Since you all are waiting for someone else to start the thread...here it goes, even though I'm graduating this year. Good luck kiddies...and make the best of it. :thumbup:

Thanks, Dr W. We're evidently a shy bunch.

Where's everyone from? I grew up in downtown Chicago, so I'm a devout city kid. I'm gonna move up there anyway for the 1st 2 years. (For the record, I don't do the burbs, but North Chicago is NOT that bad. It's pretty peaceful. Don't hate.)

Hey,

I'm also graduating this year, but if there are questions, I'll try to help!
Any future PM&R docs? :D

As a member of the CMS class of 2010 - Welcome! :)
First year is almost over for us - half way through third term - midterms are next week! Which reminds me, I should be studying! Just wanted to say CONGRATS to all - see you in August! :love:

haha... you know all the applicants are waiting to hear from other schools first.

future M1's... my first year has been fun/tough so far and I like the school a lot. good luck.

Hi everyone!

I'm likely going to end up attending RFUMS, but I AM indeed waiting to hear from two other schools (UNC and Loyola). I really don't want to move (I live in NC) but I will move in a heart beat (of course) for med school :) On the bright side, it would be fun to move back to Chicago--I lived there for 4 years. On the down side, I lived in Lincoln Park and Wrigleyville, not North Chitown. . .

So, how do you all like it at RFUMS? Good professors? Good vibes? Good students and cameraderie? Good opportunities for ECs and research? I thought everyone on my interview day was so friendly, and I got a pretty good feeling about the school, but I also get the feeling that RFU isn't a top choice school for a lot of people. Why is this? Is it the fact that there is no associated hospital? And really, why is that such a big deal? Seriously, I'm really asking. I really want to hear opinions as to why it might be considered to be not such a great thing. Also, what is the deal with the probation thing? Didn't that just have to do with financing and funding and scholarships/grants? I really want to know all of this. I kind of don't like feeling as though I will be attending a school that no one is really DYING to go to, but rather just attend as a result of lack of other acceptances. . .this is really not meant to be harsh or rude in any way--like I said before, I will likely be going there myself :o I just want to open up the discussion. Frankly, I want to be proud of the school that I end up attending. Perhaps if we drum up a little more support for RFU, it could lose it's less-that-stellar-rep :)

Anyway, the bottom line is that I am super excited about MEDICAL SCHOOL regardless of where I end up going. I basically just want to go. Shoot, sometimes I just have to pinch myself, I mean, we're gonna be doctors!!!! So congrats to everyone that has been accepted :thumbup:

Hi everyone!

I'm likely going to end up attending RFUMS, but I AM indeed waiting to hear from two other schools (UNC and Loyola). I really don't want to move (I live in NC) but I will move in a heart beat (of course) for med school :) On the bright side, it would be fun to move back to Chicago--I lived there for 4 years. On the down side, I lived in Lincoln Park and Wrigleyville, not North Chitown. . .

So, how do you all like it at RFUMS? Good professors? Good vibes? Good students and cameraderie? Good opportunities for ECs and research? I thought everyone on my interview day was so friendly, and I got a pretty good feeling about the school, but I also get the feeling that RFU isn't a top choice school for a lot of people. Why is this? Is it the fact that there is no associated hospital? And really, why is that such a big deal? Seriously, I'm really asking. I really want to hear opinions as to why it might be considered to be not such a great thing. Also, what is the deal with the probation thing? Didn't that just have to do with financing and funding and scholarships/grants? I really want to know all of this. I kind of don't like feeling as though I will be attending a school that no one is really DYING to go to, but rather just attend as a result of lack of other acceptances. . .this is really not meant to be harsh or rude in any way--like I said before, I will likely be going there myself :o I just want to open up the discussion. Frankly, I want to be proud of the school that I end up attending. Perhaps if we drum up a little more support for RFU, it could lose it's less-that-stellar-rep :)

Anyway, the bottom line is that I am super excited about MEDICAL SCHOOL regardless of where I end up going. I basically just want to go. Shoot, sometimes I just have to pinch myself, I mean, we're gonna be doctors!!!! So congrats to everyone that has been accepted :thumbup:

yeah these are totally valid questions. but to be truthful the "concerning" issues are almost entirely premed hype.

