That is awesome to hear! Thanks so much for the info. Also, can you give me your perspective on the school? It's nice to hear from people that are knee deep in the school. Are you happy with your choice or is there anything you wish you knew before you commited to Rush? Also, I'm not sure what year you are, but how do you feel about how Rush is preparing/did prepare you for step 1? And finally how do you feel yoru clinical experience is/will be? I'm sure you are crazy busy, so I'm super sorry for so many questions, but students at the school you're interested in are an invaluable resource. Thanks in advance on any advice/info you can provide! 🙂🙂🙂
I am quite happy. (Except right before exams.
😉) The first-year block/systems-based curriculum is solid. The kinks in the second year curriculum are being ironed out, as this is the first year it's been implemented, but I know the faculty are receptive to our comments (I am an M2) and that they'll have resolved our major complaints in time for the now-M1s.
That having been said, I think our greatest challenge was making the transition from first to second year: the workload and the expectations are simply much higher in the second year. It is possible during first year to get by based on what you might have learned in undergrad, but during second year, everyone's on a level playing field. The new curriculum didn't help matters -- everyone, students and faculty alike, was doing their best to get acclimated to the new organization, but I think growing pains are to be expected.
For Step 1 prep, I think the school is committed to giving us the tools to succeed. Exams in the second year feature clinical vignettes in the style of Step 1 questions. Our class has a free subscription to the USMLEWorld question bank and they're also providing us with opportunities to take practice NBME exams in simulated test-taking conditions. I know they're working on more things like that for the class after us. We have, if I calculated correctly, about 6-7 weeks of prep time before the last day to sit for Step 1. I've scheduled my date so that I have 5 weeks, which I think will be enough.
As for my clinical experiences, I'm anticipating good things. The M3s I'm friends with have had nothing but good things to say about their rotations so far. And even during the preclinical years, I think between preceptorship and community service volunteering, I've gotten my feet wet quite a bit.
That's about all I got right now. Feel free to ask whatever else is on your mind!
