Are higher ranked schools more social?

[dbeast]

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I've been on interviews across the whole gamut of rankings (not that rankings matter, I know) and I've noticed that the higher ranked schools tend to focus really hard on the social aspect during interview day while the lower ranked schools focus more on academics.

I have three theories:

1. Higher ranked schools are full of kids with insane photographic memories who have to study less so they can be more social.

2. Higher ranked schools want to diminish the outward appearance of being full of nerds while lower ranked schools want to convince applicants that they're as smart as the "better" schools (but let's face it, all med schools are full of nerds).

3. It's just random like that with the schools I've been to (most likely theory).

Has anybody else noticed this kind of inverse social/academic focus between schools and their rankings? If so, do you have any ideas why?

 

[eli20]

I'd say at least for me, every school seemed to really promote a communal/social atmosphere amongst its med students. There's probably some selection bias here as I only applied/interviewed at Texas schools which from what I've heard are more laid back than schools in other parts of the country.

 

[Barcu]

I think #2 is a good explanation.

Admissions offices get to pick the students they want to represent their schools on interview days. It's not always representative of the entire school.

 

[DrYoda]

I noticed the same phenomena back when I was interviewing. I've always chalked it up to option #2.

 

[PantherPride]

If you have good time managing skills you can excel both academically and socially in your undergraduate college. I'm sure schools know this

Also, medicine is as much about knowledge as it is communication; my favorite doctors that I've shadowed were ones who were very sociable, and are the same ones I found very surprising. They also interact better with patients.

 

[fishbait63]

I always though the social-ness of the class had more to do with grading then anything A-F grading vs P-F all four years vs P-F first two years...

 

[mmmcdowe]

I think #2 is a good explanation.

Admissions offices get to pick the students they want to represent their schools on interview days. It's not always representative of the entire school.

Meh, not at my school. It's a free sign up, the admissions office has better things to do that try to screen students who want to do lunches/tours. It is, however, a self selected bunch.

 

[WingedOx]

Meh, not at my school. It's a free sign up, the admissions office has better things to do that try to screen students who want to do lunches/tours. It is, however, a self selected bunch.

this must be why no one I give a tour to ever comes to my school. Guess I need to be less monotone and socially awkward.

 

[Forthegood]

Medical school can teach someone medicine. It can not teach someone how to have normal behavior.

 

[Barcu]

Meh, not at my school. It's a free sign up, the admissions office has better things to do that try to screen students who want to do lunches/tours. It is, however, a self selected bunch.

Haha.

I've been to a number of schools for interviews, and I have found one thing that all med students across the nation share.

They constantly use the word and concept of "self-selection."

 

[NickNaylor]

I vote #2 as well.

 

[RogueUnicorn]

#2 made immediate sense to me.. but also as a reminder many top schools are p/f and many lower ranked schools have grades.

 

[pa18]

I think it's probably a combination of both #2 and #1. It's commonly said that the material one learns in medical school is the same regardless of which school one attends. If that's true, then students at higher ranked schools (who, on average, probably tend to be smarter) most likely need to spend less time studying in order to master the same material.

 

[Ursa]

numba fo, fo sho

 

[getdown]

Hahah, I agree that number 2 is the case but like someone said above those that give interviews tend to be a self selecting bunch especially at my school when free lunch is offered. I've tagged along once or twice just for the free food.

 

[45408]

Mostly #2, but some of #3.

I looked through the white coat ceremony at one unnamed school years ago and noted an excess of unibrows, slipshod make-up, and outdated hairstyles. I almost posted them here, but half of those people were probably on SDN 😛

We had a few truly "cool kids" in my class, but come on, we're all the people who had to take chemistry classes and get an A. What do you think it's going to be like? Hint: not Jersey Shore.

And no, I wasn't one of the really cool people.

 

[dbeast]

Mostly #2, but some of #3.

