The unfortunate thing is DON’TUndrEstimat isn’t entirely wrong. He/she does exaggerate some things. The Plaza is a nice place. Hyde park already looks suspicious. You literally cross the street in KC and you’re in an area that isn’t all too safe. Trust me, my friends and I spent forever trying to find places to live next fall that are close to the med school but in safe areas (and affordable). There are a lot of pros and cons about UMKC.
Making the decision to go here is a big one. Once you’ve devoted pretty much a year to the program, you’re kind of stuck in it. You will study like you never have before. People who are incredibly intelligent find themselves taking the boards over and over–facing separation and having to leave w/ incredible debt and no degree.
There are few staff members that understand what it is like to be in this program. You really have to learn to be proactive from the beginning. Join some sort of organization with older med students, APAMSA, AMA, AMSA, MSAC, Globe Med, SNMA, etc. Make friends with older students and learn how you can get involved. Learn what you can fight in the school. Your advisors, are working for a business. It’s hard to believe but schooling is a business in the United States. They will follow the protocal for how to deal with a situation. You have to be proactive in this program. Learn what a CV (Curriculum Vitae aka Resume that you present to residency programs w/ research, clubs/organization, skills, honors, etc.) is now. Work to build your CV in the six years you are here. Make sure your professor knows who you are (sometimes it helps at the very end when you need it). Seek help immediately if you need it!! Make friends with plenty of your classmates, you never know who could potentially help you with something.
If your docent is not rewarding, make noise about it! You pay too much in tuition to not have a docent that shows you things. Basically, UMKC teaches you to grow up FAST.
People try to paint a picture that this program is all rainbows and sunshine, but it is tough. You have to be motivated. You cannot afford to slack off. Completely forget about your senior year of high school. Enjoy your last summer because vacation will soon be over. Anatomy may be easy, orgo may be easy, micro may be easy, but somewhere along the path of this program you’ll find a point that things get challenging. It might be early or it might be later on, but be prepared.
Cliff notes:
- Study hard
- Work hard
- Be proactive
- Do your best
- Best of luck!!!