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BlackPuma
please list reasons on why you like your current medical school, whether it is pass/no pass, environment, students, or whatever....thanks so much
B
BlackPuma
well I wonder y this ain't a huge thread 😀
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I really am enjoying medical school so far. At UCSF, we have an organ-system based new curriculum that reduces the amount of lecture, increases the amount of PBL/small group/labs, and frees up lots time for things we want to do. UCSF is pass/no pass, the environment is very collegial and collaborative, and the students are very friendly and bright. The professors/lecturers are excellent and the faculty and administrators really seem to care about our learning and are very receptive to our feedback. I feel like almost everything I'm learning is clinically relevant and interesting. Plus, with all the free time, I am able to take a grad school class, do electives, etc and still have time to study. All in all, it's been great so far! 😀
B
BlackPuma
wow what a huge response list 😀
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B
BlackPuma
K
Katie
for the most part happy at tufts but also will be too busy to make an extensive post. need sleep tonight and finals are week of Dec. 10 (4 in 1 week, ACK!!). thank God Biochem is not cumulative and the grades are H/P/F. I have also posted before on this board about what I like and don't like about Tufts.
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Generally pretty happy. I thinkt he faculty try to keep us that way, and the teaching is usually pretty good.
As for students, generally outgoing,. although there are a fair share of quirky people here... myself included.
As for students, generally outgoing,. although there are a fair share of quirky people here... myself included.
D
deleted4401
Really happy with Tulane...
Good: weather, classmates, professors, weather, the city of New Orleans, clinical opportunities, and finally, the weather
Bad: too much memorization, not enough cognitive/problem-solving, lots of class hours, too many people per body
It has been a great experience, and I don't even have twangs of cynicism or doubts about the field. Everyone I meet loves what they do, from second year students to attendings. The profs are amazing, the kids in my class are really cool, the information (though presented and learned in a very traditional way) is awesome.
It can only get better now that anatomy, histology, and embryo will be done (12 days!!!)
Simul
Tulane Med '05
Good: weather, classmates, professors, weather, the city of New Orleans, clinical opportunities, and finally, the weather
Bad: too much memorization, not enough cognitive/problem-solving, lots of class hours, too many people per body
It has been a great experience, and I don't even have twangs of cynicism or doubts about the field. Everyone I meet loves what they do, from second year students to attendings. The profs are amazing, the kids in my class are really cool, the information (though presented and learned in a very traditional way) is awesome.
It can only get better now that anatomy, histology, and embryo will be done (12 days!!!)
Simul
Tulane Med '05
J
jkchou
Every school has good and weak points. I like my school for the most part. For one, early clinical exposure (we interview patients and learn/practice physical exam on real patients starting week 1) is at the top of my list.
The one thing that I don't like is PBL. I thought that self-directed learning would be great but I found out that I learn best from lectures.
The one thing that I don't like is PBL. I thought that self-directed learning would be great but I found out that I learn best from lectures.
B
BlackPuma
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Vader,
Do you think that UCSF's new curriculum will lessen your time spent for the MD/PhD program? How long is the program usually? (Hey, this is on topic - a pos/neg factor about med school!)
Do you think that UCSF's new curriculum will lessen your time spent for the MD/PhD program? How long is the program usually? (Hey, this is on topic - a pos/neg factor about med school!)
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Also at Tulane, 3rd year, and still loving it. The administration is very receptive to student feedback in the 1st 2 years, resulting in most classes being well-organized and well-taught. They generally want students to do well and foster a less-competetive environment among students, as much as is possible in med school.
The 3rd year clinical experience has been overall very good so far. We get a broad range of types of hospitals/clinics and patients - including private and government-funded institutions all around New Orleans, plus Charity Hospital, where we are a part of providing medical care at an institution with extremely minimal resources and funding. We also get a lot of opportunities for hands-on expereince, which leaves us better prepared for residency.
People are nice, friendly, and know how to party when the time is right.
The only real downside I see to Tulane is the high cost of tuition. I sometimes feel cheated knowing that LSU down the street from us gets a great basic science education, as well as clinical expereince at the same exact places, for a fraction of the cost. As I am now more than 1/2 way through med school, I'm starting to realize the huge loans I'll have to repay.
The 3rd year clinical experience has been overall very good so far. We get a broad range of types of hospitals/clinics and patients - including private and government-funded institutions all around New Orleans, plus Charity Hospital, where we are a part of providing medical care at an institution with extremely minimal resources and funding. We also get a lot of opportunities for hands-on expereince, which leaves us better prepared for residency.