I looked through the white coat ceremony at one unnamed school years ago and noted an excess of unibrows, slipshod make-up, and outdated hairstyles. I almost posted them here, but half of those people were probably on SDN 😛

We had a few truly "cool kids" in my class, but come on, we're all the people who had to take chemistry classes and get an A. What do you think it's going to be like? Hint: not Jersey Shore.

And no, I wasn't one of the really cool people.

What?!? Man I'm so disappointed... I think I'll go into finance like the guy in that other thread. Or maybe go into hand surgery to protect fist pumping muscles around the world.

 

[littlealex]

Higher ranked schools have more rounded elite students to begin with. They tend to have more outside interests, work out, paint, hike, etc.

 

[wanderer]

Higher ranked schools have more rounded elite students to begin with. They tend to have more outside interests, work out, paint, hike, etc.

IMO, having a lot of those interests doesn't necessarily make one more social. And besides all schools look for students with outside interests it's just that the top schools look for the really unique
outside interests.

TheProwler hit it right on the nose. Don't expect your school to be a massive party just because your tour guide insisted it would be.

 

[NickNaylor]

IMO, having a lot of those interests doesn't necessarily make one more social. And besides all schools look for students with outside interests it's just that the top schools look for the really unique
outside interests.

TheProwler hit it right on the nose. Don't expect your school to be a massive party just because your tour guide insisted it would be.

Wait, tour guides don't tell the truth about student life? 😕

 

[the duck]

Everyone knows how awesome the academics are at the high ranked schools, so they schools try to woo applicants on other grounds. While the lower ranked schools are trying to make an effort to show that you will still get a good education despite the low ranking. Just my guess

 

[mauberley]

We had a few truly "cool kids" in my class, but come on, we're all the people who had to take chemistry classes and get an A. What do you think it's going to be like? Hint: not Jersey Shore.

Compared to my EE undergrad, I think it's going to feel like Jersey Shore. 😉

 

[2012mdc]

Mostly #2, but some of #3.

I looked through the white coat ceremony at one unnamed school years ago and noted an excess of unibrows, slipshod make-up, and outdated hairstyles. I almost posted them here, but half of those people were probably on SDN 😛

We had a few truly "cool kids" in my class, but come on, we're all the people who had to take chemistry classes and get an A. What do you think it's going to be like? Hint: not Jersey Shore.

And no, I wasn't one of the really cool people.

I dunno man. We fist pump as a class after every test

 

[45408]

Higher ranked schools have more rounded elite students to begin with. They tend to have more outside interests, work out, paint, hike, etc.

Ooh, they paint?

When I read what people typically do as "outside interests" to get into some of these elite schools, it's "sports" like croquet, polo and fencing. The intellectual hobbies are violin and chess. When things get a bit rowdy, everyone has a dry sherry and plays some charades.

These aren't the people regarded as the life of the party, unless you usually wear a smoking jacket at your parties.

 

[dbeast]

Ooh, they paint?

When I read what people typically do as "outside interests" to get into some of these elite schools, it's "sports" like croquet, polo and fencing. The intellectual hobbies are violin and chess. When things get a bit rowdy, everyone has a dry sherry and plays some charades.

These aren't the people regarded as the life of the party, unless you usually wear a smoking jacket at your parties.

This guy does...

 

[45408]

Hugh went to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Take note, folks.

 

[wanderer]

Wait, tour guides don't tell the truth about student life? 😕

Listening to most tour guides makes me sick. If I ever become a tour guide (and I probably won't) I'd either try to be funny or throw in some neutral/slightly negative comments here and there. Those were the only tours that I actually enjoyed.

 

[deleted307836]

Listening to most tour guides makes me sick. If I ever become a tour guide (and I probably won't) I'd either try to be funny or throw in some neutral/slightly negative comments here and there. Those were the only tours that I actually enjoyed.

I also get sick listening to the tour guides around my campus. To everything they say, I want to scream at the group, "That's absolute bu*****t, by the way."

Not that this is news to anyone here.