Hi guys. I am in the April 2018 MERP class. It looks like there hasnt been much talk about this program on here in about 2 years, so I just wanted to provide an update on how the program is and what to expect. Ill try to make it as unbiased as possible, but I will provide what I like and dislike about the program. Also, what I write below is what merp is like as of June 2018, maybe not how it will be 1-2 years from now.
How MERP is structured:
We have class 4-5 days a week. On weeks we have quizzes its 4 days of class. Class is from 8-12, each class is two hours long. After class, there are some academic success sessions, or anatomy labs which not mandatory except for the first 2 weeks.
There are 8 quizzes total. On quiz days we dont have class. After your individual quiz, you take a group quiz where they ask you slightly harder questions and you need to come up with an answer as a group. Overall, individual quizzes are 8% of you grade, and group quizzes are 12% of your grade (they drop your 4 lowest GROUP quizzes).
There are three exams total, 5 weeks apart. Mini 1 and 2 is worth 25% of your grade each, and there are 25 questions per subject. Mini 3 is worth 30% of you grade, and there are 100 questions on old material and 100 on new material after mini 2. The exams and quizzes are a combination of straight recall questions, but mostly there are 2nd tier, 3rd tier questions.
Lectures are in Miramar, FL. Our class has about 122 students, including around like 20 students in the AUC track. Students from Canada tune in from their campus in Toronto.
How classes are structured:
4 classes total: Anatomy/Histology, Biochemistry, Physiology, and Microbiology
1. Anatomy: Anatomy is taught by Dr. Shabashvilli. We go by body regions (starting with the head, moving down to the thorax, abdomen, and then limbs, as well as the histology). We also look at x rays and CT scans, and need to identify different things in that manner, as well as identifying pathologies on these images. Ill be honest, anatomy is not as easy as people say it is. If you're not a visual-spatial person, you might find it kinda tricky.
2. Biochemistry: I dont really know what to say about this class, since we had 2 different professors this semester. Alot of it is undergrad biochemistry, but there are some new things you havent seen in undergrad, especially things like serum plasma enzymes and proteins, clotting cascade, and lots of clinical applications.
3. Microbiology: Taught by Dr. Lindner. We start the semester with immunology (mini 1), virology (mini 2), and bacteriology (mini 3). In immunology we cover B cell development, T cell development, MHC I,II, complement system, hypersensitivity reactions, and more. In virology we cover MOST of the viruses, but we do leave out some families from the RNA viruses. We havent covered bacteriology so far, but Dr. Lindner told us we are only doing like 10% of medical bacteriology.
*4. Physiology: Taught by Dr. George. When I was reading previous merp reviews, I read that this class was going to be the hardest. I believe it was because of a certain Professor L who isnt with the program anymore. While it is the most conceptually difficult class, I wouldnt say the exams are the hardest. Some might disagree with me. We start with basic membrane physiology and neurophysiology (mini 1), cario and pulmonary (mini 2), and then renal and endocrine (mini 3). For this class, if you understand the concept and not just memorize the information you will do well. I actually have my highest grade in this class.
My overall impression of the MERP:
I was sad and kinda angry I was put into merp, but now after going through 10 weeks of this, to be honest I'm not sure if I'm happy with being in the program. I'm doing extremely well and I kinda wish they just put me straight into 1st semester. Ive never had a problem keeping up in this program, and I havent really had to use academic success yet. There are some people though, who have difficulty keeping up. If this is you, what you need to do is find the best way you can understand loads of information in a short period of time. 3 hours max for each 2 hour lecture. If you're studying 8-10 hours a day in merp, you're doing it completely wrong. What you need to do is look like a complete idiot while you study. Talk to yourself, write stuff down on whiteboards, walk around, be active. If you need to hear it one more time, go to Panopto and listen to it again.
What I do like about merp is that the program gets increasingly more difficult as the weeks go by. Why do I like this? What I thought was difficult in the first week of merp seems like a joke to me now, and I feel much more prepared to tackle the actual thing. I also feel like i'm a better studier than I was 10 weeks ago.
If you take this program seriously, you'll do wonders. At this point, lots of people in my class (including me), need like a 25% on the final to pass MERP. This is the situation you should be in before the final, because the final is cumulative. Theres also some people who have no hope to pass. Our averages on the quizzes and exams have been in the low 60s, and we need a 65 to pass (for Ross) and a 70 to pass (for AUC). Does that scare you? It shouldnt. As long as you figure out a good study plan from day one, you will do fine. Again, study to understand, not memorize.
Let me know if I left anything out, and feel free to message me with questions.
