Reasons not to go to UofC

[RandomFacts]

If you got accepted and took the offer from U of C then welcome.

 

If however you were lucky enough to get multiple offers and are deciding amongst them then there are a lot of good reasons to not pick U of C.

 

The list of reasons is really long but here are a few things to consider:

 

- much, much, less elective time then other schools (a serious impediment if you are not already certain of what you want to do)

 

- "pre-clerkship" electives that are of little value. Little did I know that pre-clerks are almost universally ignored by other Canadian schools. You can only apply for an official elective when formally enrolled in your final years. Not in your final year(s)? Best of luck working the back channels.

 

- Adele and Dr. Walker are wonderful but the have little role in your day to day curriculum. Often happy to offer advice, formally they are the gatekeepers only and the remaining faculty is a far cry from these two exceptional examples.

 

- I could go on about the lack of basic science education and a whole host of other things but I won't.

 

Simply put if you have a choice; then seriously think about going elsewhere. Calgary is the right choice only for a small minority of students.

 

Take the time to track down some current students who'll give you the inside scoop and not just a rose-colored perspective of life on the inside.

[Rebencer]

So who is it right for? Or why wasn't it right for you?

[RandomFacts]

Right for:

 

- have a basic biological science background with a heavy emphasis on human physiology

- 99% sure of the kind of doctor you want to be. Meaning you have actually gone and spent time in clinic with a doctor of that type not "Gee, I think I would like to be a neurosurgeon"

- not really interested in research; clinical or otherwise

- already have good contacts in medicine; dad is a doctor, etc

- want to practice in Alberta

 

Not right for:

- non-traditional background, graduate students, mature students

- excited about medicine but not sure what you would like to become and need time (i.e. summer vacations) to explore options

- have obligations outside medicine

- like academic exploration or pursuing some of your own interests. Like international health or working for a month in some remote community. (simply no time in the 3 short years despite what the brochure says)

[Rebencer]

I dont have other offers so I am just asking questions here, but why would U of C be worse than anywhere else in terms of maintaining outside commitments and how is basic science teaching lacking, doesn't U of C contain the same amount of weeks as other schools?

I don't know, I have talked to a couple students currently in the program and one that has graduated from the program and they seem to like it, the only thing the stress is the importantance of having a good idea of what you would like to do early.

 

Either way, good to hear from different opinions I guess.

[DoubleD]

While I'm sure the OP would love everyone who reads this to be scared to come to the UofC and decline their offer so he can get off of the waitlist, I'm going to call BS on pretty much everything he said.

 

On us having much less elective time than other schools, I too thought this was true until while on a gen surg elective back home in NS, I was talking to a 2nd year Dal student. According to him, we actually only have 4 weeks less elective time than them. This also doesn't include our 6 weeks of pre-clerkship electives. We also have our longitudinal electives (440) but they have similar things at Dal too. While that's just in comparison to one other school, I'm sure the others are not much different.

 

I do think that it's harder knowing exactly what you to do in time for CaRMS, but I believe that is more closely related to having one less year to decide, rather than less elective time. I know what I want to do, and have had a lot of chances to shadow and get involved to see what different specialties are like.

 

On pre-clerkship electives being of less value: Not in my experience. I was allowed to do two weeks of my pre-clerkship electives over the March break because I'm getting married in July so I wanted time off then (another example of UofC's great flexibility and putting students first lol). I set up my gen surg elective through Dal and had a great time, and was allowed to do lots, including being first assist on most of the cases. I know plenty of people in previous classes who have even better experiences.

 

While Adele is in a class of her own ( http://www.calgaryherald.com/mobile/iphone/news/top-stories/Unsung+hero+sends+medical+grads+into+world/4774966/story.html ), and Dr. Walker is the man, I can give numerous other examples of other exceptional faculty. This is my favorite thing about the UofC. The associate dean of the UME; Dr. Wright, is awesome. So is Dr. Jenkins, the director of student affairs. The majority of preceptors I have had for communications, physical exam, and clinical core have all been stellar. A good deal of the lecturers will also offer an invitation to shadow them at the end of their lecture.

 

We do have less basic science than some other schools, but I would not say it is a bad thing. We still get introduced to the important things, and less time in basic science means more time for things like patient care. If you are the kind of person who likes to learn that stuff, the medical bookstore has some great books. After a few weeks of renal physiology I am wishing we had even less.

