- Joined
- Apr 22, 2003
- Messages
- 159
- Reaction score
- 8
redd said:
hey,
I'm a 2nd year at UT-Houston and I randomly read your post. Just to add my two cents, I would probably say that the perceptions you have are fairly accurate, but not to the extent you imagine. You'll soon learn stress level is a lot more dependent on YOU than the school you're at. That said, it also depends on your learning style, if you're the kind of person who keeps up with things, UT-Houston won't phase you. One advantage of Galveston is that they only have one class at a time, whereas we generally have about 5. Anyone can figure out gross anatomy if that's the only thing you do for 6 weeks. So it's a good deal. Problems with Galveston are that even though its laid back, it may be too much so. My friends that are in their 3rd year there now have complained that the people that they originally thought were so much fun are now obnoxious and lazy now that they actually have to work with them. But I imagine that's true at all schools to some degree. Other cons for Galveston is actaully living there, it's one crappy island, expensive and crappy. All in all, I'm sure there are those that will disagree, but in my opinion UTMB was once a steller school, but is in its decline.
As for my own school I will admit the curriculum does not have the best layout, and the basic science years are frustrating at times. However,
my classmates are absolutley awesome and we're a super tight class. Some of my friends at other schools have not had quite the same experience. I cannot overemphasize the impportance of being compatible with your classmates. Even though pretty much anyone can be tolerated for short periods in class or the occasional lab, the same person is unbearable after 30 hours on call. One plus for UT-H is that the clinical years(really the core of a med school) are really good training at some of the best hospitals in the U.S. with top-notch docs. One the school's big selling points is that it's located in the biggest medical center in the world, which has it's good and bad aspects(traffic and parking are nightmare) but it still translates to good experience. As for the city, like most of Houston, it has its ghetto neighborhoods next door to million dollar condos, but there's nice areas nearby the med center and basically everything you need is within a 2-mile radius.
Well, I hope anything I said was helpful. My advice would be to talk to as many people from the different schools as you can to get a better picture AND take all of their advice (including my own) with a grain of salt. Good luck with decision and remember that most people end up happy with whatever school they get.
Cheers, Oompa
And how the hell does one "gig" something? That's what I thunk. One last thing, our mascot can kick your mascots ass!!! Bears eat cattle, especially ones with adorable little horns, they make for great toothpicks. and and and, our marching band... nevermind. We'll get you next year, just you wait. 
