Are all med schools like this?
Current M2 here and I am shocked at what I am seeing from my fellow classmates:
- Unmet vaccination requirements. Students were instructed to complete months ago. Students actually asking if TB testing, vaccines, titers are mandatory MONTHS after they were told to complete them.
- Group projects. I've had several group projects with fellow classmates, and no one communicates or takes initiative. I will finally reach out close to the due date to say "hey, we need to do xyz..." and some don't respond, or pretend they can't find/access a document to avoid doing any work. I just end up doing it myself because it's easier than having to pester and micromanage them. (These assignments are not intellectually difficult and only require a few hours work at most.) And it's not just my group, multiple other groups have needed extensions on these projects due to failure to coordinate.
- Skipping class. Signing in to class, then leaving when there is a brief break and not returning. Having multiple unexcused absences in a single block.
- Using chatGPT to complete assignments that explicitly prohibit the use of generative AI.
- Repeatedly missing due dates for weekly assignments that take 20 minutes to complete. Having to write essays on professionalism as a result. Continuing to miss deadlines even after having to write said essay.
- Inability to write a simple 1-page analysis of a peer-reviewed article with proper AMA citation and having to redo the assignment because it does not meet expectations.
- Being absolutely silent/reluctant to participate/ask questions during classes that are specifically meant to be small group discussions.
Is this normal for most medical schools? I observe the above in a significant proportion of the class. I realize I probably sound like a total square, but it just seems like my classmates don’t take medical school seriously based on their behavior. I get a lot of these assignments seem like pointless busywork, but as a medical student you should be able to work in a team with other people, meet deadlines, and follow directions. You should be able to write at the professional graduate level. You should be able to communicate and participate in class discussions. What is going through their minds? Is it apathy, depression, or something else? I was initially frustrated, but now I’m just baffled. Is this the norm for medical students in the preclinical years?