 

I have been at it for a year now at the UofC and things are still looking pretty rosy.

 

You will have a great time and learn lots at any Canadian med school. Do not let some kid on the waitlist tell you otherwise.

[Rebencer]

I considered that it might be a troll but it looks like they would have had to set this up two years ago, since they said they were accepted to U of C in 2009:

 

http://www.premed101.com/forums/showthread.php?p=348452#post348452

[dashley]

Do not let some kid on the waitlist tell you otherwise.

 

+1

 

Don't feed the troll!!!!

 

Why would this be the only school the OP applied to (for the second year in a row) if it was so terrible?!?!?! He wants it, and he wants it bad. But - UofC students create a collegial atmosphere where we help and encourage one another.

[thehumanmacbook]

I'm just an applicant this coming cycle (disclaimer) but judging from some of the comments and post history, the OP may be trolling. As always the report button is on the top right to alert the mods.

 

EDIT: evidently they're not being a troll

[cardiomegaly]

I would speculate that the OP is now a 2012 student, partway into clerkship and realizing they don't have enough time or elective space to become competitive for their desired specialty, likely due to late decision.

(if you believe the 2009 post, it's kind of hard to fake an acceptance post 2 years ago)

 

Could someone from U of C comment on the set-up of clerkship itself for the incoming students? (not the 6 weeks of preclinical electives).

 

DoubleD, it's great to hear you had a great experience at Dal. Would you consider using a reference letter from that elective? I'm curious to know about the usefulness of those electives when it comes to CaRMs application, regardless if you had good hands on exposure.

 

For reference, in a 4 year program we have 5 weeks of elective in 3rd year, 15 weeks of electives in 4th year (usually 9-12 weeks precarms) and an extra 0-10 weeks between 2nd and 3rd year depending on how keen you are.

[Dream Big]

If you got accepted and took the offer from U of C then welcome.

 

If however you were lucky enough to get multiple offers and are deciding amongst them then there are a lot of good reasons to not pick U of C.

 

The list of reasons is really long but here are a few things to consider:

 

- much, much, less elective time then other schools (a serious impediment if you are not already certain of what you want to do)

 

- "pre-clerkship" electives that are of little value. Little did I know that pre-clerks are almost universally ignored by other Canadian schools. You can only apply for an official elective when formally enrolled in your final years. Not in your final year(s)? Best of luck working the back channels.

 

- Adele and Dr. Walker are wonderful but the have little role in your day to day curriculum. Often happy to offer advice, formally they are the gatekeepers only and the remaining faculty is a far cry from these two exceptional examples.

 

- I could go on about the lack of basic science education and a whole host of other things but I won't.

 

Simply put if you have a choice; then seriously think about going elsewhere. Calgary is the right choice only for a small minority of students.

 

Take the time to track down some current students who'll give you the inside scoop and not just a rose-colored perspective of life on the inside.

 

 

I completely disagree!!

 

While we do have limited elective time it is really not that much different than other schools. Also consider that a lot of the required electives fall after the carms match!! My friends at U of A have electives their last 3 weeks of medical school...not that useful if you ask me.

 

The 6 weeks of preclerkship electives are not of little value! I was treated exactly the same as senior clerks when I was on my summer electives. It was a great learning experience and very valuable in my opinion. It was a great opportunity to do an elective to see if the speciality was right for me without the added pressure of worrying about getting a reference letter or impressing for carms! I think have these 6 weeks early on is an asset to the program and allows you to be more confident in your clinical skills for clerkship electives.

 

The rest of faculty is great!!! Each course had exceptional lecturers and course chairs that go out of their way to help you learn a concept or change the structure of the course to make learning easier. Take the psych course- the course chair took students out to dinner on multiple occasions to get feedback about the course, the way the material was taught and if there was anything us students thought needed to be changed or improved.

 

Lack of basic science- there might not be as much formal teaching on basic science but it is there and there is time to learn more about it on your own.

 

 

SO I completely disagree with the original poster and urge you not to listen to what he posted. If you want a true and honest opinion about our school please PM me and I would be more than happy to answer your questions.

 

U of C is awesome!!

[tooty]

On us having much less elective time than other schools, I too thought this was true until while on a gen surg elective back home in NS, I was talking to a 2nd year Dal student. According to him, we actually only have 4 weeks less elective time than them. This also doesn't include our 6 weeks of pre-clerkship electives. We also have our longitudinal electives (440) but they have similar things at Dal too. While that's just in comparison to one other school, I'm sure the others are not much different.

