Questions for current GW students

[sn0wbum]

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I was wondering if there are any current GW students that would be able to talk about their experience. I'm trying to make my final decision about where to go and there isn't a Second Look weekend. I absolutely fell in love with GW when I was there for the interview, but I just have a few questions about the Match list (which the Admin has been pretty vague about) and preparation for the boards and residency programs, etc and overall impression likes/dislikes about the school. Thanks!

 

[Brickhouse]

I was wondering if there are any current GW students that would be able to talk about their experience. I'm trying to make my final decision about where to go and there isn't a Second Look weekend. I absolutely fell in love with GW when I was there for the interview, but I just have a few questions about the Match list (which the Admin has been pretty vague about) and preparation for the boards and residency programs, etc and overall impression likes/dislikes about the school. Thanks!

I'm a current second year. I love it!

 

[sn0wbum]

that's great! what do you like the most AND the least about GW? How often do MS1/MS2s get to use the clinical simulation rooms or work with standardized patients? Are the professors/admin receptive as far as student feedback? Are the tests in the same format as the boards?

 

[prettymd05]

also here are other questions for you (if you dont mind): how do you feel about being in class from 9-5 or 8-4 rather? is it as draining as it sounds? how do you balance studying when you are in class most of the day?

 

[cdql]

I found that students typically stop going to class if a complete syllabus is handed out. I try to attend most but you're right...going to class from 8-4 is really draining. After a whole day of that, who wants to go home and study some more?

The best thing to do is try and pre-read. If you feel you can get away without going to class, it might be better to stay home and study the material on your own. If you have questions about the material or it seems a little tricky, then showing up to class works.

I also want to add that you should defintiely attend all your classes during the 1st block! Make sure you can handle the material before skipping out on classes!

 

[Brickhouse]

that's great! what do you like the most AND the least about GW? How often do MS1/MS2s get to use the clinical simulation rooms or work with standardized patients? Are the professors/admin receptive as far as student feedback? Are the tests in the same format as the boards?

Hi! If you go to the preallopathic forum and scroll through a page or two I listed what I consider the pros and cons on a GW thread in there. You can probably just search my name and it'll come up.

We use the clinical simulation rooms and practice on eachother like once a month as a group, but we can use the rooms to practice whenever we want around exam time - we learn things in blocks, one month we do the heart and lungs, then the abdomen, then musculoskeletal, etc. We have 4th years and clinical faculty helping out. Once a semester we take an exam using three or four standardized patients who give feedback and scores. We practice all genitourinary exams on standarized patients - I did mine yesterday and it was crazy. Third year I think we go in and use that life support larry or whatever that dummy is that you practice on, I'm not sure.
Admin. is pretty receptive, some departments make it a point to collect feedback and are very concerned about their performance, others are less receptive. Most faculty are accessible if you have specific concerns. Tests change as you progress, some questions are similar to boards in that they give you clinical scenarios to figure out, others are not similar at all.
hope that helps!

 

[sn0wbum]

thanks so much. that was very helpful!

 

[Brickhouse]

thanks so much. that was very helpful!

Glad to help ! Any luck finding our match list? I'm sure I'll be able to get my hands on it soon.

 

[mphthenmd]

Hey everyone, I have 2 questions. 1)what is the grading system @ GW
2) Do shelf exams/subject boards play a part in the grading process for class

 

[Brickhouse]

Hey everyone, I have 2 questions. 1)what is the grading system @ GW
2) Do shelf exams/subject boards play a part in the grading process for class

Fail/Conditional/Pass/Honors

Shelf exams are only during rotations except the final pathology test is the path shelf.

Why do you ask, mr. temple student? (or ms.)

 

[MD Rapper]

x

 

[mphthenmd]

Fail/Conditional/Pass/Honors

Shelf exams are only during rotations except the final pathology test is the path shelf.

Why do you ask, mr. temple student? (or ms.)

I'm hoping to come off the GW waitlist, and if it happens I want to be ready to make my decision... 👍
Thanks for the info both of your posts have been really helpful.
Mr. Temple Student

 

[gschl1234]

that's great! what do you like the most AND the least about GW? How often do MS1/MS2s get to use the clinical simulation rooms or work with standardized patients? Are the professors/admin receptive as far as student feedback? Are the tests in the same format as the boards?

