what is the most important quality you look for in a medical school ?

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for me, it is happy students...

 

[EricMont]

-hospital experience
For instance: UIC students have TONS of patient experience earlier than most other schools in the area. When it comes to residency, I want to be prepared.

 

[NickNaylor]

I'm not sure how P/F versus graded is getting passed up. That should absolutely be the most important thing.

 

[sc4s2cg]

That I get accepted.

 

[deleted307836]

I'm not sure how P/F versus graded is getting passed up. That should absolutely be the most important thing.

This is the first thing I'd want to know about schools. Second would be if lecture attendance is required.

 

[CaliGirl14]

A sense of humor, ambitious, loves dogs, confidence---

oh wait.

 

[IlDestriero]

Location, location, location!
I would never consider living in >50% of the US and 4 years IS a long time.

 

[CaliforniaAppli]

location. In a big city.

 

[ppfizenm]

This is the first thing I'd want to know about schools. Second would be if lecture attendance is required.

Is that you in the picture or did you google hot male doctor?

 

[paul411]

Curriculum maybe? It's nice not to have 5-6 subjects at the same time and, consequently, 5-6 tests in the same week. Not the most important, but something to consider nonetheless.

 

[Eric01]

The curriculum. Even though with the standardization brought by board exams have made each medical school teach more or less the same content, the method of presentation varies. I'd much rather have a hands on clinical teaching approach beginning from MS1 then just a continuation of lecture based teaching which has always been my weakness. Some people have difficulty reading a textbook and learning, that's like me but only with lectures. I daydream and don't pay attention and can't pay attention sufficiently enough to get anything meaningful out of lectures.

 

[centrigeugle]

The average MCAT and GPA, and the general geography (deep south = no). Then, I go and learn a little about the school (aka troll the website for 30 minutes.)

Then, if it isn't somewhere absolutely terrible, I browse the previous SDN application threads to look for medical students posting there. If their experiences don't imply that it's terrible, I apply there.

Can somebody elaborate on why graded versus P/F (or some combination thereof) makes such a difference?

 

[Whatyousay]

Can somebody elaborate on why graded versus P/F (or some combination thereof) makes such a difference?

So you're not forced to bust your chops to learn material that you'll forget by the time you take Step 1 anyways?

 

[Dotpats]

Curriculum, location, the school's relationship with the surrounding community (medical and non-medical) and this:

That I get accepted.

 

[iceman132]

That I get accepted.

Gotta go with this

 

[centrigeugle]

So you're not forced to bust your chops to learn material that you'll forget by the time you take Step 1 anyways?

Well, if by "bust chops" you mean "get ranked amongst your class" then I see what you're saying.

Aren't the lack of ranks an issue once residencies get into play?

 

[Whatyousay]

Well, if by "bust chops" you mean "get ranked amongst your class" then I see what you're saying.

Aren't the lack of ranks an issue once residencies get into play?

From my understanding, the schools that have a pure P/F grading system usually use that system for the first two years, at most. Clinical rotations are generally ranked/graded/evaluated differently.

 

[OldMan707]

From my understanding, the schools that have a pure P/F grading system usually use that system for the first two years, at most. Clinical rotations are generally ranked/graded/evaluated differently.

Yeah, that's my understanding too.

I look for happy students first, opportunities for volunteering abroad second and the quality of the facilities last.

 

[postbacpremed87]

for me, it is happy students...

My ability to be admitted there...

 

[NickNaylor]

Well, if by "bust chops" you mean "get ranked amongst your class" then I see what you're saying.

Aren't the lack of ranks an issue once residencies get into play?

No, because pre-clinical grades are ranked poorly by residency directors in terms of importance. The ONLY significance of the pre-clinical years is to prepare you for step 1; this isn't entirely true, of course, since the real importance is giving you the knowledge to be able to complete your rotations, but if you prepare for and do well on step 1 then, in theory, you're prepared to go onto the wards. This is why P/F is an advantage: why would you want to stress yourself out learning meaningless details to bust out a 93+ for honors when you can simply get a 65+ to pass with no other distinction? Sure, getting honors MIGHT be helpful to your application, but getting a pass when an honors is available - which is what happens to most people - is definitely not going to help you.

All schools that I know of have a graded core clerkship year, and that is one of the most important criteria looked at for residency applications (along with step 1 scores).

I really don't think there's any weakness to a P/F grading scheme unless you're somehow driven to succeed by always wanting to get the best possible evaluation. As a student, though, I'm incredibly thankful for P/F. I would be kicking myself if I went to a graded school.

 

[paul411]

How does AOA work for P/F schools?

 

[iqe2010]

That I get accepted.

This. I expect medical school to be..you know..like medical school. It doesn't really matter where you go, everyone graduates a physician.

 

[UnclePhil]

For a non-P/F school, even though pre-clinical grades don't really matter in the long run, we still freak out about them as first-years and that is just another added stressor in an already stressful environment. The fourth years keep telling us how little grades in first-year actually matter to residency directors, but it's very hard to see the big picture as a first year. While I'm not killing myself over tiny details to get honors for anatomy, I'd be lying if I said that I didn't feel guilty for not studying more sometimes.

