Texas A&M Accepted for Class of 2013

[seelee]

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What is the format of the lectures at temple? Are they live or telecast, if telecast, how much of it is done that way?

 

[zolaash]

What is the format of the lectures at temple? Are they live or telecast, if telecast, how much of it is done that way?

i was told by students and faculty on my interview day that 60% of lectures are broadcast from college station to temple...and that there is a system in place for people to ask questions over a speaker to the lecturer in college station.

 

[MullieWins]

my interviewer has a son that is a medical student and he stated "i never would have sent him to texas a&m." if this is how your interviewers are portraying the school then it has some issues that need to be cleared up. also, it doesn't take the head of the curriculum department to determine that watching telecast lectures is not the best form of education.



and...i highly doubt this will be the case. i'll let you know when i get the offer.

I know who interviewed you (PM sent on who I think it was...confirmed). His son WAS in the class ahead of me, then WAS in my class, and now IS NOT in the class below me. Does this help with his take on the school? I agree he should not be representing our school if he's making these comments, but this is something I can take care of.

And go to any class thread on SDN and a majority of the students watch recorded lectures from home. This includes our school. So who cares where the lectures originate? If this is a "crappy education", then every school in Texas needs to get their act together.

 

[MullieWins]

What is the format of the lectures at temple? Are they live or telecast, if telecast, how much of it is done that way?

60:40 CS to Temple is about right. Everyone on both campuses gets the same lecture. It's about 80:20 for my class, but it's shifting to be more equal. Trust me when I say it has no effect on our education. In fact, it's the teleconferencing that made our school start recording lectures to begin with. Add this to the fact that it allows MD specialists (in Temple) to give lectures opposed to mostly PhDs (in College Station) like they had in the past.

 

[seelee]

60:40 CS to Temple is about right. Everyone on both campuses gets the same lecture. It's about 80:20 for my class, but it's shifting to be more equal. Trust me when I say it has no effect on our education. In fact, it's the teleconferencing that made our school start recording lectures to begin with. Add this to the fact that it allows MD specialists (in Temple) to give lectures opposed to mostly PhDs (in College Station) like they had in the past.

So both College Station and Temple are getting video lectures? Are they two-way? I mean, is it possible to ask questions?

 

[JulianStarscape]

And there are not office hours. Most questions are asked in class or through email (this way answers can be forwarded to everyone). There is rarely any topic that requires further explanation necessitating office hours in medical school, so don't worry about it.

Yeah but what about getting LORs for residency, doesn't it help to schmooze with the profs? Or do those LORs come from the last two years?

hmmm so Regarding the email questions, do you have an inbox that fills up with these long question answer emails? or Do they have a blackboard forum where there are threads and people just post there questions there. Just curious.

Gosh, that is really alarming about that interviewer. I wonder what the deal is with his son.

I use lecture sometimes as a driving force to get out of bed.... it will be weird to get up in the morning and go "Early morning video center time".

 

[MullieWins]

Yeah but what about getting LORs for residency, doesn't it help to schmooze with the profs? Or do those LORs come from the last two years?

hmmm so Regarding the email questions, do you have an inbox that fills up with these long question answer emails? or Do they have a blackboard forum where there are threads and people just post there questions there. Just curious.

LORs come from third and fourth year.

There are blackboard forums during first year, but after the first month or so the questions on there die down. Everyone eventually figures out that if something requires a question not asked in class, it's probably not important for the test...especially first year. Second year, more questions are probably necessary, but there is so much information you just stick to high yield. This will all make more sense once you are in it.

Sometimes classmates/profs will forward good questions to email, but this is the least of things that will fill up your school email inbox.I will let Sean comment on this also.

 

[MullieWins]

So both College Station and Temple are getting video lectures? Are they two-way? I mean, is it possible to ask questions?

Yes, they are live in person at one location and live video at the other. Each seat has a microphone with a button to press if you have questions. There is potential for class to be very interactive and no one from either campus ever hesitates to ask questions.

Side note: By the second month you will hate everyone in your class that asks questions. However, my friends and I usually take these opportunities to send our favorite "fail" pictures to each other via gchat as our own personal response the question asked.

I've mentioned this before in a different thread, but I actually prefer it when the lecture is away. Less people show up to class, so there is less commotion during lecture and if you need to step out you are not interrupting the lecturer. Most would say it's all the same.

