I am currently CFP student. Here is my insight, most of the advices that are included are so irrelevant. I only listened to advice SKIP, most are non-senses.
CFP Program Review:
1. Human anatomy (Embryology, Histology, Anatomy) all integrated - goes fast, and mostly clinical relevance based. Much diferent than anatomy you may have taken before. Approach is to prep you for medical school.
2. Biochemistry (Pathways are main focus, but however, regulation of pathway is what is the core focus, you need to understand how it regulated, much different than undergrad biochem)
3. Physiology (Although concepts appears to be easier, but teachers here do not use the terminology that is often used in book, they make their own terminology to determine whether you memorized or whether you conceptually understood, again, based more on conceptually understand, memorizing does not work at all)
4. Abnormal Psychology (actual SOM third term class - focused on mental illnesses, and mental disorders, and how you diagnose it, symptoms, and what medications to use to treat it etc - Fully clinically oriented)
5. Molecular Cell Biology (it is as heavy as upper division Molecular Cell biology undergrad course, but consider it is as upper division, goes in molecular details - learning applications how to use this in medicine)
6. Learning strategies (such a waste of time - dont listen to their strategies then you are bound to fail)
This program is very intense, its like you are taking 24 units in one semester. It is rigrous, you have to study everyday, most likely study late a night everydays. Everday feels like you are studying late like you used to prepare for undergrad exams. So take those alnighters from undergrad during exams, and times that 4 months. Little time away from books, or miss two days of studying - you basically dropping your grade from A to B in matters of 2 days.
I am done with quizes and midterms, and was able to get 4.0 , and scored A in all the classes, but I study everyday until 4 am to stay caught up with classes. Now waiting for final exams.
By far- hardest I ever studied!
Warning: DO NOT PARTY, lot of people who come here are rich kids, and they will want you to party and hit the club , but don't let that fool you, you will be at huge disadvantage. Be serious about it.
Passrate: although they tell you it is 80 percent, but they are only talking about people who actually make it to finals. So for overall class including people who are were dropped out in the middle of program - the pass rate is about 27 to 35 percent at its best.
If you want it bad, you will pass no problems at all. But you need to work hard. Always remind yourself you are here in Carebbean, you need to work hard 2x the US Med students.
This program will Prepare you for medschool, your first term will be such a breeze. If you are able to hit over 3.6 in this prgram, most likely (80 percent) chances you will be getting residency considering you make it 5th term, because this program is basically testing whether you have it in you or you dont. During exams - exams are consecutive 5 day order, with no day off in between, you will be burned out for exams, so prepare ahead.
Required to pass is 3.5. You have to self study, you can not rely on professors, You have to want it bad, and make it happen on your own
which is best part, that is what you do as a doctor.
As far as money is concerned, yes the cost is 12k to get in this program plus 5k to 6 k housing, but this program is worth every penny for me.
All the best!