Student Support
Medical School can be a daunting experience. The College of Medicine takes a proactive stance to ease the way for students, offering academic, career and personal counseling as well as a peer mentoring program.
The Advisory System
The Advising Program is designed to provide first and second year medical students with academic and personal guidance as they transition into medical school and navigate through the curriculum and medical school environment. Students are assigned a faculty advisor and a preclinical and clinical peer advisor when they enter medical school.
In the third year, students select a career educational pathway. The specific discipline-based pathway curricula have been carefully developed to supplement the career goals of the students while assuring a comprehensive general professional education. Each pathway allows the student to balance the structure and flexibility of his/her learning needs, prepares the student to enter postgraduate training with confidence, and maximizes the guidance and counseling from preceptors. The focus of group meetings shifts to career planning. In the third year, faculty advisors help students plan for their fourth-year pathway program. In the fourth year, students seek advice from specific departmental pathway advisors, who help them plan their course selection, choose a career, and apply for residency.
Career Advising
Career advising is available through the Career Development Center on an individual basis and through a variety of programs, workshops and specialty student interest groups. Career advising is also provided by Pathway Advisors and through the AAMC-sponsored Careers in Medicine Career Planning Program.
Academic and Other Counseling
The Office of Student Affairs supports all student needs and activities from matriculation to graduation. The Office of Academic Assessment and Enrichment provides academic and personal counseling to all College of Medicine students, including help with study skills, test-taking, stress management, and time management. All students have access to peer tutoring, and the Medical Scholars Program provides supplemental educational services and personal counseling. Full-time counselors provide diagnostic educational services and personal counseling.
Big Brother/Big Sister Mentoring Program
The Big Brother/Big Sister mentoring program is designed to smooth students' transition to medical school. During the summer before the first year, each member of the incoming class is matched with a second-year student (a "big"). Bigs share advice, support, tips, notes, and books, and talk about their experiences in medical school. First-year students meet their bigs during the first week of school.
Student Activities and Governance
Students are well represented through elected class officers, representatives to student organizations, and student members of medical school committees. Student government leaders meet regularly with the dean's office staff to address student concerns. National organizations, such as the American Medical Student Association, the American Medical Women's Association, and the Student National Medical Association have chapters on campus. The College of Medicine sends student representatives to meetings of the student division of the Association of American Medical Colleges, where they can exchange information with peers from medical schools around the nation.
Those students who are interested in student activities and student government have many opportunities. The medical school is replete with organizations and discipline-specific interest groups that add to students' academic life. Student activities on campus include:
Community Service and Healthcare Outreach
Wellness Program and Fitness Center
National and local Professional Student Organizations
Student Government Association
Every student becomes a member of the Student Government Association, which coordinates student activities and provides opportunities for students to express their ideas and make recommendations to faculty and administration.
Students who seek outlets for their creativity can join Doctor’s Notes, acappella singers, work on the school yearbook, or participate in the annual art show presented by students during the academic year. |