I haven't seen an 'Official COMP 2009' thread as the other schools have so I decided to start it. I know there are many of you peeps out there. I guess we'll be known on sdn as the SILENT BUT DEADLY class :D Hehe

I'm excited to start (the crazy first semester work load...WOOHOO!) and now thinking bout a place to live. The Plaza close to campus could be feasible, although many people don't like it, but I did talk with a student who lived there for 2 years (and DID have a car). He liked the fact that you could wake up ad walk straight to class the first 2 years.

Anyone interested in the ISAC program? I asked to be 'put on the list'. The prof said he'll give more info about it in APRIL. More waiting...yay. If I do get into the program I was deciding whether or not to get a roomie or fly solo, to stay in Claremont, Chino Hills or stay in Pomona. Since the ISAC homies start early I dunno if they utilize the Western roomate finder. Thus it might be a little less easier to find a roomie. So...anyone interested in the ISAC also? and if so, looking for a roomie? :)

Looking forward to meeting you all. We gotta help each other :D

I hope this thread sticks longer than the other two for the 2009 class.

I would definitely recommend ISAC if you can. It was a rough summer but I thanked myself every day of the Fall semester for doing it.

There are MCAT, GPA and previous Anatomy prerequisites but the faculty are not strict about them. If you really want to come next summer, just ask Dr. Kuehn, the Anatomy course facilitator.

Claremont, La Verne, Chino Hills, Rancho Cucamonga, and Diamond Bar are nice places to live around here. But if you like to study at home, find a place that's quiet.

well...i'm not officially attached to this list yet, but when i called the school today, i was told to be expecting a very pleasent letter in the mail tommorrow :) . currently=crossing my toes, haha

surfdoc-

CONGRATS in advance! I called the office and talked to Gloria (the lady handling my file) before I received my acceptance and she too told me that I should expect something nice in the mail.

Yesterday I got my "we received your 1k now please give us the other 1K and your proof of vaccinations"...more steps closer...woohoo!

Hope to see you next year!

I'm glad this post is actually working. I started one a while back and no one really responded. Anyway's I'll be there this fall. I'm still waiting for my second letter requesting the second part of the deposit and the vaccinations. The next six months are going to fly by!

so after my surf session, i came home to a small envelope so for a slight moment i feared the worse, but it ended up being a pleasent letter so i'll be sending in that check on monday. Oh btw...SurfingDO, if you ever want to do a surf session let me know, maybe Trestles?

Hello Everyone,

I just want to drop a note here to get ALL D.O. Students to visit the current MATCH Survey thread--we only have a total of ten days from 4 feb 2005 to collect everyone's input.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/sho...181#post2261181

We all talk about change on these threads, and now you have a chance to actually affect it. Please visit the thread and if you have not already done so, take 2 minutes and fill out the small 9 question survey. This is literally 2 min that can change the future of how we distribute students to programs.

Thanks so much for your time and I love reading the threads here on SDN.

hey future classmates,

I got accepted last month and I'm just waiting for school to start. I hope I get invited to ISAC! Anyways what are you guys doing in the meantime with 6-7 months of waiting :rolleyes: Does anyone know how the class will be distributed? 200 in one class? 100 per class of 2 classes?

hey future classmates,

I got accepted last month and I'm just waiting for school to start. I hope I get invited to ISAC! Anyways what are you guys doing in the meantime with 6-7 months of waiting :rolleyes: Does anyone know how the class will be distributed? 200 in one class? 100 per class of 2 classes?

Congrats on your acceptance. I look forward to meeting you and hope we BOTH get into ISAC! Oh, did you email Dr. Kuehn to add your name to the list of interested ISACers? I've been keeping busy working for the family business. We have homes for the developmentally disabled. Also trying to see people before I leave for school. Oh, and watching movies! Go see "My Sassy Girl"...its a Korean flick but I can't get enough of it! :thumbup:

Don't wait to be invited. Call Dr. Kuehn.

Congrats to everyone in the class of 2009. Hopefully I'll see you all this coming fall. Reiterating what was said earlier, do not wait for Dr. Kuehn to get around to you for ISAC. You gotta be a bit proactive if you want to make sure you get a spot. Don't worry about the minimum requirements. There were people in last year's ISAC that didn't have the grades, but still did really well in ISAC.

Don't wait to be invited. Call Dr. Kuehn.

Is it ok to email?

Is it ok to email?

yes e-mail him and let him know. dr. kuehn is fantastic and will give you all the info. don't wait to be invited, be proactive and ask! it doesn't matter if you don't meet the "requirements".
ISAC is way fun and not too hard if you take it seriously enough. i spent a large part of my summer floating in the pool working on a good tan.

i spent a large part of my summer floating in the pool working on a good tan.

Needs more work, missy.

i spent a large part of my summer floating in the pool working on a good tan.


And you gave us this song and dance about how you slaved away all summer :eek:

And you gave us this song and dance about how you slaved away all summer :eek:

shut up, don't let on that it's gonna kick their asses! :D

...and my tan was wicked tae, just not compared to yours. let's stop hijacking their thread and let them get back to figuring out where to live. my vote if LBC, but only because 909 sucks.

So i've finalized my decision to attend COMP in the fall and have decided that until school starts i should become a real bum enjoying the last few months of the real world. anyways...if anyone OC/LA area want to just golf/surf/board PM me and we'll get together.

Is this the new official COMP 2009 thread? I guess it was about time I went to look for it and subscribe myself to stay in the loop. I'll be around...

Congrats to all you that got into COMP!

This is your last summer of freedom, why in the world would you want to do ISAC??? Enjoy the freedom now, it really does suck from here on!

I hope the 90-mile thing don't screw you guys over. I'm glad they didn't have that for my year!

Peace

Congrats to all you that got into COMP!

This is your last summer of freedom, why in the world would you want to do ISAC??? Enjoy the freedom now, it really does suck from here on!

I hope the 90-mile thing don't screw you guys over. I'm glad they didn't have that for my year!

Peace

Whats the 90-mile thing? :confused:

Whats the 90-mile thing? :confused:\

Way back when I did my 3rd year (2002) we could pretty much do our rotations anywhere. Some people actually based their rotations in MI (a smart idea I must add).

My understanding is that our beloved school decided they want to change this so all your rotations must be WITHIN 90 miles of the school. The plan is to call you guys back one day or something like that for shelf exams and didactics. Now this isn't a terrible idea (Loma Linda and many other do this), but in terms of options for those key electives, it stinks. The intent is to improve the board scores.

One of our saving graces is the fact that Arrowhead is pretty much a COMP hospital. So for many this will not be a problem. But if you guys plan to subspecialize this _may_ be a problem. Only time will tell.

juz got accepted to Western/COMP...holla!!!

:luck:

Congrats! Good feeling to get acceptances!

juz got accepted to Western/COMP...holla!!!

:luck:

congratulations!!!!

I have been accepted to both TUCOM and COMP. I had a good feeling about both and I am planning on specializing. Any suggestions? I would be doing the Northwest track for COMP by the way.
This is a cool decision to be making, but it sucks just the same.

As a quick initial question, would you be happy with doing your rotations back in the northwest and then possibly practicing back in that region? I don't remember the exact requirements for the Northwest track, but I believe it is geared to help increase the number of our DO's up in the northwestern states. (And well, it helps increase COMP's presence there as well).

Does COMP give late acceptances? Compared to the other DO schools, we're a tiny group! What's going on?

When you say "late" acceptances, how late are you talking about? It is still only March and some schools may not completely fill a class till a few months before school starts.

anyone know when the class fills up?

count me in on class of 09!

Last year some people interviewed as late as May and were later accepted.

Well I decided on Comp, I cant wait to see everyone in August. I have only been to that area once and that was the day I interviewed. ANy suggestions on the best areas to live? You guys will all have to help me out when I get there. I am going to be one lost moma sitta in that region. I cant wait to get out of the cold of Idaho though.
WHen are the dates of ISAC?

the majority of people who come from out of state live in the chino hills area. claremont is nicer and closer, but more expensive. start looking in those areas

NW Tracker.
Represent'n Sea-town, WA.

Looking for some extremely hot girls to room with. Please post your pictures(lol)
Seriously though, if anyone wants to grab a 2-bed. apt in Chino or whereever the hell a good deal is, Im available. Is there a roomate posting for students?

Im pumped for next year! I got a chance to go to class with the first year med students a month ago and I was really impressed with how chill everyone was! Especialy the dude playing poker online during class! Right on bro! Id love to do the ISAC thing, but I have absoutely no freakin anatomy experience. Am I SOL?

Debating on applying for an AirForce Scholarship to fly my finances for 4 years? Anyone else doing HPSP's?

I have heard that they are pretty lenient in ISAC if you really want in, just call the professor or email him.
I have been thinking about the air force too, do you know if your residency counts as time owed or do you start to make up the amount you owe after residency???

isn't it too late to apply for air force hpsp this year?

NW Tracker.
I was really impressed with how chill everyone was! Especialy the dude playing poker online during class! Right on bro!
:laugh: :laugh: you probably saw one of the guys from my crew...the poker crew ;) , yeah we are pretty laid back, but don't get us wrong though we study and play hard too! It's the way it should be. Maybe when you and other first years come to western we can set up a game with you guys....you know gotta pay for books somehow :D good luck with ISAC peeps, it shouldn't be a problem to get in and IT REALLY SAVES YOU A LOT OF TIME DURING THE FIRST SEMESTER!, but I hear that your summer is ****ty though, so it all depends and what you want to do. If you don't do ISAC though, I would strongly recommend doing SAP, at least to get going with the anatomy and biochem, which are probably the most time consuming classes you will have first semester! late

Well I was gonna take out loans for school, but if a buncha suckas wanna lose their money to poker, maybe I wont have to.
I know you guys bust ass studying, Im just givin you a hard time!

No, it isnt to late to apply for HPSPs. I hear the Navy always has a few spots, but if you got all your AirForce papers in within 2 weeks, you'd be competing for about 30 spots left (out of 150 I think).
There are so many caveats and fine print for each specific HPSP scholarship, giving you a concrete answer is tough. The commitment is actually 8 years total, and no your residency does not count (atleast in the AF). The navy will pull you right after your 4th year and do some GMO thing, but the AF makes you apply for residency through them, and depending on your specialty, you can do your years at the AF, or at a civilian site. (AF site will pay you 80K/yr in residency, vs civilian average of 35K/yr). Then its 4yrs active duty you owe them, then 4yrs inactive duty. The AF and Navy have almost never pulled anyone to come back while on inactive duty, they just want the option.
What I hate is the month+ you have to spend each summer doing training or shadowing a Doc. Even before your first year! Check the link below for a ton of more unbiased info.
http://lukeballard.tripod.com/HPSP.html

ISAC is the condensed Anatomy class during the summer right? What's is SAP? Does it really make that much of a difference to take these classes? Is it worth spending the Summer in Pomona? I'm looking forward to starting school and meeting everyone. Mani

Hopefully someone that did SAP last summer can respond. I was in ISAC and I knew some of them.

