Mentoring

AΩA members are actively involved in helping 1st, 2nd and 3rd year students deal with such challenges as transitioning from pre-clinical to clinical years, preparing for examinations and the boards, planning electives, applying for residency, etc. This is accomplished both through printed/electronic guides as well as live question & answer type meetings with each class. Other mentoring activities include giving advice and guidance to pre-medical students in the community.

The Binghamton Transition

The transition from second year to third year is difficult enough; it is not made any easier by having to move 70 miles south to Binghamton. To try to help ease the transition AΩA has put together several programs to try to help ensure clinical campus students have all the same opportunities as Syracuse students - we cannot change your having to go, but we can try to make it as painless as possible.

Each year we generate and distribute a guide to help student know what to study for the various clerkships in Binghamton. We have also compiled a list of questions about the clinical campus with answers from former students. Also, we started having a yearly informational meeting for third year students at the Clinical Campus in preparation for fourth year on things like scheduling rotations in Syracuse, getting and setting up away electives, residency planning, etc.

Elective Selection & Residency Planning

In addition to holding live Q&A sessions for students we also provide a guide to common interview questions, match lists from previous years, and a compilation of resources we have found helpful when applying for residency.

Community Mentoring Activities

In October 2007, AΩA hosted a "Medical School Information Session" for undergraduate students at Binghamton University. This was an environment where third and fourth year medical students provided information and guidance to prospective medical students going through the decision and/or process of applying to medical school.