Supportive, "Touchy-Feely" Med Schools?

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BellyDancingDoc

BellyDancingDoc

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Hi all,

I'm pretty turned off by the whole gunner thing (I'm currently at a top-5 undergrad and I've had about enough!). I'd really like to apply only to med schools that have a supportive, "touchy-feely" sort of ethos. I much prefer befriending and admiring my fellow students to crushing the competition. So far, Pitt and Yale are tops on the list as far as having a warm, supportive environment. In fact, I got the phrase "touchy-feely" straight from the mouth of one of Pitt's own admissions staff! :laugh:

Does anyone else have any suggestions as to where else competition is spurned in favor of cooperation? Again, I'm at a top undergrad school right now, but I'm happy to go "lower" (as the rankings might put it) in order to find the type of environment I'm looking for. However, I would NOT consider DO schools. I know DO's are doctors too, but I don't want to spend my career defending myself again andi-DO snobs...

Any other suggestions for schools I should look at would be much appreciated. Thanks! 😍
 
FroggieBet said:
Hi all,

I'm pretty turned off by the whole gunner thing (I'm currently at a top-5 undergrad and I've had about enough!). I'd really like to apply only to med schools that have a supportive, "touchy-feely" sort of ethos. I much prefer befriending and admiring my fellow students to crushing the competition. So far, Pitt and Yale are tops on the list as far as having a warm, supportive environment. In fact, I got the phrase "touchy-feely" straight from the mouth of one of Pitt's own admissions staff! :laugh:

Does anyone else have any suggestions as to where else competition is spurned in favor of cooperation? Again, I'm at a top undergrad school right now, but I'm happy to go "lower" (as the rankings might put it) in order to find the type of environment I'm looking for. However, I would NOT consider DO schools. I know DO's are doctors too, but I don't want to spend my career defending myself again andi-DO snobs...

Any other suggestions for schools I should look at would be much appreciated. Thanks! 😍
Click to expand...
Look at Loyola - I was super impressed by how friendly, supportive and kind the students were towards one another.
 
MCW isn't overly touchy-feely, but they do go out of their way to make sure you're taken care of for the most part.

As for competitiveness, there's always a few people that need to chill out, but the atmosphere is very relaxed and we all have fun and get along. Most everybody is willing to help out, and there is great communication between the different class years.
 
I don't know if Mayo has that kind of atmosphere, but since class sizes are so small, you'll definitely get lots of attention from faculty. Obviously, try your alma mater, since you'll be able to poke around there more easily than anywhere else.

Oh. How could I forget? Freaking Stanford. Again.
 
Dartmouth -- very very small class
 
Evms
 
Tufts made themselves out to seem very very receptive to it's students. The students, of course, supported this perception.
 
FroggieBet said:
In fact, I got the phrase "touchy-feely" straight from the mouth of one of Pitt's own admissions staff! :laugh:
Click to expand...

I'm hesitant to bring this up, but I'd be skeptical towards an admissions staff's portrayal of their school. I have friends at Pitt, and while they say it's a great top 20 school, they would definitely NOT describe it as "touchy feely."
 
top 5 undergrad?so which UC do you go to? ucb,ucla,ucsd,ucd or uci?


FroggieBet said:
Hi all,

I'm pretty turned off by the whole gunner thing (I'm currently at a top-5 undergrad and I've had about enough!). I'd really like to apply only to med schools that have a supportive, "touchy-feely" sort of ethos. I much prefer befriending and admiring my fellow students to crushing the competition. So far, Pitt and Yale are tops on the list as far as having a warm, supportive environment. In fact, I got the phrase "touchy-feely" straight from the mouth of one of Pitt's own admissions staff! :laugh:

Does anyone else have any suggestions as to where else competition is spurned in favor of cooperation? Again, I'm at a top undergrad school right now, but I'm happy to go "lower" (as the rankings might put it) in order to find the type of environment I'm looking for. However, I would NOT consider DO schools. I know DO's are doctors too, but I don't want to spend my career defending myself again andi-DO snobs...

