the MSAR data for each school, so the list of schools that use the coveted block scheduling are:
Einstein,
Georgetown,
Jefferson,
U of Miami,
UNC,
Pittsburg.

Anyone else?
 
I'm not surprised that it's not listed in the MSAR. That book is for showing you admissions requirements, and then it gives you links to the website of the schools for further information.

If you go on the websites of the schools that you are interested in, usually they have a schedule of classes on there.
 
PsyDStar said:
I was hoping someone would know of a resource to consult. If asking the school admissions office, will they know what I am talking about using the "block scheduling" terminology? I am shocked that this is not considered highly important and included in the MSAR data for each school, so the list of schools that use the coveted block scheduling are:
Einstein,
Georgetown,
Jefferson,
U of Miami,
UNC,
Pittsburg.

Anyone else?
Click to expand...


Johns Hopkins essentially does blocks for the first year, although sometimes I think you take two classes at one time.
 
is this "block scheduling" as good as I think it sounds?

too much work in one area (makes you tired of it), or good to have such an intense focus? is retention of material compromised?
 
I am pretty sure University of Maryland does block scheduling.
 
SLU is on blocks.
 
Does anyone see a downside to block scheduling? I'm asking cuz I'm between Boston U (no block) and Georgetown (block) and I think this is a big factor.
 
our blocks at loyola are 9 or 10 weeks, with a test every 3 or so weeks....i think this is really nice, because in the end it means that we go thru a rotation...1 week easy, 1 week to catch up / get ahead, 1 week to cram and take the exam. we have finals coming up and have 5 exams (1 each day) because this semester we had 3 classes (2 that met daily and 1 that met once/week or so) but our finals before christmas break was for one class (anatomy...1 written exam, 1 cadaver exam). i had the normal (non-block) schedule for undergrad and like the block schedule we have now a lot more. my thoughts on it:
pro: focus all your time/energy one one class, fewer exams you have to study for at one time, condensed studying time = learn the material better, faster
con: doing the classes one at a time means that there's more time between the end of your first class and the board exams at the end of 2nd year....longer time = easier to forget the material. but i figure a difference of 10 weeks or something in the end is minor and you'll have to study for boards anyway. 😉

hope that helps!
 
Does anybody know about MSSM? Their website is a little non-specific -- it has things drawn that look as if they might be blocks or might be quarters, or might be just classes arranged in squares with no particular relation to time.
 
OHSU does the block schedule. You take one class at a time 8-12 M-F. So you have afternoons off (except two days a week for preceptorships). I think they condense several related subjects into one class, in order to cover everything. I talked to several current med students at OHSU and they said they REALLY enjoy it. It is alot less stressful. I am definately looking foward to it.
 
University of Washington has the first 6 weeks devoted to only Anatomy/Embryology plus Intro to Clinical Medicine.
 
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