I got the impression was that they thought it was a waste of time. However, I could see the utility of a science review if you have been out of school for a while. Otherwise do ISAC or enjoy your last summer.

Is this the WUHS 2009 official thread now? Please let me know if there is another.

congrats to all of you for getting in!!! It is very exciting and i am sure you are all anxious to start school in August, I know last year this time, I was counting the days anxiously. But make sure you are ready for a major life style change! Have as much as fun as you can before school starts in August. :thumbup:

ISAC is the condensed Anatomy class during the summer right? What's is SAP? Does it really make that much of a difference to take these classes? Is it worth spending the Summer in Pomona? I'm looking forward to starting school and meeting everyone. Mani

i didn't do isac and looking back...i still wouldn't spend my summer in pomona!

you'll be spending hours upon hours in the ms1 classroom during the school year and for me spending extra months in the summer out there would be torture!!

sure, the isacers had an advantage for first semester, but now we're all on the same page, isacers got to enjoy their thanksgiving weekend while we had to study for our third exam

this is just my opnion but i think doing anatomy during the school year sets you up into a good studying groove and you're more likely to continue it during second semester for neuro. rather than taking it easier first semester, i think its better to take it easy in the summer.

again; just my opinion; PM me if you have any more questions...

Is anyone interested in driving up to Pomona sometime in the next month or so to check out the area and the school. I live down in San Diego and could drive. later

i didn't do isac and looking back...i still wouldn't spend my summer in pomona!

you'll be spending hours upon hours in the ms1 classroom during the school year and for me spending extra months in the summer out there would be torture!!

sure, the isacers had an advantage for first semester, but now we're all on the same page, isacers got to enjoy their thanksgiving weekend while we had to study for our third exam

this is just my opnion but i think doing anatomy during the school year sets you up into a good studying groove and you're more likely to continue it during second semester for neuro. rather than taking it easier first semester, i think its better to take it easy in the summer.

again; just my opinion; PM me if you have any more questions...


Thanks for the info. I kind of decided the same thing. I want to enjoy my last summer before med school, save money, take a couple of trips, and go to beach a lot because I'll be missing it once I'm in Pomona.

Well I finally get to participate in one of these "officially accepted" threads! :) I got my letter from COMP yesterday. I'm really excited, as this was my first choice. I'm not sure if I'm a class of 2009 student though. I'm going to request a deferral. But if I get shot down I'll see you all this fall! :o

Hopefully it is.. *bump* I hate having multiple threads.

anybody heard anything about western/comp's 2005 residency matches?

I've only heard bits and pieces, but students are placing into just about every specialty.. FP, IM, peds, radiology, anesthesia, surgery, ENT, derm, PM&R, etc. at a lot of southern California programs as well as all over. May take a little more time for the accumulated list to come out for our rotations office.

did y'all get that email with the new tuition...$35,200..

did y'all get that email with the new tuition...$35,200..

Damm, that's some serious bank

isn't it too late to apply for air force hpsp this year?

No... but do it NOW!!! There are some slots left for the 4 year scholarship. I am currently app NAVY, but if you have any questions I can find out the answer or point you in the right direction.

Congrats on your acceptance to COMP!
-Ryan

anybody heard anything about western/comp's 2005 residency matches?

They were just posted, see the sticky thread.

You have to look at the top of the message threads for residency matches in the "Pre-Osteopathic" forums section, not the osteopathic forums. This is where the proper sticky thread is attached I believe.
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=175626

Once you hit the right thread, scroll down to 2005 for COMP. There are still a few matches that are missing on the list, but it is mostly complete according to one of my classmates.

They were just posted, see the sticky thread.


What is the sticky thread? Can you please refer me to it more directly? I am a relatively new user of this forum.

Just click on the html link in the above post

did y'all get that email with the new tuition...$35,200..
Ugh. Yeah, I got it. *sigh*

I am currently app NAVY.
-Ryan

Glad to see you finally decided to join the DARKSIDE!

Glad to see you finally decided to join the DARKSIDE!

You may now refer to me as your "Dark lord-master".

http://www.spacespider.net/emo/sw014.gif

Glad to see you finally decided to join the DARKSIDE!

http://www.spacespider.net/emo/sw018.gif

Is anyone looking for a roommate? I heard they send out a packet to find roommates in your class, but I havent received anything?
Anyone know about it??????????

There is no way I am doing a summer class. I will be in Hawaii living it up for my last hoorah.

See ya all soon! Only 4 months to go.

Is anyone looking for a roommate? I heard they send out a packet to find roommates in your class, but I havent received anything?
Anyone know about it??????????

There is no way I am doing a summer class. I will be in Hawaii living it up for my last hoorah.

See ya all soon! Only 4 months to go.

I haven't heard about Western helping us find roommates. I'm going to need one though. I think I want to live in the Clairemont colleges area even if it's a little more expensive. But I'm going up there soon to check the area out.

Does anyone know what the maximum financial aid you can barrow is? Thanks

Does anyone know what the maximum financial aid you can barrow is? Thanks

For Federal: Subsidized stafford is $8500 per year
Unsubsidized Stafford is $36667 per year
The federal loans can be taken out for all four years, but they dont add up to enough money to live off of.

How far is Claremont from the school? I have only been to that area once, so I have no idea where Claremont even is compared to anything else.

Claremont is close.. anywhere from 5-15 minutes away.

I going to Pomona on Saturday to check out the area. If anyone is interested in coming along let me know. I'll be driving up from San Diego.

For Federal: Subsidized stafford is $8500 per year
Unsubsidized Stafford is $36667 per year
The federal loans can be taken out for all four years, but they dont add up to enough money to live off of.

How far is Claremont from the school? I have only been to that area once, so I have no idea where Claremont even is compared to anything else.

i live on the border of claremont and pomona and it takes about 10 minutes to get to school

el sereno: check it out

Hey Surfin DO. Im possibly looking for a roomate, so let me know if you find a decent area or set of apartments. I have a good friend interviewing next week, so I might be staying with him if he's accepted. I saw that the WesternU website did have some sort of roomate link under the student section, but I never checked it out.

Question for everyone: I really like WesternU, but may be deciding between attending AZCOM. Has anyone picked WU/COMP over AZCOM and for what reasons? They have pretty impressive board scores, but thats about it. Kinda confused about their preceptorship thing too.

Hello All!

Yea, I'm looking for a roomate too! However, I'm most likely to be part of the ISAC program. Thus, I gotta be moved in prolly by late May. Anyone in the same boat?

Question for everyone: I really like WesternU, but may be deciding between attending AZCOM. Has anyone picked WU/COMP over AZCOM and for what reasons? They have pretty impressive board scores, but thats about it. Kinda confused about their preceptorship thing too.

This topic was discussed extensively a few weeks ago with myself participated in a large portion of it.

take a look
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=181891

Hope this helps in your decision making process. Good luck.

I need a roomate too, but Im not coming until July ( I have to have one last hoorah before I commit). ANyone interested in getting a house or something and having multiple roomates, it could be fun.

Hey Surfin DO. Im possibly looking for a roomate, so let me know if you find a decent area or set of apartments. I have a good friend interviewing next week, so I might be staying with him if he's accepted. I saw that the WesternU website did have some sort of roomate link under the student section, but I never checked it out.

Question for everyone: I really like WesternU, but may be deciding between attending AZCOM. Has anyone picked WU/COMP over AZCOM and for what reasons? They have pretty impressive board scores, but thats about it. Kinda confused about their preceptorship thing too.


I'll let you know what I find out. Later

If there are any MSIVs posting here, does anyone know the name of the student who matched to RIC for PM&R. Only 2 DOs matched this year and I would love the contact info for the other one. By the match list, I know they go to Western/COMP.

Thanks. Just PM me please.

If there are any MSIVs posting here, does anyone know the name of the student who matched to RIC for PM&R. Only 2 DOs matched this year and I would love the contact info for the other one. By the match list, I know they go to Western/COMP.

Thanks. Just PM me please.

Your PM mailbox is full.. can't send any information.

Hey bjay27, just curious... when'd you interview at western?

For Federal: Subsidized stafford is $8500 per year
Unsubsidized Stafford is $36667 per year
The federal loans can be taken out for all four years, but they dont add up to enough money to live off of.

How far is Claremont from the school? I have only been to that area once, so I have no idea where Claremont even is compared to anything else.

is there any money else where to borrow? considering tuition is almost 36k, 8.5k is not going to cut it at all unless you already live at home

So has anyone heard from financial aid? If not, when is the expected date roughly?

So has anyone heard from financial aid? If not, when is the expected date roughly?

I have the same question!
I haven't heard anything since I sent my second deposit (around a couple of weeks ago)... Do they wait till you send in the medical exam/immunizations thing?

I have the same question!
I haven't heard anything since I sent my second deposit (around a couple of weeks ago)... Do they wait till you send in the medical exam/immunizations thing?

I called them yesterday wondering the same thing. I also sent my 2nd deposit a couple of weeks ago. And, I, too did not complete my physical and immunizations. The financial aid lady said the award letters will come LATE APRIL :( There was no word on ISAC as well. I wanna know soon cuz I gotta find housing!

i got into COMP a couple weeks ago, yay!

before i got in i'd been emailing dr. kuehn about ISAC like a mad woman...i went in to see him the other day and he said he'll be sending out the ISAC packets in a few weeks. he looked like he was really busy with something, so no worries, i'm sure if you've contacted him you'll be fine.

i strongly suggest looking for housing NOW whether you're in or not.

yay, i'm excited. seriously, i got my acceptance letter the day i got back from cabo san lucas, talk about a welcome home, hehehe.

