Since noone has started this thread yet, I figured I would. I believe I have decided on COMP. The weather, rotation sites, qualities of students, quality of residency matches....should have been a no-brainer but took me a while.
Here we go.
:thumbup:

count me in.....

Congratulations!

So how was the interview?? I got mine coming up :o

So how was the interview?? I got mine coming up :o
it was great. I had Dr. Jones and he's pretty stone-faced, but a nice guy. The students are super cool and laidback. Dean Adams seems very inviting and friendly.

good luck. relax and i'm sure you'll do well.

bump.....

Ah I was waiting for someone to start this thread... :) Do you see how long some of those older COMP threads have lasted?! I think we can do better ;)

ok people, has anyone received any housing info???

ok people, has anyone received any housing info???
They just cashed my deposit check on Friday and I received my Banweb account info on Tuesday. So far that is it. I haven't received any housing info yet. Anyone else?

great...... i paid my deposit like 3 weeks ago, and haven't heard anything.......

great...... i paid my deposit like 3 weeks ago, and haven't heard anything.......
did they cash your check yet?

did they cash your check yet?
i paid by cc, and yes, it was charged...... um....i should give them a call....

i paid by cc, and yes, it was charged...... um....i should give them a call....
Actually, have you checked your WesternU email account yet? That is where they sent me the info.

u know what........ i don't think my westernu email is setup yet cuz i never got anything from them after my payment...

u know what........ i don't think my westernu email is setup yet cuz i never got anything from them after my payment...
i just PM'd you instructions on accessing your email account. you should have received something in the mail about a month or so after the acceptance letter. let me know if that works. if it doesn't call tech support (get # from website)

Hello Potential Classmates!

Hope u r all enjoying the holidays, and having a great time:) Have any of u started looking into housing options for fall 2006? I'm considering the Helix (the new on-campus apt.), and I've called the complex MULTIPLE times and I've left messages, but for some odd reason, no one calls back. I talked with the Student Affairs office, but they're limited in what they can do because the apt. complex is working with the university, but is not directly a part of the univ. Do you think it's ok to go ahead and submit an application even tho I'm not 100% sure I want to live there? Even if u pay the non-refundable deposit, can u still change ur mind later?? Any help would be appreciated...thanks!

Hello Potential Classmates!

Hope u r all enjoying the holidays, and having a great time:) Have any of u started looking into housing options for fall 2006? I'm considering the Helix (the new on-campus apt.), and I've called the complex MULTIPLE times and I've left messages, but for some odd reason, no one calls back. I talked with the Student Affairs office, but they're limited in what they can do because the apt. complex is working with the university, but is not directly a part of the univ. Do you think it's ok to go ahead and submit an application even tho I'm not 100% sure I want to live there? Even if u pay the non-refundable deposit, can u still change ur mind later?? Any help would be appreciated...thanks!
I haven't tried calling them yet but I emailed and also signed up for their interest list twice and have heard nothing. I'll probably try calling next week. Have a great holiday!

same thing here, called and left messages...... i think i am just gonna send in my application and see what happens........

anyone here?? bump.........

hey guys,

long time listener, first time caller...

sdn has helped me out a great deal and i thought i wanted to create a post in the meager hope that perhaps my experience might contribute to someone else. and likewise, there might be insights that others can offer me.

i was admitted to comp in december and turned in my $1k deposit, as well. i am waiting on some other schools before i make an official decision for myself. i visited touro MI and was really unimpressed (int in feb). their lecture rooms dont hold a candle to western's. i was disappointed by the lighting/size of the library, and the hazardous construction zone surrounding the school.. i felt like i was driving into an abandoned industrial city. it's built on an isolated island and the buildings are essentially as people described them. i visited western with the preconceptions from reading everyone's posts about how ghetto it is, but honestly, aside from the fact that it looks sort of like a high school on the outside and there's a useless antique row, i think it's not too bad.

i am also waiting to hear from the northeast schools (ny, philly, chicago).. i wanted to see those and perhaps experience life on the east coast.

does anyone know the advantages of choosing comp/staying in california? it seems getting rotations/residency in california may be a lot more plausible through a california DO school. i noticed the scores for the CA schools are the highest, but i dont think that translates into the highest calibre school necessarily because california schools may have inflated scores due to popularity of location. midwest schools definitely have lower admissions criteria and nicer schools - did you guys all rule them out?

if anyone wants any info from me - stats, scores, help with a personal statement, just send me a message and ill be happy to talk to you through email. i think PM means private message? i think that should correctly initiate a conversation.

additionally, this might be premature, but if anyone wants to meet (i'm presently working at Keck Grad Insitute in claremont, which is 5 miles from comp) id be more than happy to get to know some of you. im also leaning towards comp at the moment, too.. so this extends to when school is starting, too.

-Aman

I live in the midwest and I ruled them out primarily because of the weather. I've visited LA about 6 times. I dig it and I'm ready for a change. The curriculum at COMP has changed and less time is spent in the classroom. The lectures are recorded and available online as mp3's. The clinical years are spent rotating through great hospitals in SoCal. Basically, regardless of the preclinical years I feel my education would be better rotating through LA county rather than hospitals and clinics in the midwest.
The consensus seems to be, and seems to be verified by the match lists, that going to school and rotating through hospitals in SoCal allows a better chance at obtaining a California residency. COMP has residents at USC, UCLA, Stanford, Kaiser, etc.

Hello everyone, I am probably going to be joining you next fall, or next summer if I participate in ISAC.

I am also participating in the NWT, anyone else?

Moving to Southern California will be quite an adjustment for me, although I have a feeling I am going to love the weather--its rained something like 28 out of the last 30 days here in Seattle.

I am hoping to get out and do some climbing when I can, J-tree, Bishop, etc. I also checked out the climbing gym that's in the area, and it seemed pretty good. Would also like to get in the water and surf, go hiking, etc. Is there anyone else interested in this kind of stuff?

Take care,

Jake

PS:
<-------See the Joshua Trees in this picture? :) That was a climbing trip four years ago, and I've always wanted to go back and climb all the routes that I couldn't do then.

Hey guys,

I was wondering if there is a place to buy Western apparel? I wanted to get a present for a friend of mine who goes there but couldn't find any links on their website. If anyone knows a place to buy sweatshirts or something let me know. Thanks.

Hey guys,

I was wondering if there is a place to buy Western apparel? I wanted to get a present for a friend of mine who goes there but couldn't find any links on their website. If anyone knows a place to buy sweatshirts or something let me know. Thanks.
The bookstore here has plenty of apparel but I have not seen anything online. The bookstore is open to the public.

Hello everyone. This is my first post and I hope I didnt mess it up. I hope to be admitted into COMP's class of 2010. I interviewed on January 26th and will know the decision sometime this week!! Hope to see you guys in the fall!!

Anyone have an idea why this thread is so sparse relative to other class threads?

Hello everyone. This is my first post and I hope I didnt mess it up. I hope to be admitted into COMP's class of 2010. I interviewed on January 26th and will know the decision sometime this week!! Hope to see you guys in the fall!!
Good luck. keep us posted.

Anyone have an idea why this thread is so sparse relative to other class threads?

Because............ i am shy.......... :o :o :o :o :o :o :o

Thanks njaqua! I just found out that I am ACCEPTED!! I just have to put in my deposit!! See you guys in the fall!!
We need to get more students on here!! Maybe we should put up a post under the Osteopathic general blog instead of the Osteopathic Class blog to create more awareness!! Anyway, lets keep this blog going!!!! :D

Thanks njaqua! I just found out that I am ACCEPTED!! I just have to put in my deposit!! See you guys in the fall!!
We need to get more students on here!! Maybe we should put up a post under the Osteopathic general blog instead of the Osteopathic Class blog to create more awareness!! Anyway, lets keep this blog going!!!! :D

CONGRATULATIONS!!! 2nd year at Western/COMP here! good luck to the rest of you waiting on decisions. If you have any questions, let me know or PM me, laters!

I'll probably be there for the 2010 class.

Hello! Im just wondering if anyone is applying for the ISAC program? Why or why not?

Hello! Im just wondering if anyone is applying for the ISAC program? Why or why not?

I am strongly considering it, but not entirely sure yet. My considerations are the following:

Pro: I would love to have the material for first year spread out over a greater span of time, which I am assuming will reduce my stress level quite a bit. I would also like to have a solid grasp of the material, and going through it 2x will surely be a benefit in that respect.

Con: I am moving from out of state, and will have to quit my job a month earlier than I had planned to move to CA. For various reasons that will be more difficult for me than starting in August. Secondly, there are many things I would like to do this summer before starting school which I won't be able to do if I participate in ISAC.

I am strongly considering it, but not entirely sure yet. My considerations are the following:

Pro: I would love to have the material for first year spread out over a greater span of time, which I am assuming will reduce my stress level quite a bit. I would also like to have a solid grasp of the material, and going through it 2x will surely be a benefit in that respect.

Con: I am moving from out of state, and will have to quit my job a month earlier than I had planned to move to CA. For various reasons that will be more difficult for me than starting in August. Secondly, there are many things I would like to do this summer before starting school which I won't be able to do if I participate in ISAC.

Exact same situation here with ISAC (except for having to move to CA). For those in the area, do you think Chino Hills is too much of a commute to Western? Not only that, but any current students reading this thread living at Helix yet (or know anyone that's living there)? What's the hearsay on how it is? :)

Im putting in my deposit today!!! Has anyone else?

Exact same situation here with ISAC (except for having to move to CA). For those in the area, do you think Chino Hills is too much of a commute to Western? Not only that, but any current students reading this thread living at Helix yet (or know anyone that's living there)? What's the hearsay on how it is? :)

I'm curious about the Helix too.

I'm curious about the Helix too.


I don't live there but I've been in and seen it. It is NICE. Don't think I've seen many other on-campus housing at other schools that are better. Don't know how else to describe it but I think whoever stays there should be happy.

I am strongly considering it, but not entirely sure yet. My considerations are the following:

Pro: I would love to have the material for first year spread out over a greater span of time, which I am assuming will reduce my stress level quite a bit. I would also like to have a solid grasp of the material, and going through it 2x will surely be a benefit in that respect.

Con: I am moving from out of state, and will have to quit my job a month earlier than I had planned to move to CA. For various reasons that will be more difficult for me than starting in August. Secondly, there are many things I would like to do this summer before starting school which I won't be able to do if I participate in ISAC.

I am a COMP MSI who is both NWT and did ISAC. Honestly - I highly recommend doing ISAC.... but NOT for the reason you give. You need to know that COMP is on a block system (DO2009 was the first group) and ALL of gross anatomy is done in an intense 8 or 10 weeks. Which means that you will NOT have a lighter load for the rest of the semester - you will have practically no lectures to attend for those 8 weeks if you do ISAC. Now, that doesn't mean those 8 weeks need to go to waste. 1) you still are doing anatomy as a fascilitator, meaning you remember your anatomy much better and 2) you will have time to get ahead on other subjects... and we DO2009's would be more than willing to tell you what to do to get ahead.

Here's the con - you can lost momentum when you don't have to go to lectures for almost 2 months. ISAC is an intense 6 weeks and you meet great people in a very close-knit community - living in the lab with 30 people who are very focused on school. You also will do every dissection - whereas those who don't do ISAC will do every other dissection (which, during the regular school year, is very much a blessing... there's nothing more frustrating than having other exams you are worried about and having to spend 2 hours a day scraping fat before 2 more hours of dissection). So if you get into bad habits of being lazy in those "off" weeks when the rest of the class is doing anatomy, you could be in trouble when they hit the next block and you've gotten used to a nice slow pace.

I don't think there was a single person who regretted doing ISAC this summer - even though some didn't realize it would mean a block of 8 weeks with practically no lecture during the fall, rather than having a little bit lighter load all semester (you'll still have OMM & Essentials of CLinical Medicine as well as a couple other minor things).

As far as Helix goes - it's not best price around and you need to realize that the train is 1 block away and quite loud all night... but that is supposed to stop in July so it may be better. Look at craigslist for apts (inland empire or los angeles sites - Pomona's kind of in between), and Western's banweb has a housing area - both for apts/house and for finding roommates. It's literally across the street from school - which is both a pro & a con... Depends on how much you enjoyed dorm life.

Feel free to shoot me any questions regarding COMP. :-)

How often do you have exams?

Hi Future Fellow Classmates:)

If any of you are thinking of living in The Helix in the Fall, try to check it out soon. I talked to the apt. lady last week and she said students have already been putting down deposits for August 2006. Since it's only 1 bldg, it has limited space. I saw it last week, and it's definitely nice and very close to campus. Take care, and have a good long weekend!

Im putting in my deposit today!!! Has anyone else?

Already sent one in around November. Will send my March one soon. :)

How often do you have exams?

About every 2 weeks we have a big exam over everything in that block/system (ie pharm, micro, anatomy, physiology, immunology, etc). We also have 2 OMM practicals per semester and a couple of clinical skills "practicals" (doing H&Ps). There are also a couple courses that are not part of the block (things like ethics) that are tested seperately. But the science/board-relevant material is done in one big exam, usually every other Monday for 3 to 4 hours.

hey guys,

i'm pretty much settled on COMP, but i'm still trying to make sure CCOM isn't where i should be....i'm attracted to COMP's block system, non 7:30am exams, and weather...i'm not sure if COMP's rotation are as good as or better than CCOM's??? I know they are both great schools, but i'm still confused.....any thoughts?

Hi Future Fellow Classmates:)

If any of you are thinking of living in The Helix in the Fall, try to check it out soon. I talked to the apt. lady last week and she said students have already been putting down deposits for August 2006. Since it's only 1 bldg, it has limited space. I saw it last week, and it's definitely nice and very close to campus. Take care, and have a good long weekend!

What is the range of rent at The Helix? I can't find the information regarding rent.

http://www.helixpomona.com/webapplication.htm

by the way, i am also looking for a roommate if anyone is interested....

hey guys,

i'm pretty much settled on COMP, but i'm still trying to make sure CCOM isn't where i should be....i'm attracted to COMP's block system, non 7:30am exams, and weather...i'm not sure if COMP's rotation are as good as or better than CCOM's??? I know they are both great schools, but i'm still confused.....any thoughts?


Exactly.....

http://www.helixpomona.com/webapplication.htm

by the way, i am also looking for a roommate if anyone is interested....

Thanks.

Hello future classmates!!

I see a couple of familiar names (Dr. Don and Dr. Z) but the rest of you look newer. I got into COMP last year and deferred, so I haven't been on SDN for awhile. But I'm getting really excited now that the time is getting closer. I've got my house on sale, and my husband is looking for work in Southern Cali. We're both excited to move. Right now we live in Minnesota and we are SICK of this weather! :laugh:

Well I'm really looking forwarding to meeting you all in the fall. Any non-trads on this thread? I'm 31, married and have a son.

Take care everyone! :D

I also deferred last year, and am a non-trad, and am trying to figure out what to do. I have a nice scholarship at one school, I'm on hold at my number 1 school and western...these are my choices and despite my best intentions I haven't been able to decide yet.

