Awesome. Emory is a top choice for me. Thank you for taking questions.
How do you like the pre-clinical curriculum?
How are the M3 rotations set up?
What are some highlights of living in Atlanta?
What's the student housing situation like?
The grading is pass/fail during the first 18 months... and then?
I really am liking the pre-clinical curriculum. It's set up so that the first 4 months really ease you into medical school, mostly organ systems with basic physiology, and then you start outpatient clinic around October, anatomy in November. By the time you start the disease part of the curriculum, it's just another step-up in difficulty.
Some people have concerns that the shortened curriculum means that you're at a disadvantage for boards. I would disagree - as would upperclassmen that I've talked to with that same concern - since the most important preparation for boards is not only how well you learn the curriculum, but the amount of time you're given for independent studying. We get all of December and January, but we're highly encouraged to just take 6 weeks for fear of burn out. Then we return for rotations in late February.
Rotations begin when we return, late Feb/early March. They're set up in blocks, so half the class will take 3-4 rotations the first semester, and the rest of the class will take other other rotations, then they flip. I don't know the exact rotations yet - I'm trying to get through boards first - but everyone I've talked to is just so thrilled to be on the wards. Very few complaints, considering the workload.
And once you start rotations, grading is A/B/C with +/- system. That's what you want, since residency programs will look at clinical grades and they don't really care too much about pre-clinical. Which works out well since your diploma will only show that you've passed.
Atlanta is great - very diverse, lots of nightlife, tons of activities. A good portion of the class has taken advantage of the community sports/trivia nights, most people take advantage of the bars in the area. Great shopping, too. And you really can't beat Grady for clinical training. I suppose it's possible, but difficult.
As for housing, most M1s live in apartment complexes close to Emory, since that's easiest, especially when you're not from around the area. People start branching out after their first year. Some places are close enough to walk to school, while other people live in midtown and drive ~15-20 minutes every morning. Most people have a 5-10 minute commute in the morning.
How much class time is there at Emory? What's the typical pre-clinical schedule (9:00-5, 9:00-2, etc.?) Is it possible to do research during pre-clinical years or would it be too much?
Mostly 8-12 lecture every day. Afternoon is much more variable, but I generally have my afternoons off 2-3 times a week. Less at first, since you're learning physical exam skills for the first few weeks, but it lessens off until anatomy starts. It very much varies per module and wherever you are in the curriculum.
Most people do not do research. It would be possible - especially in the first few months - but you just don't know enough at first, or enough people. I'm starting my 2nd year elective and just now getting my feet dirty with research, but I have friends who started after summer, just before summer. Keep in mind that you have a dedicated research time after your 3rd year rotations. By that time, a lot of people know enough of what they want to do for residency that they can direct their research to suit their interests. Discovery is quite wide open.