hospital issue: yes we don't have our own teaching hospital. we do have a VA immediately adjacent, which we share some of our faculty with and is one of the many sites at which 2nd year students do preceptorships. the idea within the administration is to have the "advocate system" (which is Advocate Christ Memorial Hospital, Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, and Advocate Illinois Masonic Hospital,,, did I miss any?) be sort of our home program(s) so to speak. the university is making strong ties to these teaching hospitals by appointing joint faculty positions and integrating our M3/M4 rotations as much as possible in the advocate system as I understand it. we rotate through those hospitals as well as cook county, mt. sinai, swedish covenant, and some other clinical sites. that said, our students match plenty into chicago residency programs (because we rotate through similar to how a school typically matches a lot of students into its home programs) as well as nationwide. does it give a less "medical/hospitalish" environment? well, a little bit, but medical students are invited to the Medicine grand rounds every week, imo we do have continual clinical exposure even in M1/2, and there are always residents and upperclassmen around at lunchtime and on campus around shelf exams and stuff, if that's what youre wondering....but its more fun to rotate and be downtown during clinical years anyway.

probation: a blip on the radar, now pretty much only mentioned as a marker for how well the school is prospering these days. basically several years ago they did an administration overhaul and financial system overhaul and now we've got some great administrators (our CMS Dean and Student Affairs Dean and President are all those people who really inspire you and are very strong leaders) who are all very reasonable and as solid as you could ever hope. thats my opinion, but also the opinion of many others however. so what does the probation issue mean? it just means that everyone's going out of their way to disprove any black mark that people perceive on the school, which is a positive direction to head. the school gets better every year IMO.

ECs: yeah theres lots to do. Student Interest Groups for i think every specialty, student run clinics, student committees & councils, student government positions, national positions, AMA, AMSA, activist groups, research opportunities (both several formal programs for MD students to do substantive research and of course informal), clinical exposure, student activities, cultural shows, talent show, awards ceremonies, student advising groups, review sessions, intramural sports, seminars, conferences, social events.....more ways to get involved than you could ever fit in your schedule if you ask me.

reputation: with the demise of the AP program which received some criticism, i would expect the admissions numbers to increase this year. i think we're looking at avg class numbers of 10+ for each section and higher GPA. because while the AP program was effective in filtering out people who cant hack it in med school and identifying people with perhaps some fluke reason didnt get in or matriculate outright who make great med students, it also let in people with lower numbers, assuming they proved themselves in the curriculum. the moral is that the discontinuation of this program (or the rules associated with it) will probably be associated with better numbers reflecting overall higher admissions standards and loss of some of the stigma associated with it. i think the class will be better united as well because most everyone will be on the same curricular track.

if anyone wants any links to any info on anything pm me. honestly if you want to be happy here you really will be. lots of students are, and lots get involved in a lot of things to reflect that.

i think you have the right attitude. the most successful and happy people here are proud and happy to be here doing what they love.

yeah these are totally valid questions. but to be truthful the "concerning" issues are almost entirely premed hype.

hospital issue: yes we don't have our own teaching hospital. we do have a VA immediately adjacent, which we share some of our faculty with and is one of the many sites at which 2nd year students do preceptorships. the idea within the administration is to have the "advocate system" (which is Advocate Christ Memorial Hospital, Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, and Advocate Illinois Masonic Hospital,,, did I miss any?) be sort of our home program(s) so to speak. the university is making strong ties to these teaching hospitals by appointing joint faculty positions and integrating our M3/M4 rotations as much as possible in the advocate system as I understand it. we rotate through those hospitals as well as cook county, mt. sinai, swedish covenant, and some other clinical sites. that said, our students match plenty into chicago residency programs (because we rotate through similar to how a school typically matches a lot of students into its home programs) as well as nationwide. does it give a less "medical/hospitalish" environment? well, a little bit, but medical students are invited to the Medicine grand rounds every week, imo we do have continual clinical exposure even in M1/2, and there are always residents and upperclassmen around at lunchtime and on campus around shelf exams and stuff, if that's what youre wondering....but its more fun to rotate and be downtown during clinical years anyway.

probation: a blip on the radar, now pretty much only mentioned as a marker for how well the school is prospering these days. basically several years ago they did an administration overhaul and financial system overhaul and now we've got some great administrators (our CMS Dean and Student Affairs Dean and President are all those people who really inspire you and are very strong leaders) who are all very reasonable and as solid as you could ever hope. thats my opinion, but also the opinion of many others however. so what does the probation issue mean? it just means that everyone's going out of their way to disprove any black mark that people perceive on the school, which is a positive direction to head. the school gets better every year IMO.

