What are Second Looks for?

[notdeadyet]

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(I actually did try to find a relevant thread on this on the search engine...)

Assuming you researched to death all the schools you interviewed at and asked all the questions you had of deans, professors, students and alums, what exactly is the point of the second look weekend?

I like being schmoozed as much as the next guy, but I'm hesitant to drop any more money on this process unnecessarily. Is there any benefit of the second looks, or are they for acceptees in need of some salesmanship?

 

[Critical Mass]

They are for people with extra money laying around.

 

[Lorienne7]

(I actually did try to find a relevant thread on this on the search engine...)

Assuming you researched to death all the schools you interviewed at and asked all the questions you had of deans, professors, students and alums, what exactly is the point of the second look weekend?

I like being schmoozed as much as the next guy, but I'm hesitant to drop any more money on this process unnecessarily. Is there any benefit of the second looks, or are they for acceptees in need of some salesmanship?

The most important thing about second look for me is the opportunity to meet and get to know some of my future classmates. It's really important for me to know who I'll be spending the next four years with because ultimately, it's the students that make the med school what it is.

Plus, some of the schools I'm interested are located in places I'm completely unfamiliar with, and I had no time during my interview to explore. Second look provides you with that opportunity too.

 

[crimsonkid85]

don't med schools pay for your 2nd look????

 

[Law2Doc]

don't med schools pay for your 2nd look????

They usually put you up with somebody and feed you. Most places make you get there on your own dime.

 

[crimsonkid85]

wow. it is truly amazing how much more expensive med school apps are compared with grad school apps. -_-

 

[smq123]

(I actually did try to find a relevant thread on this on the search engine...)

Assuming you researched to death all the schools you interviewed at and asked all the questions you had of deans, professors, students and alums, what exactly is the point of the second look weekend?

I like being schmoozed as much as the next guy, but I'm hesitant to drop any more money on this process unnecessarily. Is there any benefit of the second looks, or are they for acceptees in need of some salesmanship?

Second look weekends tend to be like expanded interview days - a lot of salesmanship. Some people who are trying to decide b/w 2 or more schools will use 2nd look weekends to try and come to a decision.

Other people use 2nd look weekends to go and hunt for apartments and stuff.

You don't have to go to 2nd look. I didn't go to mine because a) I knew where I was going to live and b) I had already decided where I was going to go. It made no difference.

 

[QuantumMechanic]

They usually put you up with somebody and feed you. Most places make you get there on your own dime.

Vandy pays!

 

[Stolenspatulas]

Gettin' Blitzed and Hookin' up.

 

[eekonomics]

Gettin' Blitzed and Hookin' up.

I see - so I should definitely bring my girlfriend.

 

[crimsonkid85]

I see - so I should definitely bring my girlfriend.

no...i think the point is that you SHOULDN'T bring your girlfriend >D

 

[trying]

sf pays half of expenses

 

[Doctor~Detroit]

no...i think the point is that you SHOULDN'T bring your girlfriend >D

no . . . i think his point was THREESOME!!!!

 

[crimsonkid85]

no . . . i think his point was THREESOME!!!!

hahahahaha 😛 *ok where do i sign up....

 

[baylormed]

If it was too expensive for me I probably wouldn't go, but as it happens it will be pretty cheap to go to mine since I'm really close and I'm sharing the costs with someone else from my undergrad (hotel, drive, etc).

To answer your question, I am taking the 2nd Look Weekend as an opportunity to meet my future classmates. I think it would be nice to know some of their faces so that I don't feel completely lonely when I move in during the summer or during the first days of class. Also, it's an opportunity to get to meet some faculty (PR's never hurt) and eat free food for a weekend. 😀

 

[photo_girl07]

Yeah...I agree with the general sentiment. 2nd look is mostly great to get to an idea about your prospective classmates. Also, it gives me an opportunity to get a better look at the living (since the whole time at interviews, I wasn't sure if I'd get in). Plus, it is a nice distraction from school. I will most likely only go to the schools, I really am interested in 🙂 It will be $ well-spent 😀

 

[dudemeister]

sf pays half of expenses

really? I thought they only helped out in cases of financial difficulty. Did I miss something in their packet?

If they pay for half, I might just go! It's awfully expensive to fly to the west coast otherwise.

 

[Bubblehead-to-MD]

Yeah...I agree with the general sentiment. 2nd look is mostly great to get to an idea about your prospective classmates. Also, it gives me an opportunity to get a better look at the living (since the whole time at interviews, I wasn't sure if I'd get in). Plus, it is a nice distraction from school. I will most likely only go to the schools, I really am interested in 🙂 It will be $ well-spent 😀

I completely agree with you. Second looks can be particularly useful if you are really trying to decide between 2 or 3 schools that you absolutely loved. All other things being equal, those potential classmates of yours can really be the determining factor in deciding where to go.

They really afford you the opportunity to figure out if these are the people you'd like to spend the next four years (maybe even longer if you end up staying for residency) of your life with. The interview days simply do not provide a large enough sampling.