UT Memphis for Fall 2004

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Irish Rose

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Just was curious to know how many other folks were planning on attending UT Memphis this fall?

Take care & best wishes to those who are still waiting to hear!!
:clap:
 
Just checking again if there are some more folks headed to University of Tennessee Memphis this fall???

Can anyone suggest a good area to live?

Take care!!
 
Irish Rose -
I might very well be. I applied late in the cycle, just had my interview, and am waiting to hear back this week. I will let you know.
I live in Memphis, though, and can give you some advice on housing. I'm sure you have heard that Mud Island is popular. It mayt be a little on the pricey side, but many UT students live there, and it is reasonably safe.
The best choice would be to find a nice appartment in midtown, which would put you closer to the school at less of an expense, too. Midtown Memphis is tricky though, because one street may be fine, but the next over may be a little dodgy. There are places out east, too - Cordova, etc. whish may be inexpensive. Cordova is going to be a 45 minute drive to the campus, though.
I would recommend looking into living on Mud Island (Harbor Town) for the first year then, once you get to know the city, you might consider moving someplace else.

Or, if you're rolling in the dough, get yourself a flat down town in a renovated cotton warehouse. They're sweet.
 
Irish Rose,
I have been accepted to UT Memphis. I don't think I am going to go there, but I haven't decided for sure though. From what I have gathered from my friends that are there, I think El Macho gave some good advice. If I do end up there next year, I plan to live on Mud Island. Most people that I know at UT Memphis live there and really like it. I drove over there after my interview, and it's like a different world across the bridge. There are some nice apartments and a track by the river. It seems like you are miles from downtown even though you are only a couple of minutes away.
 
Rose,

There are two good places to live in Memphis. If you are a runner, have a dog to walk, or like being out of the city and want a very safe place...Mud island is the place for you...it is about 7-10 minutes from school and is great. you cross a little bridge and your in a different world. If you like more of the going out young hip scene...i would suggest midtown area...but talk to someone who knows it well..you can end up on the wrong block.

Ut Mem is an awesome clinical school....you will get frustrated you first two years because the teaching could be a little better...but third and fourth are unbelievable...you will do more procedures, more deliveries and anything else you could ever imagine in med school.....good luck
 
Thank you all so much for the wonderful advice!!

I have been looking on-line, just kind of getting a flavor of what is available. I saw some very nice places in Midtown, but I really like the idea of getting out and running next to the river. I did a small tour after my 1st interview last year, and really loved Mud Island.

I am really interested in getting a roommate, so if anyone else knows for sure that they will be starting in the fall, please let me know. (Note: I will have to have my FBI director contact check you out- just kidding!) But any more suggestions on finding a roommate and good things to see & do in Memphis would be more than welcome!!

Take care & best wishes to all!!
 
I'll be going to UT Memphis next year as well...unless I don't finish up my thesis and get delayed a year.

I'm from Memphis, so PM me if you have any specific questions.

I look forward to meeting you next year!

-Asc
 
I have my interview in a week....

Its kinda cool for us in Knoxville to have one interview here and the other in Memphis. I'm pumped for it.
 
Best Wishes Robz!! Who is interviewing you?

Also, Asclepius...
Where are you living in Memphis? Are you planning to relocate? I am planning to go take a look at apartments in April. Suggestions are most welcome!

Take care!!
 
Hello to all my future classmates! Congrats on your acceptances. I am living in Memphis now so I might be able to answer some questions if anyone needs some specific information. I live in the South Main area just off the trolley line. I love this area. Mud Island is probably your best bet. However, there is an apartment building just down the street form Le Bonheur Children's Hospital that is very popular with the HSC students. It looks like a nice place but the area around it is not good.
 
Originally posted by Irish Rose
Best Wishes Robz!! Who is interviewing you?

Take care!!

I PMed you. 🙂
 
Hey you guys that I have interviewed this year. Any beta on your interviews besides wear comfortable shoes.
 