ECs: yeah theres lots to do. Student Interest Groups for i think every specialty, student run clinics, student committees & councils, student government positions, national positions, AMA, AMSA, activist groups, research opportunities (both several formal programs for MD students to do substantive research and of course informal), clinical exposure, student activities, cultural shows, talent show, awards ceremonies, student advising groups, review sessions, intramural sports, seminars, conferences, social events.....more ways to get involved than you could ever fit in your schedule if you ask me.

reputation: with the demise of the AP program which received some criticism, i would expect the admissions numbers to increase this year. i think we're looking at avg class numbers of 10+ for each section and higher GPA. because while the AP program was effective in filtering out people who cant hack it in med school and identifying people with perhaps some fluke reason didnt get in or matriculate outright who make great med students, it also let in people with lower numbers, assuming they proved themselves in the curriculum. the moral is that the discontinuation of this program (or the rules associated with it) will probably be associated with better numbers reflecting overall higher admissions standards and loss of some of the stigma associated with it. i think the class will be better united as well because most everyone will be on the same curricular track.

if anyone wants any links to any info on anything pm me. honestly if you want to be happy here you really will be. lots of students are, and lots get involved in a lot of things to reflect that.

i think you have the right attitude. the most successful and happy people here are proud and happy to be here doing what they love.

Great post. :thumbup: I've enjoyed my time at CMS (only have 2 weeks left). I've been part of the family for 5 years as I was a former AP student myself. I've seen CMS improve year after year, and am proud to be associated with it.

I'll be honest that I'm sad to see the AP program go. It really gave people the opportunity to prove themselves where others didn't. It's true that some barely slipped by, but there were others that really went out of their way to prove how successful they could be. I'm not sure how the new program that replaced it will factor in, though.

Our ties with the Advocate system continue to get stronger, and will so with time. The shift to move our base of operations out of Mt. Sinai to Lutheran is alive and well. The experiences you get at all our affiliated sites are awesome, and have prepared us well.

A lot of what you hear is just BS repeated by pre-meds that are only concerned with the name of where they will end up. All the negatives I've heard this year, are the same ones when I applied 5 years ago. It never ends. But I think our school is finally headed in a positive direction and will continue to do so.

moniker & dr. will are right on. all the "reputation" stuff is just pre-med sdn garbage. there are plenty of people here who were accepted to other schools. i'm only a first year, but i hear that rfu students are well-respected on the wards 3rd year. and residency pd's certainly don't seem to agree with the pre-allo crap on sdn, because it's meaningless!
things i really like about this school:

-anatomy lab is the best i've seen (from the interview trail) or heard of (from friends at other schools)
-histo lab is all virtual (no microscopes!!)
-diverse class. lots of non-trads, but plenty of young ones fresh out of undergrad too. you'll find your niche here.
-co-sequencing of basic sciences. current m4s are the last ones to NOT have this benefit. what does it mean? you're learning about, say, cardio in ALL classes at the same time. same goes for respiratory, renal, everything. a few years ago, you could be learning about the brain in one class, the leg in another, and the pancreas in another, all at the same time. the co-sequencing is a major positive for the school, and i think it should be touted more. i know people at other schools who are envious of this.

as far as the AP program, the BMS program might end up being almost the same deal. i already know a bunch of bms-ers who will be m1s next year. it will be interesting to see how many of them made it, & how that compares to the former AP students. and yes, some of them might have a point or 2 lower on the mcat, or a slightly lower gpa. but, they had to do BETTER than med students to get accepted to med school. they have more than proven themselves. i have a ton of respect for what they did to get in. i can't imagine how hard they must've worked & what kind of pressure they were under. i couldn't care less that their mcat scores make our average 29 instead of 30.

i recently went to an alumni dinner with some docs who graduated 15-20 years ago. they were doing wonderful things in the community, and they were so happy to have graduated from cms. i really admired them. things they complained about were malpractice rates, city budget cuts, etc. none of them said, "man, i wish i had gone to a med school that pre-meds on sdn didn't bash!"

