Why Ottawa

[Guest PDSP]

Given that some of the acceptances have been tendered, I'm sure some people are trying to decide which school is best for them. So, I ask the question to those currently at Ottawa why they decided to choose Ottawa? What do you like best about the medical program at Ottawa? What do you like least?

 

I also have some specific questions related to Ottawa's program.

 

1. How do you find the mix of didactic and small-group learning? Is this an effective way of learning?

 

2. How much of advantage is having the e-curriculum?

 

3. What type of financial assistance (bursaries) is given out at Ottawa? (Average value, examples)

 

4. What is the clerkship rotation like? When does it start? Where are the elective periods located in the rotation? How much elective time is there before CaRMS letters are due in December of 4th year?

 

5. Is there a "Back-to-basics" period following clerkship (like UWO and Mac)?

 

6. Historically, how well have Ottawa students done on the USMLE Step 1?

 

Thanks a bunch for any answer to these questions.

 

PD

[Guest UOMeds06]

1. How do you find the mix of didactic and small-group learning? Is this an effective way of learning?

 

Depends on your learning type. It is geared to self-motivated learners. Those who really enjoy the didactic don't particularly care much for the small group learning...but some are the exact opposite. I really enjoy the smaller group learning and don't care as much about the didactic learning, but you must put up with both. Personally, I love the curriculum! I think it's a perfect balance between the old school and new school.

 

2. How much of advantage is having the e-curriculum?

 

For those that are proficient with their laptops, it's a HUGE benefit. Whenever I don't know what a medical term means, I just use the online medical dictionary that we subscribe to...get my definition within a matter of seconds as opposed to filling it away in my mental "to do" list. Same goes for drugs that I'm not familiar with, or procedures or facts. The internet is a wonderful resource and we're connected in all of our classes and small group learning...and of course in the library as well. The down side to the laptops is that they're heavy so some don't bring it with them to class...we still get all our notes on paper as well. There are also so many resources that we all have access to via our proxy accounts...countless services that the uni pays for etc. and of course there's MSN....emailing....etc.

 

3. What type of financial assistance (bursaries) is given out at Ottawa? (Average value, examples)

 

Almost everyone gets a $2400 bursary for the laptop....plus the other standard ones at other universities. We also have a bursary that goes towards paying the interest on your line of credit.

 

4. What is the clerkship rotation like? When does it start? Where are the elective periods located in the rotation? How much elective time is there before CaRMS letters are due in December of 4th year?

 

Don't know what the rotations are like....but they start in August after your second year. They're going to be 6 weeks long from now on. Elective time is standard across Ontario I believe in fourth year....the basis for extending the Carms deadline next year (because of SARS in toronto which cut into their elective time).

There is TONS of time to do electives in first and second year at Ottawa cause they shorten the class time and expect you to learn it thoroughly on your own. This leaves most afternoons free to either review your lecture stuff or do electives. I've done a number of electives...people in my class have done stuff ranging from cardiac, ortho, plastic, general surgeries (all hands on) to internal to family.

 

5. Is there a "Back-to-basics" period following clerkship (like UWO and Mac)?

 

yes

 

6. Historically, how well have Ottawa students done on the USMLE Step 1?

No idea...not many people write it.

[Sincere]

There's a few threads that had lists of whys but I could only find this one:

 

http://forums.premed101.com/index.php?/topic/19833-why-you-should-choose-ottawau-meds/?hl=choose