Any Harvard or Hopkins students?

[medhopeful08]

I'd like to get some input from current or graduates of HMS and Hopkins.

Serious discussion only, no flaming please =)

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[Disenchanted 1]

OMG.....here we go again....dude there are a thousand threads in the pre-allo about JH vs. Harvad. What is up with this recent trend of posting threads with titles schools X vs. school Y (usually always among the top 5)....gettin tired of this

 

[courtyard]

well, it is a tough choice.....

 

[BiggMann79]

Well it should be an obvious choice, now that Johns Hopkins has dropped to #3 in the U.S. News and World Reports medical school rankings.

Who would want to ruin their career by attending a school ranked so low?













for those of you tragically lacking a sense of humor, this was meant very tongue in cheek

 

[pdiddy]

Originally posted by medhopeful08
I'd like to get some input from current or graduates of HMS and Hopkins.

Serious discussion only, no flaming please =)

they are both great, you cannot go wrong. i personally think the HST program at HMS is much better than the new pathway, but either school is amazing. your medical education is not going to differ whether you attend the #1 or #120 medical school as per US News, the difference comes down to the additional opportunities, especially ones involving alternate degrees and advanced research. jhu and hms both have amazing research, and great public health schools,...but only harvard has a real buisness school and a law school (if contemplating those degrees in addition to the MD). otherwise it is boston vs baltimore, having lived in both i can say that they each have plenty to offer in terms of filling up a medical student's free time, but boston is much more expensive overall. i think one thing to consider is that at HMS you spend 2 years with your classmates and then you are spread out all over boston (in amazing hospitals nonetheless) for the final 2 clinical years... vs jhu where the class seems a little more cohesive through the final 2 years given the fact that there is one main hospital (jhh) and an affiliate (bayview).

 

[medhopeful08]

Thank you for the first serious response! That was very helpful.

Originally posted by pdiddy
they are both great, you cannot go wrong. i personally think the HST program at HMS is much better than the new pathway, but either school is amazing. your medical education is not going to differ whether you attend the #1 or #120 medical school as per US News, the difference comes down to the additional opportunities, especially ones involving alternate degrees and advanced research. jhu and hms both have amazing research, and great public health schools,...but only harvard has a real buisness school and a law school (if contemplating those degrees in addition to the MD). otherwise it is boston vs baltimore, having lived in both i can say that they each have plenty to offer in terms of filling up a medical student's free time, but boston is much more expensive overall. i think one thing to consider is that at HMS you spend 2 years with your classmates and then you are spread out all over boston (in amazing hospitals nonetheless) for the final 2 clinical years... vs jhu where the class seems a little more cohesive through the final 2 years given the fact that there is one main hospital (jhh) and an affiliate (bayview).

 

[medhopeful08]

Thank you for the first serious response! That was very helpful.

Is Baltimore as bad as it sounds?

Originally posted by pdiddy
they are both great, you cannot go wrong. i personally think the HST program at HMS is much better than the new pathway, but either school is amazing. your medical education is not going to differ whether you attend the #1 or #120 medical school as per US News, the difference comes down to the additional opportunities, especially ones involving alternate degrees and advanced research. jhu and hms both have amazing research, and great public health schools,...but only harvard has a real buisness school and a law school (if contemplating those degrees in addition to the MD). otherwise it is boston vs baltimore, having lived in both i can say that they each have plenty to offer in terms of filling up a medical student's free time, but boston is much more expensive overall. i think one thing to consider is that at HMS you spend 2 years with your classmates and then you are spread out all over boston (in amazing hospitals nonetheless) for the final 2 clinical years... vs jhu where the class seems a little more cohesive through the final 2 years given the fact that there is one main hospital (jhh) and an affiliate (bayview).

 

[Rapid Decomposition]

Originally posted by medhopeful08
Thank you for the first serious response! That was very helpful.

Is Baltimore as bad as it sounds?

It differs depending on who you ask. In general I think people who don't like Baltimore like really high energy, fashionable cities like NY, DC, LA, SF, etc. etc. which Baltimore is definitely not. Baltimore is very relaxed and has a more community, small-town like atmosphere (but with big city amenities). It's far less crowded and easier to get around than bigger cities, which for me is a huge plus. You can live quite well for cheaper, but it's also less safe. So it's a give and take, but I think usually people who come to live here end up liking it well enough to stay.

