ddmoore54 said:
We are keeping things in the open so everyone can read and hopefully get some info.
As far as the notes and stuff, we do share things here at Wayne. However, we receive a complete set of notes before the semester and all of the exam questions come right from the notes. You can study only the notes and get honors if you know them well enough. I personally don't use outside sources except for some atlases because most of the time more sources just means more distractions. We also don't need scribe services or things like that because all of our lectures are in video format on the internet. Thus, there is just no reason that anybody would even feel the need to send out 20 pages worth of notes here.
As far as the curve, you are being ranked against every one of your classmates whether it is a set standard or not. It doesn't matter whether your score is statistical or a percentage, the school knows who is beating who, which they need to for the Dean's letter and AOA. Not to mention that we have a guaranteed 75% pass rate. I heard you guys just took an anatomy written exam where the avg. was a 72%, which is failing. That means over half the class failed that exam. That just doesn't happen at Wayne. If the test was poorly written and the avg. was 50%, then getting a 50% would be a pass. Not that this ever happens, our avgs. tend to be
Correction, the average on that exam was a 83.7 for lecture, lab was 82 or so. SO what happens when rest of the class does great and class average is a 90, and u get a 75??
What that means is that what I get wont affect my other classmates so it cuts down competition because rest of the class can get a 100, as long as I've past a 78 I'm ok, and its a 75 for the other classes.
Point being we can go on and on about why our schl is the best. Thats expected, and thats why we ended up were we are.
@fun8, yeah its called a coursepack
, its real thick and full of wonderful knowledge, Most schls have it, plus our lectures are available online anyway to download. We also have open access to most of our old exams. MSU and Wayne are 2 schls with completely different systems.
@Laura, u can still get clinical experience, as 1st yrs we also do stuff like 24hr on call for Ob-GYN, EM, surgery and stuff. I spent a lot of time volunteering at Wayne, and loved having the hospitals around, but at the end of the day, I wanted an environment that I felt was nuturing(which may be different for others), and so thats why I chose MSU. I do interviews, and pretty much what u saw interview day is how it is, stuff is hard but folks are generally happy.
MSU
Pros: Supportive environment, you are not alone, and everyone here does their best to support you along the way
: P/F, straight pass or fail, not graded based on class mean, so folks could care less what class mean is. I like being graded on my ability to do well, my biggest competitior should be myself
:Option for extended 5yr program, no real valid reason needed, they realize some learn different from others and people are coming from different backgrounds
:Exceptional patient/physician clinical skills, it takes great interpersonal skills also to be a doctor.
: Best Radiology dept in Michigan, One of best Radiology depts in the country( and they have a ton of research going on, especially with cancer)
: Wonderful student learning facility(where you had your interviews), 24/7 access, complete with study rooms, and relaxation area.
BL curriculum 2nd yr, which helps u integrate basic sciences you learned 1st yr.
Cons: No hospitals
: Not overall focus on research, some depts like radiology have exceptional ones.
: Exams every Monday, which can also be seen as a pro, because if you fail one exam, or even 2(unless its half a semester biochem/genetics), you are not done for, plus it keeps you studyin. The failing exam thing is good for Anatomy and Physiology/Histo
At the end of the day consider yourself lucky, cause its hard enough getting accepted to med schl, you will be a doctor, pick whatever environment you consider best fit for you as an individual not what I or anyone on here tells you. What may work for us might not necessarily work for you.