Tulane???

[NotAnMD]

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I am a current MD applicant to many US schools, including Tulane (where I was accepted)...however I interviewed there before Hurricane Katrina...

I was wondering what the general consensus was on the state of their medical school and the student atmosphere for med students in the city of New Orleans. Also...has Tulane Med drastically lowered its requirements for acceptance due to the crisis...and what's more, how will the class of 2010 stack up against previous Tulane classes, and those from schools around the country?

Anyone who is a current Tulane med student, accepted to the 2010 med class, has interviewed post Katrina, or who has ANY INSIGHT into the matter would be vey helpful. Thanks.

 

[McMD]

First of all, have you been accepted to Tulane yet? If you haven't and you believe it is mistake, contact the school because it is very possible that they lost your record during the hurricane as they lost a good bit of their paperwork. (as expected).

Now...for your other questions. I was offered an interview the WEEK that Katrina hit. Tulane was my #1 school up to that point. After seeing the devastation on the news, etc. I was very disappointed and had basically decided that it wasn't even on my list of schools I wanted to attend. However, when the school moved to Houston, they gave me a new interview date and I decided to take it just as a back-up plan or something. I went to Houston with a negative attitude about the school, but by the first hour of the interview, I put it right back in it's #1 position (in my opinion). The faculty and students were absolutely amazing (as I'm sure you experienced pre-Katrina). They had such a positive outlook on the situation and were ready to get back into N.O. for a medical education unparalleled to any other. It is possible that in the next few years N.O. will see diseases that aren't seen anywhere else in the U.S....but isn't that what medicine is all about...the challenges of treating something you've never seen before? As for the condition of New Orleans, my fiance is a rescue swimmer in the Navy and his squadron actually rescued people from their rooptops during Katrina and they said that the news really exploited the condition of the city. Some areas were BADLY affected, while others (ie. the west bank) were barely touched. And if you watch the news at all, you can believe that they would turn a horrible situation into something even worse.

The faculty told us that they had built a new medical school that they hadn't moved into yet when the hurricane hit. It was untouched by the flood waters and will be ready to move into this summer while the old facilities will be used for research, so it will be a brand new medical school.

As far as the city, N.O. is using this opportunity to better their city. Bill Gates is supposively funding their elementary (and maybe higher) school system and completely redoing the system so that it is done right and not like it used to be. It used to be one of the worst school systems in the country.

Anyways, I would re-visit New Orleans. The city is really getting back on its feet, especially now that the undergrad is back. I don't think you will get a medical education comparable to Tulane, especially in the next few years! I believe that you will be able to see medicine at its finest (with diseases like tuberculosis, malaria, etc) that you wouldn't see at any other school! 😳

 

[McMD]

One more thing...the medical school recently announced to their current students that the average GPA and MCAT scores for those that have accepted into their class of 2010 is exactly the same as it has been in the previous years.

Also, 90% of Tulane undergrad students came back to go to school at Tulane this semester and their applications for next years entering class are up 19%. I think the competitive application pool is still out there for Tulane!

 

[KAI1927]

I am a current MD applicant to many US schools, including Tulane...however I interviewed there before Hurricane Katrina...

I was wondering what the general consensus was on the state of their medical school and the student atmosphere for med students in the city of New Orleans. Also...has Tulane Med drastically lowered its requirements for acceptance due to the crisis...and what's more, how will the class of 2010 stack up against previous Tulane classes, and those from schools around the country?

Anyone who is a current Tulane med student, accepted to the 2010 med class, has interviewed post Katrina, or who has ANY INSIGHT into the matter would be vey helpful. Thanks.

Excellent questions, I myself was asked to interview at Tulane before KaTrina hit, and after the comotion had settled down, i went down to Houston aNd interviewd there. As far as class stats go, the number of applicants was on par for their ususal volume (6,000-7,000), gpa, and MCAT scores were also in line compared to previous years. The one area where there was a huge difference was the number of interviews granted. Instead of the usual 900, this year had less than half of that, due to logistical issues. The student atmosphere and attiude seems surprisingly high and optimistic. The fact remains that a great deal of rebuilding is on the horizon for Tulane and NOLA in general. The school and its students appears eager and willing to take this task.

 

[-Goose-]

I share many, if not all, of the same sentiments as Ms. McMD. I also was given an interview invite before the hurricane. I was in the process of packing my bags to fly down there when Katrina struck. Needless to say, my flight was cancelled and I was extremely discouraged. Tulane was also my #1 choice before the storm.