Any other suggestions for schools I should look at would be much appreciated. Thanks! 😍
Click to expand...
 
NapeSpikes said:
I'm hesitant to bring this up, but I'd be skeptical towards an admissions staff's portrayal of their school.
Click to expand...

That's exactly what I was going to say. Ask any administrative person at any school about the level of competition and you will hear that it's nonexistant -- that it's one giant luv-fest.
You need to ask some students about the real deal, and ideally not just those who volunteered to give a tour. Also, if a school has recently (in the last few years) changed its grading system -- I forget which ones these are--, that may be a pretty good tip off that the level of competitiveness was not to the administration's liking.
But in most schools there will be competitive people and helpful people. But if you are smart, you ignore all that -- in the end you earn your own grade and it doesn't really matter how others do.
 
PHECT said:
Mount Sinai... it was like medical school crashed into the set of Mr. Rogers
Click to expand...

Look at Brown. Small class, no class rank, Dean of Medical School directly accesible to students, students really seem to get along, Great administration...and they still have a top match.
 
look...you are (or if you've graduated, have been) pre-med. You've taken the big lectures. You've seen the gunners...the ones who look over your shoulder to see if they beat you on the last exam, the ones who sit in the front row and ask questions to try and seem smart, the ones who (and hopefully you've only seen this rarely if ever) go so far as to sabotage other students.

No med-school, however supportive they claim to be, has the magic off-switch to get those people to chill out. The gunners will be at every school.

You just need to find a group of people like you, who aren't going to get caught up in all the competitive gunner crap. You'll be able to find those people at every school too.

Don't pick a school b/c they tell you they don't have competition. They aren't being truthful with you if they say that.
 
Vanderbilt also came across as very supportive of its students.. you could look into them as well.
 
Definitely apply to Loyola and EVMS. The degree of camaraderie at these schools was head and shoulders above the rest of the places I interviewed at.
 
If you like research, Cleveland Clinic had a very touchy feely feeling...
 
medicomel said:
Definitely apply to Loyola and EVMS. The degree of camaraderie at these schools was head and shoulders above the rest of the places I interviewed at.
Click to expand...

Can't speak for Loyola, but I'll agree to EVMS. It's one of the things that sold me on the school... now they just need to call me.
 
University of Texas Medical Branch (in Galveston, TX). Classes are pass/fail, literally no one knows his or her class rank until graduation (when you apply for competitive residencies that specify "top 10% of class" you have to ask the admin office if you should bother), and all the students I talked to said it was almost ridiculous how supportive the faculty were. Plus, you're near a beach 🙂 An oily beach with brown water but hey its a beach.
 
mayo definitely has that kind of anti-gunner atmosphere and it's really, really nice to not be stressed out about honors, aoa, and your classmates.
 
I don't know if I'd call it touchy feely, but here at Md we're pretty laid back and the atmosphere is supportive, not competitive.
 
People at Drexel seemes pretty laid back and supportive.
 
Babs0309 said:
Vanderbilt also came across as very supportive of its students.. you could look into them as well.
Click to expand...

I second Vanderbilt. Their reputation for having the happiest student body in the country speaks for itself.
 
Can we revive this discussion thread?
I will be applying to medical school in this coming application cycle and now I am doing research on which one may fit my needs better.

I am a (medical) social worker (practitioner and researcher) for 12 years, and have been spoiled by the culture in social work schools. Among students we often form very strong bonds that last for decades. Also, cooperation is way valued then competition. I know I won't be happy if I find myself in a cut-throat environment.

I really appreciate the information in this thread. However, this thread has been 12 years-old. Therefore, I wonder whether anyone can help to update the information? Are those schools mentioned still supportive to their students? Does their culture still encourage compassion and care rather than competition? Any other school?

Thank you!
 
Cheenghee Koh said:
Can we revive this discussion thread?
I will be applying to medical school in this coming application cycle and now I am doing research on which one may fit my needs better.

