"The independence they encourage and foster." | Report Response

"Most of the actual physicians here are excellent professors. The curriculum has been completely redesigned for the new classes and I have heard good things about it so far. The new simulation labs are top-notch and very well facilitated. The clinical teaching staff (physicians, nurses, PAs, etc) are amazingly dedicated and knowledgeable, during the few opportunities you have during MS1 and MS2 to escape the misery of PhD education. If you are an MD/PhD applicant, then you will probably love this school (and my hat is off to you). If you want to become a physician and actually learn medicine (and eventually treat patients), then you will hate everything about this place." | Report Response

"The hospital and facilities are from state of the art. If that's a deal breaker, would avoid." | Report Response

"The majority of professors at this school are PhDs (and all that this implies). To say that these people are out of touch with modern clinical medicine education would be a gross understatement. If you want a PhD oriented education without an actual PhD to show for it, then you should absolutely apply here. The new curriculum may be better implemented, but bear in mind that the same people teach it (i.e. non-physicians). If the administration simply replaced the PhD staff with actual physicians, the vast majority of education issues here would be resolved. Unfortunately, the administration is also comprised almost exclusively of PhDs (the Dean of Medicine is a PhD, for example)." | Report Response

"In recent years more and more clinical and basic science faculty have been interacting and collaborating both for teaching and research. This has helped make the transition to the new curriculum a relatively smooth one. You will be inundated with basic science in the first 2 years as per norm however in the new curriculum you now recieve ample instruction on how this information relates clinically. Conversely in your clinical years you will now have to recall basic science. This all reflects where the NBME has gone in constructing the step exams." | Report Response

"There are a few excellent professors here (and they are all actual physicians). Unless you are an MD/PhD applicant, avoid this school like the plague." | Report Response

"Only group activities (TBL, PBL) and clinical skills activities are required attendance. I rarely went to lecture as it is all captured via Tegrity." | Report Response

"Lectures seldom require attendance (technically), but outside activities (labs, simulated patients, etc) are mandatory." | Report Response

"All are available through our online library but everyone is medical school should have a copy for First Aid that they use to annotate and as a frame work for remembering." | Report Response

"I haven't needed any books so far (even "required" ones). You could quite literally use Wikipedia for everything and still get good grades (I did)." | Report Response

"N/A" | Report Response

"I haven't needed any books so far (even "required" ones)" | Report Response

"No." | Report Response

"I don't believe so. IIRC, there has been a significantly higher proportion of graduates that go into primary care specialties. I don't believe this is due to promotion; I think this has more to do with the MCAT/GPA/STEP1 averages associated with this school. I have absolutely no evidence to back that up, though, and it's just my opinion." | Report Response

"Do not live on campus. You want to live off campus away from undergraduates." | Report Response

"STAY AWAY. DO NOT DO CAMPUS HOUSING. I don't even have to go into detail, just Google us. We have been in the news quite a bit recently, and that's not a good thing. Stay far, far away from campus at all times unless absolutely necessary. Weapons of any type are absolutely prohibited (regardless of CCW status), which means only the thugs have guns here. And they will use them. Don't die for med school, it's not worth it!" | Report Response

"Like all PhD's they have their biases towards their research but in recent years they have been pushed more and more to teach with a clinical influence. More importantly the directors of each organ system module are 1 PhD and 1 MD. This helps to ensure both basic and clinical science is taught and made the transition to clinical reasoning easier in 3rd year." | Report Response

"As mentioned previously, the majority of professors are not physicians and have no qualifications or experience in clinical medicine. They are, however, very well-published and highly regarded in their respective fields. If you are looking for a PhD level education, then these professors are exactly what you are looking for. They are (mostly) very friendly and highly accessible outside of lecture. The faculty in and of itself is excellent. The issue is not with the quality of the faculty, and I cannot fault them for teaching what they know. The problem lies in the fact that non-physicians simply cannot teach medical students what they need to know in the context of clinical medicine (and we shouldn't expect them to). Physicians should teach the upcoming generation of physicians, plain and simple. You wouldn't want a police officer to teach a surgeon to do an appendectomy, regardless of the caliber of the police officer. You wouldn't want a truck driver to teach a pilot, even if the truck driver was experienced and had an impeccable driving record. It's apples and oranges. I know that the administration is trying to tighten up the curriculum now that LCME has completed their visit, but the school has a long way to go IMO. Again, if you are looking for a PhD level education (and don't mind teaching yourself the NBME miniboard material outside of class), then ignore all the stuff I said before; This is definitely the place you want to be (and I mean that in all seriousness, because there are a few people that fill that niche)." | Report Response

"Superb. They encourage independence and responsibility. They demand accountability and you are for the most part treated like an intern, not a student." | Report Response

"My exposure to clinical faculty has been somewhat limited. The people I have met so far seem extremely professional and friendly. The clinical years at USA are highly viewed by all of the students I spoke with." | Report Response

"Honors = 94 or greater Pass = 75 to 93.9999999 Marginal pass = 70 to 74.999999 Fail = less than 70" | Report Response

"A bit unusual, and I wish someone had told me that this was how they did it before I started: ?90 = A (4.0) ?80 = B (3.0) ?75 = C (2.0) ?70 = D (1.0) <70 = F (0) It is *extremely* important to note that while a D may be passing (technically), there will almost certainly be negative repercussions to getting a D. You will almost certainly be placed >3.0 and all As and Bs, but if you get just one D grade you will almost certainly be placed on probation. Remember that a D at USA is what would be a C in most other schools. Just a caveat." | Report Response

"Same as above. Majority of your grade comes from evaluations and Shelf exams." | Report Response

"This is changing. Refer to the USACOM bulletin online." | Report Response

"7 rotations in the 3rd year including: Internal medicine Family medicine (done at a private practice in the area) OBGYN Neurology Psychiatry Surgery Pediatrics The schedule is generated randomly. 4th year is self-scheduled and generally easy to get what you want." | Report Response

"Can't comment on this" | Report Response

"On any given service the students are expected to see the entire list- you decide amongst yourselves how many each will see you. Must arrive at the hospital to get vitals, labs, speak with the nurse, see the patient, and write notes before your resident. Once your resident arrives they will review your information and see the patient again with you. They will critique and beef up your plan in anticipation of formal rounds where you will present to your attending. Any procedures your patient requires at bedside you may perform or participate in. On surgery you will be expected to scrub and assist. For mine surgical procedures like c-sections or PEG tubes you will be allowed to perform yourself provided you ask and observe once." | Report Response

"Fair. The Children's and women's hospital is recently renovated. Areas of the main medical center have been renovated. Others are in fair condition but not great." | Report Response

"Lower class and very sick. Allows a unique opportunity to see many things you wouldn't else where while allowing you to get used to dealing with very sick people." | Report Response

"Beach, bar, travel to Biloxi for casinos, travel to New Orleans." | Report Response

"This is the Gulf! Anything related to water (boats, fishing, etc) is available. Alabama is a sportsman's paradise if that's your thing." | Report Response

"They do very well. You should feel quite comfortable in a clinical setting and in your abilities by graduation. If not you were not proactive a rough." | Report Response

"Lots of primary care grads. The ones I've talked to seem to have done very well in residency." | Report Response

"Recent survey data shows in general our students perform quite well in residency." | Report Response

"Not sure" | Report Response

"In recent years there has been a great mix. Every class has a certain specialty that to which they all flock, but overall there is a nice mix." | Report Response

"Not sure about this. I haven't heard anything." | Report Response