An advisory program for first- and second-year medical students: the Weill Cornell experience

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Student Advising

Background:

• First-year medical students experience excitement and anxiety navigating professional culture.
• Effective guidance is crucial for student adjustment and success.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present Weill Cornell Medical College's experience with a faculty advising program for early-career medical students.
• To evaluate the program's impact on student adjustment and satisfaction.

Main Methods:

• Fifty faculty advisors were assigned 1-3 first-year students for a two-year mentorship.
• Program responsibilities were clearly defined for both faculty and students.
• An anonymous questionnaire evaluated the advising program's effectiveness.

Main Results:

• Most students met their assigned advisor once, discussing adjustment, academics, and professional life.
• Student satisfaction with the advising program increased with more frequent meetings.
• Students often initiated contact independently if they hadn't met their assigned advisor.

Conclusions:

• The Weill Cornell Medical College advising program successfully met the needs of most students.
• Regular evaluation from student and advisor perspectives is vital for program improvement.
• Ongoing assessment ensures the continued success of medical student advising initiatives.