:thumbup:

is there any money else where to borrow? considering tuition is almost 36k, 8.5k is not going to cut it at all unless you already live at home

There's definitely more money, and you'll definitely need it. you'll need to get a alternative loan from an outside loan company such as citibank. when you get your award letter from financial aid it will include the max amount allowed for stafford loans, plus an amount on how much you'll need to suppliment. they figure a budget for us including living costs which is about 52K/year (this year... slightly higher next year with the tuition increase). the outside loan companies are NOT subsidized loans, but they're not too much worse than the gov't loans intrest-wise, and they'll be in deferement while you're still in school just like the gov't loans. there's a list of the possible alternative loan lenders on the comp website under financial aid. and none of us current students have received our award letters yet either, so don't worry, it'll come in plenty of time.

-E-
COMP 2008

I finally got a letter in the mail today (since submitting the second deposit), saying the same general stuff - get your medical exam and vaccinations by August 3rd, and send official transcripts bla bla bla... It says more specific info will be mailed to us as well (who knows when that will be...)

Places to live. The Plaza seems great for convenience sake. It would be nice to walk to school. Prices are from 825 for a studio to 1300 for a 2bd/2ba. I also checked out Claremont, it's a little more pricy but a much nicer area. The Village seems like a cool place to hang out or study.

I also like the neighborhoods at the base of the mountains with parks and trails in their backyards.

COngrats to the incoming MSI's!!

I am currently a student at COMP, and I am looking for a roommate for next year.
My apt is in Upland, about 10-15 mins drive from campus, rent is 575 per mo. not including utilities. Contact me if you're interested, purpura1@gmail.com

Hi, i believe i will be a fellow comper- although i cannot officially say it yet, i just had my interview, i feel cautiously confident. anyway- thinking of living in diamond bar, anyone hear about it? environment is huge for me and the surrounding areas of western didnt seem that exciting...chino any good?

I got my letter yesterday! Still have an interview at TUCOM-MI scheduled, but I might cancel...just can't see myself leaving so cal with COMP close by. I won't be doing ISAC (have a real job - gotta earn some $$ while I can). I might need a roommate if anyone is a clean freak like me.

Are there any golfers coming this fall?

If anyone is interested Western does have a roommate match you can do to try and find a roommate. You have to get in to Ban web, you can talk to Ann Koch to get a log in for it.

Congrats to all of you who just found out. Way to go.

Are there any females looking for a roomate?

yo joe... i'm trying to get the golf bug out while i still can so i'm golfing like twice a week if you want to the the courses before school starts.. pm me.

Does anyone know the class schedule for next year (like when we start)? The only thing I can find is the 2004 schedule, and they started the first week of August. Looks like there a lot of holidays...Columbus Day, Wed-Fri of Thanksgiving, MLK Day, President's Day

Also, anyone know of a good anatomy or biochem book to help me get ready? I've never had a class in either.

i got into COMP a couple weeks ago, yay!

before i got in i'd been emailing dr. kuehn about ISAC like a mad woman...i went in to see him the other day and he said he'll be sending out the ISAC packets in a few weeks. he looked like he was really busy with something, so no worries, i'm sure if you've contacted him you'll be fine.

i strongly suggest looking for housing NOW whether you're in or not.

yay, i'm excited. seriously, i got my acceptance letter the day i got back from cabo san lucas, talk about a welcome home, hehehe.

:thumbup:

Congrats on the acceptance! Look forward to seeing you...in ISAC! :)

Yea I called Dr Kuehn and he said I could expect to receive the packet next week and its now all a matter of responding whether we get in or not. I'm crossing my fingers on a potential place for the summer as well. Start looking cuz its so much fun...uh yea.

Got the medical physical coming in 2 weeks and just waiting for the financial aid stuff.

Man, I wanna just be all set so I can go traveling.

I found about this recently:
http://www.cathay-usa.com/offers/aap/subdefault.asp

$1200 to travel up to 17 asian countries within 21 days!.....Wanna travel b4 killing my brain!

Yeah, Dr. Kuehn is pretty busy right now because we're wrapping up the Neurosensory system, which he coordinated. He's probably putting off ISAC till at least this coming Monday after the final exam. I'm gonna be around this summer either as a facilitator for ISAC or as an anatomy tutor. So hope to see you guys here. Best of luck with the rest of school, work, or whatever is you're doing before med school starts!

Congrats on the acceptance! Look forward to seeing you...in ISAC! :)

Yea I called Dr Kuehn and he said I could expect to receive the packet next week and its now all a matter of responding whether we get in or not. I'm crossing my fingers on a potential place for the summer as well. Start looking cuz its so much fun...uh yea.

Got the medical physical coming in 2 weeks and just waiting for the financial aid stuff.

Man, I wanna just be all set so I can go traveling.

I found about this recently:
http://www.cathay-usa.com/offers/aap/subdefault.asp

$1200 to travel up to 17 asian countries within 21 days!.....Wanna travel b4 killing my brain!

Does anyone know the class schedule for next year (like when we start)? The only thing I can find is the 2004 schedule, and they started the first week of August. Looks like there a lot of holidays...Columbus Day, Wed-Fri of Thanksgiving, MLK Day, President's Day

Also, anyone know of a good anatomy or biochem book to help me get ready? I've never had a class in either.

there are a bunch of holidays but you'll spend most if not all of them studying for an exam the monday after! we even had a huge neuro test the monday after spring break...

i think it gets better 2nd year though

Congrats on the acceptance! Look forward to seeing you...in ISAC! :)

Yea I called Dr Kuehn and he said I could expect to receive the packet next week and its now all a matter of responding whether we get in or not. I'm crossing my fingers on a potential place for the summer as well. Start looking cuz its so much fun...uh yea.

Got the medical physical coming in 2 weeks and just waiting for the financial aid stuff.

Man, I wanna just be all set so I can go traveling.

I found about this recently:
http://www.cathay-usa.com/offers/aap/subdefault.asp

$1200 to travel up to 17 asian countries within 21 days!.....Wanna travel b4 killing my brain!

It sounds like that's a lot of "on-the-run" time while you travel which I doubt you want. I just got back from Bali and Singapore for 8 days and it cost about $1000 (airfare, hotels and transport). It was well worth it and we had a lot of relaxing/party time. Give them a try too. I think it's called Asian Affairs. Have a great time. I took this semester off undergrad and have been traveling so if you need any advice, feel free to PM me! :thumbup:

you could also try to go on expedia and test different dates to see if there are deals... i just booked my ticket last week to head off to thailand, hong kong, and taiwan for 3 weeks; 950 roundtrip.

It sounds like that's a lot of "on-the-run" time while you travel which I doubt you want. I just got back from Bali and Singapore for 8 days and it cost about $1000 (airfare, hotels and transport). It was well worth it and we had a lot of relaxing/party time. Give them a try too. I think it's called Asian Affairs. Have a great time. I took this semester off undergrad and have been traveling so if you need any advice, feel free to PM me! :thumbup:

I guess this will be completed in the beginning of the countless hours that you will be spending at COMP.

http://www.westernu.edu/news/landscape.xml

there are a bunch of holidays but you'll spend most if not all of them studying for an exam the monday after! we even had a huge neuro test the monday after spring break...

i think it gets better 2nd year though

In the immortal words of my anonymous 2nd year COMPanion.

"Last: if ANYONE tells you 2nd year is easier, hit them. They're lying. If you're like me, you hate sugar-coating things...if not, sorry to put a cloud over things."

Welcome to all the new COMPers!

In the immortal words of my anonymous 2nd year COMPanion.

"Last: if ANYONE tells you 2nd year is easier, hit them. They're lying. If you're like me, you hate sugar-coating things...if not, sorry to put a cloud over things."

Welcome to all the new COMPers!

2nd year is DIFFERENT from 1st year... in some ways it can be easier, other ways it is a lot more on your plate to deal with. You no longer have to deal with multiple ongoing classes and Monday morning exams every week.. or neuro, but you end up having to balance systems courses with extracurricular activities, board studying, and rotations planning.

All this being said, an upperclassman once told me that the worst day on rotations is better than the best day sitting in the lecture hall. It certainly is a lot more fun and challenging to be "out there", but everyone has to pay their dues the first two years on campus.

Officially in for the class of 2009!! So I am desp trying to find a female roomie asap cuz im leaving the country in 3 weeks adn wont be back till the end of june. i live in san diego so if there is anyone else local and looking for a roomie let me know! oh and im pleased to hear we have some poker players- i feel like we can manage some sort of social life during first year.....i hope =)

Officially in for the class of 2009!! So I am desp trying to find a female roomie asap cuz im leaving the country in 3 weeks adn wont be back till the end of june. i live in san diego so if there is anyone else local and looking for a roomie let me know! oh and im pleased to hear we have some poker players- i feel like we can manage some sort of social life during first year.....i hope =)

I am looking for a female roomie as well. Unfortunately I have no clue about the area. I am looking for someone who loves to go out dancing and party, but knows when to study. I am outgoing, and live an active lifestyle. (THis sounds like I am taking out a personal add, now all I need to add is my dimensions and eye and hair color :) ). Since I have no idea about the are I am open to living most anywhere, as long as it isnt scary.

WHen is the the housing on campus suppose to open up for students? Anyone know?

Hi everyone! just sent in my first 1K out of approx. 220K that i will owing in 4 years :eek: Anywayz, i have no clue about where to live or if the school helps you find housing. I have a car but i think the traffic is suppose to be pretty bad to commute daily. Any suggestions?

NCremer- the on campus housing is supposed to open in december; however i dont know that living right next to campus would give me the balanced life im looking for. Partying is something I enjoy, i guess dancing can find its way in partying..

DoctorS for places to live check out claremont, chino hills, upland/ montclair areas- not to far and better atmosphere then pomona

NCremer- the on campus housing is supposed to open in december; however i dont know that living right next to campus would give me the balanced life im looking for. Partying is something I enjoy, i guess dancing can find its way in partying..

DoctorS for places to live check out claremont, chino hills, upland/ montclair areas- not to far and better atmosphere then pomona

I am not sure I would want to live near that area either, I was just curious.
Of course partying and dancing coincide. THe more I party (and thus drink) the more I love to go out dancing.
I sent you an email by the way.

In the immortal words of my anonymous 2nd year COMPanion.

"Last: if ANYONE tells you 2nd year is easier, hit them. They're lying. If you're like me, you hate sugar-coating things...if not, sorry to put a cloud over things."

Welcome to all the new COMPers!

that's what i've heard too; i meant to say that our schedule is better 2nd year, no exams every single monday like we had first semester

i've heard from all my 2nd year friends that the material is more challenging

NCremer- the on campus housing is supposed to open in december; however i dont know that living right next to campus would give me the balanced life im looking for. Partying is something I enjoy, i guess dancing can find its way in partying..

