McMaster Pre-clerkship Class Schedule

[med2012]

I was wondering if any of the current med students at Mac could let all of us interviewees know what their class schedules are like during the pre-clerkship years.

Thanks in advance:)

[stardust]

There are 5 blocks called Medical Foundations (MFs). The first one is about 4 months in length (Sept-Dec). The others are about 2 months long each. Between MF4 and MF5 are the months of July and August, during which we go on electives wherever we want (some choose to do international electives, others do rural, still others do urban - you can do all if you wish).

As you may already know, a lot of the learning is self-directed. Twice a week we have tutorials (3 hours each), during which we talk our cases over with our group after having studied them on our own. There are also lectures throughout the week (usually twice a week, depending on the MF). And once a week we have Clinical Skills sessions - 3 hour long hands-on sessions with preceptors and our group). We also have a formal anatomy and clinical skills day every few weeks with our group - but the anatomy lab is open at all times so that we can do some self-directed learning there too.

 

hope that helps!

[7kkww]

How many hours per week would you say you spend on self study, lectures and meeting up with group members? Compared to some other universities like Toronto or Western, would you say Mac students spend less, equal or more time on studying?

[NurseNathalie]

and let's not forget.... 3 hours of Professional Competencies a week

 

In terms of 'how much' time people spend studying- its so personalized to the student, that its very difficult to assign it a 'value'. It varies based on the type of learner you are, your previous knowledge/experience, your resources and the amount of time you wish to devote to learning. Some get away with perhaps less, but then... you get out of it what you put in.

 

I would assume that the time required for studying would be similar regardless of the program.