So I learned today that LECOM makes you dress up and you can't even drink water or something. Any other schools with weird rules? I figured asking in the thread of people already going somewhere would be better than the pre-DO thread.
"Rules" in the way of dress code, water bottles, administrative crap etc should be pretty low on your priority list when deciding on school. Most people at LECOM could care less about the dress code or drink /food restrictions honestly.So I learned today that LECOM makes you dress up and you can't even drink water or something. Any other schools with weird rules? I figured asking in the thread of people already going somewhere would be better than the pre-DO thread.
FWIW...that kind of depends on your definition of substantial. At ACOM, all labs are obviously mandatory and the guest lectures are usually mandatory, but they haven't been that strict on the mandatory class attendance for other classes. In their case, I understand them being strict however, since they're brand new and need to keep numbers to show the ACAP board or whatever the accrediting agency is. Plus, you can wear scrubs at ACOM, instead of business casual. I mean "technically" it's a dress code, but it's relatively lax. You just can't wear jeans or shorts to lecture, but if you're a girl then wear tights....I love tights.schools with substantial hours of mandatory class attendance:
LECOM (lecture curriculum)
Campbell
ACOM
WCU
VCOM's
All of these schools have dress codes too.
LECOM doesn't let you eat or drink on campus and you have to wear a shirt and tie.
"Rules" in the way of dress code, water bottles, administrative crap etc should be pretty low on your priority list when deciding on school. Most people at LECOM could care less about the dress code or drink /food restrictions honestly.
The actually important rules IMO to look into are.
1. Board study time
2. 4th year schedule/rotation scheduling policy. Can you schedule auditions early and without a hassle? Are their restrictions in what hospitals you can rotate with?
3. Mentors, do they encourage students to pursue specialties as well as primary care?
4. Time off, specifically for interviews in 4th year.
5. Learn more about where and what the rotations are in...being sent to set up your own rotations everywhere you go kinda blows.
Just a few off the top of my head.
Except a crap ton of docs only wear scrubs in the hospital/clinic. Even in specialties where scrubs are irrelevant you still see docs wearing them.^Somewhat this, no drinks in the classrooms because of computer makes sense. Dressing like the profession you want makes sense. When rules stop making sense, it is all a weird, micromanaging power play.
So I'm assuming studying on campus doesn't happen very often at LECOM? Are there any public libraries or quiet places near LECOM you guys study at (with coffee)? Or is studying mostly done at home?
^Somewhat this, no drinks in the classrooms because of computer makes sense. Dressing like the profession you want makes sense. When rules stop making sense, it is all a weird, micromanaging power play.
So I'm assuming studying on campus doesn't happen very often at LECOM? Are there any public libraries or quiet places near LECOM you guys study at (with coffee)? Or is studying mostly done at home?
Except a crap ton of docs only wear scrubs in the hospital/clinic. Even in specialties where scrubs are irrelevant you still see docs wearing them.
I've never understood the "professional" dress argument.
Indeed-- But, I'm not talking about surgeons.Even surgeons have clinic hours. Most wear professional attire in the office. May hospitalist wear professional attire when rounding. Many hospitals frown on wearing scrubs out of the OR.
True, all comes down to the contract and expectations of the facility that hires you.Indeed-- But, I'm not talking about surgeons.
Around here plenty of hospitalists wear scrubs when rounding. And maybe where you are it gets frowned upon but where I live (a major market) that is not the case.
^Somewhat this, no drinks in the classrooms because of computer makes sense.
schools with substantial hours of mandatory class attendance:
LECOM (lecture curriculum)
Campbell
ACOM
WCU
VCOM's
All of these schools have dress codes too.
We've got electronics wired into all of our tables. Knowing what I know about the sort of hardware they use to make that possible, a spill would cause a maximum of $200 of damage and could be repaired the same day. Thusfar, exactly zero such events have occurred in two years (since we upgraded our classroom). So you're telling me LECOM would rather every student go without beverages than risk the ever so slight chance that $200 might have to be spent to repair a table every 3 years or so? That just seems silly. The official reason I've heard has been that it allows them to minimize their cleaning staff and expenses.This is not entirely true. The desks in the lecture hall are all wired with computer chips, etc. So they don't want liquids in the lecture halls since spills can short circuit the electronics. You can drink in the cafeteria and there are water fountains for breaks. It's not that hard.
Well, I started there in 2001 when computers and things "online" etc was quite a new thing. Sure the cost today is minimal but back then it was not. I guess the rules have just carried through.We've got electronics wired into all of our tables. Knowing what I know about the sort of hardware they use to make that possible, a spill would cause a maximum of $200 of damage and could be repaired the same day. Thusfar, exactly zero such events have occurred in two years (since we upgraded our classroom). So you're telling me LECOM would rather every student go without beverages than risk the ever so slight chance that $200 might have to be spent to repair a table every 3 years or so? That just seems silly. The official reason I've heard has been that it allows them to minimize their cleaning staff and expenses.
