At Midwestern you take 5 classes at once your first year, with some classes meeting much more often than others. Ethics met about 4 times last quarter, and there's an average of 11 lectures per week for the Basic Sciences Course (BASI). Ethics was probably the course with the lightest workload, and BASI is the course with the biggest workload. BASI is a systems-based approach, so instead of having separate classes on biochemistry, anatomy, cell bio, etc, we will look at one system per week, with different lecturers from different specialties. For example, when we studied skin we had lectures from a pathologist, histologist, a parasitologist, etc. We've all taken the basic requirements for admission, so I find this is a very helpful way to integrate information, and start thinking more like a health practitioner than a science student. We take a test every Tuesday on all of the BASI material from the week before (no massive cumulative final!). We have a quiz every Thursday, and some weeks we have additional tests. That being said, most students take Tuesdays off after the test, study for the quiz for a few hours Wednesday, and find time to do something Friday or Saturday night, or both, even while studying for BASI that coming Tuesday.
After adjusting to dental school, and learning how to manage my time, I have been happily surprised by the balance I've been able to create at Midwestern. I typically do something with friends 2-3 times per week, work out about 3 times per week, and find time to cook. Plus, I actually sleep and I have been getting good grades! Don't get me wrong, I work very hard, and the amount of information I have learned in the last quarter has been more than I thought possible. Most of my typical day is dedicated to class or studying. But, I've found that if you work hard most of the day, you can enjoy the rest of the day guilt-free. I know I am the most successful when I also have time to be active, eat right, sleep and socialize, and this is definitely possible at Midwestern!
Wherever you end up, find ways to budget your time to allow for balance. Work really hard most of the time, and relax completely the rest of the time. Best of luck in your decision!
