Hi all,
I'm currently a first year here, and can shed light on a few things:
MedEdPath is considered your representative for the UQ-Ochsner program. This is a technicality, but they present your application. As a result, you cannot apply to UQ and UQ-Ochsner separately, as admissions will wonder why you have a representative on one side, and chose to represent yourself on the other. It looks weird, and your documents will be messed up. In addition, MedEdPath does a lot of make sure your application is correct before submitting, something you need and will miss out on if you "represent yourself." However, there is no way to apply to UQ-Ochsner without MedEdPath.
The MD program is poorly done; they are "addressing" it, but promises and actions are two distinct verbs. For US students, it is a real fact that you will be teaching yourself because UQ's curriculum is not comprehensive. However, I have friends in three Ivy League med schools in the US who are experiencing the same "self-teaching" curriculum. The reason there is so much noise about the quality is, after a series of disasters the staff called "lectures," they blamed the students for their ignorance and competence. When that became a PR nightmare, the story was changed to, "Admissions misspoke about the prerequisites you had." It was a softer way of placing the blame on us for the disorganization, so they never addressed real issues. For example, there are many times a lecture on the pathology of a system precedes the physiology. One excuse provided was, "It is for the convenience of the lecturers, them taking time to teach us." That's great and all, but the students are paying to be here. Many times, we are supposed to be honored that Person X has come, despite his poor teaching skills and his apparent disdain for being there.
The shortcomings of the program for this year will not be the shortcomings for your year, but self-study for the USMLE will always be a truth. There are USMLE tutorials, but they are done by the second years, who are butthurt about getting an MBBS instead of an MD. In addition, the current "Academic" rep is a verified b###. She initially welcomed feedback on the tutorials - which currently are and continue to be "what I studied for my USMLE today" - but once she received it, she took offense and insulted us instead. A fellow CBL emailed her, and was told, "If you expect to understand anything, then you're using the tutorials wrong." What else are they for?! Apparently, just to get a feel for words we don't know yet, while the tutors study for their test. Screw us, right?
In short, the program is great because it gets you what you want: a residency in the US. However, like many US programs, you'll find technology has made subpar teaching pointless as you can find superior sources online.
Regards,
HS