Students admitted to the School of Medicine Class of 2016 will visit campus during Second Look Weekend on April 27 and 28. They will meet fellow students, hear about the learning environment and have fun, as they decide whether UMass Medical School will be their educational home for the next four years. Admitted students, many of whom have been admitted to several other medical schools, have until May 15 to commit to their final choice. Students and representatives of the UMMS community will be on hand to convince them they belong here.
The School of Medicine received more than 1,000 applications for its 125 spots, which is laudable considering the commonwealth’s public medical school can only draw applicants for the MD program who are residents of Massachusetts. The Office of Admissions conducted about 500 interviews to determine who would be offered a place in the class. Director of Admissions Karen Lawton said “Our new curriculum, the learning communities concept and our focus on primary care is a strong draw for students.”
Current and former students alike cite the collegial learning atmosphere as making UMass Medical School special, said Lawton.
Second Look weekend begins on Friday, April 27, with lunch and afternoon of sessions that provide an introduction to first-year medical school classes. A social hosted by this year’s first-year medical students, a House Cup Trivia Event and socializing in downtown Worcester offer an informal way for accepted applicants to acquaint themselves with the UMMS culture.
Parents, friends and other decision-helpers are also invited to the following day’s activities, which include an introduction to the curriculum, tours and presentations by the Class of 2015. In fact, Lawton said, the entire weekend is organized by current first-year students, which adds an authentic and welcoming touch to the presentations. A closing barbecue finishes out the activities.
