"So when do you take your board exam?"

[chemist157]

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I was talking with a NP student a while back who was talking about how her "board exam" was coming up soon and she was worried about passing. She asked when med students take ours and I said "which one?" which elicited a confused look. She was flabbergasted when I told her about each step exam and what they entail and then the BC exam at the end of residency that must be renewed every ten years. I asked how many they take and how often it's renewed...she said once and never. Same thing happened with a pharmacy student today.

People really have no idea what we go through. AND most think "i could do medical school if i wanted to".

end of rant.

 

[Kilosh]

That reminds me of the time last summer when I was studying for my step 2 in the library and the PA student next to me told me we were studying for the same exam. Confused, I asked "What do you mean?" She explained to me that the questions for the their exam were taken from the same bank of questions for the USMLE step 2, so as she saw it, we were essentially taking the same exam. She then went on to regal me on how cool it is as a PA that one day you can work in the ER and then the next day work in an OR and so on ans so on.

I feel your pain!

As a new physcian, I will do my best to advocate for my profession.

K.

 

[doctor712]

Well, I'm just at the beginning of this journey, with my MCAT in the near future. I literally have 6-8 hour days placed into my iCal for the next 6 weeks, including weekends, holidays, bday next week 😀 etc.

I'm not sure I'm going to get any weeping violins from you guys, but it seems that people (who can help and are MDs) are more interested in my MCAT score than my NAME. "Med school? Great, what's your MCAT score?"

Me (in my head): "Really? REALLY? (Yup.) Really."

Forget the REST of the entire picture of my life leading up to this...rather, "MCAT score please..." Three sets of numbers, and a letter. Let's slam you into a box. 😴

Rant over. On a good front, Lakers v Celtics tonight. Studying over for today. 🙂

Tried to get Boston tix when they went on sale yesterday, busy, then almost instantly sold out. 🙁

D712

 

[chemist157]

Well, I'm just at the beginning of this journey, with my MCAT in the near future. I literally have 6-8 hour days placed into my iCal for the next 6 weeks, including weekends, holidays, bday next week 😀 etc.

I'm not sure I'm going to get any weeping violins from you guys, but it seems that people (who can help and are MDs) are more interested in my MCAT score than my NAME. "Med school? Great, what's your MCAT score?"

Me (in my head): "Really? REALLY? (Yup.) Really."

Forget the REST of the entire picture of my life leading up to this...rather, "MCAT score please..." Three sets of numbers, and a letter. Let's slam you into a box. 😴

Rant over. On a good front, Lakers v Celtics tonight. Studying over for today. 🙂

Tried to get Boston tix when they went on sale yesterday, busy, then almost instantly sold out. 🙁

D712

I'm sure if you score well on the MCAT it will drive you nuts if they DON'T ask you what your score is 🙂

good luck!

 

[Bertelman]

That reminds me of the time last summer when I was studying for my step 2 in the library and the PA student next to me told me we were studying for the same exam. Confused, I asked "What do you mean?" She explained to me that the questions for the their exam were taken from the same bank of questions for the USMLE step 2, so as she saw it, we were essentially taking the same exam. She then went on to regal me on how cool it is as a PA that one day you can work in the ER and then the next day work in an OR and so on ans so on.

I feel your pain!

As a new physcian, I will do my best to advocate for my profession.

K.

You should have asked to trade question books.

 

[jetproppilot]

I'm not sure I'm going to get any weeping violins from you guys, but it seems that people (who can help and are MDs) are more interested in my MCAT score than my NAME. "Med school? Great, what's your MCAT score?"

Me (in my head): "Really? REALLY? (Yup.) Really."

Forget the REST of the entire picture of my life leading up to this...rather, "MCAT score please..." Three sets of numbers, and a letter. Let's slam you into a box. 😴



D712

It is what it is, Sir.

You're aware of the game.

So play the game.

Kill the test!

 

[IlDestriero]

I'm not sure I'm going to get any weeping violins from you guys, but it seems that people (who can help and are MDs) are more interested in my MCAT score than my NAME. "Med school? Great, what's your MCAT score?"
Me (in my head): "Really? REALLY? (Yup.) Really."
Forget the REST of the entire picture of my life leading up to this...rather, "MCAT score please..." Three sets of numbers, and a letter. Let's slam you into a box.
D712

The problem is that, as you must know, there are many students that say that they want to be a physician but never take the test. There are also many students (? >1/3, at least when I was applying many years ago) that take the MCAT, but score so poorly that they don't have a realistic chance at an MD. So I would bet 2/3 of students that talk the talk have no hope of even trying to walk the walk.
If someone wants me to help them, or set them up with a research gig, etc. they have to have what it takes. The only thing I have to go on is your self reported grades and MCAT, hence the "how'd you do on the MCAT?"

Here's a tiny violin for you...

 

[doctor712]

It is what it is, Sir.

You're aware of the game.

So play the game.

Kill the test!

😎 Roger that.

I'm sure if you score well on the MCAT it will drive you nuts if they DON'T ask you what your score is 🙂

good luck!

True!

