I'll do this one at a time...
Hey ksmi or someone else,
Could please you comment on the preclinical curriculum?
-I remember the lady from the admissions office saying at the discussion in the morning that it's 1/3 independent learning, 1/3 small group, and 1/3 lecture. Does this sound about right?
I have no idea what "independent learning" is or what it means. The vast majority of learning is lecture-based. Anatomy, histology, and neurology in first year and pathology in second year have labs. Other classes have random case study small groups to reinforce lecture material. Anatomy is the only class that is more "group" time than lecture - maybe lab time is what they mean by "independent learning". If so, that break down still doesn't make sense to me. I'd say over all of first and second year at least 60% is lecture time.
-Also, how many hours of lecture and small group time every day/week?
Depends on the block. In first year you can count on about 4-6 hours of small group a week, and about 20 hours of lecture (unless it's first block in which case about 8 of those hours are in anatomy lab). [/quote]
-What time do you usually finish for the day?
In first year, three days a week you'll end by 3 and the other two, you'll be done at 12. In second year, it depends on the block. For instance, the block we just finished, we were in class until 3 PM 4 days of the week, and got out at noon one, usually. This block, we're in class until 4 or 5 every day.
-Some upperclassmen complained about board scores and the amount of time given to study these days. Do you know how much time is given now and if it may be increased? It looked like 6 weeks from my interview day materials, and I heard you can add vacation time from 4th year to add to that time.
It works out to 5 weeks between finals and starting 3rd year. Most people take Step 1 a week before 3rd year starts so that they can have a week of vacation. It's less than a lot of schools but I'm of the opinion that you can only study hardcore so long before burning out. Plus, you'll be "studying" for it all year by just learning the class material. However, you can't use 4th year vacation to add extra time. All the 3rd years start at the same time.
Thanks and hope you're all enjoying the interviewee pizza nights
It is nice to have that free food during exam week. I hope that everyone who has gone to them has gotten an opportunity to talk to some students. We love the pizza parties and talking about WashU since most of us love the school.
Hey guys, do you know how receptive WashU is to in the area emails? I just scheduled an interview for next week at SLU and I was wondering if I should send an email to them saying I'm in the area.
Go for it. The admissions office is super nice and receptive to those kinds of things. Can't promise it'll get you an interview but it definitely can't hurt.
