Important factors to understand as you consider course options:
1) Content issues: the exam has about 350 main scenarios, and over 1,000 variations. How do you know what to study and how to study it?
2) Practice issues: how do you build presentation skills after your courses?
3) Content vs. Practice: how do you balance covering material and practicing how to say it to an examiner?
4) Study habits: how and what should you read after your courses?
5) Timing of preparation: how far ahead of the exam should you prepare?
Show details of study factors
1) Content issues: there are about 350 main scenarios overall, about 200 of which are uncommonly used, and several thousand minor variations. If you want to cover every single main scenario, the options for doing so are a one-day (didactic) Content Review, a Private Tutorial (which can combine didactic with practice,) or a Content Review in a Private Group Session. Dr. Argy will indicate which are the more common and which are the more rare scenarios.
The average exam has a total of 12 questions.
Candidates who do a Content Review (in addition to a Small Group Session +/- Audit) will see 93+% of their actual exam questions during their preparation.
Candidates who have the content of a Small Group Session (A or B, +/- Audit) will see an average of 83% of their actual exam questions during their preparation.
The A and B courses have different content.
2) Practice issues: Odyssey teaches you an approach to presenting information which you can apply to any scenario, regardless of the specific content of the question and your actual experience with the subject. This allows you to present information comfortably and consistently. More practice as a surgeon increases your skill, speed and comfort in the OR. The same is true of oral board preparation.
3) Content vs. Practice: the exam involves a mixture of presentation skills and knowledge, requiring the candidate to answer questions in front of two board examiners under emotional pressure with very tight time constraints. Doing this well, and to the examiners' satisfaction, demands an effective presentation approach with appropriate factual content. Focusing only on presentation skills, or only on content, could compromise your exam performance. Therefore I strongly urge candidates to prepare using a mixture of practice and content review. That being said, if you feel you only want to work primarily on one or the other, that is up to you.
4) Study habits: when you prepare with Odyssey, you will learn an effective, efficient approach to organizing and delivering content, which then makes your study habits far better and faster, especially compared to the tedious, cumbersome techniques used for written board preparation. The sooner you learn these techniques, the easier it will be to study and the more information you will be able to cover.
5) Timing of preparation: Most Odyssey candidates prepare about a month before the exam, and the vast majority pass. Despite having passed, many volunteer, in retrospect, they wish they had prepared earlier than a month ahead. That`s why I recommend early preparation for all candidates, preferably 2-3 months in advance. If you have prior exam experience, I suggest preparation 4-6 months in advance.
With this perspective, you can decide what you want to emphasize as you select one or more of the courses that Odyssey offers, including issues of content, practice, timing, duration, and cost.
Course Formats: Overview
1) Course formats with a group of candidates: The dates are set in advance.
2) Combined Courses: over 96% of Odyssey candidates do Combined Courses -- the vast majority choose all 5 days.
3) One-on-one Private Tutorial with Dr. Argy: Dates are flexible, arranged at your convenience.
4) Video Teleconference: high quality video, usually done as part of a Tutorial.
See a spreadsheet that lists Odyssey's course options, duration, class size, cost, content covered and features.
|
Small Group
Session (SGS)
A or B |
Audit Small
Group (Audit)
A or B |
Private Tutorial |
SGS + Audit |
SGS + Audit + Review |
Private Group
Session |
Video
Teleconference |
Content
Review |
| Duration |
2 days |
2 days |
Candidate's choice |
4 days |
5 days |
Candidate's choice< |
Candidate's choice |
One Day |
| Course Size |
Maximum 10 |
Maximum 10 |
One candidate, rarely 2 |
Maximum 10 in SGS |
Maximum 10 in SGS |
Variable,max. 10 |
1-2 candidates |
No limit |
| Location |
Variable, but usually Boston |
Variable, but usually Boston |
Options:
In PERSON
By PHONE
By VIDEO Teleconference
(see below)
Save $300! if you arrange your Tutorial in Dartmouth MA rather than Boston.
