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Office of Admissions 
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The curriculum
The Senior ThesisWhat is it for?Since Yale's senior thesis is unique in American medical education, our students (and their mentors) are constantly being asked to explain its purpose, not just for budding researchers and academic physicians but for anyone interested in an M.D. degree. One fourth-year student who is so sold on the concept has already convinced his brother and an old high school friend to come to Yale. He puts it this way: "The physician is always a student; it's part of the career. And obviously the best place to learn how to be a student of medicine is while you're still in medical school. That's why the thesis is much more than a final requirement; it's the culmination of the whole Yale System. Experts in all fields of medicine are willing to work with you, teaching you to think scientifically and critically. For six months or even longer you'll set up experiments, collect data, analyze your findings, and, in most cases, publish your results. And most of that time, you'll be on your own, just as you will be for the rest of your career. Maybe you'll go on to conduct more research, maybe not. But in the rapidly advancing, constantly changing world of science-based medicine, you'll always know what it takes to focus and really know one area well - at least until the available knowledge doubles yet again, and you'll have to start all over. But that's exactly what I mean about teaching you how to be a real student of medicine, and nobody does it better than Yale." How does it work?The thesis is such an integral part of the Yale System that close to half of our students begin work on it at the end of their first year. Most of them apply for and receive stipends for a summer of research. Another twenty percent or so take an extra year to conclude their research at no extra cost. But most of the actual research - in basic science, clinical science, or one of the non-scientific aspects of medicine, generally takes from four to seven months and is completed in the fourth year. Topics vary widely. Ramsey Alsarraf wrote on "Neitzche and the notion of authenticity in the realm of existential psychotherapy." Another student explored the possibility of developing inhibitors which will starve a potentially cancerous tumor by cutting off its blood supply. It's a project that went so well that he plans to work with the nation's leading authority on the subject in Boston during his residency. Each year students have the chance to exhibit their work and talk about their findings at Student Research Day. Friendly and collegial, this day provides a chance to share your ideas with fellow students and teachers.
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