Hello future classmates!!

I see a couple of familiar names (Dr. Don and Dr. Z) but the rest of you look newer. I got into COMP last year and deferred, so I haven't been on SDN for awhile. But I'm getting really excited now that the time is getting closer. I've got my house on sale, and my husband is looking for work in Southern Cali. We're both excited to move. Right now we live in Minnesota and we are SICK of this weather! :laugh:

Well I'm really looking forwarding to meeting you all in the fall. Any non-trads on this thread? I'm 31, married and have a son.

Take care everyone! :D
Non-trad here too. I'll be 29 when I start in the fall. I'm moving from South Dakota so I know exactly how you feel about the weather! Good riddance, I'm never coming back!
By the way, out of curiosity how difficult is it to defer at COMP? Do you need a really good excuse?

it was pretty easy for me, my wife got pregnant!
they were understanding.
Does anyone know/remember how COMP grades? is it on points?

Non-trad here too. I'll be 29 when I start in the fall. I'm moving from South Dakota so I know exactly how you feel about the weather! Good riddance, I'm never coming back!


I too will be 29, moving from a junk weather state and looking forward to it!

I too will be 29, moving from a junk weather state and looking forward to it!


hey you cold weather peoplez.....i'm non-trad too (although i'm thinking that the trads definition needs to be redefined since there are soooo many "non-trads" starting at DO schools)..... and have been on the cold northeast coast for a few years....so SoCal's weather is definitely much bigger of a draw than i ever thought it would be...

it was pretty easy for me, my wife got pregnant!
they were understanding.
Does anyone know/remember how COMP grades? is it on points?

I think they give letter grades along with numerical score.

Non-trad here too. I'll be 29 when I start in the fall. I'm moving from South Dakota so I know exactly how you feel about the weather! Good riddance, I'm never coming back!
By the way, out of curiosity how difficult is it to defer at COMP? Do you need a really good excuse?
I don't think it's difficult at all. If you have a reasonable reason, whatsoever, I think they'll let you defer. My reason was because of a job I *had* to take while I was waiting on interviews to med school. I took the job before I had a single interview, then got accepted just a couple of months later to COMP. I felt really bad leaving my job so quickly, so I asked for a deferral. I also listed some personal reasons (family obligations, etc), but my primary reason was the poor timing of this job offer and my acceptance into med school. Mind you I didn't get my acceptance at COMP until March, so my reason was valid. Anyway, I got no questions at all, and my deferral was accepted just weeks after I submitted my letter. :)

Wow lots of non-trads :) Congrats!

When is March deposit due?

When is March deposit due?
Hey dr.z!! I think it's March 15 for the final deposit. At least that's when I'll be sending mine in. ;)

So you decided for sure on COMP, huh. When are you moving (or do you even need to move)? I'm planning to move from Minnesota the beginning of July.

See in August! :D

Hey dr.z!! I think it's March 15 for the final deposit. At least that's when I'll be sending mine in. ;)

So you decided for sure on COMP, huh. When are you moving (or do you even need to move)? I'm planning to move from Minnesota the beginning of July.

See in August! :D

Thank you Khenon. I'm 99% sure I'll be at COMP. I'll move to Pomona at the end of July if things are as planned. I'll PM you about my 1% uncertainty later.

I spend 3 years in Minnesota during highschool. I've moved out to So Cal since graduating, and I can't seem to leave this place.

I think they give letter grades along with numerical score.


Grades are given by straight percentages - and those percentages are used to calculate your cumulative grades (kinda like a cum GPA - there's a formula to convert the % score to a GPA score).

One great thing about comp is that the average age is around 27... so while 1/3 to 1/2 are coming straight from undergrad, most of us have much more life experience. In the DO2009 class, there are many marrieds, lots of people with kids...

Grades are given by straight percentages - and those percentages are used to calculate your cumulative grades (kinda like a cum GPA - there's a formula to convert the % score to a GPA score).

One great thing about comp is that the average age is around 27... so while 1/3 to 1/2 are coming straight from undergrad, most of us have much more life experience. In the DO2009 class, there are many marrieds, lots of people with kids...

Really? That's interesting. I know that the mean age of those matriculating to med school in general is mid-20s. How does the 2009 class get along? I'm interested in class dynamics. I know that every year the dynamic of each class is different but I like to see what past classes have been like.

Hi everyone, I just got accepted to COMP a few days ago. I'm still thinking between COMP and KCOM. It's a difficult choice for me. I kind of lean toward COMP. I'm a non-trad student and will be 29 this summer. :) I hope I'll see you later.

Congratulations to you all! You seem like you'll be great classmates within eachother and we'll be here to answer any of questions. It's true that class dynamics differ from class to class. I can see a huge difference between 2008 and 2009. I think first semester everybody is scared of failing and just keeps to themselves, and then you start relaxing a little bit 2nd semester realizing its not hell afterall... I'm a non-trad too and didn't realize that a lot of my classmates would be older than me with families! Looking forward to seeing you guys in August. If you have any questions, let us know.

Class of 2009

Hey, is anyone looking for housing yet? I've been checking the internet for rent prices . . . how do "students" qualify for these amounts? Luckily my husband will be employed while I'm in med school so that helps me out. But I can't see how a single student, with no income, is able to qualify for these apartments.

Hey, is anyone looking for housing yet? I've been checking the internet for rent prices . . . how do "students" qualify for these amounts? Luckily my husband will be employed while I'm in med school so that helps me out. But I can't see how a single student, with no income, is able to qualify for these apartments.

show them your award letter from financial aid. this takes the place of income for purposes of proving you have the money to make rent. whether you take out the full amount or not is irrelavent, they don't need to know how much you actually have, just that you got it covered.

Hey,

Anyone in Southern CA ? We can get together to talk before we enter the class. I'm so pumped up. Can't wait until the school starts. :love: :laugh: :laugh:

I'm in SoCal.

Hey,

Anyone in Southern CA ? We can get together to talk before we enter the class. I'm so pumped up. Can't wait until the school starts. :love: :laugh: :laugh:
I'm getting really excited too. It sucks right now though because there's really nothing I can do in the mean time. I already applied for financial aid, my house is sold, it's too early to look for a place to live in Cali and my husband is looking for work, but there's not much I can do to help him. I just wish there was something I could DO in the mean time . . . except my current job of course. :laugh:

I'm in SoCal.

Oh yeahhhhhhhhh ......we should arrange some time to meet. :) Anyone else wants to join ? Hey, M1 and M2, when do you have Spring Break ? I'll buy you a drink. :)

I'm getting really excited too. It sucks right now though because there's really nothing I can do in the mean time. I already applied for financial aid, my house is sold, it's too early to look for a place to live in Cali and my husband is looking for work, but there's not much I can do to help him. I just wish there was something I could DO in the mean time . . . except my current job of course. :laugh:

When are you going to move over here ? Let's rock this forum.

When are you going to move over here ? Let's rock this forum.
I'm moving the 1st of July. I figure that gives me a month to move and settle in before classes start. I'm sure I'll need that down time. :)

Oh yeahhhhhhhhh ......we should arrange some time to meet. :) Anyone else wants to join ? Hey, M1 and M2, when do you have Spring Break ? I'll buy you a drink. :)

Any time is fine for me.

Hey guys, have any of you seen any studio apartments in the $600-$650 range? I've been looking in a couple places, but all I see advertised are 1 and 2 bedroom places...

Hey guys, have any of you seen any studio apartments in the $600-$650 range? I've been looking in a couple places, but all I see advertised are 1 and 2 bedroom places...
Do you have your Banweb account yet? There's a housing link on there with alot of listings. Also check ForRent.com and Rent.com. They have alot of various listings, including studios.

Do you have your Banweb account yet?

When/where did you get it?

When/where did you get it?
You should have received a letter after your acceptance giving you your Western email address. I was emailed all my Banweb info (ie log in name and password) a few months ago to my western email account.

You should have received a letter after your acceptance giving you your Western email address. I was emailed all my Banweb info (ie log in name and password) a few months ago to my western email account.

I lost that info then. I moved since I got accepted so I might have gotten rid of it.

I lost that info then. I moved since I got accepted so I might have gotten rid of it.
I'd give the admissions office a call and get that info then. They're going to send all your info to your Western email address (not the email address you may have listed on your application), so you'll want to check that. :)

You might just try logging in to your western email using the following format.

1st) the URL is mail.westernu.edu
2nd) username = first initial + last name (e.g. fbrown)
3rd) password = last two digits of birthyear and last 4 digits of social security # (e.g. 811234)

You might just try logging in to your western email using the following format.

1st) the URL is mail.westernu.edu
2nd) username = first initial + last name (e.g. fbrown)
3rd) password = last two digits of birthyear and last 4 digits of social security # (e.g. 811234)

Thanks, I got to log on. I have 650 messages to delete! :laugh:

Thanks, I got to log on. I have 650 messages to delete! :laugh:
:laugh:

I was going to warn you . . . I didn't check mine for about 3 months after I got it, and I had almost 400 messages. I figured you'd be breaking 600 after this long. :p

You might just try logging in to your western email using the following format.

1st) the URL is mail.westernu.edu
2nd) username = first initial + last name (e.g. fbrown)
3rd) password = last two digits of birthyear and last 4 digits of social security # (e.g. 811234)


Hey Thank You Don,
I guess I hadn't gotten info on the COMP e-mail yet. I was accepted two weeks ago so hello to everyone at the forum!!! :D Anyone know abou the ISAC admissions procedure?

:laugh:

I was going to warn you . . . I didn't check mine for about 3 months after I got it, and I had almost 400 messages. I figured you'd be breaking 600 after this long. :p

I still have about 150 more to go!

I still have about 150 more to go!
:laugh:

Isn't it annoying? It's mostly just "for sale", "need a roommate", "let's party" crap. I think I found 2 messages that were useful.

Good luck! :)

:laugh:

Isn't it annoying? It's mostly just "for sale", "need a roommate", "let's party" crap. I think I found 2 messages that were useful.

Good luck! :)

I'm done now. I had a lot from the administrator too. My mail box was too full! If they stopped sending these, it would have been less.

Hey guys,

I'll be flying in for an interview at COMP and am wondering which airport to fly in to. Is LAX too far away from the school? I imagine that with traffic, it would take a couple hours to get from there to Pomona....

Hey guys,

I'll be flying in for an interview at COMP and am wondering which airport to fly in to. Is LAX too far away from the school? I imagine that with traffic, it would take a couple hours to get from there to Pomona....

I think Ontario Airport is the closest, but I'm not 100% certain...

Hey guys,

I'll be flying in for an interview at COMP and am wondering which airport to fly in to. Is LAX too far away from the school? I imagine that with traffic, it would take a couple hours to get from there to Pomona....
dr.z is right. Ontaria is the closest. LAX isn't that far away . . . unless you hit some major rush hour, it wouldn't take a couple of hours. Though Ontario is closer, it might cost you more to fly in there. But several of the hotels near Western offer free shuttles to and from Ontario, and don't to LAX. So there are a few factors involved. That said, I flew into Ontario. :)

dr.z is right. Ontaria is the closest. LAX isn't that far away . . . unless you hit some major rush hour, it wouldn't take a couple of hours. Though Ontario is closer, it might cost you more to fly in there. But several of the hotels near Western offer free shuttles to and from Ontario, and don't to LAX. So there are a few factors involved. That said, I flew into Ontario. :)

I avoid LAX like the plague. that place is a nightmare; always crowded and traffic sucks. it's worth the extra couple bucks to use ontario. ontario is considerably closer anyway.

Does anyone have any advice, suggestions, or info on medical insurance coverage that is required by Western? Any help is greatly appreciated!!!

Does anyone have any advice, suggestions, or info on medical insurance coverage that is required by Western? Any help is greatly appreciated!!!

That really depends on what your needs are. I've had the school's plan since i started, and never used it. if you're generally healthy with no medical problems, it's fine and probably the cheapest you'll find, but if you need a little more coverage for any reason (asthma, kids, etc) you might want to shop around for something a little better.

congrats to all who got in for 2010! i'm really leaning towards COMP but still debating. I'm also in at Nova. How can i compare? how's life in pomona? why are you all choosing COMP over other schools you've been accepted to?
it can't simply be weather... (though it's a huge factor as i'm from michigan)
thanks!

I am a COMP MSI who is both NWT and did ISAC. Honestly - I highly recommend doing ISAC.... but NOT for the reason you give. You need to know that COMP is on a block system (DO2009 was the first group) and ALL of gross anatomy is done in an intense 8 or 10 weeks. Which means that you will NOT have a lighter load for the rest of the semester - you will have practically no lectures to attend for those 8 weeks if you do ISAC. Now, that doesn't mean those 8 weeks need to go to waste. 1) you still are doing anatomy as a fascilitator, meaning you remember your anatomy much better and 2) you will have time to get ahead on other subjects... and we DO2009's would be more than willing to tell you what to do to get ahead.

Here's the con - you can lost momentum when you don't have to go to lectures for almost 2 months. ISAC is an intense 6 weeks and you meet great people in a very close-knit community - living in the lab with 30 people who are very focused on school. You also will do every dissection - whereas those who don't do ISAC will do every other dissection (which, during the regular school year, is very much a blessing... there's nothing more frustrating than having other exams you are worried about and having to spend 2 hours a day scraping fat before 2 more hours of dissection). So if you get into bad habits of being lazy in those "off" weeks when the rest of the class is doing anatomy, you could be in trouble when they hit the next block and you've gotten used to a nice slow pace.

I don't think there was a single person who regretted doing ISAC this summer - even though some didn't realize it would mean a block of 8 weeks with practically no lecture during the fall, rather than having a little bit lighter load all semester (you'll still have OMM & Essentials of CLinical Medicine as well as a couple other minor things).

As far as Helix goes - it's not best price around and you need to realize that the train is 1 block away and quite loud all night... but that is supposed to stop in July so it may be better. Look at craigslist for apts (inland empire or los angeles sites - Pomona's kind of in between), and Western's banweb has a housing area - both for apts/house and for finding roommates. It's literally across the street from school - which is both a pro & a con... Depends on how much you enjoyed dorm life.

Feel free to shoot me any questions regarding COMP. :-)

I found a great site with things to do around the area. Check it out:
http://www.pomona.edu/magazine/pcmfl04/47thingsLIST.shtml

great site!!!.... thanks!
i also thought this was interesting.. COMP is friggin' expensive! 10th most expensive med school to attend in the USA!
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/grad/webextras/brief/sb_med_debt_brief.php

I found a great site with things to do around the area. Check it out:
http://www.pomona.edu/magazine/pcmfl04/47thingsLIST.shtml

great site!!!.... thanks!
i also thought this was interesting.. COMP is friggin' expensive! 10th most expensive med school to attend in the USA!
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/grad/webextras/brief/sb_med_debt_brief.php

It's not too bad by comparison to other schools. Yes, it is expensive but I'm sure it's worth it.

yeah, actually, i totally agree...
in the grand scheme of things... 10, 20, even 50 k is a worthy exchange if you find the right medical school for your self....
you're only looking at 2.5, 4, 12.5k per year extra....

hey friends...
has anybody heard if there is value in taking the "summer preparatory course" ...

hey friends...
has anybody heard if there is value in taking the "summer preparatory course" ...