This is all great to hear. Thanks to all of you who posted thorough responses. There is nothing to boost the desirability of a school like the happiness of its students, and given that I have only heard positive things said about RFUMS, it just makes me more and more excited to go there.

Where is everyone else, though? C'mon, we gotta get this thing going! I want to hear how excited everyone else is, and also, when we should be expecting our fin aid packages. I also want to know where people are coming from and where they are going to be living. :)

Ciao for now :cool:

yeah i'd like to know about the financial aid stuff. so how does it work? we submit the application and they might offer you a scholarship or loan? what does RFU typically offer? is it based on need or grades/mcat?


btw, I'm 21, Male, from lake zurich, il, and went to university of illinois - urbana champaign.

and im living in the dorms.

whoa... i didnt know this thread existed...

ill be a part of the class and am very excited about it!!!

ive been wondering about fin aid myself...

ive tried calling, emailing, even left a voice msg on their system...

nothing...

for me, that has been the only downside about the school (that and maybe the location?)...

i am not a member of class 2011... hopefully, i will be in the next coming months. cant wait to go insane on this thread once i get in (crossing fingers)

yeah i'd like to know about the financial aid stuff. so how does it work? we submit the application and they might offer you a scholarship or loan? what does RFU typically offer? is it based on need or grades/mcat?


btw, I'm 21, Male, from lake zurich, il, and went to university of illinois - urbana champaign.

and im living in the dorms.

I think they offer a few merit scholarships every year (not many, like a few). since EVERYONE is a poor student with no income or money, I don't think they give need-based. the merit scholarships i think are used to attract stellar students. almost everyone just takes out the full budget of loans ($55,000 a year or something like that). if you want loans, they give them to you. as I understand it you are pretty much guaranteed loans. most people take out the maximum stafford ($38,500) which obviously have much better rate and some of it is subsidized (no interest while in school) and then the rest in GradPLUS loans (a federally run private loan program). I know - ouch. Welcome to private school tuition. it's pretty easy to complete the financial aid stuff though.
http://66.99.255.20/osa/financialaid/

the dorms are pretty nice.

I'm with Samosas. I'm infiltrating this page, masking myself as one of you......accepted people. Fingers crossed as well.

im pretty sure that i read on MSAR that the average scholarship given to students is around $10,000... cant verify cuz i threw the book out upon receiving my acceptance letter... :D

im pretty sure that i read on MSAR that the average scholarship given to students is around $10,000... cant verify cuz i threw the book out upon receiving my acceptance letter... :D

haha, $10,000 is more money than i've made in the last 2 years combined...but id definitely take it! $45000 a year is way better than $55000 in my book.

whoa... i didnt know this thread existed...

ill be a part of the class and am very excited about it!!!

ive been wondering about fin aid myself...

ive tried calling, emailing, even left a voice msg on their system...

nothing...

for me, that has been the only downside about the school (that and maybe the location?)...

Be patient with financial aid. They are busy making sure us 4th years have our exit interviews and that we have everything in working order by the time we graduate to make sure we don't screw up and end up in repayment instead of defferment. You'll get your money, rest assured. When I was accepted way back when, it was about 1 week prior to orientation. I manged to get a financial aid disbursement by the end of orientation. But be patient...they'll get to you soon.

Good luck Samosas! I hear that they pull a lot of people off of the waitlist--are you waitlisted? Also, it cant' hurt to write a LOI :)

You'll get in, Good luck! :luck:

Hey! I too just got accepted to RFU this past week. Yay!!!:laugh:

I am from New Englad so I have a major relocation ahead. Where is everyone looking to live? I filled out the housing form but the deadline has passed!

