snorebel said:
So what is life like as an MS1 at Jefferson. That is what I'll be next year at this time and so I'm just wondering what I'm getting myself into. How is the quality of life, people, study time, fun time, etc... Thanks
Hi - Sorry that no one's gotten back to you yet. We just had an exam Friday, which tends to take over your priorities and dictate your schedule.
First off, congratulations and welcome! It's great that you've gotten in somewhere and that you know where you're going.
Life as an MS 1 at Jefferson is, more or less, like life as an MS 1 anywhere. There's a lot of work, and a lot of stress, all of which is mitigated by your classmates. People are laid-back around here, competition wise, because it's honors/pass/fail, and no curve. That's always nice. That means that you don't get an advantage by hoarding information or study tips to yourself, and people around here are super-willing to share. Honestly, I wasn't pre-med in undergrad, because I hadn't met many pre-meds that I'd liked. All they did was talk about MCATs and average entering GPAs, etc, etc. My med school classmates are so much more interesting.
Jefferson's a big school, which I like. That means that it's very likely that you'll find at least one person that you'll click with and become close friends with, probably more than one person. You'll find your niche.
The administration here is wonderful. Everyone in the dean's office is so nice, and Dean Nasca (whom you'll meet in orientation) is one of the most low-key, laid back, approachable people imaginable. Almost all of the deans are MDs, so when they say "I know what you're going through," they really mean it. There are also a lot of chances to find clinical mentors, who will teach you how to work with patients, and be willing to listen to you vent. At least one of your PBL small group leaders, for instance, will be a physician. I got really lucky - one of my small group leaders is a psychiatrist, so she's always interested in "how I'm feeling." She's so nice though. I'm not quite as enthused about some of the basic science teaching faculty, but that's the way it always is, though. There are some amazing teachers (Dr. Ronner immediately comes to mind) but I'm sure that some people will disagree with me and say that they really like all of the professors. I could probably avoid this problem by not going to class, but I'm too afraid that I'll miss the one professor who will say something truly thought provoking and life changing. But, that's my problem.
JeffHOPE is really as much fun as people say it is. There's a lot of hype about it, but it's truly a great experience. There are other groups that interact with patients, though, so if homeless men are not your thing, you could always do JeffMentors, or JeffElect, or JeffMoms, or whatever.
A lot of people will tell you that medical school is a marathon. I don't find that to be true. It's more like being in the NBA - you spend all of your time either recovering from a game (test), or preparing for a game (test), and it is a really long season. It's a weird rhythm, I find. I don't usually go out to the post exam parties, so you'll have to ask someone else about that. There's other stuff to do in Philadelphia (obviously) if you just want to do something else with some of your friends besides go to the post-exam party, too. Your Student Council reps are your classmates, and they're always open to ideas.
All in all, it's a good school. I like the location, just because I can get out, walk to a coffeeshop to study, and then walk back. Good coffeeshops to study at are a few blocks west, around 16th or 17th street, if you don't like studying in your apartment or the library.
Sorry this took so long, and sorry that it was so long. Overall, I really like it here, a lot more than I had thought that I would. Good luck, feel free to ask or PM if you have any questions or concerns, and hope to see you at Jefferson soon!
