Take Second Look impressions with a grain of salt?

[medai23]

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Hi everyone!

I recently got back from a revisit weekend to one of my top choices, and was left feeling even more confused about where I should go for medical school next year. On paper, everything about the school is great (except maybe location). But I just didn’t “vibe” with the majority of the admitted students or current students that I met—it felt awkward and somewhat of a cultural clash in a way that I didn’t feel at any of my other visits.

With that being said, how much should I let my experiences at Second Look sway my decision-making process? At what point are a school’s academic (P/F all four years, great curriculum structure, strong match list, etc.) and research strengths (lots of NIH funding and output) outweighed by the culture of the student body and surrounding areas? Is there a case for putting my head down and prioritizing school for the next four years, or alternatively taking a risk at a lesser ranked school (maybe 10-place difference) with more academic competition (not p/f all four years, has AOA), simply based on a weekend and first impressions?

This has me really wracking my brain, so any musings would be appreciated!

 

[chilly_md]

If it was an uninspiring visit, that is subject to who came out to the school and the fact those who did may have not been the most relaxed themselves since it was an official school event on campus. It could end up that you become best friends with some people who did not go to this or end up joining the class off the WL.

If the current students themselves seemed to be unhappy and had complaints (or had strange answers to fairly straightforward questions about their experience), that is a different matter.

 

[Rachapkis]

I would not ignore the vibe completely but I would take it with a grain of salt. If it's obvious that you would be a fish out of water, I would take that vibe very seriously. But, if it's a nagging sensation that this might not be a fit (kinda . . . sotra . . .), I would be hesitant to give up an admission that makes a lot of sense on paper for another place that may or may not be better fit. With age, I have come to conclude that large groups of people with the same goals and incentives (e.g., large medical schools, large law firms, etc.) are generally more like each other than not. In other words, the school you choose may have warts, but the schools you pass up may have warts too.

 

[Hollow Knight]

Honestly I’d stick to objective metrics of opportunities for your success. Second looks are where they put a bunch of people in front of you who are “company men” so to speak.

Now if a bunch of students there were basically doing the whole “blink twice if you feel unsafe” thing, that’s different. But I would focus on the curriculum and research opportunities over “vibes” any day. Many medical schools are run by crappy people because, well, people everywhere can suck. If that makes sense. Some of those people are better at selling themselves than others. I wouldn’t read too much into it.

 

[Mr.Smile12]

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Second Look Weekends are meant to sell the program, as are recruitment visits and to some degree on-campus interviews. We admissions staff want to make sure you make an informed decision, but we organize events and panels so you sense the culture of the school and whether you feel comfortable. For second-look weekends, every person from the program who meets you should be on their absolute best behavior, and they should all know the objective is to give you the best impression possible.

I wish I could easily tell you that the vibe you get isn't worth paying too much attention. But I hope you visit all of your accepted programs. Emotion can play a little role, just as it might if you date multiple people (watch Bachelor/ette or similar shows). Are these individuals going to support you, given your past experience, when you asked for help when it came to financial aid, student services, mentoring, or community service? You will be around your upperclassmen long after you graduate as you meet at alumni meetings or conferences; if you aren't comfortable with them now, would you be more comfortable in the future?

 

[LizzyM]

One thing I would feel concern about is whether you feel as if you would fit in or clash with the vast majority of your classmates (and faculty) because of your sensibilities/politics/lifestyle and if other options for you are in areas that are more in keeping with your values.

 

[notabot81]

I got a good impression from my second look day. The students I spoke to (both current and prospective) seemed normal enough and the deans all said the right things. I went in expecting to find a place where I could see myself and I wasn't disappointed.

You really need to unpack what it is that made you fail to "vibe" with other students. Is it a regional thing? Was everyone a gunner? Were there few students with your interests?

 

[medai23]

Thank you for your advice, everyone! 🙂

I really appreciate everyone's comments; the questions have helped me reflect more on my visits and realize that my reaction had more to do with me and my previous life experiences and the region/environment I grew up in than the people I actually met. I will sit with all your advice for a bit and make a decision at the end of the month--if anyone else still has input, please feel free to send them my way!