Originally posted by Rumit:
•On a different note. Does anyone find it kind of funny that during every interview they always take you on a long tour of the hospital? I have yet to see a hospital that looks even remotely different from every other hospital. Not only that, but what the hospital looks like is probably the least relevent thing to the decision regarding where you'll end up. What's even more annoying is that they often take you on these long hospital tours instead of showing you other stuff. I'd much rather see the library and classrooms (where I'm sure I'll be spending tons of time) or the area around town where I'll have to be living.
I just thought I'd add that even though it's pretty much irrelevant to the topic.
Adam•••
I kind of disagree with the hospital comment, especially since you'll be spending all of your 3rd and 4th years in the hospital. I interviewed at one school where we didn't get a hospital tour, just because it was too out of the way, and in retrospect, that definitely was a negative, in my opinion.
When you go through the hospital, you should be getting some idea of the actual physical conditions of the hospital -- in good shape, run down, etc. -- this will give you some idea of the financial situation of the medical center. Also, take a look at their patient population, and how busy the ER or the clinics seem to be.
As for the formaldehyde question, Hoosierdaddy answered it perfectly -- the majority of students get used to their cadaver's smell very quickly. Also, when you've been in anatomy lab, you don't notice that you or your friends smell of formaldehyde, but everyone else around you definitely notices.
As for the cadavers, at least at Baylor we are allowed to show interviewees the anatomy labs from the doorways, and if there are students in there working on the bodies, we can go all the way into the room. Otherwise, we are not supposed to uncover bodies simply for the purpose of the tour.
