title: [Returning students' perspectives on adjusting to medical graduate school in Korea: an interview study].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The recent trend of switching from medical graduate school to medical school in Korea raises questions about the adjustments that students must make in medical education. We examined the perceptions of medical graduate students with regard to their adaptation in medical education.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen semistructured, in-depth interviews were administered to medical graduate students who received their first degrees in foreign countries. The interviews addressed their perceptions of their experience in medical graduate school and on how well they adjusted to medical education.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Students perceived their adaptation to medical graduate school in two dimensions: academic achievement and cultural adjustment. In academic achievement, a limited student-teacher relationship was recognized by students. Students tended to be passive in the classroom due to an uncomfortable atmosphere. They also reported witnessing culture shock in relation to the paucity of information on entrance into medical graduate school. Freshmen voiced many difficulties in adjusting to the unique culture in medical graduate school, in contrast to upper classmen. However, only 32% of students experienced helpful mentoring for their problems.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Students' perspectives should guide all decisions made about medical education in an altered educational system.Self-regulated learning and a good mentoring program can help prepare students for medical education and professional life.
authors: Department of Medical Education and Medical Humanities, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: So Youn
authors: SY
authors: Park
authors: Department of Medical Education and Medical Humanities, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Oh Young
authors: OY
authors: Kwon
authors: Department of Medical Education and Medical Humanities, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors: Tai Young
authors: TY
authors: Yoon
mesh_terms: D000069:Acculturation; D000124:Achievement; D001290:Attitude; D004501:Education, Medical; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning; D000071252:Mentoring; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012577:Schools, Medical; D013337:Students, Medical
keywords: Adjustment; Medical students; Perception of medical education; Returnees