Summary of Experience:
I loved everything about this place! They do not take as much of a hands on approach with the med students at other schools, but I think it's to challenge you to seek out opportunities that abound at the major hospitals surrounding the school. That said, it seems like they will absolutely help you out if you're not sure how to get started.
They have subsidized dorm style living for first years, and then subsidized apartments for 2-4. I for one am a big fan of the living situation, as it has more of a medical installation/boot camp feel to it, where all students are around each other. I feel like this would make me work harder as a result of being around people who are (in nearly 100% of cases) smarter or more experienced in research than I am. Then again, I like a lot of competition in the sense that I want to bring up my teammates' performance while they bring mine up! You can tell I was an athlete in college :)
So yeah, opportunities out the wazoo, very compact medical campus with gym, eating, and hospitals within 2 minutes walk, and of course the upper east side of NYC (only when there's time though!!!)
Summary of Experience:
Vanderbilt floored me three times. First they invited me to do the secondary, then they invited me to interview, then they invited me to attend!!!
But really, this place had been my top choice since 2011. I took three classes just to meet the prereqs here so I could apply! My friend did research here and my other friend is an ortho resident and they have nothing but great things to say. Nashville is great! The curriculum is innovative and I think it will be very effective!
I really think I will be happy here, as I meshed well with everyone I met, and the students were really cool, but you can tell they accomplish a whole lot, and I like being around people like that :)