 

[AggieSean]

Sometimes classmates/profs will forward good questions to email, but this is the least of things that will fill up your school email inbox.I will let Sean comment on this also.

Sigh...

See, the only thing about being at different campuses is that somehow, for some weird reason, someone at one campus finds a reason to be pissed off at someone on the other campus. A few sheep catch on and live vicariously through their respective person. Then you have dramatic e-mails being sent back and forth between the classes and it's really unprofessional and disruptive and mostly annoying as heck.

I used to never believe people that said medical school can be as "dramatic" as high school. Oh, it can. I'm kind of oblivious to a lot of it because I'm married and because I just don't get into it as much.

Now don't mistake me as saying that it's like a bunch of gossiping ninnies sitting around with nothing better to do, but there's a fair share of "Wait, they're dating/whatever?" and stuff like the e-mail drama, etc. You get the picture I think.

Point of my post: Drama happens in med school. Sometimes it's funny, sometimes it's just annoying.

 

[AggieSean]

I feel like I should weigh in on the telecast lecture thing.

It really truly is not a big deal at all. The knowledge no less easily makes its way into (or over) your brain because it is coming through speaker rather than directly from someone's mouth. The powerpoints look exactly the same on both campuses, regardless if you are looking at the "live" screen or the "feed" screen. Asking questions is not really a problem (though don't ask too many or we're likely to ostracize and throw things at you 😉).
Even when I don't go to class (which is often) and I watch the lectures at home, I don't seem any less prepared than my classmates. It certainly hasn't affected my performance in school.

And I'd agree with Mullie in that if you are not the "live" campus, then it's nicer because you can get up, talk to your classmate about a concept, etc., without being a disruption.

Just my $0.02.

And if the prospect of doing lectures this way really bothers you, well, please try to get over it because this school is underrated and you will get a great education here. 🙂

 

[chiz2kul]

Ok, I just quickly perused thru this thread but I need some honest answers.
I'm kinda deciding btw a&m n another pertty sweet uni out there...but one of the drawbacks that i've heard of a&m is the lack of diverse medical exposure during rotations in 3rd n 4th. What do you guys think about that? I hear that cases that students see are pretty repititious, nothing really outstanding.
And secondly, how do ya'll do during the match?

Thanks!

 

[AggieSean]

Ok, I just quickly perused thru this thread but I need some honest answers.
I'm kinda deciding btw a&m n another pertty sweet uni out there...but one of the drawbacks that i've heard of a&m is the lack of diverse medical exposure during rotations in 3rd n 4th. What do you guys think about that? I hear that cases that students see are pretty repititious, nothing really outstanding.
And secondly, how do ya'll do during the match?

Thanks!

Well, I don't know where you heard that, but it's kind of impossible to say with any significant predictive power what kind of cases you will see as a student or to have even a general idea of the things that EVERY 3rd and 4th year medical student has seen here. Scott & White is a huge tertiary referral center that is the only level I trauma facility between Fort Worth and San Antonio with a catchment that spreads east to I-45 and west to probably San Angelo, maybe further. There are accredited residencies in internal medicine, family medicine, emergency medicine, general surgery, radiology, pathology, etc with fellowships in CV disease, Infectious Disease, etc so I think the pathology must be pretty substantial because without it you'd have no such fellowships. Whoever told you that was likely feeding you a line of crap, sorry to say it so harshly. Scott & White is by some considered the "Mayo of the Southwest" for whatever that is worth. Is it a gun and knife club with a huge indigent service like Parkland or John Sealy? No but those things do not a great teaching facility make.
And regarding the argument of "nothing outstanding," first I think that the postulation that Scott & White sees nothing but "boring" stuff is not true. However, what are you going to treat 95% of the time as a physician? The boring routine stuff that any medical school and accredited residency will train you to handle. Who cares if you see 2 cases of erythropoietic protoporphyria in med school? 30 years later in private practice, you're more than likely going to forget it and will have to look it up in a book anyway.
As far as the quality of the teaching here, A&M students tend to do well above national average on USMLE Step 2, which is the clinical skills/knowledge exam. All the reports I've heard from actual students here is that the faculty do a really good job with the med students and with teaching them useful knowledge instead of scutting them out for crap like some other "reputable" teaching hospitals.