I am a (medical) social worker (practitioner and researcher) for 12 years, and have been spoiled by the culture in social work schools. Among students we often form very strong bonds that last for decades. Also, cooperation is way valued then competition. I know I won't be happy if I find myself in a cut-throat environment.

I really appreciate the information in this thread. However, this thread has been 12 years-old. Therefore, I wonder whether anyone can help to update the information? Are those schools mentioned still supportive to their students? Does their culture still encourage compassion and care rather than competition? Any other school?

Thank you!
Click to expand...

Like the above posts say you have to look at the grading system for the medical school. True pass fail vs ranked pass fail vs graded. There was a thread discussing this very list in the past month you can check out unless someone wants to post a link here. Ideally, the true pass fails are the ones where the students tend to not be "as competitive" since you're not graded on a curve or anything. But there is no truly non-competitive medical school since you're 3rd and 4th year is basically a job audition and people want to make a good impression and so do things to shine.

Also, if that is your real name and real profile picture I would suggest that you change it. Adcoms do go through this site.
 
getdown said:
Like the above posts say you have to look at the grading system for the medical school. True pass fail vs ranked pass fail vs graded. There was a thread discussing this very list in the past month you can check out unless someone wants to post a link here. Ideally, the true pass fails are the ones where the students tend to not be "as competitive" since you're not graded on a curve or anything. But there is no truly non-competitive medical school since you're 3rd and 4th year is basically a job audition and people want to make a good impression and so do things to shine.

Also, if that is your real name and real profile picture I would suggest that you change it. Adcoms do go through this site.
Click to expand...

Thank you =)

Yes, I am aware of the grading system and how it is going to impact the culture. Some of my friends who went through the process also told me this. I agree that it may be unrealistic to expect a truly non-competitive school. No matter what, the spots available for residency are fewer than applicants. But, also from my own past experiences, something could be done to make this process more manageable. A few years ago when I was on the the (though) job market seeking for academic positions, despite that I was applying to the very same positions with my friends, we still supported each other, chearred each other up, proofread and critiqued each others' applications, practiced mock interviews and job talks, and even shared detailed information and tips with each other about specific interviewers. I understand different professions will have different culture, so I will definitely accept what has been out there in the profession of medicine.

Also thank you for your advice. I have changed my profile pic. My name is my preferred name, not the one on the document. But may I ask, are Adcoms going to mark down those who have participated in this forum? If so, I may need to change my posts as I believe there may not be that many social workers applying to MD school each year... XD
 
Cheenghee Koh said:
Thank you =)

Also thank you for your advice. I have changed my profile pic. My name is my preferred name, not the one on the document. But may I ask, are Adcoms going to mark down those who have participated in this forum? If so, I may need to change my posts as I believe there may not be that many social workers applying to MD school each year... XD
Click to expand...

No, you won't be marked down it's just that people can see your posts and if you've said anything ridiculous than they'll know. People are more likely to say their true opinions and express their true self under the veil of anonymity vs what they portray in an application. So as long as you don't say anything racist, prejudiced, bigotted, etc then there's nothing to really fear.
 
SpectreDoc said:
I think there will be plenty of social workers applying
Click to expand...

Really? If so, I would be so pumped! After I get into the profession, then I will try to connect those who share the same career paths with me. I have used the search term "MSW MD" or "MD MSW" on google search, and it seems it isn't something that many people would be interested in doing regarding their career development.... But your response is reassuring. Perhaps I should be more optimistic about this (that I am not that crazy)...
 
Cheenghee Koh said:
Really? If so, I would be so pumped! After I get into the profession, then I will try to connect those who share the same career paths with me. I have used the search term "MSW MD" or "MD MSW" on google search, and it seems it isn't something that many people would be interested in doing regarding their career development.... But your response is reassuring. Perhaps I should be more optimistic about this (that I am not that crazy)...
Click to expand...

That’s because you will never see “MD MSW” being advertised.... if someone has done it they are going to drop the MSW from their badge because it’s irrelevant. We aren’t the NPs

The point is I’m sure you’ll run into people who have done a similar path to medicine. It just won’t be advertised and you won’t find them by googling or looking at badges.
 
