Condensed science: Duke and UPenn

[unicorn06]

What do you all think of Duke and UPenn's condensed science curriculum? I think I prefer Penn's 1.5 yr curriculum b/c it allows you to do 6 months of clinical electives before applying for residency, but Duke's 1 yr curriculum could allow for some really good publications before residency apps (because 3rd year can be an entire year of research), which would also be helpful. I am a little worried that the Duke program is a bit too condensed and might be stressful though.

Anyone else have any thoughts about the pluses and minuses of these programs? Which would you prefer?

 

[argonana]

i prefer penn's. i don't know much about duke's, though...didn't end up applying there.

1 year for research sounds sweet.

 

[bobito]

Yea, I'm particularly interested in how the curriculum at Duke works....How do they cram two years into 1?? Thats kind of nuts. Is it less material or more work..I kind of imagine its just less material and the same amount of work...Can you really cram more hours of studying/more material in than people at other med schools do?...I dunno if anyone that goes there or recently interviewed could chime in on that one...Baylor also has a 1.5yr curriculum if you're interested in those. Baylor is sweet.

 

[riceman04]

Yea, I'm particularly interested in how the curriculum at Duke works....How do they cram two years into 1?? Thats kind of nuts. Is it less material or more work..I kind of imagine its just less material and the same amount of work...Can you really cram more hours of studying/more material in than people at other med schools do?...I dunno if anyone that goes there or recently interviewed could chime in on that one...Baylor also has a 1.5yr curriculum if you're interested in those. Baylor is sweet.

Wait...I thought Baylor had a 2yr basic science curriculum that they just finish early by not having a real break after first year. Then in their fourth year they have a very large free period.

 

[GoodEats]

It's somewhere in between 1.5 and 2, I think. Baylor gets about a month off between years 1 and 2, and the free time is relocated to give flexibility later in studying for step 1, for clinical scheduling, and for residency apps/interviews.

 

[diosa428]

Yea, I'm particularly interested in how the curriculum at Duke works....How do they cram two years into 1?? Thats kind of nuts. Is it less material or more work..I kind of imagine its just less material and the same amount of work...Can you really cram more hours of studying/more material in than people at other med schools do?...I dunno if anyone that goes there or recently interviewed could chime in on that one...Baylor also has a 1.5yr curriculum if you're interested in those. Baylor is sweet.

At my Duke interview they told us that the first year at Duke is longer than the other med schools (it starts in early Aug, you get very few breaks and you only get 3-4 weeks of summer, instead of 3 months) and they do cut out a lot of the material that you don't need for the boards. For example, they only have one or two lectures on embryology, rather than a whole block. Sounds pretty sick to me, considering most of what you learn you forget anyway.

 

[pagemmapants]

Duke: Cut out 400 hours of anatomy, on the assumption that a lot of medical specialties don't require TOOO much general anatomy and that in surgical specialties you'll probably just have to re-learn it again anyway. Apparently the surgeons that come out of Duke ARE still awesome, however. Anecdotal evidence.

Baylor: They only have a month for summer and start classes early August freshman year. Thus you go Aug-end of June (I think) and have a 10 month first year instead of 8 or 9. You only get one month off for summer, do Basic Sciences until December, and then start rotations in January. Bonus: You can put off ONE required clinical rotation until Senior Year if you know you DO NOT want to do that specialty. Me, Imma put off OB/Gyn.

Hope this helps!