Its pretty bush league to trash talk a thread filled with students that are actually looking forward to attending. This post looks suspiciously similar to one that a really ignorant 2010 student sent to the entire student body via email. I don't know how that particular student was disciplined, but I'm pretty sure that he and our friend "KCUMBscarCONTRT" are one and the same. Anyhow, as a KCUMB 4th year, I'm going to try to address some of these points. If anyone has any other specific questions about KCUMB but don't want to post in open forum, just send me a PM.
For those considering applying to KCUMB... I suggest you seriously rethink your options before selecting KCUMB. I am sure each medical school has their shortcomings and issues to address but KCUMB is definitely no exception. The school has lost numerous faculty over the last several years because of its "corrupt administration" (President Pletz) and is well known for providing a sub-standard clinical education during 3rd and 4th years (though this clearly will vary depending upon the site - but many are known for being quite poor).
About 1/2 of the students end up rotating throughout Kansas City for 3rd year rotations. By and large, these students receive excellent instruction (and also have the benefit of on campus didactics/lectures from KCUMB faculty once a week). Those other students that rotate away? Well, they CHOOSE to do so. Not only that, they have to win a lottery and be in solid academic standing to be given the opportunity to visit another site (of which YOU handpick your top three sites are only sent to sites you list). Are some of the away sites better than others? Probably. But I rotated away and was so satisfied my experience there that I chose to stick around for another rotation at the same hospital for a 4th year elective.
Your 4th year is entirely designed by you. KCUMB offers more 4th year electives than many other medical schools (which can be extremely valuable for a student interesting in matching into a competitive residency).
Students are not valued at KCUMB by the administration. This is of course an opinion but it is a widely held opinion amongst the student body. The faculty who are still there do for the most part take an active interest in their students and there are some tremendous teachers. The administration, however, does not care about your education. At KCUMB you will be treated as a child and viewed as a dollar sign.
Ahh, the professionalism policy. At first glance, it does seem a little strict. But in the grand scheme of things it really isn't that big of a deal. Essentially, students that are acting out of line or causing trouble are brought to the dean. This happens everywhere. Most of the time, you are told to not make the same mistake and that is the end of it. Only in instances where a student is a repeat offender and unable (or unwilling) to change, will they face action that will affect their academic standing/record.
The president makes around 1.4million$ per year with compensation as everyone was informed last year in a mass email a concerned student sent out to the student body. That makes her like the 3rd highest paid med school president in the country!!! You can find this information on guidestar.org and it was reported in the Kansas City Star in 2007.
And yet you neglect to mention how much money that same president brought to the school in the time she has been there. See all the new buildings on campus? News flash, they're not free.
The school recently hired a dean to replace the old one who quit, presumably due to conflict with the administration. The new dean is like 30 years old. I am sure he is an exceptional student/doctor etc but remember you are the one paying $40,000 per year for tuition - don't you deserve only the best.
I have not had the opportunity to meet the new dean, but I have heard that he is very good with students. I certainly wouldn't judge him based solely upon his age.
During the summer between years 2 and 3 students are forced to remain in Kansas City and attend "summer courses"...So while most med schools have their students participating in clinical rotations by June, July or August, you will not start them until September at KCUMB. This puts you at an automatic disadvantage to other students who you rotate with who already have several rotations under their belt.
Those "filler courses" are a 6 week orientation to prepare you for rotations. I think it could be shortened (and I was told that the school is looking into possibly doing so to add another month or two of rotations) but overall, I think most of us do just fine. Based upon my experience, I've heard that KCUMB students generally get very high marks from other preceptor physicians. I assume this is partly because we're instructed well during our 1st two years, partly because we're not completely clueless about routine clerkship procedures (that were taught during the summer "filler course") and partly because we've been conditioned not to act like idiots due to the professionalism policy.
It also puts you at a disadvantage when applying for residency because you will have only been able to complete from 0 to 2/3 elective rotations (the field you may want to go into, completed during 4th year) before applications should be submitted (depending upon the program). Basically you may have to commit to what you want to do before you have had a chance to really see if it is what you want.
Except that the primary goal of 3rd year clerkships is to provide you with instruction in core disciplines of medicine. Electives during 3rd year are nice, but not absolutely necessary.
The KCUMB administration will do as little as they have to, especially during your 3rd and 4th years, where the drop off in education and direction is huge.
Spoken by someone that has clearly not started rotations and thus no idea what they're talking about. The school does respond positively to students that bring up issues put through the RIGHT channels (i.e. through the clerkship coordinators, faculty and even the dean) in a TACTFUL manner. Certainly not like this.
(yes, immature, I know..)
