How To Get Into UCI Medical School Tips – Know The Curriculum

Curriculum Overview:

As a UCI medical school student, your first two years are spent as a pre-clinical student, mainly learning through lectures. Then, you take USMLE Step 1 and spend the next two years in clinical rotations. There are many required clinical rotations during your fourth year of med school. Attendance is usually mandatory during your pre-clinical years, which is different than most med schools, which make attendance optional.

Pre-Clinical Years:

The first two years are pre-clinical years, divided into various blocks. Aside from learning in the classroom, students learn through a) point-of-care ultrasound b) clinical skills in the Simulation Center.

The first year consists of the following blocks:

• Normal Human Structure and Function: gross anatomy, embryology, histology, and physiology
• Mind and Brain: neuroscience, neuroanatomy, behavioral science, ethics, head and neck anatomy
• Molecular Basis of Medicine: biochemistry, molecular biology, medical genetics, and cancer

The second year consists of an immunology block as well as systems-based modules (i.e. cardiology, pulmonary, renal, urogenital, gynecological, endocrine, GI, MSK, hematologic, and neurologic).

How To Get Into UCI Medical School Tips – Know Unique Characteristics

Unique highlights about pre-clinical years:

UC Irvine medical school prides itself on its iMedEd curriculum, integrating technology to further advance your medical education.

For example, all students at UC Irvine medical school receive iPads; it was one of the first medical schools in the country to give iPads to all its students. Additionally, students learn how to use hand-held ultrasounds, which has proved to be useful in their clinical rotations and global health electives.

To learn more about the innovative technological curriculum at UC Irvine’s program:

Taking Time Off:

According to our discussion with students, most students do not take time off at UC Irvine Medical School. The school is much less flexible with taking time off. The students who do take time off mainly pursue research (such as bench lab research or global health) and pursue these endeavors in between their 2nd and 3rd years or their 3rd and 4th years.

Dual Degree Programs at UCI:

UC Irvine Medical School does participate and offer dual-degree programs, such as MD/PhD, MD/MBA, MD/MPH, and MD/ Biomedical and Translational Science. To learn more about dual-degree programs offered, visit this website: http://www.meded.uci.edu/curricular-affairs/about-dual-degree-programs.asp