Originally posted by Super Rob
Thank you yaah and co. for answering so many questions! I've got a thousand more! 😀
How many hours a day are you in lecture (1st and 2nd)? Did you go to your classes? How would you describe your relationship with professors?
Oy that's a lot o' ?s. I might not make it through to the end. After all, I'm on consult service now! A lot of this is probably posted somewhere else so if you don't like the answer look at my old posts.
1-2 years, classes start 8am go until 1230 or 1, then a couple of days a week there are afternoon events, usually small group sessions (learning how to interview, etc). They used to have one morning off per week to go visit with a preceptor (an IM doc, pediatrician,etc), not sure if this is still done or people go in afternoons. Professors are very friendly, good relationships, very open to having students come talk to them. Some get upset when class attendance is subpar.
How do you and most of your friends study? Is there a supplemental lecture note service? A good investment?
Some people spend lots of time in the library. There are also study rooms around. All lectures are videotaped and available for viewing (except for a couple where the professor refuses to have his lectures videotaped - copyright issues or something). No charge. Some people make up notes, in addition to the notes provided which are substantial and good enough, and these people often mass email their study notes or summaries. No $$$ changes hands.
Specifically, how does (or doesn't) a UMass education prepare you and your friends for STEP I? Are there any private, third party courses offered nearbye (I know of the 1st aid books and Qbank, but I've heard about a Kaplan prep class similar to the one they put together for MCAT students).
Most people pass step I. There is a Kaplan place across the street. I never used Kaplan so I'm not sure. The professors have review sessions towards the end of 2nd year for USMLE topics. (no $$$ changes hands). If you study correctly, you do well on step I, everyone has their own way of doing things.
Does the school give you any "downtime" to prepare for the exam?
You can take it whenever you want. Classes end in early may, 3rd year starts July 1. To wit, free time or studying time, however you look at it.
How manageable is the courseload?
IMHO, very manageable. People start complaining towards the end of 2nd year because they get behind from not going to all the lectures, not studying enough, whatever. Study a bit every day and you'll do fine.
Do EXAMS come in blocks or are they spread out like, physio this week and biochem the next?
Generally exams occur over a similar time period, but sometimes they are spread out. You usually have a bunch of exams every couple of months, depending on which courses are going on, etc. So after a couple of months there will be an anatomy exam and a biochem exam. Usually not more than 3 per week. A day off between tests. It's always changing so I am not sure how it is now, but it's manageable.
How competitive do things become in your clinical years? How fairly have you been evaluated (you said the evaluations were extremely subjective...), who does the bulk of your evaluations?
I think they are subjective. Residents do a lot of evaluations, attendings do some, depending on the service. Some rotations you choose who to give your evaluations to (OB/GYN), in others they just give them to everyone you worked with (surgery). It still is not competitive at all. No one is ever competing for grades. If you do well, you do well. There are gunners like everywhere else, but no one is trying to outdo anyone else. It's more just a product of personalities. Some people are just anal from day one of life and have to have an extensive clipboard collection and color coded patient lists with references to research studies. Evaluations are based on 1) Your enthusiasm, 2) Working as part of a team, 3) Ability to apply knowledge. I feel, however, that knowledge is minimized during 3rd year grades, and things like enthusiasm and "playing the game" are more important. That's my opinion. It's all debatable. Basically, though, if you show up on time, do the work, volunteer for certain tasks, demonstrate your interest in the field and your intelligence, you will do well. And keep a smile on your face.
For students leaning toward a career in research and academic medicine, what are the pros and cons of attending UMass?
Like I said you can basically go to most any residency program you want from here. Lots of people get involved with research or extracurriculars, lots don't really do much else. There are always lots of research projects around. Probably not on the scale of a place like Johns Hopkins but when you are a med student, it realyl doesn't matter. I wouldn't let this influence your decision much unless you have a specific lab in mind you want to work with.
For students leaning toward a career in some highly competitive specialty or sub-specialty, is UMass the place or are you better off at the ivory tower city school?
Go wherever you think you can perform the best. Don't pay attention to match lists and all that garbage. People from here go to wherever they want in the fields they want. UMass hasn't had a optho grad in a few years, but that's because no one has wanted it. There are always ortho grads, and people going to the "best" residency programs, whatever that means. People around the country have a lot more respect for UMass and its students than you would think. Especially in Boston. Residency PDs love UMass students because they do very well in residency and have great clinical skills. I guess you stand a better chance of going to a Harvard residency if you go to Harvard, but that's true anywhere. Like the UMass ER program which is a tough match to get, but UMass grads always fill a lot of the spots. The most important thing is to be a good student, not to be a student at a "good" school. Of course people will disagree with me. There are innumerable "rankings" slaves who refuse to abide by anything less than the gospel according to USNews. These people are full of crap and have no idea what they are talking about. The reason they are obsessed about the highly ranked schools is that these schools are the only ones who they have ever considered.
Why would you pick UMass over a school ranked higher by those know-it-alls at US News and World Report?
How long do you have? Let's see....tuition; cheaper to live here; residents and attendings are wonderful teachers; people come here so that they can teach students and residents, not so that they can be called "professor;" school is growing rapidly in regards to research; the student body is wonderful, not competitive at all, very cooperative, and is made up of lots of real people and not professional students; you get better clinical training; that's enough for now.
If you have friends at other medical schools, what things about UMass make you GLAD you chose to go to school there. When you talk to friends at other schools, what sort of things do you wish you had (or didn't have) at UMass that they have at their schools?
See the above. Drawbacks, let's see. There are really not many. I think the places to the east often have more intense and cutting edge research, but as I said that isn't something med students should really concern themselves with because you don't need to be splitting the atom or curing cancer when you're a med student. You need to learn how to be a doctor, and perhaps learn how to do good research. So there are mentors here that can help. Maybe not as many and the culture of research is not quite so ingrained, but it's certainly there for anyone who wants it. It's also a state school and hospital thus, is at the whim (somewhat) of the legislature and governor. So there are some old parts to the hospital and things can take a while to get done.
How's parking first and second years?
What kind of a social life do most first and second years have?
What kind of clubs and activities are you involved with? [/B]
Parking is in flux. It's tight right now but still very cheap. It might add to your commute. A new garage is going up so things are changing. Social life is fine, lots of interaction, lots of possible clubs and activities, the same as you would find at any school. Everyone is from massachusetts so they all know the area.
No more typing! Me tired!
, sometime in March or early April. Man, this process sucks. LET'S GO PATS!
