What do people think of the Osler Oral Board Review Course given a few days before the oral boards? Is is worth an additional $1700? Taking my boards in Minneapolis in May. Thanks.
osler oral board course
- Thread starter cncrsrgry
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In my opinion I think the value you get from it depends on who you are and what you have going in. Some people don't need it, some do. Overall I think its a little over priced, but I think the price is set by what people are willing to pay. I would say it is a good course overall. They let you pay for as many public or private sessions as you want. I would choose the private ones as they seemed more useful. They also allowed you to sign up for them at the course, so you don't really have to buy them up front.
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The friends I have that took it thought it wasn't really helpful. Its hard to say if it was because they were already prepared so it wouldn't have mattered if they didn't take it or not. One was so freaked out because they told her she was going to fail THE DAY BEFORE THE EXAM!
Of course she passed, but the experience made her really anxious. Obviously not recommended if you would be upset by comments of that sort.
Of course she passed, but the experience made her really anxious. Obviously not recommended if you would be upset by comments of that sort.
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didn't take it, but have friends who did. Overall, they said it helped them focus their studies. I think one person actually said that they got a question that was reasonably similar to something that they watched someone else get tested on in a public mock oral.
If you need presentation prep, it might not be a bad idea, but as far as content, I'd be a little worried. Many if not most of the people who take the course are either people who feel weak about their knowledge base, or actually failed previously. Because of this, at least 2 people I can remember told me that they would end up more confused on an answer after a person who done doing a mock oral then before hand, because the person taking the mock oral gave the WRONG answer. (not their fault, but something to keep in mind.
I think you can do just as well prepping in a small group of friends. There is no substitute for having everyone give you mock oral questions every chance you can get. If you did well on mock orals at your residency, you shouldn't have a problem. If you live close to a residency program, it might be worth contacting them to see if you can take a mock oral next time their residents do theirs.
If you need presentation prep, it might not be a bad idea, but as far as content, I'd be a little worried. Many if not most of the people who take the course are either people who feel weak about their knowledge base, or actually failed previously. Because of this, at least 2 people I can remember told me that they would end up more confused on an answer after a person who done doing a mock oral then before hand, because the person taking the mock oral gave the WRONG answer. (not their fault, but something to keep in mind.
I think you can do just as well prepping in a small group of friends. There is no substitute for having everyone give you mock oral questions every chance you can get. If you did well on mock orals at your residency, you shouldn't have a problem. If you live close to a residency program, it might be worth contacting them to see if you can take a mock oral next time their residents do theirs.
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Certainly worth taking if your program is paying, but probably better way in advance, like fall of chief year.
in retrospect, the examiners overprepped you and exams were nothing like the real test- at least the public ones. specifically, they didnt keep to the time constraints like the real test, rather they interrupted the student and would expand on the topics. You get one free exam, but ironically I never actually went up since they scheduled my free exams for like 5:00pm and I was already wayyyy done by then. you really cant sit through these things for 10hrs
I took it twice. once in early chief yr, which was a basically a free trip courtesy of my program. Was nice because you can unofficially bounce into the written prep and see what thats all about. probably went to ~15% overall since it was too far away from the test and I wasnt scared yet.
2nd time was the weekend before the test. paid out of my own pocket. very expensive, but was nice to check into the hotel compound and hunker down for the weekend and fine tune for the big day. hang out with other people in the same boat, etc.. the most confidence I got came from seeing how the others answered and made me realize I was ready! ie-
would probably do it again, as long as I had the cash- although it is NOT necessary
in retrospect, the examiners overprepped you and exams were nothing like the real test- at least the public ones. specifically, they didnt keep to the time constraints like the real test, rather they interrupted the student and would expand on the topics. You get one free exam, but ironically I never actually went up since they scheduled my free exams for like 5:00pm and I was already wayyyy done by then. you really cant sit through these things for 10hrs
I took it twice. once in early chief yr, which was a basically a free trip courtesy of my program. Was nice because you can unofficially bounce into the written prep and see what thats all about. probably went to ~15% overall since it was too far away from the test and I wasnt scared yet.
2nd time was the weekend before the test. paid out of my own pocket. very expensive, but was nice to check into the hotel compound and hunker down for the weekend and fine tune for the big day. hang out with other people in the same boat, etc.. the most confidence I got came from seeing how the others answered and made me realize I was ready! ie-
would probably do it again, as long as I had the cash- although it is NOT necessary