Like Most: random stuff which I probably don't appreciate enough
Like Least: having to get my POM/PBL sheet signed every week
Clinical simulation rooms: every time you have a physical diagnosis session which is about ever 2-3 weeks
Standardized pt: final exams 1st and 2nd years, 1st year - a few practice sessions, 2nd year - lots of practice sessions
Professors/Admin: no personal experience
Tests: not boards style, only 1 shelf (Pathology) in preclinical years

What other schools you considering?

 

[gschl1234]

also here are other questions for you (if you dont mind): how do you feel about being in class from 9-5 or 8-4 rather? is it as draining as it sounds? how do you balance studying when you are in class most of the day?

Yes it is draining so to keep my sanity I've stopped going!!!! It's very liberating and I wish I had done it first year. The nice thing is that in 2nd year they give you all the notes. Often in first year their handouts aren't complete. My grades have actually gone up, by the way.

 

[sn0wbum]

Like Most: random stuff which I probably don't appreciate enough
Like Least: having to get my POM/PBL sheet signed every week
Clinical simulation rooms: every time you have a physical diagnosis session which is about ever 2-3 weeks
Standardized pt: final exams 1st and 2nd years, 1st year - a few practice sessions, 2nd year - lots of practice sessions
Professors/Admin: no personal experience
Tests: not boards style, only 1 shelf (Pathology) in preclinical years

What other schools you considering?

tufts... but it doesn't seem like a good fit for me. i love boston, but after being in the same 20-mile radius--from grammar school thru college, then 2yrs of work--i finally think it's time to try something new. DC is such a cool city and the students at GW seemed much more relaxed and i really liked the new hospital/CLASS rooms.

 

[Brickhouse]

I'm hoping to come off the GW waitlist, and if it happens I want to be ready to make my decision... 👍
Thanks for the info both of your posts have been really helpful.
Mr. Temple Student

LOL - look me up when you get here! 😉

 

[Brickhouse]

Yes it is draining so to keep my sanity I've stopped going!!!! It's very liberating and I wish I had done it first year. The nice thing is that in 2nd year they give you all the notes. Often in first year their handouts aren't complete. My grades have actually gone up, by the way.

Hey girl, you still hanging out here? 😉

 

[gschl1234]

Hey girl, you still hanging out here? 😉

Yeah, every once in a while I come here in spurts. 🙂

 

[mphthenmd]

Hey everyone! Another pestering question...Do most of you (@ GW) have just loans or does the fin AID dept get the hook up at all? I'm stuck b/c I really like both GW and Temple. I think GW may have a slightly better rep, but DC living will be $$$.

 

[Brickhouse]

Hey everyone! Another pestering question...Do most of you (@ GW) have just loans or does the fin AID dept get the hook up at all? I'm stuck b/c I really like both GW and Temple. I think GW may have a slightly better rep, but DC living will be $$$.

I think it's like $30K per year are stafford loans (low apr) and the rest have to be private loans - and yes, DC is ridiculously expensive and that's from someone who lived near and worked in Beverly Hills.

 

[prettymd05]

Yes it is draining so to keep my sanity I've stopped going!!!! It's very liberating and I wish I had done it first year. The nice thing is that in 2nd year they give you all the notes. Often in first year their handouts aren't complete. My grades have actually gone up, by the way.

Not sure if you'll have another spurt and come back here to answer this question but anyone can answer this (please!)

so if you study from the syllabus/notes you will be ok even if you do not go to class? If i go to GW I will definitely go the first year and kiind of pick and choose the ones that I will continue attending.

Also, why do you have to get the POM/PBL sheet signed every week? Is this class required attendance? What other classes are required?

thanks!!!

-pretty

 

[Brickhouse]

Not sure if you'll have another spurt and come back here to answer this question but anyone can answer this (please!)

so if you study from the syllabus/notes you will be ok even if you do not go to class? If i go to GW I will definitely go the first year and kiind of pick and choose the ones that I will continue attending.

