Alabama Schools Thread

[BooMed]

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Q, did you actually hear from them or did you have to call them? Just curious.


Good luck to all the other OOSers!

 

[QofQuimica]

Q, did you actually hear from them or did you have to call them? Just curious.


Good luck to all the other OOSers!

They sent the invite by email.

 

[BooMed]

At the UAB interview, they talked a lot about the possibility of a curriculum change for next year, to a systems/organ-based program. Do most med schools already teach this way? Would it entail year-round school? Any news on this from people who have been accepted?

Geez, the weather here is nuts. It's in the 70s and about to be crazy stormy. 😕 😛

 

[jammin06]

At the UAB interview, they talked a lot about the possibility of a curriculum change for next year, to a systems/organ-based program. Do most med schools already teach this way? Would it entail year-round school? Any news on this from people who have been accepted?

Geez, the weather here is nuts. It's in the 70s and about to be crazy stormy. 😕 😛

I think that more and more schools are going towards organ/system based programs because that's how the boards are being written. I don't think there are questions on the board that are classified by "anatomy", "biochemistry", or "physiology," but rather case study type situations where there's the incorporation of many different elements. I found this out from speaking with a MS1 at Univ. of South Alabama when I interviewed there and they have a similar organ based system. I don't think it would be year round school, but I have heard numerous accounts of a drop in board scores during the first year of cirriculum change at any med school.

btw, i know what you mean about the weather. It was 88 in houston yesterday. I'm like....it's almost friggin December! But who am i kidding, I love teh warm weather, especially when I talk to my friends who go to school up north.

 

[BooMed]

But who am i kidding, I love teh warm weather, especially when I talk to my friends who go to school up north.

I don't even tell my Oregon buddies about the weather here anymore. They would cry all the time.

 

[odrade1]

At the UAB interview, they talked a lot about the possibility of a curriculum change for next year, to a systems/organ-based program. Do most med schools already teach this way? Would it entail year-round school? Any news on this from people who have been accepted?

Geez, the weather here is nuts. It's in the 70s and about to be crazy stormy. 😕 😛

BooMed,
This is something I have been trying to gather information on. I have heard from numerous (mostly reliable) sources that there WILL be a substantial curriculum change (I.e., to systems-based teaching with some case-based problem solving in small groups). Rumors from current med students have indicated that this change will be in the next year or two.
Last week, a friend of mine attended a pre-med panel comprised of faculty & he said the faculty swore the change would affect the incoming (class of 2010) class.

Does anyone else have information about this? No one told us anything about this when we interviewed, so I have had to do a lot of digging on my own.

BooMed, what is your opinion about the change? I am pretty excited about it, though I am sorry that they might be guinea-pigging their educational experiment on my class. 😡 However, it *has* to happen to somebody, so...

 

[jammin06]

BooMed,
Rumors from current med students have indicated that this change will be in the next year or two.

At my interview, Dr. Smith said that the board would vote on something official in February.

 

[BooMed]

BooMed,
Does anyone else have information about this? No one told us anything about this when we interviewed, so I have had to do a lot of digging on my own.

BooMed, what is your opinion about the change? I am pretty excited about it, though I am sorry that they might be guinea-pigging their educational experiment on my class. 😡 However, it *has* to happen to somebody, so...

That's very interesting, when we interviewed (Nov 17th), much time was spent discussing the (probable) curriculum change. Dr. Smith and all of my interviewers were quite excited about it and it really seemed like it was going to happen, although of course they couldn't tell us for sure either way.

I really like the sound of the new method, and if they are going to change it, I'd rather it be changed starting next year instead of halfway through our first two years. I do wish that they had changed it a couple of years ago, but what can you do?

My only concern is that I really want to study abroad the summer after first year, and I kind of got the impression that we wouldn't have a summer break. 😱 But the guy who told me that didn't seem to know what he was talking about, so who knows.

Do you know any regular applicants that have been accepted yet? I haven't heard of anybody getting in yet.

 

[BooMed]

At my interview, Dr. Smith said that the board would vote on something official in February.

Seems like they might want to decide earlier than that if they are going to revamp the whole curriculum! 🙄

 

[jammin06]

Seems like they might want to decide earlier than that if they are going to revamp the whole curriculum! 🙄

I think the cirriculum changes are already being discussed, the february vote will just be a finalization of whether to implement them for c/o 2010 or 2011. Basically, the way he said it was that "the changes will happen, we will only be deciding when"

 

[jammin06]

My only concern is that I really want to study abroad the summer after first year, and I kind of got the impression that we wouldn't have a summer break. 😱 But the guy who told me that didn't seem to know what he was talking about, so who knows.