SeriouslyMandatory attendance (besides labs and such ) in medical school with today's technology is such a waste of time (preclinical years).
Mandatory attendance (besides labs and such ) in medical school with today's technology is such a waste of time (preclinical years). I for one would not have been able to do as well as I have done had my school had a strict attendance policy. Driving to campus and being in class just occupies so much time that one can be using more productively...even if that means just catching up on some sleep to recharge for higher quality studying later. I was one of those people who thought I would be attending lecture everyday when things started. That quickly changed... and with the switch to streaming lectures from home my grades astronomically rose. No attendance policy + recorded lectures = flexibility for you to find your optimal method of mastering the material and managing your time appropriately. IMO that is a pretty big deal in med school. Obviously this can be abused and can really promote procrastination and such, but if you choose to abuse it you won't last long anyhow so...
On that note, it is a shame MUCOM recently decided to abruptly enforce a strict attendance policy for this time consuming course we are currently in called "integrations"--basically a bunch of random last minute stuff mixed with PBL. That moment when the course director wants butts in seats against the will of just about the entire student body. SMH. Kinda putting a kink in our board prep time after having been conditioned to have the flexibility to do things a certain way for the past 1.5 years. Sigh, the joys of being part of an inaugural class.
I think NSU also has a dress code.
Dress code is fairly laid back. Color-coded scrub top, with either matching scrub pants or dress pants.
I agree a lot with this post. It's one of the reasons I chose the PBL pathway. The bold is also definitely true, so I could imagine some people really needing to attend lectures to keep themselves on track, but most med students can do without them.
LECOM obviously has mandatory attendance, and its occasionally a nuisance in PBL, but time in lecture/class is so minimal (and its not like attendance is always taken) that its not a huge deal. I'm sure LDP is a completely different story though. From what I've heard, most of the time attendance isn't taken, but you don't know when it will be, so most people attend most of the lectures.
I agree a lot with this post. It's one of the reasons I chose the PBL pathway. The bold is also definitely true, so I could imagine some people really needing to attend lectures to keep themselves on track, but most med students can do without them.
LECOM obviously has mandatory attendance, and its occasionally a nuisance in PBL, but time in lecture/class is so minimal (and its not like attendance is always taken) that its not a huge deal. I'm sure LDP is a completely different story though. From what I've heard, most of the time attendance isn't taken, but you don't know when it will be, so most people attend most of the lectures.
Does LECOM prohibit drinks in the administrative suite? They have computers and other electronics in there also.
When I was there the no drinks did apply to staff offices too. The profs took their breaks together in the cafeteria for coffee.
The thing with LECOM is that it's a private school run by the family who started it. So everyone who gets hired or matriculates does so with the understanding of the policies.That's good at least. I may disagree with the rule but I can respect the equal application...
Just out of curiosity, do you interact at all with students in the other pathways? Are you all considered to be in the same class together? Do you ever have activities together? Do you take the same or different tests?
Do you share class representives/student government officers?
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The mandatory attendance at Carey is about the only staunch rule. 80 percent of lectures and 100 percent of labs (mainly OP&P and Doctoring Skills, they don't really check in anatomy unless there is are noticeable absences in lecture). It's the same policy as Carey's undergrad. We were required to have the same or stricter by the Board of Trustees.
Dress code is fairly laid back. Color-coded scrub top, with either matching scrub pants or dress pants. Running shorts/sweatpants on OP&P and some Doctoring Skills days. Anatomy is basically wear whatever you don't mind getting dirty and stinking of formaldehyde.
The only rule that's weird to me is after reviewing a a test in the faculty office, if you make personal notes, you can't take them with you-they have to be left with the exam. Even if they have no exam content on them. Especially, if it's stuff you don't need to bug a faculty member with.
It's nice that you guys get a head start on wearing the "geriatric attending" uniform. I can only assume the scrub top + dress pants combo is completed with sneakers.
Color coded? What are they coding for?
It's nice that you guys get a head start on wearing the "geriatric attending" uniform. I can only assume the scrub top + dress pants combo is completed with sneakers.
When I was at LECOM all 3 pathways did Anatomy/Embro/Histo together at the start of first year. We all had OMM together every Wednesday for 2 years. The exams were different for each pathway. The officers were over all 3 pathways. We all were considered to be the same class. Lots of clubs at LECOM where we did things together. We did our clinical classes together.
Serious question: what's with ER docs and the scrub top + khakis look????Scrub top plus nice pants? That's the ER mullet.
Not to be confused with a T-shirt and scrub pants... also known as OB jammies.
Serious question: what's with ER docs and the scrub top + khakis look????
Do they seriously not realize how utterly stupid they look?
Lecom also requires dress code for anatomy lab. Yes. Did anyone mention that yet? We had to go to good will to buy cheap professional clothes to change into for anatomy lab and change back into our Normal dress clothes after. No scrubs to anatomy lab! Guys have to still wear a tie..
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