As far as the match is concerned 86% of students get one of their top two choices. We had people match into radiology at Dartmouth last year, as well as neurosurgery, ENT, derm, rad onc. Trust me, wherever you go it is all on YOU to match where you want. Yes if you go to Baylor it might increase your chances a little bit, but that is easily overcome by killing Step I and doing well in your clinical rotations (and getting good LOR's because you aren't a tool).

So there. 🙂

 

[MullieWins]

Well...there. 🙂

👍

 

[zolaash]

Scott & White is by some considered the "Mayo of the Southwest" for whatever that is worth.

this would only come from the mouth of an a&m student or grad.

 

[bobsagat]

this would only come from the mouth of an a&m student or grad.

Not quite sure how this person is forming his/her opinions, but I've heard nothing but good things about the clinical experience at S&W. Even people outside the medical world know of Scott and White as a well-respected facility. Just in case there are any lurkers who haven't heard from independent sources...

 

[chiz2kul]

Well, I don't know where you heard that, but it's kind of impossible to say with any significant predictive power what kind of cases you will see as a student or to have even a general idea of the things that EVERY 3rd and 4th year medical student has seen here. Scott & White is a huge tertiary referral center that is the only level I trauma facility between Fort Worth and San Antonio with a catchment that spreads east to I-45 and west to probably San Angelo, maybe further. There are accredited residencies in internal medicine, family medicine, emergency medicine, general surgery, radiology, pathology, etc with fellowships in CV disease, Infectious Disease, etc so I think the pathology must be pretty substantial because without it you'd have no such fellowships. Whoever told you that was likely feeding you a line of crap, sorry to say it so harshly. Scott & White is by some considered the "Mayo of the Southwest" for whatever that is worth. Is it a gun and knife club with a huge indigent service like Parkland or John Sealy? No but those things do not a great teaching facility make.
And regarding the argument of "nothing outstanding," first I think that the postulation that Scott & White sees nothing but "boring" stuff is not true. However, what are you going to treat 95% of the time as a physician? The boring routine stuff that any medical school and accredited residency will train you to handle. Who cares if you see 2 cases of erythropoietic protoporphyria in med school? 30 years later in private practice, you're more than likely going to forget it and will have to look it up in a book anyway.
As far as the quality of the teaching here, A&M students tend to do well above national average on USMLE Step 2, which is the clinical skills/knowledge exam. All the reports I've heard from actual students here is that the faculty do a really good job with the med students and with teaching them useful knowledge instead of scutting them out for crap like some other "reputable" teaching hospitals.

As far as the match is concerned 86% of students get one of their top two choices. We had people match into radiology at Dartmouth last year, as well as neurosurgery, ENT, derm, rad onc. Trust me, wherever you go it is all on YOU to match where you want. Yes if you go to Baylor it might increase your chances a little bit, but that is easily overcome by killing Step I and doing well in your clinical rotations (and getting good LOR's because you aren't a tool).

So there. 🙂

Thanks man, I really appreciate your input. One more q..cld u list some drawbacks that you've experienced by attending A&M?

 

[AggieSean]

this would only come from the mouth of an a&m student or grad.

This would not be true. Several non-aggies have said this to me. Do you have something against A&M, OP? It seems like you do.

 

[AggieSean]

Thanks man, I really appreciate your input. One more q..cld u list some drawbacks that you've experienced by attending A&M?

1. The biochem course here is suckfest but manageable
2. If you do 2+2 you have to move which is a pain
3. The tablet "requirement" which is not a requirement but the people here treat it like one thus wasting your precious money
4. No sexy parties

That's honestly all I can think of after sitting here for a few minutes.

 

[zolaash]

This would not be true. Several non-aggies have said this to me. Do you have something against A&M, OP? It seems like you do.

nope i have nothing against a&m. i completely agree that scott & white is an excellent hospital however, to compare it with the mayo clinic in my opinion is laughable. come to harvard and say 'mayo' and everyone will know the name...the same is not true for scott & white. whether you choose to believe it or not it is the same way in the south.

