The professor’s job “is to teach you what you can’t Google,” and to focus on problem-solving, patient interviews, and more practical hospital situations.
The article states that “the changes at Harvard Medical School mirrors a wider movement to shift methods that have been used for a century.”
Here are some of the changes:
• For M1s, the content will remain pretty much the same, but the order of classes will be rearranged.
• In-hospital clinical rotations will take place in the second year of med school, instead of in the third. And even in the first year, students will get hands-on time with patients once a week.
• Students will be expected to memorize facts (usually via short professor-created videos) before coming to class, rather than learning new information from professors via lectures. The professor’s job, according to Harvard professor, Richard M. Schwartzstein, “is to teach you what you can’t Google,” and to focus on problem-solving, patient interviews, and more practical hospital situations.
• The videos are short to cater to students’ short attention spans, and are in video form because, says Schwartzstein, “We are getting a sense from some students, anyway, that they don’t like to read, they prefer videos.”
• Similar curriculum changes are already underway at Vanderbilt, the University of Oregon, NYU, Georgetown, and Drexel.
• Changes are inspired by the book Educating Physicians: A Call for Reform of Medical School and Residency, by Molly Cooke, David Irby, and Bridget O’Brien, published in 2010.
Applying to a top medical school? Check out our med school admissions services – we’re here to help you get ACCEPTED!
• 5 Fatal Flaws to Avoid in Your Med School Essays
• How To Upload Medical Terminology To Your Permanent Memory Bank
• Harvard Medical School Secondary Application Essay Tips
This article originally appeared on blog.accepted.com.
Accepted.com's experienced admissions consultants can help you create the most impressive application possible with comprehensive packages,or provide targeted assistance from picking perfect programs to designing a dazzling resume, constructing engaging essays, or preparing for intense interviews…and more! Accepted.com has guided thousands of applicants to acceptances at top programs since 1994 – we know what works and what doesn't, so contact us to get started now!
