Well, steeler and mom2boys, I’m glad to see D is not alone in her confusion. Mine had the great pleasure of meeting the former head honcho at (insert med school) who offered to advise her about the factors to consider in making “the choice”. She continues to hear that the clinical years are where the real meat is but other than looking at rotation schedules, ease of away rotations, and the general “hands-on” is better than “watching”, she’s really not getting much to “judge”. If he responds with anything new I’ll be sure to post. </p>
<p>It guess it would be nice to have a number one choice, but when you think about it, I agree that FA could change that perception, too, for many students.</p>
<p>Yeah, I thought I had a first choice a few months ago, but after having been to more places and thinking about stuff more, it’s hard to weigh which schools’ advantages I like most.</p>
<p>I agree that the clinical years should be more an impact, and also find it difficult to gage a school’s quality in that area. In some cases I think it’s more of an obvious connection, like Emory with Grady Hospital or Pitt with UPMC. In other cases, I’m not so sure. Schools like to parade how they get these unique cases, but it’s unlikely I’ll be able to see such patients, so what does it matter to me?</p>
<p>One school was making a big deal about some Prince/Sultan/Sheik who was being treated at the hospital at the time of her interview. My kid said (to me, not to them) “Yeah. Fat chance I’d be in THAT room.” ;)</p>
<p>The more I interviewed, the more schools started melting together. I ended up choosing primarily on location, grading system, and, lastly, prestige. FA was about the same for all of my schools (very little to none in terms of merit aid). Every school emphasized the opportunity to get early clinical experience (I think it’s actually a licensing requirement for the med school to offer its students some sort of clinical experience in the first two years). Every school had cooperative, friendly students. Most academic centers will see a broad enough range of cases regardless of where they are located. Northwestern or Weill-Cornell may be located in ritzy areas but they see some craaaaazy diseases nonetheless. As they told us at Northwestern (in a joking manner), “rich people need healthcare too.”</p>
<p>Not to rock the boat, but the decision was actually absurdly easy for me – or, at least, it should have been.</p>
<p>When I interviewed at a place, I made sure to get as much contact with the students as I possibly could – MS3’s and 4’s whenever I could. And I asked myself a simple question.</p>
<p>“If, God forbid, my parents were to get ill five years down the line – can I see these kids as their doctors? Would I trust them?”</p>
<p>I interviewed at 11 schools and only two passed the test. (Of course, I didn’t end up going to either of those places, but I should have.)</p>
<p>I am in the medical field and I find myself talking to many docs about DS’s choices. Every single one of them has a different opinion of each school and everyone single one of them has a different top choice. Today at work one the docs said to me that in the end it won’t really matter - he will still be an MD no matter where he goes. Yes that is true and maybe in the end it really does not matter, but that sure isn’t helping right now. </p>
<p>BDM- I will have to ask DS what hospital system he would like to see me at if I was ever sick. I know which one of his choices I would like to be at, but it would be interesting to hear what he has to say I hope he picks the one I want otherwise I would have to wonder…</p>
<p>mom2boys-I am in the medical field as well, and while one of the doc’s statements is certainly true-in the end all of the students will become physicians-is missing the point, IMO. Bluedevilmike makes some excellent points about what to look for. I have worked at 5 teaching hospitals in my career and in 2 medical schools ( ohe as clinical faculty). One school, a private, “more prestigious” medical school ( on it’s face), the second was a state medical school-200 in each freshman class ( as opposed to 80/class in private). The difference in the “bedside” skills students from the state school was impressive, as were the diagnostic capabilities of many of the students. </p>
<p>In retrospect, I believe the structure of junior and senior years in medical school makes an enormous difference in a physician’s comfort level in communicating with patients as well as his/her confidence in making patient management decisions. Third year of medical school, IMO, is critical in shaping the type of physician bdm has written about. Schools where Junior Medical students are truly part of the clinical care of patients give students a comfort level and education that schools known for “gentleman’s medicine” do not.</p>
<p>While students graduating from top-tier schools often fair better in the residency match, I would advise focusing on schools that offer the clinical experience aligned with yous son’s career goals. If a students wants to be a primary care physician, ( even many of the sub specialties) a broad base of clinical work in medical school prepares new physicians to be in a better position to take full advantage of residencies and fellowships. And in th4e end, that is what most patieants and their families are looking for-a solid diagnostician with a compassionate soul.</p>