Time passed and I was contacted by TUSOM admissions that my interview was rescheduled in Baylor. I figured that I would be pretty dismayed by everything, but I went anyways. At my interview, I was BLOWN AWAY by the people I met and the stories they had to share. I haven't felt as comfortable and welcomed by any admissions staff and student body at any interview since. Their attitudes of perseverance were nothing short of commendable.

I was ultimately accepted and I'm now debating whether or not I'll be in NOLA next fall. As of right now, I am torn b/t Tulane and my state school. I realize there will be no other opportunity like being a part of the Tulane class of 2010, but I also feel that there is a great risk inherent to the venture as well. I feel like the biggest issues will be the amount of funding the medical school recieves from the University as well as the clinical training experience in our third and fourth years. Charity hospital, as people have noted before, was an amazing experience and one of the biggest reasons Tulane was known for producing top-notch physicians year after year.

Immediately after my acceptance, I felt there was really no question. I felt like it would be great to be a part of the rebuilding process and that Tulane would provide an unparalelled experience for medical school. However, in the weeks and months that followed, several things have happened that gave me some pretty serious doubts. The major faculty cuts and overnight resignation of the dean really concern me. The resulting anger amongst the student body (understandable, for sure) also made me worried. What if a significant number of them transferred or repeated their T1 year? Why was the university reportedly trying to stop them from transferring? Most importantly, why hasn't the school really addressed these issues since December (ie a letter or web update to the recent accepted applicants)? Maybe I'm asking too much considering everything they've gone through, but I'm still somewhat worried.

My heart says go to Tulane. My conscience and reasoning are leaning towards my state school (or a few other schools I have yet to hear from). I am torn and I'm nowhere near reaching a conclusion on this subject. Hopefully, my visit(s) to school in the coming months will shed more light on this subject and make my decision a little easier.

Time will tell. Problem is, there doesn't seem to be a whole lot of it left.

-goose-d

 

[TheMightyAngus]

Most importantly, why hasn't the school really addressed these issues since December (ie a letter or web update to the recent accepted applicants)?

I'm with Goose on this. I don't understand why nobody from admissions has made available any sort of Tulane Med update whatsoever. If the reason is because they still don't have a well-defined plan for medical education, this is a cause for concern.

 

[nitecap]

hello

 

[drmota]

i interviewed in new orleans 2 weeks ago. read my posts (#s 504 and 505) to get an insider look at what i saw:

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=228078&page=21&pp=25&highlight=tulane+secondary

-dr. mota

 

[NotAnMD]

thank you for your responses...

I didn't know that Charity Hospital was shut down...that, to me, seems like one of the most important developments. I think that having a massive city hospital like Charity was perhaps Tulane's best feature, in terms of producing well-rounded and competent clinicians (like Grady is to Emory, or Jackson to Miami). From your responses and some private sdn emails I have received, I'm feeling even more hesitant about Tulane's immediate future.

 

[prana_md]

Hey all -
When you wrote thank you notes, what did you address Father Don as? He was one of my interviewers but I'm not sure what to call him.
Thanks!

EDIT: d'oh ... I thought this was the "Tulane Secondary Available" thread.

The situation in New Orleans is unique. I was just down there interviewing on Monday, and I got the feeling that it's either going to be something you're comfortable with or not. Dr. Beckman said two things I liked:
1) She compared New Orleans to Alaska. It takes a special person to live in the dynamic environment that NoLa is right now. Kinda roughing it. The phones don't always work. Mail gets lost. Roads are detoured.
2) She called the next couple of years in NoLa to "a huge public health experiment." Health history will be made, if you're up for it.

 

[McMD]

thank you for your responses...

I didn't know that Charity Hospital was shut down...that, to me, seems like one of the most important developments. I think that having a massive city hospital like Charity was perhaps Tulane's best feature, in terms of producing well-rounded and competent clinicians (like Grady is to Emory, or Jackson to Miami). From your responses and some private sdn emails I have received, I'm feeling even more hesitant about Tulane's immediate future.

I also agree. I didn't realize the status of Charity hospital, when I interviewed and also when I last researched it, the status was uncertain. Even though I have been pro-Tulane, I may go to the University of Miami now because I know that I'll get the clinical experience I WOULD have gotten at Tulane (at Charity). I fully support those who decide to go to Tulane (and I still may), but the uncertainty of the 3rd and 4th years kills me.

 

[-Goose-]

Hey all -
When you wrote thank you notes, what did you address Father Don as? He was one of my interviewers but I'm not sure what to call him.
Thanks!