I am considering it, but I don't know how helpful it is.

hey friends...
has anybody heard if there is value in taking the "summer preparatory course" ...
The students I talked to said that if you haven't had anatomy/physiology you'll still be fine in med school without the prep course. It seems the consensus is that you should just enjoy your last open summer and give your brain a much need rest before starting med school. Not that having an intro course isn't helpful . . . just that it maybe isn't necessary. I did get the feeling that if you're weak in biochemistry that it may be more helpful. This is just the feeling I got talking to students about it. There was no real resounding "Yah" or "Nay" on taking the course.

Got my letter of acceptance today! so happy :)
Since noone has started this thread yet, I figured I would. I believe I have decided on COMP. The weather, rotation sites, qualities of students, quality of residency matches....should have been a no-brainer but took me a while.
Here we go.
:thumbup:

Got my letter of acceptance today! so happy :)

Congrats!!!! Are you going to attend this school ? Sure ? Undecided ? Hey, if you're SoCal, please let me know. I plan to meet dr.z pretty soon. If you want to join us, welcome. Again, congrats for you acceptance. You must feel great. Party time ! :)

Got my letter of acceptance today! so happy :)

Congrats!

Got my letter of acceptance today! so happy :)
Congratulations! :thumbup: See you in August. :)

Hi guys, I am looking for a little advice:

My girlfriend and I are trying to decide if we are moving down to SoCal together, or if we will do the long distance thing for the next ~2 years (I am NWT.) There are a couple of important factors, one of which is whether or not we can find a more neighborhood-y place to live that would still be doable for me for school. To us, this means a condensed setting with a variety of businesses arranged in a pedestrian friendly manner. For example, where we live now, we can walk out our front door and find three different coffee shops, thai food, mexican food, italian food, a large grocery and an organic market, a couple different bars (one with live music most nights of the week), etc. and lots of interesting people, all within 3 blocks.

I thought I saw a few places near pomona that looked a little like what I'd hope to find, but didn't have a lot of chance to explore anything while down there. Do any of you know about the area and where we might look for this kind of living situation?

Thanks in advance,

Jake
EDIT: How about Claremont? Or somewhere south east of LA?

I'm new in SoCal also. From my observation, I can see that Monclair has a big mall and condensed businesses. I'm not sure if you can go to many places by walking but driving with a short distance is possible. It's pretty close to the school as well.

Other former or current students, please help us. Give us some love :love:

Hi guys, I am looking for a little advice:

My girlfriend and I are trying to decide if we are moving down to SoCal together, or if we will do the long distance thing for the next ~2 years (I am NWT.) There are a couple of important factors, one of which is whether or not we can find a more neighborhood-y place to live that would still be doable for me for school. To us, this means a condensed setting with a variety of businesses arranged in a pedestrian friendly manner. For example, where we live now, we can walk out our front door and find three different coffee shops, thai food, mexican food, italian food, a large grocery and an organic market, a couple different bars (one with live music most nights of the week), etc. and lots of interesting people, all within 3 blocks.

I thought I saw a few places near pomona that looked a little like what I'd hope to find, but didn't have a lot of chance to explore anything while down there. Do any of you know about the area and where we might look for this kind of living situation?

Thanks in advance,

Jake
EDIT: How about Claremont? Or somewhere south east of LA?

Hi guys, I am looking for a little advice:

My girlfriend and I are trying to decide if we are moving down to SoCal together, or if we will do the long distance thing for the next ~2 years (I am NWT.) There are a couple of important factors, one of which is whether or not we can find a more neighborhood-y place to live that would still be doable for me for school. To us, this means a condensed setting with a variety of businesses arranged in a pedestrian friendly manner. For example, where we live now, we can walk out our front door and find three different coffee shops, thai food, mexican food, italian food, a large grocery and an organic market, a couple different bars (one with live music most nights of the week), etc. and lots of interesting people, all within 3 blocks.

I thought I saw a few places near pomona that looked a little like what I'd hope to find, but didn't have a lot of chance to explore anything while down there. Do any of you know about the area and where we might look for this kind of living situation?

Thanks in advance,

Jake
EDIT: How about Claremont? Or somewhere south east of LA?


Hey congrats! Can't wait to meet you guys next year! For what you want I'd say your best bet is in Claremont near the Village, which is off Indian Hill Ave. off the 10 Fwy. There's a ton of stuff there, real cute and nicer. It's like 10 min from campus. otherwise I'd go for Chino Hills near the Chino Hills Spectrum or Rancho Cucamonga, but they're farther away from campus. Kinda a hard area to find something comfortable and nice....Pomona is kinda a crappy area period, but hey at least the Glasshouse is down the street!:)

Many people lived in Chino/Chino Hills, or in Claremont areas when I was a first year in 2001. I lived in Chino Hills and liked it a lot. Lived in Ontario 3rd, 4th year, and now in internship because its close to my hospital(s).

Has anyone else gotten their physical exam and vaccination records together yet? I'm working on it, and it's a bigger pain then I thought. Can't they just take a note from my doctor stating "She's fine"? :laugh:

Has anyone else gotten their physical exam and vaccination records together yet? I'm working on it, and it's a bigger pain then I thought. Can't they just take a note from my doctor stating "She's fine"? :laugh:

Oh, hell yeah. I took 4 shots last Monday. They knocked me out on Tuesday and continued until yesterday. Today, I feel normal but the left hand is still hurt a little, but no more fever or cold. Thanks God. :scared:

Has anyone else gotten their physical exam and vaccination records together yet? I'm working on it, and it's a bigger pain then I thought. Can't they just take a note from my doctor stating "She's fine"? :laugh:

Where do you get the information on physical exam and vaccination stuff? I don't have any information what so ever. I did send in a deposit recently though.

Has anyone else gotten their physical exam and vaccination records together yet? I'm working on it, and it's a bigger pain then I thought. Can't they just take a note from my doctor stating "She's fine"? :laugh:

Just have to get a varicella titre drawn, then I will send all the papers to the school. I was lucky to have all my vaccination records from childhood in a convenient place.

congrats to all of you, looking forward to seeing fresh faces next year.

chino, la verne, san dimas, claremont, montclair are all nice places to live.

i like la verne and claremont a lot, theres lots of other private schools in these areas and the atmosphere is much nicer. anywhere you go in these places you are going to have lots of places to eat and many places to study like coffee shops.

insurance, anything but the university is my recommendation. i just hate paying for things upfront then doing paperwork to get my money back and for the same price you can get blue cross or something like that.

ISAC is nice, but your advantage is gone for sure since the curriculum has been changed. but its the only chance you are going to get to dissect an entire body without fear of killing the person, so why not take advantage of that fact. a draw back absolutely is the change in momentum, but it worked out for most ISACers. another draw back is the rest of the class makes fun of ISACer and ISACers make fun of IFACers, but its all fun and games. we integrate very well once back into the swing. Teaching it the second time around also is pretty fun.

the schedule is nice, the integration during systems (though not perfect) is pretty impressive. the exams are scary as hell since there's so much per each exam but i think its gonna prepare us better for boards. but that also means lower scores on exams since theres so much competition btw subjects.

pretty much every student meets his/her match in a course and will struggle in a few courses, thats pretty normal. in some classes you study for 10-12 hours a day and just pass, others you study 2 hours a day and get 99 percent. some people get 90's all time. but overall there is usually a 80 average in each class once curves kick in.

hope my comments help, and try to live it up before school starts!

Hi hotlikebutter,

Thank you for your advice. Now we have some love.

Dr. z: You can get it from COMP website. Download the Cirriculum PDF file. I don't know the original name because when I downloaded it, I changed the name. When you first open the file, it should show the cirriculum. Roll down a few pages, right above the ISAC section, you'll see it. You can give me your email, I'll attach it and send it to you.

N.

Hi hotlikebutter,

Thank you for your advice. Now we have some love.

Dr. z: You can get it from COMP website. Download the Cirriculum PDF file. I don't know the original name because when I downloaded it, I changed the name. When you first open the file, it should show the cirriculum. Roll down a few pages, right above the ISAC section, you'll see it. You can give me your email, I'll attach it and send it to you.

N.

Thanks. I still can't find it. I'll PM you my email.

Hi Folks,
Just wanted to say congrats to those of you who will be joining the class of 2010 at COMP. Also wanted to thank the current students (and maybe the occasional intern/resident alumni) who are still keeping up the tradition of helping the future generation by answering questions, offering advice, etc.

I have under two months left to graduate, so I'm almost on my way out of the door, but I'll still be here and there to offer my two cents.

Hi Folks,
Just wanted to say congrats to those of you who will be joining the class of 2010 at COMP. Also wanted to thank the current students (and maybe the occasional intern/resident alumni) who are still keeping up the tradition of helping the future generation by answering questions, offering advice, etc.

I have under two months left to graduate, so I'm almost on my way out of the door, but I'll still be here and there to offer my two cents.

Thanks, melancholy. You're one of the best. :))

Where do you get the information on physical exam and vaccination stuff? I don't have any information what so ever. I did send in a deposit recently though.
I called the admissions office and was transferred to a councelor. I had to leave a message that I didn't have the physical exam/vaccination info. She emailed me the attachments the next day.

Anyone know how much time we got off between 1st and 2nd year? I looked at the 2005-2006 academic calender and it looked like there's only a month for summer break. Is that true? That's not alot of time. :(

Is anyone here going to live at the Helix? Is anyone currently living there...
comments? suggestions?

housing around claremont/chino/pomona/etc. is pretty slim pickins right now...
craigslist has been weak lately, to say the least. Anybody know of some other resources for housing?

Anyone know how much time we got off between 1st and 2nd year? I looked at the 2005-2006 academic calender and it looked like there's only a month for summer break. Is that true? That's not alot of time. :(
You should get a fair amount of time off between the first and second year, but not sure how much.. maybe 1.5 to over 2 months? I'm sure registrar's, student affairs, or maybe even admissions might be able to give you an idea.

housing around claremont/chino/pomona/etc. is pretty slim pickins right now...

I'm surprising you can't find much housing in those above-mentioned places. Are you in the area and calling various apartment complexes that you found on the internet or through one of those super-saver booklets you get at the local supermarket? Have you tried Chino Hills, Diamond Bar, Covina, Upland, Rancho Cucamonga, Ontario?

Anyone know how much time we got off between 1st and 2nd year? I looked at the 2005-2006 academic calender and it looked like there's only a month for summer break. Is that true? That's not alot of time. :(

The MSI's this year are out Monday, June 5th (yup, a Monday final!) and resume school August 14th. The schedule for DO2010 is probably going to be very similar. The summer between 1st and 2nd year is shorter than in years past to give us more time next summer to study for boards (they made the first spring semester 22 weeks long and the 2nd spring semester 16 weeks, instead of both being 19 weeks long). DO2009 will be out the end of April/first of May 2007.

The MSI's this year are out Monday, June 5th (yup, a Monday final!) and resume school August 14th. The schedule for DO2010 is probably going to be very similar. The summer between 1st and 2nd year is shorter than in years past to give us more time next summer to study for boards (they made the first spring semester 22 weeks long and the 2nd spring semester 16 weeks, instead of both being 19 weeks long). DO2009 will be out the end of April/first of May 2007.
Thanks for the info jennie. A little over 2 months sounds a heck-of-alot better then 1 month! :D

Hi everyone,

I was recently accepted to Western, and I'm wondering if anyone knows anything about the new match list for this year... Thanks

Hey Newnick
Thanks guys! I'm still undecided because I got accepted to another great DO school (KCUMB). I like them both, but I'm from SoCal and COMP definitely wins if I choose to stay local. I'm the type of person that likes to venture out of my realm, but since I had no car (I totalled my car 2 years ago :thumbdown ) I really didn't get around SoCal so maybe attending a school in Pomona will expose me to the LA area, instead of IE area. Also, we can have away fourth year rotations so that's pretty cool.
When are you meeting Dr. Z? I'll join you guys.

Congrats!!!! Are you going to attend this school ? Sure ? Undecided ? Hey, if you're SoCal, please let me know. I plan to meet dr.z pretty soon. If you want to join us, welcome. Again, congrats for you acceptance. You must feel great. Party time ! :)

Hey Newnick
Thanks guys! I'm still undecided because I got accepted to another great DO school (KCUMB). I like them both, but I'm from SoCal and COMP definitely wins if I choose to stay local. I'm the type of person that likes to venture out of my realm, but since I had no car (I totalled my car 2 years ago :thumbdown ) I really didn't get around SoCal so maybe attending a school in Pomona will expose me to the LA area, instead of IE area. Also, we can have away fourth year rotations so that's pretty cool.
When are you meeting Dr. Z? I'll join you guys.

That's cool. Give me your email, I'll send email to both of you to arrange the date. I plan to meet him this week (maybe next week is good), but don't know what he thinks because 2 weeks ago he told me that he was working on his thesis.

That's cool. Give me your email, I'll send email to both of you to arrange the date. I plan to meet him this week (maybe next week is good), but don't know what he thinks because 2 weeks ago he told me that he was working on his thesis.

Either week is fine with me. Just give me at least one day notice.

Congratulations to all of you who have been accepted to COMP DO c/o 2010! I'm from the Pomona area (Chino to be exact), so if anyone has questions about where to live or commutes, please feel free to contact me! I look forward to meeting you in August!

hey guys,

i'm from boston and am wondering what would be the best way to apartment hunt...i'm pretty sure i want to live in claremont or chino hills, but kind of want to see first....is there any sort of temp housing (YMCA?) while I look? Would anyone sublease for just june?

any advice would be greatly appreciated!!!!!!!!!

also -
what's the scoop on Helix?... is it worth the cost? all one bedrooms sold out. only have 2 bedrooms for $1350. Has anyone been inside?
thanx!

Yes, I've been in there. It looks very new and clean (since it was built recently). It's like a few seconds walk from campus. I thought it was spacious enough, but you should think whether you want to live so near campus or if you'd rather live in nearby cities (which have nicer surrounding areas). I personally chose the Helix cuz I feel more comfortable close to campus. If you get a chance, you should check it out and other apts in nearby cities as well before deciding. Good luck :)

Hi everyone,

I was recently accepted to Western, and I'm wondering if anyone knows anything about the new match list for this year... Thanks

Bump....anyone have the 2006 match list to post up?

Bump....anyone have the 2006 match list to post up?

Talked to the secretary who is supposedly in charge of posting it. Our school has traditionally (not sure why) taken off the student names off the match list, so this editing will take another week or so to be done. Don't ask me why our school (or other DO schools) seem to take longer with match lists. Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that we have people matching to both AOA and ACGME programs? At any rate, they'll post it on the website eventually.

