The BSCE II

To study or not to study, that is the question. On Monday, the 6th Term class is scheduled to take the Basic Sciences Comprehensive Examination (BSCE), Part II. It is a standardized 400-question multiple choice exam given over 8 hours. It is scored such that 1/3 of the class automatically fails based on the class mean. Though the school claims that it is not meant to be an emulation of the USMLE Step I (since it uses question types not found on Step I), basically it is designed to gauge one's readiness to sit for Step I. The thing is that I, and most of the class, don't need to pass the exam. One only needs to pass the exam if one's GPA is below 2.5, so that the school will certify one to be able to take Step I. Since I am already certified based on GPA > 2.5, (and my exam is already scheduled), I don't need to pass, and I am wondering if I should waste time studying at this juncture. People have already said that they will fill in all "C's" on their Scantron to get out of there in 10 minutes, and there were sufficient rumors of people just not showing up for the exam at all to prompt an email from the administration reminding us that we still do have to show up and put *something* on the Scantron.

Well, since my Pharm and Pathophys exams aren't for another month, maybe I can take a break from that and spend a weekend brushing up on my Biochem. Uck. Well, I'll have to start looking at it soon enough anyway for Step I review. :???:

Update: One of my housemates managed to split the radiator hose, so our car is OOS. Luckily for us, our landlord/rental car agent offered to drive us to the exam in the morning, though half-an-hour earlier than we need to be there. In the meantime, he will be replacing the hose and dropping the car off so we have it in time for the 12:30-1:30 lunch break. Not the best of omens…


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erin Says:

if you fail it, then one more person who really needs to pass it will! you’d be helping your fellow classmates.

Carsten Says:

Yeah, I was actually hoping someone would do that for me. :-)

 
 
Gabi Says:

Study! It will help in the long-run. Once a teacher, always a teacher. Besides it could give you an idea where your deficiencies lie. :evil:
Love ya, Mom

 
 
papa Says:
Carsten Says:

Well we made it on time, and the car is fixed again so we are all good…

 
 
anonymous Says:

The BSCE may still not be meaningless. If your USMLE scores don’t come back before you start your rotations then you can use a passing BSCE score instead to start on time.

Carsten Says:

But I am assigned to NJ — where you have to have a passing Step I score to start, and BSCE doesn’t mean anything.

Oh and this is the first of 1,500+ comments where it is labeled anonymous. I didn’t know you could do that…

 
 
 
Subaqua Sternal Rubs » Blog Archive » I Passed!!!! Says:

[…] — time to study for my OSCE tomorrow… Email to Friend Print   Trackback  Permalink   Filed under: Medical School, Life in St.Vincent […]

 

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