I am a first year at LSUS and have friends who are third years at LSUNO. Both are solid programs that prepare students well for boards (passing rate for both schools is consistently above the nat'l average). Shreveport class size is 100 and New Orlean-around 170. At LSUS you don't treat REAL patients until 3rd year, this is characteristic of most medical schools including NO. However, 1st and 2nd yr. students at LSUS are exposed to STANDARDIZED PATIENTS (actors) every now and then. I don't know if NO has anything similar. Shreveport is not as exciting of a town as NO but our (MY) class is very close and we always go out and party. It is a real friendly, layed back atmosphere here in Shreveport. Shreveport has zero traffic. NO has horrible traffic. NO has dorms; Shreveport doesn't. If you do well at either school you shouldn't have a problem getting into a surgical residency. Both schools require you purchase laptops. EVERYTHING at Shreveport is on computer (even histology). We usually have class from 8:00-1:00 or 2:00 during first year. Sometimes we get out at 12:00; we rarely stay past 3:00. Attendance is so-called mandatory but rarely enforced.
Honestly, I am glad I didn't get accepted to NO b/c I absolutely love LSUS (but that's just my opinion). The teachers are super and the small class makes everything more personal. I love that everything is on computer. Anatomy is spread out over 2 years instead of 1 session. The only concern I have about LSUS is that we we do not get entire course on pharmacology, HIsto and Physiology b/c of the systems based curriculum.
Bottom-Line: both schools are great ;go where you think you'll be the happiest b/c you will do better their.