I think studying abrod shoudl still be possible during the summer months after first year. When i was waiting outside one of the rooms, there was a bulletin board for their MSEP (medical student enrichment program) and it seemed like it woudl be available to MS1/2's

Do you know any regular applicants that have been accepted yet? I haven't heard of anybody getting in yet.

I haven't heard anything from anyone about UAB, but i'm really gettin anxious. I think it's more a result of my not yet receiving my official acceptance letter from USA, even though a bunch of other people have. Kinda makes you think "were they just jokin with me on the phone?"

 

[BooMed]

I think the cirriculum changes are already being discussed, the february vote will just be a finalization of whether to implement them for c/o 2010 or 2011. Basically, the way he said it was that "the changes will happen, we will only be deciding when"

Ah, that makes more sense. I wonder if having the different curriculum will have any effect on how many students actually go to class?

 

[jammin06]

Ah, that makes more sense. I wonder if having the different curriculum will have any effect on how many students actually go to class?

I hope so. I think i might be one (of the few) who will try to go to class, so it'd be nice ot have company.

But this is all a moot point, since I haven't been accepted yet.

 

[BooMed]

I hope so. I think i might be one (of the few) who will try to go to class, so it'd be nice ot have company.

But this is all a moot point, since I haven't been accepted yet.

Ditto, but let's be hopeful. 😛 I really like going to classes too. I've never been the type who would rather read a transcript than listen to a lecture.

 

[odrade1]

I hope so. I think i might be one (of the few) who will try to go to class, so it'd be nice ot have company.

But this is all a moot point, since I haven't been accepted yet.

I definitely get a LOT out of lectures, so I would be going to class more than most. (One of my friends is an R1 now & she only went to campus if it was required of her.) I know that's how it works for a lot of people, but it is still hard for me to imagine *never* going to class.
Also, it is so depressing to sit at home all day, reading by yourself. I need a mix of solitary & social education.

 

[jammin06]

I think it's more a result of my not yet receiving my official acceptance letter from USA, even though a bunch of other people have. Kinda makes you think "were they just jokin with me on the phone?"

ok, whew. Just got the letter in the mail today. I can go on with my life 🙂

 

[QofQuimica]

I haven't heard anything from anyone about UAB, but i'm really gettin anxious. I think it's more a result of my not yet receiving my official acceptance letter from USA, even though a bunch of other people have. Kinda makes you think "were they just jokin with me on the phone?"

You might want to call them and let them know that you still haven't received the letter if it has been more than ten days or so. The other thing that you might want to do is check whether they sent it to your parents' house if you put that as your permanent address. I had that happen to me (not with USA; I didn't apply there), so it's worth checking into.

BooMed, a lot of schools let people do electives abroad during their fourth year. You might want to check into that if going after first year isn't possible.

 

[BooMed]

I definitely get a LOT out of lectures, so I would be going to class more than most. (One of my friends is an R1 now & she only went to campus if it was required of her.) I know that's how it works for a lot of people, but it is still hard for me to imagine *never* going to class.
Also, it is so depressing to sit at home all day, reading by yourself. I need a mix of solitary & social education.

I think it will be interesting to see whether or not going to class is helpful. I have to admit, the prospect of creating my own "schedule" really appeals to me. I just worry that that schedule would involve way too much law and order and much too little actual studying.

 

[QofQuimica]

ok, whew. Just got the letter in the mail today. I can go on with my life 🙂

Ok, good. Disregard my last post then. 🙂 BTW, I am also a class-goer. 👍

 

[jammin06]

BooMed, a lot of schools let people do electives abroad during their fourth year. You might want to check into that if going after first year isn't possible.

Also true. My interviewer actually did a 4th year rotation at Oxford.

 

[jammin06]

double post

 

[MattD]

This is the first I've heard of any curriculum changes, but I must say, I'm all for it. Systems based curricula just seem to make more conceptual sense. The change that concerns me the most, on the other hand, is the rumor that they're switching to prosections rather than cadaver dissection for gross anatomy. Now, obviously I've never been through the class, but it just seems like you could get a better intuitive understanding of the structures if you find it yourself, and everything's still connected to everything else when you do! So, if any decision makers care about this one students opinion, YAY for system-based courses, BOOOO to prosections 🙂

Now if only the tornado watch would go away....

 

[Doctor&Geek]

That's very interesting, when we interviewed (Nov 17th), much time was spent discussing the (probable) curriculum change. Dr. Smith and all of my interviewers were quite excited about it and it really seemed like it was going to happen, although of course they couldn't tell us for sure either way.

I really like the sound of the new method, and if they are going to change it, I'd rather it be changed starting next year instead of halfway through our first two years. I do wish that they had changed it a couple of years ago, but what can you do?

The dean, Dr. Rich, mentioned something about the change to a systems-based curriculum during the State of the School speech earlier this month.