I go to school in Knoxville and grew up in Memphis, so I can answer your question Cerberus.

Besides UT Football, going to bars, and the proximity of the Appalachians, Knoxville is pretty boring. In my opinion at least.

Memphis has much more to offer than Knoxville. Downtown Memphis has the Redbirds and the Grizzlies. Beale Street with all its great music and bars, especially the Flying Saucer and Pat O'Briens. Raiford?s Hollywood Disco is always a good time.

Then again, you won't quite have all the time in the world to be partying while in Med School.

Memphis is much more diverse, Knoxville is filled with much more rednecks, mullets, etc. That become so much more noticeable on gamedays when you see all that orange camouflage.

Overall I'd say Memphis is a great town. People like to say that Memphis is dangerous, but it isn't any worse than any other city of its size. I haven't decided where I'm gonna go for Med School yet, but I do plan to settle in Memphis again eventually.

Menemot XI
 
I was born in Knoxville and have lived most of life there. I moved to Memphis about 6 months ago and so far I love it. It is a different world here when compared to Knoxville. I don't think this is necessarily a bad thing. I am enjoying the differences right now. I miss the mountains and the trout fishing though. The medical and science community in Memphis is much greater than I initially thought it would be. St. Jude, UTHSC and the U of Memphis make Memphis a great place to find research jobs and student research opportunities, very much unlike Knoxville. Memphis is also growing very much every year and they are always talking about new exciting things the city is going to do.
MD 2 be in TN, I would say get here early because the lot they told us to park in is not on the map so you may have trouble finding it. If you have any specific questions PM me. Good luck on Monday!
 
Good to hear that some of you like Memphis. I have to say that I dont know much about memphis but have been a bit aprehensive about the fact that the only state school i'd attend is in Memphis. Maybe it isnt so bad and uus knoxvillians just have a skewed pov.

*edit* I say UTMEM is the only state school i'd attend because I dont even intend on applying to ETSU as I have zero interest in PC and I cannot stand JC.
 
I think its pretty safe to say that anyone that would enjoy a city like Johnson City would hate Memphis. Some people say that its hard to believe that K'ville and Memphis are in the same state. Using the same reasoning, its hard to believe Johnson City and Memphis are on the same planet. As you can tell I don't care for Johnson City either. I got stuck in that place for 5 hrs one night on my way back from Banner Elk. Ever since then I don't even like to stop there for a piss break on the way back from the mtns of NC. 👍
 
Aside from its location, what do you guys think about the school itself? I have been accepted to a couple of other places, and I am trying to decide if it is worth the extra money to go out of state to a private school. The only thing I ever really here about UT Memphis here in Knoxville is how bad Memphis is. People in East TN tend to have some sort of negative bias against Memphis for some reason. The city itself seems okay to me, but I am more interested in the reputation of the medical school. People rave about the clinical experience there, but I have heard that the instruction in the first two years isn't so great. Will you guys go elsewhere if given the opportunity or is Memphis your first choice?
 
Originally posted by Circadian Man
Aside from its location, what do you guys think about the school itself? I have been accepted to a couple of other places, and I am trying to decide if it is worth the extra money to go out of state to a private school. The only thing I ever really here about UT Memphis here in Knoxville is how bad Memphis is. People in East TN tend to have some sort of negative bias against Memphis for some reason. The city itself seems okay to me, but I am more interested in the reputation of the medical school. People rave about the clinical experience there, but I have heard that the instruction in the first two years isn't so great. Will you guys go elsewhere if given the opportunity or is Memphis your first choice?


thats because knoxvegas is the best part of the south. Tell me knoxville doesnt rock after the kickass weather we had today@!

I imagine that memphis doesnt even get sunlight! It is a dark dirty place where you get mugged everyday and it rains HCL!
 
You know, it makes no sense to me that ktown doesnt have a med school. We are the center of the Tennessee universe. Our football team is the best, our university is the best, our river maybe be polluted but the view of downtown from it kicks major ass. Why would I ever leave here for memphis or *shudders* Johnson City?
 