Hey 2011 crew. I'll be living in those apartments next door to the school. I'm 27 and don't feel like dealing with random roommates anymore. I think I'm moving in mid-July. Anyone else?

I'm surprised there aren't more people posting, considering how big the class is. I'm excited and wanna start talking to other students already...

And I hope that bloody probation rumor mill will finally die already. CMS is a great school I really enjoyed visiting (they have Diet Mountain Dew on tap - a huge bonus in my book). I wish everyone would display more pride... Speaking of pride, I want a CMS sweatshirt.

Hey 2011 crew. I'll be living in those apartments next door to the school. I'm 27 and don't feel like dealing with random roommates anymore. I think I'm moving in mid-July. Anyone else?

I'm surprised there aren't more people posting, considering how big the class is. I'm excited and wanna start talking to other students already...

And I hope that bloody probation rumor mill will finally die already. CMS is a great school I really enjoyed visiting (they have Diet Mountain Dew on tap - a huge bonus in my book). I wish everyone would display more pride... Speaking of pride, I want a CMS sweatshirt.

yeah, it's a little annoying. but honestly, once you start school, you won't care what people say. you'll know youre getting a great education (although there will inevitably be student whining about little things), you'll like your classmates, you'll be proud of our 4th years when they match at great places and you'll see third years on campus and really look forward to those clinical rotations, you'll be busy getting involved (or should be), and you'll be worked very hard. the best way to take the high road is to go out there and be the best you can and know that your character and hard work here and out there on the wards reflect well on your school. lots of us love our school.

Yeah, you should get a CMS shirt, or have your class officers design stylish CMS Class of 2011 t-shirts. do well in classes, ask questions if you've got them. if you know an answer, don't be shy. most of all, keep reminding yourself that deep down you love this stuff and this is your thing. i think you'll find there's a lot of tradition (school's been around since like 1912 or somewhere around there) here to be proud of. heck, outside the first year auditorium the class pictures from every year dating back to then are hanging on the walls. if you're feeling tired and overworked between classes (people grab coffee or a snack or a bathroom break b/w classes), wander around and look at all the accomplished people who went before you. you can do it. the school is very proud of its students and i'm sure will be proud of you. your upperclassmen are too.

congrats

YEA IM GOIN TO BE KICKIN IT AT CMS

i dont know where to live tho, when i interviewed lots of people said apts nearby were a better deal and still pretty close - the woodlands or something like that they called em. but the school ones seemed real nice. any thoughts? also how to get good match with random roommates maybe hmm

and yea i dunno, cms has it goin on. my current roommate in undergrad has an older brother there who loved it. also i think its a good location. if i were in the city id be easily distracted, its good that i'll be studying and getting to know classmates and still perfect for visiting downtown city friends on the weekends or on slow weeknights. i like going to rock shows and occasionally havin a beer when im not slammin the books. NAHIMEAN?

Hey guys,

I'm gonna be coming to CMS in the fall too!! I just got my letter a few days ago. I'm a little concerned about housing - on campus housing seems to be full and they are starting a waitlist.

I'm from Rochester, NY. Look forward to seeing you guys

Hey guys,

I'm gonna be coming to CMS in the fall too!! I just got my letter a few days ago. I'm a little concerned about housing - on campus housing seems to be full and they are starting a waitlist.

I'm from Rochester, NY. Look forward to seeing you guys

try the student housing message boards. The Woodlands is the most popular spot for students to live and its ~ the same distance to school as the dorms.

http://66.99.255.20/students/messageboards/conference.cfm?confId=1

Thanks for the link - really helpful!

such little activity here. so sad.

I'll bump the fledgling CMS class thread. Congrats guys, and good luck next year. It really is a great school with unlimited oportunities. Look at our match list and you can be convinced that you can go anywhere for any residency.

Hey guys!!

I'm excited to meet everyone next year and so excited for med school! See you there.

:love:

Hello future RFUMSers. Congrats on your acceptance. If any of you need housing please read the description below- I will UNDERCUT anyone else in both price and quality that includes Woodlands and Campus Housing!!! I'm an M2 and homeowner who is looking for clean, courteous, and quiet students. Don't hesitate to email me if you have any housing questions or general questions about Chicago Medical School. Congrats again!

