Sit in on classes, check out the library or the computer clusters, hang out in the student lounge, or take a walk outside to see what the local community is like.
Sitting in on classes is critically important. Not only will you learn how the classes are taught, but you can observe the dynamics between the faculty and the students and among the students themselves. How do the students interact with one another and with their professors? Does the environment appear to be cutthroat or supercompetitive? Is the faculty interested in the material they are presenting? Do they seem approachable? Do class interactions fit with the environment for which you are looking? Do the students appear to be happy?
Your day on campus is your best opportunity to determine whether or not this medical school is the right fit for you.
This post is excerpted from 101 Tips on Getting Into Medical School by Jennifer C. Welch, who has served as the Director of Admissions at SUNY Upstate Medical School since 2001.