People are nice, friendly, and know how to party when the time is right.
The only real downside I see to Tulane is the high cost of tuition. I sometimes feel cheated knowing that LSU down the street from us gets a great basic science education, as well as clinical expereince at the same exact places, for a fraction of the cost. As I am now more than 1/2 way through med school, I'm starting to realize the huge loans I'll have to repay.
B
BlackPuma
bump
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helloooo
this is in contrast to my post on why I'm dissapointed with med school.
not much to be super happy about.
*I'll be done with basic sciences by July
*passing is relatively easy, so I have time to do other things....like sleep in and watch tv
*I can get away from this place and do my third year research somewhere else
*Cost of living is damn cheap
*I can afford cable
😉
caffeinatedly yours
caffeinegirl
this is in contrast to my post on why I'm dissapointed with med school.
not much to be super happy about.
*I'll be done with basic sciences by July
*passing is relatively easy, so I have time to do other things....like sleep in and watch tv
*I can get away from this place and do my third year research somewhere else
*Cost of living is damn cheap
*I can afford cable
😉
caffeinatedly yours
caffeinegirl
B
BlackPuma
which school do u go to? 😀
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I go to SUNY-Downstate. I love my school, but I think that many things here could be handled much better, and the excuse for not doing so is that they don't want to spoon feed us (like there is a way to spoon feed two textbooks worth of information in 4 weeks).
Sometimes I think they loose sight of the big picture here in the clinical years (or perhaps what they view as the big picture is different what I assume).
Sometimes I think they loose sight of the big picture here in the clinical years (or perhaps what they view as the big picture is different what I assume).
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I could not be happier. We have great professors and faculty, who try their hardest to help us do well and know everyone by name. Our school is graded (A, B, C, etc.), which I like b/c I am a typical type A personality who needs grades. The students in my class (thank gosh!) are really fun and enjoy going out together. This makes the monotony of med school MUCH easier to deal with, let me tell you.
As for the curriculum, it is pretty traditional, but they have integrated lots of clinical experience in the 1st and 2nd years. We have a class 1st year that purely focuses on taking histories and doing physicals on patients. You also get to follow a private physician (you choose the specialty) around and see what the day-to-day is like.
As for the curriculum, it is pretty traditional, but they have integrated lots of clinical experience in the 1st and 2nd years. We have a class 1st year that purely focuses on taking histories and doing physicals on patients. You also get to follow a private physician (you choose the specialty) around and see what the day-to-day is like.
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What I like best about Duke:
The chairs in the amphitheatre are even more comfortable than I suspected they would be: they're squishy enough that you can spend hours in them without getting a sore bum (oh sorry, I'm a med student now -- ischial tuberosities), and if you're restless you can take advantage of the spring mount and rock back and forth, back and forth.
Also, the amphitheatre is brightly enough lit that you won't feel yourself being pulled inexorably into unconsciousness, which is what tends to happen in microanatomy lab during slide shows. But if you do find yourself nodding off during lecture, each row of seats has a counter in front of it (like a continuous desk), and there's a vertical rim behind which you can hide. This means that you can put your head down and not be seen by the person giving the lecture! Big plus!
And about Durham:
The housing market is sufficiently depressed that I can rent a nice old 2-bedroom house with its very own washer and dryer in the basement (a first for me!), within walking distance of school, on a street lined with gorgeous gnarled live oak trees, for $650 a month.
The climate allows some part of the Sarah P. Duke Gardens (right beside the school-- a great lunch spot) to be blooming. I think it was camelias last week.
Just found a really fabulous 3-storey gay bar that reminds me of New Orleans. When my husband and I went, we were treated as fascinating novelties.
Of course, all these things I've mentioned are incidentals, but never underestimate how important incidentals are to your experience. Duke, like any school, has teachers that are so inspiring that you'll want to enter their field, as well as a few who are so dull that you'll want to run screaming from the room. Duke also has many fascinating, wonderful students, as well as plenty who'd be more fascinating and wonderful if they didn't worry so much about how they're doing (I definitely fall into the latter category myself!) But on the whole I feel comfortable, well-fed, well-taught, and really enjoy the people around me. And I have a nice home to come to at the end of the day. What more could I ask for?
😉 😀 🙂
😀 😎 😀
The chairs in the amphitheatre are even more comfortable than I suspected they would be: they're squishy enough that you can spend hours in them without getting a sore bum (oh sorry, I'm a med student now -- ischial tuberosities), and if you're restless you can take advantage of the spring mount and rock back and forth, back and forth.
