For handskills, its mostly been waxing up teeth to learn their identification and morphology, that is what the first years do in lab.
We have had radiology rotations where we have learned to take full mouth x-rays on Dexter the dummy (=P) and we get to start on patient radiology rotations this month (i think we do two days this trimester). We also start a sealant case next month during which we get to put sealants on children from a local elementary school. We have had diagnosis rotations to learn how to perform an extraoral/intraoral exam on patients as well as take vital signs. But for first years its mostly case and lab work.
I enjoy USC however because I like the PBL curriculum so far, it helps me remember information because its case studies so I remember the people involved in the stories and what their problems were, and it also gives me a lot of free time (probably because im a first year). I do notice that not everything that will show up on the boards can possibly be covered in these case studies, but of course not everything can be covered in lecture either. I just think PBL is a lot more interesting than sitting in a lecture hall.