<p>Part of DS problem is that he is not quite sure what specialty he wants. He is trying to “keep an open mind.” That’s fine and I know many med students change their mind once they are exposed to all the different fields. </p>
<p>I do agree that clinical is important. Believe me, I have seen more than my share of residents and I agree that med schools can make a difference in their clinical skills. I also know that it depends on the person too on how comfortable they feel with their skills and how compassionate they are. </p>
<p>DS wants to revisit the school that he feels offers the best clinical experience. I do want him to be exposed to as much as possible and I want him to be in a setting that he can actually do things as a med student and learn those necessary skills. </p>
<p>All of his acceptances have good residency matches. DS really looked into that when he was researching his schools. But right now it looks like the school with the overall best residency match and the strongest clinical is also his most expensive option. It is a real dilemma for him. I am hoping that when we sit down and crunch numbers and look at each school very closely, then one of these schools will quite clearly be the number 1 choice.</p>
<p>Well, it’s happening (as I sorta predicted it would). She’s culling big-time. My D told me last night that she was withdrawing from 2 of her 3 wait-list schools. Real good schools, too (Case and Pitt). </p>
<p>I asked why and she just said “I’m not feeling it.” She needed to send them letters of interest if she was going to stay on, and just feels that she can’t muster the required interest to do so. “Dad, they were just there in case I didn’t get in at Baylor or Southwestern. I did get in to both, so what use it to write a letter/stay on a list when I won’t go there anyway? I should just withdraw.” O.K. Just wait a day or two before you do anything irreversible. </p>
<p>And… uhhhh…what about the Mayo wait-list and the Yale interview I just paid for last week? “Oh, I’m excited about Yale (and meeting <insert cc=”" friend=“”> ;))." What about Mayo? “I’ve been on hold forever , Dad. I don’t like holds/wait-lists.” Yeah, kid. I’ve noticed. (She stayed on Duke’s wait-list for UG for as long as it took her hit the “decline button”.)</insert></p>
<p>So…lesson here. Med school is different than UG. The use of wait-lists and holds is so much more commonplace, and so protracted. And so variable school to school. At the rolling schools , where after you are initially put on hold and your app is reviewed every couple weeks at every adcom meeting, each decision day feels like a new rejection. (Because it is.)</p>
<p>Kids like mine start really liking schools that liked them immediately. They start doubting their fit at schools that keep them hanging, week after week, while accepting others. "Huh. Maybe they are right. Maybe others are better candidates for their program. Maybe I ought to take another look at the program and who they are selecting. "</p>
<p>Learn as much as you can about the admissions methodology at each school. And toughen yourself up a little. Who cares when you were selected if it’s the right school for you? You won’t be wearing a scarlet “last kid selected” badge if you get in on the last day. Now, if it’s not the right school compared to your other choices that did show you the love, I see nothing wrong with withdrawing. Just know why you are doing it. </p>
<p>End of sermon.</p>
<p>Edit: And I left out part of the conversation. More culling coming soon.</p>
<p>I was sent to your site from another… must have been a reason?</p>
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<p>DocT Im the parent of a second year med student. My advice to you is to do as little as possible the summer before med school. I dont know what your start date will be (early August?) but after four years of undergrad and many years of hard work ahead, you might just want to take a little break.</p>
<p>Best wishes to all as you make your decisions.</p>
<p>My son did work the summer before first year, but did take the summer between first and second year off. He decided it would be the last summer ever to have the entire time off, so he didn’t work for the first time in the summer in 10 years.</p>
<p>So sorry, DocT I thought you were the kid. </p>
<p>My daughter is working harder than she ever has and she worked extremely hard in high school and as an undergrad. I think your daughters advisor is absolutely right. </p>
<p>And the year between first and second year may well be the last summer ever to have the entire time off, as snowballs son decided. Our daughter borrowed money and traveled for six weeks in Europe with four classmates. Lucky girl! I only had one rule for her: You may NOT run with the bulls.</p>
<p>My DD is working now and plans to spend at least 4 weeks in Europe before starting med school. I believe she started a facebook pages asking all her friends to help her line up free places to stay with families and friends there! Her itinerary will be determined in part by the offers she receives. Whatever happens she will mellow out and have an adventure and clear her mind before committing to serious study.</p>
I hope he picks the one I want otherwise I would have to wonder…</p>