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- Mar 3, 2016
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Current UMich M1 here. After hearing all the controversy in school about this thread, I wanted to address a couple things hopefully provide an honest and frank perspective. Please note that I am just one data point.
There is definitely controversy right now regarding curriculum changes--anyone telling you otherwise is underestimating the magnitude of the problem. The administration has repeatedly made last-minute changes to the curriculum, which has resulted in poorly executed courses, assignments, and scheduling--which were not conveyed to us by Admissions or by our second look weekend (largely because the curriculum folks a) failed to communicate information to interested parties and b) had not yet even resolved their curricular plan for the academic year until our orientation). A reasonable proportion of my (M1) class is upset, and an alarming number of people I've talked to expressed that they would not matriculate to Michigan if they had the chance to redo their decision-making process. The most salient reason expressed is that the educational experience they are receiving is NOT what was advertised. I know that this has been a concern for the incoming M0 class, and Admissions is working hard to remedy this.
My perception of UMich strengths:
(1) Clinical training: according to Step 2 scores, our clinical program is as strong as Hopkins/UPenn/UCSF/etc. I can't comment firsthand, but I've heard such wonderful things from classmates and am excited to enter the wards.
(2) Paths of Excellence: although I didn't find the mandatory seminars for all M1's useful, I think it's great that students get to tailor their med school experience by picking a track, which offers career development, mentoring, and networking.
(3) Availability of mentors: there are tons of mentors excited to work with students. Although this probably isn't unique to UMich as a top 10 program, I have been blown away by the generosity of my professors and mentors. UMich tries really hard to give you access to potential mentors via a coach (through the doctoring program), the doctoring faculty, house leaders, etc. Research projects are abundant, assuming you have the time and interest to pursue them (probably more relevant for the incoming M0's class second year as first year will be crammed with all the basic science stuff).
My perception of weaknesses:
(1) Lack of administrative response to feedback: this has been a trope played out so many times in our class. Although some individual course directors, e.g. the doctoring course director, have been responsive, there seems to be a general lack of interest in student concerns, and more of an interest in implementing novel pedagogical techniques to "advance" the institution. What these really means is that while there are genuine problems with our curriculum, no action is currently being taken to actually remedy these issues--we just get talked at about how this is "for the best" and we're the "first school to implement a leadership curriculum" etc. This makes some students feel like the administration is pedantic and condescending.
(2) Specific problems with the curriculum:
(4) "The bulge": Current M0's will overlap with M1's on the wards. This isn't ideal for either class, but is admittedly unavoidable when changing the curriculum.
Here are my general thoughts regarding decisions (and these are just my perspectives):
(1) If UMich is the best school you got into (i.e. only top 10 or top 15), it is probably the best place to go--the UMich name carries weight, and the clinical training here is superb (although current M1's were told midway through their first semester that their clinical rotation time has been cut by 25% as incoming M0's will overlap with M1's on the wards--a problem currently being referred to as "the bulge").
(2) If you get into a comparably ranked school, and the financial burden is the same at both institutions, I would take a long and hard look at the curricula and figure out which school really resonates with you. Talk to students at the SLWs (do NOT rely solely on Admissions! they aren't living the reality of the institution)--and ask hard-hitting questions to multiple students.
(3) If you get into other top tier schools but the financial burden is less at UMich, I would attend both SLWs, then figure out what matters to you. If debt stresses you out or you want the financial flexibility to go into any specialty without worrying about pay, UMich could be the answer (I'm certainly not denying this). If one curriculum resonates more strongly with you over the other, give that credence in your decision making process.
--------------------------------------------
I don't know if these thoughts are helpful to you, but I just wanted to be honest. I received a lot of incorrect info when I was making my decision, and I wished someone had posted something like this for me. I'm only speaking from my personal experiences here.
There is definitely controversy right now regarding curriculum changes--anyone telling you otherwise is underestimating the magnitude of the problem. The administration has repeatedly made last-minute changes to the curriculum, which has resulted in poorly executed courses, assignments, and scheduling--which were not conveyed to us by Admissions or by our second look weekend (largely because the curriculum folks a) failed to communicate information to interested parties and b) had not yet even resolved their curricular plan for the academic year until our orientation). A reasonable proportion of my (M1) class is upset, and an alarming number of people I've talked to expressed that they would not matriculate to Michigan if they had the chance to redo their decision-making process. The most salient reason expressed is that the educational experience they are receiving is NOT what was advertised. I know that this has been a concern for the incoming M0 class, and Admissions is working hard to remedy this.