Originally posted by Cerberus
You know, it makes no sense to me that ktown doesnt have a med school.

UTHSC students can transfer to the UT Grad SOM for their 3rd year core and senior clerkships and electives, also for 4th year senior electives.
I wouldn't be surprised if UTK developed a full-scale SOM, what with a full-scale expanding Med Center already in place.
 
Originally posted by Cerberus
You know, it makes no sense to me that ktown doesnt have a med school. We are the center of the Tennessee universe. Our football team is the best, our university is the best, our river maybe be polluted but the view of downtown from it kicks major ass. Why would I ever leave here for memphis or *shudders* Johnson City?

After doing my Ugrad there and my masters...the only thing people told me when I wondered why the med school is not there is that they had to spread it out for some reason. I believe cause some people argue the "whole" UT system is not just Knoxville. So, we got the law and vet schools and they put the medical school and health sciences in Memphis.

Now...what I am wondering is why my MPH program is not housed in the graduate school of medicine or in the health science center in Memphis. Go fig right?
 
I miss Memphis. 🙁 But I love Louisville! :clap:

Having lived in Cordova, I think a med student would have to be crazy to live that far out. Traffic would kill you. And with Wolfchase & all the other shopping centers near the Interstate, it would get REALLY bad after Thanksgiving.

I think all white med students should live in Whitehaven and all African American students should consider Raleigh. Yeah. That's the ticket. (city joke)
 
I love, love, love, LOVE Memphis. I want to go to school there. I want to walk around the downtown and be nervous. I want to double-dead bolt my door every night, just to go to this school. Definately my favorite! Now, if only they would let me in!!!

But seriously, every med student I talked to on my interview said that they really aren't scared. They just use common sense like you would in any city. Including Knoxville. Which I personally am not all about. Maroon is my favorite color, not orange!
 
I would like to know who Cerberus is. I also attend UT in the lovely town of Knoxville, and I wonder if I've seen you anywhere.

I might add that I would be very surprised if Knoxville DID get a Medical School any time soon. Anyone with a knowledge of the innerworkings of the University's Operations and Capital projects knows that it isn't even on the radar screen for the next 25 years. Check out the Master Plan. We may be getting a new Student Health Center eventually though. That is after Glocker gets torn down and rebuilt, the Greenway finishes, etc.

Not to mention that the other UT System schools have major projects in the works too.
 
Originally posted by menemotxi
That is after Glocker gets torn down and rebuilt, the Greenway finishes, etc.

Not to mention that the other UT System schools have major projects in the works too.

Dude, what about Ayres!?! Can we at least get some air conditioners for the summer:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: Also, whats the deal with that park thing over by humanities that was supposed to be finished like 2 years ago?
 
Honestly I think the thing that makes most Knoxvillians so anti-Memphis is the fact that Memphis has such a large poor African-American population. I was born in Knoxville and I love it dearly but it is about as racially diverse as a Sunday barbeque at General Nathan Bedford Forrest's house. 😀 The Forrest memorial park is ironically adjacent to the med school in this very racially diverse town. (Hes the guy that started the KKK)
The fact is that all big cities have there bad areas. The med school is not located in the best area of town but its not the worst either. That probably doesn't make you feel any better but I think it provides the University with the best possible population in which to train doctors. The universtiy serves a population of 2.5 million in the greater Memphis area and a very large population in the surrounding counties of Mississippi, Alabama and Arkansas. Granted a good chunk of this number are suburbanites in Germany and beyond. However, most are poor people that otherwise would go without healthcare if not for the University and hospitals like The Med and UT Bowld.
 