DoctorS for places to live check out claremont, chino hills, upland/ montclair areas- not to far and better atmosphere then pomona


Thanks for the info Negasourus :) btw glad to hear that there are some of us who would like to go out and have fun sometimes :cool:

Thanks for the info Negasourus :) btw glad to hear that there are some of us who would like to go out and have fun sometimes :cool:

Yeah, I'm not going to study 6 hours a day outside of class (hopefully I won't have to) - gotta have some down time. I'm also glad to hear there are some people who like to go out. I'm not the dancing type, but if anyone likes hanging out at a sports bar with NFL Sunday Ticket, I'm there.

Yeah, I'm not going to study 6 hours a day outside of class (hopefully I won't have to) - gotta have some down time. I'm also glad to hear there are some people who like to go out. I'm not the dancing type, but if anyone likes hanging out at a sports bar with NFL Sunday Ticket, I'm there.
If I end up giving up my TUNV seat for COMP (debating right now), I'm there with ya... (but don't forget, currently the schedule has tests almost every Monday - so it might be Monday night football nights instead!) :thumbup:

For those of you who interviewed a while ago, I interviewed like 3 weeks ago and they told me our curriculum was going to be 100% different from last years-less class time and integrated classes so we wont have as many tests as the kids did last year.....i hope this is the case!

For those of you who interviewed a while ago, I interviewed like 3 weeks ago and they told me our curriculum was going to be 100% different from last years-less class time and integrated classes so we wont have as many tests as the kids did last year.....i hope this is the case!

You lucky, lucky bastids.

Did anyone who was interested in ISAC receive any information yet? Today, I received a letter offering its Summer Medical Sciences Prep Program along with an application. Did anyone else who was interested in ISAC receive this too? If not, I'm afraid that they sent me the wrong materials. ITs past office hours so I guess I'll just wait till tomorrow to call.

hey classmates :)

i havent heard anything yet from isac either. havent checked my mail yet today though. dr khuen said we should receive packets middle of april.

anyone know about when we are supposed to receive our financial aid award letter? they also said middle april.

did you guys/gals all find places to live yet? i looked in montclair and laverne over the weekend and have two places that i am very interested in. i figure a close grocery store, places to eat, and starbucks will do :)

Did anyone who was interested in ISAC receive any information yet? Today, I received a letter offering its Summer Medical Sciences Prep Program along with an application. Did anyone else who was interested in ISAC receive this too? If not, I'm afraid that they sent me the wrong materials. ITs past office hours so I guess I'll just wait till tomorrow to call.

I received that same packet, but I never showed interest in ISAC. It must have gone out to everyone.

As for the new curriculum, they mentioned that at my interview, but I got the impression that it was implemented already (for the 2008 class), but I could be wrong.

We just took our Neurosensory final. Dr. Kuehn was the coordinator for the system, so hes been pretty busy and probably been putting ISAC off till today. So you should be getting your letters soon. Also, if you did not get a letter for ISAC, but want to do it, call/email/stop by/stalk Dr. Kuehn until he lets you in. I wasn't initially invited either, but he let me in because I showed enough enthusiasm and committment. And let me tell you, ISAC was the best thing to happen to me first semester.

Oh, and everyone gets invited to SMSPP regardless of if you get ISAC or not.

Best of luck to all. See you soon.

I've finally made my decision to attend COMP :cool: After a long process of going crazy choosing between wonderful schools, I feel this is the best place for me. The new dean, Dr. Adams, is a wonderful man who is making such positive changes and it's a great time to be here. I just popped a bottle of champaign so it's official now - COMP '09 :D I look forward to spending the next few hard years with you. We should all meet up sometime and get to know eachother, find possible roommates and just have fun before studying and stress starts and lingers over us. I spoke to Negasourus earlier and she'll be outta town May - mid June so let's try and plan something before or after that so she can join. PM me if you have a preferable date.

I've finally made my decision to attend COMP :cool: After a long process of going crazy choosing between wonderful schools, I feel this is the best place for me. The new dean, Dr. Adams, is a wonderful man who is making such positive changes and it's a great time to be here. I just popped a bottle of champaign so it's official now - COMP '09 :D I look forward to spending the next few hard years with you. We should all meet up sometime and get to know eachother, find possible roommates and just have fun before studying and stress starts and lingers over us. I spoke to Negasourus earlier and she'll be outta town May - mid June so let's try and plan something before or after that so she can join. PM me if you have a preferable date.


Congrats and looking forward to meeting you! With all the new changes coming to COMP I'm hoping for a very strong and successful class to arise! I'm excited!

Yeah, I'm not going to study 6 hours a day outside of class (hopefully I won't have to) - gotta have some down time. I'm also glad to hear there are some people who like to go out. I'm not the dancing type, but if anyone likes hanging out at a sports bar with NFL Sunday Ticket, I'm there.

I'll watch a few games with you. Go Chargers!

I'm looking for 1 or more roommates to share a house. I want to live in claremont or close to that area. I'm not doing ISAC so I know it's a little early but if anyone is interested let me know.

Does anyone know which Anatomy book we will be using. Is it Atlas of Human Anatomy by Frank Netter? thanks

I've finally made my decision to attend COMP :cool: After a long process of going crazy choosing between wonderful schools, I feel this is the best place for me. The new dean, Dr. Adams, is a wonderful man who is making such positive changes and it's a great time to be here. I just popped a bottle of champaign so it's official now - COMP '09 :D I look forward to spending the next few hard years with you. We should all meet up sometime and get to know eachother, find possible roommates and just have fun before studying and stress starts and lingers over us. I spoke to Negasourus earlier and she'll be outta town May - mid June so let's try and plan something before or after that so she can join. PM me if you have a preferable date.

I will be gone until the middle of June as well (about the 15th). Let me know if you guys are really getting together because I have to fly in. I would love to come and hang out and meet some people before moving. You guys can show me the ropes since I am a little country bumpkin (JK). Only three months to go.

Negean, in you email is it NeG or neQ, I think that may be why my email didnt go thru.

Does anyone know which Anatomy book we will be using. Is it Atlas of Human Anatomy by Frank Netter? thanks

Here's what I heard from a second-year. I don't know if it was a required text or not. Also, I might be interested in a room in that house.

Moore's Clinically Oriented Anatomy. I didn't actually use that
book all too much. The time in lab and certain lectures is what really
helped me to pass the class. Frank Netter's Atlas of the Human Body is
an invaluable tool during Anatomy. It not only guides you through your
dissections, but it is absolutely necessary to look at when studying for
exams.

As for Biochem, the book we used was Marks' Basic Medical Biochemistry.
I'm not sure if they used the same book this year or not.

I'm in the first year class and the official anatomy books for our class were Moore's Clinically Oriented Anatomy and Netter's Atlas. My advice would be to wait to buy your books till you get here. Many of us will be selling some books. Also, this year, I (and any others that joined) received a free Netter for joining SOMA (student osteopathic medical association, it's the student chapter of the AOA). Membership for us was a $60 one-time fee for lifetime membership plus we got the free Netter (which costs around $90). I can't say if we will be able to offer this again next year, but hopefully that will be the case. Maybe a SOMA officer trolling through here can confirm or deny that? See ya soon.

-E-
COMP 2008

just got the good letter from COMP. Guess I have to kiss goodbye to the 2K deposit to TUCOM. That is a 50-rounds of golf I just lost. Please people, tell me that I am going to a better place, to COMP that is.

just got the good letter from COMP. Guess I have to kiss goodbye to the 2K deposit to TUCOM. That is a 50-rounds of golf I just lost. Please people, tell me that I am going to a better place, to COMP that is.

I got into both schools and chose COMP because it's more established, has better rotations, closer to my home and isn't in the middle of a shipyard! You made the right choice.

Please people, tell me that I am going to a better place, to COMP that is.

You are going to a better place.

just got the good letter from COMP. Guess I have to kiss goodbye to the 2K deposit to TUCOM. That is a 50-rounds of golf I just lost. Please people, tell me that I am going to a better place, to COMP that is.
I just made the same decision last night, including the 2k deposit loss... I was going to the LV campus though. They are also a very awesome school but I want to be close to the family and I also hear really good changes occuring at COMP. So, congratulations and forget about the 50 rounds of golf :thumbup: Go out and celebrate your acceptance!

I just made the same decision last night, including the 2k deposit loss... I was going to the LV campus though. They are also a very awesome school but I want to be close to the family and I also hear really good changes occuring at COMP. So, congratulations and forget about the 50 rounds of golf :thumbup: Go out and celebrate your acceptance!

Glad to hear we have some more future classmates! But how can he forget about the 50 rounds of golf? He should have started a thread with a poll:
1. COMP
2. TUCOM and 50 rounds of golf

That's a tough one

Glad to hear we have some more future classmates! But how can he forget about the 50 rounds of golf? He should have started a thread with a poll:
1. COMP
2. TUCOM and 50 rounds of golf

That's a tough one
:laugh:

hey future classmates, i have been out of the whole study scene for about a year now (took a year off) :o . Any ideas what should i do to get back in the study mode before school starts? :confused: you think goin oven old bio or biochem book will help or should i buy any anatomy book and start looking over that.

later.

I think the only thing that would actually help would be to go over gross anatomy. Frankly, it probably won't do a whole lot of good since the exams center around some very specific questions (I'm a first year at COMP). If you can get down the origin/insertion/action of all of the back and neck muscles you'll have an advantage. The specific questions are things like "which tendon lies most medial as the _______runs anterolaterally through the ____ blah, blah, blah.". Maybe get a Netter Human Anatomy book and stare at all of the artwork.

Your first section of anatomy is going to be the back and the neck. Check out all of the muscles/nerves/arteries and veins and try and have an idea how they all relate to each other anatomically. "Relationships" are of paramount importance in anatomy.

If you aren't a chemistry nerd, you're probably going to have some difficulty with biochem. The professor is actually excellent, but he expects a lot from the students. Expect to memorize every pathway he presents and then be able to describe them backwards.

Anatomy is physically and mentally exhausting. You are going to have to study more for this course than anything you've ever experienced. It's a TON of memorization. The lab part has its own challenges. You're not only going to have to recognize what the teeny weeny part of your cadaver is, but also to recognize what it might look like on 40 other cadavers.

