Pass/Fail Coursework

Having a pass/fail preclinical curriculum isn’t exactly novel these days, but its impact on your quality of life and education should not be understated. Quite frankly, the quantity of material to learn in medical school is so vast that you just can’t realistically expect to master it all. Pass/fail coursework affords you the flexibility to focus on your interests, get involved with lots of extracurriculars, experiment with different learning styles, and generally approach your education without the threat of a GPA dangling over your head. Don’t get me wrong — the coursework is still challenging, and you’ll still need to learn the material for Step I, but you have the freedom to choose what parts of your education matter most to you. When the stress starts setting in during exam week, don’t forget: P = MD.