Also, why do you have to get the POM/PBL sheet signed every week? Is this class required attendance? What other classes are required?

thanks!!!

-pretty

Hey pretty -
I would say that everything covered in the lecture is covered in the handouts so you would be ok just to read the notes and use recommended text in the first year especially. There are classes here and there where there are a lot of pictures and the lecturer will describe the picture but the text won't be on the slide, so for some subjects it's helpful to go to class, but that's the exception, not the rule. Your strategy of going to classes initially and deciding which ones to keep going to is a good one.
POM classes are required - and that's it. Don't know why - except that the classes are small groups of like 8 to 12 people and then CAP is just you and so it's nice to get a little more individual attention, and the group leaders can make sure everyone is performing up to speed. That's just my guess.

 

[gschl1234]

Hey pretty -
I would say that everything covered in the lecture is covered in the handouts so you would be ok just to read the notes and use recommended text in the first year especially. There are classes here and there where there are a lot of pictures and the lecturer will describe the picture but the text won't be on the slide, so for some subjects it's helpful to go to class, but that's the exception, not the rule. Your strategy of going to classes initially and deciding which ones to keep going to is a good one.
POM classes are required - and that's it. Don't know why - except that the classes are small groups of like 8 to 12 people and then CAP is just you and so it's nice to get a little more individual attention, and the group leaders can make sure everyone is performing up to speed. That's just my guess.

The nice thing is that we get all the notes from last year's note service, this year's note service, and an audio of the lectures over the internet so going to glass just to get a description of pictures is unnecessary.

 

[gschl1234]

Also, why do you have to get the POM/PBL sheet signed every week? Is this class required attendance? What other classes are required?

thanks!!!

-pretty

You have to get it signed for each session so that's 2-3 times per week (depending on the week) because attendence is required (DPS/PDx, PBL and CAP). My CAP attending joked that he's no longer signing sheets this year as a form of protest because it's insulting to everyone involved. Other than all the POM stuff, they schedule extra mandatory activities once in a while but not often.

 

[freddydpt]

You have to get it signed for each session so that's 2-3 times per week (depending on the week) because attendence is required (DPS/PDx, PBL and CAP). My CAP attending joked that he's no longer signing sheets this year as a form of protest because it's insulting to everyone involved. Other than all the POM stuff, they schedule extra mandatory activities once in a while but not often.

I only get mine signed once at the end of the semester. My mentors and tutors know if I'm there or not. There's an honor system to some extent. I find it a hassle to have to get the sheet signed every week so I took it upon myself to be treated like an adult. They didn't mind at all.

Wow you guys have been so active on SDN! I haven't been here in ages!

 

[Brickhouse]

I only get mine signed once at the end of the semester. My mentors and tutors know if I'm there or not. There's an honor system to some extent. I find it a hassle to have to get the sheet signed every week so I took it upon myself to be treated like an adult. They didn't mind at all.

Wow you guys have been so active on SDN! I haven't been here in ages!

Troll....shoo! be gone!

LMAO

 

[prettymd05]

To the current students who have been great at answering questions, how much do first years usually spend on their books and how much should we spend? The reason I ask is because the finaid budget gave $915 for books and I wanted to know if there is a way around spending that much on books! When do the upperclassmen start to sell their books? Do the profs often change editions, making it somewhat mandatory to get a brand new book for lots of money?

Any info on book purchases would be helpful!!!

 

[bjackrian]

You definitely don't need to spend that much on books. I'm a book learner and bought at least one book for every class and still spent less thant that (probably more like $600, and that was for all new books). Most people spend a lot less even that that. I'd highly recommend going to class for at least a couple weeks before buying books. You can decide for yourself what's really necessary and what's covered adequately in lecture and in the notes. Our class will have an orientation guide for you that you'll get this summer that'll have some advice on books, but seriously, wait for the classes to start before you buy anything.

See you next year! 🙂

 

[prettymd05]

thanks for the quick reply and advice!

 

[eralza]

If you go through half.com or amazon, you can probably cut your costs down to $400-500.
There is a good student manual that you will get at orientation. It goes through each class and gives the student's recommendations of which books to buy. Some of the professors recommended books that received a big thumbs down from the students.
So, did you decide on GW?

