Originally posted by williestyle81
Does anyone know the amount of hours spent in lecture each day at PCOM? thanx
EMW
Ok, I'm only in my second semester as a first year, so I can only comment on what I have seen so far. In my opinion the first semester was much more challenging than this semester. First semester ran from early August through the first week of November. In that period of time you have Anatomy (which includes Gross, Human Development, and Radiology), Cell and Tissue (essentially cell biology and histology), OMM, and Primary Care Skills. There were lectures and labs for each course making for alot of time spent at school. Lectures generally ran from 8:00 AM to around 11:00 or 12:00 (varied depending on the day) and then their were combinations of labs and possibly more lectures after lunch. Gross Anatomy lab was four times per week at approximately 3 hours (I say approximate because my group always always stayed at least a half hour later), Histology lab was once per week for 3 hours, OMM lab was 1 and a half hours once per week, and Primary Care Skills was about one hour every other week. Add to this that you will most likely be coming back on weekends to review the week's work in gross lab and you have what amounts to a roller coaster ride first semester. If you can hold on and survive this, you will definitely be rewarded during the second semester.
Second semester incorporates Cell and Tissue part II (which is an integration of pharmacology, biochemistry, pathology, immunology, and microbiology), OMM, and Primary Care Skills part II. The number of lecture hours are somewhat increased, however the amount of time spent in labs is significantly reduced, allowing you more time to study on your own.
My advice, have alot of fun over the next couple of months and forget about med school until like late July. Your lives will change dramatically once you hit that first semester so just hang on and you will be rewarded come second semester. Bottomline, I came 2,000 miles to go to school here and I have no doubt that the rigors I am currently enduring will pay off on the wards as a 3rd and 4th year med student.
Hope this helps