Buying a Computer for Medical School
All students in the School of Medicine at the University of Virginia are required to own a laptop computer that can run either Windows or MacOS. If you’d like to use your current laptop, make sure it meets the requirements in the Is my Current Computer Adequate? section below. If you need to buy a new computer, we recommend that you consider one of the configurations described in the What Computer Should I Buy? section.
Further questions? Feel free to contact us at mededweb@virginia.edu.
Is My Current Computer Adequate?
Generally computers need to be replaced every three to five years. So, If your current laptop was purchased new since September 2023 AND is working well for you now, it is likely adequate for the classroom years (first 18 months) of medical school.
Laptop computers running Windows 11 and Mac OS 15/Sequoia or above are equally appropriate for use at the School of Medicine. We recommend 16 GB of RAM. Netbooks, Chromebooks, and laptops running only the Linux operating system do not meet our minimum requirements.
What Computer Should I Buy?
Cavalier Computers has defined a few laptop configurations for School of Medicine students. These options include on-site support and accidental damage coverage. See here – School of Medicine computer package options
Accessories
We recommend a 1TB or greater external drive. Backups of your key documents, data, and operating system are critical in case of laptop failure or loss.
A large external display for home can be helpful when viewing virtual slides as well as opening multiple documents simultaneously. Some students find that having a printer at home is helpful.
An extra computer charger (one to live at home, one to take with you) might also be beneficial.
A headset with a microphone is useful for your phone and/or laptop when participating in web conferencing.
What about a Mobile Device or Tablet?
iPhones and iPads are the most popular with our medical students. During the clinical phases (clerkship and post-clerkship), some students prefer carrying a small tablet – typically an iPad Mini. Although there are fewer clinical applications available, some students have been successful with Android tablets.
Which software should I buy?
Your initial software expense should be minimal. For example, we require that all students install anti-virus/malware software. No-cost options exist for both the Windows and Mac platforms.
Faculty routinely distribute resources authored in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, as well as Adobe PDF. The Microsoft 365 account provided by the university includes the Microsoft Office applications. Basic pdf viewers come packaged with operating systems and/or are generally available at no cost.