I addressed him as Father Don... thats what everyone calls him. do you need his full name? pm me

 

[KAI1927]

The loss of Charity is a huge hit to Tulane and certainly NOLA as a whole. I, like others in this posting was accepted to my much cheaper (and undevastated) state school. Although it is tempting to take the sure option, I can't reconcile this with my conscious, I know I would regret this decision. The school and the city need people to committ in helping it re-establish themselves. I have considered two things; as T1's we won't require that clinical exposure to the extent as we will when we are T3's and T4's; at which time the NOLA hospital landscape may be vastly different and re-built. Secondly, as a future doctor, leaving a situation that seems bad, but needs aid is hardly the way I want to start my career. Ultimately, I would be haunted by the opportunity I would miss by not going to Tulane. Forgive me for getting on a soap box, but I strongly feel that Tulane is worth the risk.

 

[TheMightyAngus]

Although it is tempting to take the sure option, I can't reconcile this with my conscious, I know I would regret this decision. The school and the city need people to committ in helping it re-establish themselves.

What type of contributions to society do you expect to make as a medical student? The vast majority of your free time most likely will be spent studying. Even when you graduate, you aren't legally able to practice medicine until you complete a residency. Are you planning to stay in NO for residency too because of a moral obligation you have assumed for yourself?

In reality, as a student, you are putting a burden on all of the residents/attendings who have the responsibility to train you. Instead of treating patients, they have to discuss cases with you, teach you how to do a physical exam, pimp you with questions, etc. The hospital situation is so dire that no med center in New Orleans would have the capacity to take on medical students. There are too many sick people, and not enough doctors. Right now, medical education is not of importance. What doctor is going to assume a team of students/residents when he has a bloated emergency department to attend to?

If you think as a med student, you are gong to be great things for the city of New Orleans, think again. Med students are the lowest rung on the totem pole. They spend all their time studying, and they can't do anything without supervision. What use do they serve a hurricane-stricken city? NOLA has more of a need for debris collectors than med students.

Edit: Each med student yields $50k a year in tuition and fees. That's what Tulane/NOLA really needs, some financial relief.

 

[drmota]

Edit: Each med student yields $50k a year in tuition and fees. That's what Tulane/NOLA really needs, some financial relief.

ha. you make it sound like they're trying to rip us off for our money. tulane med seems to be the only tulane university institution that has survived the hurricane somewhat unscathed. i am under the impression that tulane KNOWS it has work to do to sustain its reputation in the medical community so extra effort will be placed on the incoming class to make sure we handle business. hospitals ARE overcrowded right now but the hurricane wasn't even 6 months ago...relax. i understand you're trying to play the devil's advocate but if you feel so negatively about tulane just withdraw your acceptance and move on. university hospital is opening back up in april and that will get things somewhat in order for the time being. furthermore, i have a feeling that the tulane administration will be very lax about us doing rotations outside of NO for months at a time if what they have to offer us is not of superior quality. my only question is: of the faculty that was laid off, how many of them were basic science professors? anyone know? was it primarily researchers or clinicians as well?
-dr. mota

 

[DrHuang]

my only question is: of the faculty that was laid off, how many of them were basic science professors? anyone know? was it primarily researchers or clinicians as well?
-dr. mota

I heard that it was mainly the clinicians that got laid off.

 

[NotAnMD]

The loss of Charity is a huge hit to Tulane and certainly NOLA as a whole. I, like others in this posting was accepted to my much cheaper (and undevastated) state school. Although it is tempting to take the sure option, I can't reconcile this with my conscious, I know I would regret this decision. The school and the city need people to committ in helping it re-establish themselves. I have considered two things; as T1's we won't require that clinical exposure to the extent as we will when we are T3's and T4's; at which time the NOLA hospital landscape may be vastly different and re-built. Secondly, as a future doctor, leaving a situation that seems bad, but needs aid is hardly the way I want to start my career. Ultimately, I would be haunted by the opportunity I would miss by not going to Tulane. Forgive me for getting on a soap box, but I strongly feel that Tulane is worth the risk.

Are you serious with this? I don't want to be too inflammatory because there's a good chance that I will go to Tulane as well; however, the logic behind this statement is totally irrational.

