Can someone who has recently gone through / currently going through the program speak about its success over the past couple years and how it's been during these COVID times? Specifically, I'm wondering if the program has continued to maintain a good track record of getting people into med school for the latest two classes and if there have been notable changes to the program during these COVID times.
I apologize that I don't have specific numbers for you, but I do know that the majority of students from 2020 got into med school, and as the alumni page shows, more than a quarter of the class got into Cincinnati. I don't know too much about the class of 2021, though I heard the cycle is going well for them too. I've heard no sentiment from anyone that success rates were any different the past couple years, and if anything the alumni only had great things to say about their classes' outcomes.
Most things that changed during COVID have reverted back. Right now it feels no different from going to school pre-COVID, except maybe for the more widespread use of Zoom for smaller meetings/seminars.
Also, is there mandatory class everyday and are all classes recorded? How difficult is completing the thesis?
There are many classes that have mandatory attendance (Graduate Medical Physiology I, II, Statistics, Neurophysiology, to name a few), but during the med blocks (where we take classes with M1s) the lectures are recorded and attendance is not mandatory. The capstone project is due at the end of the year, and while I can't fully comment on its difficulty yet, I've heard from previous students that it is definitely doable. There will be only one other ongoing class during May, so it looks like there will be ample time for us to engage with the project.
Any other tips / information would be much appreciated.
The physiology courses and the med blocks require understanding or memorizing substantial volumes of material within a short time-frame. Try very early on to identify and abolish habits that may prevent you from studying efficiently. Find the right study method for yourself. For example, many students benefit from Anki, but just as many don't use it at all. It's important to find the optimal approach for yourself so that you can benefit the most from the limited time you have to study. Do not ever wait until the last minute to study. Read exam questions carefully to make sure you understand what they're asking. Many of us have left too many easy points on the table from presuming what questions were asking, without reading them carefully.
Hope this helps! Please let me know if there's anything I left unanswered, or if you have any more questions.