Originally posted by mison
Honestly I think the thing that makes most Knoxvillians so anti-Memphis is the fact that Memphis has such a large poor African-American population. I was born in Knoxville and I love it dearly but it is about as racially diverse as a Sunday barbeque at General Nathan Bedford Forrest's house. 😀 The Forrest memorial park is ironically adjacent to the med school in this very racially diverse town. (Hes the guy that started the KKK)
The fact is that all big cities have there bad areas. The med school is not located in the best area of town but its not the worst either. That probably doesn't make you feel any better but I think it provides the University with the best possible population in which to train doctors. The universtiy serves a population of 2.5 million in the greater Memphis area and a very large population in the surrounding counties of Mississippi, Alabama and Arkansas. Granted a good chunk of this number are suburbanites in Germany and beyond. However, most are poor people that otherwise would go without healthcare if not for the University and hospitals like The Med and UT Bowld.

I agree to an extent and think that this is likely true for many knoxvillians. I personally dont want to live in Memphis because really I just dont care much for most of the south (ktown and ashville being exceptions) and to me Memphis seems more "deep south" than knoxville. I like the idea of working with a diverse patient population and would really like to live in a more diverse place (hence I am applying to all the NYC schools) but I just get a bad vibe from Memphis.

Btw- there was an article in the metropulse a few months back about Knoxvillians and their uneasiness about Memphis - i will try to find it later.

Of course at the same time since I am interested in trauma surg, it would be kind of dumb for me to pass up memphis if I were to get accepted there (crosses fingers).
 
*crosses fingers for the Memphis-hater
 
Just wondering for those of you that already accepted...how long was the wait before the adcom's decision?
 
I interviewed on a Tuesday, they voted on us that Friday, and I got an acceptance the following Saturday via Snail mail.

They are usually pretty quick, but Nelson Strother told us that people can get tabled at the first meeting and it can be a few more weeks til they find out.

Hope that helps.
 
Back to the question of how good of a reputation does Memphis has...like a bunch of people have already said, the school is known for its overwhelming clinical experience. As far as when the Match rolls around, which do you think looks better: Memphis or a more competitve higher ranked school?
 
Originally posted by vandypatty
Back to the question of how good of a reputation does Memphis has...like a bunch of people have already said, the school is known for its overwhelming clinical experience. As far as when the Match rolls around, which do you think looks better: Memphis or a more competitve higher ranked school?

Probably depends on what field you want to go into. One trauma resident i talked to at UT medical (ktown) said that yearly Memphis and detroit compete for most trauma cases in the United States. Surely that would be in your favor if you wanted to go into a field like surgery or EM.
 
Yes, I am one of those that was "tabled". I interviewed early....November 19th in fact. Heard back a week later that the committee was undecided. Since then, I have not heard a thing except to hang in there and that I would hear something no later than April 1. It is tough waiting that long!

Also, I am from Memphis and live here now. I agree with the other posts: choose downtown or midtown. I lived downtown and now live in midtown so I can tell you about both...just pm me.
 
As far as when the Match rolls around, which do you think looks better: Memphis or a more competitve higher ranked school?

I am trying to decide between Wake Forest and UT Memphis right now, and basically, I liked pretty much everything about Wake when I interviewed more than Memphis. However, I don't want to pay twice as much if it isn't necessary. Furthermore, I am interested in surgery, particularly ortho, and I certainly don't want to deprive myself of this huge patient population in Memphis if that will be advantageous in gaining a surgical residency. I work at a hospital in Knoxville, and most of the doctors there went to medical school in Memphis and did their residencies in Knoxville. They keep telling me to save my money and go to Memphis, but I have to wonder if they are just biased from their own experience. From what I have read here on SDN, there seems to be a pretty large concensus that class ranking is more important than your school's reputation when it comes to getting a good residency. However, using that logic, anyone who can't get into Harvard or Hopkins should strive for the worst school possible in order to gain the best odds at being in the top 10% of their class. That simply doesn't make sense. Plus, doesn't one stand a better chance of matching in a residency program at their own school? If this is the case, then it would be better to go to the highest ranked school possible in order to gain access to better residency programs. Right?
 
The thing that sucks about the being able to come back to Knoxville for the clinical years is that it is the clinical years that are what make Memphis a good program. I mean, what is the point in all the "hands on" experience you are supposed to be able to get in Memphis if you only stay there for 1st and 2nd years?
 
