I've read that attendance is required for all lectures. I was surprised because I've never heard of a graduate program taking attendance. Graduate school is supposed to be self-motivated and directed, with lectures as an adjunct to guided independent study.

Some learning theorists believe that there are two types of learners; those that learn from the spoken word (who would profit from lectures) and those who learn visually, from the written word. I definitely learn from the written word.

I have a B.A., and a law degree, and with the exception of some humanities classes, I can't really remember any lectures that were a good substitute for textbook learning. Fortunately, my undegrad and grad programs didn't require attendance.....and I rarely attended.

My concern is that the lectures will actually take away from my time for study, and impede my preparation for the USLME.

I'm sure some of you have opinions about this subject.

Please share. Oy veh, I'm getting Fhclempt....talk amongst ya'selves!

Linda Richman

The attendence policy is strictly inforced. They take attendence at the beginning of class, and sometimes at the end too to make sure you didn't leave have way through.

I myself am also a text book learner and I get NOTHING out of Lecture. What I did during my 5 semesters on SABA was I put my headphones in my ears and studied. This was very usefull cause at least then I wasn't wasting the 8 hours a day of lecture time. Then, it came to my knowledge that the professors complained to administration that I wasn't paying attention and that made administration upset with me. So, my recommendation is just pay "attention in lecture" even if that means just keeping your eyes glued onto the professor no matter how good or bad he is (that way you won't disrespect him like I did) and day dream instead about the real world.

To be honest, I am surprised that with your law degree you didnt get accepted to a US school in a flash!


Val

Some states require that a med school mandate 80% attendance in order to license graduates from a med school, that's at least partially why Saba has the attendance rules.

As far as attending lecture, like taking the pre-req courses, etc., it's just another one of those hoops we gotta jump through, I guess. At least it's an easy hoop this time.

__________________
PGY-1 Psychiatry

Thanks once again Val. One of your posts was what actually triggered my inquiry. I wanted to see how the other students felt. Actually, Saba is the only school I applied to. I have no physics, so going U.S. would have taken me another year, regardless of the law degree. I'm 38, so I've got to be in and out quick if I'm going to do this. That's my main reason for choosing Saba.

Bigguy

i for one like attending lecture. the structure and repitition work for me, but it is funky that they track us like five year olds.

I agree completely - though if it helps us w/ licensure in more states in the long run, why not? It's like our parents making us eat our green vegetables, otherwise we might not be so healthy today...

__________________
Fudan University, Shanghai Medical College
MBBS Program, 2008 Batch

State University of New York at Geneseo
Class of 2006

Don't look down on yourself, because people have limitless possiblities.
---Dharma Master Cheng Yen

只要緣深，不怕緣來的遲；只要找到路，就不怕路遙遠。---證嚴法師靜思語

yeah, do whatever it takes to remain a legit school in the eyes of the u.s. licensing committees.

I completely understand where people are coming from who like lectures. I just don't. Also, it is true that for licensure in some states, we must have a certain percentage of attendence, which I think is justified. 90% attendence is now what SABA hold you to (i.e. you can skip 1 day every 2 weeks - 7 days per term).

Val

Hm...not to make this complicated, but what if someone is throwing up and has the runs...and they're too ill to even walk without falling over - would the administration understand that you're legitimately ill?

Though that is very rare - I have never missed a class during my 1.5 years at undergraduate thus far on purpose. Only missed one "mass media" class because my alarm just didn't wake me up I've been late to about 3 or 4 classes, though... :P

__________________
Fudan University, Shanghai Medical College
MBBS Program, 2008 Batch

State University of New York at Geneseo
Class of 2006

Don't look down on yourself, because people have limitless possiblities.
---Dharma Master Cheng Yen

只要緣深，不怕緣來的遲；只要找到路，就不怕路遙遠。---證嚴法師靜思語

Nope... u miss it, too bad. That is why you have the 7 absences for the term. So don't waste em! I even got marked absent cause someone from administration came to get me out of class for something for 10 minutes, and when I saw the roll, my checkmark was erased, and I was absent! TADA! I didn't see the prof again for a week, and when I asked him about it, he said I should have talked to him about it earlier. LOL. Too funny... anywho


Val