Talked to the secretary who is supposedly in charge of posting it. Our school has traditionally (not sure why) taken off the student names off the match list, so this editing will take another week or so to be done. Don't ask me why our school (or other DO schools) seem to take longer with match lists. Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that we have people matching to both AOA and ACGME programs? At any rate, they'll post it on the website eventually.

Thanks for your time :thumbup: , I'll keep an eye out for it.

Hello All, my name is Keval. I am a 20 year old undergraduate student at Pitzer College. I am in a Linkage program with WUCOMP and pending my april mcat scores i will be attending COMP in fall 2006! nice to read that there are soo many people already getting to know each other. I live in claremont, CA so if anyone is in the area and would want to meet up, let me know!

keval - you're insane... i can't believe how early you're starting med school! damn gunners. anyway, welcome... i'm lookin' forward to meeting you.

also - jake... you mentioned visitng a decent indoor rock climbing gym - were you referring to 'hangar 18'? i can't seem to find any others closer to school.

yes, i am insane! just to catch up on some of the posts. i've been workin with cOMP staff and i don't think ISAC is necessary. With the new block scheduling, you will JUST be doing anatomy for the first few weeks, so just relax, and enjoy your summer . in terms of apartments, helix is pretty expensive; yet, it seems to be the most convenient. Is anyone still interested in splitting a 2 bedroom apartment in the helix complex? i've filled out some preliminary paperwork - let me know if you're interested!

Hello All, my name is Keval. I am a 20 year old undergraduate student at Pitzer College. I am in a Linkage program with WUCOMP and pending my april mcat scores i will be attending COMP in fall 2006! nice to read that there are soo many people already getting to know each other. I live in claremont, CA so if anyone is in the area and would want to meet up, let me know!

Welcome, Kavel. I hope you can meet us. I already PM you. We plan to meet tonight.

keval - you're insane... i can't believe how early you're starting med school! damn gunners. anyway, welcome... i'm lookin' forward to meeting you.

also - jake... you mentioned visitng a decent indoor rock climbing gym - were you referring to 'hangar 18'? i can't seem to find any others closer to school.

Yeah, I went and checked out Hangar 18...it looked like they had some decent bouldering anyway. Do you climb? I am hoping to get out once or twice to Joshua Tree, Red Rocks, and/or Bishop during my time in Southern California.

Bump....anyone have the 2006 match list to post up?

Jake, check this out

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=175626&page=4&pp=25

Hooray for newnick! thanks man... i've been trying to find a link like that forever.
Jake - yes, i'm a climber - novice... but very enthused about jt, rr, etc. I'm sure we'll have ample time over the next 4 years to hit a couple good walls.

kdkd - i'm also tempted to live at the helix. convenience vs. comfort.. it's rough one.... if the helix is over-priced AND in shabby-pomona, why aren't you actively seeking out places in claremont/chino?

Jake, check this out

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=175626&page=4&pp=25

Jake, check this out

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=175626&page=4&pp=25


Thanks!

So, lots of FP and IM as expected...all over California: USC, UCSF, UCLA, etc.

5, maybe 6 going into EM.

4 in ortho.

1 rad/onc

4 surg

Neurosurgery!

Is the matchlist incomplete? I numbered it in Word, and there's only 107 matches listed. Or are they only posting AMA residencies?

Also seems like the number of spots for specialties has gone down considerably if you take a look at match 2005/2004.

Is the matchlist incomplete? I numbered it in Word, and there's only 107 matches listed. Or are they only posting AMA residencies?

Also seems like the number of spots for specialties has gone down considerably if you take a look at match 2005/2004.

People who match in IM or Ped doesn't count in specialty. However, they have potential to go into Sub-spec. Hell, but 4 people in Ortho is pretty good. :)

People who match in IM or Ped doesn't count in specialty. However, they have potential to go into Sub-spec. Hell, but 4 people in Ortho is pretty good. :)

Bananafish - This list provided by TKim is one that a 4th year compiled based on email replies from the class of 2006 and so it is a very preliminary list. (Which is why it isn't complete) I'm guessing our school won't come out with a full list for another week or so.

Hooray for newnick! thanks man... i've been trying to find a link like that forever.
Jake - yes, i'm a climber - novice... but very enthused about jt, rr, etc. I'm sure we'll have ample time over the next 4 years to hit a couple good walls.


Wonderful! I'm looking forward to meeting you!

Congrats on getting into Western. I'm from DO2009 and I have some books for sale. If anyone is interested feel free to PM me.
Gracias & buena suerte!
:D

Hey friends -
you mentioned meeting up? is this still happening? I'm going to be flying out to L.A. (from detroit) to set up my housing situation. I'd love to get together if you're still on.
I'll be out there March 29 Wed. night (late) through tuesday morning April 4th.
... let me know the details...thanks - lookin' forward to meeting you..
- S2M

Either week is fine with me. Just give me at least one day notice.

Hey friends -
you mentioned meeting up? is this still happening? I'm going to be flying out to L.A. (from detroit) to set up my housing situation. I'd love to get together if you're still on.
I'll be out there March 29 Wed. night (late) through tuesday morning April 4th.
... let me know the details...thanks - lookin' forward to meeting you..
- S2M

I can meet you on Moday (April 3). Or Thurs (Mar 30), not so sure. Just let me know.

Hello everyone, I am probably going to be joining you next fall, or next summer if I participate in ISAC.

I am also participating in the NWT, anyone else?

Moving to Southern California will be quite an adjustment for me, although I have a feeling I am going to love the weather--its rained something like 28 out of the last 30 days here in Seattle.

I am hoping to get out and do some climbing when I can, J-tree, Bishop, etc. I also checked out the climbing gym that's in the area, and it seemed pretty good. Would also like to get in the water and surf, go hiking, etc. Is there anyone else interested in this kind of stuff?

Take care,

Jake

PS:
<-------See the Joshua Trees in this picture? :) That was a climbing trip four years ago, and I've always wanted to go back and climb all the routes that I couldn't do then.

Yo Jake (or anyone)

Hope you stuck with Comp because im coming and am stoked to find someone who wants to take advantage of the active part of the So Cal scene. Just actually got back from Bishop...it was beautiful. well send me a line if your still in for some climbing. i need a roomate too.

Hey Jake also i just read your earlier note about looking for an area with like an actual town (and not like an Applebees claiming to be a town). Im looking for this too just so i dont get all depressed and there's at least like a coffee shop or something to go study at. Well im thinking that Pasadena might actually be good. I know it seems a bit further (and it is) than like upland or whatever...but I timed the commute. It's 25 minutes (even at "rush hour") because it's a reverse commute. Some of the people at my interview said that some but not many lived in Pasedena. BUT they also said that from chino and upland and stuff (all those east of Pomona) took like 20 minutes to get to school. So check pasadena out. it's way nicer and only like 5 or 7 minutes further than some of those other places.

somebody correct me if im wrong on this too.

k

Yeah, Pasedena rocks. Thanks to Banafish for taking me there. He told me that the traffic is reverse as well. I drove there once and there was no traffic, it was pretty quick.

Hey Jake also i just read your earlier note about looking for an area with like an actual town (and not like an Applebees claiming to be a town). Im looking for this too just so i dont get all depressed and there's at least like a coffee shop or something to go study at. Well im thinking that Pasadena might actually be good. I know it seems a bit further (and it is) than like upland or whatever...but I timed the commute. It's 25 minutes (even at "rush hour") because it's a reverse commute. Some of the people at my interview said that some but not many lived in Pasedena. BUT they also said that from chino and upland and stuff (all those east of Pomona) took like 20 minutes to get to school. So check pasadena out. it's way nicer and only like 5 or 7 minutes further than some of those other places.

somebody correct me if im wrong on this too.

k

Yo peeps...
I'm goin' to SoCal tonight and plan on checking out most areas around school to get a feel for the scene and find a place. I have no idea what i'm bound to find in terms of quality, area, and cost. I may be interested in gettin' a roomate or perhaps even a house (3-4 bdrms) to share with my fellow first-years... If anybody is interested (i'm not certain about this also.. just toying with the idea) please pm me and we'll swap emails/phone for follow up.

Also - if anybody wants me to check out something particular let me know and if it's convenient for me, I'll help you out.

i don't know about the rest of you, but i'm just crazy psyched to start school! I just can't wait to start learnin' this sh*t and to meet all of you and to just have a blast in SoCal... I have a great feeling about times to come!

Yo Jake (or anyone)

Hope you stuck with Comp because im coming and am stoked to find someone who wants to take advantage of the active part of the So Cal scene. Just actually got back from Bishop...it was beautiful. well send me a line if your still in for some climbing. i need a roomate too.

Hey COMPers! Going to COMP next year for sure, and also looking for a place. Which is better/closer to campus Chino Hills or Rancho?

Thanks! I look forward to meeting you all soon! Soooo ready to start med school!

Yo peeps...
I'm goin' to SoCal tonight and plan on checking out most areas around school to get a feel for the scene and find a place. I have no idea what i'm bound to find in terms of quality, area, and cost. I may be interested in gettin' a roomate or perhaps even a house (3-4 bdrms) to share with my fellow first-years... If anybody is interested (i'm not certain about this also.. just toying with the idea) please pm me and we'll swap emails/phone for follow up.

Also - if anybody wants me to check out something particular let me know and if it's convenient for me, I'll help you out.

i don't know about the rest of you, but i'm just crazy psyched to start school! I just can't wait to start learnin' this sh*t and to meet all of you and to just have a blast in SoCal... I have a great feeling about times to come!

I'm excited to start class too!

Plus, I already had my first "what's a DO, is that a real doctor?" conversation the other night, so that's out of the way. :laugh: I was at a friend's house for dinner, an emergency physician at a big hospital up here in Seattle, and his girlfriend was the one that asked. It was fun, although I hate being on the spot like that. I got to explain it to a couple people there...I think I gave a good spiel.

This friend of mine happens to be quite supportive of my upcoming DO education, and his girlfriend was not biased, just not aware.

I want to really polish my presentation for the next time I am asked a similar question...be able to explain clearly my education and future practice rights without using defensive or reactive language.

By the way, are any of you NWtrackers? I just found a great list of preceptors for WA, AL, OR, ID, and MT.

Northwest Osteopathic Medical Foundation (http://www.nwosteo.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=2)

Later,

Jake

Hey COMPers! Going to COMP next year for sure, and also looking for a place. Which is better/closer to campus Chino Hills or Rancho?

Thanks! I look forward to meeting you all soon! Soooo ready to start med school!

Chino Hills is about 8-12 minutes away from school. Rancho Cucamonga is more like 15-20 minutes traffic-free. The path from Chino Hills is also mostly side-streets while Rancho Cucamonga primarily uses the I-10 highway.

I'm excited to start class too!

Plus, I already had my first "what's a DO, is that a real doctor?" conversation the other night, so that's out of the way. :laugh: I was at a friend's house for dinner, an emergency physician at a big hospital up here in Seattle, and his girlfriend was the one that asked. It was fun, although I hate being on the spot like that. I got to explain it to a couple people there...I think I gave a good spiel.

This friend of mine happens to be quite supportive of my upcoming DO education, and his girlfriend was not biased, just not aware.

I want to really polish my presentation for the next time I am asked a similar question...be able to explain clearly my education and future practice rights without using defensive or reactive language.

By the way, are any of you NWtrackers? I just found a great list of preceptors for WA, AL, OR, ID, and MT.

Northwest Osteopathic Medical Foundation (http://www.nwosteo.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=2)

Later,

Jake

thanks for the list!
I'm not holding my breath for UW's unranked list... so see you next year!
Do you know where to find the list for the 3rd/4th year rotations? I can't remember if Virginia Mason was the only Seattle hospital or not (i'd rather not be at Valley Medical or down in Tacoma)

just so it stays fresh in your head... i'm thinkin' about a 3-4 bdrm rental. Is there anybody out there that might be interested?

Yo peeps...
I'm goin' to SoCal tonight and plan on checking out most areas around school to get a feel for the scene and find a place. I have no idea what i'm bound to find in terms of quality, area, and cost. I may be interested in gettin' a roomate or perhaps even a house (3-4 bdrms) to share with my fellow first-years... If anybody is interested (i'm not certain about this also.. just toying with the idea) please pm me and we'll swap emails/phone for follow up.

Also - if anybody wants me to check out something particular let me know and if it's convenient for me, I'll help you out.

i don't know about the rest of you, but i'm just crazy psyched to start school! I just can't wait to start learnin' this sh*t and to meet all of you and to just have a blast in SoCal... I have a great feeling about times to come!

thanks for the list!
I'm not holding my breath for UW's unranked list... so see you next year!
Do you know where to find the list for the 3rd/4th year rotations? I can't remember if Virginia Mason was the only Seattle hospital or not (i'd rather not be at Valley Medical or down in Tacoma)

There is actually no choice, we will be doing our entire 3rd year in Tacoma. I think the only core rotation that we will be doing in Seattle is EM at Virginia Mason, at least that's what I remember from talking to Dirk Foley. However, since pretty much the entire 4th year is elective rotations, we can do them anywhere they'll take us...which is actually quite a few places in the region in my understanding.

There was a list that the admissions office was sending out to people last year, and on that list were sites in the NW where COMP students had rotated at in the past for electives. That list didn't actually have anything to do with NW track, except that we can probably do our electives at many of the same places.

Are you living in Seattle now? When are you thinking about moving down?

There is actually no choice, we will be doing our entire 3rd year in Tacoma. I think the only core rotation that we will be doing in Seattle is EM at Virginia Mason, at least that's what I remember from talking to Dirk Foley. However, since pretty much the entire 4th year is elective rotations, we can do them anywhere they'll take us...which is actually quite a few places in the region in my understanding.

There was a list that the admissions office was sending out to people last year, and on that list were sites in the NW where COMP students had rotated at in the past for electives. That list didn't actually have anything to do with NW track, except that we can probably do our electives at many of the same places.

Are you living in Seattle now? When are you thinking about moving down?

Thanks for that! Didn't realize we'd all be in T-town for 3rd year. Oh well.

Yup! I live out on the eastside, Bellevue yuppie-ville. =)
*ugh* moving...
I have no clue. I was thinking I'd head down sometime in June to look for places, and then con one of my friends to help my drive my stuff down mid July? Not sure how far from school or where I want to be yet...
how about you?

Thanks for that! Didn't realize we'd all be in T-town for 3rd year. Oh well.

Yup! I live out on the eastside, Bellevue yuppie-ville. =)
*ugh* moving...
I have no clue. I was thinking I'd head down sometime in June to look for places, and then con one of my friends to help my drive my stuff down mid July? Not sure how far from school or where I want to be yet...
how about you?

Pretty much the same thing....I don't know yet! I am in 'negotiations' with my significant other about whether or not she's coming down too.

I feel like I would rather be up here in July, but I also don't want to be rushing to settle in at the beginning of August. I'm thinking about finding a place I can move into early July, but spend the rest of the month up here visiting family and friends.