 

I'm sure your total number of weeks is comparable to 4-year schools, but how many pre-carms clerkship elective weeks do you get (not including preclerkship electives)? It is my understanding that these are the electives that are much more important in the carms match.

[Dream Big]

TO give some perspective we have tons of clinical experience leading up to clerkship:

-Clinical core in every course ranging from 4-12+hours in each unit

-6 weeks of electives between 1st and 2nd year. Great time to explore different specialties.

-tons of time to shadow!! we have 2 sometimes 3 half days off a week that can be used for studying or shadowing etc.

-Med 440- 80 hours in 2nd year that can be used for research, a directed study (ex anatomy dissection) or clinical. Many people (myself included) ended up getting way more than 80 hours of clinical time.

 

Clerkship:

We start clerkship with 6 weeks of electives. At first this might sound like a disadvantage but I really don't think it is. At this stage you are super keen to impress, excited to be on the wards, not at all burnt out and willing to put in the extra time. It is easy to get reference letters from these electives as well. In fact I have a reference set up from one preceptor who said I was working at the level of a senior clerk. SO it is easy to impress!

 

Then we have another 4 weeks of electives sometime during our clerkship year depending on your track. So you rank your tracks so you can get the rotations you want in a certain order. Ie you want to match to general surgery so you put your surgical rotations, electives and whatever other rotations you want before carms.

 

Not sure what else to say about our clerkship mostly because I am doing RICC - the rural longitudinal clerkship so my clerkship is much different than the traditional clerkship.

[TheCat'sMeow]

I would say that the most important elective time is probably from during the 6 months prior to CaRMS application deadline (~ October). You will get your freshest impressions and strongest letters during that time.

 

As for the post-CaRMS match electives most ppl I know (and myself) just took time off or did the mandatory diversification electives.

 

I would imagine that the hardest part of a 3 year program is the time crunch on finding out which specialty fits you best. I remember meeting some Calgary students while I was on elective telling me that they didn't have some core rotations until after the CaRMS app deadline (correct me if this isn't correct).

[tooty]

dream big, are you saying that calgary students get 10 weeks of clerkship electives before carms at best?

[CharmingHedgehog]

I imagine the OP is just trying to bring up some of the weaker points (because every school has some, despite the fact that we think our school is the best) he perceived.

[TeaHatingBrit]

Most people have already responded commenting on the merits of U of C...

 

But to be quite honest, medical school really is what you make of it.

 

If you walk in not knowing what you want to do - you have tons of time to figure it out. This is what preclerkship electives are partially for. To help you figure out what you like/don't like.

 

The early clinical experience also helps you to tune out what you like/don't like.

 

I agree we don't learn that much basic science, but to be real honest - 10 years from now will it even matter? You're going to forget it all anyways, and will need to revert to textbooks if you are really fascinated enough to care. So what is the point in learning something if you're going to forget it?

 

The basic science we learn is applicable to clinical situations, and helps us to remember the essential. I have NEVER been pimped by a preceptor on the Krebs cycle.. nor do I expect I ever will be. So efficacy of learning stuff like that seems low in my books.

 

Having all my electives up front (and fewer electives) may put me at a bit of a disadvantage - but you know what - medical school is what you make of it. If you want to be competitive in something, you'll go out and make yourself competitive. U of C historically matches quite well too - so most people have the dedication to get the job done.

 

And as for not having supportive faculty, this is far from the truth. I have had support basically everywhere I have turned. I can't say enough good things about the program, or the education I am receiving from U of C.

 

Med school truly is what you make of it, just like anything in life. I think this is an important thing for everyone to remember.

[suziep100]

I don't think the op's post is a spam. I mean, U of C is a great school, but I also think that it's beneficial for incoming students to have as much information as possible about the med school to make informed decisions. In fact, I'm glad that messages like above gives a more accurate represerntation of the school. During the interview day, I wanted to get more info about the school, but the two orientation leaders didn't tell us much about the school other than the fact that it's a 3 year program and that 3 yr program is great.

 

Then for those of people already at Calgary Med:

Other than U of C being a 3 year program, what are some aspects that especially makes U of C stand out from other schools?