I also agree with what pdiddy said 100%.

 

[pdiddy]

....baltimore is fine (and it has come a long way since i was there)...you have the harbor with the very first ESPNzone, a hard rock cafe, aquarium, shops etc,...plenty of museums....orioles (best ballpark in the country) and ravens for sports....you have nice suburbs with easy access to the hospital, tons of good restaurants, and DC is only 1/2 hour away if you get bored....and overall the weather is a little more friendly in baltimore (vs boston)....go to medical school for one, and residency for the other, does not matter which order...

 

[Fermata]

Ahhh yes, the joys of dropping the H-bomb.

 

[medhopeful08]

pdiddy,

did u go to hopkins for med school? or hms? either way, what was the learning atmosphere like?

thanks!

 

[pdiddy]

Originally posted by medhopeful08
pdiddy,

did u go to hopkins for med school? or hms? either way, what was the learning atmosphere like?

thanks!

...let's just say i have an intimate knowledge of both... i think the hst and jhu-med programs are more comparable in similarity... scheduled lectures, exams etc...new pathway is a different story, a free spirit of sorts, i think to excel in that environment one must have a great amount of self-determination, and self-direction (much like the yale med curriculum).... i think you can more easily fall through the cracks in the new pathway program....but you have to remember the people at HMS know what they are doing, they are only going to accept new pathway applicants whom they think will excel in that unique environment.... all of these top places are going to be competitive, but i find it nice to be surrounded by driven and motivated students... are all the students gunners at hms or jhu? hardly, there will be some wherever you end up, but these are 2 great medical schools, with great history, that are motivated to continue their tradition of excellence, and they select students to do so. you will have to work hard at both, but i think jhu has more rigid outlines for learning the first 2 years vs. new pathway at hms.... again you cannot go wrong... as much as i love both hms and jhu, i think 2 other schools you should strongly consider in this same category are ucsf and yale... i think these 4 are the best around for training future academic leaders that excel in clinical, research, and teaching.

 

[medhopeful08]

pdiddy,

what are ur thoughts on the new pathway curriculum? is it really THAT unstructured? and do most students feel prepared for the USMLE and wards based on their preclinical years?

thanks for all your helpful responses

 

[pdiddy]

Originally posted by medhopeful08
pdiddy,

what are ur thoughts on the new pathway curriculum? is it really THAT unstructured? and do most students feel prepared for the USMLE and wards based on their preclinical years?

thanks for all your helpful responses

for me, the new pathway curriculum is too unstructured...again, it is a personal decision, i am sure most students are well prepared for the boards and wards (like any other school in the US), o/w HMS would have dropped the pathway... don't worry so much, just choose a school and relax...there are no wrong/bad decisions at this point, you will be at JHU and love a ton of things and hate a few things about the school, or you will be at HMS and love a ton of things, and hate a few things about the school... it is always good to make an informed decision, but try to not be swayed into a decision by something i have said or something someone else has told you. go for second looks, hang out with students, try to get a sense of what feels right for you...and go with your gut.

 

[mamie]

I'm finishing my 2nd year at HMS. If anyone has any questions don't hesitate to ask. I can speak candidly concerning New Pathway and HST. Even though I have friends at JHU, I cannot and will not speak for their curriculum since I am not a student there. I believe that it would not be fair to the students of JHU or the school to make comments concerning things that only students there would know . However, I will answer any questions anyone has concerning the HMS programs. I also was a member of the adcom this past year, so if anyone has any questions concerning that process, just ask.

peace

 

[periodic]

Mamie,

Any insight into possible curriculum changes for this coming entering class (New Pathway specifically)? During our interview day, one of the deans said it's being looked at. He specifically mentioned the need to expose students to more outpatient medicine during the clinical years, but I have also heard that Harvard is considering adopting something like Stanford's new scholarly concentrations/"majors".

And, how good is mentoring for students? Are many faculty willing to spend time and get to know students?