T town won't be too bad I think. I have a friend that commutes from Eastlake to Federal Way every day, he's in the car about 40 minutes each way, but its against traffic so its not too bad. So, living in Seattle might be feasible....

Pretty much the same thing....I don't know yet! I am in 'negotiations' with my significant other about whether or not she's coming down too.

I feel like I would rather be up here in July, but I also don't want to be rushing to settle in at the beginning of August. I'm thinking about finding a place I can move into early July, but spend the rest of the month up here visiting family and friends.

T town won't be too bad I think. I have a friend that commutes from Eastlake to Federal Way every day, he's in the car about 40 minutes each way, but its against traffic so its not too bad. So, living in Seattle might be feasible....

Yeah. I don't plan on doing ISAC, and I want to enjoy one of my last summers before my life ends. *haha*

If I were you, I would try to convince your girlfriend as much as possible to come. If she's in a place where she has the freedom to move, I think she should do it. I was just out in Philly for two years for my masters, and had to end a really good relationship because the distance just killed it.
We are still good friends, but for us, the distance was hard because it wasn't like we were able to visit often. and we hardly had a chance to spend time with together when he came to visit, because I was always studying.

But being clear across the country, and being on the same coast is much more different. Either way, it'll be an adjustment. I'm sure you'll both find a solution that works for you.

Hey guys,

It appears that I will be joining all of you at COMP this Fall. I thought it would be appropriate to say hi. I have actually been reading this thread for a few months now, but just got around to posting something. :rolleyes:

A little something about myself: I race road and mountain bikes, and do the occasional triathlon. I am graduating from Boise State Univeristy with a biology degree. I am in the NW track program. I'll try to be on more to talk.

-Chris

Hey all,

Just thought I'd follow Chris' example and jump into the thread. Name's Andy, I'm starting the D.O. program in August. Currently living up in Bellingham, WA but have lived in Seattle, grew up in Oregon (Bend), and spent my undergrad years in Tacoma (University of Puget Sound). I hear that the 3rd year rotations are there...trust me, it's not as bad as people make it out to be (plus, I know where the good/bad parts are). Anyways, just wanted to say hi!

Hi everyone. Like the previous poster, my name is also Andy and I am finally getting around to posting on this thread. I've seen some familiar faces (Jake and emeraldcity) from other threads about Utah and Washington. Like you guys, I didn't get much love from UW (unranked waitlist) and not holding my breath for Utah. I'm excited to come to COMP, though, and am planning on coming down. I'm a Washingtonian (Renton) but I decided not to do the NWT. Look forward to meeting you all in a few months...and hopefully heading to the slopes with some of you in the Winter. I hear they aren't too far from campus, though the snow probably isn't the best.

Hi everyone. Like the previous poster, my name is also Andy and I am finally getting around to posting on this thread. I've seen some familiar faces (Jake and emeraldcity) from other threads about Utah and Washington. Like you guys, I didn't get much love from UW (unranked waitlist) and not holding my breath for Utah. I'm excited to come to COMP, though, and am planning on coming down. I'm a Washingtonian (Renton) but I decided not to do the NWT. Look forward to meeting you all in a few months...and hopefully heading to the slopes with some of you in the Winter. I hear they aren't too far from campus, though the snow probably isn't the best.

Sounds like we're in the same boat! =)
in at COMP, unranked at UW, waiting for Utah.
how did you work out your "ties to Utah" connection?

Sounds like we're in the same boat! =)
in at COMP, unranked at UW, waiting for Utah.
how did you work out your "ties to Utah" connection?

My "ties to Utah" comes because I've been going to school at BYU for a few years now. I kept my WA residency just in hopes of going to UW...but maybe I would have been better off just switching and trying to get in at the U. What about you?

My "ties to Utah" comes because I've been going to school at BYU for a few years now. I kept my WA residency just in hopes of going to UW...but maybe I would have been better off just switching and trying to get in at the U. What about you?

*haha*
I have the- "I was born in SLC, and lived there until the age of 5..."
that's about as close as I got, and apparently it was good enough.
I'm sure being female helped a wee bit, at least for utah... :)
goodluck to you! no news?

I just got waitlisted. Any news for you? (I don't mean to turn this into a Utah thread! Sorry COMP classmates!)

Hey guys!

I was thinking:
We should all meet up sometime before school starts.
Grab a drink or two and say hellooooooooo
:D

Hey guys!

I was thinking:
We should all meet up sometime before school starts.
Grab a drink or two and say hellooooooooo
:D

You mean PNW (Pacific North Westers)???

I'm down! I'm pretty free most nights, anyone else?

By the way, are any of you NWT people on the Yahoo Group that Dirk Foley started?

You mean PNW (Pacific North Westers)???

I'm down! I'm pretty free most nights, anyone else?

sweet!
anyone else? =)
I'll send a message thru yahoo groups too.
find a relatively good time for ppl and a good locale...

By the way, are any of you NWT people on the Yahoo Group that Dirk Foley started?
Yeah, I signed-up for that awhile ago. I haven't checked it out yet.

Do you know where to find the list for the 3rd/4th year rotations? I can't remember if Virginia Mason was the only Seattle hospital or not

The DO2008 NWT folks just got their list for 3rd yr rotations (for them to rank their choices...) and the list isn't finalized yet. There isn't a list for 4th year yet that's been released.

What it looks like at the moment is that there are 12 slots for Tacoma/Seattle (hospitals mostly in Tacoma with one in Centralia and Virgina Mason in Seattle), 12 slots for Portland (mostly in Pdx with one Gresham and one Milwaukee), and 12 slots for Roseburg, OR (with at least one in Medford and
Grants Pass).

Basically, the 12 slots in each area have a slightly different schedule - each person will do their rotations in a different order. The tracks as they are now will probably be much different for DO2009 next year - and even more different for you guys as 2010... But this will give you an idea of what's going on (I know we in '09 have been anxious to hear!)

Here is the list of hospitals so far. Obviously, every area has less than 12 hospitals, and so generally the bigger sites have multiple rotations at that location. The list isn't final - they are still negotiating additional sites.

Asante - Rogue Valley Medford
Asante - Three Rivers Grants Pass
Bremerton Naval Hospital Bremerton
Cascadia Behavioral Health Portland
Legacy Good Samaritan Portland
Legacy Emmanuel Portland
Madigan Army Hospital Lakewood
Mary Bridge Children's Hospital Tacoma
Legacy Mount Hood Gresham
Mercy Medical Center Roseburg
Portland Adventist Portland
Providence Centralia Centralia
Providence Milwaukie Milwaukie
Roberts Street Clinic Gresham
Saint Claire Lakewood
Saint Francis Federal Way
Saint Joseph Tacoma
Tacoma General Tacoma
Virginia Mason Medical Center Seattle

HELLO COMP 2010 class!, COMP 2008 here! I live in Covina and it really is a 15 minute drive against traffic, both ways! and it's awesome. Definitely plenty of comercial things around here (coffee shops, kmarts, targets, nice restaurants, etc). So check the West Covina, Walnut, and Covina area too, it's just up the 10 freeway! If you have any questions, PM me, and good luck!

The DO2008 NWT folks just got their list for 3rd yr rotations (for them to rank their choices...) and the list isn't finalized yet. There isn't a list for 4th year yet that's been released.


Thanks for the list!!! :D

By the way, are any of you NWT people on the Yahoo Group that Dirk Foley started?


Somehow I've never heard of this...any idea of how I could join? Thanks.

Somehow I've never heard of this...any idea of how I could join? Thanks.

Call up Dirk Foley--his number should be on the school website.

I've got a very uncomfortable spot in my back at the moment that hurts when I twist or bend in certain ways. Thinking about the problem while at work, I realized how excited I am to learn OMM. If things don't improve in the next couple of days, I think I am going to visit an OMM practicioner to see if they can restore my range of motion.

I enjoy these kind of opportunities to verify the usefulness of different treatments.

Anyone else have a strong interest in or experience with OMM?

Anyone else have a strong interest in or experience with OMM?

I do. It's interesting to learn.

I do. It's interesting to learn.

OMM will become your new best friend, guaranteed! (especially right before and after tests)

Does anyone know when COMP starts informing us of our financial aid status? I submitted my FAFSA months ago. Just curious if anyone has info on this. I want to start budgeting. Thanks!

Does anyone know when COMP starts informing us of our financial aid status? I submitted my FAFSA months ago. Just curious if anyone has info on this. I want to start budgeting. Thanks!

I was wondering the same thing.
haven't recieved a financial package letter yet, but from their website, they have a breakdown of next years buget:

$37,190.00 Tuition
$40.00 Fees
$2,810.00 Books & Supplies
$10,860.00 Room & Board
$2,890.00 Transportation
$4,576.00 Personal Expenses

$58,366.00 Total

*yikes* :rolleyes:

Hello fellow COMPers! I too have been watching this thread since I was accepted and have finally decided to join in. After being neglected by UW for the past 3 years, I am so excited to start this fall with all of you. Its going to be such a great experience and I am even more excited for us NWTrackers to do our rotations around here. Look forward to meeting you all and try to enjoy your last few months before its game time!

I was wondering the same thing.
haven't recieved a financial package letter yet, but from their website, they have a breakdown of next years buget:

$37,190.00 Tuition
$40.00 Fees
$2,810.00 Books & Supplies
$10,860.00 Room & Board
$2,890.00 Transportation
$4,576.00 Personal Expenses

$58,366.00 Total

*yikes* :rolleyes:

I know! I heard Western is like one of the most expensive schools in the nation. Hopefully we'll be getting our money's worth!

I thought I'd say a little bit about myself, and hopefully others will continue to do the same! I just graduated from UCSD with a double major in bio and psych. I love to run and workout, and do anything outdoors...hiking, skiing, etc. I'm originally from SoCal and love it here! And finally...I am SOOOO excited to be heading to COMP next year...proud to be a future COMP student and DO!

Dr. K -
you're a rockstar! really... i've been dyin' to hear someone chime in with some killer school spirit. These posts aren't doing any of us justice - i'm sure we all sound WAY more enthusiastic than our entries make us out to be. I always feel so damn nerdy posting on sdn.

Anyway - back to your request. I got my bachelor's in business from Eastern Michigan University.... then travelled, then worked, then thought "what the hell am i doing with my life".. then i moved to santa fe, New Mexico - and so began my pre-med / pre-req journey. Here i am 3 long years and 2 mcats later - just dyin' to start med school. I can't friggin' wait to meet all of you and to join you guys in this incredible opportunity. I really feel so lucky to be studying this sh*t. And of course - to be in SoCal.

I was just there visiting and arranging for housing... for those of you that didn't travel around much - Western is in the PERFECT location!!! 20 miles from the school to the ski basin. 1/2 hr. to the ocean ... 1/2 hour to the city. 5 minutes to bonelli state park. 2 seconds to the claremont village. life (or what's left of it after gross) is lookin' pretty good.

Like Dr. K - i'm game for all activities. Runnin' / climbin' / sailin' / hikin'... you name it - i'm in. I have a great feeling about our class and the adventures we're about to embark on.
I'll be movin' around the 1st of june if anyone wants to meet up.

ps - NewNick and Keval are solid guys.... i was lucky to meet up with 'em this weekend and we're definitely lucky to have 'em in our class... watch out though - keval is a nasty gunner. he's out to crush us all!!!!!!


I thought I'd say a little bit about myself, and hopefully others will continue to do the same! I just graduated from UCSD with a double major in bio and psych. I love to run and workout, and do anything outdoors...hiking, skiing, etc. I'm originally from SoCal and love it here! And finally...I am SOOOO excited to be heading to COMP next year...proud to be a future COMP student and DO!

Like Dr. K - i'm game for all activities. Runnin' / climbin' / sailin' / hikin'... you name it - i'm in. I have a great feeling about our class and the adventures we're about to embark on.
I'll be movin' around the 1st of june if anyone wants to meet up.

ps - NewNick and Keval are solid guys.... i was lucky to meet up with 'em this weekend and we're definitely lucky to have 'em in our class... watch out though - keval is a nasty gunner. he's out to crush us all!!!!!!

I graduated in Dec '01 from U of IL-Urbana,Champaign with CS major. Changed my mind and took pre-med courses in St. Louis 2 years ago. I'm not very active, but love to do running and hiking. Climbing is scary for me. :laugh:

Skooled2much, thanks for your comment. Don't be too humble, man. You can crush us too. :meanie: Regarding Keval, I kind of figure out that he's so smart since he's in med school around 20 (if I'm not mistaken).

Be careful if Dr.Z joins the class. He's finishing his Ph.D this semester. :D

ps: Banafish is a great guy. Very funny and easy going. Look like this class is going to rock.

Dr K: I know... tuition's going to hit me hard in the bum too... but this is what i wanted, ummmm right?

UWalum: I feel your pain. Dr. Samson HATES me, I'm sure... such a repeat offender am I. glad to have you along!!!

JakeHarley/UWalum/any NWtrackers: are you guys still up for meeting sometime? I work most nights until about 9ish, but my sundays are always free. and I'm always up for a beer :D

Ya'll sound like a crazy crazy bunch. I'm loving it, i'm loving it!
but please tell me you aren't intimidated by a 5 foot girl who can out eat, out drink and out sports most of you boys... :laugh:

Be careful if Dr.Z joins the class. He's finishing his Ph.D this semester. :D


I'm not a gunner by any means. I'll bet you that I'll be below average in class. You don't need a brain to get Ph.D, you just have to be able to take lots of crap from other people.

I was wondering the same thing.
haven't recieved a financial package letter yet, but from their website, they have a breakdown of next years buget:

$37,190.00 Tuition
$40.00 Fees
$2,810.00 Books & Supplies
$10,860.00 Room & Board
$2,890.00 Transportation
$4,576.00 Personal Expenses

$58,366.00 Total

*yikes* :rolleyes:
Thanks for posting this. I don't know why I couldn't find this info myself . . . I really did look! :D So it looks like we're getting just over $18K once all the tuition and fees are paid, right? Of course, this is assuming I'm able to get some private loans. I know those can be a little tougher to get, and my credit isn't perfect. Ugh.

And in response to the other posts above . . . I am completely stoked to start med school!! :laugh: Admittedly I've been a little hesitant to express that. I guess I didn't want to hear the "med school is hard and you're going to hate it" responses some people give. I know it's going to be tough, but right now I'm in the honeymoon phase and CAN'T WAIT to get started. It's killing me to continue at my current job . . . all I want to do is focus on moving out to Cali and getting to know my future classmates. I used to live in So Cal when I was in the military. I was stationed at March AFB (Moreno Valley) for 4 years. I loved it down there, and I can't wait to get back. My hubby is excited to move too. He's from Idaho, so he's never lived in a warmer climate. We're both so through with winters, so this move is going to be great. :)

So I'm planning to move out there the 1st of July. My husband will probably move mid-May to continue his job search. If anyone has room for an extra roommate for 6 weeks, let me know. He'll need a temporary place to stay until I get there, and we get a permanent place.