Every lecture is now recorded on audiotape. This is going to be really helpful because you're going to be able to listen to a difficult lecture as many times as you want. Also, you can manipulate the speed of the recording so you can cut the time in half.

Feel free to e-mail if you have any questions
mwright@westernu.edu

Marc

Hi everybody! I am also attending COMP in the fall! Can't wait to meet all of you!

welcome doctora, cant wait to see you in the fall.

Thanks ncremer! How's the roomie search going? Any advice? I am also a female looking to live with another female or several females. I too like to go out and have fun but definitely know how to buckle down and study when I have to. I am also kind of a neat freak! I guess I should call and get the info from Western. Time is running out very quickly!!
Also.....If the class of 2009 is going to meet sometime in the near future I would love to meet some of you!

I just started a Yahoo group for us since we can't post our personal information on a public forum (this will be for COMP only and needs approval to join)... this way we can find out our classmates' names, exchange phone numbers and arrange for us to meet up before all the stress starts. If you have a Yahoo membership, just sign in. Otherwise, it'll take a minute to register for free. I recommend you put your primary email in the "alternate email" box so that you can get notified of new messages instead of having to log in and check everytime. Here is where to sign up http://groups.yahoo.com/group/COMP09/join

I just started a Yahoo group for us since we can't post our personal information on a public forum (this will be for COMP only and needs approval to join)... this way we can find out our classmates' names, exchange phone numbers and arrange for us to meet up before all the stress starts. If you have a Yahoo membership, just sign in. Otherwise, it'll take a minute to register for free. I recommend you put your primary email in the "alternate email" box so that you can get notified of new messages instead of having to log in and check everytime. Here is where to sign up http://groups.yahoo.com/group/COMP09/join

Doh.. just make sure that starting the yahoo group doesn't kill the SDN thread for COMP 2009... heh.

Doh.. just make sure that starting the yahoo group doesn't kill the SDN thread for COMP 2009... heh.
It won't... and you're more than welcome to join it if you don't want to miss anything. ;) That's why I mentioned "it'll be for COMP only" - we want get to know our upperclassmen as well and get your input on things.

COMP vs. TUCOM and 50 rounds of golf

That's a tough one[/QUOTE]


Amen. 50 rounds of golf is a lot to give up, :( but in the end COMP' 09 is where I will be- Only now I have to round up my courage and forget about the 50..50 rounds of golf and send in the acceptance reply. Thanks for the input. Can't wait for school to start and to meet y'all.

Thanks ncremer! How's the roomie search going? Any advice? I am also a female looking to live with another female or several females. I too like to go out and have fun but definitely know how to buckle down and study when I have to. I am also kind of a neat freak! I guess I should call and get the info from Western. Time is running out very quickly!!
Also.....If the class of 2009 is going to meet sometime in the near future I would love to meet some of you!

So are you from cali Doctora? Call me Niki by the way, I dont know why I came up with such a lame sign in name, but oh well.

hey future classmates, i have been out of the whole study scene for about a year now (took a year off) :o . Any ideas what should i do to get back in the study mode before school starts? :confused: you think goin oven old bio or biochem book will help or should i buy any anatomy book and start looking over that.

later.

you are in better shape than I am- I have been out for 5. I have been looking at my old biochem, immuno, cell, genetics. Things start to come back a little bit. Plus I am sitting in an AnP class at the local college one day a week(the Prop was very cool to let me do this). This helps since the class is 3 hours for each session- it gives me a good practice of staying focus for a long session. Hope this helps.

So are you from cali Doctora? Call me Niki by the way, I dont know why I came up with such a lame sign in name, but oh well.


Hey Niki! I'm gonna email you back! Check it soon!

Hey Niki! I'm gonna email you back! Check it soon!
Hey, I got your email and sent one back. When are you planning on heading down to the school area to move. I am thinking I may come down in May and June to apartment hunt.

Has anyone been able to log into banweb and find the roomate match section??? All I have is my email account, do I need something else?

Has anyone been able to log into banweb and find the roomate match section??? All I have is my email account, do I need something else?
Hey Negean, you may have to email Ann Koch about getting your log in info. They were suppose to send you the infor in your western email address though.

Anyone gotten their letter for ISAC already? Just wondering if you could tell me when the first day of class for that would be. Thanks!

Hey, I got your email and sent one back. When are you planning on heading down to the school area to move. I am thinking I may come down in May and June to apartment hunt.

Hey Niki!
I'm done with school in mid June so any time after that! I was thinking end of June to beg. of July to move in. I'm only about 2 1/2 hrs from there so I can drive down whenever to apartment hunt! I guess the hunting should begin soon though.

Anyone gotten their letter for ISAC already? Just wondering if you could tell me when the first day of class for that would be. Thanks!

I'm still waiting for the ISAC paper work too!

Regarding BanWeb - I received an email on my westernu account (finally) with instructions and pin to log on. The roomate section is not working for me either.

I thought that typically for banweb, you need a student ID# that I've only known to be on our student ID cards (unless they have e-mailed that information to you guys already). After you log into the secure site, there's a link for the roommate request thing.

I'm still waiting for the ISAC paper work too!

Regarding BanWeb - I received an email on my westernu account (finally) with instructions and pin to log on. The roomate section is not working for me either.
Ann said if you have any problems to let her know. Make sure when you put in your info you put in your full name and your western email address. She wont process it with any other email address. I had to do the entire thing over thanks to that. Here is her email akoch@westernu.edu.

Hi everyone.... so I emailed Ann earlier today to ask for an email account and I found out that there is 3 other people with the same exact name as myself. That should make for a very fun time in classes these next years :D

Oh btw.. so is anyone planning on taking that summerprep class thing?

Hi everyone.... so I emailed Ann earlier today to ask for an email account and I found out that there is 3 other people with the same exact name as myself. That should make for a very fun time in classes these next years :D

Oh btw.. so is anyone planning on taking that summerprep class thing?

We will have to come up with fun nicknames for you all. Thats ok because so far I have only met two other girls in our class besides myself (where are all of the females at) and two of us go by the same name as well, Niki. It will just make it more fun and interesting.
I am not taking the class, I would rather go have some fun. I am sure I will get my butt kicked for it by the amount of studying, but oh well.

I have an ID and PIN for Ban Web and am able to log on. But when I click on the roomate match link and then click on the 'start' button it first tells me that I may be entering a nonsecure site and then i click 'yes' to continue and I end up back at the BanWeb homepage!


Am I the only one with this problem?

Sup COMPers!

I finally received the ISAC stuff via EMAIL in my WesternU mail account. So check your email doods!

It seems we have quite a few San Diegans going to COMP like SurfingDO and myself. So to all you from the 619, 858 and 760...make yourselves known! :D

Sup COMPers!

I finally received the ISAC stuff via EMAIL in my WesternU mail account. So check your email doods!

It seems we have quite a few San Diegans going to COMP like SurfingDO and myself. So to all you from the 619, 858 and 760...make yourselves known! :D
What up SD people I am from La Jolla and I also plan to do the ISAC program, look forward to seeing all you guys in the fall.

Hey SD people, Im living in Carmel Valley right now and went to ucSD, but i will def NOT be doing ISAC, however Im sure I will be jealous of you guys come first semester!

I was wondering what every one was doing for medical insurance? Has anyone found anything cheaper than the school, I know I have not had much luck with finding anything? Or do most people just go with COMP's medical plan?

Does anyone know the deal with the gym? i know they dont have any on campus but i think they give you credit if you get a membership at 24 Hour Fitness or Bally's???

They changed the gym policy a bit for the Class of 2008. It may be a little different for you guys. For us, 24 hour fitness was not really an option. The local Y is free (but a little on the grungy side) and a one year Bally's membership is $50. These were both subsidized by the school. If we wanted to get a membership for another gym. They would give us a $100 credit towards our student accounts if we showed proof of such membership.

I was wondering what every one was doing for medical insurance? Has anyone found anything cheaper than the school, I know I have not had much luck with finding anything? Or do most people just go with COMP's medical plan?

You could get insurance through SOMA which has a comparable plan to the school. But I think you have to join SOMA (Student Osteopathic Medical Association) first.

I just got the basic school plan. It's fine but read the fine print. Some conditions (like ADHD) only have a 50% benefit.

hey guys and gals.

i need a to find a place to live. if you got a room for rent please message me the info. i will be doing ISAC so early june or late may move in would be great.

i would use the ban web, but it doesnt seem much better.

cant wait to meet you all

I was able to log onto banweb and fill out a roommate request form successfully. I then talked to ann koch who approved the request but as of now that is all you can do. She told me that the lady who handles the website is on vacation until next week so you wont be able to look at other students profiles and contact them for a roommate. For now, i would suggest that if you are looking for a roommate, go and fill out a request form.

I just wanted to stop by and say hi to my future classmates! I'm heading to Pomona in August from Colorado (via Wyoming), and I'm still in a state of shock over my acceptance (that could be because I spent a week and a half preparing for the "thank you for your interest, unfortunately..." letter. ;) )

I'll be living in eastern San Bernadio county, and will be using MetroLink as much as possible. Can anyone give me any feedback as to their experiences with SB County public transportation? I just don't feel like driving a whole lot if I can avoid it.

:D

Hi DrCara,
I just started using Metrolink to commute from the downtown Pomona station to downtown LA for my rotation and it is actually very convenient and pretty clean as well. (Although I have to get used to being on a "schedule" and not having the convenience of a car to drive wherever whenever I want.)

Debbie Harvey in Student Affairs at our school can order student-discounted Metrolink tickets which are a nice deal. The only things to consider are making sure the hours are convenient enough for you if you want to stay at school longer to study on some nights, etc. Where are you going to commute from?

Hi DrCara,
I just started using Metrolink to commute from the downtown Pomona station to downtown LA for my rotation and it is actually very convenient and pretty clean as well. (Although I have to get used to being on a "schedule" and not having the convenience of a car to drive wherever whenever I want.)

Debbie Harvey in Student Affairs at our school can order student-discounted Metrolink tickets which are a nice deal. The only things to consider are making sure the hours are convenient enough for you if you want to stay at school longer to study on some nights, etc. Where are you going to commute from?

melancholy,

I was looking at the MetroLink website earlier, and the closest station to where I'll be staying is Riverside - I know it's a longer than average commute, but I've had longer. Right now, with gas prices as they are and the age of my truck, I think I'll have to adapt to the train schedules. Also, it's really nice that the station is about four blocks from the school. :)

Welcome and congrats MS1s!!!
I am in the DO 2008 class, and just want to drop by and find out if anyone needed a place to live pretty soon...I am scoping out places, and if I do not find something soon, I will have to delay moving until July. For those of you that do not know, you can get all over "Banweb" on the westernu homepage and browse current available rentals and roommate possibilities.

