Need your help please...

[MrAnonymous]

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I have an interview at several medschools and I need to know if there was any information I should look into about the medschool?? Like, number of students to a cadaver, curriculum, etc. (what is didactic anyways??). Where can I find updated information on the state of health care and health care reform. Should I be concerned with HMO's? (I don't think we should be concerned, is that wrong of me??) What about PPO's?? (They aren't even anything new, so what's the problem?? High rates?? Deductibles??) What should I know for the interview and where can I get that information on the web? I already know about Interviewfeedback so thanks anyways..

 

[Becket]

Before you interview, it's probably a good idea to learn a little about the school's curriculum, since it will vary from school to school. For example, do they use problem-based learning? how much time is spent in lecture vs. small groups? how much patient contact do you get in the basic science years, etc. Usually you can find this info at their web site, or if they sent you an information booklet with your secondary, it may be in there. As for the more specific questions like number of people per cadaver, you can find that out from other students on your interview day. With regards to health care issues, you don't need to be an expert. Judging from your post, you seem to have a good grasp of the issues; they're not going to grill you on it, if they ask about it at all (most schools didn't for me). As long as what you say makes sense, you'll do fine. Good luck.

 

[Methuselah]

You should definitely be concerned with HMOs, PPOs, IPAs and the whole host of alphabet soup healthcare issues, or it could get mighty uncomfortable for you when you're in the "hot-seat." But don't fret, you have the net! Just get on Google and type in any healthcare keyword, and you'll be buried with information.

 

[mmerzouk]

didactics is the style of teaching and the academics. basically the course work.
when you are doing rotations (even more in residency), this becomes more of an issue. some hospitals, more community based, will have little/no didactics (you will do loads of hands on teaching). if you like a lot of didactics you tend to go to larger universitiy based hospitals. of course there are the balanced hospitals also.

look into how the schools classes are set up, how they lecture, how they test (important!!).

all the hmo stuff. . .should be not a problem during the interview. gee, i am ms4 and still do not understand all of it

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ob/gyn wannabe

 

[ntxawmx]

Hey

How about if you work for an HMO, like I do... I'm planning on brushing up on some of my opinions of my current work place before heading off to interviews. I think it's safest to be prepared.

 

[scully]

Like Mr. Anonymous, I too am getting ready to interview and am looking for the same information. A related subject, which I have heard is asked about frequently, is important ethical issues. For those of you who have completed your interviews, do interviewers ask questions in such a way as to ascertain your knowledge about the subject, or do they ask about your opinion? It seems like this could be a sticky situation!

Thanks for any input or advice!

 

[galadriel]

If you have not looked into these issues before, you should not be applying to medical school now. If you don't read newspapers, magazines, etc. which discuss these issues, you shouldn't be applying to medical school now. If you knew the answers it should make you either more firm in your choice of medicine, or uncertain, or realizing that being a physician is not for you. If these topics do come up at interviews, and they don't always, any perceptive interviewer will quickly see that you crammed for this at the last minute. Not a good move. I am a recently retired prof of biology/premed advisor for the last 40 years. I have known many students who did themselves in at interviews.

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[galadriel]

I realized I sounded too harsh. About your other questions, you should ceratinly browse the catalog of the med schools you interview at. However, the best source of information for some of the questions you have will be med students themselves where you have an interview. I will let you in on a secret I saved for my own applicants. Leave for the interview the morning of the day before (if it is out of town), check into the hotel/motel where you will stay overnight, then head straight for the med school. Try to find med students. Look in student lounges. Ask your questions of the med students; for some of the questions people have it is useful to find med students like themselves in gender, age, etc. Among other questions be sure to ask them they are happy campers, why or why not. Ask about the interview process itself. Ask if one of them can you a quick, unoffcial tour of the school. When you arrive for your interview the next day you will not arrive late, you will be less anxious because you know what to expect, the layout of the school, etc. If you want to make a real impression on the interviewer, stay over that night and appear the next day looking for the interviewer. "I have a question or two I forgot to ask." That interviwer will not forget you. Sure it is expensive, but it may be well be worth it to you. And if the school is in a town unfamiliar to you, try to find time to take a walk around beautiful downtown wherever. You want to know if you can live in that town for 4 years.
I learned this from one of my own students years ago; he was accepted to every school he interviewed at. Of course, he was personable, had high grades and MCAT scores,
but many of those schools were well out of our area. In the end, he chose U North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a NC state school. He was a NY resident.