School of Medicine Medical Student Admissions School of Medicine
Washington University School of Mediicine
Medical Student Admissions
Skip navigation links
Medical Student Admissions > Education > Curriculum > Third Year
An excerpt from the Dis-Orientation Guide 2010-2011, a student-produced guide to Washington University School of Medicine
 
Third Year
 
Third year is amazing. It somehow turns a group of procrastinating students (whose parents seem to think they haven't learned anything in med school) into a vault of clinical and textbook knowledge who are ready to diagnose and treat a myriad of illnesses. While third year has the heaviest workload, it is also the most fulfilling because you spend your days in the hospital doing exactly what first attracted you to medicine. You will have meaningful relationships with your patients (nothing inappropriate), act as your patients' "doctor" on most rotations, and become friends with residents, nurses, PTs/OTs, etc. Logistically, third year consists of:

— Three months of medicine (one month outpatient, two months inpatient)
— Three months of surgery (one general and two subspecialties including one elective)
— One month of psychiatry
— One month of neurology
— One month of elective
— Six weeks of OB/GYN
— Six weeks of pediatrics

There comes a magical day sometime at the end of your third year where you realize you can answer almost every question about diseases, drugs, surgeries, medical technologies, career paths, and medical team dynamics, and explain them all to your friends and family.

Alex Edwards, WUMS IV
Dis-Orientation Guide 2011-2012
 imgimg
"Third year is the most exciting, intense and probably life-changing year of medical school; you have much to look forward to!"Rebecca Hoodecheck, MD '09
Dis-Orientation Guide 2009-2010




Third Year

The third year consists entirely of core clinical clerkships, including ambulatory care.

Required Clerkships

  • Medicine (12 weeks)
  • Neurology (4 weeks)
  • Obstetrics/Gynecology (6 weeks)
  • Pediatrics (6 weeks)
  • The Practice of Medicine III
  • Psychiatry (4 weeks)
  • Surgery (12 weeks)

Selective Clerkships (choice of one block)

  • Ambulatory: Emergency Medicine (4 weeks)
  • Ambulatory: Family Medicine (4 weeks)
  • Ambulatory: Psychiatry for Generalists (4 weeks)
  • Dermatology (4 weeks)
  • General Radiology (4 weeks)
  • Geriatrics (4 weeks)
  • Laboratory Medicine (4 weeks)
  • Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (4 weeks)
  • Radiation Oncology (4 weeks)
  • Surgical Pathology (4 weeks)