PM me if interested!

Hi All,

I'm new to this website, and haven't really ever posted on line (I know, I've been living in the dark ages); so, please be patient with the newbie (that would be me).

Okay, I got my acceptance, but I'm crazy-nervous (so much so that it is sucking the joy out of actually being accepted to medical school) about the cost of living down there - especially when COMP's published estimated cost of education seems to be filled with a lot of gaps. Namely, their estimates for room and board are pathetically low when compared to the published rates in the rent book. How does it work?

Also, does anyone have a really good feel (beyond the party-line given us on the interview day) for how 'case-based' the new curriculum really is? I've spent a lot of time in class rooms, and have figured out that I learn better by doing than listening to someone lecture me about it (snore).

I'd appreciate any feedback,

Sara D.

Hey,
sorry it took so long to respond. The commute from Riverside should be pretty unstressful because there won't be many people getting on the train from that point at all and it will be nice and quiet all the way in. I will have to say that I have a hard time trying to sleep on the Metrolink because I can't find a comfy position (even with one of those airplane travel inflatable pillows), but I'm sure you can find something else to do like read or something. There are proposals to raise the student rates, but so far they are locked and hopefully they will stay like that for awhile. Your tickets may come out to be about $30-40 for five round trips (one week's worth) because there are a few "zones" you have to cross between Riverside and Downtown Pomona.

The station is a pretty quiet and uneventful walk to school.. literally in our backyard adjacent to some of our parking lots.


melancholy,

I was looking at the MetroLink website earlier, and the closest station to where I'll be staying is Riverside - I know it's a longer than average commute, but I've had longer. Right now, with gas prices as they are and the age of my truck, I think I'll have to adapt to the train schedules. Also, it's really nice that the station is about four blocks from the school. :)

Hey all -- wanted to drop a note and introdcue myself. I'llbe joining you all this August -- coming out to COMP all the way from NYC. My family is in Santa Monica, but I'll be looking for a place in Pasadena area -- is that an unreasonable commute? :confused:

I'm **very** used to a horrific commute, having working in NYC for a while.

Also, I'm an older student -- any other 30+ out there?

Hey all -- wanted to drop a note and introdcue myself. I'llbe joining you all this August -- coming out to COMP all the way from NYC. My family is in Santa Monica, but I'll be looking for a place in Pasadena area -- is that an unreasonable commute? :confused:

I'm **very** used to a horrific commute, having working in NYC for a while.

Also, I'm an older student -- any other 30+ out there?

Classmate of mine lives in Old Town, and the commute for him is ~45 min. so it's not so bad. I came from Boston, so a 45-60 min commute seems like nothing.

Hey all -- wanted to drop a note and introdcue myself. I'llbe joining you all this August -- coming out to COMP all the way from NYC. My family is in Santa Monica, but I'll be looking for a place in Pasadena area -- is that an unreasonable commute? :confused:

I'm **very** used to a horrific commute, having working in NYC for a while.

Also, I'm an older student -- any other 30+ out there?


Hiya larushct!

Join the 30+ crowd - I'll be 33 when we start this fall. :D

I'm not sure how far Pasadena is from Pomona - if I remember correctly (and someone please point out if I am wrong) Pasadena is west of Pomona, so since you'd be driving away from the LA area, the commute shouldn't be too bad.(again, don't quote me on that! ;) )

I'm the ripe ol' age of 38. :eek: Looking forward to meeting everyone soon!

Hey all -- wanted to drop a note and introdcue myself. I'llbe joining you all this August -- coming out to COMP all the way from NYC. My family is in Santa Monica, but I'll be looking for a place in Pasadena area -- is that an unreasonable commute? :confused:

I'm **very** used to a horrific commute, having working in NYC for a while.

Also, I'm an older student -- any other 30+ out there?

Hey larushct~ I am going to be a commuter too. I live ~15 min east of Pasadena. I will take me ~30 min to get to COMP from my house. So, it'll be about 45 min for you to get to COMP from Pasadena. You'll be taking 210 east, then 57 south, then 10 east to get to COMP. Why don't you find somewhere closer to the campus? Is it because you found cheaper living cost there? Or, is it closer to family and friends? :)

Hello my fellow COMP classmates! I just sent in my 1k deposit in last Sunday. (Waited for a month or so to do that). I look forward to meet everyone this fall~ Go c/o 2009!

p.s. I thought I was considered relatively old to start medical school, since I just finished my master's study in chemistry. I will be 24 starting med school this fall. It's all good! :idea:

I haven't found any place yet -- everything I've seen online so far wants a tenant to move in sometime in May/ June. I won't be enrolled in the summer programs, as I still work full time, and need to get my life on the East coast squared away (pack, rent out my house, which I own, and probably the same gazillion other things everyone else has to do). I don't plan to move in until mid/end of July.

I do have family there, though -- in Santa Monica. So I am looking in Pasadena, because that's about halfway between family and school. I don't mind the drive .. but you're right - something closer would be better. I'll be heading out to LA for Memorial day weekend, and will be checking out the areas then. My biggest concern with finding a place is I have a dog - that seems like a deal-breaker for a lot of apartment complexes.

Anyone else out there planning to move in July? (Seems like so many are enrolling in the summer programs and are moving sooner.)

Hey if anybody here hasn't joined the Yahoo group, just wanted to let you guys know we're getting together tomorrow night in La Verne at 7:00pm . If you want to join us, shoot me a PM for more details.

Hello everyone, I'm finally getting around to posting! I'll be joining you guys in August. It seems llke there's a lot of people from the San Diego area. I'm actually from Pomona (lived there for 23 years till I moved to SD) so I'm psyched to be going to school about 1/2 a mile from my mom's house (free food!!). I look forward to meeting you all. And congrats to everyone. :D :D

Whoops.. forgot to join the yahoo group. Approve my membership already!

Bah! If I could figure out how to join the yahoo group without getting a yahoo account, I'd have signed up! :(

Bah! If I could figure out how to join the yahoo group without getting a yahoo account, I'd have signed up! :(
It really only takes a few min to set up an account and it's free... just use your primary email when it asks and you'll get updates (messages) on that email; so technically, you won't even have to sign into the yahoo account again after it is set up unless you want to go to older messages or polls.

Terrific -- just added it to my Yahoo groups - so, now awaiting approval!

Incidentally, sorry I can't meet you all in La Verne tonight. I actually am heading out to CA tomorrow morning (from NYC) for the weekend. I'll be visiting the campus on Saturday to have another look around, show it off to family, etc.

How is everyone coming along with the tons of forms to fill out? I've plowed through most of the financial aid "6 steps" and made all my appointments for various docs I need to see: physical, Hep B series, dentist, etc. Woo hoo. :D

It is nice to see everyone is still chatting on both Yahoo and sdn. If anyone is still in the search for places to live, Mercedes and I spent one long fun filled day looking at a ton of places from La Verne, Chino Hills, Chino, Pomona, Claremont, etc. We found a really nice place in Chino Hills Called Oak Village, about 20 min from school. They have a ton of availability, and they actually come with a fridge and washer and dryer in the apartment (a rare thing to find down there I found). They were pretty reasonably priced. THought I would just mention it in case anyone was looking for an idea.

Hey everyone,
I just found out that I got into Western a few days ago. It's exciting b/c it was my first interview and obviously my first acceptance. I'm kind of freaking out b/c I'm not sure if I want to do the summer programs and when they even start. I doubt I can get everything together in the next few weeks...I haven't even filed my Fafsa :scared: I'm also worried about finding a roommate.

Congratulations Mkitties on your acceptance! Are you the one who got that really late interview (the one in May)? I think it's too late to file for FAFSA, since the last day to submit was like March 1st of every year. You should contact the financial aid office asap to let them advise you on what to do. As far as roommate is concerned, where do you wanna live? If you wanna live really close to campus, the on-campus apartment Helix is accepting applications right now. Just go to their website and check it out. Unfortunately, the apartment won't be ready to move in until december. If you have some other places in mind, you can start by posting on here. Good luck!

You're not too late on FAFSA. you've missed the 'priority registration' dates, but i think most of us did. just get it done asap and you should be fine. i think i did mine last year in may and i had no problems. congrats and see ya in august.

You're not too late on FAFSA. you've missed the 'priority registration' dates, but i think most of us did. just get it done asap and you should be fine. i think i did mine last year in may and i had no problems. congrats and see ya in august.

Oops! My bad. What's the benefit of priority registration of FAFSA anyways?

Congratulations Mkitties on your acceptance! Are you the one who got that really late interview (the one in May)? I think it's too late to file for FAFSA, since the last day to submit was like March 1st of every year. You should contact the financial aid office asap to let them advise you on what to do. As far as roommate is concerned, where do you wanna live? If you wanna live really close to campus, the on-campus apartment Helix is accepting applications right now. Just go to their website and check it out. Unfortunately, the apartment won't be ready to move in until december. If you have some other places in mind, you can start by posting on here. Good luck!

Like the other poster said, I think the deadline is June 30, 2005 but I still need to speed it up. Do you guys think I should hand deliver my deposit to save a few days? And do we get an info packet as soon as we send in our deposit? And its too late to do ISAC or SMSPP, right?? The booklet they gave us during the interview says they start in June, but when in June? Sorry guys for all the questions.

Also, I'm looking for a roommate, preferably a female who likes to go out. I'm going to go look for apts probably on Wednesday but from all the previous posts, I'm thinking claremont sounds good. I guess I missed the gathering you guys had a few days ago :( I would have really liked to meet you guys.

Is everyone getting a laptop?

Laptops at Medical School is a part of the culture. Get one. Your life will be much easier and classes will go by much faster.

I checked the WesternU COMP website and found that the first day of classes is on August 8th. Wow, that's early. I always thought we start near the end of August or something. Is everyone ready to start? I'm excited yet wanted longer summer break. :o

Does anyone know if there is a dress code at Western for lectures and labs?
Thanks in advance.

hello fellow COMP students! I received my acceptance just last friday. I think i may have actually had the last interview day. strange to think classes start in just about 8 weeks. I better get on that FAFSA :laugh:

I'll be commuting from the Pasadena area and I'm hoping it wont be too bad against traffic.

