I’d like…

A big part of med school – or any professional school, I imagine – is getting in. Just getting in someplace so you can do what you want.

But for me at least, the other part is choosing a school I want to be at. So here is a short list of the big things I consider as I visit each school:

1. Are the students competitive or collaborative? I’m all for being the best you can be, but after hearing horror stories out of Ivy Leagues, where students gave out notes with incorrect information to screw over their fellow physician in training, I wanted to have nothing to do with that kind of crap. Not to mention, I would like to make friends, LOL.
2. What is the cadaver to student ratio? I want to have some one-on-one time with my cadaver.
3. What is the grading system? Simple pass/fail – or some extra levels that essentially, leave you in a A/B/C/F.
4. What is the setup of the curriculum? Organ-system based? Basic science in blocks? Basic science distributed? Organ-system is definitely my preference.
5. Where are M3 & M4 at? Are rotations as multiple hospitals? Specialty hospitals? I’m leaning towards more hospitals (even if they are not on campus) to learn how different systems work and work with the best in each field.
6. Student facilities – library, gym, rec room, coffee maker? I know myself well enough by this point to realize I study best when not at home, but having facilities like these to take a break are perfect.
7. How do students do on each section of the boards/USMLE? After med school, there is residency to consider, and the score on boards is critical for good placement.
8. What is the city like? Are there things to do? What is the feel? Sure, a lot of time will be spent studying, but I want to be able to enjoy the rest, and live someplace I actually like.
9. Do I get to interact with patients in my first year? And do I have the chance to train on how to be a doctor as well? This is a must for me.
10. And finally, cost. :( Because even when you are going a hundred + thousand dollars in debt, $10,000 more a year makes a difference.

If you any of you are doing education after undergrad, what did you consider? What do you wish you had considered?