Hell Week at Touro

[BisayaDoc]

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At my interview at Touro-NV they said that they have 1 week (called hell week) at the end of a 6 week period to take 12-15 exams. That sounds excessive. I have a friend at AZCOM and they have a test every week. How do most medical school test? Anyone out there from Touro that can let me know how you handle hell week or if it is even true that you have to take 12-15 exams in 1 week?

 

[JonnyG]

PCOM you only take one "Class" at a time, which are all integrated (many subjects at once). So we have one 3 hour test every three weeks or so. Its pretty nice.

 

[MikeyLu2010]

there are pros and cons with both types of testings...on the one hand..if you have a test week...its good that you can get the testing done all at one time thus giving you some free time after the test period...however..studying for 12+ tests can be quite challenging..however..a weekly test is good because it'll be easier to prepare...however the bad is you virtually have no weekend to have free time...because you are constantly trying to study for the test in a week..

with that being said..im glad that my school will have a weekly test..even though it pretty much prevents my friends/family to visit me on the weekend...(transferring to a new state) I just dont think i would do well with a test week type schedule..

 

[Buckeye(OH)]

we have a minimum of one test per week. Usually its two tests per week and a quiz. For the next three weeks, we have three tests per week and one quiz.


My school is CCOM. But we start late and get out early. So, its a tradeoff.

 

[heech]

It's not 12-15 tests... at TUCOM-MI at least, it's typically 8-10 test *sessions* during blocks. I stress test "sessions" because although these are individual tests held on different days, there are often two related tests for each class:

- anatomy lab practical is one day, anatomy theory another.
- OMM practical, OMM theory, etc, etc.

You're not studying for 8-10 different classes; you're still "only" studying for 4-6.

I think the block schedule really penalizes people who live a cramming lifestyle. But it gives students who stay current with their work more flexibility... they can take weekends off, do more research, etc. My fiancee and I have gone away for the weekend probably 8-10 times this year (even if she had to study neuro POOLSIDE in Vegas)... probably not an option if there was a test every weekend.

 

[doc2b34]

Heech is right. You can have flexibility with this schedule. You can relax for two weeks after the "Hell Week" and just do lite studying. But, when the third week roles around, then you start worrying if you've studied enough and start frantically studying more and more.

It's not as bad as it sounds to have 8-10 test for exam week. When I was going through it I slept 2 hrs a night during Hell week.

 

[1hotaartichoke]

i go to touro-nv and whoever told you that we call it hell week was mistaken. its block week, and it can be like hell, but we get through it every time. the blocks typically last about 4 to 5 weeks, then a week of testing. whoever you talked to must have forgotten to mention that only this block is extended to about 6.5 weeks (extra long due to passover break), and that normally the blocks are only 4-5 weeks. here is a typical block weeks schedule...

M: OMM practical and written (2 separate tests)
T: Basic Science Foundation (3 separate UNIT tests, ie. respritory, muscle, and GI. the tests are in separate packets with separate scantrons, but are give in one sitting. you have 3 hrs to get through them all)
W: off
Th: Gross Anatomy practical and written (2 tests)
F: Intro to clinical medicine, physical diagnosis, and public health (3 tests)

the schedule varies from that a bit, based upon what kind of compromise is reached btwn the student academic reps and the admin. at the end of the semester, the block week typically has an additional day tacked on for a Physical diagnosis practical, and a histology practical (as part of the BSF class) it also varies from block to block. last block we didn't have bsf, but instead had infection and immunity. also, gross anatomy ends in march, and we start neuro in february. i know you recieved a handout with the OMS1 and 2 yearly and daily schedule.

although the test week is stressful, i like this way b/c it ensure at least 1 weekend off for me. i can go home or sleep all weekend guilt free. plus, it allows me lots of flexibility (like the other posters have been saying), about when i can put off studying vs. when i can't. first week after blocks, i will study some, but if i don't feel like it, i am ok to just take the night off too. if i had a test or 2 every week, taking a night off seems to not really be so much of an option.

 

[heech]

Interesting, you hot veggie you... looks like TUCOM-MI and NV have some differences.

MI spreads out its blocks, so anatomy practical/theory are never on the same day, and the same goes for OMM practical/theory. Individual BSF units are also spread out onto different days.

And did you say you're already done with gross anatomy this block? MI goes all the way through the end of the year.

 

[BisayaDoc]

Thanks for all of the imput-you guys are great. I feel a lot better about the school knowing that the testing schedule isn't as crazy as I was led to believe. Thanks again!

 

[optimusprime03]

just to let you know that touro MI is changing its curriculum so that it will go away from the "hell week" of exams. They are going to a more integrated approach of tying in several classes and that way you only have 3-4 exams.

 

[bnoosha]

Hi I will be attending touro this fall...and i havent heard much about the new curriculum...where did you hear this information?

Thanks

just to let you know that touro MI is changing its curriculum so that it will go away from the "hell week" of exams. They are going to a more integrated approach of tying in several classes and that way you only have 3-4 exams.

 

[optimusprime03]

Hi I will be attending touro this fall...and i havent heard much about the new curriculum...where did you hear this information?

Thanks

I am a 1st year there right now. They had a meeting that we attended and they are trying to implement the changes starting with your class. They are going to a systems based course, which I think will be better and prepare you guys more for boards and residency. You should call up the school and ask for some more information. Unless they had a sudden change of heart i'm pretty sure these changes will go into affect.