So, I'm trying to decide if A&M is the place for me coming up on Jan. 15th, and I had a couple concerns. So, I'll air them and I welcome anyone to respond to them so I/we can all be better informed. BTW, I'll probably do all 4 years at Temple.
First, it seems like everyone drives to campus for class from their respective homes/lives. Do the students tend to spend an ample amount of time in the library/learning centers collaborating with each other and study grouping, or do people tend to head home and study on their own? If I recall correctly, someone posted that a good portion of Temple students are married, and I'm worried that this might detract from the campus involvement that I'm looking for.
Secondly, I know rent is super cheap in Temple, and this is a big draw for me, but does that rent belie the safeness or lack thereof in these neighborhoods? Do yall feel safe in the neighborhoods that have the cheap rent?
Are there certain areas that most medical students live, or is everyone pretty spread out over the Temple/Belton area?
Being that Scott and White is a level 1 trauma center, and that I'm interested in emergency medicine, have any of yall noticed this to be beneficial for learning experiences? Or do the 3rd and 4th years end up doing paperwork for the busy residents/attendings?
In yall's experience, has attaining research positions been difficult at the campus in Temple, because I know that it is not stressed. Are there a ton of students fighting for a limited number of research opportunities? Would College Station be a better place for me if I were wanting to do some research?
Thanks for any response, It just seems super difficult to pick the next 4 years of my life with the limited information the schools give us.😕
Approximately 1/3 of the first years in Temple are married this year (I believe the number is 13 of 37). Some of us go home every evening, but there are plenty who spend their afternoons and evenings in the LRU, which is set up with study rooms and materials (it's on the 4th floor, and was renovated this fall, so you may not have seen it). It just depends on the individual. There are some people who study in groups, and some who don't. You'll find that anywhere.
Temple is reasonably safe - I don't know anyone who has had trouble with their housing. A couple of cars were broken into at S&W right after school started, but as soon as the high school year started, that stopped. There are several neighborhoods which are student-rich, as well as several apartment complexes. There are also people who live where there are no other students. I don't know that there is any "cluster" of students, particularly with the 1st & 2nd year classes, since they are quite small.
I live in a cheap area, and I don't feel unsafe at all.
I'm not sure about the EM stuff at the moment, but I know students definitely do stuff, not just paperwork. There are volunteer opportunities available for those who wish to, as well (I know of one guy in our class who volunteers at S&W), but first year you're really too busy to do much more.
There are plenty of research opportunities available in Temple. The whole building on the other side of the campus (where the gross lab is) is the Medical RESEARCH Building. There are summer opportunities and year-round (again, as time permits). Because you are not competing with other graduate students and post-docs in Temple the way you would be in CS, you'd probably get MORE opportunity and attention than you would in CS. All you have to do is ask, and you will be matched up.
Good questions. I am undecided about A&M as well. I have prematched at A&M, UTMB, and TCOM, and A&M is definitely the favorite out of those, but I am not sure who to list for the match. I really liked UTSW. I was impressed with UT-H but not with the city. Living in Houston is pretty much a deal breaker. But I am unsure about San Antonio. I would be interested in hearing everyone else's opinons on San Antonio, especially their hospital compared with Scott and White.
Seeing as how I am sitting in my house in San Antonio thinking about going back to Temple, I guess I'm qualified to answer this one! This time last year, I was DESPERATE to match to San Antonio, but I am so fortunate to be in Temple.
Advantages of A&M (Temple) over UTHSCSA:
- Class size. We have 37 in Temple this year. They're looking at 70 for next year. We know the faculty in Temple, and they know us. We also know our classmates very well, and have formed a very tight bond. UTHSCSA has 220. You won't get the personal attention.
- Location/parking.
😉 I live about 10-12 minutes from UTHSCSA, and about 5 from S&W. By the time I park (which is free, by the way, and reasonably close), it is 12 minutes door-to-door in Temple. It would be 30 in San Antonio.
- Classes at UTHSCSA are scheduled from 8-5 almost every day. Check out their schedule online. At my interview last year, we were told that they had to scale BACK their classroom hours to keep the accreditors happy. At A&M, we grumble if we are in class from 9-3 more than 3 days in a week (our class schedules are also available online).
- S&W is much newer than University Hospital, and from what I have heard, the employees are much happier at S&W than at University. S&W is a major hospital with a teaching component, while University is more of a public hospital. The patient populations are different - people choose to go to S&W because of its reputation. In San Antonio, University is considered the place to go if you don't have insurance. The perceptions of the hospitals in the communities are TOTALLY different. I've lived in San Antonio for 20 years, and don't know anyone who has chosen to go to University for any reason. I have a friend who spent 8 days there after a major car accident last year (trauma), and she had no complaints. That is not the case in Temple - people seek to go to S&W from all over.
That being said, University sees a higher level of general pathology than S&W (a generally less healthful population), but in Temple we also do rotations at the VA, which has a similar pathology to University. Trauma-wise, in Temple you see more motor vehicle accidents, in San Antonio you see more shootings and assaults.
Advantages of UTHSCSA over A&M
- It is 145 miles closer to my house.
🙁
- It is located in a big city, with the opportunities that has to offer. If you are interested in some specialty research, or an MD/DDS kind of thing, San Antonio may be better.
- Lectures are held all in one location. However, based on the lectures I attended at UTHSCSA last year during my interview, the lecture hall was so big and the lecturer so far away, it really didn't make any difference. Our lectures are all recorded and available on-line if you choose not to go.
Bottom line: would I go to UTHSCSA if I had the opportunity handed to me? Yes, but that's only because of my family situation. I may apply for a transfer next year (for 3rd year), but I'd honestly rather stay at A&M.
