The Ontario Trip: A Postscript

I just realized that I never posted my pros/cons list from my Ontario trip to Queen's and Western. For the sake of completeness, as well as my own personal records, I'll go ahead and publish them. Who knows, maybe these lists will help someone else with their decision making someday.

Queen's University
Pros:

• Strong clinical skills program
• Small class size: very tight knit class
• The medical school is highly integrated into the community. All the physicians in Kingston are extended members of the teaching staff, and they are all willing to take on medical students in observerships.

Cons:

• Inconvenient campus: There isn't much food close to the medical sciences building, thus requiring a bit of a walk to the student building.
• Medical school facilities are on the same campus as everyone else.
• Very small, dinky, regional airport.
• Clerkship starts midway through third year, a little late!

Unsure:

• Kingston's population is mostly Queen's students, faculty, and staff. Thus, diversity is a little limited. Moreover, the city is also quite small - in both size and feel.
  

University of Western Ontario
Pros:

• Small class size makes it easier to get to know your class well.
• Convenient layout: everything to do with the medical school is in the same building complex.
• Clerkship structure: All core clerkship rotations are completed in 3rd year, leaving 4th year free to pick electives that you want to pursue. Knowing what you like in 3rd year is a major bonus when deciding upon electives. This clerkship layout is great for those who need help making a career decision.
• End of 4th year has a unique back to school component where you go back into the classroom environment and take advanced courses in areas of specialty.
• Many areas in the medical school building are key-carded for medical students only. The lounge is great! It has a nice TV, pool table, sofas. There is also quiet study space and a large computer lab.
• Local doctors seem willing to take on medical students in observership roles.
• Summer online forum is available to find roommates.

Cons:

• Medical school is on the main university campus, and thus shared with all other undergraduate and graduate programs.
• The medical school building doesn't look or feel new. Labyrinth like hallways. It isn't a very open feel.
• London isn't a large, modern, urban centre.

Unsure:

• Curriculum stresses independent, self-directed learning. However, the schedule seems to include equal lecture/small group time to any other medical program. Generally, mornings from 8:30am to 12:30pm are spent in lecture. One afternoon a week is community health lecture; two other afternoons are spent in small groups or doing clinical skills.