Also, there may be a requirement to do a long-term project of academic importance (study abroad, research). This is not a thesis (a la Yale), and can be done at any time. Dr. Rich envisions this could be in the summers or during the 4th year.

 

[BooMed]

BooMed, a lot of schools let people do electives abroad during their fourth year. You might want to check into that if going after first year isn't possible.

I know, I want to study abroad both times! I love traveling. 😛 😍

 

[odrade1]

The change that concerns me the most, on the other hand, is the rumor that they're switching to prosections rather than cadaver dissection for gross anatomy. Now, obviously I've never been through the class, but it just seems like you could get a better intuitive understanding of the structures if you find it yourself, and everything's still connected to everything else when you do! So, if any decision makers care about this one students opinion, YAY for system-based courses, BOOOO to prosections 🙂

Now if only the tornado watch would go away....

One theory I heard about the curriculum change was that it would not be possible to do the cadaveric anatomy if we change to systems-based teaching. (Instead of anatomy in 11-12 weeks, it takes the whole year to complete the tour of the body in a systems-based curriculum. Perhaps it is difficult to keep cadavers fresh for an entire year.....Also, the optometry & dental students must take anatomy, and they use the same facilities we would, so this would further complicate the situation.)

My partner (who graduated dental school at UAB last year) liked the idea of prosections. He claimed that when they were working on cadavers, the students did not always have the skill to reveal the structures they were looking for without damaging or destroying them. Prosections would standardize the experiences of the students, and since you still got to see things in person, the 3d relations of the structures would still be evident.

Part of me is sad that I won't get to go cutting on the cadaver, (it was something I was looking forward to) but I am adjusting to the idea of prosections rather quickly.

 

[MattD]

One theory I heard about the curriculum change was that it would not be possible to do the cadaveric anatomy if we change to systems-based teaching. (Instead of anatomy in 11-12 weeks, it takes the whole year to complete the tour of the body in a systems-based curriculum. Perhaps it is difficult to keep cadavers fresh for an entire year.....Also, the optometry & dental students must take anatomy, and they use the same facilities we would, so this would further complicate the situation.)

My partner (who graduated dental school at UAB last year) liked the idea of prosections. He claimed that when they were working on cadavers, the students did not always have the skill to reveal the structures they were looking for without damaging or destroying them. Prosections would standardize the experiences of the students, and since you still got to see things in person, the 3d relations of the structures would still be evident.

Part of me is sad that I won't get to go cutting on the cadaver, (it was something I was looking forward to) but I am adjusting to the idea of prosections rather quickly.

That all makes sense, but since prosections are fixed and preserved, they could easily be pulled out to supplement the cadaveric study, aka if you screw it up, go look at the prosection. I just think that the difficulties described about revealing structures are a good challenge to be tackled, but I'm speaking from the viewpoint of a future surgeon (probably) who wants to start cutting 🙂 I also see no reason that anatomy couldn't be divorced from the systems curriculum. If there are any structures that haven't been dissected yet that we need to reference for the other course work, well, the supplemental prosections will come in handy then too. Of course I'm just running my mouth, whatever they decide to feed me, I'll eat come next fall....

I'm just excited to be going

 

[speciled15]

From what I gather from this thread, the interview is pretty straightforward and laid-back. Is there anything anyone who's been to an interview wish they'd known before the interview? I really enjoy the useful discussion in this thread and hope it continues.

 

[odrade1]

I'm just running my mouth, whatever they decide to feed me, I'll eat come next fall....

I'm just excited to be going

Ain't that the truth! We'll be their b!tches next year and we'll have to smile about it. "Thank you, professor....please abuse me again...."

It's good that you mentioned the surgeon thing. I was thinking that the move to prosections would hurt the pre-surgeon crowd. I would hope that my surgeon would have dug around in a few bodies before digging around in me...

You want to be a surgeon? Does this mean that you are going to be a gunner? I will probably be a pseudo-gunner. I love crushing other people academically, but I don't like advertising my victories or stepping on other people to win, so I couldn't be a *real* gunner.

 

[odrade1]

From what I gather from this thread, the interview is pretty straightforward and laid-back. Is there anything anyone who's been to an interview wish they'd known before the interview? I really enjoy the useful discussion in this thread and hope it continues.

Check out the interview ratings site for UAB on this website. You can see what others have said who interviewed this year. Also, people list specific questions that they were asked, & what they did to prepare. Very helpful, if you ask me. Personally, I can't even remember much of what they asked. I was so keyed up, and it really wasn't that bad! Mainly I just chatted with the interviewers, and they were really nice & conversational. I was expecting the spanish inquisition, and I got a tea party with Martha Stewart. Still scary, but really nice.

 

[MattD]

Ain't that the truth! We'll be their b!tches next year and we'll have to smile about it. "Thank you, professor....please abuse me again...."

