Navigating Uncharted Waters in Search of the Class of 2024
We are all in the same boat.
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected every medical school, every student, every faculty across the country. It has impacted every aspect of what we do and how we do it. The only difference is that some schools have found the sailing a little smoother than others.
When the crisis struck, Sidney Kimmel Medical College seamlessly handled the shift from hands-on, in-person learning to remote education. But what about our next class—those who got caught in the upheaval of a nationwide shutdown while interviewing for admittance to medical school? For those students—and the faculty who interviewed them—it was a journey into the unknown.
In normal times, prospective students would come to campus, meet with current students, and interview with faculty members. That changed in March when in-person anything came to a screeching halt. But we adapted, we made alterations to our processes, and we carried on, thanks to a little bit of ingenuity and a lot of technology.
We turned to Skype, Zoom, and phone interviews, our faculty using the latest technology for virtual meet-and-greets. It wasn’t an ideal situation—it’s always best to meet the candidates face to face—but we were able to conduct our usual 20–30 interviews for the last two days.
Unfortunately, we were unable to have our current students interview the prospective students for those two sessions. Our students provide an invaluable perspective and serve as our best ambassadors, so we definitely missed their input.
Yes, the bad news is that something is lost without in-person interviews. Although we look at grades, personal statements, letters of recommendation, and extracurricular activities when we choose our applicants, we also look for passion, personality, and fit, and those are more difficult to judge without meeting the person.
The good news is that if we must continue conducting virtual interviews in the fall, we are more prepared now, and we are confident that our technology will provide us with the tools we need to make informed decisions. In addition, our current students will again be involved.
From emails that I have received, the biggest concern of those hoping to be SKMC’s class of 2024 is the curriculum—whether the classes will be virtual or on campus. No one knows that answer yet; it depends entirely on the situation in late July. But we now know how to do remote instruction, and we know how to do it well. I can tell the students with confidence that they will get an outstanding education no matter what the circumstances.
As SKMC finds ways to move forward in evaluating, choosing, and educating its next class, we know that other medical schools are finding their way, as well. We’re all figuring it out as we go along, in the same boat, navigating uncharted waters, and discovering the best routes to success.
Clara Callahan, MD
The Lillian H. Brent Dean of Students and Admissions
Sidney Kimmel Medical College