 

[chiz2kul]

1. The biochem course here is suckfest but manageable
2. If you do 2+2 you have to move which is a pain
3. The tablet "requirement" which is not a requirement but the people here treat it like one thus wasting your precious money
4. No sexy parties

That's honestly all I can think of after sitting here for a few minutes.

Thanks...so what wld u really recommend then...I plan on doing at least something in CS...

 

[mickey09]

Thank you very much for your help.

 

[AggieSean]

nope i have nothing against a&m. i completely agree that scott & white is an excellent hospital however, to compare it with the mayo clinic in my opinion is laughable. come to harvard and say 'mayo' and everyone will know the name...the same is not true for scott & white. whether you choose to believe it or not it is the same way in the south.

You don't need to be so hostile/rude.

 

[AggieSean]

Thanks...so what wld u really recommend then...I plan on doing at least something in CS...

Well, I'm an all 4 in Temple person, so my opinion is biased 😉. But I'll try to be as objective as possible:

Advantages to College Station:
1. You're in a college town with lots of college people, so it's ideal for the single unattached person who enjoys doing social things
2. You have access to the Rec and other amenities of A&M (football games, basketball games, campus libraries, etc.)
3. More stuff to do
4. Better restaurant selection
5. Closer to Houston if that's where you're from

Disadvantages to College Station (Mullie feel free to correct)
1. You're in a college town with lots of college people, which is bad if you're the kind of person that doesn't really like being surrounded with loud 20ish people
2. Traffic is worse than in Temple
3. IT is worse in College Station than in Temple (so I'm told)
4. You don't have access to the main Scott&White campus. I say it like this because yes you still have access to the Med and St. Joe's, but I think the opportunities for first and second year students might be greater here (again, Mullie correct my misperceptions if required)
5. You have to move at end of 2nd year, unless you do all 4 in CS, which that's another story

Advantages to Temple
1. You don't have to move
2. We have nice new facilities for all the med students here (new lecture halls, libraries, big LRU, student lounge)
3. Any kind of clinical opportunity you want is at your fingertips, several students here go rounding with different teams in the mornings
4. The same goes for research
5. Not a lot of traffic in Temple
6. Close to Austin
7. Better student/faculty ratio. This may sound unimportant but it's really nice for gross anatomy lab (yes I know it's only one course, but still...)

Disadvantages to Temple
1. Not a whole lot to do here (but who cares, you're in med school, right? 😉)
2. Interest group activity seems to be less here
3. The housing market is probably a bit less competitive than in College Station, though you can still get nice housing at great rates. The turnover in CS is probably higher so you might have a little more luck selling your place there.
4. Restaurant selection isn't as great here. It's not bad, but you don't have as many options as CS

As far as employment for your SO, I think both areas are about the same. In fact if I had to pick I'd say Temple probably has a slight advantage because the CS market is flooded with college graduates. Plus I think Temple/Belton/Killeen is a slightly larger area.

If it was me, OP, I'd pick all 4 in Temple over again. I've been very happy here and my wife and I both really like it.

 

[houstonoilers]

Hey, I have the option of interviewing at the Texas A&M College of Medicine on either the 11th or the 18th of this month. Is it better to interview earlier or later? Will the difference between interviewing on the 11th or the 18th be significant, particularly in this era of rolling admissions? Does anyone know if A&M sends out pre-match offers in bulk on specific days or does it do it every week after each interview session?...Please somebody respond to me before the end of tomorrow. Thanks (I am in-state btw)

 

[AggieSean]

Hey, I have the option of interviewing at the Texas A&M College of Medicine on either the 11th or the 18th of this month. Is it better to interview earlier or later? Will the difference between interviewing on the 11th or the 18th be significant, particularly in this era of rolling admissions? Does anyone know if A&M sends out pre-match offers in bulk on specific days or does it do it every week after each interview session?...Please somebody respond to me before the end of tomorrow. Thanks (I am in-state btw)

Do whatever is easier for you. At this point in the season it probably doesn't matter. Any thoughts Mullie?

 

[MullieWins]

Hey, I have the option of interviewing at the Texas A&M College of Medicine on either the 11th or the 18th of this month. Is it better to interview earlier or later? Will the difference between interviewing on the 11th or the 18th be significant, particularly in this era of rolling admissions? Does anyone know if A&M sends out pre-match offers in bulk on specific days or does it do it every week after each interview session?...Please somebody respond to me before the end of tomorrow. Thanks (I am in-state btw)

The date will not matter, so do what is convenient. Where are you interviewing?

