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.

If your laptop was purchased new within the last 3 years (September 2021 or more recently) and is working well for you now, it is likely adequate for the classroom years of medical school.

Windows-compatible (Windows 10 or 11) and Apple (Mac OS 13/Ventura or above) computers are equally appropriate for use at the School of Medicine. 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 (19″ or larger) 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?

This is optional, and would be in addition to a laptop. During clerkships, some students prefer carrying a small tablet instead of their laptop. Apple iOS devices are the most popular with our medical students. Some students have had success with Android phones and some have even 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.

You will need office software to view the Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Adobe PDF files distributed by faculty. The Microsoft Office applications are included with their Office365 subscription. Basic pdf viewers come packaged with and/or are generally available at no cost.

There are additional software titles available to UVA students at the ITS Software Gateway.