notdeadyet said:
I love what I've heard about Mayo, but I have to ask: how bad is Rochester? I've heard nothing but horrible things about it, including from my wife, who's from the twin cities area.
Oh one more thing, they're screening harder for phone interviews this year... so if you make the cut, youve made a big one.
Rochester is not as bad as everyone makes it. It has EVERYTHING you need, alot of good places to eat and all the stores youd ever need. The only issue is that it has no associated undergrad campus. Thus, there are some decent bars here but not alot. There are a couple of clubs, but its not big city style. I've found that theres always a TON of stuff to do. People from all grades are always sending out mass emails, to the point where friday, saturday (and even alot of weekdays)... there are always alot of things to do (whether it be BBQ, goin to a bar, house parties etc...). The administration is trying to integrate the med students with the PA, PT and nursing students (thats alot of young people that we dont' see alot of!). One more thing to think about. Mayo's curriculum is EXTREMELY flexible. They want to make sur eyour not stressed. Thus Mayo's students, more than any other school, can easily go off to other places during the weekends. Theres almost always a group of kids goin to Minneapolis, sometimes Chicago every weekend. Whether it be for a twins game, to go out clubbin' or just to hang out with friends. Being from MN, I know plenty of kids from U Minn and U Wisc whose grading system, and competitive environment make it impossible to bail on studying on weekends and enjoyin their respective cities because if they do, they may not end up being ranked high in their class and may not get the residency they want. They end up being englufed by studying. This is NOT the case here. I can't stress also, how easy it is to study hard and focus when you know your gonna have a two week break every five weeks. In my mind, I will only be spending 2 1/2 years in rochester, because I am doing the rest of my rotations in urban areas. Mayo can really hook you up with any hospital you want for rotations (because its MAYO_. Plus our two week breaks are partially funded so that we can spend them with friends and family (while volunteering/shadowing of course) in other (more fun) cities or abroad. Its goin to be so much fun (for me) to go to chicago during my first two week selective and hang out with friends during those two weeks while doing something meaningfull. Again, this is not a college campus... its different. But I actually really like it (and I came from a huge state party school where I loved to party). Rochester has things to do, but more than anything the people that they select for your class are AWESOME and always keep you busy.
Sorry for the rant:
My main points:
Rochester is not huge, but its a city that has all you need, and theres always alot to do.
Cities are close by and its really easy to get there due to flexible curriculum.
Two week selectives after five weeks of class reduces burn out, and lets you spend alot of your time out of rochester (and the country!).
You only have to be in rochester for a max of two years becuase Mayo can hook you up with rotations at ANY hospital your last two.
My class mates are awesome, not gunnerish, and a lot of fun. They make being here even more fun. I have a hard pressed time believing the studenst I would have been in school with at any other school would be as talented, fun, helpful and unique as my classmates.