Also, the amphitheatre is brightly enough lit that you won't feel yourself being pulled inexorably into unconsciousness, which is what tends to happen in microanatomy lab during slide shows. But if you do find yourself nodding off during lecture, each row of seats has a counter in front of it (like a continuous desk), and there's a vertical rim behind which you can hide. This means that you can put your head down and not be seen by the person giving the lecture! Big plus!
And about Durham:
The housing market is sufficiently depressed that I can rent a nice old 2-bedroom house with its very own washer and dryer in the basement (a first for me!), within walking distance of school, on a street lined with gorgeous gnarled live oak trees, for $650 a month.
The climate allows some part of the Sarah P. Duke Gardens (right beside the school-- a great lunch spot) to be blooming. I think it was camelias last week.
Just found a really fabulous 3-storey gay bar that reminds me of New Orleans. When my husband and I went, we were treated as fascinating novelties.
Of course, all these things I've mentioned are incidentals, but never underestimate how important incidentals are to your experience. Duke, like any school, has teachers that are so inspiring that you'll want to enter their field, as well as a few who are so dull that you'll want to run screaming from the room. Duke also has many fascinating, wonderful students, as well as plenty who'd be more fascinating and wonderful if they didn't worry so much about how they're doing (I definitely fall into the latter category myself!) But on the whole I feel comfortable, well-fed, well-taught, and really enjoy the people around me. And I have a nice home to come to at the end of the day. What more could I ask for?
😉 😀 🙂
😀 😎 😀
D
deleted4401
The comfort of the lecture halls in medical schools is a point that has not been properly explored, until a previous postered mentioned Duke's.
In my experience at Tulane, I find ours to be slightly above average, but by no means could it be described as "cozy" or "comfy". The seats have light padding, and there are about 15 or so rows in the amphitheatre. I've spent a fair amount of afternoons sleeping in them, and usually I don't experience any physical discomfort. Once, however, a professor rudely teased me, and the ensuing laughter quickly ended my nap. I was not amused.
The acoustics are pretty good, but if you are at the very top and a guest lecturer comes, there is a good chance that their voice won't carry b/c they don't know how to adjust the mics properly. The views are good from just about everywhere, and the projector is in good shape, so you can actually read the projections.
Temperature wise, it is comfy enough to wear t-shirts and jeans, but sometimes if you get caught under a vent and you are wearing shorts/a skirt, you may feel a little cold. Just once was it ridiculously stuffy/humid in there, and then that was quickly fixed.
There is an entrance at the top and bottom, and the top entrance is for when you are coming in late, as to not draw attention to yourself. However, the door at the top creaks, so the profs and your colleagues know that you are an un-punctual bastard, anyway.
Oh, the chairs must not be in the greatest shape, because I was sitting once, and the chair just break and I fell to the floor. The class laughed a lot, and though I was fine and needed no immediate medical intervention, the embarrassment has yet to subside. That chair has not been fixed, and it has been over 2 months since the accident.
Anyone else?
Merry Xmas!
Simul
In my experience at Tulane, I find ours to be slightly above average, but by no means could it be described as "cozy" or "comfy". The seats have light padding, and there are about 15 or so rows in the amphitheatre. I've spent a fair amount of afternoons sleeping in them, and usually I don't experience any physical discomfort. Once, however, a professor rudely teased me, and the ensuing laughter quickly ended my nap. I was not amused.
The acoustics are pretty good, but if you are at the very top and a guest lecturer comes, there is a good chance that their voice won't carry b/c they don't know how to adjust the mics properly. The views are good from just about everywhere, and the projector is in good shape, so you can actually read the projections.
Temperature wise, it is comfy enough to wear t-shirts and jeans, but sometimes if you get caught under a vent and you are wearing shorts/a skirt, you may feel a little cold. Just once was it ridiculously stuffy/humid in there, and then that was quickly fixed.
There is an entrance at the top and bottom, and the top entrance is for when you are coming in late, as to not draw attention to yourself. However, the door at the top creaks, so the profs and your colleagues know that you are an un-punctual bastard, anyway.
Oh, the chairs must not be in the greatest shape, because I was sitting once, and the chair just break and I fell to the floor. The class laughed a lot, and though I was fine and needed no immediate medical intervention, the embarrassment has yet to subside. That chair has not been fixed, and it has been over 2 months since the accident.
Anyone else?
Merry Xmas!
Simul
