Since I go to UVM and am part of the "pioneer" class of the Vermont Integrated Curriculum (we like to call it the VIC around these parts), I'd be more than happy to put in a plug about the VIC.
Yes, as it stands, there is still only a year and a half of basic sciences in the new curriculum. (Which I think is awesome, less time in the classroom, more time in the hospital!!) It was the same in the past, as well. In the VIC, it's called Foundations....and it involves taking a single integrated course at a time. Which translates into not having separate biochem, histology, immunology, pharmacology, etc classes. Instead, we get little bits and pieces of subject material over Foundations. For example, back in August, we started off in a Clinical Decision Making course which lasted for 2 weeks...it involved a little genetics, ethics and epidemiology. This was a class that previous students didn't take until the end of their basic sciences. Then it was on to Cell and Molecular Bio, then we began Human Structure and Function....etc. Other schools have adopted a similar curriculum...I think Michigan, UCLA and some others also launched a new curriculum this year.
After Foundations ends, in January of 2005 (i'm speaking in terms of the Class of 2007), we begin to prepare for the boards. Most people take it sometime in February. In the VIC, we have to take Step I before heading off to the wards. In the past, people had an option of taking Step I before or after their clerkships.
We are not required to go to Maine for our clerkships, but a lot of people, including Maine residents, spend their whole time in Portland, ME. A lot of people will do a few rotations at Maine and then come back to Fletcher Allen...it just depends what your preference is. The word on the street is that Maine is a great place to do Peds because they have a separate Children's hospital.
During the elective years (begins in March/April of the third year), there is the option to do all of your rotations elsewhere. I've heard of many people doing it, mostly because it's fun to travel to different places and it gives them a chance to get a feel for other potential places to spend their resident years at....
We are on a H/P/Fail system. Marginal pass is only used internally, as in, if a person has too many marginal passes (70-74.4%), they might be asked to decelerate or seek assistance.
If you have any other questions about the new curriculum, feel free to PM me....I'm living it as we speak!