|
Variable, but usually Boston |
Variable, but usually Boston |
Variable, usually Boston (see Options) |
Via cable internet from your home or office |
Usually Boston |
| Amount of Content |
~ 90-100 scenarios
***DIFFERENT CONTENT in A and B |
~ 90-100 scenarios
***DIFFERENT CONTENT in A and B |
Option for ~ 350 scenarios + >1,000 variants |
~ 180-200 scenarios
***DIFFERENT CONTENT in A and B |
~ 350 scenarios + >1,000 variants
***DIFFERENT CONTENT in A and B |
Every scenario Dr. Argy has ever seen |
Option for ~ 350 scenarios + >1,000 variants |
~ 350 scenarios + >1,000 variant
|
| Amount of Practice |
At least 6 scenarios (individualized evaluation + at least 5 more) |
One practice scenario optional |
Unlimited practice |
At least 6 scenarios (individualized evaluation + at least 5 more) |
At least 6 scenarios (individualized evaluation + at least 5 more) |
At least 6 scenarios (individualized evaluation + at least 5 more) |
Unlimited practice |
Not applicable |
| Cost |
$1,480 |
$950 |
Depends on duration and location (call Dr. Argy) |
$1,480 + $850
SAVE $100 |
$1,480 + $850 + $850
SAVE $200 |
Depends on duration, location and enrollment (call Dr. Argy) |
Depends on duration (call Dr. Argy) |
$950 |
| Considerations |
Occasionally there are extra candidates, who get their scenarios separately from the core group of 10, |
Occasionally there are extra candidates in the audit who observe. |
Can be arranged at the same location as an SGS, just prior to or following an SGS and/or Audit |
Second most popular option |
Most popular option - over 70% of all Odyssey candidates do the SGS + Audit + CR |
With at least 8 candidates, Dr. Argy will travel to candidates` location |
Learn more about technical requirements.
|
This is a purely didactic review of all oral exam scenarios, with over 9 hours of material |
| Options |
Two courses can be attended, either together or spaced months apart, increasing content exposure and practice, giving the candidate time to study and practice, and allowing the candidate to observe their progress |
An optional practice scenario can be arranged in advance for a charge of $95
Two courses can be attended, either together or spaced months apart, increasing content exposure.
|
Save $300! if you do your Tutorial in Dartmouth MA. Ask Dr. Argy for details.
Tutorial can be done:
In PERSON
By PHONE
By VIDEO TELECONF
Several courses in combination can be done to increase content and practice over a period of time.
Can be shared between 2 candidates. |
|
|
If there are at least 8 candidates, Dr. Argy will travel to the candidates' location.
A complete content review requires 10 hours (8 hours if the candidate has taken an SGS or Audit.)
|
Very similar to a Private Tutorial.
This format allows the candidate to save time, effort and cost of travel and hotel. |
A Review is optimally combined with (at least) a Small Group Session.
This combination allows the candidate to understand HOW the orals work and WHAT is covered.
(See paragraph 3 above about the importance of content AND practice.)
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Course Formats in Depth
Individual Courses, Combined Courses
Small Group Session (SGS): A 2 day course, Friday-Saturday ("A" Group) or Sunday-Monday ("B" Group.) (ALL Odyssey candidates do a Small Group Session, usually as part of a course combination.) You participate in a core group of 10 candidates, getting practice scenarios (at least 6), in a relaxed setting, with Dr. Argy instructing and testing you. The A and B Sessions have minimal content overlap. You can get a certificate for 16 Category 2 CME credits for only $3-4 per credit. Show Small Group Session details
More details about what a Small Group Session includes:
• you get at least six practice scenarios (included in the tuition) in the "hot seat" with Dr. Argy
• You'll benefit from collaborative learning, personal attention, and markedly improved presentation skills and confidence.
• introductory presentation on how the orals really work and what the examiners want
• you have an initial evaluation on-camera (with optional playback) and personalized assessment of your baseline
• Dr. Argy gives you an individualized plan of approach to build on your strengths and correct your weaknesses
• you'll see a summary of images and a list of procedures covered in the exam
• the 2 day course covers approximately 90-100 of the most commonly used exam scenarios
• you get specific instructions, tapered to your needs, on what and how to study specifically for the orals
• you get password access to over 200 exam scenarios on the Odyssey website
• during the course, some candidates observe in an Audit (see below)
• occasionally, overflow candidates are accommodated as "extra" candidates from the core group of 10, and receive their practice scenarios before and after the core group (i.e. before 8 AM and after 5 PM) and rarely some extra candidates will have some of their practice scenarios on the phone, or by Teleconference, with Dr. Argy shortly after the courses are completed. Regardless of the logistics of when the practice scenarios are done, all candidates in a Small Group Session get at least 6 practice scenarios with Dr. Argy.
Auditing a Small Group Session ("Audit"): A 2 day course, Friday-Saturday ("A" Group) or Sunday-Monday ("B" Group.) You observe a Small Group Session taking place, but you are not getting practice scenarios in the "hot seat." You can actively participate by asking questions. You can get a certificate for 16 Category 2 CME credits for only $3-4 per credit. Show Audit details
More details about what Auditing a Small Group Session include:
• you observe other candidates getting their practice scenarios in the "hot seat" with Dr. Argy
• you are exposed to collaborative learning and how the exam process works.
• introductory presentation on how the orals really work and what the examiners want
• you observe the initial evaluation on-camera of the other candidates
• you'll see a summary of images and a list of procedures covered in the exam
• the 2 day course covers approximately 90-100 of the most commonly used exam scenarios. Again, the A and B Sessions have minimal content overlap, so combining an Audit with other courses maximizes exposure with lower cost. (see Course Combinations)
• you get instructions on what and how to study specifically for the orals
• an Audit is rarely done as an individual course. It is almost always done in combination with a Small Group Session and a Content Review.
