During the September 9th meeting Dr. Flavia Nobay, Assistant Dean of Admissions at the University of Rochester, came in to talk about the institution and its resources.
University of Rochester is located in Rochester, NY close to Lake Ontario. It is in a small city, though not far from rural areas. The local population is diverse, with a lot of Spanish-speaking and Black community members.
The medical school is connected to the undergraduate campus, so students have access to the undergraduate resources as well. They have the second-largest cancer center in New York and recently opened a children's hospital.
Curriculum is based on the bio psycho social model so that students develop a more holistic understanding of their patients to better meet their needs. A lot of the classes combine science and the humanities. 55% is experiential learning.
When reading the letters of recommendation, the admissions team looks for students who have connected well with their mentors. They are especially interested in seeing students who display creativity, leadership, outreach, collaboration, altruism, empathy and are willing to explore outside their comfort zone. Students should also understand the stresses and "dark side" of medicine, and know how to deal with it. Applicants who can relate to the bio psycho social model are seen favorably.
Last year there were 5600 applicants, 13% of whom were under represented backgrounds and 78% who were from out of state.
Class size is about 104. Last year 62% were out-of-state. 7 students were pursuing a MD/PhD. The MD/PhD program has a separate application.
They do not have fully-funded tuition, though there is financial aid and financial education.
You can find more information at https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/education/md.aspx
You can also watch a recording of the presentation here: https://umbc.webex.com/webappng/sites/umbc/recording/play/e25535c2ff7c472194477c1358965e4c