Backstabbing in your school?

[superbill2]

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I'm wondering if students could comment on the atmosphere of the student body in their pod school. It seems grades are important in achieving a good residency (or at bare minimum a residency at all). Unlike the pass/fail in most med schools the idea of grades worries me just in the cutthroat environment that is created by trying to come out on top.

Can somebody comment on their experience and clarify if this idea of hostile classmates and trickery is just a misnomer or a reality in some cases.

Thanks!

 

[air bud]

I never experienced this at all at DMU. Everybody was always willing to point one another to a resource that could help. Then again, we have the JUDY drive online that has old study guides, test exams and the like, from probably 5 years back. Also, I know from day one our class talked about not being overcompetitive with one another, since we would see the negative side of with the DO class mates of ours. In the end, I think our class bought into an idea that some JC guy taught, something about teaching somebody how to fish, but if they ask you to catch the fish for them, you tell them to f-off.

 

[PADPM]

I read airbud's post, and it's nice that airbud's experience has been that it appears that everyone is on the same page, but I can assure you that there are some people with hidden agendas or "cut throats".

That will become evident during clinical/hospital rotations and residency time.

However, that is not unique to podiatry, medicince or any particular profession. It's simply a characterisitic that's present in some individuals. It's present in school, it's present in competitive sports, it's present in the work place and it's even present in the social environment (wait until you have kids, purchase a home, etc.).

But the bottom line is that you simply have to worry about yourself and maintain your standards and ethics. If it's your personality to be gregarious, helpful, etc., don't let any situation change you. If there are those who are "cut throats", that's simply their problem, not yours.

Don't let their personality flaws/sociopathic behavior have any influence on you.

 

[Paulywog]

I don't think our school is that cut throat (Barry). Most people help eachother out and share helpful files and resources. People that have the best grades deserve it. I don't see how someone else wanting the best grades should affect you unless they are loud while you are trying to study. You get the grade you get on the tests and nobody else's grade will affect yours so this should not be a concern. Another reason why people aren't as cut throat is because most of our class will be in different states for residencies and clerkships. I imagine the schools where many of the students want a residency in that same state would be a competitive school. I am very competitive in sports, but in school I don't get thrills in "beating" someone else's grade on a test. I'm not top in the class and I am not concerned. I am doing what I can and it is working out. Only worry about the things that you have control over.

 

[Torovador]

...

 

[Whisker]

I don't think our school is that cut throat (Barry). Most people help eachother out and share helpful files and resources. People that have the best grades deserve it. I don't see how someone else wanting the best grades should affect you unless they are loud while you are trying to study. You get the grade you get on the tests and nobody else's grade will affect yours so this should not be a concern. Another reason why people aren't as cut throat is because most of our class will be in different states for residencies and clerkships. I imagine the schools where many of the students want a residency in that same state would be a competitive school. I am very competitive in sports, but in school I don't get thrills in "beating" someone else's grade on a test. I'm not top in the class and I am not concerned. I am doing what I can and it is working out. Only worry about the things that you have control over.

Whisker here,

I know paulywog personally, and he's the sharing type. We need more people like him at Barry.

There are some cut throat people at Barry, I can think of a few right now....not going to post names, but they exist just like any other schools.

 

[scrlet52]

Sometimes you gotta cut some throats to make it in this world...Whiskers is the most cut throat of them all!!!!😀

 

[Paulywog]

Sometimes you gotta cut some throats to make it in this world...Whiskers is the most cut throat of them all!!!!😀

Or just outperform everyone else so they cut their own throats. How you doing Scarlet? Haven't seen you in a while.

 

[that1guyfromFL]

I plan to stab people in the front AND the back so...


In all seriousness, I have never understood the point behind trying to sabotage your classmates. Have I seen it happen? Of course, gunners apparently love the FL sunshine!


Bottom line: Work hard, play fair.

It all works itself out in the end.

 

[Whisker]

Sometimes you gotta cut some throats to make it in this world...Whiskers is the most cut throat of them all!!!!😀

There's no point of me being cut throat, I might not pass part 1 next month.

 

[podpal]

Being cut throat doesn't usually help in the long run. If classmates see a colleague as cut throat they don't want to hang out with that classmate. Getting a residency isn't about getting the highest grades; besides that how can anyone know what grades each student gets? Aren't grades private at all schools?
Think of this scenario...YOU the student doesn't match with a residency program despite all of your efforts to do so. Time passes. Alumni from YOUR class start a residency program. If you were a cut throat then your chances are doomed but if you worked hard and demonstrated compassion toward your fellow classmates you could eventually work with that person as your director. OR perhaps one of your fellow classmates could advocate to help you get a spot where they are located the following year. No one's going to do that for a cut throat though.
I'm saying, it may help to be nice to each other, and it can definitely HURT to be cut throat. Praise each other for work well done, learn from one another, and SHARE information so all benefit. Most of all, enjoy the time you have in school. The relationships you develop in pod school can often last a lifetime.

 

[thedenisin]

I noticed not much backstabbing in school but in externships in another story. There were many that wanted to get a one up on competition.