 

[MullieWins]

nope i have nothing against a&m. i completely agree that scott & white is an excellent hospital however, to compare it with the mayo clinic in my opinion is laughable. come to harvard and say 'mayo' and everyone will know the name...the same is not true for scott & white. whether you choose to believe it or not it is the same way in the south.

Kinda funny this came up. I worked with a neurosurgeon this afternoon who did his residency at Mayo, and he actually called S&W "Mayo of the south" today. I'll take his word for it over some dinosaur with a cleft ******* at Harvard.

armybound: any way we can get a troll ban on the OP? the hostility in this thread is unsettling.

 

[AggieSean]

Kinda funny this came up. I worked with a neurosurgeon this afternoon who did his residency at Mayo, and he actually called S&W "Mayo of the south" today. I'll take his word for it over some dinosaur with a cleft ******* at Harvard.

 

[MullieWins]

sigh...

 

[AggieSean]

sigh...

What?

 

[MullieWins]

What?

If only other first years were on here to understand the significance of that picture...still laughing.

 

[AggieSean]

If only other first years were on here to understand the significance of that picture...still laughing.

It's why I posted it; in tribute of your palate lecture. That was one of the funnier lectures so far this year. "Most people post pictures of their family...I don't really have a family so here's my fantasy football team."

 

[cpa2md]

Scott & White is absolutely considered the Mayo of the South...at least in Texas. I live in San Antonio, and when I tell people I go to A&M medical school in Temple, they kind of look at me funny, until I say "Scott & White" at which point they invariably light up and start gushing about how fabulous Scott & White is.

I took my son to the pediatrician a few months ago (he's a UTMB grad), and my son said something about "why is there such a big hospital in TEMPLE??" The pediatrician went on a 5 minute spiel about how some people actually still believe in QUALITY medical services and quality education, and that is how Scott & White has gotten to be such a big hospital in such as small town. It was pretty amazing - in 15 years I've never seen him have such an opinion on something.

One other note, take it for what it's worth...according to Wikipedia, Temple, TX has the highest per-capita population of physicians in the country.

 

[AggieSean]

Scott & White is absolutely considered the Mayo of the South...at least in Texas. I live in San Antonio, and when I tell people I go to A&M medical school in Temple, they kind of look at me funny, until I say "Scott & White" at which point they invariably light up and start gushing about how fabulous Scott & White is.

I took my son to the pediatrician a few months ago (he's a UTMB grad), and my son said something about "why is there such a big hospital in TEMPLE??" The pediatrician went on a 5 minute spiel about how some people actually still believe in QUALITY medical services and quality education, and that is how Scott & White has gotten to be such a big hospital in such as small town. It was pretty amazing - in 15 years I've never seen him have such an opinion on something.

One other note, take it for what it's worth...according to Wikipedia, Temple, TX has the highest per-capita population of physicians in the country.

Regarding our conversation in the library: I wasn't lying was I?

 

[cpa2md]

Regarding our conversation in the library: I wasn't lying was I?

No, you spoke the truth!😡

 

[zolaash]

wow, a ban really?! i guess they don't train you well to deal with criticism. i'm done here. no worries.

 

[AggieSean]

wow, a ban really?! i guess they don't train you well to deal with criticism. i'm done here. no worries.

There's a difference between criticism and being rude. You were condescending and arrogant, not insightful or constructive. We all know that A&M doesn't have the heavy-hitters like Harvard, but we're not Podunk U medical school either. Scott & White is a top 20 hospital and I will put my medical education against anyone's in the country. But you think this is "laughable." Like Mullie said, I'll go with what the real doctors (especially the ones from Mayo) think.

OP I also find it interesting that you blame us for not being able to handle criticism, yet when we disagree with you and provide evidence for such you turn your tail and run.

 

[MullieWins]

Questions about our schedule usually come up, so I thought I would post...

Our schedule this week is fairly representative for year 2. Notice many of lectures are from Dr. Rohack. He is the AMA president-elect. I think this helps with the question of education quality.

