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Make the Most of Medical School 'Second Look'

Discussion in 'Pre Medical Student' started by Dr.Scorpiowoman, Mar 24, 2017.

  1. Dr.Scorpiowoman

    Dr.Scorpiowoman Golden Member

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    Use the second visit to ensure you've selected the right medical school for you.


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    Second Look is not the time to slack off – medical schools can rescind acceptances for unprofessional behavior.

    Your second visit – or what's often called Second Look – to a medical school is a true privilege and opportunity to cement your plans for medical training.

    Most medical schools offer this day- or weekend-long event to newly accepted applicants, giving them the chance to revisit the campus, meet with students and faculty, and get a good feel for life as a medical student at the institution.

    Second Look is the perfect time to ask questions that will help you make a wise choice on which medical school to attend. Having the chance to network and socialize with an extended group of students also allows you to see how you fit in with potential future classmates and demonstrate good listening and reflection skills. But if you're not careful, you could do yourself harm.

    Maximize Your Visit

    The contacts you make during Second Look can be extremely helpful as you start your journey as a medical student on a new campus. For example, these connections could help you find an apartment and a roommate.


    They can also give you tips about buying used books, furniture and other items you'll need before school begins. I remember getting a bed for a bargain from a senior who was soon to graduate.


    [Speak with current medical students when deciding where to enroll.]


    Second look also gives you the opportunity to ask tough questions about the curriculum if you have any points of concern. Or you may want to ask about services for students who need tutoring or how to get advice from upperclassmen on preparing for exams. Consider asking if the school has a buddy program that will pair you with an upper-level student.

    One extremely important area to understand is how the school advises students on specialty selection. Some key questions to ask include when does that type of advising begin and how does it progress along the timeline of that medical school.


    While you're at it, ask to see the most recent residency match list. Is there a broad range of specialties? Can you ask current seniors about the support they received?

    During the Second Look, you might want to gather information about scholarships and grants for which you can apply and whether work-study programs are available.

    And take time to explore how many research opportunities are available for medical students and the process for securing these positions. During your second look visit, see if you can speak with faculty members and students who have participated in research.

    The faculty you meet during Second Look can also offer you great professional leads. Although Second Look is usually only one or two days, a student can ask about shadowing and often can make contact with that specialty and physicians before the visit ends.

    For example, during the second visit, one student who wanted to complete a round in consultation psychiatry set up shadowing experiences for the second day of orientation week. He also met a neurologist and a neurosurgeon on faculty who allowed him to shadow them once he started his studies.

    Avoid Missteps

    If you are looking to position yourself as a class leader, avoid engaging in unproductive behaviors, such as talking without allowing others a chance to speak during social gatherings and coming across as too competitive. Within your new social group, these behaviors will likely result in alienation.

    Also avoid consuming too much alcohol, which always leads to poor judgment. Admissions committees view excessive alcohol use as a huge red flag.

    They will equate this behavior with a low ability to handle stress and pressure – which, of course, will only increase during medical school – and you will be viewed as a risk.


    You should know that letters of acceptance frequently include a clause that states that the acceptance offer can be rescinded for any unprofessional behavior that occurs prior to matriculation. I know of a student who got into fights after excessive drinking – acceptance was withdrawn as a consequence – and another who stole alcohol during a social event, which was the first of several problems.

    Admissions committees screen hard for institutional actions and school violations to minimize future potential problems. Unprofessional actions after acceptance are even more highly scrutinized and can result in the offer's withdrawal.

    Second Look is not the time to let off steam simply because you are already accepted to medical school. Rather, it is the time to realize that more is expected of you as a medical student and those expectations start now.

    Use this visit to appreciate your new school, the hard work it took you to get there and the opportunities for making new lifelong friends and mentors. A grateful heart is a good place to start.

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