Getting into medical school is a rigorous, yearslong process, but more people are doing it.
Enrollment at medical schools has increased by 25 percent since 2002, the Association of American Medical Colleges announced last month.
In the last few years, more M.D. and D.O. schools have opened in the U.S., giving aspiring doctors more options. Schools vary when it comes to things like hands-on learning opportunities and curriculum, but one aspect of the learning environment that can really impact a student’s experience is size.
Some schools have about 400 students, while others teach more than 1,000. Medical school applicants who are on the fence about which size is best for them can consider the learning environment that’s often associated with a small, midsize or large school.
[Learn how an increase in medical school enrollment across the U.S. affects applicants.]
Small schools can give students the “Cheers” effect: Everybody knows your name.
“It’s very family oriented,” says Joseph Kim, a 26-year-old student at the University of California–Davis School of Medicine, which has a relatively small student body. The faculty and administration, he says, are available all the time.
“We get a lot of attention and a lot of support if we need it,” says Kim, who’s in his third year.
About 110 new students start each year at the medical school, says Julie Freischlag, vice chancellor of human health sciences and dean of the school of medicine
Students at UC–Davis may have smaller classes than those at larger institutions. “We see them and get to know them better,” she says. “No one will get overlooked.”
A small school can have its drawbacks, however. Bigger schools can mean more opportunities.
“There’s more people you can meet,” Freischlag says. There’s also more choices for rotations, she says. Rotations usually happen in students’ third or fourth year and allow them to learn about medicine in an actual health care setting.
Find out [which medical schools have the most applicants.]
Mark Rosenberg, vice dean for education and a professor at the University of Minnesota Medical School, agrees that large institutions can broaden a student’s network and learning experience.
There’s potential for increased diversity among the student body at a big school, he says. Students may be able to connect with physician leaders more easily.
“They have access to a larger faculty with differing areas of expertise,” says Rosenberg.
About 230 students start each year at Minnesota, and there are more than 900 students currently enrolled, he says. At a school with a big faculty, students may have more research opportunities as well, Rosenberg says.
Larger institutions can also offer more variety for where students learn. At Michigan State University, for example, the midsize College of Human Medicine has more than five campuses.
“Students have opportunities to train in a variety of different settings,” says Margaret Thompson, its interim associate dean for academic affairs. MSU has about 190 first-year students start each year.
[Decide if a new medical school is the right fit.]
Some of its campuses have a bustling urban setting and give students a taste of what it’s like to practice in that type of atmosphere. Other campuses may be in a place where the population hovers around 40,000 with fewer than 20 students, giving the soon-to-be doctors more hands-on learning experience.
“It does give a lot of opportunity,” she says.
Chances to connect with peers and faculty, however, may not be as attainable at bigger schools.
At a smaller school, “you tend to get to know your fellow students and professors more closely,” Rosenberg says. “There may not be the individual attention that you’d have at a smaller school.”
People who are more independent may be better suited for a bigger school, he says.
Medical school applicants who are on the fence about the size of the institution they want to attend should speak with people who were recently in their shoes.
“Meeting the other students at the school is critical,” says Freischlag, from UC–Davis, because current students can tell applicants what it’s really like to attend that school.
Medical school experts also encourage applicants to consider a school’s location and curriculum when deciding where to go.
The decision ultimately comes down to what feels right, experts say.
“It is a fit thing,” Freischlag says.
Searching for a medical school? Get our complete rankings of Best Medical Schools.
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Consider How the Size of a Medical School Can Shape Your Experience originally appeared on usnews.com