Content Review: A 1 day didactic course, starting Monday evening and all day Tuesday. (Over 90% of Odyssey candidates include a Content Review in their preparation.) You observe an on-camera presentation by Dr. Argy of every scenario he has ever seen on the oral boards. Candidates who do a Content Review, as a group, see over 93% of their actual exam scenarios during the Review. (No one else offers a Content Review course.) You can get a certificate for 9 Category 2 CME credits.Show Content Review details
More details about what a Small Group Session includes:
• a 1 day didactic course that covers over 1,000 scenarios and variants ... everything Dr. Argy has ever seen
• the current version of the Content Review is over 9 hours long (46 GB of video) and covers over 1,000 scenarios and variants.
• you will have seen over 93% of your actual exam questions during the Review
• is offered as an addition to a Small Group Session and/or Tutorial
• a Content Review cannot be done as a single course. It must be combined with at least a Small Group Session or Private Tutorial. Recording of the Review by any means, including typing into a computer, is not allowed.
Combined Course of Small Group Session + Audit: A 4 day course, Friday-Monday. (Over 90% of Odyssey candidates include these 4 days of courses as part of their coursework, usually as part of the 5 day combination, and save at least $100.) You participate in a core group of 10 candidates, while some candidates observe in an Audit (see above) in a relaxed setting, with Dr. Argy as your instructor. You get at least 6 practice scenarios included in the tuition. Since the A and B Sessions have minimal content overlap, this combination maximizes content exposure with 180-200 topics. You can get a certificate for 32 Category 2 CME credits for only $3-4 per credit.Show Combination Small Group Session + Audit details
More details about what a Combination Small Group Session + Audit includes:
• you get at least six practice scenarios (included in the tuition) in the "hot seat" with Dr. Argy
• introductory presentation on how the orals really work and what the examiners want
• you have an initial evaluation on-camera (with optional playback) and personalized assessment of your baseline
• Dr. Argy gives you an individualized plan of approach to build on your strengths and correct your weaknesses
• you'll see a summary of images and a list of procedures covered in the exam
• the 4 day course covers approximately 150 of the most commonly used exam scenarios
• the combination allows increased exposure to content and approach at a lower cost than doing 2 Small Group Sessions (although some candidates choose to do 2 Small Group Sessions.
• You benefit from collaborative learning, personal attention, and markedly improved presentation skills and confidence.
ï you get specific instructions on what and how to study specifically for the orals
• occasionally, overflow candidates are accommodated as "extra" candidates from the core group of 10, and receive their practice scenarios before and after the core group (i.e. before 8 AM and after 5 PM) and rarely some extra candidates will have some of their practice scenarios on the phone, or by Teleconference, with Dr. Argy shortly after the courses are completed. Regardless of the logistics of when the practice scenarios are done, all candidates in a Small Group Session get at least 6 practice scenarios with Dr. Argy.
Combined Course of Small Group Session + Audit + Content Review: A 5 day course, Fri-Tue. (Over 90% of Odyssey candidates choose all 5 days of courses, and save $200.) Like the Small Group Session + Audit Combined Course, above, but you also add the one day Content Review. You see over 150 scenarios presented during the first four days, then add over 1,000 scenarios during the Content Review. You can get a certificate for 41 Category 2 CME credits for only $3 per credit.Show Combination Small Group Session + Audit + Content Review details
More details about what a Combination Small Group Session + Audit + Content Review includes:
• you get at least six practice scenarios (included in the tuition) in the "hot seat" with Dr. Argy
• introductory presentation on how the orals really work and what the examiners want
• you have an initial evaluation on-camera (with optional playback) and personalized assessment of your baseline
• Dr. Argy gives you an individualized plan of approach to build on your strengths and correct your weaknesses
• you'll see a summary of images and a list of procedures covered in the exam
• each 2 day course covers approximately 75 of the most commonly used exam scenarios
• The Content Review covers every scenario seen by Dr. Argy, and covers over 1,000 variations in a 9 hour Review (see Content Review)
• you get specific instructions on what and how to study for the orals
• occasionally, overflow candidates are accommodated as "extra" candidates from the core group of 10, and receive their practice scenarios before and after the core group (i.e. before 8 AM and after 5 PM) and rarely some extra candidates will have some of their practice scenarios on the phone, or by Teleconference, with Dr. Argy shortly after the courses are completed. Regardless of the logistics of when the practice scenarios are done, all candidates in a Small Group Session get at least 6 practice scenarios with Dr. Argy.
