Why is Rush so great? (just some reasons)
1. Location (in the illinois medical district...affiliated with 12 hospitals including the large cook county hospital, also, it is not in the downtown area...it's about 30 blocks away-thus the all the windows look out and the city, and it is not as congested...it is off of the blue and pink train lines and therefore there is great access to the city..or anywhere)
2. 95% of the student body is involved with RCSIP (rush community service initiative program)...they front load the clinical courses in the first quarter so that students can start building their clinical skills in one of the 7 affiliated free clinics (hands-on by January of the first year)....
3. the preceptorship also begins in January...shadowing a family practice physician
4. the school pays students ($17 per hour) to tutor the M1s and M2s ...help them out with the ins-and-outs of classes..etc
5. The Rush hospital has more ranked specialties than any other hospital...several specialties rank very high (ex: #8 in orthopedics)
6. they match well, score above average on national tests, great library and facilities...
7. the community at rush fosters a positive environment...not one of competition...thus, future physicians start learning to help and utilize information across specialites and interests...and can spend more time helping each other (which, in the end, is a better professional atmosphere)
8. the nursing school is one of the best in the nation and communication between doctors and nurses are fostered (again, creating a more positive atmosphere...which hopefully manifests later in the creation of a positive doctor/patient/nurse/hospital staff community )
9. there is a school sponsored research program which pays students to participate in a lab the summer after the M1 year (pays for a few weeks) in order to promote lab involvement (students can then continue in the lab)
10. classes are taught in either lecture, problem-based, or small classroom setting depending on the subject and the feedback from previous years...to allow the most effective style of teaching for each subject...therefore the curriculum is always under revision for improvement
11. Everyone is helping one another to become the best physician they can be in a supportive, highly intellectual, community service based atmophere...
12. alot of poeple stay at rush past school or return because they love it so much...
I am sure i have forgotten something...
(and I don't know if they are still offering interview slots)