I am glad you had a good experience interviewing here. The 4th & 5th floor clubhouse/learning community IS truly great. It is nice not having to wander all around campus to find your friends, a place to eat, a place to study, etc... There are always people around, (if you want to chat with someone) and you can always find a quiet space (if you need to study away from people). We have wireless everywhere in the building, which is also used quite a bit. I use the facilities here very regularly, since I study better away from home.
The hospital is terrific, and many of the older wards are being moved to newer facilities and/or upgraded right now. My clinical medicine class visits one of the older wards right now, but will be moving to nicer facilities in the near future. Those interested in surgery, EM, and OB/GYN will get to play the most in the brand new hospital.
They just finished modernizing the 1st year classroom. It is nicer now. It is still 1970s brown, (which is sort of coming back into style!) However, most of the new toys they installed in the room are for the faculty members. Oh well, at least the lighting is better.
Good luck to both of you on your application to UAB! When you matriculate, be sure to find out who the other SDNers are. I have several classmates who I met through SDN; it helped make orientation a little less intimidating to know some people already.
