Poll: What is the most important factor when choosing a medical school?

[<abstract>]

Hey guys,

 

I am doing a report on medical schools I am trying to build a concensus of the factors students consider when apply and choosing their perfered school.

 

Feel free to comment and add anything I missed in the poll.

 

Thank-you in advanced for your input.

[Erk]

Well, at a glance, I think you're missing the poll part.

 

For me the most important factors are (1) that I'm even accepted, (2) location, and (3) duration of program.

 

During the application process I look for schools that value MCAT scores and Activities more highly than GPA, as my GPA is poor but I score well in all other areas.

[Akmed89]

I would agree with Erik in that if I would get accepted to any school, I would go. Now if I had a choice, considering most schools lead to becoming a good doctor, I would chose the school that is closest to friends and family. Although the reputation of a school sounds appealing, I dont think it should really matter in the grandscheme of things...

[charmer08]

Schools reputation is the most imp for US medschools... but in Canada, the location matters more!

[kylamonkey]

The program is the most important factor. Will it work with my best learning style? Will it expose me to the specialties I'm interested in and the things I need to know most for my specialty (specifically, rural rotations and focus, aboriginal health issues)?

[thehumanmacbook]

Hey guys' date='

 

I am doing a report on medical schools I am trying to build a concensus of the factors students consider when apply and choosing their perfered school.

 

Feel free to comment and add anything I missed in the poll.

 

Thank-you in advanced for your input.[/quote']

 

Is this like...for school? Are you writing a paper about this?

[apache]

weird one not mentioned, but year length of the program for me and other people who got acceptances to u of c or mac

[<abstract>]

To the OP,

 

I am taking a technical writing class, and the results will be used for a recommendation report I have to write.

 

Thanks for all the feed back so far!

 

Also, would applying out of province be a factor (mostly do to odds and higher cut offs)

[Robin Hood]

If I'm in a situation were I'm accepted at the 4 Quebec med schools, I will look at it's proximity to home first, and then the program.

As for applying OOP, I wouldn't consider than because it will be hard to live in an environment where no one speaks French and because of the MCAT. As for Ottawa, I can't find where I can take their prerequisites.

[Leon]

The school's program and it's location are equally important to me.

[shouldieventry]

Ideally, the most important factor would be the program. But practically, it's the location. Assuming there is a choice to be made of course...

[thatonekid]

The program is the most important factor. Will it work with my best learning style? Will it expose me to the specialties I'm interested in and the things I need to know most for my specialty?

+1

 

10char

[ellorie]

I will quite happily go anywhere I've applied.

That said, staying in the east is important to my partner, so that makes it important to me. And I'd rather a 4 year program, because I have a chronic disability, and sometimes I need some time to get my medication adjusted without having to worry about school.

[thehumanmacbook]

I would go anywhere that I am accepted first of all.

 

BUT if I had a choice, I would base it on the medical program. I prefer 4 year programs over 3 year programs at Mac and Calgary, and I definitely want to be close to home because of cost and to be able to help my parents and little brother who's still in high school.

[apache]

I know I said length of the program, but that's rare, honestly location from those above. I wish I went to U of C soooo bad , stupid guys had to wait to take me off the waitlist till the end of the summer, when it was like impossible to move there on time etc.

[apache]

I think in terms of reputation all schools are pretty decent? Or do you mean method of teaching (MacMaster's "self learning" for example).

 

The school's program and it's location are equally important to me.

[gb35]

I think location and proximity to friends/family are probably splitting some votes, since a lot of people roll those into one.

[obi]

You forgot the school's atmosphere, which i think is an even bigger determinant for most people than proximity etc. If you have a horrible experience at that school during interviews (other than tanking your interview:p ) you probably won't want to go there even if you end up getting accepted. (Provided of course you have multiple acceptances, beggars can't be choosers after all)

[thatonekid]

You forgot the school's atmosphere, which i think is an even bigger determinant for most people than proximity etc. If you have a horrible experience at that school during interviews (other than tanking your interview:p ) you probably won't want to go there even if you end up getting accepted. (Provided of course you have multiple acceptances, beggars can't be choosers after all)

I agree with this. In making my mental "wish list", the general feeling I got from talking to current students and touring the school has been factoring into my list.