The problem is that, as you must know, there are many students that say that they want to be a physician but never take the test. There are also many students (? >1/3, at least when I was applying many years ago) that take the MCAT, but score so poorly that they don't have a realistic chance at an MD. So I would bet 2/3 of students that talk the talk have no hope of even trying to walk the walk.
If someone wants me to help them, or set them up with a research gig, etc. they have to have what it takes. The only thing I have to go on is your self reported grades and MCAT, hence the "how'd you do on the MCAT?"

Here's a tiny violin for you...

Lol, good one. I needed that this morning...6 hours of Bio MCAT studying to accomplish today while I sit in my writers' office. And moonlight. (no scripts due until monday!) 🙄

Let's hope I can come back here soon and openly report a COOL A SS score!

D712

 

[Aznfarmerboi]

I was talking with a NP student a while back who was talking about how her "board exam" was coming up soon and she was worried about passing. She asked when med students take ours and I said "which one?" which elicited a confused look. She was flabbergasted when I told her about each step exam and what they entail and then the BC exam at the end of residency that must be renewed every ten years. I asked how many they take and how often it's renewed...she said once and never. Same thing happened with a pharmacy student today.

People really have no idea what we go through. AND most think "i could do medical school if i wanted to".

end of rant.

I think most professionals do have an idea of what you guys go through. In fact, probably more so than the general public but less than somebody going through the medical degree training process.

While most students dont, I am surprised that the pharmacy student do not because they are required to understand the scope of practices of other providers including what education they go through ie. why a MD has a general scope of prescribing rights while a chiropractioner might not be able to do the full thing versus holistic and PT, etc It is something that is usually taught to them in the beginning of their school and reiterate to them in numerous law and regulatory classes. How else do they know who to refer a patient to or understand the medical process... including giving out recommendations such as stressing to diabetic patients to sees a podiatrist annually as per guidelines.

With that said, how is it for Dentists, Podiatrists, and Optremetrists? I have always thought that after license, it is a matter of CE for re-license. A pharmacist can re-take the boards in place of CE. For board certified pharmcotherapy specialists (advanced pharmacists), they do have to retake the test every few years to get certified again.

 

[Bertelman]

Let's hope I can come back here soon and openly report a COOL A SS score!

D712

Yeah, 'cause there's not enough of that around here.

 

[Laryngophed]

Yeah, 'cause there's not enough of that around here.

So you're saying we need more ego-stroking, right?😎

 

[Bertelman]

So you're saying we need more ego-stroking, right?😎

We need a little less of both.

 

[Laryngophed]

We need a little less of both.

Sorry, I should have added a [sarcasm] [/sarcasm] to my post. I failed at delivering the message there.

 

[Bertelman]

Sorry, I should have added a [sarcasm] [/sarcasm] to my post. I failed at delivering the message there.

I just misinterpreted your cool glasses.

I'm never really sure what those mean.

 

[janV88]

With that said, how is it for Dentists, Podiatrists, and Optremetrists? I have always thought that after license, it is a matter of CE for re-license. A pharmacist can re-take the boards in place of CE. For board certified pharmcotherapy specialists (advanced pharmacists), they do have to retake the test every few years to get certified again.

For Podiatry it is NBPME part I, part II, and part III. Then after 3 years residency the ABPS (surgery boards) part I for foot surgery and part I for RRA (Rearfoot Reconstructive Ankle). Within 7 years Podiatrists must compile a number of surgical cases. Once compiled, submitted, and approved, Podiatrists must take the part II for foot surgery and part II for RRA (oral exams). Re-certification exams every 10 years.

 

[error404]

I'll give credit to the podiatry residents at my hospital-- 4 years of pod school and 3 years of residency including some serious OR time-- makes them crazy legit. Plus, one once cut off my toenail and it didn't even hurt.

Now, {rant} I'm so F&^$ sick of people saying, "Oh, you're a doctor? I went to medical school, but then decided (it wasn't for me,)/(I didn't want the debt,)/(I got a great job offer,)" when they actually just took some pre-req courses and never even sat the MCATs, yet alone applied to med school, or god forbid, got in and matriculated. I've had THREE people say this in the last year! {/rant}

 

[WholeLottaGame7]

One night I was at a bar hitting on a young girl. I was robbing the cradle, yes. Early 20s. I hadn't told her what I did for a living. At some point, she decides to lie about what she does for a living. Anyway, of all the things could have picked, guess what she says...

"I'm an ANESTHESIOLOGIST." I was stunned. I mean WTF! Anyway, I called her out on it. It turned out she was in nursing school and was interested in becoming a CRNA.

Epic fail on her part.

The question is, was it a dealbreaker or not?

 

[Bertelman]

One night I was at a bar hitting on a young girl. I was robbing the cradle, yes. Early 20s. I hadn't told her what I did for a living. At some point, she decides to lie about what she does for a living. Anyway, of all the things could have picked, guess what she says...

"I'm an ANESTHESIOLOGIST." I was stunned. I mean WTF! Anyway, I called her out on it. It turned out she was in nursing school and was interested in becoming a CRNA.

Did you still hit it?

 

[Bertelman]

Lol. In retrospect, I handled it all wrong. I embarrassed her and this killed it. I should have hit it first then called her out on it.

Exactly.