[Erk]

I think the OP meant the post in good faith, but to me it reads like someone who was not well fitted to a school and possibly made some bad choices, blaming it all on the school. Unfortunate.

[Here'sHopin]

As a current U of C student, I feel compelled to post.

 

Yes, the admissions process is smooth and the staff (Dr. Walker, Adele, April) are great. This should tell you more about the school than the above posts would suggest --- it represents a common attitude at the U of C. We feel like we are part of a family and this is apparent in the relationships the students share with the faculty and support staff. Even the bookstore people know us by name and offer us a seemingly endless supply of treats! If you are ever in need of someone to talk to, there is no shortage of supportive people to help you out. In medical school, that is especially important because unexpected things can happen in our lives and we are often living away from our families or other support systems. So, the amazingness of the admissions office does indeed reflect in the quality of the school... it truly reflects the congenial nature of our experience here.

 

For those people who are worried about not having a break in a three year program: yes, the program is condensed and things are busy but the stress doesn't build as much as you might think. We get a good chunk of time off over Christmas during our first year, and then two weeks after course 3 (cardio/resp which runs from January to March). This course is hard but having a break at the end is refreshing. When we come back in April, we begin course 4 (renal/endocrine) and then go on electives for 6 weeks (end of June to beginning of August). You can complete these anywhere: home, overseas, north, rural, Calgary.... and you can do them in anything you're interested in. Depending on what you do, this can be semi-vacation-like. I expect that we will come back in August feeling refreshed and ready to go again. The interesting thing to note is that the 2 week break at the end of March was put into place because of student need -- the Kakapos (Class of 2011) expressed a need to have a break at this time and the faculty listened. This is another example of how our staff is so supportive and receptive.

 

I found that the U of C was a good fit for me because of my age (I turned 25 a few days before entering medical school) and was just over the class average for age (24.8 or something). I feel like I fit in well here as I come from a non-traditional background. The class is very diverse -- we have PhD, MPH, MBA students; former engineers, nurses, teachers; sociologists, anthropologists, musicians; parents with children or expecting children... really, I could go on. This creates a unique learning environment for students and, in my opinion, enriches our experiences. I love looking around during lectures and feeling humbled by how amazing my future colleagues are.

 

U of C's teaching environment is unique. We have lectures (usually 5 half-days per week). Our other academic time is spent with:

• Clinical correlation -- in pre-assigned groups of 5, we don our white coats and stethoscopes and visit hospitalized patients with a precepter who is a specialist in the area we are learning about in our courses (so, in course 3, we have three 2-hour sessions with a cardiologist and three 2-hour sessions with a respirologist); this means that we interact with real patients within the first few weeks of school
  
• Small group sessions -- in pre-assigned groups of 10, we chat about medical cases with a preceptor; this really helps to solidify the information we're learning in class and emphasizes what is important so you know what to study come exam time
  
• Physical exam sessions -- in our groups of 5, we meet with our preceptor and a standardized patient in the Medical Skills Centre where we learn to perform physical exam manoeuvres relevant to that course (e.g. a lung exam for our resp course or a hip exam for our MSK course)
  
• Communications -- in our groups of 5, we learn to interview standardized patients (actors hired by the faculty) and gradually learn to approach more complicated cases; we interview these patients one-on-one with our precetor and group-mates looking on through the one-way glass and then receive feedback from everyone (including the patient) so we can improve
  
• Procedural skills -- we learn early in our training to do a variety of procedures; for example, the Aye-Ayes have already had our afternoon sessions on IV starts, venipuncture, suturing, basic airway skills and Foley cathetar insertion
  
• Miscellaneous other events -- Medical student clubs put on events like a casting session, intubation skills, labor and delivery skills, geriatric assessment, complex suturing, etc.; the clubs invite physicians from the community to help teach students
  
• Shadowing -- we still have time to shadow! So, for those of you who are uncertain of what you want to be, there is time to explore options before you enter clerkship (for the class of 2014, this will be in March of 2013)
  

 

There are probably other things I'm forgetting... Overall, though, the program really emphases the patient experience. If you're interested in the really acacdemic side of medicine, maybe the U of A is a better fit for you... (Although maybe not, because Calgary's Leaders in Medicine program is world renowned.) I don't know about you, but I entered medicine so that I could get to know my patients and really benefit their lives. This is something that I feel the U of C has taught (and is continuing to teach) me and I love that about my school.

