- Joined
- Oct 4, 2015
- Messages
- 7
- Reaction score
- 3
Congratulations! Can attest that HMS is high-yield.
Nothing yet. Not accepted (yet?). No update.Did portal update for anyone? Acceptees and those who haven't heard anything yet?
Did portal update for anyone? Acceptees and those who haven't heard anything yet?
There it is. Rejection!
Congrats again everyone!
No one has yet taken the Step in the new curriculum. That said, we were told that 3rd and 4th year schedules are very flexible. It depends on you how much time you want to devote to Step 1 studying and you will get up to 2 months to study for it.
I think the new curriculum is the best thing about HMS. There were some minor issues with the way anatomy, microbiology, and cancer sessions were taught (mostly textbook readings, as opposed to videos that we became so accustomed to), but they are fixing them by next year. In class sessions are a great motivator to stay on top of your work and contribute to small group and/or class discussions. You get to know the classmates in your society VERY well because you see them for 4.5 hours every day. That said, a lot of my friends are in the other three societies. The fact that we are free after 12:30 4 times a week allows us to continue and/or explore interests outside of class.
There is definitely time for work/life balance! Many of my classmates have commented that they feel less busy than they did in undergrad even. Many courses give the prep work a week in advance, so you can get ahead on the weekend and take off several afternoons during the week. Prep work also generally takes anywhere from 2-6 hours, depending on your background in the subject, how in-depth you go through it, and how quickly you understand information on a first pass. Prep work is intended to be a first pass through the information, you aren't supposed to go into class the next day as an expert by any means. Professors suggest you take notes, write down questions, and come prepared to discuss with your classmates.Thanks a lot for taking the time to explain all of this! So from my understanding, there is a lot of prep that is required before class (videos, readings, etc). So even though classes end at 12:30, is there enough time to explore other interests since you do need to do very thorough preparation for class? I don't expect medical school to be easy, but just want to make sure students can have good school/life balance. Thanks!
There is definitely time for work/life balance! Many of my classmates have commented that they feel less busy than they did in undergrad even. Many courses give the prep work a week in advance, so you can get ahead on the weekend and take off several afternoons during the week. Prep work also generally takes anywhere from 2-6 hours, depending on your background in the subject, how in-depth you go through it, and how quickly you understand information on a first pass. Prep work is intended to be a first pass through the information, you aren't supposed to go into class the next day as an expert by any means. Professors suggest you take notes, write down questions, and come prepared to discuss with your classmates.
As for work/life balance: I never work on Friday afternoons or Saturdays and I haven't run into any issues so far. I also have managed to take on a research project in the afternoons during the week. There's plenty of time during the weeks to explore volunteering, research, or to simply maintain a healthy lifestyle (working out, eating right, doing your laundry, etc.). Hope that answered your question, feel free to ask more if you have any!
Also congrats to the new admits!! Hope you all took a moment to celebrate
Of course! I'll list of few of the opportunities here but I'm sure I will miss some, so hopefully some of my classmates on here can chime in and add some more.Thanks! Your input really helps. Can you speak to the volunteering opportunities available such as free clinics or programs to help underserved and vulnerable populations? I couldn't find too much of that on the website.
Of course! I'll list of few of the opportunities here but I'm sure I will miss some, so hopefully some of my classmates on here can chime in and add some more.
Here's a short list:
Non-medical:
HPREP - this is a program that helps expose underprivileged high school students to science and medicine. You can volunteer to be a mentor (1 on 1) to students, teach classes, and/or help run the whole program.
Mission Crimson - another opportunity to mentor underprivileged students, this time at a local middle school. You can help them with their homework, help prepare them for high school entrance exams, and also play with them (basketball, ultimate, etc.) after school.
All Ears - an opportunity for you to go to BIDMC floors and simply make small talk and chat with patients who haven't had many visitors and may be feeling lonely.
Boston Health Care for the Homeless - you can volunteer here in a multitude of capacities, whether that's in a medical sense or not. There's no formal program set up (yet!) but they are always looking for helping hands
Medical:
Family Van - an opportunity for you to hop on the Harvard mobile clinic and go directly to an underserved neighborhood and provide care to patients where they feel most comfortable.
Cambridge Care Collaborative (CCC) - this is the free clinic run by Harvard that has a variety of different sites throughout the Greater Boston Area, you get matched to a site and you go 1x a week or more (depending on your schedule and when the clinic is held) and provide free care to Boston's neediest with the help of attendings, premed undergrads, medical students, nurses, and more.
I'm sure I'm missing opportunities and if a program doesn't exist at HMS or at Harvard in general, there's always ways to secure a bit of funding to help you set up a new program. Hope that helps