DO School 1st and 2nd Year

[DOisALLiWANT]

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I have some questions about what DO school is like the first and second year:

1) What are the exams like? Are the questions straightforward or are they tricky and thought provoking like undergrad classes?

2) I'm a non traditional student and I was used to taking notes during lecture with a notebook and pen. Is it true that in med school most people just take notes using their laptop?

3) IS the COMLEX I and II like the MCAT, or is it easier? What about the COMLEX III? when are you required to take that?

 

[ChandutheMagici]

I have some questions about what DO school is like the first and second year:

1) What are the exams like? Are the questions straightforward or are they tricky and thought provoking like undergrad classes?

In my experience, exams boil down to this:

1/3 straight knowledge questions
1/3 Concepts and comparison of concepts
1/3 Trivia (Nit picky detail stuff)

As for being straightforward or tricky it really depends on who is writing the exam. Some of my teachers are very straightforward. Some of them are not. You will learn to like the straightforward teachers and hate the tricky ones. So, that's a pretty hard question to answer.

Thought provoking? No, not even close. You will spend most of your time memorizing random crap that you'll most likely never use again.

2) I'm a non traditional student and I was used to taking notes during lecture with a notebook and pen. Is it true that in med school most people just take notes using their laptop?

I'm a nontrad too, welcome to the club. In my school, no one really takes notes. This is because:

1. You can generally purchase them through a note taking service.
2. Lectures are online to review if needed.
3. A good MAJORITY of teachers just read off slides. What's the point of taking notes if all lecture is just story time anyway?

If you (by luck) do get a good teacher then just bring your course pack with you to lecture (if you decide to go) and makes notes on the side.

3) IS the COMLEX I and II like the MCAT, or is it easier? What about the COMLEX III? when are you required to take that?

I can't really answer these as far as difficulty. I hear they're comparable to the MCAT, but who knows. For timing:

1. Comlex I - end of 2nd year
2. Comlex II - After 3 year and before you are done with 4th
3. Comlex III - After internship

From my understanding the study time for each gets less and less. Like 2 months for I, 2 weeks for II, and 2 days for III. This is what I've heard anyway.

 

[DOisALLiWANT]

Thanks Chanduthemagici, this was quite helpful.

 

[TeamZissou]

I'm a 1st year about to finish up our 2nd of 3 quarters and by then will definitely be "over the hump" based on the curriculum of our year here. So FWIW....

I have some questions about what DO school is like the first and second year:

1) What are the exams like? Are the questions straightforward or are they tricky and thought provoking like undergrad classes?

Exams at CCOM vary by course. Our physio exams are extremely conceptual while our anatomy is pure and simple a matter of knowing EVERY word that is in the notes. However with each department the outlying questions are addressed differently. Some of our departments automatically throw out a question if a certain % of the class doesn't get it correct whereas other departments have us recourse questions by submitting appeals to our class liaisons who then meet with the course director to plead our case. But because of this I feel like the questions are more straight forward and answerable but it's just a matter of knowing the level of detail to learn.

2) I'm a non traditional student and I was used to taking notes during lecture with a notebook and pen. Is it true that in med school most people just take notes using their laptop?

It's gonna vary by school. Our school uses mainly paper notes, (Which I love b/c I love to have hard copies to mark up.) but we still have access to the powerpoints our professors use during lectures as well.Other schools may be pure electronic based using OneNote or something.

 

[DOisALLiWANT]

Thanks TeamZissou! I also like to have hard copies of my notes. I dont like to take notes on the computer. I guess i'm just old fashioned!!!!

I'm a 1st year about to finish up our 2nd of 3 quarters and by then will definitely be "over the hump" based on the curriculum of our year here. So FWIW....



Exams at CCOM vary by course. Our physio exams are extremely conceptual while our anatomy is pure and simple a matter of knowing EVERY word that is in the notes. However with each department the outlying questions are addressed differently. Some of our departments automatically throw out a question if a certain % of the class doesn't get it correct whereas other departments have us recourse questions by submitting appeals to our class liaisons who then meet with the course director to plead our case. But because of this I feel like the questions are more straight forward and answerable but it's just a matter of knowing the level of detail to learn.



It's gonna vary by school. Our school uses mainly paper notes, (Which I love b/c I love to have hard copies to mark up.) but we still have access to the powerpoints our professors use during lectures as well.Other schools may be pure electronic based using OneNote or something.

 

[cabinbuilder]

3) IS the COMLEX I and II like the MCAT, or is it easier? What about the COMLEX III? when are you required to take that?

The Comlex exams are harder than the MCAT just due to the volume of subjects it covers. Many do not pass the first time. The MCAT is only the beginning. Med school prepares you for the testing style so the students pass the boards. There are study books just like MCAT and you do as many questions as possible. Plus in med school they will tell you what is most likely on the boards so you can focus. Its all multiple choice for all three steps plus the board cert exam.

 

[DOisALLiWANT]

Thanks cabinbuilder!!!