Second Look Weekends?

[274631]

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Thoughts on them? Worth it? How do/did you choose which to go to if you had more than one acceptance?

I know its maybe a little early for people to know if they're going but I was thinking about it recently so decided to ask.

 

[Oso]

I also have to decide between several second look weekends. I'm hoping to narrow down my list of schools and only attend 2-3 weekends (hopefully only 2).

From what past applicants have told me, they can be really fun and worth it. It's nice to revisit programs in a more stress-free manner and talk to current students without worrying about interviewing. It's also nice because you can really compare schools to each other (not really possible at the beginning of the interview cycle), and you may have figured out things you want/don't want in a school while interviewing and visiting schools. It's also cool because you can meet potential classmates, and I know many people who met roommates at second looks.

 

[mvenus929]

If you can afford it, but have conflicts with the second look weekends, contact the admissions office to see if you can do an unofficial second look. My school's admissions department has set up more than a couple of them in the 3.5 years I've been in med school.

 

[flippedtungsten]

Do schools pay to fly you out to second look or do you have to buy your own tickets? I'd love to attend a couple, but after all those interview costs...

 

[274631]

I also have to decide between several second look weekends. I'm hoping to narrow down my list of schools and only attend 2-3 weekends (hopefully only 2).

From what past applicants have told me, they can be really fun and worth it. It's nice to revisit programs in a more stress-free manner and talk to current students without worrying about interviewing. It's also nice because you can really compare schools to each other (not really possible at the beginning of the interview cycle), and you may have figured out things you want/don't want in a school while interviewing and visiting schools. It's also cool because you can meet potential classmates, and I know many people who met roommates at second looks.

Thanks for the response. I've been leaning towards going to my top 3. Just considering cost and timing versus the benefits of going.

If you can afford it, but have conflicts with the second look weekends, contact the admissions office to see if you can do an unofficial second look. My school's admissions department has set up more than a couple of them in the 3.5 years I've been in med school.

Thanks for that! I do have a conflict and didn't even think of doing this.

 

[Oso]

Do schools pay to fly you out to second look or do you have to buy your own tickets? I'd love to attend a couple, but after all those interview costs...

I highly doubt it, considering a lot of the students who attend their second look will matriculate elsewhere. I suppose there could be some schools who pay for applicants they really like, but I haven't heard of that.

 

[mvenus929]

Do schools pay to fly you out to second look or do you have to buy your own tickets? I'd love to attend a couple, but after all those interview costs...

Unless you're part of a certain group (MSTP, URM, etc), usually not. They may have some sort of student housing again, but that's about it.

 

[Ismet]

I highly suggest attending second look weekends if time and money allow. The two I went on really helped me make a concrete decision between them.

Do schools pay to fly you out to second look or do you have to buy your own tickets? I'd love to attend a couple, but after all those interview costs...

This almost never happens unless you are MSTP or something.

 

[Remy LeBeau]

I have a second look coming up in March, and I am going to arrange and informal second look at another school. How can I make the most of these weekends? What are the best questions to ask/people to talk to?

 

[mvenus929]

I have a second look coming up in March, and I am going to arrange and informal second look at another school. How can I make the most of these weekends? What are the best questions to ask/people to talk to?

You should talk to both lowerclassmen and upperclassmen, if at all possible. Get a feel for how they like the school, pluses and minuses, etc.

Specific things to ask:
- Quality of clinical rotations
- Grades - how are they decided, when is it P/F (is it TRULY P/F), are rankings kept, etc
- How supportive the school is with the residency application process.
- How fourth year is structured (when does it start, how much vacation do you have, do you have to do rotations during interview season, how much is required, etc)
- How much dedicated study time is there for Step 1

And, since you're going in late March, asking for the match list isn't a bad idea, keeping in mind that there isn't a whole lot you can interpret from it. In general, though, you can see if anyone is going to an area you might want to go for residency, how diverse the class is in terms of specialties (is everyone going into Family or Derm, or is there a good mix?), etc

 

[Microglia]

Try to get a feel for potential classmates too. Never hurts to make a few friends. 🙂 They don't pay for the MD one though, and I actually skipped the MD second look of the school I was matriculating at, just went to the MSTP one. Either way, pick somewhere you will be as happy as possible. That is really all that matters in the end.

 

[baconshrimps]

Whats the dress code like for second look weekend? Suit? Casual? Can I rock a football jersey or rock my Seattle Seahawks 2014 NFL CHAMPIONS t-shirt, because they're going to win the Lombardi?

 

[Microglia]

Whats the dress code like for second look weekend? Suit? Casual? Can I rock a football jersey or rock my Seattle Seahawks 2014 NFL CHAMPIONS t-shirt, because they're going to win the Lombardi?

Depends on the school. Could be suit, business pro, casual, or a mix of them (which is the worst..who wants to pack that many clothes?). Most of mine were business pro/casual

 

[lobo.solo]

You should talk to both lowerclassmen and upperclassmen, if at all possible. Get a feel for how they like the school, pluses and minuses, etc.

Specific things to ask:
- Quality of clinical rotations
- Grades - how are they decided, when is it P/F (is it TRULY P/F), are rankings kept, etc
- How supportive the school is with the residency application process.
- How fourth year is structured (when does it start, how much vacation do you have, do you have to do rotations during interview season, how much is required, etc)
- How much dedicated study time is there for Step 1

And, since you're going in late March, asking for the match list isn't a bad idea, keeping in mind that there isn't a whole lot you can interpret from it. In general, though, you can see if anyone is going to an area you might want to go for residency, how diverse the class is in terms of specialties (is everyone going into Family or Derm, or is there a good mix?), etc

What is true P/F?

 

[Ismet]

What is true P/F?

Many schools that advertise themselves as P/F keep record of your rank in the class anyway (internal ranking) for purposes of AOA, deans letter, etc. True P/F does not do internal ranking.

 

[mvenus929]

What is true P/F?

Also, some schools will claim that they are P/F, when they really have a honors/high pass/pass/fail system. That's essentially the same as letter grades and isn't a true pass fail situation.

 

[Ismet]

Also, some schools will claim that they are P/F, when they really have a honors/high pass/pass/fail system.

Well then they're just lying.

 

[darkjedi]

Many schools that advertise themselves as P/F keep record of your rank in the class anyway (internal ranking) for purposes of AOA, deans letter, etc. True P/F does not do internal ranking.

Also, some schools will claim that they are P/F, when they really have a honors/high pass/pass/fail system. That's essentially the same as letter grades and isn't a true pass fail situation.

I don't think any school claims to have P/F and then assign H/P/F. It's definitely more the case of what Ismet has stated where the school still internally ranks students based on their preclinical grades while externally only assigning P/F.

Whats the dress code like for second look weekend? Suit? Casual? Can I rock a football jersey or rock my Seattle Seahawks 2014 NFL CHAMPIONS t-shirt, because they're going to win the Lombardi?

At this point you're already accepted. Just don't wear anything scandalous or offensive and you'll probably be ok.