"Easy Schools" & those who frequent them...

[SizzleDizz]

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I don't know, I guess the acceptance euphoria sort of wore off...
I'm going to Saint Louis SOM this August and for the longest time, I was darn happy I was. Yet lately, this talk of "easy schools" and those asking about whether they should take "WUSTL on a full ride or Hopkins" (NOTHING against those who asked, if I could only be so lucky) has got me wondering...
Do those of you going to so called "easy schools" feel chafed at all? Especially as these schools seem to have the highest tutions with the least finacial aide. Its almost as were paying the most for the least...
I mean, does reputation really matter that much? It must because the statistics don't seem to really vary among Med schools... Will our residency options be narrower because our school doesn't have the brand name (Even if our academic history/USMLE scores are legit?)

 

[Pneumo]

Good for you. You are going to a fine medical school with a wonderful Jesuit heritage. Though you may not get to do the high powered "research" that goes on at the "top" schools, you will learn how to treat people as human beings.

 

[Doctora Foxy]

•••quote:••• Do those of you going to so called "easy schools" feel chafed at all? ••••Nope, just very grateful to have the chance to become a doctor. 🙂

 

[California]

I think you will find a lot of individuals on SDN who were accepted at top medical schools, but not as these so-called "easy schools." Honestly, no medical school offers an "easy" acceptance. Also, please realize you were CHOSEN to be a doctor among a highly select group. Whatever school you decide to attend, you should be proud that you are to become a doctor.

 

[hellokitty]

I am guessing that ~35,000 applicants applied for ~17,000 spots in med schools this year. I feel extremely lucky that I am not one of the 18,000 <img border="0" alt="[Wowie]" title="" src="graemlins/wowie.gif" /> who will not enter med school this year.

As my mentor told me, there is no such thing as a bad US medical school. Each school has its own personality and strengths. You just have to decide which is best suited for you.

 

[hawkeyes]

Congrats SizzleDizz! Really, I strongly believe that the kind of doctor that you will become has more to do with the kind of person you are, the kind of effort you will put into your education. The brand name carries weight if you are interested in academics and research, but other than that.. YOU'RE it! It's not easy to get into ANY med school, as everyone else has said. SLU has it's pick of the best of the best and you were chosen. You just need to go to the SLU waitlist/countdown and see how many people are dying to get in. So kudos to you! BTW - I interviewed at UCI with a neurosurgeon who is also in research at UCI (which, in my biased opinion is a great academic center) who was a SLU grad. To top it off, a few weeks later, I saw HIS FACE and HIS RESEARCH featured in a UCI Med ad in TIME magazine. That'll be you. You aren't limited.

 

[Doctor Wyldstyle]

Hey Sizzle,

I can tell you as a SLU first year who's almost done that you shouldn't have to worry about the quality of the students. Med school admissions is all a game. It's still a draw even after the numbers game because two individuals can be very similar on paper. I have quite ..and I mean ALOT of friends here that interviewed and waitlisted at traditionally highly reputed schools..eg. Wash U, UCSF..etc just to name a few. That says alot. Ask any admissions director and there isn't much if any difference between two nearly identical guys who interview and by chance one gets in over the other into a certain medical school. Both are highly qualified. Medical school is kinda like musical chairs if u ask me. Alot of our guys got "bumped" into our school if they hadn't already chose it for personal reason already.

Financial aid has been a concern and is being adressed. We hope it improves by far in terms of grants..etc very soon. The admin has already taken steps to do just that. As far as residencies are concerned, check out the match lists. It has some pretty darn good matches in there. I wouldn't be worried at all. The schools is pretty reputable as its' one of the oldest. Even when I trying to find externships at UCLA as a med student, they were excited to find "another SLU med student" who'd join them as they had great experiences w/us.

Good luck...us new second years will be looking forward to running orientation.

Wyldstyle

•••quote:•••Originally posted by SizzleDizz:
•I don't know, I guess the acceptance euphoria sort of wore off...
I'm going to Saint Louis SOM this August and for the longest time, I was darn happy I was. Yet lately, this talk of "easy schools" and those asking about whether they should take "WUSTL on a full ride or Hopkins" (NOTHING against those who asked, if I could only be so lucky) has got me wondering...
Do those of you going to so called "easy schools" feel chafed at all? Especially as these schools seem to have the highest tutions with the least finacial aide. Its almost as were paying the most for the least...
I mean, does reputation really matter that much? It must because the statistics don't seem to really vary among Med schools... Will our residency options be narrower because our school doesn't have the brand name (Even if our academic history/USMLE scores are legit?)•••••

 

[bonecutter]

•••quote:••• Though you may not get to do the high powered "research" that goes on at the "top" schools, you will learn how to treat people as human beings. ••••I hope you don't mean to imply that just because a school is top ranked it is unable to produce caring, humanistic physicians because that would be pretty off base, and come to think of it dead wrong.

Bonecutter

 

[efex101]

I agree with bonecutter the school attended will not make *you* a better person or not, it can certainly influence how yo practice medicine but not whom you truly are. Every school will have some great things and some not great things but the bottom line is that it depends on you (how caring you will be).

 

[lady in red]

IN the end it does not even matter where you go. It will say "MD" after your name, not MD from...
The reputations/rankings are for ego-boosting, don't worry about it. you learn the same information that somebody is learning at Harvard or Ross university.

 

[mr.annoying]

Here's my opinion on this-

I might be attending SLU this August as well, and I'm damn proud to. I have to be honest and say that any UC would have been my preference, but either way I'm gonna achieve my ultimate goal of becoming a physician.

Like wyldstyle said, the difference between med students is very slim. I personally know some people at my school that are total idiots (in my opinion) and arrogant jerks and are going into the UC system while I am not. I'm not bitter about it, but it just makes me realize that just because you go to a more prestigious school, it doesn't mean you'll be a better doctor. I know I sound like a jerk for saying that about these people... but seriously... they're bastards!

 

[hawkeyes]

Hey Mr. Annoying, I noticed you w/d'd from Albany (from another thread). So it's SLU? Cool! love your stomach virus avatar!!! 😀

 

[mr.annoying]

What's up hawkeyes,

Long time no chat eh? Yeah, SLU was the clear choice for me after a LOT of deliberation. I'd be very happy to attend SLU, although I am still waiting to hear from Wake Forest. How's your decision going? PM me about it!