A lot of the negativity is the normal stuff everyone hears. But there's some other bits, like how you have to work rediculous hours at Parkland and how the course loads are comparatively too heavy.
MS0 was a positive experience overall. The only thing that bothered me a bit was that a good number of people seemed a bit withdrawn....I'm over that thought because everyone was understandably nervous that day.
So I don't know. I think I'm just anxious in general right now, and would probably be anxious no matter where I was sitting.
Have you talked about this on the UTSW thread or did you talk about this offline? Let's face it, MS3 at BCM isn't going to be a cakewalk either. Yes, we have nice hospitals to rotate through but sleep deprivation can and does happen (at least, I have seen it happen to MS3s). Not every rotation leaves MS3s just bouncing with joy. It's hard work and there is a lot to learn. Also, from what I've heard, there have been some "gunner" classes at BCM where if you get a HP, you're at the bottom of the class ... people studying all the time ... sleep deprived. It doesn't happen every year, but there have been reports of this. Overall, I would say BCM students are happy and positive in comparison with students at other Texas schools, but you could probably find negativity if you went looking for it (seems somewhat hard to find at BCM, in fairness).
As far as UTSW goes, during my interviews, I spoke a nurse (fellow applicant) who worked at UTSW (in L&D, I think) and she told me she was not going to go to UTSW because of some of the unpositive experiences that MS3s had. I spoke to several people about this and the impression I got is that some students have a negative experience and that those students can be a bit vocal. Overall, I have heard very positive remarks. I spoke with several UTSW professors and people in the administration. I found many who went out of their way to help me, even spending hours with me. I would have been comfortable going there, but I do prefer several specific things about BCM. The big thing for me is TMC, and free babysitting for my kids from the in-laws (who live in Houston) was no small thing either. I thought the BCM students put a bit more effort into the recruiting on average than UTSW, but that's only one datapoint (mine).
I'm pretty sure that because you have made it this far, you will make it at BCM or UTSW. As an aside, you might want to talk to some of the BCM Class of 2011 incoming students on the facebook site (Baylor College of Medicine Class of 2011
http://utexas.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2262150346&ref=mf). It will give you a sample of the class personality and you can compare that with what you experienced during MS0 day. There are many friendly people in the class (and classes ahead of us), but if you look at it by percentage, most people are quiet and don't say anything (they are lurkers, busy, shy, or don't really have any questions perhaps).
I have at least one good friend who will be going to UTSW. He's smart and nice but quiet when you first meet him. Once you talk to him some, he's super-friendly and actually a chatter-box. It might just take a little bit to get to know people. UTSW is such a big class; you are pretty much guaranteed to make several friends there. Either way, I hope you make a decision on facts rather than rumors. I'm not saying totally ignore the rumors, but I think once you check them out, you may find that they only apply to a small disgruntled minority (check them out for yourself).
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