Things to see:

This site was designed for current University of Washington medical students and prospective applicants. It provides insight into: 1) the application process, 2) first-year pitfalls, 3) board study strategies, 4) the transition to third-year and 5) choosing a specialty, among other topics.

We'd love to hear from you if you have suggestions regarding the above subjects. Just submit them using the handy feedback form further down the page.

Enjoy!

• The Princeton Review's Best Medical Schools
• The "Ultimate" Medical School Home Page
• Yahoo's Medical School Guidance Links
• Yahoo's Medical School Home Page Listing
• Future Surgeon's Advice Page
• Getting Into Medical School

• 7. Apply early. Early applicants get early interviews. Don't wait until most of the slots are taken!
• 6. Get practical clinical experience. The admissions committee likes to see applicants with "hands on" medical experience.
• 5. Try another career first. UW loves "mature" students who are less likely to subspecialize.
• 4. Major in music. Stand out from the pack. Biology, zoology, and pre-med undergraduates are a dime-a-dozen.
• 3. Come out of the closet. Whatever your stance on the diversity issue, racial, gender and sexual minorities get a leg up in the admissions process.
• 2. Read up on Albert Schwitzer. Second most common interview question: "Who is your hero?" Albert is a can't miss.
• 1. Two words: primary care. When you answer the most common interview question: "What do you see yourself doing ten years from now?" keep in mind that UW is proud of its reputation for turning out rural primary care docs.

• 5. SKIN. The final won't kill you, but the 10 page optional paper during a hectic semester will.
• 4. ISMS PAPER. The ISMS committee is reluctant to honor even the most "outstanding" papers.
• 3. EPIDEMIOLOGY. This short course with a tiny syllabus should be a cinch, right? Not! Dr. Chu constructs a funky final.
• 2. CARDIOVASCULAR. The sheer volume of information to master is overwhelming. Can you say...Russian roulette?
• 1. GASTROINTESTINAL. A thoroughly enjoyable course which, on average, awards honors to only 10% of the class.

• fac·toid (n.) An insignificant medical detail that is likely to show up on the boards.
• gun·ner (n.) A medical student fixated on academic achievement and impressing instructors.
• Pap smear (n.) A slur against someone's father.
• par·a·dox (n.) Two doctors.
• pimp (v.) To mercilessly interrogate a student over useless factoids. A common experience on hospital wards.
• rec·tum (v.) Dang near killed 'em.
• scut·mon·key (n.) A "gopher" on the hospital ward who runs errands for residents and interns. A role often relegated to third and fourth year students.

scutmonkey@geocities.com

Factoid of the Week--Answer: Surgical sterilization (surprising, eh?)

Congratulations! You are visitor number
(Visitor #1,000,000 wins a free cup of hot chocholate!)

Last updated: 12/20/96
NOTE: This page is viewed best with Internet Explorer.