more questions about mac!

[Guest uwoheather]

hi guys,

 

just a few more questions for people who have already been there. first of all, is the failure rate high for the licensing exam, or do most people pass first time? is it necessary to have a car, since i will not have one! do you find that you are learning a lot and feel confident with problem-based learning, or do you feel that you aren't learning enough?

thanks again everyone

[Guest UWOMED2005]

The failure rate NATIONALLY each year for the LMCC is somewhere around 5% (I can't remember the exact number.) It's the same number EVERY year. Why? Because that's how they determine a fail. . . you pass as long as you're not in bottom ?5%? of test takers.

 

I don't know how Mac usually does, but it's not something you should worry about too much. First of all, if you work hard you probably won't be in that bottom 5% of your own class so don't have to worry. Secondly, (I'm sorry as this might sound awful) but there are a lot of people who write the exam each year who don't have the English compression and/or medical training to do well. There's always quite a few International Medical Graduates who are writing the exam. . . some of them do really well, but there are always some who either unfortunately don't understand English well enough or don't have the medical background to pass. Once again, I'm sorry if that sounds offensive - I will reiterate that every year there are also IMGs who do very well on the LMCC. But don't be too worried that going to McMaster will hinder your chances at passing the LMCC, as long as you're planning on not being near the bottom of the class.

 

I don't know if a car is required at Mac, but if it is, don't worry. I'd guess MOST medical students at most schools end up buying a car by clerkship as it is the easiest way to get around the different Hospitals. Plus, we're almost all approaching if not past our mid 20s, not a bad time for a first car. There's usually room for a car somewhere on the Line of Credit.

 

I know I'm not from Mac. . . but I hope this helps anyways.

[Guest macMDstudent]

Mac students do well on the LMCC (licensing exam)! Mac students match to every type of residency position! This is a non-issue as far as I'm concerned and I think there are lots of posts about this in other threads for further details.

 

These things may have been issues long ago in Mac's history but in recent times, McMaster students have done very well in these areas for a number of years. I don't have the exact stats, but I don't believe anybody from Mac has failed the LMCC for a few years. Keep in mind people from other schools have failed as well. It really depends on how each student prepares for the exams, in my opinion.

 

I have not written the LMCC boards because I am in first year, but I did have a comprehensive set of boards to pass (national, provincial and US) to be licensed in my previous profession; and although my classmates and I all went to the same school, some did very well and a couple did fail, but most passed just fine. The ones who failed just did not prepare themselves well, from what I could tell.

 

As far as your second question, most people seem to have a car, but it is not absolutely necessary. People in my groups that didn't have cars were getting rides with me or others in the group, which always worked just fine since you do everything with the same group for a whole unit (3 months). It's hard for me to relate completely since I do have a car. Sorry.

 

I do feel that I am learning enough and doing well. Everyone has their own criteria for what is "enough." Some people want to know everything down to the molecular biology level and the complete histopathology for each problem, while others are more focused on clinical medicine. Either way, you will be exposed to the main conecepts through PBL, our lectures and clinical-pathological correlation sessions. How hard you work at it is up to you. It is possible to be a total slacker and fake it through tutorials, but then that is a decision consciously made, I think. Besides, people in your group will notice and mention non-participation in evaluation.

 

You can pace your own learning, without the cramming for exams. I have always found that studying to pass an exam usually means most of the material is forgotten quickly after the exam. But with PBL it is like an oral exam each tutorial (without the pressure!). You'll be asked to "explain that further, please" or "can you draw that pathway on the board please." I find that open ended kind of discussion and memory recall much more challenging than writing a test, and if you know it well enough to do that it usually sticks. It quickly becomes evident if you know something or not when you have to open you mouth and explain it in front of 5 colleagues and a specialist!

 

How would you like to sit in front of your professor and answer every question orally instead of having a written exam? Then have the prof can ask you extra questions based on your answer? Would that show you knew something? Relate that to a tutorial. Not to imply a tutorial is a stressful situation, because it isn't. Usually the tutor doesn't play a huge role. The questions and answers usually come from your fellow students. If you don't have the whole answer, just like when you study with friends, somebody in the group will come up with the information and it will all start to make more sense. That is tutorial style learning!

 

The concept of written vs. oral with discussion is the point I am trying to make in terms of evaluating your knowledge. You find out right away each tutorial how you stand in a group of peers. The tutor also knows if the tutorial covered an appropriate level of knowledge for medical students. Don't forget we do that twice per week!

 

I think the Personal Progress Indicator tests are a good thing to show us our improvement. They have been discussed in other threads, but basically it is a 180 question multiple choice exam that is set at the level of the LMCC (licensing exam). All students in the Mac program (i.e. from years 1, 2 and 3) write the same exam. What you should see is an increase in your score every three months. By the end of 3rd year you obviously should be passing it. If you are not doing well on the PPI, extra tutorials will be set up for you. We write it about once every unit. That also helps us get ready for the LMCC starting in year one.

 

Hope that helps!