OUCOM curriculum

[amathew]

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For those who are attending OUCOM (or understand their curriculum well), which form of learning is recommended? PCC or CPC? Knowing myself, I know I wouldn't trust myself with my medical education and would prefer a faculty developed learning objective. But at the same time, problem based learning seems very interesting to me. Any input? Thanks, in advance! 🙂

 

[ImNoSuperman]

I am a CPC'er at OUCOM and I feel the same way that you do. I chose CPC becasue there is more faculty directed learning than the PCC. Now, don't get me wrong; we are only in lecture (basic sciences) Mon, Tue, Thur, and Fri from 8-12. On Tue and Thur for two hours we have CBL which is our case-based learning. So you do get the problem-based aspect in CPC. PCC is more student-directed. Where we (CPC) have objectives that are developed based on what the faculty think is important for us to know, PCC have Learning Issues that the students develop. Also, our courses (Path, Anatomy, Hist, etc), are taught in context with the organ system that we are learning about in a particular block (the PCC have a quarter long course on everything on Histo, etc.). Each week of a block addresses a particular problem that one might encounter in a clinical setting (i.e. Cadio has a week on palpitations, Blood and Immunity has a week on elevated temp.). Couple all of that with your clinical and community experiences and you have a well-rounded curriculum (I think). If you have any other questions, send me a PM or email me at [email protected]. Hoe that helps.

 

[dr.z]

I am a CPC'er at OUCOM and I feel the same way that you do. I chose CPC becasue there is more faculty directed learning than the PCC. Now, don't get me wrong; we are only in lecture (basic sciences) Mon, Tue, Thur, and Fri from 8-12. On Tue and Thur for two hours we have CBL which is our case-based learning. So you do get the problem-based aspect in CPC. PCC is more student-directed. Where we (CPC) have objectives that are developed based on what the faculty think is important for us to know, PCC have Learning Issues that the students develop. Also, our courses (Path, Anatomy, Hist, etc), are taught in context with the organ system that we are learning about in a particular block (the PCC have a quarter long course on everything on Histo, etc.). Each week of a block addresses a particular problem that one might encounter in a clinical setting (i.e. Cadio has a week on palpitations, Blood and Immunity has a week on elevated temp.). Couple all of that with your clinical and community experiences and you have a well-rounded curriculum (I think). If you have any other questions, send me a PM or email me at [email protected]. Hoe that helps.

I know this is going to sound stupid, but is there any difference in average board scores and passing rates depending on the curriculum? I know it depends on the students...

 

[ImNoSuperman]

I know this is going to sound stupid, but is there any difference in average board scores and passing rates depending on the curriculum? I know it depends on the students...

Honestly, I couldn't really say. I know that the testing in the CPC is more similar to board-style testing (4 hours of multiple choice). The PCC have one giant end of quarter exam that is essay. As for performance; again, I couldn't say. From what I've heard, everyone does rather well.

 

[dr.z]

Honestly, I couldn't really say. I know that the testing in the CPC is more similar to board-style testing (4 hours of multiple choice). The PCC have one giant end of quarter exam that is essay. As for performance; again, I couldn't say. From what I've heard, everyone does rather well.

Thanks.

 

[Hoberto]

I was told and have read that PCC students score higher on boards. Whether this is because
--PCC is a better curriculum
--PCC students are more motivated
or
--PCC students get a lot more free time to study for boards during 2nd year
I don't know.

I have been told several times by OUCOM admin and faculty that there have never been any issues with PCC students needing to repeat a year or failing a term. Again, why this is so is hard to determine.

 

[ImNoSuperman]

I was told and have read that PCC students score higher on boards. Whether this is because
--PCC is a better curriculum
--PCC students are more motivated
or
--PCC students get a lot more free time to study for boards during 2nd year
I don't know.

I have been told several times by OUCOM admin and faculty that there have never been any issues with PCC students needing to repeat a year or failing a term. Again, why this is so is hard to determine.

PCC students:
A) probably do have more time to study for the boards
B) never had to repeat a year because their exams are essay exams whereas the CPC exams are long multiple choice, board-style exams. With CPC you're either right or wrong... no leeway.

Bottom line, you get out of medical school what you put into it, period. PCC or CPC is just a personal choice and both type of student does equally well.

 

[Shinken]

PCC students:
A) probably do have more time to study for the boards
B) never had to repeat a year because their exams are essay exams whereas the CPC exams are long multiple choice, board-style exams. With CPC you're either right or wrong... no leeway.

Bottom line, you get out of medical school what you put into it, period. PCC or CPC is just a personal choice and both type of student does equally well.

A) Yes, we do have more time to study for the boards. After all, isn't that what matters most after the first 2 years of med school?

B) It's nearly impossible to fail the 1st year due to the essay exams. However, 2nd year exams are multiple choice, board-style questions.

The PCC is a great curriculum, but the main drawback is precisely its strength: it's self-directed, so people that are very motivated excel, but also people that are lazy bums can make it and stumble their way through the pre-clinical years. You can only hope that the COMLEX or the clinical years will either weed them out or "fix" them. I can think of at least three of my classmates that should've never been accepted to medical school. They did absolutely NOTHING and still passed. They never knew even the most basic of concepts and asked the most asinine questions in class. There's something wrong with your learning aptitude when you're at the end of the 2nd year of med school and you publicly proclaim that "I still don't understand the O2-Hb dissociation curve." WOW

Anyway, I'm rambling now. If you're independently motivated and don't need faculty to tell you what to study and when, then the PCC is for you. If not, do your future patients a favor and go CPC.

This is not directed at any poster here, I'm just upset at some of the lazy bums that thrive in the PCC.

 

[ImNoSuperman]

A) Yes, we do have more time to study for the boards. After all, isn't that what matters most after the first 2 years of med school?

B) It's nearly impossible to fail the 1st year due to the essay exams. However, 2nd year exams are multiple choice, board-style questions.

The PCC is a great curriculum, but the main drawback is precisely its strength: it's self-directed, so people that are very motivated excel, but also people that are lazy bums can make it and stumble their way through the pre-clinical years. You can only hope that the COMLEX or the clinical years will either weed them out or "fix" them. I can think of at least three of my classmates that should've never been accepted to medical school. They did absolutely NOTHING and still passed. They never knew even the most basic of concepts and asked the most asinine questions in class. There's something wrong with your learning aptitude when you're at the end of the 2nd year of med school and you publicly proclaim that "I still don't understand the O2-Hb dissociation curve." WOW

Anyway, I'm rambling now. If you're independently motivated and don't need faculty to tell you what to study and when, then the PCC is for you. If not, do your future patients a favor and go CPC.

This is not directed at any poster here, I'm just upset at some of the lazy bums that thrive in the PCC.

LOL... I remember the Hb-O2 dissoc. curve from UNDERGRAD biochem.: that is just sad. I imagine you're either 3rd or fourth year? I entertained PCC but I need the gentle nudging of faculty and objectives to keep my a$$ in line. The PCC'ers for c/o 2010 are pretty psyched about it and they seem like a good group (judging from Immersion this August) so I couldn't imagine any really lazy people... but then again I am CPC and don't see them everyday. I agree with your assessment and had no idea that 2nd year PCC did board-style exams. My bad.