Pass Machine vs ACS Review vs Osler

[sleeping]

Anybody have any advice on the ACS review or Pass machine. Certifying boards are giving me the heebie jeebies . I have heard many courses are pretty general and wondering if one is more focused then another.

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[Winged Scapula]

The Pass Machine is relatively new - 2 years old maybe?

Osler and Odyssey have the most grads so are probably the most proven.

My sense about the ACS course was that it was designed for re-certs not for primary certification.

 

[bob12]

Be very careful about wasting your money or TIME on Pass Machine for any board review course. This is a VERY NEW course, that is just trying out the waters. Have had many complaints about overall organization and material presented is not at all high-yield for the boards. In general, their faculty is not equipped to teach for the boards as they have no insight into what really is high yield. Many attendees have already been extremely dissatisfied and I personally know of four people who sat for one class and all 4 failed. Now, pass machine is saying they can retake the course but they all refused because the course was NOT RELEVANT to what was being tested on the boards. BEWARE!!!!!!!

 

[cggr]

Be very careful about wasting your money or TIME on Pass Machine for any board review course. This is a VERY NEW course, that is just trying out the waters. Have had many complaints about overall organization and material presented is not at all high-yield for the boards. In general, their faculty is not equipped to teach for the boards as they have no insight into what really is high yield. Many attendees have already been extremely dissatisfied and I personally know of four people who sat for one class and all 4 failed. Now, pass machine is saying they can retake the course but they all refused because the course was NOT RELEVANT to what was being tested on the boards. BEWARE!!!!!!!

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Totally Disagree. Suggest your colleagues needed to study harder - no course will pass you in and of itself. New doesn't necessarily mean bad. Many of the presenters for Pass Machine are also on the other courses. I think its actually very good (the home edition for both qualifying & cert). I would also recommend the New York Course - which is really really comprehensive...

 

[Zn03]

Has anyone tried the Pass Machine since this was last posted? I'm looking to get started on my Oral board review (hoping I passed written) and would like to augment with a non-book course. Pass machine seems to be the only 'video' style course to see a few sample questions provided. I intent to do the Osler course (program gratiously going to pay for it) but that course is a little last minute for my taste. Any advice on this course or others greatly appreciated.

 

[Member5432]

I did the passmachine oral course as I really liked their written course. I did not find it that good. the video format is ok but a lot of the mock Orals are with 2nd or 3rd yr residents. I hated watching someone struggle over a simple case, I wanted to know the real standard required to pass!
The Osler course was great, a lot of similar scenarios came up in the actual exam for many people on the course. It does seem last minute but it gets you very focused and honestly by the end of the third day you are so sick of going through the cases that you just want the exam over with. I thought I would be terrified going into the exam but with all the practice I was very calm and found it fine.
The book " how to win on the American board of surgery exam" was the best resource for scenarios for me.It is extremely similar to safe answers, some of it seems to be directly copied but has more information. People complain as there are tons of spelling mistakes but if that does not bother you it's a good book.
The Argy course seems to be going out of favor amongst the people sitting the exam. I met a lot of people on the Osler course who had done both and felt the Osler was the best.
Practice with friends as much as possible, this is not always easy but is worth it.

Good Luck! It's not as bad as people let on. The examiners were all pleasant and very fair and the test goes by in what feels like minutes.

 

[Member5432]

Would definitely recommend the Passmachine for the written boards. It is much better to be able to review the lectures in your own time rather than in one week. Also you can review the lectures as many times as you need.
The info was very relevant to the exam. I agree too that the New York review is very good. I got a copy of the lectures on CD and listened in my car which was great!
hope this helps