Also a current M2 (class of 2019) - not here to argue with anybody, but I would love to answer any questions and dispel any concerns any of you have. I'm glad you all are discussing these issues, as they are very important to your future and they should absolutely be addressed! To answer some of the above concerns:
- some of the posters above mentioned a handful of individuals being dismissed/had to repeat the year and that this may be attributed to the schools lack of efficiency. However, our class has consistently been shown we have scored higher in most (every?) block in school thus far, after this new, integrated curriculum. I only mention this to conclude that IF the school is lacking in efficiency, while the majority of class is excelling, the school cannot be blamed for performing sub-optimally for those 15 students who didn't perform well, while 185 students did. If this is the case, and the school was sufficient for 185 students, this is something to be considered. The school can't teach well for 185 students, and not well for 15, and then be blamed for inadequacy. Do some people struggle here (and EVERY school)? Of course. However, when the class' course average has never even been CLOSE to failing (in any block), I can assure you that the school is far from inefficient. I know the other current students posting above aren't trying to sound bashful, I just wanted this point addressed as something to be considered.
-I didn't understand a previous poster's comment of "feeling the need to teach themselves." For example, while organic chemistry, calculus, and courses such as these in undergrad are seemingly "foreign languages" at the time, it's obviously very dependent on how your professor explains the material, as the information itself is the challenge. In medical school, very few times will you be confused by what was presented in lecture. The material itself is usually not difficult to understand, rather, it's the sheer volume of material presented to you. Because of this, the professors will present their information to us, and then it's up to us, the students, to go home and commit hours on hours to memorizing, applying, and understanding the concepts. The real challenge is just remembering it all and applying it. As this is the case, I'm not sure if any good or bad professor necessarily affected my grade significantly, bc I still have to go home and read the lecture over and over just as in any medical school curriculum. Even if the professor was great, I still have to go home and look over the lecture time and time again, hopefully that makes sense? In summary, you wont be "teaching" yourself, but you will be memorizing and applying by yourself, regardless of how great (or rarely, not so great) the professor was.
-I'm not sure that A&M's handbook is much different than other med schools. Repeating the school year after failing 3 courses in the first year (which essentially means you failed 3 out of 7 of the core science blocks in the year) is nothing to be concerned about. Repeating the school year after failing almost half of the curriculum is reasonable, and not a common occurrence at all.
-As for only have a few days to prepare for a remediation exam, this largely varies. You usually have several weeks, but a few courses only gives a few days, depending on the block. However, the handbook's language is a bit vague. For example, every remediation date for each block is given at the beginning of the year. IF you are in danger of failing (again, not many people), going into the last exam of the course, it makes sense to begin preparing for the remediation exam that will either be the following week, or several weeks from them. This pertains to VERY few people, as the majority already know they passed, and few of the remaining people actually do end up failing. Nevertheless, as Nysor mentioned above, our class collectively prepares study sheets, food, tutoring, you name it for anybody that needs extra help, motivation, support, etc if they are in this situation and needing to remediate. Hopefully, the students needing extra help seek out the PLENTIFUL resources A&M offers beforehand in order to avoid this, such as these:
-Speaking for my class (2019), as Nysor mentioned above: We have absolutely had tutors available for our help. I have NEVER had an issue reaching out to a single faculty member at A&M. Tutoring sessions (from both faculty and other current students) is a regular occurrence. The statement that mentioned "good luck getting an appointment" with faculty advisors/counselors for help is beyond me. They offer appointments every single day, and if you can't meet with them that day, they will even give you their personal numbers to reach them.
-for the comment of "Do you want to go to a school that will dismiss you if you fail Step 1 twice (which happens at A&M)? There are many other MD/DO schools which will give you 3 tries at passing." The likelihood of failing Step 1 once is VERY rare, and failing twice is EXTREMELY rare (at any medical school). I'm not currently aware of any current A&M students in this situation? Regardless, I don't think you want to compare a school based on the comparison of maximum Step 1 attempts. I know you're not insinuating this, but again just to provide clarity.
-The above posters are correct in their statement that interview days are full of positivity and presenting themselves in the best light. I know people at every single medical school in the state (as many of you do), and EVERY one of them has their complaints about different issues (yes, even in our states/countries best schools). Developing and implementing a new curriculum is extremely challenging, as you can all imagine, and presents many different issues. In the last few years alone, multiple TX schools have been on probation, schools have had to cancel certain blocks because of problems, had students repeat, etc. I assure you that NO school is perfect. Do schools teach differently, more efficiently, etc? Of course. Am I going to crush step because of a great/terribly taught lecture during my first week of medical school? Absolutely not, as you can't remember every tiny detail from over a year ago, whether you were taught by the best professor in the world or not. Just like other medical schools, use the resources, courses, etc - step is largely dependent on you, the individual.
-school is what you make of it. You WILL receive plenty of support here at A&M (and probably at any TX school), and the school will absolutely help you succeed. You all are going to be excellent doctors, regardless of which school you choose and how you were taught the information.
-PLEASE ask here/message me any questions any of you may have, I am more than happy to answer them, along with my other classmates. I am very happy to be here, and I hope you don't let other's opinions (or mine) persuade you one way or the other, this is YOUR decision, you will do great anywhere. Remember that one good (or bad) experience that we all mention may not be YOUR experience. Again, I do not want to argue with anybody, and I'm glad you all are asking these types of questions before making such an important decision! Good luck everybody!
