Implementation of New Curriculum

[HCHopeful]

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I was researching a school I am applying to, and I noticed they have approved a new curriculum to be implemented in 2017. It looks to me that this curriculum allows students earlier clinical experience as well as time to study for Step 1 at the end of the second year. Both of those are obviously attractive to me, but I'm just curious as to if it will even affect me? I am applying this cycle and would (hopefully) begin in the Fall of 2016. Entering my second year, would there be an option for allowing students in my class to shift to the new curriculum, or would we be "grandfathered" into the old curriculum?

I have heard of both scenarios happening, so I was hoping to get a little bit of input from people knowledgeable in this area.

 

[Holmwood]

I was researching a school I am applying to, and I noticed they have approved a new curriculum to be implemented in 2017. It looks to me that this curriculum allows students earlier clinical experience as well as time to study for Step 1 at the end of the second year. Both of those are obviously attractive to me, but I'm just curious as to if it will even affect me? I am applying this cycle and would (hopefully) begin in the Fall of 2016. Entering my second year, would there be an option for allowing students in my class to shift to the new curriculum, or would we be "grandfathered" into the old curriculum?

I have heard of both scenarios happening, so I was hoping to get a little bit of input from people knowledgeable in this area.

I would talk to the advisers at the school specifically. Just shoot them an email.

 

[HCHopeful]

I would talk to the advisers at the school specifically. Just shoot them an email.

I considered that, but it seems a little... Uhm... Presumptuous, I guess. I don't want to e-mail them concerning the curriculum since I haven't even had an interview. I'll save it for a question during my interview. I was just curious in the meantime.

 

[Holmwood]

I considered that, but it seems a little... Uhm... Presumptuous, I guess. I don't want to e-mail them concerning the curriculum since I haven't even had an interview. I'll save it for a question during my interview. I was just curious in the meantime.

No, you can ask them about anything pertaining to the application process. Knowing the specifics about the curriculum should also be part of the application process.

 

[snowflakes]

If you are a current applicant, it is definitely not presumptuous to ask them this. Part of choosing which schools to apply to is researching their curriculum.

 

[HCHopeful]

As it turns out, I've applied early decision to this school, so it's really just more of curiosity more than it will be a deciding factor. That's why I'm a bit hesitant.

 

[22031 Alum]

In my experience, medical school curriculums are designed as a four-year plan. When a curriculum change is implemented, it's only applied to the first year class. The second years continue on their own four-year plan in the old system: "grandfathered in" as you put it. Usually, that's because things are shuffled around during these redesigns, so that if the upperclass were plopped into the new curriculum, they would have some things covered twice and others not at all. For example, if the old system has pharm in the second year, but the new system has pharm integrated into systems blocks in first year, the students who are second years during the switch would just... not get pharm. Not ideal.

So. You'll probably be kept in the older curriculum.

 

[HCHopeful]

In my experience, medical school curriculums are designed as a four-year plan. When a curriculum change is implemented, it's only applied to the first year class. The second years continue on their own four-year plan in the old system: "grandfathered in" as you put it. Usually, that's because things are shuffled around during these redesigns, so that if the upperclass were plopped into the new curriculum, they would have some things covered twice and others not at all. For example, if the old system has pharm in the second year, but the new system has pharm integrated into systems blocks in first year, the students who are second years during the switch would just... not get pharm. Not ideal.

So. You'll probably be kept in the older curriculum.

That's exactly what I was afraid of.

Dang.

 

[22031 Alum]

That's exactly what I was afraid of.

Dang.

Hey, the school has been producing competent doctors for X years. Don't sweat it.

My medical school class was on the "red-headed stepchild" end of a curriculum change, and I think we did quite well for ourselves.

 

[HCHopeful]

Hey, the school has been producing competent doctors for X years. Don't sweat it.

My medical school class was on the "red-headed stepchild" end of a curriculum change, and I think we did quite well for ourselves.

Of course you're right, the new curriculum is just "sexier." I'll focus on getting accepted first, hah.

 

[snowflakes]

The first year implementing a new curriculum usually has several quirks. It's common for people to list "new curriculum" as a con rather than a pro for schools they're considering. So it's not all bad news if you're not part of the sexy new curriculum.