(2) spacious Rooms available for rent in Gurnee/Waukegan. There are only 2 other RFUMS female students (an M1 and PA) that will reside in this large house 2007-2008; both are quiet, courteous, and clean.

This newly constructed home is a fully furnished 2-story house with 8 total rooms, 2.5 baths, and 4 main floor rooms. There is also room furniture available for the rooms if needed.

Main Floor includes Italian Marble throughout first level that extends throughout a spacious, high-ceiling Living room & Dining room, both of which are Fully Furnished. French glass doors separate the large Dining Room from the modern Eat-in Kitchen Room which includes a Dishwasher, Refrigerator, Microwave, Toaster and Oven. Wide Backyard includes large patio and deck off main level which overlooks nature preserve and jogging trail (no backyard neighbors, quiet family housing area). Laundry room includes Washer and Dryer for anytime personal use. Cable and Wireless Internet available throughout the entire household. Attached 2-car Parking garage and FREE street parking also available. There is No additional cost for yard/lawn maintenance as it is included.

This is a new neighborhood that is student/professional friendly, quiet, and safe. There are also a number of grocery stores within walking distance.
***SEE PHOTOS***

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/waukeganhouse1/album?.dir=fc48re2&.src=ph&store=&prodid=&.done=http%3a//photos.yahoo.com/ph//my_photos

***SEE VIDEOS***
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3W5Nz8Ulp_A

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpqdsbwDpzg

A Medium room will be available as well as the Master Bedroom.
If you have any questions please don't hesitate to email (waukeganhouse1@gmail.com).

Hi guys, just got in today, and barring any unforeseen circumstances I will attend in this coming year.

When does finaid package come in?

Congradulations from CMS 2009! :hardy:

Dear Quietest Class Ever,

Has anyone gotten their financial aid package yet? I submitted mine well over a month ago. Now I'm starting to worry about my (future lack of) monies.

Dear Quietest Class Ever,

Has anyone gotten their financial aid package yet? I submitted mine well over a month ago. Now I'm starting to worry about my (future lack of) monies.


I called the financial aid office, and they said that after may 18th they will start reviewing files and it takes about a month. You could call and ask them if they have all your paperwork just to make sure they have it.

Does RFU confirm that they received your deposit, if so how (via email maybe?). Just curious. I might just call and ask on Monday to see if they got it.

Anyone?

which deposit? i just saw that theyve cashed all my checks. i emailed them about my financial aid status and they said i was complete. we should hear back within the month

which deposit? i just saw that theyve cashed all my checks. i emailed them about my financial aid status and they said i was complete. we should hear back within the month

The 100 deposit to hold our position in class. I sent it in with the acceptance form. I called but dont really get a direct answer which makes little sense to me. Is there another way to check, it would be horrible if I lose my place in the clas because no one was able to confirm that they received my deposit and letter. How long after you guys sent in the confirmation did they cash it? Does RFU send another packet with info about when classes start and immunizations etc? I think I am worrying myself for no reason, but better be safe then sorry.

they didnt send anything to me (as in a confirmation) so i wouldnt be too worried about it. try and email or call the admissions office, im sure theyll get back to you.

Yea I got the confirmation. Well I am really excited about attending and completely looking forward to it. I sent in my housing form, I know it is late but I just got accepted a week ago so I didn't have much prior notice. Now I need to get my immunization and physical forms in and sit tight for the financial aid.

Lets try to keep this thread a bit more active, its definitely alot quieter then it should be. :)

for the immunization form you need to have IgG antibody blood work done, fyi.

Are lectures recorded? I think I remember hearing during the tour that they are. If so, are they video taped or just audio recordings and are they put up on the internet?

Thanks

I hope the housing isnt full. If it is that means I have quite a bit of extra stuff to do. Where are good places to live other then the on campus housing? And how much does the rent usually run?

I did look it up in a 3 yr old MSAR, and the average scholarship given out was 9k. Personally that sounds like great news, and if that is the average Im sure many get above that too.

