Okay, more questions.
Do you like the exam schedule? Do you find it less stressful than an exam say every week? I know med school is going to be very hard a stressful. I'm still deciding between schools and am trying to figure out what might be best for my Lupus. How is the curriculum arranged? Topic, organ system random?
Does anyone know the average step I score? How much time off do you get to study for it?
Finally, what is the community of students like? Is there a strong sense of community even though people are living in their own apartments? How do you find a roommate for first year?
I really loved the block exam schedule. Sure, it feels like a finals week every month, but that beats the constant spector of a test looming over you every week. It is also very nice to be able to study new material as it comes instead of playing the academic triage game by studying for the next exam at the expense of keeping up in your other classes. The second year curriculum has moved away a bit from the block exam format, so we have a basis of comparison and I think most of my classmates don't like it as much. Luckily they solicit our thoughts on things like that and I expect them to take steps to make it more in line with the M1 block exam schedule.
Curriculum is considered traditional. You take classes by subject (biochem, development, anatomy, physiology, pathology, pharmacology, etc.) and within those classes things are typically presented according to body system. I find it pretty handy in that you are refamiliarized with the important anatomical and physiological aspects of every body system multiple times over the course of your first 2 years, which might not be the case in newer organ-system based curriculums. Different strokes for different folks though.
The average Step 1 score is just over the national average. We were presented with a breakdown by subject of other MCWers most recent board exams and the only subjects where we fell below the average were in nutrition and (I think) genetics. This is probably because there are no classes or blocks devoted to those subjects--they kind of get tossed into biochem and physiology wherever they can fit them. The prep for phys, pharm, and path for the boards is pretty good, I think. You get 6 weeks between the end of 2nd year and 3rd to study for and take Step 1. Most of us are taking between 3-4 weeks to study and then a couple weeks of vacation. I haven't heard of too many schools giving more time than this to take the Step (maybe UCLA and Duke?)
The student body is great. Most everyone is pretty relaxed and ready to help each other to do well. Everyone seems to find a group of friends that they get along with really well and there are several opportunities via dances and organized parties over the course of the year for the whole class to get together.
Anyways, hope that these comments help, and I'm sure other 2009ers will be happy to provide input after we finish our last final tomorrow morning. Good luck with your decision!