Michigan - true P/F pre-clinical and an administration that literally coddles us.

Case and point: We had an NBME final exam scheduled for the end of our first semester that we needed to pass w/ at least a 50% or else we'd have to remediate. People complained. Administration responded. We simply had to sit for it and could pass the semester w/ 0% on the exam
 
TSteezy said:
Michigan - true P/F pre-clinical and an administration that literally coddles us.

Case and point: We had an NBME final exam scheduled for the end of our first semester that we needed to pass w/ at least a 50% or else we'd have to remediate. People complained. Administration responded. We simply had to sit for it and could pass the semester w/ 0% on the exam
Click to expand...

Ahh I'm jealous. The one acceptance I got is from a graded school.
 
I applied to all "touchy-feely" or whatever schools because this was also something that was important to me. Out of all the interviews, Temple, Quinnipiac, GW, and Geisinger seemed the most supportive and friendly. I may be wrong but I think it was Quinnipiac students that said they have a google doc that is notes shared throughout their entire class which is awesome!
 
cjohns89 said:
What about the Jersey schools?

Sent from my Pixel 2 using SDN mobile
Click to expand...

RWJ! Like I mentioned above, P/F unranked. We have a Dropbox for sharing materials as well. Pretty sure most schools do though. The people are great and the school is really trying to make sure we’re all happy. The class usually has events after each exam. We went to Bar A after one and had a class trip to Atlantic City after another. We usually have a ski trip and fall/spring formals as well. Also, we have free massages for students a few days this month!
 
GoJackets1850 said:
RWJ! Like I mentioned above, P/F unranked. We have a Dropbox for sharing materials as well. Pretty sure most schools do though. The people are great and the school is really trying to make sure we’re all happy. The class usually has events after each exam. We went to Bar A after one and had a class trip to Atlantic City after another. We usually have a ski trip and fall/spring formals as well. Also, we have free massages for students a few days this month!
Click to expand...
That's great! I saw that above, and guess I should have said, every school but RWJ! XD I wish I went there based on what you're saying though!

Sent from my Pixel 2 using SDN mobile
 
The touchy-feeliest schools I saw on my interview trail back in the day were Rochester, Dartmouth, Sinai (in that order). A bunch of other places were totally fine, but the nurture vibe was strongest there.
 
I'm surprised no one's mentioned Jefferson (Sidney Kimmel), I went to their open house and was blown away by how kind/supportive/etc everyone said their classmates were.
 
CCLCM and Yale. The former has no grades or rankings including for clinical rotations (this is unique as far as I know). Yale is famous for the 'Yale System,' which basically means true pass/fail with optional exams and no rankings as well. Shelf exams at both schools are optional.
 
It's no Yale, but Vermont would be near the top of any "touchy feely" (supportive, pro-individuality) list I compiled.
 
BellyDancingDoc said:
Hi all,

I'm pretty turned off by the whole gunner thing (I'm currently at a top-5 undergrad and I've had about enough!). I'd really like to apply only to med schools that have a supportive, "touchy-feely" sort of ethos. I much prefer befriending and admiring my fellow students to crushing the competition. So far, Pitt and Yale are tops on the list as far as having a warm, supportive environment. In fact, I got the phrase "touchy-feely" straight from the mouth of one of Pitt's own admissions staff! :laugh:

Does anyone else have any suggestions as to where else competition is spurned in favor of cooperation? Again, I'm at a top undergrad school right now, but I'm happy to go "lower" (as the rankings might put it) in order to find the type of environment I'm looking for. However, I would NOT consider DO schools. I know DO's are doctors too, but I don't want to spend my career defending myself again andi-DO snobs...

Any other suggestions for schools I should look at would be much appreciated. Thanks! 😍
Click to expand...
You mention your school’s standing twice as if we give a damn.

You consider yourself above an osteopathic medical school.

And you think you’re not a gunner?































































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