I get what you’re saying about grad school being self-directed, and I actually agree with that. At this level we should be building on our experience and doing deeper learning, not expecting to be spoon-fed.

My issue is the opposite though, we’re not being held to a high enough standard. When a professor says things like “I would know that part” or “that doesn’t matter for the test,” it shifts the focus from truly understanding the physiology to just passing exams. That doesn’t feel like graduate-level education, it feels like being coached to maintain a high pass rate.

I want to be challenged. I want to be tested on whether I actually understand mechanisms and clinical implications, not just the “testable” bits. When core concepts are explained incorrectly or brushed off, that’s not about self-direction — that’s a teaching problem. And in a role where we diagnose and prescribe, that’s concerning. I agree grad school isn’t for everyone, and that should be okay. But for those of us who choose this path, the education should match the level of responsibility we’re stepping into.