Doctor G, orientation starts Aug 1 and classes start Aug 8...

MKitties, there is no dress code for lectures and I imagine labs require closed toe shoes and probably a coat for Anatomy :thumbup:

Doctor G, orientation starts Aug 1 and classes start Aug 8...

MKitties, there is no dress code for lectures and I imagine labs require closed toe shoes and probably a coat for Anatomy :thumbup:

I'm pretty sure its too late to enroll for ISAC, especially since classes start tomorrow (Thursday). SMSPP won't start until June 20. You'll have to contact Dave Hacker to see if its too late to enroll. Both programs are really good, I think. I did ISAC, and it was great.

No official dress code for class, but of course they strongly encourage you to dress appropriately. The administration doesn't like to see miniskirts or shirts showing stomach, etc. You know all this by now. For OMM, you gotta wear shorts and T shirts. For girls, they ask that you wear sports bras too cuz you gotta show as much skin as possible for palpation. Guys have to take off their shirts. For anatomy, pretty much its up to you. But remember, whatever you wear will smell like embalming fluids, so I suggest scrubs or old clothes you don't mind throwing away later on. The school provides lab coats.

Hope that helped. Enjoy the remaining summer, and see you all in the fall!

I'm pretty sure its too late to enroll for ISAC, especially since classes start tomorrow (Thursday). SMSPP won't start until June 20. You'll have to contact Dave Hacker to see if its too late to enroll. Both programs are really good, I think. I did ISAC, and it was great.

No official dress code for class, but of course they strongly encourage you to dress appropriately. The administration doesn't like to see miniskirts or shirts showing stomach, etc. You know all this by now. For OMM, you gotta wear shorts and T shirts. For girls, they ask that you wear sports bras too cuz you gotta show as much skin as possible for palpation. Guys have to take off their shirts. For anatomy, pretty much its up to you. But remember, whatever you wear will smell like embalming fluids, so I suggest scrubs or old clothes you don't mind throwing away later on. The school provides lab coats.

Hope that helped. Enjoy the remaining summer, and see you all in the fall!

You guys mentioned on the c/o 2008 thread that the new curriculum has Anatomy taught in a block... so, what would be the benefit of taking ISAC?

You guys mentioned on the c/o 2008 thread that the new curriculum has Anatomy taught in a block... so, what would be the benefit of taking ISAC?

Good question. I havn't seen that new curriculum set in stone, but yes, that is one of the new proposed changes. If it turns out to be this way, then its true that ISAC students won't have the big advantage that we had this year because we didn't have to take anatomy and were able to focus on other classes. Besides this, the other advantage of ISAC is that it is taught in a small group (~30 students) with better individual attention by faculty and facilitators (who will be great this summer). The atmosphere, I think, is a lot more supportive and condusive to learning than that during the fall.

Also, ISAC students will most likely learn the material better than others because they will get it multiple times, once during the summer, then again during the fall when they TA the course. In addition, many ISAC students become anatomy tutors for the LEAD office during the fall which further reinforces the information (and get paid pretty well). This is a big plus beacuse a solid understanding of anatomy is critical for many other courses, like OMM, as well as being a physician in general. Teaching experiences will also come in very handy later on if you want to be an OMM TA or OMM Fellow.

So although the biggest advantage isn't there for ISAC students, there are many other benefits that make ISAC worthwhile.

Doctor G, orientation starts Aug 1 and classes start Aug 8...

MKitties, there is no dress code for lectures and I imagine labs require closed toe shoes and probably a coat for Anatomy :thumbup:

It says on the Western U website that the first event of the fall term is the President's Ice Cream Social which is on the 4th of August, and the White Coat Ceremony is on the 6th. It didn't say anything about the orientation. How come I didn't receive any information on it yet? Does the orientation only last for a day?

Our orientation was 2 1/2 days and was a complete waste of time. It's supposedly required. The only worthwhile things that happen during orientation is that you get your pic taken for your student ID (which you will need to wear to enter the buildings), you get your parking tag, and you get to talk to a few of us second years about what it's really like in med school. For us, it was wed, thurs, and fri before the white coat ceremony. you should be getting something inthe mail about it relatively soon. i can't remember exactly when it came to me last year, but i do remember it seemed rather late (so maybe later this month or even first week of july). oh yeah, you get to listen to about 12 different people tell you how gifted/talented/cool you are for being accepted to medical school, and how they expect big things from you, yada yada yada. yay? hope this helps,

It looks like Western U is on semester system. So when did summer vacation begin for you guys this year? For MSI, do we still need to be studying during big holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, or the summer vacation? I would like to know because I want to plan ahead, thank you!

It looks like Western U is on semester system. So when did summer vacation begin for you guys this year? For MSI, do we still need to be studying during big holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, or the summer vacation? I would like to know because I want to plan ahead, thank you!

Our last day of classes for MSI was may 19. They've changed the curriculum for you guys next year, but we had an anatamy exam the monday after thanksgiving break, so we were studying the entire time. Christmas is between semesters, so you don't have any new material to be learning yet, but you always have the option to go back over stuff you've already learned, but you won't want to after finishing your first semester (i didnt pick up a single book during xmas break). summer... hmmm, i haven't yet, but i did bring home a few books to look at... we'll see. I'm sure others are studying and yet others are not even thinking about it. It really depends on your learning style, and how well you retain the material you've already learned. You'll figure it all out as you go.

I have a question about labtops. My sister is gonna sell me her Dell Inspiron 1100. The display is 14.1''. On the Western U "Notebook Specification" sheet, it says that we need at least 15'' LCD. Does it really matter?

The truth of it is, that you don't really even need one for school. I love having it, because it blows the doors off my old computer, and there is tons of stuff you'll want to download like powerpoints and hand-outs, etc. The 'requirements' on the website are dumb; there's absolutely no reason you need a 3.5" floppy drive, and there's no reason why you would need a specific screen size. I almost never take mine to class anymore because it's more of a distraction for me. when i have it at school, i'm on AIM, i'm checking my email, reading the news, and other non-productive things like that. I guess my point is, get a computer you'll be happy with, that has the features YOU want and don't worry about the school's 'requirements'.

The truth of it is, that you don't really even need one for school. I love having it, because it blows the doors off my old computer, and there is tons of stuff you'll want to download like powerpoints and hand-outs, etc. The 'requirements' on the website are dumb; there's absolutely no reason you need a 3.5" floppy drive, and there's no reason why you would need a specific screen size. I almost never take mine to class anymore because it's more of a distraction for me. when i have it at school, i'm on AIM, i'm checking my email, reading the news, and other non-productive things like that. I guess my point is, get a computer you'll be happy with, that has the features YOU want and don't worry about the school's 'requirements'.

Thanks for the reply TheFish005, you are always attending to my questions. I kind of figured already that the screen size doesn't even matter at all, but I just wanna ask anyways 'cause you guys who went through at least the first year would know the heads ups.

Does anyone know what books will be required first year? (I really want to order my books online). I've heard Netter's anatomy is required and possibly the "dead body book." Some isac people said that Grant's dissector wasnt worth it... but I don't know much else... please help!

Does anyone know what books will be required first year? (I really want to order my books online). I've heard Netter's anatomy is required and possibly the "dead body book." Some isac people said that Grant's dissector wasnt worth it... but I don't know much else... please help!

see my response to your other post in the Osteopathic forum. and fyi, the term 'required' is a relative term. no one's going to check and make sure you bought it. if you're going to use it, buy it, if not, save your money. the rest i've already answered. hope it helps.

So, looking at the orientation schedule, I noticed we have something called "structural exams" on the first day of orientation... an exam? Wow, they get us started early! ;) Anyone know what the heck this "exam" is about, and its purpose (like, just seeing where the class as a whole stands in anatomy?)

No No No. The structural exam is where we as second years examine you first years to make sure you have no abnormalities that may contraindicate some osteopathic manipulation. It has no bearing whatsoever on your status as medical students; it basically lets you know what you can or cannot let other students practice on you because during OMM your classmates are who you learn/practice maneuvers on. It's no big deal, really.

No No No. The structural exam is where we as second years examine you first years to make sure you have no abnormalities that may contraindicate some osteopathic manipulation. It has no bearing whatsoever on your status as medical students; it basically lets you know what you can or cannot let other students practice on you because during OMM your classmates are who you learn/practice maneuvers on. It's no big deal, really.

Ah! That makes sense, Fish. Thanks for answering that for me! :D

I posted the same thread in the regular osteopathic forum. No one has replied to me yet.

What do you guys have for health insurance? How's the plan that Western U offers? Is $648 per plan year worth the money with $150 deductible? (And, what does it mean by "one-time deductible"?) I don't want to spend too much time shopping around for the "best" insurance plans, so, I don't know if it's good to just go for the one offered by Western U.

p.s. My prior insurance plans include being a dependent under my parents' plan. In college, I had student health insurance.

Thank you!

The school health insurance plan has seemed to improved a little bit in terms of extra features here and there, but for the most part, it is cheap insurance that is best if you never have to use it. I use it and add the optional major medical insurance part. Usually, I don't have a need for health care, but you never know when something will come up.

I posted the same thread in the regular osteopathic forum. No one has replied to me yet.

What do you guys have for health insurance? How's the plan that Western U offers? Is $648 per plan year worth the money with $150 deductible? (And, what does it mean by "one-time deductible"?) I don't want to spend too much time shopping around for the "best" insurance plans, so, I don't know if it's good to just go for the one offered by Western U.

p.s. My prior insurance plans include being a dependent under my parents' plan. In college, I had student health insurance.

Thank you!

The school health insurance plan has seemed to improved a little bit in terms of extra features here and there, but for the most part, it is cheap insurance that is best if you never have to use it. I use it and add the optional major medical insurance part. Usually, I don't have a need for health care, but you never know when something will come up.

Thanks. Anyone else have any input on this?
Also, I just noticed that Western U has just updated its website for a new look. It looks colorful and it has a lot of green; I like it~

Our thread is dying....lets keep it going! I don't know about you guys, but I'm actually pretty excited for school to start :eek:

This is the last time I will post this question, cause it's my third time today but each time I keep finding a better thread to post it in. I apologize! Were any of you accepted through COMP's early decision program or know of students who were? I would really like some stats. I did some searching and found one student who was accepted like 4 years ago along with one other student (apparently they were the only 2 to apply and they both got in). I was also unable to find any students through SDN that had interviewed in August. Any feedback would be appreciated!

