What are exams in pod school like?

[Podiatry1]

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Will be beginning school in the fall at Temple. Was wondering what the exams are like..

Are the questions similar to the MCATs?

Are they pure memorization?

Are they multiple choice?

Any comments would be greatly appreciated. Thanks kindly

 

[347932]

Will be beginning school in the fall at Temple. Was wondering what the exams are like..

Are the questions similar to the MCATs?

Are they pure memorization?

Are they multiple choice?

Any comments would be greatly appreciated. Thanks kindly

Firstly, congrats on your decision to become part of our wonderful profession.

The exams are nothing like the MCATs. The basic science courses you will have throughout most of your first two years are mostly pure memorization. Even the basic lower extremity courses are much of the same. When I was going through 15 years ago, ALL the exams were multiple choice in the first two years, and I understand that not much has changed to this day at Temple.

Good luck and once again, welcome😀.

 

[DrGonz]

I go to NYCPM and am i first year January student. All of our tests that I have had so far are multiple choice (minus the practicals .. fill in the blank)

Most questions are clinical based, so you have to apply what you are learning. But it is also alooottt of memorization..


GL👍

 

[dyk343]

Lots and lots of memorization in your first year. Its all completely doable... but i've already had my fair share of times where I just had to wing it and hope for the best.

 

[Shireiqiang]

At AZPOD all of the basic science exams are multiple choice except for the practical exam portions in gross anatomy. Practical in gross is fill in the blank. The podiatry exams are multiple choice as well. Most exams are on monday mornings. We typically will have one exam a week in the first quarter and then it was basically one to two exams per week the second quarter. Third quarter just started, and it looks like it will be two a week for most weeks.

 

[Podophile]

Most exams are similar to a cavity search in which little to no lubrication is used.

 

[Podman23]

First year classes are courses such as clinical anatomy, biochemistry, physiology, histology, lower extremity anatomy, immunology, microbiology, neuroscience, and clinical correlation material concerning the basics of diagnosis and general medical knowledge.

All tests are multiple choice. Usually range from one to two hours with about 50 questions per exam. Finals are usually 3 hours and have about 100 questions. Anatomy practicals are fill in the blank, last around 90 minutes, and structures are tagged to identify and spelling usually doesn't matter. Most of the information is basic memorization, some information tested is conceptual and requires an actual understanding (like physiology). Some classes have cumulative quizzes/exams and some classes only have cumulative finals.

 

[BlueMerlin]

I'm currently a first year at Temple. First semester was Histology, Physiology, Embryology, Anatomy (waist and up), and Neurophysiology. Physiology had a good deal of critical thinking compared to the other classes, but that was it. All multiple choice except the practical portion of the anatomy test.

Second semester is Biochemistry, Lower Extremity Anatomy, Neuroanatomy, and Fundamentals of Podiatric Practice. No critical thinking; mostly multiple choice. One Anatomy quiz and all the FPP stuff has had some written component.

Also, the tests are similar to or easier than undergrad; don't sweat em.

 

[Shireiqiang]

Also, the tests are similar to or easier than undergrad; don't sweat em.

Are you serious? I think podiatry school is way harder than undergrad. Does this make it harder to be in the top of the class?

 

[BlueMerlin]

Maybe Temple is easier academically than AZPOD, or maybe our undergrad experiences were very different. All I know is that I have to know less detail in Biochem, Physiology, and Neuro than I did in undergrad - if the classes aren't as easy as undergrad, they are a step down. Anatomy is the exception to that, it is harder and the tests are too. The tests will have a few tricky ones that help determine class rank, which honestly isn't stressed here at all.

 

[Shireiqiang]

I am sure Temple is a fine podiatry school. You probably just went to a really hard undergrad program. The classes here are definately not a step down for me. Anatomy was tough and I spent a full year studying it in undergrad. Histology was the least straightforward class I have ever taken in my life. You had to basically answer three questions to get the answer they were looking for. It was really challenging. I am so glad I did that though, definately not stressing about that stuff for boards (at least not right now). It's tough, but definately what I thought Pod school would be like.