Do med students ever take undergrad/grad classes unrelated to medicine?

[liyaz]

A lot of the med schools I visited for interview days touted that their university's undergraduate and graduate (business, etc) classes were open to medical students. Do med students have the time to take random, unrelated classes for fun during MS1/MS2?

Just a random question that popped up while weighing my options between schools that are connected to their other campuses, schools that don't have a university associated with them, etc...

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[red doctober]

It depends on the school, but usually (if there's a nearby undergrad campus) yes. I have talked to some students who have done this, but it typically is a 1 credit class like ballroom dancing, bowling, or something like that. I think you have to pay extra for this though.

 

[mmmcdowe]

I've taken three, two stats and a history class. All free for me at my school, but that's not the norm.

 

[Xenops]

I wondered about this also, as I am interested in taking more language classes. So I should look at med schools that have connected undergrad campuses?

 

[Lollygag]

I've taken three, two stats and a history class. All free for me at my school, but that's not the norm.

You really had enough time for them though? Or were they just the type of classes where you can absorb the material in lecture and not have to do much outside work?

 

[mmmcdowe]

I wondered about this also, as I am interested in taking more language classes. So I should look at med schools that have connected undergrad campuses?

I would focus more on your options than the location of the undergrad. For example, some of the schools (public health most importantly) are up here on my campus and the others are 50 blocks away (15 mins on subway), but ultimately that is less important than whether or not they are free.

 

[darkjedi]

We also get access to free classes in any of the undergraduate/graduate schools. Since grades don't matter for us, it's really how much you are willing to put into it.

 

[113]

I've taken three, two stats and a history class. All free for me at my school, but that's not the norm.

For credit? Do the grades show up on your transcript?

It would be hysterical if someone missed the cutoff for AOA because of a history class.

 

[CognitiveSci]

Ignore.

 

[DocVapor]

Well, usually a university has a core curriculum that includes more than just the sciences and maths, so yes we do.

I personally make it a point to take one "fun class" every semester. Meaning a class that is not science/math (although I do love science), so I can kind of relax with that class and learn something completely new. I love taking Classical studies and psychology courses (honestly, I've probably learned the most from those subjects, since I'm really basically just memorizing the science/math right now).

Make sure to take classes outside of medicine to expand your horizons because you're going to be studying science for the rest of your life as a doctor, so make sure to learn other things now.

The OP was asking if MEDICAL students take extra courses. Of course you are going to take courses outside of math/science/medicine in undergrad.

Medical school curricula are extremely rigorous, and until you've experienced it you just don't understand. Why would you really want to add any kind of serious course to it? If all you do is go sit in class for an hour or two once or twice a week, then sure I could see that, but then are you really getting anything out of it?

My school has on average 2 tests per week. Other schools have fewer exams, but they are much more comprehensive. Either way you are going to end up having to neglect your extracurriculars during certain time periods; so again, how much are you really going to get out of it?

Of course there are going to be people that do it and are successful. But I certainly wouldn't register for an extra course during your first semester of MS1. Give yourself time to adapt and talk to yourself truthfully about whether or not it is something you really want to do.

 

[CognitiveSci]

The OP was asking if MEDICAL students take extra courses. Of course you are going to take courses outside of math/science/medicine in undergrad.

Medical school curricula are extremely rigorous, and until you've experienced it you just don't understand. Why would you really want to add any kind of serious course to it? If all you do is go sit in class for an hour or two once or twice a week, then sure I could see that, but then are you really getting anything out of it?

My school has on average 2 tests per week. Other schools have fewer exams, but they are much more comprehensive. Either way you are going to end up having to neglect your extracurriculars during certain time periods; so again, how much are you really going to get out of it?

Of course there are going to be people that do it and are successful. But I certainly wouldn't register for an extra course during your first semester of MS1. Give yourself time to adapt and talk to yourself truthfully about whether or not it is something you really want to do.

Ah, misread title. Thanks 🙁

 

[DocVapor]

Ah, misread title. Thanks 🙁

No worries.

 

[Barcu]

It's not at all common, but it is usually an option at schools with ugrad classes. Part of the problem is extra work, but another part is scheduling. Some schools have unpredictable schedules which can make it tough (labs, small groups on certain days, etc).

I know of one person who took a Spanish class 3 times a week at 8 am. 8 am was about the only time we knew that we wouldn't have anything else. Though evening classes could be an option too.

 

[liyaz]

Not really thinking about taking a very rigorous course - maybe auditing a language class or something creative as an outlet for the brute memorization of medical school classes. Many of my afternoons will be free at the school I'm planning to attend, so I'm hoping that spending a few hours a week on something non-medicine related might be feasible!

Of course, I also want to research, volunteer, shadow, etc etc so I might be wayyy too optimistic here.

 

[mmmcdowe]

For credit? Do the grades show up on your transcript?

It would be hysterical if someone missed the cutoff for AOA because of a history class.

You can but I don't. The grades would show up on the transcript but they would not be in any way used to calculate your medical school ranking. The grading scales wouldn't match up (honors =/= A, etc) and, since no one else would be taking it, there would be no way to compare students with extra classes to their peers.

 

[SOMBound13]

I don't know how it works for med school, but my sibling in a PhD program always takes an extra undergrad class for interest...like Italian or whatever. And, he's not charged more for it.

 

[HeyNumber2]

A few schools I interviewed at mentioned that taking an undergrad spanish class was part of the spanish medical elective (students aren't required to take the class, but it makes the experience more immersive). Another physician I know took an intro business, finance, accounting and law class while in med school (it didn't cost extra, he could take 1 class per semester included in his med tuition). He felt that going into private practice he needed at least introductory knowledge of each of these disciplines. He said he did most of it in fourth year and summer between m1 and m2 because that is when he had the most free time.

 

[girlonfire]

I took one in ballroom dancing. No additional tuition.

 

[Meihua]

Med students at Penn can take one free class per semester - my student interviewer said he was taking one at the business school.