It's good that you mentioned the surgeon thing. I was thinking that the move to prosections would hurt the pre-surgeon crowd. I would hope that my surgeon would have dug around in a few bodies before digging around in me...

You want to be a surgeon? Does this mean that you are going to be a gunner? I will probably be a pseudo-gunner. I love crushing other people academically, but I don't like advertising my victories or stepping on other people to win, so I couldn't be a *real* gunner.

Ha! I seriously doubt I'll be a gunner, since I'm far from one now. I'm interested in ortho, so I'll obviously strive to do well, but I'd do that anyway. I have no interest in 'beating' anybody else though, I just want to do as well as I can. If I can help anybody else out, I'll try my best to do it. My view is that we're all in it together, might as well be friendly 🙂 Not to mention I hope to have way too much of a social life to leave time for gunning. The wife and I get bored sitting at home with the cat 🙂

That said, I'm sure it'll sting when I hear about people doing better than me, just because I'm not very used to it. Does that make me a gunner? LOL

 

[johno83]

Got my acceptance from UAB today. I interviewed with the first batch of regular decision applicants. Good luck everyone.

 

[odrade1]

Got my acceptance from UAB today. I interviewed with the first batch of regular decision applicants. Good luck everyone.

Congrats!
From your MDapplicant info, it looks like you will probably have a number of acceptances to choose from before it is all over. What school(s) do you most want to matriculate at?

 

[jammin06]

Got my acceptance from UAB today. I interviewed with the first batch of regular decision applicants. Good luck everyone.

Congrats man. I'm still hoping for mine. 🙄 Email I presume?

 

[johno83]

Yeah, somewhat strange email. The subject is "Application Reviewed" Hahah.

 

[BooMed]

Woo hoo, concrats! 🙂

Just out of curiosity, why do you title your mdapplicants link "not all that impressive"? Umm, I beg to differ. 😳

 

[BooMed]

Congrats man. I'm still hoping for mine. 🙄 Email I presume?

I think we interviewed on the day that guaranteed the longest possible wait. 🙄 And who knows, with Christmas happening in December...

 

[QofQuimica]

Got my acceptance from UAB today. I interviewed with the first batch of regular decision applicants. Good luck everyone.

Congrats!

 

[ybbil919]

Congrats!

 

[jammin06]

I think we interviewed on the day that guaranteed the longest possible wait. 🙄 And who knows, with Christmas happening in December...

I know! I figure they'll have one round of acceptances and then call it quits for the year. Gosh! (a la Napoleon)

 

[BooMed]

If anyone is interviewing tomorrow, good luck!

It seems like the acceptences for the last round were about two weeks later than they had said they would be...

Oh, how this process has made me miserly with time. I feel like a month is forever, even though I know it's really not. 🙄

(And I'll be lucky if I get in next month anyway!)

 

[jmm323]

has anyone that goes to UA but is out of state gotten word from UAB??? when did they start sending out out of state stuff?

 

[BooMed]

bump 🙂

 

[C8H10N4O2Addict]

So, my app just got completed this Tuesday, Nov. 29. How long has it been taking to get an interview? I'm in state with acceptable stats.

 

[odrade1]

So, my app just got completed this Tuesday, Nov. 29. How long has it been taking to get an interview? I'm in state with acceptable stats.

In state students with higher stats tend to get interviews earlier than in state students with lower stats. However, given the lateness of your app, you might be interviewing in Feb or so. If you are lucky they will like your secondary & stats & send you an invitation earlier than later.
Good luck!

 

[BooMed]

So, my app just got completed this Tuesday, Nov. 29. How long has it been taking to get an interview? I'm in state with acceptable stats.

Mine was complete mid august (as early as was possible) and I interviewed Nov. 17th. I think it is somewhat based on the strength of you app, but people who interview later in the season certainly get in. Are you applying other places too?

 

[C8H10N4O2Addict]

Mine was complete mid august (as early as was possible) and I interviewed Nov. 17th. I think it is somewhat based on the strength of you app, but people who interview later in the season certainly get in. Are you applying other places too?

Yeah, I've applied to Baylor, Emory, Harvard, UAB, USA, Vandy, and Washington U.

 

[BooMed]

Yeah, I've applied to Baylor, Emory, Harvard, UAB, USA, Vandy, and Washington U.

What does the chemical formula in your name stand for? I'm too lazy to look it up. 😀

 

[odrade1]

What does the chemical formula in your name stand for? I'm too lazy to look it up. 😀

I think it's caffiene.
er....did I spell that correctly?

 

[BooMed]

No, Caffeine. That's a funny word. I guess that's what I expected. "Crack" addict or something like that would probably be innapropriate.

Does anyone know what time class starts at UAB? 😴 🙄

 

[Doctor&Geek]

8:00 infrequently (no one attends), 9:00 most of the time, 10:00 sometimes.