I guess that's it for now. I really can't wait to meet everyone. :)

No prob!
i'm sure you'll get a private loan, it's just how much interest you might end up paying.... :)

salliemae does medloans. and their interest rates for those and private student loans aren't too terrible. I did a post-bac and got a private loan thru them. my interest is at 6.25%.

are you doing the nwtrack too?

I'm beginning to feel like it's NWTrackers vs. the "others" ... let the rivalry begin!!

JakeHarley/UWalum/any NWtrackers: are you guys still up for meeting sometime? I work most nights until about 9ish, but my sundays are always free. and I'm always up for a beer :D

Ya'll sound like a crazy crazy bunch. I'm loving it, i'm loving it!
but please tell me you aren't intimidated by a 5 foot girl who can out eat, out drink and out sports most of you boys... :laugh:

I'm down. How does Sunday April 16th sound to everyone?

I'm beginning to feel like it's NWTrackers vs. the "others" ... let the rivalry begin!!

*haha*
because all 28 of us can take on all 200 or so of you? :D

no, wait! we can bond too!
sooo, do you like... stuff? ;)

I'm beginning to feel like it's NWTrackers vs. the "others" ... let the rivalry begin!!

Pacific Northwest Represent, Yes Y'all.

no, wait! we can bond too!

We can talk, or not talk.......and we both like soup.

Hi guys, congrats on getting in. Enjoy your accpetances now, cause in the august the stuff hits the fan! It's really not that bad, actually, just make sure to leave a little time for yourself every week to maintain sanity. we had alot of fun first year; seriously, there IS time to party, as long as you manage your time wisely. for those asking about financial aid: don't worry, we haven't gotten our packages yet either. they usually come out middle-end of april or first week of may. i wouldn't worry too much about your credit (as long as it's not THAT bad): banks LOVE to back medical students - we're a pretty good investment on their part. Congrats again, welcome to COMP!

Hey Guys, I too figured it was time to post.. but I have to say I feel like super nerd (cue theme music in the background) putting messages down. I'm sure there are those out there who wish they could coordinate their cell-phones with sdn. And finally a medium that's even more disturbing than facebook/myspace stalking: sdn stalking!

Newnick, thanks for the kind words. :D (just to point out, this was a significant step for me-it's my first time using these expressive little bald-headed blue/yellow guys)

I grew up in the bay area in No. Cal and did a B.S. in bioeng at UCSD (I do in fact know Dr. K!) and am presently working in Claremont for Keck Grad Institute. Ever since getting into med school I find it increasingly difficult to concentrate on work.. I am really excited to start COMP in August and spending my time in a lab does not compare. Through my interviews, the facilities there have impressed me the most (omm lab, anat, lecture halls).

I hung out with NewNick and Dr. Z and am eager to meet the rest of the class. In terms of interests, I like running, tennis, hiking, cooking (or some variation of it), road trips, reading, art, photography, and bars/happy hour. Lately I have been easy on my ankle, though, due to some chronic pain I need to resolve-could definitely use a DO student to experiment on me. I am not into anything particularly exotic but I am usually down to try most things (I plan to go skydiving soon and I really want to learn how to scuba) and I can have fun in most situations. Both NewNick and Dr. Z said they were dying to become regulars at the local on-campus gay bar. Something about wild beasts and hairy chests when they've had too much.

Initially I had reservations about the Pomona area but it's starting to grow on me. It is a fairly cultural area and it really is nestled among some great places. I thought that preemptive pomona-pride must have been coming from asbestos-exposed eager beavers, but I'm starting to convert.

Btw, it's cool all you NWTers are all ramped about starting school!

Anyone own any pets? I have a dog right now by association through my roommate and have really enjoyed the companionship of a fellow furry creature. I was thinking of getting a guinea pig. Any thoughts about whether our lifestyle will provide us enough time to keep it fed/cleaned?

We can talk, or not talk.......and we both like soup.

and snowpeas? i bet we could not talk or talk forever and still find things to not talk about. we have soooo much in common *haha* :D

I'm down for the 16th, but i think that's easter sunday. what's open on easter?

Both NewNick and Dr. Z said they were dying to become regulars at the local on-campus gay bar. Something about wild beasts and hairy chests when they've had too much.


:laugh:

I thought you told us that you had a life time membership at the bar and that's why you moved to Claremont to work.

Haha.. Tomo.. I do and I've been dying for some company! :love:


:laugh:

I thought you told us that you had a life time membership at the bar and that's why you moved to Claremont to work.

Haha.. Tomo.. I do and I've been dying for some company! :love:

Just keep the 'peel' on the old 'banana'.... ;)

I don't know banana - you really wanna get a guinnea pig?.... I was thinkin' a gerbal might be more "up your alley"... :meanie:

(my first SDNecon too!)

Haha.. Tomo.. I do and I've been dying for some company! :love:

I'm sure NewNick will keep you company! :D

are you doing the nwtrack too?
I was offered the NW track option but didn't want it. I plan to stay in the So Cal area . . . forever. :D Besides, I have a family so moving them every couple of years is getting really old (for everyone) so we're going to try to settle down as best we can. Having said that, I'm still willing to associate with all the NW trackers. :laugh:

I'm relieved to hear the private loans aren't super hard to get. My husband will also be able to co-sign with me and he'll be employed, so that should help. I keep forgetting how badly the lenders want that "soon to be doc" money. :laugh:

Man I cant believe I'm getting phallic references for the whole banana thing.. anyway this thing is regressing - but I should have considered that before starting it!

and snowpeas? i bet we could not talk or talk forever and still find things to not talk about. we have soooo much in common *haha* :D

I'm down for the 16th, but i think that's easter sunday. what's open on easter?

Good point....I never know when Easter is.

Well...I am planning on being out of town the rest of the weekends this month, including the last weekend of the month when my g-friend and I are going down to Cali to look around.

By the way, Skooled: What did you see when you went down recently? Whereabouts are you thinking of living?

I was offered the NW track option but didn't want it. I plan to stay in the So Cal area . . . forever. :D Besides, I have a family so moving them every couple of years is getting really old (for everyone) so we're going to try to settle down as best we can. Having said that, I'm still willing to associate with all the NW trackers. :laugh:

I'm relieved to hear the private loans aren't super hard to get. My husband will also be able to co-sign with me and he'll be employed, so that should help. I keep forgetting how badly the lenders want that "soon to be doc" money. :laugh:

I hear ya about the constantly moving thing... I was just in Philly for two years, came back to Seattle, now I'm off to Cali for another two. always a yo-yo. I suppose I should be glad I'm still single, and I don't have to leave anyone behind...

Hahah yes. everyone wants your money.. it's just getting a good interest rate. unfortunately, it's like unsubsidized loans: interest accrues right away. so shop around and find a good fit. :)

Good point....I never know when Easter is.

Well...I am planning on being out of town the rest of the weekends this month, including the last weekend of the month when my g-friend and I are going down to Cali to look around.

No big.
I usually have wednesday or thursday nights off from work. (ugh, I'm a server at a japanese restaurant) maybe we can all meet sometime then. If you like sushi, you and your girlfriend are welcome to stop by! I'll hook you guys up. :)

So she did decide to come with you in the end? I'm glad you guys decided to move down together. I think it'll be better in the long run for both of you.

I tried to post a message thru yahoogroups, but it says i have to get the message approved by the moderator before it gets sent out (i'm guessing that's dirk)

alrightie. Have a great weekend!

There's some interesting current events in the latest Western magazine. Check it out: http://www.westernu.edu/bin/news/16260_WesternU.pdf

Even contains pics of Siegfried and Roy!@

That's right folks -- I'm the gunner. Watch out. Haha, first I need to get my acceptance letter so I can freakin' enjoy the rest of my summer. I'm taking the MCAT two weeks from tomorrow -- assuming all goes well i can't wait to meet you all in august. Welcome week starts august 7th or so!

I put down for a double at the Helix. i still need a roomate. It's not bad. It seems convenient and it's knew. The facility is pretty nice i should say (not too much to complain about although there are pros and cons to housing everywhere). I met up with skooled2much -- he's a great guy. We had some good conversation and It should be a great time when we all meet finally. Anyone in the socal area want to meet up after April 22? I would be down.

So what if i'm 20? Yeah, I still use instant messaging and I still play video games, but I still know how to deal with yall northwesterners or whatever the hell that program is ;) haha, jk.

about financial aid package, I contacted them and found out (im sure yall already know..8 thousand subsizidized and 32K unsubsidized..or somewhere along those lines)..wow, that means i'll have to come up with another 18K ..hmm maybe parents can help me out haha.the financial aid lady said we should be getting our rewards within a week or so. so be checking your westernu email account (i still have to get that set up). i worked with dr. redding yesteryday -- he heads the OMM clinic at Western's Medical Center. OMM is seriously like magic. Oh, and he told me to spread the word -- eating nuts everyday will reduce cholesterol levels on average 32-65 percent (he's doing a study that western is paying him for currently). ok, must go to sleep.

Oh, and he told me to spread the word -- eating nuts everyday will reduce cholesterol levels on average 32-65 percent.

Wow Bananafish! with all of your 'tastes' your cholesterol must be really low!!!

yo - a few words about our new home town:

It is not as bad as the 'haters' would have you believe. In fact, it's pretty hip, and i think it's the perfect place to go to med school.

Okay - Claremont.
Claremont is where your rich white parents retire and their rich punk kids come to hang out. It has a lot of money, but it’s not obnoxious... there are some great private owed shops, clean streets, a downtown "village" and an all around peaceful atmosphere. The "village" is a conglomeration of schmancy restaurants, yuppy watering holes, delectable dessert shops, and a 'trying to be urban but clearly-for-those-with-cash' music and art scene. Outside of the village you'll find the Claremont colleges (5 elite liberal arts undergrad schools on one campus), a lot of strip shops and a very suburban/residential lifestyle. I like claremont, but there is something kinda eerie about it's ‘too perfect’ solitude and peacefulness... it felt kind of sterile to me. (but that's just me..).
Oh, downtown claremont is about 6 miles (door-to-door) from westernU. And only 16 miles (door-to-chair) to the ski basin.

Chino Hills:
Nice place but I thought it was too suburban and too far from school (about 10 miles but through residential streets) for my tastes. It is set on the rolling hills that provide incredible views of the san-bernadino's and mt. baldy. You'll find costco and lowe's and all that jazz along with every other chain america has to offer. for some, this is perfect, but again i prefer a less suburban feel. I didn't find the 'downtown' area but i'm certain there must be one.... locals feel free to chime in here....

Pomona:
During the interview, I got some dirty vibes from this town. And if you ask anybody outside of pomona, you'll soon find that they view it as a 'hole'. However, upon further investigation, the city definitely redeemed itself.
Pomona was a once thriving city that has since taken a turn for the worse. Now, thanks to some major private investment, there is a huge push to revive the area. So when you’re down there it feels like good things are comin’! There are restaurants / coffee houses being developed and a blossoming but not-quite-there art scene. What’s cool about pomona is its urban, industrial feel. Work/live lofts are becoming the ‘in’ thing out there. It has a huge punk scene and a general feeling of originality .... something that was lacking in the aforementioned locations. It’s also right next to campus.
Check out www.secondstreetpromenade.com (i got a place there) and www.artecopartners.com (annoying website – don’t know if these are built yet). If you contact secondstreetpromenade, you’ll talk to Jason – he’s awesome... – I know that they have 2 one-bedroom lofts and 1 three bedroom lofts left. This place is right on ‘antique row’ and above a new pizza parlor / bar that just opened ... should be a kick-ass place to live. (drawback – it’s right in front of the railroad tracks).. When you talk to Jason, tell him “Jay the med-student” sent you... hopefully this will get you in the door. He’s one of the big entrepreneurs in pomona. This guy has a vision of what he’s gonna make happen in the next three years... this includes ‘restaurant row’, 3,300 more units in the city, a train that doesn’t blow it’s horns every 4 seconds, and an increased police force. I’m pretty excited about the way things are goin’ over there... that’s how i ultimately made my decision.

Prices: from my experience, for a decent place anywhere, you’re lookin’ at –
one bedroom: $850-1300
two bedroom: $1200-1600
three bedroom:$1300-2200
I guess this is to be expected...
If you’re lookin’ to share a room in a house, you’ll obviously find things much cheaper, but you’ll also have to deal with pre-existing clutter.

Also – Kdkdshah is definitely worthy of rooming with. He’s smart but not weird, young but not immature, friendly but not annoying. (sorry to quantify you K, but i’m tryin’ to help you out). If you’re blind rooming, i’d definitely consider him, you won’t regret it.

Anyway – that’s all i got... i’ll be happy to field questions if you got ‘em. Again – lookin’ forward to hangin’ with all of you soon. I’m moving there in the beginning of June and takin’ the summer prep program. If anyone’s around then, I’d love to meet up.
cheers –
-s2m


Good point....I never know when Easter is.

Well...I am planning on being out of town the rest of the weekends this month, including the last weekend of the month when my g-friend and I are going down to Cali to look around.

By the way, Skooled: What did you see when you went down recently? Whereabouts are you thinking of living?

If you contact secondstreetpromenade, you’ll talk to Jason – he’s awesome... – I know that they have 2 one-bedroom lofts and 1 three bedroom lofts left. This place is right on ‘antique row’ and above a new pizza parlor / bar that just opened ... should be a kick-ass place to live. (drawback – it’s right in front of the railroad tracks).. When you talk to Jason, tell him “Jay the med-student” sent you... hopefully this will get you in the door. He’s one of the big entrepreneurs in pomona. This guy has a vision of what he’s gonna make happen in the next three years... this includes ‘restaurant row’, 3,300 more units in the city, a train that doesn’t blow it’s horns every 4 seconds, and an increased police force. I’m pretty excited about the way things are goin’ over there... that’s how i ultimately made my decision.

Jay:
are utilities included in rent?

water/gas included in rent ... also, he has a deal on cable where you pay him and he splits it up between all existing tenants.

water/gas included in rent ... also, he has a deal on cable where you pay him and he splits it up between all existing tenants.

so basically, we just have to pay electricity, split cable, etc...
did you get a 1br?
how much, do you mind me asking, did you end up paying?

oh, yeah... nice place.. brand new (not even built yet).. they are putting in wood floors, granite countertops, and sandblasting the pre-existing brick walls. It looks pretty slick. I got a smaller 1 bdrm... and am paying $900/month. I think it's the last of it's kind. The others are $1000, and $1100. There are only a few left. Also, the three bedroom is $1500/month for the whole thing - sweet deal if you can find cool roomies. These lofts are goin' fast, so don't dilly dally or you'll end up losing it to some local socal pharm student ... and that would be a darn shame.
also, the train is something to keep in mind. It's really loud. I'm just hoping that at some point it blends in with the rest of the noise in my head.