 

There are student groups for everyone! Here are some examples: intramurals, Wilderness Club, Geriatrics Interest Group, Emergency Medicine Interest Group, Federation of Medical Women of Canada, Calgary Student-Run Clinic (which works out of the homeless shelter), Wilderness Club, eco group Gang Green, Global/Public Health Interest Group, Aboriginal Health group, Social Sciences in Medicine, Surgery Interest Group, Christian Medical Students club, etc., etc. Really! There is something for everyone! (Sorry if I got the names slightly wrong...)

 

Calgary is a fantastic city. Having lived in Edmonton, I can honestly say that Calgary is way cooler! It's warmer in the winter (yay chinooks!) and is close to the mountains. The city itself has a lot of green space and is hilly so you can see some lovely views within the city. We can go rafting or skiing for the day if we want and get all the amazing places for rural shadowing and the rural clerkship program (e.g. Canmore, Blairemore, Drumheller, Pincher Creek)!

 

I can tell you all honestly that the U of C is a fantastic school but it might not work for everyone.... it's your job to figure that out! All I can say is that if you decide to come here, you will feel welcome instantly... and you won't regret it.

 

PM me if you have questions. =)

[DuckieLoon]

Hi everyone,

 

Congratulations to everyone who's received an acceptance letter, and welcome to everyone who is contemplating becoming a UofC student!

 

First of all, I would like to offer some encouragement to RandomFacts, and I agree that RF has raised some legitimate points that are worth reflecting on. Med school is hard, and no program is going to be a perfect fit for everyone. I myself have had my moments of self-doubt (e.g., glomerulonephritis, anyone?!).

 

However, with that being said, I must respectfully disagree with some of the points made. As a non-trad (BA student), grad student who is old(!), I love going to school with a diverse groups of caring AyeAyes. Unequivocably, joining this zoo family was one of the best decisions that I've made.

 

- While it is true that we don't have a dedicated 5 week block of basic cell science, we learn topics such as immunology somewhat "longitudinally" (i.e., the basic, pertinent information is integrated in each block based on the relevant clinical disease). As an arts student, I do need to sit down with a coffee and a textbook, and just do my own studying in order to learn this material (I don't think that any amount of additional lecture time would help me process it any faster).

 

- Like many students, I have family, obligations, and other interests outside of med school. I feel that I have time to pursue those interests. Granted, they come in waves as there are slow and more stressful periods in med school (e.g., before finals/midterms), and my priorities change depending on what's happening.

 

RESEARCH:

- Even though UofC is a three year program, there are tons of opportunities to do research.

- I love research! I currently have 2-3 projects on the go, and I have found the faculty to be very supportive of my interests. There are many opportunities to pursue research including using some of your 6 week summer elective time, doing a research project in Applied Evidence Based Medicine Course and in the Global Health course.

- If you are interested in doing some research, I highly recommend that you find a mentor who is also an MD. They've been through med school, and they know what kinds of pressures med students face, and can help you develop a concise, feasible, and enjoyable project.

- COLLABORATE with your fellow students! I am so impressed by the calibre of Masters, PhD, and undergraduate students who may not have a research background but ask insightful questions that warrant some form of investigation. Research was never meant to be a lonely enterprise, so I encourage people to work together.

-Join Leaders in Medicine! One thing that is unique about our research program is that you do not need to be a current MD/MSC or MD/PHD student to join. We open the program to all med students, and Dr Beck and Hollenberg (the prof-docs who run the program are amazing, brilliant individuals). Looks great on CaRMS! Really interesting! As an arts student, I can't say that I fully understand all the research stuff that goes on, but I enjoy it nonetheless.

 

DUCKIE'S BOTTOM LINE:

- The one thing that I learned about medical school so far, is all you have to do is "just ask". There are a lot of research opportunities, funding for conferences, community projects, student clubs (including the Family Medicine Interest Group and Rural Medicine Interest Group -- left out in Hopin's amazing post, heehee! ). It can be overwhelming, so just ask!

- I can't tell you how many times I've dropped by Adele, April, Peter, Dr. Lee, Dr. Jenkin's office in the Undergraduate Medical Education for a piece of free candy (yes, free food is everywhere), and said, "Gee, I sort of am interested in doing XYZ? What do you think? Do you have any suggestions about where I might get some more info or who I might be able to contact?" It really works like a charm, and they are so helpful!