How does AOA work for P/F schools?

Some schools keep internal rankings.

 

[Evergrey]

Just because you have P/F at your school doesn't mean you're going to be pushing for the minimum grade all the type. That is probably going to result in a weakened knowledge base which might hurt you come Step I time. What P/F is awesome for though is allowing you the freedom to identify your own study priorities, and giving you a buffer by making it okay to receive a minimum passing grade if a certain block is particularly difficult. If you don't think something your school is telling you to learn is worthwhile, then you don't have to do it. You'll score a few points lower on the exam, but you focused on the useful stuff which will (supposedly) pay off in the long run.

 

[stefspets]

For me personally location is #1. I am married to a resident, and would prefer to stay married, which might be difficult if I leave for medical school...

Other than that, fit and student happiness. I'm lucky that there's enough medical schools in my city that I might be able to factor them into a decision.

 

[arfc6]

I can't believe no one has said this yet. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$. I'm all about my state school for 20k less per year.

 

[centrigeugle]

I really don't think there's any weakness to a P/F grading scheme unless you're somehow driven to succeed by always wanting to get the best possible evaluation. As a student, though, I'm incredibly thankful for P/F. I would be kicking myself if I went to a graded school.

Hmm. This is a very interesting piece of insight, thank you. I am sort of "that guy" in respect with grades, so maybe I'm just going WUT NO BELL CURVE HOW DO I KNOW HOW HIGH MY SELF ESTEEM SHOULD BE.

But it seems like the first two years are, in a lot of ways, sort of like learning frictionless inclined planes for the MCAT - tangentially related, but you'll never ever ever use the knowledge in real practice. So I guess it makes sense.

 

[nadaba]

Hmm. This is a very interesting piece of insight, thank you. I am sort of "that guy" in respect with grades, so maybe I'm just going WUT NO BELL CURVE HOW DO I KNOW HOW HIGH MY SELF ESTEEM SHOULD BE.

I have a feeling that a lot of people are probably "that guy" until they're on the sad side of the median for the first time in their lives. Then, they're thankful for P/F.

 

[NickNaylor]

I have a feeling that a lot of people are probably "that guy" until they're on the sad side of the median for the first time in their lives. Then, they're thankful for P/F.

Pretty much describes my experience. While I'm sure there are a few people in my class that are confident that they're going to score 85-90+, most people really are just gunning to pass, myself included.

 

[oaklandguy]

A school that will accept me?

 

[paul411]

A school that will accept me?

Okay, I'm pretty sure the original question pertains to qualities that will help decide amongst different schools that have already accepted you. If you're accepted to just one school, this question is meaningless.

 

[oaklandguy]

Okay, I'm pretty sure the original question pertains to qualities that will help decide amongst different schools that have already accepted you. If you're accepted to just one school, this question is meaningless.

Accepted to more than 1 school?

 

[oaklandguy]

Okay, I'm pretty sure the original question pertains to qualities that will help decide amongst different schools that have already accepted you. If you're accepted to just one school, this question is meaningless.

I take things 1 step at a time. As of right now, beggars can't be choosers.

 

[Barcu]

Location, location, location!
I would never consider living in >50% of the US and 4 years IS a long time.

This for sure.

I never got the grading thing. Yeah, P/F would be nice. But I'm at a H/HP/P/LP/F school. Everyone can pass, and if you get a LP, it goes on your transcript as a Pass. And since preclinical grades don't matter much, I really don't see why it's such a huge stress-reliever to only have P/F. It's a factor sure, but the deciding factor? Meh.

 

[nysw]

Research opportunities.
I've seen schools with great clinical exposure in the first year, amazing facilities, but I would like them so much more if they had more research going on.

 

[NickNaylor]

This for sure.

I never got the grading thing. Yeah, P/F would be nice. But I'm at a H/HP/P/LP/F school. Everyone can pass, and if you get a LP, it goes on your transcript as a Pass. And since preclinical grades don't matter much, I really don't see why it's such a huge stress-reliever to only have P/F. It's a factor sure, but the deciding factor? Meh.

Have you taken an exam yet? If not, your view might change.

 

[CodeBlu]

Have you taken an exam yet? If not, your view might change.

I agree with this... I've heard stories from people at Georgetown... sounds scary.

 

[Barcu]

Have you taken an exam yet? If not, your view might change.

I have. Two actually, though one was yesterday so I haven't gotten the results yet. I did well on the first and everyone passed. Yes, you do compete with other students, but most are pretty chill and happy to just pass. And you need to get like 2 standard deviations below the mean to fail, which is pretty easy to avoid. Of all the people I have talked to, I have heard zero gripes about grades, so it's not really worrying too much. Maybe in a few months I'll get on and spout the opposite. Right now, it's not a huge deal.

I agree with this... I've heard stories from people at Georgetown... sounds scary.

It's not

I think part of the rep comes from the SMP students, who are graded on a separate curve than the med students. Now that is an intense program.