Just to follow up the message by skooled. That was a pretty accurate assessment of the area. Claremont is quite sterile (picture Stepford Wives) but it does offer some unique shops. I think there is a city ordinance that within the city limits of Claremont there are a very limited number of franchises permitted, so the result is a lot of Mom and Pop places that have a really great feel to them. During the day you can find it teeming with college students but the night-scene is not only lacking but hemorrhaging. There's an indie, non-chain coffee shop that's tucked away behind some restaurants that is accessible only from a backalley- a great study place. There's two pretty cool bars (The Press and Hero's) and there are palatable places to eat (Harvard Square, Pizza n Such, an awesome ice cream parlor, Greek food, etc.). The area has a very suburban/village feel to it and for someone looking to get away from a city scene, it's quite nice.

I have noticed that Pomona is socioeconomically diverse and rich in culture. There are definitely less than ideal areas but the city is developing. I visited the Phillips Ranch area which is at the base of Chino hills a few miles from school and I think that area is nice as well. The only drawback is the proximity to the freeway (so whether you are inclined to hear trains or cars on 3 busy freeways, take your pick). There is an antique row next to the university but personally does anyone anticipate ever visiting those stores? They have items for people with eclectic obsessions and deep pockets.

Great post, Skooled...

oh, yeah... nice place.. brand new (not even built yet).. they are putting in wood floors, granite countertops, and sandblasting the pre-existing brick walls. It looks pretty slick. I got a smaller 1 bdrm... and am paying $900/month. I think it's the last of it's kind. The others are $1000, and $1100. There are only a few left. Also, the three bedroom is $1500/month for the whole thing - sweet deal if you can find cool roomies. These lofts are goin' fast, so don't dilly dally or you'll end up losing it to some local socal pharm student ... and that would be a darn shame.
also, the train is something to keep in mind. It's really loud. I'm just hoping that at some point it blends in with the rest of the noise in my head.

damn.
I may have to either find a ghetto studio, or break-down and find a roomie.
900-1000's not bad for the area or new construction at all, but I'm damn cheap and poor :)

about the train running in front of the house: I can only imagine it can't be half as bad as living next to the largest gay nightclub in Philly, where my room faced the alley... Oh, the joys of city dwelling, and finding cheap places to live :rolleyes:

Great info guys, thanks for posting!

Has anyone been to Walnut? That is an area my GF and I are wondering about since it has a college she is interested in doing her pre-MSN coursework at. It looks like its not far from Pomona, and from what I can find it sounds like its a little more small-townish.

Also, Skooled: did you happen to check out Rancho Cucamonga (sp?) when you were down there? Anyone else?

Thanks!

JAKE

My wife grew up in Rancho Cucamonga and I spend alot of time there. I think it's a great place to live. It is very suburban and developed with lots of shopping malls, housing developments with 700k, 4000sf homes 6 feet from each other, so if dislike the suburban atmosphere you won't like it. There are lots of nice parks and older neighberhoods (like 30-40 years old). It is a 20 minute drive to school so that is a little farther than some would like. Apartments are 1200-1600 for two bedrooms and homes start at 375k for 1100 square feet.

Great info guys, thanks for posting!

Has anyone been to Walnut? That is an area my GF and I are wondering about since it has a college she is interested in doing her pre-MSN coursework at. It looks like its not far from Pomona, and from what I can find it sounds like its a little more small-townish.

Also, Skooled: did you happen to check out Rancho Cucamonga (sp?) when you were down there? Anyone else?

Thanks!

JAKE

yeah, rancho is a pretty nice area people, but the drive sucks sometimes (especially when there is traffic during the day time, which there is bound to be). the new shopping center there built just a couple of years ago, is amazing though. its kind of like an outdoor mall typa thingy.

skooled2much, that was one hell of an update. thanks for putting in a good word for me. now people are going to think i am some young, gunner, genius man and they're going to throw away my notes when i walk to the bathroom in the library (this stuff happens at UCLA med btw..well and other med schools too...you won't be looking, and the next second, ur stuff is gone from the library). haha people seem too nice to be doin that stuff here..we're all mature, right? well i dont know if i am, i'm still a little undergrad student. so is every COMP 2010 student going to be non-traditional? haha oh well, it doens't effect me. that just means more jokes yall be hearing from me ;)

damn MCAT is killing me -- i justwanna take this exam already, i'm scoring around what i need, but thats not gonna cut it..itss borderline..

Skooled 2 much -- you're doing the SMSPP or wahtever? or are you doing ISAC? i've heard only good things about them. i considered ISAC, but i didn't want to worry about grades n what not over the summer...then i was like, screw it, i need some time off....but thats cool that you'll get all your sciences out of the way -- do u still have to take them again during the year?? thats awesome, you'll be like at the top of the class and then i'll have to start stealing YOUR notes when you go to the bathroom in the library. ok im joking.

i need a roomate still -- let me know yall :) blonde haired blue eyed 21 year olds welcomed as well... i should stop before i offend someone here.

i can't wait till i turn 21 so i can hit up the press, i hear great things about it...


yo, anyone wanna hit up PIZZA N SUCH , let me know, im in mood for some chicken parmeasan sandwich..ok this post has NOTHING to do with COMP 2010, so im gonna peace out.

Can anyone take in a roommate for 6 weeks? From mid-May to end of June? My husband has to move over there to look for work. He's being laid off May 10, so he's going to move out there the next week and continue his job hunt. But he'll need temporary housing . . . we're already paying a mortgage here in MN, so we don't want to have to rent an expensive California apartment too. Of course we'll pay for rooming in, but we're assuming that will be much cheaper then a month-to-month apartment. Anyway, if you have some extra space and could use a few hundred extra dollars let me know. Oh, and by "extra space" I also mean a couch you don't mind someone sleeping on. :)

Hello friends,

I just called the financial aid office to check on the progress of our award letters, and I was told they should be sent out next week.

:thumbup:

Hello friends,

I just called the financial aid office to check on the progress of our award letters, and I was told they should be sent out next week.

:thumbup:
Argh! Didn't they say that LAST week?

I don't know why I'm so ancy about it. It's not like I'll get the money now or something. :rolleyes:

If you check your banweb it already has some finaid stuff posted up there.
The entrance interview for the stafford loans is under the unmet requirements section. they give you the website so you can do it online.

Hey you guys, this might be a little early to think about, but when you take out loans, make sure that during your med school career you take out loans from more than one lender. The reason behind this is that when you decide to consolidate, you'll have a choice of lenders and terms in which to consolidate under.

TKim - are you Tae? i think i might have shadowed you at the Western medical center clinic when you were doing your rotatoins there last year. i am the pitzer student ...i used to come shadow with one of my friends...you might be completely someone else hahaha.

Hey you guys, this might be a little early to think about, but when you take out loans, make sure that during your med school career you take out loans from more than one lender. The reason behind this is that when you decide to consolidate, you'll have a choice of lenders and terms in which to consolidate under.

Interesting, thanks for the tip!

To clarify, are you only able to consolidate loans with a lender who you already have a relationship with?

If you check your banweb it already has some finaid stuff posted up there.
The entrance interview for the stafford loans is under the unmet requirements section. they give you the website so you can do it online.
Okay, my nerdy side is going to come out now . . . I did this back in January.

*hangs head in shame*

Jake: I'm not sure if you have to have all the loans thru one company in order to consolidate. But make sure that whomever you use can consolidate both your private and your federal loans. My company wouldn't consolidate the private one, so I have to make two checks a month right now *grrr*

Sallie Mae does MedLoans, private loans for med students. They have decent terms/payment plans etc. You can do all your stafford and private loans thru them.

oh, does anyone know how much car insurance is down in Cali? Do I have to switch once I move down?

oh, does anyone know how much car insurance is down in Cali? Do I have to switch once I move down?
When I lived down there in 1998, I had an inexpensive economony car, with a pretty decent rate (I don't have any tickets or accidents on my record) and I was paying about $100/month. I was about 23 years old, so I wasn't getting the 25 and over discount. This was also full-coverage, by the way. I don't know if you can just get by with liability . . . although in Southern Cali I'd recommend full-coverage anyway. You never know when you'll get rear-ended. Anyway, I don't know if the rates are similar or if I was majorly over or under paying at the time. Maybe someone else can give a more current/accurate assessment.

Does anyone know how full the class is by now? :)

Does anyone know how full the class is by now? :)

When I interviewed last week, they said 65 to 75% full...

:scared:

When I lived down there in 1998, I had an inexpensive economony car, with a pretty decent rate (I don't have any tickets or accidents on my record) and I was paying about $100/month. I was about 23 years old, so I wasn't getting the 25 and over discount. This was also full-coverage, by the way. I don't know if you can just get by with liability . . . although in Southern Cali I'd recommend full-coverage anyway. You never know when you'll get rear-ended. Anyway, I don't know if the rates are similar or if I was majorly over or under paying at the time. Maybe someone else can give a more current/accurate assessment.

Insurance is pretty expensive. It will depend on what car you drive, marital status, driving record, where you live (zip code), and type of coverage you want. There is also uninsured motorist insurance too.

has anyone found out when we get our financial aid awards via email??? i hope early next week..i needa start budgeting :(

has anyone found out when we get our financial aid awards..i needa start budgeting :(

Everyone gets the same basic budget - someone posted it earlier (pg 8 of this thread). Basically, your finaid award will say that you can take out the entire budget in loans - yipee. Some will be Stafford (amt varies depending on your undergrad Stafford debt), the rest will be private (alternative) loans. No matter what your FAFSA details are, you are eligible to borrow the full "budget" amt - the only thing that changes is if/how much subsidized Stafford loan $ you can get - maxes out at $8,500/yr.

If you want a jump start on deciding who to use for your alternative loans, here's the link to the "preferred lenders" from the school website: http://www.westernu.edu/xp/edu/financial/preferred_lender.xml

Items NOT in the budget:
Health insurance (~$700/academic year thru the school)
Parking permit (~$200/year)
Laptop computer (?? )

These items can be added into your budget once school starts, so that you can take out additional alternative loans to cover those costs - for the laptop, you just need a receipt and I believe it has to be purchased around the start of school - you'll have to check with the FinAid office on campus for details on that.

As far as suppplies go: you have to purchase medical equipment at the start of the year. I'd suggest using www.steeles.com if you want WelchAlyn stuff, as it's the cheapest place and doesn't charge tax. But I'd also suggest waiting - if you can get a big group together from your class to place a large order, you'll save even more. Do2009 did this and saved at least 10% off the bookstore's "sale" prices, even with shipping costs because there's NO TAX. The bookstore is NOT school owned - it is a FOR PROFIT company - so I have no problems saying go ahead and buy from someone else. You need a few people to organize a group order - they need to talk with both Tom Steele (from steeles.com) and the Purchasing dept on campus - so that they can receive the packages on campus (otherwise the UPS man will deliver to your home while you are in class). Everyone fills out a seperate order form with billing info and you fax in the order forms - all 100+ of them or whatever. They'll come pre-bagged with names on them - just gotta hand them out. You'll need a couple week lead time, so I'd suggest that if you guys want to do it, organize it during orientation - you won't need the equipment for class for a few weeks anyway... Ok, I'll stop being bossy now :-) I'm just trying to save y'all some money.

Required Equipment list:
Otoscope
Opthalmoscope
Tuning forks (both 512 and 1024)
Reflex hammer
Penlight
BP cuff (they'd like you to purchase the "family" set with different sized cuffs but it is NOT required to have anything more than a cheap one-piece set)
Stethoscope (if you want to skimp on equipment costs, that's fine - but buy a good stethoscope! It's worth it!)
"Maxwells" - little pocket book with the eye chart in back. All that is actually required is the pocket eye chart, but everyone will tell you to carry a Maxwells.


As far as book costs go - it all depends on you. Many people don't buy books - or buy very few... others buy everything. You won't have time to do most of the reading (truly... there just isn't time or need to read it all). Ask a 2nd year before you buy books - there will be 2nd years selling texts at the start of school and they can give advice on what is worth buying.

One exception: You MUST have a Netter's Atlas for gross anatomy - everyone buys that one. But you can get it FREE with membership to SOMA (Student Osteopathic Medical Assoc) - the membership is about the cost of the book, and as a member you can go to events & get free lunch, plus other benefits. There's a membership drive the first week of school and you can pay your membership and get your book then.

Sorry this is so long - these are just things I wish I had been told before school started. Enjoy your summer!

Interesting, thanks for the tip!

To clarify, are you only able to consolidate loans with a lender who you already have a relationship with?

You can try to consolidate with another lender other than the lender you have your loans with, but your original lender usually has 'first refusal' and will not allow you to consolidate with another lender. If you have more than one lender, you can compare rates and select the best one. It's sort of a pain to do, since you have to keep track of various lenders instead of just one, but a couple of people in my class who borrowed from one lender exclusively had problems consolidating with another company that had better terms. The rules may have changed from the time I consolidated, I'm sure they will by the time you guys seriously have to think about it. Just a heads up!

Insurance is pretty expensive. It will depend on what car you drive, marital status, driving record, where you live (zip code), and type of coverage you want. There is also uninsured motorist insurance too.

I use Amica Insurance for two cars ('98, '97 Subaru Outbacks 15K mi/yr, 10K mi/yr, mid-level comprehensive) + $50K renters insurance in Rancho Cucamonga, for $1800/yr. Bear in mind these cars are old, as are the wife and myself - heh, so we get a discount for that, insuring two cars, plus getting renters all on one policy. It's a pretty good deal.

I use Amica Insurance for two cars ('98, '97 Subaru Outbacks 15K mi/yr, 10K mi/yr, mid-level comprehensive) + $50K renters insurance in Rancho Cucamonga, for $1800/yr. Bear in mind these cars are old, as are the wife and myself - heh, so we get a discount for that, insuring two cars, plus getting renters all on one policy. It's a pretty good deal.

97 and 98 Subarus are old? Try the 86 Subaru GL that I rock. Now that car is cheap to insure! And thanks to the person who posted all that info about financial aid, buying books, and getting instruments. That was some great stuff

damn MCAT is killing me -- i justwanna take this exam already, i'm scoring around what i need, but thats not gonna cut it..itss borderline..


So assuming you score what you need, you are automatically accepted? Just out of curiosity, if you don't mind telling, what's "borderline"? Good luck on the test! I hated that beast.

Hi People

congrats to all of your acceptances. I totally was gonna go to COMP last year but then my family happened. It's a great school and best wishes to all of you.

Just want to share with you guys something that I stumbled upon on the internet when I was doing "research" for COMP.

http://www.xanga.com/home.aspx?user=ilostit

It's this guy that goes to school there. Pretty funny blog. And he has links to all the others also at Western. Also don't miss open_fly77 and guaiguaimaikao. Should give you a good insight on COMP and funny too, I still read them once in a while when I get bored.

So assuming you score what you need, you are automatically accepted? Just out of curiosity, if you don't mind telling, what's "borderline"? Good luck on the test! I hated that beast.

