Class size - important to you?

[SanDiegoSOD]

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Is class size important to you? If so, why? Will it be a factor in deciding where you will matriculate?

Discuss... 🙂

 

[MEG@COOL]

Is class size important to you? If so, why? Will it be a factor in deciding where you will matriculate?

Discuss... 🙂

I think that Id rather not have an extremely small class, but otherwise I dont think it would matter a great deal. I guess maybe medium would be preferable.

 

[dr.z]

I prefer smaller size class. I think you'll get to know the faculty and your peers better.

 

[Rafa]

Doesn't matter to me, as long as the class isn't <100. I've heard it's a lot like high school all over again when it's that small. Gossip spreading like wildfire.

 

[Law2Doc]

Is class size important to you? If so, why? Will it be a factor in deciding where you will matriculate?

Discuss... 🙂

It's likely important in anatomy labs if cadavers are limited. Not as important for lectures, as some folks won't attend too regularly.

 

[Dr. Giggles]

It's going to matter a lot if I have to apply again, especially when choosing safety schools. The smaller the class, the more you need to stand out to receive an acceptance. It won't play as big a role for me if I were choosing between schools to which I've been accepted. I think anywhere between 100 and 200 is ideal. Mayo's (in the low 40s) for example is a lot smaller than I'd like. I think it comes down to optimizing the personal attention you receive and the opportunities to meet fun and interesting colleagues.

 

[Saluki]

I like the small class size... That's part of the reason I'm leaning towards going to Cleveland Clinic, and why Mayo is my top choice....

 

[anon-y-mouse]

It's likely important in anatomy labs if cadavers are limited. Not as important for lectures, as some folks won't attend too regularly.

Hey Law2Doc, what's a good students/cadaver ratio in your mind? What factors would go into that? I've heard that as time progresses, the "smart" people just study netter's/rohen's while other enterprising tank members carry out the dissection. Obviously not 10+/cadaver, but I'm thinking 2/cadaver would be taxing.

 

[BasesofHumanity]

I can adapt to any class size and in either cases, I will encounter some problems. I like small class sizes because I get to interact more with people, but if you are the type that likes to skip lecture or have a day off even though there are classes scheduled that day, then you can be more invisible in a large class size than a small class size. Cleveland Clinic is awesome because it's Cleveland Clinic and I loved it when I visited there (I'm waitlisted and don't know how it will turn out). On the other hand, should a family emergence or other personal problems occur, not attending Cleveland Clinic for a week will make your classmates less productive and you loose on a lot of information. Covering both sides of my argument, as much as being more invisible in a larger class size will help you take a few days off or take care of a family problem, it also makes you less noticeable to the professors and you will have less chances of forming a relationship with your professors. Neither is perfect and both are full of positive points and geared towards teaching you an unbelievably vast amount of information in a short time. As for me, I'll be happy when I get accepted somewhere.

 

[Pianoboe01]

Hey Law2Doc, what's a good students/cadaver ratio in your mind? What factors would go into that? I've heard that as time progresses, the "smart" people just study netter's/rohen's while other enterprising tank members carry out the dissection. Obviously not 10+/cadaver, but I'm thinking 2/cadaver would be taxing.

My school (and I think most schools) have 4 students per cadaver. I've heard of some with 6, however.

 

[Law2Doc]

Hey Law2Doc, what's a good students/cadaver ratio in your mind? What factors would go into that? I've heard that as time progresses, the "smart" people just study netter's/rohen's while other enterprising tank members carry out the dissection. Obviously not 10+/cadaver, but I'm thinking 2/cadaver would be taxing.

You wouldn't want more than 6 per body. Yes, you will likely learn a lot more from an atlas as far as what things are "supposed to look like". But in preparing for a practical, there is really no substitute for holding things in your hands and looking at them at multiple angles, and seeing what is next to what, etc. It also probably depends on how three dimensionally your mind works -- I know that I was constantly surprised by how things actually looked and interrelated in real life as compared to what was depicted artistically in Netter or even the photos in rohens. But yeah, I'm sure you could find folks who ace the course just from an atlas.

 

[Rafa]

A solution (if dubious) to the...ahem...cadaver problem, would be to...

Let's just call it an extra-curiccular activity. 😱

 

[Law2Doc]

A solution (if dubious) to the...ahem...cadaver problem, would be to...

Let's just call it an extra-curiccular activity. 😱

Although that would certainly show initiative, somehow I think it would be frowned upon by the administration. 😀

 

[BasesofHumanity]

A solution (if dubious) to the...ahem...cadaver problem, would be to...

Let's just call it an extra-curiccular activity. 😱

What.........................What?

 

[eram]

I think its a big factor in my decision...one program I'm considering will have < 50 students in the classes for M2 on and for clerkships/rotations you work directly with attendings...however I've been told by many that its the clinical experience that really matters and that the M1 and M2 curriculum shouldn't be a deciding factor (you'll learn the same material anywhere/anyhow and the fine points are negligable in the grander scheme of things)