What should I ask?

[DPTinthemaking15]

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Our school is holding a Facebook live Q&A hosted by the admissions office for incoming students. Any suggestions of some good questions to ask? If it helps, we are one of the unlucky schools that have mandatory attendance + professional dress code (it’s a drag, but I’ll endure).

The last one covered housing, but this one is a free-for-all. Any suggestions would be appreciated, because I don’t know what I don’t know lol.

 

[NukHopkins]

"What steps is administration taking in modifying the curriculum to accommodate the study schedule of 2nd years preparing to take Level 1 and Step 1?"
"How much dedicated study period time do students have for Level 1/Step 1? Are there any plans to change this?"

 

[anon6134]

What do you do with all of your tuition dollars

 

[rg2o3]

Our school is holding a Facebook live Q&A hosted by the admissions office for incoming students. Any suggestions of some good questions to ask? If it helps, we are one of the unlucky schools that have mandatory attendance + professional dress code (it’s a drag, but I’ll endure).

The last one covered housing, but this one is a free-for-all. Any suggestions would be appreciated, because I don’t know what I don’t know lol.

PM me if you have questions. Seems like we might have something in common.

 

[DPTinthemaking15]

"How much dedicated study period time do students have for Level 1/Step 1? Are there any plans to change this?"

I really like this question. I will definitely bring it up.

What do you do with all of your tuition dollars

Wait just a minute! Are you suggesting that schools use our tuition dollars for something other than the students well-being???

Nope. Don’t believe it.

/s

 

[Goro]

Our school is holding a Facebook live Q&A hosted by the admissions office for incoming students. Any suggestions of some good questions to ask? If it helps, we are one of the unlucky schools that have mandatory attendance + professional dress code (it’s a drag, but I’ll endure).

The last one covered housing, but this one is a free-for-all. Any suggestions would be appreciated, because I don’t know what I don’t know lol.

Read this:
Goro's Guide for YOUR Interview Questions at a DO School (2018 ed.)

Ask the Dean why they have mandatory lectures when published data shows that adult learners do better with active learning events.

 

[BorntobeDO?]

Nothing to ask, the answers don't matter, and they probably will not tell you of any big changes they are planning to make. I would just ask anything little you wanted to know if I asked anything at all.

Read this:
Goro's Guide for YOUR Interview Questions at a DO School (2018 ed.)

Ask the Dean why they have mandatory lectures when published data shows that adult learners do better with active learning events.

"Our lectures are active! We give mandatory quizzes for every one of them. Just have to keep up with the material. Besides, our data shows our way works best for us, we have been tracking it for years. We have a constant process to evaluate for ways to improve. Students, and faculty give feedback and then we take the 'best' suggestions and act on them. Our students consistently say that our method works best and I hear nothing but good things. This gives us a competitive edge over other COM's who don't do such rigorous internal research. Thanks for the question, any others?"

-Dean of RPC COM (Yes I can read what other deans think).

 

[Goro]

Nothing to ask, the answers don't matter, and they probably will not tell you of any big changes they are planning to make. I would just ask anything little you wanted to know if I asked anything at all.

"Our lectures are active! We give mandatory quizzes for every one of them. Just have to keep up with the material. Besides, our data shows our way works best for us, we have been tracking it for years. We have a constant process to evaluate for ways to improve. Students, and faculty give feedback and then we take the 'best' suggestions and act on them. Our students consistently say that our method works best and I hear nothing but good things. This gives us a competitive edge over other COM's who don't do such rigorous internal research. Thanks for the question, any others?"

*sigh*
More evidence that Deans are paid to lie.

 

[Cheeni17]

*sigh*
More evidence that Deans are paid to lie.

I have yet to understand what deans are besides a figurehead

 

[Aslanim]

Read this:
Goro's Guide for YOUR Interview Questions at a DO School (2018 ed.)

Ask the Dean why they have mandatory lectures when published data shows that adult learners do better with active learning events.

I wouldn't. You'll soon learn how it's best to keep your head low and never question the administration regardless of what's best for the students.

 

[Cheeni17]

Ask them after you walk across the stage st graduation why they suck so bad

 

[getfat]

Maybe its different but at my school but it sounds pretty pointless for people that have specific school questions about the DO curriculum.

Admissions has no idea what the DO curriculum is like. They are just paid to set up the open house sessions and interview cycles in general.

Is there someone specific (dean, professors) at this session?

 

[Goro]

I have yet to understand what deans are besides a figurehead

I image that a med student has as much understanding of what a Dean does as a buck private understands what a general does. I'm not saying this as a pejorative; it's a perspective thing.

Deans are far more than figureheads. They can make or break entire schools. They bring a particular vision to a school and shape it into what they want it to be or do. Some are good at vision, while others are good at administration.

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

I image that a med student has as much understanding of what a Dean does as a buck private understands what a general does. I'm not saying this as a pejorative; it's a perspective thing.

Deans are far more than figureheads. They can make or break entire schools. They bring a particular vision to a school and shape it into what they want it to be or do. Some are good at vision, while others are good at administration.

Agreed. For example, our dean is single handedly driving the production of numerous GME programs in a wide variety of specialties.

 

[Deecee2DO]

Our school is holding a Facebook live Q&A hosted by the admissions office for incoming students. Any suggestions of some good questions to ask? If it helps, we are one of the unlucky schools that have mandatory attendance + professional dress code (it’s a drag, but I’ll endure).

The last one covered housing, but this one is a free-for-all. Any suggestions would be appreciated, because I don’t know what I don’t know lol.

Ask them how board/clinically relevant lectures are? Also, ask them how many of their PhD basic science professors teach their research? If they do teach their research, why are you paying them tuition for them to teach their research and not clinically relevant/board relevant lectures?

 

[Neopolymath]

You should find a better use of your time.

 

[Deecee2DO]

I wouldn't. You'll soon learn how it's best to keep your head low and never question the administration regardless of what's best for the students.

Why not? they asked for input. It's valid input

 

[Goro]

Ask them how board/clinically relevant lectures are? Also, ask them how many of their PhD basic science professors teach their research? If they do teach their research, why are you paying them tuition for them to teach their research and not clinically relevant/board relevant lectures?

I don't think that the OP will get any sort of decent answer tot he bolded, especially from an Admissions Dean, who is most likely to be unaware of what's in the curriculum, much less who teaches what.
And on top of that, given how research-thin DO schools are in the first place, I suspect that it's less likely that basic sci faculty are teaching thier research. This is definitely still an issue at MD schools.

And frankly, even if the dean knew that the answer was 'yes", I think that they'd dissemble and be less than truthful anyway.

 

[DPTinthemaking15]

Sorry it took me so long to message back. I had full intentions of asking a few of the questions above, but I logged into the live chat 10 minutes late and it had already ended :/

If it helps, the person leading the discussion was one of the adcoms (fairly certain it was one of the professors).

 

[Medic741]

Without an attached hospital (& therefore long-term contracts with your lecturers) how do you ensure the quality of guest lecturer content?

If you hear crickets the answer is: they don’t.

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

Without an attached hospital (& therefore long-term contracts with your lecturers) how do you ensure the quality of guest lecturer content?

If you hear crickets the answer is: they don’t.

Eh even with long term contracts the quality is extremely spotty. I can't even tell you how many times I had lectures based on clinical guidelines that will change before I even hit residency.