Questions about Finch/CMS? (For current students)

[Doctora Foxy]

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I was very impressed with this school when I interviewed last week. I really liked it when I was there, but the interview day is somewhat unstructured, which I think is why many get a bad impression when visiting.

For current students, do you like it? Are students happy to be there, or is it rather competitive because of the letter grading system?

I'm just trying to figure out why so many premeds don't like it after visiting. The recent match list was very impressive, the school is very modern, and the few students I spoke with seemed friendly and happy. There are many affiliated hospitals to choose from as well.

What is the source of unhappiness/rumors? 😕

 

[Dodge This]

Not a Finch student, but I interviewed there, got accepted, and declined acceptance. Here's why... (Apologies to any current Finch students. Please correct any misinformation.)

First and foremost, the school was in the middle of nowhere. Yes you're in Chicago for years 3-4, but you pay for it the first two years. I remember driving up to the school and just seeing a few lonely buildings admist a bleak-white snowy background. I drove around Waukegan (sp?) and I didn't find anything. Very uninteresting. The students were on break so I didn't get a real perspective (sorry--tour guides don't count). Conducive to studying, but not conducive to staying human while in med school.

Next, the school was all one building and apparently most of the students live all together in apartments right across the street. They tried to make that sound like a plus, but it was very much a minus to me. Just a little too cozy, especially the part where the campus is pretty much only one building when it really doesn't need to be. It's not like there's a lack of space--they could spread things out a little.

Third, the weather. Yes, I probably shouldn't have applied there if I wasn't willing to go to school in the snow. I realize that now. Sub zero temperatures? No thank you. The door handle of my rental car was frozen shut in the morning, there was a sheet of ice on the windshield that I had to scrape off, and I almost slipped on the ice more than once. Not to mention that it was hella cold. That was too much for this Californian to handle.

Hope that answers some questions. Don't let this influece your decision if you are truly impressed by the school. It may be perfect for you, but it was far from it for me.

 

[peachgirl]

I also was not impressed with Finch. I will say that this school was at the bottom of my preference list, and it stayed there after my visit.

1. School is in the middle of nowhere. Nothing to do here. And although they say it's in Chicago, it's quite away from Downtown Chicago.

2. Since Finch did not allow interviewees to mingle with any students except for the tour guide, I wonder why they hide them away from us.

My tour guide was the only student I met, and while she was honest, her opinions did not reflect well for the school. She said she was not satisfied with the lecture based curriculum - NO Problem Based Learing. When I asked her why she chose Finch, she said that it was the only school that she got into. Then she proceeded to tell me that almost everyone at this school attended because they didn't get into any other medical school. This statement definitely did not reflect well on Finch.

3. The cost! One of the more expensive schools - I believe almost $40,000 a year - for a so-so school.

Those are my two cents. Again, this place was definitely not for me, but maybe your visit was more pleasant than mine. If you're wondering, I interviewed in December, and got accepted in early January. Turned them down the day I got the acceptance.

 

[Doctora Foxy]

I just got accepted to Finch yesterday, so now I would really like to hear opinions from current students. I'm really excited! (Especially since this is my first and only acceptance!) 🙂

So, Bump! 😀

 

[deleted4401]

Not that I go to Finch, but I just read this post, and I wanted to say that a lecture based curriculum is not too bad. I think it's great. It lets me sleep in every morning and just read the notesets that students make. I like that a lot. I'm not really interested in attending classes except for social reasons (if I haven't seen certain people in a while, I'll show up for a lecture). And if you go to a place like Finch, you can figure out what works for you, and then do it.

I think if a school forced a PBL curriculum on me, I'd drown. So, while people can talk about PBL vs. lecture, they won't know what it means until they start med school. We do both, and sometimes the PBLs are good and sometimes I want to take the professor hostage until they agree to stop scheduling the damn things.

So don't let that deter you ... I'm sure CMS is great, and the degree of how bad med school sucks will be almost the same if you go to your first choice school, your second school, or your only choice school.

Good luck,

Simul

 

[guardian]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by Doctora Foxy:
•I just got accepted to Finch yesterday, so now I would really like to hear opinions from current students. I'm really excited! 🙂

So, Bump! 😀 •••••Congrats Doctora Foxy . I've followed your posts a bit and knew how badly you wanted it 😀 ! Congrats and celebrate!

 

[Jalby]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by Doctora Foxy:
•I just got accepted to Finch yesterday, so now I would really like to hear opinions from current students. I'm really excited! (Especially since this is my first and only acceptance!) 🙂

So, Bump! 😀 •••••

 

[Jalby]

•••quote:•••Originally posted by Doctora Foxy:
•I just got accepted to Finch yesterday, so now I would really like to hear opinions from current students. I'm really excited! (Especially since this is my first and only acceptance!) 🙂

So, Bump! 😀 •••••I donno what happened there. Congratulations!!!!!!

Now it is time for the customary clapping gaemlins:



(PAD in a place where no one will see it)

 

[Doctora Foxy]

What are you talking about? Are you making up quotes again? 🙄 :wink:

Sorry, I didn't read my old post before bumping.