Private Tutorial: A 1 day course, on a day convenient for both you and Dr. Argy. (Particularly suited for candidates who are very anxious about the exam, or have prior exam experience.) Intensive, highly effective one-on-one training from Dr. Argy, who devotes his 14 years of board prep experience exclusively to you. Pass rates after a Tutorial, when combined with other courses, are over 94%.Show Private Tutorial details
More details about what a Private Tutorial includes:
• completely individualized one-on-one preparation with Dr. Argy
• highly effective at improving exam performance, expecially for candidates with prior exam experience, with pass rates over 93% on the next exam attempt
• you have an initial evaluation on-camera (with optional playback) and personalized assessment of your baseline
• Dr. Argy gives you an individualized plan of approach to build on your strengths and correct your weaknesses
• you'll see a summary of images and a list of procedures covered in the exam
• duration and focus can be whatever the candidate chooses
• you get specific instructions on what and how to study specifically for the orals
• Learn even more about Private Tutoring.
Private Group Session (PGS): A 2 day course, Fri-Sat, Sat-Sun, or Sun-Mon. Equivalent to a Small Group Session, but with a group of candidates that you arrange to work with. The Session can occur at a location of your choosing, depending on enrollment.Show Private Group Session details
More details about what a Private Group Session includes:
• structured like a Small Group Session, but you choose the other candidates in your group
• depending on enrollment and your group's preferences, the course can take place in Dartmouth, MA, or a location of your choosing
• you get at least six practice scenarios (included in the tuition) in the "hot seat" with Dr. Argy
• introductory presentation on how the orals really work and what the examiners want
• you have an initial evaluation on-camera (with optional playback) and personalized assessment of your baseline
• Dr. Argy gives you an individualized plan of approach to build on your strengths and correct your weaknesses
• you'll see a summary of images and a list of procedures covered in the exam
• the 2 day course covers approximately 90-100 of the most commonly used exam scenarios
• you get specific instructions on what and how to study for the orals
• course size restricted to 8 to 10 candidates. Smaller sizes can be arranged, but at an increased cost per candidate.
• if Dr. Argy travels to your location, the participants divide his travel and hotel costs into their tuition
Video Teleconference: High quality video teleconference that allows you to participate in courses from your home or work. Save travel time and travel/hotel costs. Learn more about technical requirements for doing a Video Teleconference.
Show Video Teleconference details
More details about what a Video Teleconference includes:
• analogous to a Tutorial in structure, with completely individualized one-on-one preparation with Dr. Argy
• you pick a date that is mutually convenient for you and Dr. Argy
• highly effective at improving exam performance, expecially for candidates with prior exam experience
• you have an initial evaluation on-camera (with playback) and personalized assessment of your baseline
• Dr. Argy gives you an individualized plan of approach to build on your strengths and correct your weaknesses
• you'll see a summary of images and a list of procedures covered in the exam
• duration and focus can be whatever the candidate chooses, and can even be spread out an hour a week over many weeks
• you get specific instructions on what and how to study for the orals
• learn more about technical requirements for doing a Video Teleconference.
Other Course Combinations: Over 96% of Odyssey candidates do a combination of courses. The vast majority choose the combinations listed above (Small Group Session + Audit, or Small Group Session + Audit + Content Review.) But many other course combinations are possible, including the addition of a Tutorial, which you can adjust to meet your needs. Call Dr. Argy with any questions about how to optimize your preparation to meet your needs.
Compare Odyssey to Other Board Prep
Course Locations
Most of Odyssey's courses are held at the Courtyard by Marriott in Billerica, Massachusetts, about 15 miles from Boston's Logan Airport. Another course venue is the Embassy Suites at Logan Airport. (The location will be specified when you sign up.) Both hotels offer high speed internet access in all rooms, and complimentary made-to-order breakfast.
Special room rates have been arranged for course participants at $89 - $99 per night, a savings of 40% or more, depending on the season. For Small Group Sessions, Small Group Audits and Private Group Sessions, it is recommended that reservations be made at least three weeks in advance, otherwise availability and rates cannot be guaranteed. Private Tutorial participants will be able to arrange similar rates with shorter notice.
For candidates choosing to do a Tutorial with Dr. Argy in Dartmouth, Massachusetts: you will be supplied with a list of local hotels and directions from the airport in Providence, Rhode Island, which is 30 miles from Dartmouth. Driving is easy, and nearly all highway.
Guarantee
Any candidate who takes an Odyssey Group Course combination, or Tutorial with combined group courses, and fails a subsequent exam is entitled to attend a Small Group Audit, without any tuition charged, if the Audit is taken within one year of the examination which was failed.
Candidates who do only a Small Group Session, or Private Group Session, or Tutorial alone do not qualify.
Cancellation Policy
For cancellation more than 2 weeks from the start of any course, all the tuition is applied to a future course less a $400 administrative fee. For cancellation within 2 weeks of the start of a course, all the tuition is applied to a future course less a $500 administrative fee.
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