Programs have been designed to help students with academic decisions, provide guidance about professional behavior and career choices and in general, help students in the process of becoming physicians. All first and second year students are assigned faculty mentors, with two mentors serving each module. At students' request, individual mentors can be assigned in the first two years. In addition, the Office of Student Services publishes the "Student Handbook" which details the activities of the college.
The Career Advising and Mentoring Program (CAMP), assists students throughout all 4 years in choosing a medical specialty. Career counseling begins the first year of medical school, consisting of presentations by various student organizations, specialty interest groups, and the Mentor program pairing matriculating students with both faculty members assigned to modules and upper-class men and women. At the end of their second year or beginning of their third year, all students are assigned or select a clinical faculty advisor in their designated field of specialty. These advisors help students access information about their desired specialty, or make informed decisions about future careers if undecided. Advisors help students create fourth year schedules, apply to residency programs, and prepare for residency interviews. An annual Career Fair links third year students (or interested MS1s and MS2s) with Residency Training Directors to obtain information about careers. Among workshops delivered annually are: a USMLE preparation workshop for MS2s, a Match Preparation for MS3s, a meeting on electives for MS3s, a meeting on ERAS and residency applications for MS4s, a Residency Interview Q & A Session with Residency Training Directors for MS4s, and an NRMP Rank Order List Meeting for MS4s.
Peer Assisted Learning (PAL)
The Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) program is a confidential student tutoring program to help students with their preclinical courses. Tutoring by trained students has been used successfully in many medical schools in the U.S. and internationally. This program is meant to supplement course materials, lectures and assistance by course directors. Students with academic difficulties often value advice from other successful students about study techniques, time management, test-taking skills and course content, since peer tutors are perceived as having relevant experience and knowledge about the curriculum. Tutors are recommended by faculty and peers for their communication skills and academic performance in preclinical courses. Both tutors and students receiving tutoring evaluate the experience, to assist the Office of Student Affairs in improving the program.
Through the Community Health Alliance, PAL tutoring time may count toward 12 hours of the Health Education Initiative for the Community Health Alliance I elective for participating tutors. To receive this credit, tutors would need to fulfill all other criteria for this course in order to receive fourth year elective credit, and would need to document your time spent in tutoring activities on the CHA forms in Room 100. Tutoring fellow students is a volunteer service that can be added to the tutors' MSPE (Dean's Letter) when applying for residency programs.
University Counseling Services
Anyone who is a student at the University of Oklahoma may utilize the Counseling Services either to help the student or someone else they care about. Besides individual counseling, they also consult with faculty, staff, parents, and student organizations. Workshops are also offered on topics of interest such as study skills and stress management.
For more information, please visit the Student Counseling Services website.