If any JHU students have insights into curriculum revisions or mentoring, I'm sure the OP would appreciate them.

Thanks!

 

[mamie]

Originally posted by periodic
Mamie,

Any insight into possible curriculum changes for this coming entering class (New Pathway specifically)? During our interview day, one of the deans said it's being looked at. He specifically mentioned the need to expose students to more outpatient medicine during the clinical years, but I have also heard that Harvard is considering adopting something like Stanford's new scholarly concentrations/"majors".

And, how good is mentoring for students? Are many faculty willing to spend time and get to know students?

If any JHU students have insights into curriculum revisions or mentoring, I'm sure the OP would appreciate them.

Thanks!

1. The curriculum change is in its infancy right now mainly due to the many opinions concerning which way, if any, the curriculum should change. I believe that the program you speak of is one of many ideas floating around. I will be sure to keep you posted on any news that i get.

2. The outpatient exposure in the clinical years is more a consequence of many students here complaining of the lack thereof. To this end, the school has tweeked some of the clerkships to allow more outpatient medicine, but are still trying to make some of the outpatient elective areas (i.e. family medicine) more attractive.

3. Mentoring here, is in my opinion, outstanding. Every specialist or generalist is very receptive and the school generally pairs you with physicians who want to teach. Faculty are very willing (almost to willing) to help and nurture students. I have no complaints about the mentorship that I have received at HMS.

 

[VienneseWaltz]

I think the Baltimore angle has been covered. Traffic not as bad as other large cities, lots to do, weather somewhere in between Boston and San Diego.

The curriculum is always being tweaked at JHU, but I'm not sure when the next overhaul is planned. I wouldn't worry about it--as far as pre-clinical work goes, you will learn what you need one way or another, and the important experience is your work on the wards. I can't speak for Harvard, but Hopkins is outstanding in that regard. We begin with a small amount of clinical exposure during MSI, which increases in MSII, and in April of MSII we begin clinical rotations. We also do not have to take the core rotations first, so if you know that you definitely don't want peds but you do want surgery, you can take peds the spring of your 4th year and use the extra time in 3rd to try out the surgical subspecialties and strengthen your residency app.

Mentoring also is outstanding. We have numerous opportunities for this. We are matched with a clinical preceptor the first few weeks of school, and many students continue this relationship even after we are no longer required to go. We are funded for summer research after MSI, so we can join pretty much any project that interests us. Clinicians are highly involved in the various interest groups (e-med, surgery, OB, med, etc), and almost every week in the spring we have "liver rounds," which is a pizza-and-beer gathering hosted by different departments during which the residents and attendings get to meet medical students.

The thing that has most impressed me about JHU is the diversity of the student body. By this I don't just mean race and country, but that my classmates are just so interesting. We work hard and play hard--it's truly a fortune to be part of such a fascinating group. (I'm sure this is true of Harvard, but I can't speak for that.)

My advice is to revisit both schools and go with what feels right.

 

[medhopeful08]

what is the exam schedule at HMS like? is it primarily based on the lectures, PBL, or both?

 

[azzarah]

I go to Hopkins and it's fantastic. We definitely have a very social class. I hear Hopkins is great if you are intersted in becoming an excellent clinician and scientist, Harvard is great if you want to become a healthcare leader and don't necessarily want to practice medicine. I kinda want to do both, so who knows! If you are deciding between the two, go to the one that your heart tells you is the right school for you! I can only tell you that I absolutely love it here and don't regret my decision at all. Good luck with whatever you choose to do.

 

[azzarah]

Mentoring also is outstanding. We have numerous opportunities for this.....
The thing that has most impressed me about JHU is the diversity of the student body. By this I don't just mean race and country, but that my classmates are just so interesting. We work hard and play hard--it's truly a fortune to be part of such a fascinating group. (I'm sure this is true of Harvard, but I can't speak for that.)

I totally agree!

 

[Andrew_Doan]

I love Hopkins, but if I had gone to Harvard, I'm sure I'd love it there too. Both are awesome programs, and you'll have many opportunities opened to you.

 

[azzarah]

so you see...Hopkins is great! Come to hopkins!