Thougts About UNE

[SpiritiualDuck]

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UNE is my first choice. I'm in the process of applying. I'm confident that I want to go there, but I would like UNE students and people that interviewed there to give me the pros, cons, and the good and the ugly of the school, program, interview, administration, all of it.


How are the students, in general? How are the instructors? How long is your day? Study demands? Test? What are the pass rates of the students?

Best place for subs and pizza in town? How are the facilities?

Any thoughts....
Thanks
Charlie

 

[Kritenoel]

pro's: amazing place to be. The gross lab is well lit (with natural light during the days), well organized and it's one of the longest gross classes (by hours) in the country. I've gotten to know it well and have found that four to a body with no prosection is the way to go 🙂. The OMM lab is also a sight to behold and the staff are top-notch. Overall I've found the professors to be knowledgeable, approachable and enthusiastic about what they are teaching. Getting through the intro stuff is proving to be not-so interesting, but that's going to be the case wherever you wind-up.

Con's: It's in Maine, and if you aren't up for long, cold winters this probably won't be the place for you. (actually I don't think they are that long or cold but it will depend what your experiences are 🙂)

Another pro is that it's in Maine - on the ocean. The area is "rural" by some people's standards but I think it's just right for me. I like living three miles from the beach! I'm from ME and biased - but the people here are unlike people from other states.

The ugly? I'm not sure what this would be - so far I've found everything to be what I expected it to be. We have preceptorships on Thursday afternoons (for first years) and so far I haven't had one - so I've had the afternoon "off" (which really means time to study). The work is demanding but not unmanageable - we've had two tests in the first five weeks and have another gross anatomy test this week. From what I've read about other schools that's pretty typical.

The interview: there are varying stories that float with this - do a search and see what some people's experiences were. Mine interview day went well.

Pass rates? I think the second years had a 96% pass rate for the first round of boards - it was above the national average. A few people didn't fair well with the first anatomy exam but tutors were assigned and in general we're helping everyone out. There is a feeling of helpfulness - and I haven't had any problems with people being too competitive. (In fact we keep sending emails out to each other with study guides we've put together or websites that we've found helpful!)

I've written on this subject before, as have others - do a search for UNE and check out the UNECOM class of 2007 thread. It's died down now that school has started but it's got info on why we chose UNE.

Good luck with the process - now it's back to the lower limb for gross anatomy.....

 

[prwunecom]

I am a 4th year at UNECOM, so perhaps I can give a slightly different perspective. I am tired! 🙂 First year was brutal, as I am sure is the case just about any place you go. There is just a tremendous amount of material that you have to learn! Second year was much more manageable I thought. Everything is "Systems" based. You learn the basics of each system and then clinicians come at the end to lecture on practical application. Third and fourth year have by far been the best! I love interacting with patients, and it is great to be out of the classroom.

The biggest con I can share about UNECOM is that administration is poor! Different depts don't communicate with each other well, and you will be given next to zero guidance about how to set up rotations 3rd and 4th year. One word of advice that I would give to every first year medical student is to buy Iserson's Residency book right away and use it throughout your medical school career. I didn't find it until beginning of 3rd year, and it would have been oh so helpful way back at the beginning.

As far as Maine weather, I love it! You really get to experience 4 seasons and being originally from Florida, I have enjoyed that. I also love snow and winter time, so that helps.

Good luck.

 

[SpiritiualDuck]

Thanks for your replies. I've seen the campus. It's great. The town is not so great. The ocean is nice. OOB is not so nice.

It doesn't look like you'll be able to find a good pizza or sub for miles. I checked out the facilites, gym and stuff and everything seems really good.

I was thinking that if I get in, I'd live in Portland and do the commute. I met a doc that graduated from UNE back in the late 80's. He was luke warm about it. He said that it's okay. And that I'd be better off at a school that has a hospital affiliated with it like a large university setting. He said that I should choose UNE as my last choice. I didn't let his words discourage me. I thought UNE was solid and that I'll be able to get good rotations and be fine. And students there seem pleased.

I'm really looking for a place with solid students, good support, and a place where I feel comfortable to study. And Maine is great. UNE seems like the perfect choice. I thought about PCOM, but I don't want to be in Philly. NYCOM is too large.

I keep you posted and let you know if I get in at UNE. Again, thanks...