C'man,

I think your right. A grad from JHU or HUMC with similar grades and step 1 scores will be more competitive in the Match than someone from lets say UT. However I think that more things go into matching than just #s and school reps. Candidates from a given region and/or school affiliation are probably given precidence. So if you are choosing between a top 10 school and a lesser recognized school I would say yes, you'll be better off in the match graduating from the top 10. Now this is a complete conjecture but I'd say that in the eyes of the residency directors in the south there is no discernible difference between students from Wake and UT. If anything I think they would prefer the person from UT because they have been exposed to so much diverse pathology in every service through which they rotated.

That stated, the most important thing you can do for yourself over the next four years of your like is go where you'll be happiest. If that is Wake then go to Wake. The cost should be a distant consideration when compared to your own well being. Med school is stressful enough without being stressed about your school and your new home. Whatever you decide, good luck. But remember Screamin Demons will never compare to the mighty VOL.😀 👍 👍
 
uh...correction, make that sreamin deacons, no?
 
Congratulations to everyone who has been accepted and best of luck for everyone waiting.

Many of you have written that the idea of living in Memphis is quite unappealing, and while the area around the school is most certainly not the best, I think that Memphis is working very hard to develop and redefine itself. This is pretty exciting to me, especially coming from Nashville, a city that has grown and changed but still lacks a livable downtown! I once made the comment (many years ago) that I might not even consider UT because it was in Memphis. I can?t believe that I actually thought that knowing what I know now about the strengths of the programs and its role in serving such a diverse population. So, for those of you perhaps struggling with the decision know that there is more in Memphis besides crime!

Circadian Man- I wish you the best for this decision. I know for me that tuition was a very large factor in my choice. I withdrew my other applications after finding out about my acceptance. I too think it is very important to feel a connection to the school and trust your gut. I am sure that the programs are close enough that if you work hard in either, you would have a very good shot at almost any residency.

Good luck!!
 
for those of you who are worried about school reps and the match....check back here after march 18th...i will try and put our match list up....but so far we did very very well in the early match...
 
Originally posted by Circadian Man
... Furthermore, I am interested in surgery, particularly ortho, and I certainly don't want to deprive myself of this huge patient population in Memphis if that will be advantageous in gaining a surgical residency.

...you know, Memphis is being called "the center" for orthopedic surgery. Smith and Nephew, Medtronic Sophomore Danek, and the Medical Educational Research Institute make Memphis perhaps the top orthopedic research areas in the country. The Campbell Clinic in Memphis writes the textbook on orthopedics, and the Med, from what I hear, is the busiest orthopedic trauma service in the country. If you're interested in ortho, man, Memphis is the place to be. Baptist East was also rated one of the top ortho hospitals in the country, too.
 
I have several friends at UT right now, and it seems to me that, if you do well there, you can get a residency just about anywhere. One of my friends had a M4 Vanderbuilt med student doing a surg. rotation stay with him. My M3 UT friend had much more experience during his surg. rotation that his guest from Vandy with a year more med school behind him.

I think it boils down to this - if you want to teach or go into research, it's nice to have a fancy diploma on your wall. If you're primarily interested in clinical care, it's more important to say "I trained at____" (residency) and to have a good reputation by your work that UT's USMLE step one scores are dead average for the nation. Besides, the preclinical education is designed to prepare you for your clinical training, so if you were to choose a school on the basis of clinical vs. pre-clinical, go with the school that excels in clinical training.

Anybody going back for more interviews on March 21 and 22?

-Asc
 
what do you mean more interviews on March 21 and 22?
Are these second look periods or what? Thx👍
 
In my interview my interviewer said if there is a big difference in how the two interviewers rate you then they invite you back for a third interview.

Maybe this is the case?
 
I'll be there on March 21 and 22 for the scholarship interview. Are you gonna be there Asclepius?

By the way it's Medtronic Sofamor Danek.
 
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