“That which we persist in doing becomes easier, not that the task itself has become easier, but that our ability to perform it has improved.”
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
i got to hang out with Joyce the other night. awesome? you bet. we sat around for several hours catching each other up on the latest campus gossip.
okay, she caught me up on the latest. because i am sadly out of the loop.
in between listing who we thought will/won’t pass the comprehensive final and comparing the colour of our toenail polish, one of the things we complained about was our frustration with the lack of communication regarding what happens in MED 5. there are forms to fill, passport photos to submit, interviews to attend, reference letters to request, a white coat ceremony to plan, fundraising to coordinate, and then some. MUA is a professional minefield of unverified rumors, but when it comes to disseminating pertinent, helpful and factual information in a timely and logical manner, we really miss the mark.
so… how do you know what to do and when??
here is my personal interpretation of the process:
1) passport photos
we heard rumors all semester long about needing new (as in, within the last 6 months) colour photos for this and b&w photos for that. the only thing i needed a passport photo for this semester was my ECFMG Identification Form 186 (see #6 below) to help schedule my USMLE Step 1 test date, but you can send that form from North America if you’re not as type-A organized as me. to be safe, you might want to get a few snaps over your break between MED 4 and MED 5.
2) resume
MUA’s clinical coordinator requires a 1-page educational resume for your file. you can include pertinent volunteer or professional experiences (both on-and-off Nevis) if you think they are relevant (and will fit on a single page).
3) clinical rotations
speaking of the clinical coordinator, you will get your very own 20 minutes with her sometime late in the semester after Block 3. this is the best time to air your concerns and desires for the 72 weeks we spend in the USA. she will ask you things like: when do you plan to write Step 1? what might you want to specialize in? where does your family live? where do you want to live? if you have a significant other (or BFF) at MUA, you can attend the interview together.
4) reference letters
traditionally, students request letters of recommendation from at least 2 professors on campus. it is nice to ask in person, with a follow-up email confirmation. including a copy of your 1-page resume (with a cover letter) is a great way to ensure the professor has all of the information you would like them to know about you. the reference letter should be forwarded by the professor to MUA’s state-side head office for your file. be sure to thank them.
5) white coat ceremony
as a class, you’ll need to pick a location on Nevis (ie: Mount Nevis Hotel, Botanical Gardens, Four Seasons, etc) and a budget. early delegation of teams to be responsible for things like fundraising and compiling a photo slideshow is a good idea. decisions will have to be made about what sort of food to serve at the “ceremony”, which professors you want to speak, whether or not you want to have some sort of in-class award recognition, and stuff like that. the ceremony can be as grand or as small as your class would like. preferences over the details usually goes to students who have friends or family traveling from home to attend.
6) get sign-off
we were just reminded today of the form we have to take around to the electrical and cable companies to prove we don’t owe any money before leaving the island. there are seven signatures and stamps to collect in all. it’s kind of like a treasure hunt… with the big prize being that plane trip home. my biggest tip after spending 4 hours in town going through the process: the electrical company won’t sign anything without a final reading unless your landlord signs first. here’s hoping you have good relationship with your landlord and that the bill is in their name.
7) ECFMG & the USMLE
see my post here about the uphill road to the USMLE Step 1.
8) lighten your luggage
donate your towels, sheets, clothes and appliances to the Nevis Change Centre. your class rep should have info about contact information and drop-off locations. the ladies in the office often let us use the space under the stairs reserved for newly arrived packages and parcels.
lastly, a short word on “mandatory” MED 5 meetings. they are few and far between (one with the clinical coordinator and one with Dean M) and mostly arranged for your benefit. if you are so far behind in your studying that taking an hour or two away from the books is a super huge deal, then you might want to re-think your study scheduling.
the only advice i have for studying for the Comprehensive Shelf Final is this:
- start early
- make a schedule and stick to it (be sure to include some downtime)
- pick one central resource (ie: Kaplan or First Aid) for structure
- do lots of practice questions
- get ready for the big suck of the last 2 weeks when you don’t feel like doing anything except packing and re-packing your luggage
i think that’s it… let me know if i missed any of your burning questions. and good luck with the final!