My perception of UMich strengths:
(1) Clinical training: according to Step 2 scores, our clinical program is as strong as Hopkins/UPenn/UCSF/etc. I can't comment firsthand, but I've heard such wonderful things from classmates and am excited to enter the wards.
(2) Paths of Excellence: although I didn't find the mandatory seminars for all M1's useful, I think it's great that students get to tailor their med school experience by picking a track, which offers career development, mentoring, and networking.
(3) Availability of mentors: there are tons of mentors excited to work with students. Although this probably isn't unique to UMich as a top 10 program, I have been blown away by the generosity of my professors and mentors. UMich tries really hard to give you access to potential mentors via a coach (through the doctoring program), the doctoring faculty, house leaders, etc. Research projects are abundant, assuming you have the time and interest to pursue them (probably more relevant for the incoming M0's class second year as first year will be crammed with all the basic science stuff).
My perception of weaknesses:
(1) Lack of administrative response to feedback: this has been a trope played out so many times in our class. Although some individual course directors, e.g. the doctoring course director, have been responsive, there seems to be a general lack of interest in student concerns, and more of an interest in implementing novel pedagogical techniques to "advance" the institution. What these really means is that while there are genuine problems with our curriculum, no action is currently being taken to actually remedy these issues--we just get talked at about how this is "for the best" and we're the "first school to implement a leadership curriculum" etc. This makes some students feel like the administration is pedantic and condescending.
(2) Specific problems with the curriculum:
- ICE: while you will get to shadow the occasional practitioner (such as residents, PAs, NPs, and RNs), be prepared to shadow front desk clerks, etc. ICE placements vary widely in terms of student satisfaction--some students strike the goldmine, others not so much. Some students really enjoy this program--while I have had a handful of genuinely great experiences, I would argue that I could find my own experiences that capitalize on my personal interests which would be more efficient uses of my (limited) time.
- Number of absolutely ridiculous assignments: we have so many required non-science reflections/essays/etc, and there doesn't seem to be an overarching review committee to determine the validity of each assignment. What I'm getting at here is that course directors (for courses such as leadership, pathway seminars, and other miscellaneous things that get crammed into our curriculum) have free reign to assign "check-off" assignments that needlessly waste time. This is a MAJOR source of contention in our class right now--if you come for SLW, I would definitely ask students about this. We spend several hours per week on assignments or required experiences that don't foster actual learning, and it all adds up.
- Step 1 placement: there's a lot of controversy over this. Some people are happy about the change, some people are alarmed, some people are totally ambivalent.
(4) "The bulge": Current M0's will overlap with M1's on the wards. This isn't ideal for either class, but is admittedly unavoidable when changing the curriculum.
Here are my general thoughts regarding decisions (and these are just my perspectives):
(1) If UMich is the best school you got into (i.e. only top 10 or top 15), it is probably the best place to go--the UMich name carries weight, and the clinical training here is superb (although current M1's were told midway through their first semester that their clinical rotation time has been cut by 25% as incoming M0's will overlap with M1's on the wards--a problem currently being referred to as "the bulge").
(2) If you get into a comparably ranked school, and the financial burden is the same at both institutions, I would take a long and hard look at the curricula and figure out which school really resonates with you. Talk to students at the SLWs (do NOT rely solely on Admissions! they aren't living the reality of the institution)--and ask hard-hitting questions to multiple students.
(3) If you get into other top tier schools but the financial burden is less at UMich, I would attend both SLWs, then figure out what matters to you. If debt stresses you out or you want the financial flexibility to go into any specialty without worrying about pay, UMich could be the answer (I'm certainly not denying this). If one curriculum resonates more strongly with you over the other, give that credence in your decision making process.
--------------------------------------------
I don't know if these thoughts are helpful to you, but I just wanted to be honest. I received a lot of incorrect info when I was making my decision, and I wished someone had posted something like this for me. I'm only speaking from my personal experiences here.