@gxb
8- Can you describe a "typical" day in the program?
Class at 8am-10am(ish) every day (this would be your core class at the time, we just finished biochem and started cell/molecular biology which will last for 6 more weeks). Tuesday we have another lecture from 1p-3p about healthcare, wednesday we have epidemiology from 3pm-6pm, and thursday we have Histology from 1p-3p. So basically we always have a class from 8-10 and depending on the day we have one additional lecture. Between lectures I, personally, am in the library. After the second lecture I return to the library for a few hours. If it is a test week I usually stay in the library just about all the time I am not in a lecture or sleeping.
9- Is the curriculum full day (8-5) or half-day (8-12)? And how many days a week do you go to class?
Refer to above. Class is every day, attendance isn't "required" but pop quizzes are given so it's detrimental to skip class and miss a quiz.
10- What's the grading system like? Are you graded with the same curve as medical students?
Grading is very typical (Exams are multiple choice, 2-4 exams per class that make up 80-90%, quizzes and team exercises make up the rest). We are not related to the medical students at all in terms of class grades/curves. The only way we receive a curve is if the class mean falls below 85% at the end of the module.
11- You mentioned earlier that the program is "very VERY competitive." Could you please elaborate on this. Is it the admissions process, the program, or both?
Competitive in the sense of the competitive aura. Everyone is fighting for the same goal and we all know that there are limited seats in not only TCOM, but the state and nation. Admissions is competitive from what I hear but there is no real way of knowing what goes on in the selection processes.
12- How's housing there? is it on or off campus?
100% off campus. I live in an apartment, lots of options around here. housing isn't an issue.
13- How many courses do you take at a time?
We have 3 core modules this Fall. First 6 weeks is Biochem, next is Cell/molecular, next is Immuno/micro. We have epidemiology, histology, healthcare lecture once/week all year. This summer we had biostatistics three times/week and workshops to assist w/ the med school app (essay writing workshops, legitimate mock interviews with a TCOM interviewer, etc.). Next semester we take Physiology, pharmacology, gross anatomy (w/ cadaver dissection! 🙂), ethics, and some other courses I cant recall.
14- What's the total cost of the program (tuition+ room& board) for state residents on average?
Tuition is about 12k in-state for the entire year (insanely cheap!!!). room/board is something you can find out on your own....
15- How often do students drop out or fail the program, if any?
We have had a handful of drops and students that clearly were not meant for this program, I believe every year is different, but I doubt our class will have many more drops as most students I meet are on top of their stuff.
16- Does the program endorse its students through LORs, etc..?
That is up to the individual. There are no handouts or freebies, but these things can certainly be sought after.
17- What's the most/least challenging course you've taken so far?
We have finished biostatistics and biochemistry. I earned an A in both but worked extremely hard for those grades. Honestly both were equally difficult for me but what i've noticed is that the level of difficulty the students experience is entirely based on personal strengths/weaknesses. We are currently taking Histology, epidemiology, and cell/molecular bio and I find all of these courses do-able with hard work.
18- Is class attendance mandatory? Are lectures recorded and accessible online?
They are not officially recorded but many students record and post them on the group facebook page (our main form of communication), attendance is required for some courses and not for others.
19- What is the predominant form of learning , self or group study?
I study in a two-person group 90% of the time. We are all in the exact same courses so it works nicely. Many study alone, 1-on-1, or in large groups. You will find what works for you.
20- What advice(s) would you give to prospective students who want to finish the program successfully (i.e. maintain a GPA >= 3.5)?
Study a lot... Put the coursework and exams first and foremost in your life for 1 year and you will undoubtedly do well. There are no tricks or curveballs. It is a lot of information thrown at you quickly so just stay on top of it. By the way you will probably need to aim for a 3.8 if you want to finish among the top of the class to gain some recognition from TCOM if this is somewhere you would like to attend (and it should be, dont look down on the whole DO thing it just makes you look ignorant). I will be honest, a 3.5 is half As/half Bs and not very impressive for a 1 year post bacc. Be comfortable with putting the majority of your social/family life on hold and committing to this program full time. If this bothers you then dont go to medical school in the first place.
happy to help, ill be here to answer any more questions.