Yeah, Basically it's a linkage program. I have to score a 24 and they'll accept me. Unfortunately, I am struggling to even maintain that score. I'm pretty sure i'll get it though.

Yeah, Basically it's a linkage program. I have to score a 24 and they'll accept me. Unfortunately, I am struggling to even maintain that score. I'm pretty sure i'll get it though.

Good job, I'm sure you'll dominate! I took the Kaplan course and ended up getting 4 points lower than what I was getting on their practice tests. But that is just me and was probably the result of test anxiety. You took the test yesterday.... How was it? Did you write some killer essays?

Hi People

congrats to all of your acceptances. I totally was gonna go to COMP last year but then my family happened. It's a great school and best wishes to all of you.

Just want to share with you guys something that I stumbled upon on the internet when I was doing "research" for COMP.

http://www.xanga.com/home.aspx?user=ilostit

It's this guy that goes to school there. Pretty funny blog. And he has links to all the others also at Western. Also don't miss open_fly77 and guaiguaimaikao. Should give you a good insight on COMP and funny too, I still read them once in a while when I get bored.

This guy is great! He was one of the tour guide students at my interview. He is very friendy and has a great sense of humor.

This guy is great! He was one of the tour guide students at my interview. He is very friendy and has a great sense of humor.

Oh yeah! I remember him! Nice guy, good tour guide! :)

Have any of you got your hands on the complete 2006 match list? They told me "another week" when I called close to a month ago...

Maybe I'll call again today.

Hey guys! Northwest Tracker from Seattle here. I got my acceptance letter today and just wanted to say hi to my future classmates. :)

Got my letter today. Looks like I need to read through the COMP housing posts and threads more carefullly now.

Got my letter today. Looks like I need to read through the COMP housing posts and threads more carefullly now.

Congrats. :thumbup:

Hey guys! Northwest Tracker from Seattle here. I got my acceptance letter today and just wanted to say hi to my future classmates. :)

YEAH NWT! I'm from Portland, I got my acceptance letter earlier this week :)

who ARE all these Northwesterner's haha ..it seems like everyone on here is in the northwest track program!! oh well, it doesn't effect me.

Dang it!!!

Too many cali/northwest people!!!

WE NEED MORE (insert state outside of pacific coast people)!!!

why need people not from the pacific coast when you have cool people from california???

That's it, I'm starting a non-cali/northwest COMP thread ;)

did any of you see the "DO girls are hotter than MD girls" thread?? i thought that was hilarious...

did any of you see the "DO girls are hotter than MD girls" thread?? i thought that was hilarious...

My interview group proved it. :love:

Hey hey...Northwest or not....we're all going to COMP! This thread needs some life! Come on people, get excited....you're going to med school! :D

Anyways, I'm in the process of hardcore house hunting. There are some really nice places in the area. I'm impressed! How are you guys doing? Any luck/final decisions?

Hey hey...Northwest or not....we're all going to COMP! This thread needs some life! Come on people, get excited....you're going to med school! :D

Anyways, I'm in the process of hardcore house hunting. There are some really nice places in the area. I'm impressed! How are you guys doing? Any luck/final decisions?

Where is everyone settling down? I've read through the list and it seems like it's pretty spread out... should we ask a current student which complex might be good for converting into COMP'10-land? We did that in college once... I think 12 out of the 16 apt's were friends in college.

Shoot... now I have to schedule a date to go out there again for the apt search/decision.

who ARE all these Northwesterner's haha ..it seems like everyone on here is in the northwest track program!! oh well, it doesn't effect me.


Just FYI: you actually want to use affect not effect....

Just FYI: you actually want to use affect not effect....

Ding ding ding. We found our class grammar nazi!!!

hehehe.

Ding ding ding. We found our class grammar nazi!!!

hehehe.

:laugh:

Hey Kids, here is your token new englander...

just got my acceptance letter today. Its my first straight acceptance so I am wicked pumped let me tell you what.

Still waiting for some decisions but i might make the trek out to LALA land with you guys this fall.

Hey Kids, here is your token new englander...

just got my acceptance letter today. Its my first straight acceptance so I am wicked pumped let me tell you what.

Still waiting for some decisions but i might make the trek out to LALA land with you guys this fall.


hey, i'm a bostonian too.....if you decide on COMP, we should get together for a chat!! :)

Do any of you LA or Cali locals have advice for us easterners, as far as where to look for apartments or what we'll have to get used to?

Do any of you LA or Cali locals have advice for us easterners, as far as where to look for apartments or what we'll have to get used to?
I recommend the following cities as far as safety, comfort and proximity.

Chino Hills
Claremont
La Verne

If you guys look into an apartment complex called Missions at Chino Hills, they give residents $1,000 referral bonus and we can split that. Just PM me if you end up signing a lease there and you'll get 500 bucks. But they're pricey so you'll probably want a 3bdroom.

Helix across the street from school is very convenient but I don't trust my car there overnight. I've visited my classmate's place and it's nice inside though. Let me know if you have any other questions!

COMP MSI

COVINA, WEST COVINA, WALNUT, just west of the 10 freeway, very convenient, you go against traffic in the morning and coming back from school in the afternoon. I like it here so much, I'm going to stay even during my 3rd and 4th year rotations. You probably want a 2br to share with someone though because a 1bdr goes for about $950, but I'm married, so it works out :thumbup: Good luck!

1 room (with own Bathroom) in Chino Hills Town home available from June 5 to Aug 5. Perfect for you ISACers! $650 includes EVERYTHING (utilities, cable, internet)! Clean place, private garage, newly painted and new carpet. Nice neighborhood; quiet; superclose to grocery stores and fast food and gas stations. A nice escape from the wonderful world of Pomona.

I'm a 1st year and was an ISACer if you were wondering. Good luck to all and see you next year! Gotta go study now!

Please send me a private message if you are interested :)

jUx

Hey guys,

what plans are you going with?
The school mentioned that some of the students go with private healthcare plans outside the school's plan.
as I have no insurance right now (me= not too smart right now)
I'm just trying to shop around...

thanks! :D

Hey guys,

what plans are you going with?
The school mentioned that some of the students go with private healthcare plans outside the school's plan.
as I have no insurance right now (me= not too smart right now)
I'm just trying to shop around...

thanks! :D

I'm going to look into it this week, so I'll post an update. I'm on Pacificare right now through work, so I'll call them up as well as some of the other places.

Hi there,

I am almost 100% sure that I will be Class of 2010 at COMP :) , but I am trying to figure out a few things before signing the dotted line...

Would someone tell me how they made/will make the move from the East Coast (or the MidWest, for that matter) to Pomona? I don't have much to ship - mainly clothes, etc and a few pieces of furniture. I'm going to buy a car wherever I end up, so driving would require me renting a van, etc (not entirely out of the question). I've heard about partial shipping and I've thought about just sending several boxes to my new address.

Any advice would be helpful! Thanks!

And, BTW - just based on the people on this thread, the COMP Class of 2010 will be awesome!

Wow, from the east coast... that's toughie.

I'm going to look into it this week, so I'll post an update. I'm on Pacificare right now through work, so I'll call them up as well as some of the other places.

thanks for the help!

thanks for the help!

You might want to look into Blue Shield of CA. This is their website: https://www.mylifepath.com/

They have individual plans that start around $35 a month. Good luck :)

You might want to look into Blue Shield of CA. This is their website: https://www.mylifepath.com/

They have individual plans that start around $35 a month. Good luck :)

thanks for the site!
can't wait to meet all of you in a few!

Where are our financial aid awards?! :mad:

Anyone else just feel really antsy about starting school in 3 months?

I'm getting all messed up thinking about how I need to get an apt out there, I haven't recieved my financial aid papers yet, I need to get health insurance for myself, trying to decide on the military option or not, seeing if I have time to go visit my grandmother in Korea before school, trying to patch up some money for the move and whatnot...

ARGH!!!

Hey guys, I just wanted to let my classmates know that I am going to change my SDN screen name and no longer use this one. I want to do this for two reasons:

1) For anonymity in the forums,

2) For a change of pace as I finally start medical school.

I'll post a again in a bit with my new account.

Later!

Here we go. Sorry to hijack the thread! :D

duplicate

Anyone else just feel really antsy about starting school in 3 months?

I'm getting all messed up thinking about how I need to get an apt out there, I haven't recieved my financial aid papers yet, I need to get health insurance for myself, trying to decide on the military option or not, seeing if I have time to go visit my grandmother in Korea before school, trying to patch up some money for the move and whatnot...

ARGH!!!

I'm feeling antsy to actually begin! :p

After reading the COMP thread about stats in the pre-osteo section, I think I'm going to have to start brushing up on my science courses again before school...

You know, get my 'gameface' on. :meanie:

Being out of school for four years sucks.

After reading the COMP thread about stats in the pre-osteo section, I think I'm going to have to start brushing up on my science courses again before school...

You know, get my 'gameface' on. :meanie:

Being out of school for four years sucks.

yeah. been out of the studying loop for a year. trying to ease myself slowly into 24-7 study mode again.

You can be a gi-HUGIC dork like me, and get a head start on anatomy.
learn insertion points of musculature, skeletal landmarks, innervations...
oh my- i'm gettin' my nerd on :laugh:

yeah. been out of the studying loop for a year. trying to ease myself slowly into 24-7 study mode again.

You can be a gi-HUGIC dork like me, and get a head start on anatomy.
learn insertion points of musculature, skeletal landmarks, innervations...
oh my- i'm gettin' my nerd on :laugh:

I was thinking about that anatomy class thing, but I promised my lab that Iwould finish up my project before heading out, plus I have to train someone to replace me.

Yea, getting my study habits back in order is going to be a toughie.

Hello fellow COMPsters!!! Just wanted to congratulate everyone who got accepted (including the NWT people but I still have to represent for my Cali peeps!!!) I hope everyone is getting some rest before August!!
Im sooooo excited and I just can't fight it!!! Class of 2010!!! LOL
:) > :D > :laugh:

Congrats to you all!!! I see Fish and Jennie are already helping out (and Jennie rocks my socks ;) ) but I also wanted to offer my assistance with any questions you might have (esp. commuting - I am the Commuting Queen of the 2009 class!) Jennie was dead on about the Netter's - it's something you will use again and again. Also, for anatomy, I'd like to suggest you get the Color Atlas of Anatomy (aka, the "Dead Body Book") - it's really helpful for those times when you can't make it to the lab.

Again, congrats, and best of luck to you all. :D

I was thinking about that anatomy class thing, but I promised my lab that Iwould finish up my project before heading out, plus I have to train someone to replace me.

Yea, getting my study habits back in order is going to be a toughie.

See, at least you have been doing something slightly academically productive...
I have been working at a sushi restaurant. my job is to retrain the new hostess and bar servers...
huuuuuge mental stretch for me! :)

Hey...if any of u r living at the Helix next year or r considering it? Do u know if they provide ANY security for parking?? I've heard there r many auto break-ins in the Downtown Pomona area. Does anyone know someone living there currently? Any feedback would be appreciated! Thanx.

See, at least you have been doing something slightly academically productive...
I have been working at a sushi restaurant. my job is to retrain the new hostess and bar servers...
huuuuuge mental stretch for me! :)

Dang it... that's one of the two job-type I've yet to do on my list of 'random jobs'... wait staff and car salesmen. :D

Dang it... that's one of the two job-type I've yet to do on my list of 'random jobs'... wait staff and car salesmen. :D

*haha*
well, on the plus side: we had to taste the new wines and sakes for the summer menu last night...
oh how tough my job is. :D

In evaluating COMP as a "good" school...
Do they match residents at "good" hospitals?... how are certain residency slots ranked over others?
for those students like DrCara and Fish... are you nervous about competing in match as a D.O.?
Does COMP offer "good" clinical rotations?

fyi - i'm not lookin' at FP and IM, i'm talking more towards EM and gen surg.
comments?
thanks!


*haha*
well, on the plus side: we had to taste the new wines and sakes for the summer menu last night...
oh how tough my job is. :D

Hey...if any of u r living at the Helix next year or r considering it? Do u know if they provide ANY security for parking?? I've heard there r many auto break-ins in the Downtown Pomona area. Does anyone know someone living there currently? Any feedback would be appreciated! Thanx.

I don't think helix has any more apts available except for shared spots.
there is no security for cars, however, pomona PD does 24 hr surveillance... or so they say.
can't speak to break ins... but, it's pomona, so don't bring your brand new mini cooper.

Hey friends,

I just called Dr. Finley's office to inquire about the complete 2006 match results. The list, to be posted on the website, is still in the "to-do" pile and should be up on the website in "the next week or two."

So, its moving, but slowly.

Skooled: The only perceptible gauge I have for assessing the ease of obtaining difficult residencies relative to other schools is comparing match lists (DMU, KCUMB, CCOM, NYCOM, PCOM). What I have noticed is that while COMP does provide good residencies, it seems other schools have higher percentages of specialties and fewer going into FP/IM. One thought I have is that California residencies are extremely competetive and are sought after from a large number of graduates. I think that being in a less desireable location such as the midwest provides more opportunities for those vying for more competetive residencies, and I think there is a larger need for an applicant pool there. I have seen unfilled spots out there, too, while California's applicant pool is bulging/overflowing.

In evaluating COMP as a "good" school...
Do they match residents at "good" hospitals?... how are certain residency slots ranked over others?
for those students like DrCara and Fish... are you nervous about competing in match as a D.O.?
Does COMP offer "good" clinical rotations?

fyi - i'm not lookin' at FP and IM, i'm talking more towards EM and gen surg.
comments?
thanks!

Correct me if I'm wrong guys:

But if you choose to do the allopathic match, you can't do the osteo match at the same time, right?
You have to pick one or the other?

guess it depends whether you want to do an MD or DO residency...

Dang it... that's one of the two job-type I've yet to do on my list of 'random jobs'... wait staff and car salesmen. :D

*haha* car salesman.
ohhh... New or Used???
that has to be a random job...
right up there with under-water basket-weaving? :D

Correct me if I'm wrong guys:

But if you choose to do the allopathic match, you can't do the osteo match at the same time, right?
You have to pick one or the other?

guess it depends whether you want to do an MD or DO residency...

If you participate in the earlier osteo match, and match one of your ranked programs, then you are excluded from participating in the allo match.

If you do not match in the osteo match, say, you ranked one program and didn't match it, then you can particpate in the allo match.

You can also decide to skip the osteo match and participate in the allo match.

That's my understanding anyway.

*haha* car salesman.
ohhh... New or Used???
that has to be a random job...
right up there with under-water basket-weaving? :D

I'm thinking about taking up a either a car salesman or waiter during the summer of my first year. :laugh:

I'm thinking about taking up a either a car salesman or waiter during the summer of my first year. :laugh:

car salesman.
everyone's a freakin' server...
go out on a limb! :D

Does anyone know how feasible it is to do all of 3rd and 4th year rotations in the Los Angeles area? And by "area" I mean all of San Bernardino, Loma Linda . . . even San Diego isn't too bad.