 

[armybound]

I'd like to remind all of you to be civil to each other. If there's a problem with a school or another poster, please feel free to ignore. If A&M isn't the place for you, I'm sure there are better class threads to visit 🙂 This is not the place to voice your opinion on the school.

 

[potato head]

can i just start school already? 🙁

 

[bobsagat]

can i just start school already? 🙁

Enjoy the time you have. 🙂

 

[armybound]

I assume the classrooms have plenty of power outlets for all of the laptops that they require?

 

[MullieWins]

I assume the classrooms have plenty of power outlets for all of the laptops that they require?

Each seat has an outlet, internet connection for when wireless is not working, and a microphone.

 

[armybound]

good, I shouldn't need to pay more for a longer-lasting battery then.

 

[RGMSU]

It is interesting that one of the most vocal critics of Texas A&M College of Medicine on this thread appears to have not been accepted as of yet to Texas A&M. Hmmm.... Interesting. I actually believe the official ranking of Scott and White nationally is within the top 15 teaching hospitals, which is indisputably impressive. Look and see the types of students who are attracted from institutions all across the country to attend residency at Scott and White. Look at the physicians who choose to practice and teach there. One of my interviewers was an MD from the University of Michigan. Likewise, the previous mention that a Texas A&M cardiologist will be serving as national president of the AMA should be enough to silence any doubts about either quality or national reputation. Anecdotally, I have not spoken to a single practicing physician in Texas who has had anything negative to say about Texas A&M College of Medicine. In fact, my experience has been quite the contrary. The Texas A&M System as a whole consistently ranks within about the top 60 schools nationally and about the top 150 internationally. I had a former professor of mine from the University of Chicago congratulate me on being accepted to a "fine program," so clearly A&M has a strong reputation in Hyde Park, which is intellectually equal to Cambridge and Harvard. I think the physical location of A&M is a plus because of fewer distractions. Likewise, I think the small class size of the medical school is one of its greatest strengths because of individual attention. I know that both of the physicians with whom I interviewed at Scott and White seemed to have mentoring spirits. So, I am glad that I will be an Aggie MD, and I certainly don't think anyone affiliated with Texas A&M College of Medicine has to shy away from debating the merits of the school. That is laughable.

 

[potato head]

aww it's alright. i talked to zoolash and she thoroughly apologized.. probably just didn't realize her tone at the time.

if she ends up going to a texas med, i'd go so far as to make her an honorary thread member 🙂

 

[potato head]

so who got to make snowballs today?

 

[DRTLA]

Wow...came over here to check out what my hopeful future classmates were up to. Sure is a lot of hostility floating around.

Sean and CPA, I enjoyed the Temple campus. I was hoping to get to meet some of you, but I know yall had a light schedule that day. Those labs are pretty nice, and I have never been in a gross lab the had as little smell as that one did. Where do they hold the lectures at? Is it in the rooom where they feed you, or is it somewhere they don't show you?

 

[cpa2md]

Wow...came over here to check out what my hopeful future classmates were up to. Sure is a lot of hostility floating around.

Sean and CPA, I enjoyed the Temple campus. I was hoping to get to meet some of you, but I know yall had a light schedule that day. Those labs are pretty nice, and I have never been in a gross lab the had as little smell as that one did. Where do they hold the lectures at? Is it in the rooom where they feed you, or is it somewhere they don't show you?

First year classes are in the big lecture hall off the lobby - next to the room where they fed you (behind the Christmas tree). There is a similar one on the second floor where second year lectures are held. You are welcome to sit in on a class with us if you've got a free hour. PM me or Sean and we can let you know what's worth showing up for!😉

 

[s2452]

Thanks to everyone on here for all the information you have provided.

I have put a few questions in order to compare the schools that I am looking at right now. I am sure a lot of them have been answered before, but I just want to put it all together. Thanks in advance to your input.

How often are tests? Are there multiple tests in a designated test week OR is it all one big test every 3 weeks OR is there a test every week?

Are there ever quizzes?

How are students graded in the first and second years?

And in first year and second year, how often did you go to class? Is going to class mandatory? How many people actually go to class?

And do first and second year students get a syllabus with all the material? And if you use a syllabus, does that forgo the need to buy/ use text books?

is there a SCRIBE service? and if so, is it reliable?

Are powerpoints posted online?

How did you study for USMLE Step 1? Any books that you might suggest?