 

[Brickhouse]

I have a couple first year books I'd be willing to sell for cheap because they are two years old and I highlited them minimally if you want to PM me I can give them to you when you get here - I think I have the micro book, the neuro book, biochem, immuno and an embryo book - oh and a respiratory phys book.....anyway keep me in mind. The biochem book is like a million dollars if you buy it new, btw.

 

[gschl1234]

To the current students who have been great at answering questions, how much do first years usually spend on their books and how much should we spend? The reason I ask is because the finaid budget gave $915 for books and I wanted to know if there is a way around spending that much on books! When do the upperclassmen start to sell their books? Do the profs often change editions, making it somewhat mandatory to get a brand new book for lots of money?

Any info on book purchases would be helpful!!!

First of all, be familiar with what textbooks are available for free via the library's webpage. Second, if you plan on going to school a lot, you can just look stuff up in textbooks on reserve at the front desk of the library. As an undergrad I was a textbook studier but found it way too inefficient in med school. It took me about a year to realize how great review books can be. They are much better organized and high yield (and less than half the price). Invest in some review books that work for you and it'll pay off. I now only use textbooks as an occasional reference.

good luck 🙂

 

[bigdreamer]

hey guys, would anyone involved in the Track program tell me if they like it, or if they think its worth it?

Thanks

 

[eralza]

hey guys, would anyone involved in the Track program tell me if they like it, or if they think its worth it?

Thanks

Hard to say yet, as this is the first year. I think that what it will basically provide is another bullet statement on your dean's letter. Lectures and opportunities are open to everyone, but the summer scholarship opportunities are prioritized to the tract students. If you are already planning on doing something between your first and second years (e.g. a medical mission overseas), then joining the tract will give you credit for what you were going to do anyway. If you are just interested in a certain area, but would rather do something unrelated over the summer, then just attend the lectures without committing to a tract.

 

[freddydpt]

hey guys, would anyone involved in the Track program tell me if they like it, or if they think its worth it?

Thanks

I've actually had a lot of fun with the track program so far and I'm a second year. The track program is only official for the first years which means I get to go to whatever I want... muahaha 🙂

I particularly attend the emergency preparedness and medical education track. There have been a bunch of small workshops on adult learning theory and critique of presentation in the med ed track. It's a small and fun group that's kept interactive. If you're registered in a track, you have to use your summer between the first and second year to do a project related to the track... i.e. Global Health = go on vacation to another country and do some medical work while you're there. Medical Education = teach a high school program or develop a student group to assist first year students in classes.

 

[bigdreamer]

Thanks for the input! It seems like a pretty good opportunity.

Anyone have their summer intership assigned already? I just wanted to see the type of placements they get.

Freddy a DPT and an MD, thats intense, what made you pursue both degrees?
Also- what are your thoughts on BU compared to GW?

 

[Brickhouse]

Freddy a DPT and an MD, thats intense, what made you pursue both degrees?
Also- what are your thoughts on BU compared to GW?

omg you just opened a big o'l can of worms with that - well, we might as well all settle in cuz this is gonna be a long one....


sorry fred it's just too much fun

 

[prettymd05]

If you go through half.com or amazon, you can probably cut your costs down to $400-500.
There is a good student manual that you will get at orientation. It goes through each class and gives the student's recommendations of which books to buy. Some of the professors recommended books that received a big thumbs down from the students.
So, did you decide on GW?

YUP I AM COMING!!!!!!!!

 

[prettymd05]

WHY DOESN'T GW HAVE MONEY IN THE PACKAGE FOR A COMPUTER?! 😡

 

[bjackrian]

WHY DOESN'T GW HAVE MONEY IN THE PACKAGE FOR A COMPUTER?! 😡

Yeah, the financial budget is, in my opinion, unrealstically low. That sad, if you take the money from Books/Supplies and Instruments, you have enough money to buy books, buy your stethescope, and still get a decent computer.

Also, I vaguely remember reading somewhere that you can get extra money for a computer under a special government program, but it's a really hazy memory in the back of my mind, so I'm not sure how it works.