Can you please update us on how the town hall meeting went??? Can you also inform us on the latest statistics for first time pass rates for the most recent class?
You have a valid question, and it should play a role in your decision on where to attend. Ultimately, my goal as a student is to pass the first two class years, secure a nice rotation and ultimately the residency of my choice (hopefully). SMTTT00 brought up a number of points; some of which are valid concerns (attendance and time management) and other points on which I would disagree (feedback) and a few others about which I do not have enough knowledge to comment (rotation changes).
To your question on feedback, I feel that if a student takes initiative, there are plenty of avenues to discuss issues with admin or faculty. For example, next week the admin is holding an open "town hall" meeting to which all 1st and 2nd year student were invited. There is supposed to be a discussion on residency placements, rotation options, COMLEX, and multiple other topics. I will be attending and plan to ask and learn about our options and the stats of graduating students, as theses are extremely important issues to me. Additionally, every Wednesday morning there is a "walking with the dean", where students can take a walk around campus and speak directly with the dean as he does his morning walk.
I have also spoken with many 4th year students as well as the students of the first graduating class who are now in residency, and relentlessly grilled them on their residencies and rotational experiences. It is my opinion there are available outlets for information and feedback built into WCUCOM.
I am really not able to comment on how effective the system is on instituting necessary changes because I simply have not been here long enough but I can give a simple example: we felt the cameras for the display screens in the anatomy lab did not have a high enough resolution (they were not good). A member of administration stopped in the lab during class, saw there was a valid issue, and the cameras were changed to high quality HD within a week.
With regard to rotation sites, I have heard different stories from different students, but I am more concerned with facts than discussion. I hope to have details on rotations after the town hall meeting with admin.
A typical week in class for me is as follows:
Mon: 8-12 1-5
Tues: 8-12
Wed: 1 hour in morning (time varies weekly) and 1-5pm
Thurs 8-12 1-5
Fri: 8-12
A typical week is roughly 29 hours class (lab included) per week.
I hope this information helps.