 

Good luck everyone! If anyone has any questions, please feel free to PM me. For my fellow AyeAyes, if you have a research project (non-laboratory) in mind, PM me, too!

[Rebencer]

4 years may make sense for you, but 3 years can make just as much sense for other people. I left a career and worked hard for the last 3 years to get into med and I see medical school the same way I see work. You are training for a job, which is full time ~50 weeks of the year. Personally I don't want summers, I want to get to work and start providing for my wife and child. But if you are young with no real responsibilities to anyone take as much time as you want, there is no problem with that.

 

And although U of A may do well (I'm not sure on the stats) I don't think citing a blog is going to win over many opinions. That said, from what I have seen on CaRMS and heard from students and faculty U of C does pretty well in the match.

[bobs]

I think the point Rebecener was making is that he has worked hard with minimal vacation time for the past three years, and is comfortable with the fast-paced, 3 year curriculum at U of C. Rebecener makes an excellent point - for those of us coming from the working world rather than straight out of school, having only a handful of weeks off per year is par for the course

[Jochi1543]

I think the point Rebecener was making is that he has worked hard with minimal vacation time for the past three years, and is comfortable with the fast-paced, 3 year curriculum at U of C. Rebecener makes an excellent point - for those of us coming from the working world rather than straight out of school, having only a handful of weeks off per year is par for the course

 

See, after working full-time AND going to school full-time the year before (and always working at least part-time during school since I started uni), my view was "NO WAY I'm going to give up any time off!":p Plus when I had time off before, money was always really tight, whereas now I can actually dip into my LOC and go travel somewhere. I've heard so many family docs say they had to work several years straight with no time off because they couldn't find locums, I don't want to regret not enjoying life before starting practice.

[Rebencer]

Not sure where on the CaRMS website you're looking, but the U of C has done pretty poorly the last two CaRMS cycles. They've had the lowest percentage of students getting their first choice program of all the Canadian schools (and lower than students from American schools applying to CaRMS!!) and highest percentage of unmatched students among Canadian schools.

 

Here's hoping it doesn't continue to be a trend!

 

U of C has been around for a long time, my statement was excluding the last 2 years because I too am hoping that is not a trend. It is definitely noteworthy though, and will be watched closely over the next 3 years. I am under the impression that the issues with CaRMS were not so much specialty as it was location? But that is just hear-say. I don't mind going to my 2nd or 3rd location as long I get the specialty, you'd likely move for a fellowship anyways.

 

I also didn't want my response to sound like people with non-trad backgrounds and families are doing them a disservice by going to 4-year programs, every school is great in my opinion and they all offer different experiences which can be good or bad depending on the student ...perhaps I am not being vague enough...

 

and bobs is right, the point I was making was that I don't think a 3-year curriculum is going to run people into the ground.

[krgregg]

Right for:

 

- have a basic biological science background with a heavy emphasis on human physiology

- 99% sure of the kind of doctor you want to be. Meaning you have actually gone and spent time in clinic with a doctor of that type not "Gee, I think I would like to be a neurosurgeon"

- not really interested in research; clinical or otherwise

- already have good contacts in medicine; dad is a doctor, etc

- want to practice in Alberta

 

Not right for:

- non-traditional background, graduate students, mature students

- excited about medicine but not sure what you would like to become and need time (i.e. summer vacations) to explore options

- have obligations outside medicine

- like academic exploration or pursuing some of your own interests. Like international health or working for a month in some remote community. (simply no time in the 3 short years despite what the brochure says)

 

not sure who made you the authority. I know a number of "non-traditional" applications that just graduated in my class and have become stellar physicians, got their first choice of residency and really enjoyed their time at the U of C. Many of them also have families/kids/etc.

 

You're not going to be spoonfed, but the school supports you and if you're motivated to do well, you will.

 

As for elective time, the 6 pre-clerkship weeks were actually very useful for me, and a number of friends. If you use them to explore areas you might be interested in (or rule out things), they are very useful. Two 40+ hour blocks of Med 440 are also great for that. Then you have 10 weeks of clerkship electives to cement the icing. You've also got a ton of free time in pre-clerkship to shadow. I did approx 25-8 hour days in first year. That's approx. 3 extra weeks of "elective" time.

 

And, vs. a 4 year school, It's pretty sweet to be finished already and making a paycheck come July 1.