First of all, your primary concern and only OBLIGATION for the next four years is to get the best education you can so that you can become a competent physician and actually serve the community. And nobody should ever choose a medical school because they feel guilty about not going to an impoverished or devastated city. You’re going to be paying 40K+ a year...so basically you are going to be a consumer of Tulane's product, which is education. If that education isn't as good as it could be, there is no moral problem with finding a more complete one. What’s more, your argument about not needing clinical exposure for the first 2 years is, by itself, questionable. But even after that, all your saying is that you hope the "NOLA hospital landscape may be vastly different and rebuilt." When honestly you have no idea whether it will be…nobody does. And when that time comes, having a solid and organized clinical education will be the most important factor in determining your abilities as a clinical physician. It's not something to be taken lightly or left to chance because things "may" get a little better.

Thanks for your response, but please get off your soap box. Understand what you will be in New Orleans for the next four years...not a life saving, philanthropic physician, but just another kid with an undergraduate degree who's trying to learn all of the minutia about the Kreb's Cycle like the rest of us.

 

[KAI1927]

What type of contributions to society do you expect to make as a medical student? The vast majority of your free time most likely will be spent studying. Even when you graduate, you aren't legally able to practice medicine until you complete a residency. Are you planning to stay in NO for residency too because of a moral obligation you have assumed for yourself?

Both postings are absolutely correct about a med student's role as purely an observer, and whose time is totally consumed with thier curriculum. I do not have some idealistic image of what one could do down there, that as a med student you could contribute right away. I wouldn't even dream that we could walk in there and be "life saving, philanthropic physicians". I am keenly aware that all students will spend more time diligently studying than doing anything else during those four years What I do feel confident in is that the city and thier hospitals will re-build, and when the time for our clerkships come we will have the nessesary clinical exposure. What do I base this on? Much of it is speculatory, depending on federal funds and unkown factors. Maybe they won't come through, maybe things won't recover, the truth is no one knows how things will turn out. I don't pretend to know with absolution what the future will bring. In the initial posting I didn't say that we didn't need clinical exposure in our first two years what so ever, just that in the 3rd and 4th years it is much more important; which I still maintain. All the downsides to Tulane are totally understandable, and anyone who didn't attend for those reasons is not doing so illogically. I feel that anyone who has as many cons and as fews pros as mentioned shouldn't go to Tulane. For those who do decide to attend, optimism is a nessecity, i think it will be quite a unique experience.

 

[McMD]

Absolution: 1.) the act of absolving
2.) the formal remission of sin imparted by a priest

This word doesn't fit in it's context. Sorry.

 

[tacrum43]

Thanks for your response, but please get off your soap box. Understand what you will be in New Orleans for the next four years...not a life saving, philanthropic physician, but just another kid with an undergraduate degree who's trying to learn all of the minutia about the Kreb's Cycle like the rest of us.

It is definetely true that you wouldn't have all of the qualifications to do any advanced medical things, but Tulane does have a community service requirement, I'm sure there will be plenty of opportunities to really help out people there and make a difference in rebuilding the city. Most medical students volunteered for community service during undergrad, and I'm sure many will want to continue to do so (in addition to some schools requiring it).

And I disagree that going to medical school is only about learning the Kreb's cycle, etc. Every medical school has it's own unique qualities about it that applicants either like or dislike. Since a lot of the academics are very similar across schools, it is these unique qualities (okay, and sometimes price, location and, of course, gaining an acceptance) that seem to weigh heavily on choosing a school.

 

[KAI1927]

Absolution: 1.) the act of absolving
2.) the formal remission of sin imparted by a priest

This word doesn't fit in it's context. Sorry.

Please pardon my borish use of the english language, I guess thats what i get for not getting confirmed.

 

[Doc.Holliday]

Considering the fact that charity is closed and the possibility (??? have not heard anything definite either way) that LSU will be also, wouldnt tulane be getting an even larger percentage of patients etc than prekatrina?

 

[KAI1927]

Considering the fact that charity is closed and the possibility (??? have not heard anything definite either way) that LSU will be also, wouldnt tulane be getting an even larger percentage of patients etc than prekatrina?

http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/frontpage/index.ssf?/base/news-4/1138258672245420.xml

 

[TheMightyAngus]

i understand you're trying to play the devil's advocate but if you feel so negatively about tulane just withdraw your acceptance and move on.

It doesn't make sense for anyone to withdraw an acceptance before May 15th. I'm still waiting for the University to address the situation. I'll make my final decision when I'm more informed.

Furthermore, i have a feeling that the tulane administration will be very lax about us doing rotations outside of NO for months at a time if what they have to offer us is not of superior quality.

This defeats the purpose of attending Tulane and would be the worst possible scenario.