The early decision program sounds vaguely familiar, but I cannot remember off the top of my head whether anyone in my original class had been accepted through that. There is plenty of time to be accepted though in case someone does not get in through that program.

This is the last time I will post this question, cause it's my third time today but each time I keep finding a better thread to post it in. I apologize! Were any of you accepted through COMP's early decision program or know of students who were? I would really like some stats. I did some searching and found one student who was accepted like 4 years ago along with one other student (apparently they were the only 2 to apply and they both got in). I was also unable to find any students through SDN that had interviewed in August. Any feedback would be appreciated!

on this thread for a couple of months I can now join in. Just got plucked off of the waitlist and now that the reality is sinking in that I will start in two weeks, not 1 year, as I had resigned myself to I am just a little nervous and excited. Well I look forward to meeting everyone soon.
Ron

Does anyone have a class schedule for the fall term??

Does anyone have a class schedule for the fall term??
It is not possible to post it here... PM me your email and I'll email it to you.

I know that this is very very late, but I just got pulled off the waitlist!!! Is anyone looking for a roommate or know of a good place to look for an apartment?? I will be calling COMP's student services today as I hear they have some information about housing.

Thanks!!!!!!!

Hello my fellow classmates. For the orientation on Wednesday, August 3rd, it says that we meet at Prem Reddy Hall, and it follows with the words "Health Professions Center". So the Prem Reddy Hall is in the Health Profession Center building on Western U campus? Thanks.

Hello my fellow classmates. For the orientation on Wednesday, August 3rd, it says that we meet at Prem Reddy Hall, and it follows with the words "Health Professions Center". So the Prem Reddy Hall is in the Health Profession Center building on Western U campus? Thanks.

Yup, the Health Profession Center or HPC is the one at the end of the strip with the commons. The library is on the other end of the strip. The building adjacent/across Palomares from the HPC is the HSC, Health Science Center. That's where anatomy/OMM lab is.

The SSC (Student services center?) is the building towards the end of the strip next to the little park with the basketball goal. That's where registrar/student affairs/admissions is.

Tricks of the trade!

Alright I have been searching SDN and Western's website, with no success. So I was wondering if anyone could answer some of these questions...

1. Early patient contact? Simulated patients, volunteer clinics, etc.?
2. What is this preceptor thing?
3. From what I read the 1st year cur. is only really lec./lab based, am I wrong?
4. What are the lecture and lab class sizes (professor:student ratio)?
5. Are there volunteer options also maybe abroad volunteer options?
6. If you are a current student or alumni what do/did you think and any other interesting stuff related to the school would be great.

Ok thanks in advance. I was just getting frustrated searching with no success and western's website is pretty slow and lacking information.

1. Early patient contact? Simulated patients, volunteer clinics, etc.?

- Western has been increasingly incorporating clinical medicine skills including physician-patient interactions into the curriculum, even earlier in the first semester. These clinical medicine experiences pretty much span the whole first two years on campus. There are also several different volunteer opportunities including health screenings in Pomona as well as a free health clinic that students rotate at in Monclair.


2. What is this preceptor thing?
- Not sure what you are referring to, but it could pertain to the ability to set up a clinical rotation with a specific physician (a preceptor) rather than a general hospital rotation where you may end up working with a number of different physicians at a time. There are plusses and minuses to these varied experiences.


3. From what I read the 1st year cur. is only really lec./lab based, am I wrong?
- If you are referring to the traditional lecture style, lectures are still a good part of the curriculum although problem-based learning modules have been incorporated into various parts of the curriculum.


4. What are the lecture and lab class sizes (professor:student ratio)?
- Not sure what this current class' size is, but it is probably about 200-220. I have no clue what the faculty to student ratio is but I believe it is not a big deal in lectures. As far as anatomy lab goes, there are student facilitators that take the summer anatomy course to help out as well as a number of different anatomy professors. In OMM lab, there are faculty as well as teaching fellows and teaching assistants to help learn the material.

5. Are there volunteer options also maybe abroad volunteer options?
-As I said before, there are several volunteer opportunities available and even more depending on how active a student is in promoting an activity. As far as volunteer activities abroad, some students work with various organizations such as the Flying Doctors of Mercy (LIGA) and will fly down to Mexico a few times a year to help at various smaller towns where there is no other medical care nearby. There are also supposedly international rotation opportunities for fourth year medical students.


6. If you are a current student or alumni what do/did you think and any other interesting stuff related to the school would be great.
- I would suggest to try and search through the older SDN message threads for Western as many pre-med and medical students have asked and answered questions, some of which may or may not pertain to what you're interested in learning. Furthermore, I would suggest if you are really interested in the school, call them up and ask to stop by for a tour which will allow you to chat with a student, tour around, talk to other students, and sit in on lectures. There is also OMAC (osteopathic medical awareness conference) which happens once or twice a year and it basically is a half saturday where pre-med students and/or families come to listen to a few presentations by faculty/administration/staff, take tours of the campus, eat lunch with other students, and have the opportunity to ask questions to a panel consisting of students/faculty/administration.

Hopefully my limited information (some of which may be slightly outdated) will help you on your quest to obtain more knowledge about our school. Good luck!

Ok thanks in advance. I was just getting frustrated searching with no success and western's website is pretty slow and lacking information.

Hey everyone at COMP. I am coming to interview on the 6th of October (thursday) and I was wondering if anyone had an extra room or somewhere I could stay the night of Wednesday the 5th of October. Let me know if anyone could help. Thanks. :)

Cory M.

goinverted@yahoo.com

If any of you 2009ers happen to take a break and read this before monday, I was curious to know of anyone from my class has sent you a copy of last year's practical answer key. If not, I still have it and would be happy to send it out so you can see what the profs have tagged in the past.

Hello everyone,

I've been accepted to COMP for the class of 2010, and would be in the Northwest Track. I was quite excited about this when I initially applied because the list of rotation sites they sent me had many great Seattle hospitals on it. Then, a few months back I spoke with Dirk Foley who told me that unfortunately many of those hospitals were not going to be available, but that Virginia Mason in Seattle was going to be open, as well as another group of hospitals in Tacoma.

I just talked to him again today to see what was going on, and now he is saying that Virginia Mason is "drying up" and that it is likely they will not be able to secure any rotation sites in Seattle.

My question is to class of 2009 Northwest trackers: Does this news come as a suprise to you at all? What sorts of statements/promises were made when you signed on to this track?

I am just a little concerned that things obviously haven't been worked out or are still up in the air, and that the only western washington sites they tentatively have are in Tacoma (less than ideal location and hospitals.)

PM me if you don't want to clutter up the thread.

Thanks,

Jake

Hello everyone,

I've been accepted to COMP for the class of 2010, and would be in the Northwest Track. I was quite excited about this when I initially applied because the list of rotation sites they sent me had many great Seattle hospitals on it. Then, a few months back I spoke with Dirk Foley who told me that unfortunately many of those hospitals were not going to be available, but that Virginia Mason in Seattle was going to be open, as well as another group of hospitals in Tacoma.

I just talked to him again today to see what was going on, and now he is saying that Virginia Mason is "drying up" and that it is likely they will not be able to secure any rotation sites in Seattle.

My question is to class of 2009 Northwest trackers: Does this news come as a suprise to you at all? What sorts of statements/promises were made when you signed on to this track?

I am just a little concerned that things obviously haven't been worked out or are still up in the air, and that the only western washington sites they tentatively have are in Tacoma (less than ideal location and hospitals.)

PM me if you don't want to clutter up the thread.

Thanks,

Jake

hey, jake
i'm really curious about this, too, because i would want to do my rotations primarily in portland and seattle. i know there were initially hoping to have lots of sites at eastmoreland here in pdx, which went out of business last year. i'd love to spend my last two years in the pacific northwest, but i don't want to do it at cr@ppy hospitals in places like yakima.

also, do you have the option of declining the northwest track acceptance and just doing everything in california? from what i can tell, information about the nw track has been really scarce here on sdn.

If any of you 2009ers happen to take a break and read this before monday, I was curious to know of anyone from my class has sent you a copy of last year's practical answer key. If not, I still have it and would be happy to send it out so you can see what the profs have tagged in the past.

stop trying to sabotage us Mr. Fish! I know how you changed the answers on the powerpoint just to f- with us.

wanna go surfin'?

stop trying to sabotage us Mr. Fish! I know how you changed the answers on the powerpoint just to f- with us.

wanna go surfin'?

I wouldn't dream of changing the answers. heh, I've probably forgotten most of the right ones anyway, let alone what i could possibly change them too! and no, suring wont help me pass the upcoming OMM midterm & cardio final.

Ouch.

Congratulations Comp Class of 2009 for completing your first semester of med school!!! BTW be safe and dont drink and drive. BTW be safe and don't go anywhere with OMWT! The guy is a MADMAN!!! He is also a moderator, so he could probably kick my ***** off this thread if he wanted to...but he also knows if he ever wants to come to Vegas he might have to deal with me and my famiglia. Again, CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

cardiotonic
TUN-COM
OMS-I

Congratulations Comp Class of 2009 for completing your first semester of med school!!! BTW be safe and dont drink and drive. BTW be safe and don't go anywhere with OMWT! The guy is a MADMAN!!! He is also a moderator, so he could probably kick my ***** off this thread if he wanted to...but he also knows if he ever wants to come to Vegas he might have to deal with me and my famiglia. Again, CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

cardiotonic
TUN-COM
OMS-I
haha congrats to you too you crazy man.. i hope you are enjoying your time away from LV.... Enjoy! And dont think your classmates dont show me the pictures of what I am missing out on down there. And I see you in the backround having too much fun!! ;)

haha congrats to you too you crazy man.. i hope you are enjoying your time away from LV.... Enjoy! And dont think your classmates dont show me the pictures of what I am missing out on down there. And I see you in the backround having too much fun!! ;)
Woa woa woa, Who is dishing those out??? Have you seen the Halloween pics? Ohh no, my career is ended :rolleyes: :laugh: No more study guides for you my friend :rolleyes: :D Happy Holidays!!!

cardio
TUN-COM
OMS-I

Woa woa woa, Who is dishing those out??? Have you seen the Halloween pics? Ohh no, my career is ended :rolleyes: :laugh: No more study guides for you my friend :rolleyes: :D Happy Holidays!!!

cardio
TUN-COM
OMS-I
Hey I decided not to use the study guides after I learned of your class average for your anatomy test :laugh: Anyway - back to enjoying time off. :thumbup: