So for those of us that interviewed in Peoria and would rather chew off their left arm then attend medical school there, can someone describe what Chicago's curriculum, student-life, and so on is like?
Does UIC do a second look weekend? Kindof at a disadvantage since you interview at one campus but will potentially go to another you've never seen.
I can share my experience with the Chicago campus but I am sure there are others who spent more than a day there like I did.
Curriculum - The curriculum changes every year as they have a very active curriculum review committee. So the curriculum this year is different than the curriculum that the M2 who interviewed me took, so even she couldn't tell me a lot about it. From what it sounds like, it is still separate classes for all of the basic sciences but they are organized in a way that allows you a better integration of information. The first semester we'll have a test every single Monday. That's right... (They said they did this to teach students how to study and not procrastinate.) Then second semester it is just a midterm test and then finals...
Student life- it seemed to me that you can get whatever you want out of this. If you enjoy bar hopping/partying it seems like there is a large group of students who do this every Monday night post test. Like I said in a previous post the average age of the entering medical school class is around 22. There also seems like there is a great deal of stuff on campus, everybody knows everybody even if not that well. There were also some people who commuted from the suburbs and have families. So you shouldn't have a problem finding a group that meets your social needs.
From past threads, I dont think that UIC has a second look weekend, but that could be wrong. I'd be happy to answer any other specific questions you may have about the Chicago campus as best I can having spend only a day and a half there.
Something they did mention is the huge alumni list. My interview tour guide went to UC Davis, and lived in a small town somewhere in northern california and he was able to find multipe UIC grads to shadow when he went home for the holidays. UIC has been around almost 125 years and a huge graduating class so they really played up the alumni relations. The gym is really nice, looks very new and well stocked. They had two indoor tracks, one for walking and one for running as well as tons of cardio. Students said that if you wanted to hang out with the professors working out in the morning was a great way to get to know a lot of them because they were there working out!
The student center is right across the street and very nice, has a subway, coffee shop, cafeteria, etc. The building was old, but no worse than any old school in the US. The classroom looked like it had comfy seats in it along with some really good projectors. Finally, the anatomy lab. I was really impressed with the Anatomy lab. It is on the 7th floor which is VERY unique, and it has lots of windows. There is an awesome view and it will make a huge difference in your first year being able to see the outside world during the many hours spent in anatomy lab. They also bring in specialists for each are of the body during anatomy. IE, while doing the abdomen they bring in a bunch of general surgeons, etc.
All in all I thought it seemed like a great school, with AMAZING clinical experiences. Over 10 affiliated hospitals for you to do rotations in from rich suburb hotels to VA's to University medical centers. If I can help out with anything else I'd be happy to!
Congrats!
