“For clinicals, did Ross University provide adequate support and RUSM teachers to support you in your third year? Thanks for any advice you may have!!”
Short answer: Yes. Ross has instituted clinical track programs for our third year of medical school. Clinical tracks keep you in one hospital for either 6 or 12 months. Each hospital is different. As such, every clinical track is unique. Most of the clinical tracks are in NYC, Chicago, Miami, Maryland, Atlanta, Michigan, and California.
Long answer: Many people told me, “Med school is all downhill after you finish your second year and you take step 1 of your US medical licensing exam (USMLE)”. That’s a whole lot of bullshit. Third year is tough. You have to go through clinical rotations while you simultaneously study for USMLE step 2. Don’t get me wrong, its a lot of fun and I enjoy it way more than being cooped up in a classroom. Just know that it doesn’t get any easier. Though I hear most people truly enjoy fourth year. Especially after their application is sent to programs and interview season is over. Then its truly just waiting to match. But I digress.
Back to Ross and clinical rotations during third year. I personally have never had trouble with Ross during my third year. I earned the New York Methodist track and will be completing much of my fourth year here as well. Its one of the more competitive tracks and I enjoy being there. Before the end of your second year, everyone applies for a track. You submit all your information like your exam scores, GPA, resume, where you are from, and why you want to go to that specific track, etc. So I’ve had relatively smooth sailing during my third year. I was accepted to the track I wanted and I signed up for my fourth year electives on my own without Ross helping me (they will help you but I just didn’t need it).
You also have a team of advisors. Ross implemented a team based approach to your advisor so you speak with the same six people throughout your four years with Ross. So if you have questions about financial aid, professional development, or clinical advising, you always speak with the same six people. Check it out: http://www.rossu.edu/medical-school/blog/12/431. Its a major improvement and it works well. That being said, a lot of medical school is you figuring it out for yourself.
The student body has a saying, that ‘Ross’ stands for ‘Rely On Self Study’. Its a jab at the fact that sometimes you don’t have the best professor and you have to teach yourself an entire lecture. But after speaking with students in US schools it seems an issue that every medical school deals with. Stateside schools aren’t exempt from having terrible professors. The same is true with advising. As for Ross providing me with advising and support? Most of my advise has come from students in upper semesters or graduates, a friend or two of mine who are way more on top of their shit than I am, and my own research into whatever I needed to get done at the time.
Lastly, I am quite certain that there are disgruntled students out there who will disagree with me. So maybe try and find someone who isn’t so chipper and optimistic. They might be able to give you a different story from other side of the same coin.
Comment below if you have any follow up questions. And good luck!
Thank you! Super helpful, I really appreciate it!
As a current Ross student entering 3rd year, I totally stand in agreement with this perspective.
I really appreciate your post. I know the 3 year rotations are set up back-to-back, but should we anticipate gaps between rotations during 4th year?
Hey Rob,
I answers your question and gave a little extra information for yah. Check it out here: How Are 4th Year Electives Scheduled? Hope it helps and let me know if you have any follow up questions!
-Marc