Are lectures recorded? I think I remember hearing during the tour that they are. If so, are they video taped or just audio recordings and are they put up on the internet?

Thanks

I believe some classes/professors will make their lectures available online, but I think it's the responsibilities of the students to make sure that they're recorded (usually someone(s) will be put in charge of this at the beginning of the year).

I hope the housing isnt full. If it is that means I have quite a bit of extra stuff to do. Where are good places to live other then the on campus housing? And how much does the rent usually run?

There's probably only a very small chance of getting on campus housing at this point. Even then, there's an apartment complex right next to the school called the Woodlands where the rent is cheap, but then the accomodations isn't all that great. However, being able to walk to school is a plus especially in the winter rather than having to drive. Then there are some nicer apartments further off campus on Waukegan that's still within a 10 minute drive of school called Deer Valley (a single will run for about 900) and Northern Crossing (similarly priced and I believe they changed their name to the Landings or something to that effect) among others.

As one of your orientation advisors, welcome to CMS and I'm looking forward to meeting you guys in just a few short months!

EDIT: and if you're worried about immunizations, don't be. You'll have time to get them done once you're enrolled and situated up here in North Chicago.

Hmm i just made an appointment for the immunizations too :). I guess Ill get it done now.

As far as housing, what would you recommend for the best facility outside of on campus? I figure if I have to live off campus, 1 mile or 5 miles means very little.

Hi everyone! I am definitely going to RFU. I'm 26, originally from NYC suburbs. I graduated from U of Mi in 2002 and moved back to NY for 2 years to work. I ended up back in MI for grad school and also because my husband went to law school at U of M.

I'm going to be living in the city (Lakeview area) and taking the Metra to school. Not looking forward to the commute but I'll use the time on the train to study...

Can't wait to meet everyone :)

Hmm i just made an appointment for the immunizations too :). I guess Ill get it done now.

As far as housing, what would you recommend for the best facility outside of on campus? I figure if I have to live off campus, 1 mile or 5 miles means very little.

I live at Deer Valley and I'm pretty happy with what I've got here. Another option similar to Deer Valley is Forest Pointe which I believe has the same apartment design, but just different management. Another option is Northern Crossing/The Landing which is also pretty nice. Just take a quick look around as they're all within a few miles of each other and see what's available to fit your needs.

And morriske, welcome to CMS and I also have a buddy who lived in Evanston and downtown for the first year and will be living downtown for the second year. It's doable, but it will be tough and it'll obviously help to have a car for those days where you don't feel like waiting for the train. It'll also help if you're the type of person that doesn't go to lecture ;)

I guess this is where I belong now? :D

so there's a Chicago Medical School Group on facebook. Whoever plays on facebook should join...

I just got in! I can't wait to meet all of you.

Whats the facebook group, I wasnt able to find it when i searched. can you post a link, or exact name of the group maybe?

\

Whats the facebook group, I wasnt able to find it when i searched. can you post a link, or exact name of the group maybe?

http://facebook.com/group.php?gid=2353698899

I think that should work...if not, go to the Rosalind Franklin University Group and under "related groups" there should be a link to the CMS group.

Hi everyone,

I need your advice with financial aid. I just got accepted but I did fill out the fafsa electronically on may 9. Was I supposed to send the school a copy of SAR or do they get it electronically? I have no prior experience with loans in the u.s system. I tried calling the office but they are closed. I do not want to miss any deadlines. any advice will be greatly appreciated.

babi

Hi everyone,

I need your advice with financial aid. I just got accepted but I did fill out the fafsa electronically on may 9. Was I supposed to send the school a copy of SAR or do they get it electronically? I have no prior experience with loans in the u.s system. I tried calling the office but they are closed. I do not want to miss any deadlines. any advice will be greatly appreciated.

babi

there are forms on the rosalind franklin website under the financial aid section. theres also links to the federal loan program websites there

I guess this is more a question for current students at CMS but...

I was checking out the 2007 match list and I noticed that most of the students got their residencies in IL or CA - does anyone know if this is because most of the students wanted that and are from those areas or because they just didn't match in NY/NJ?

I only ask because I am from the NY area and would like to return after school and was curious of my chances to get a residency there. Thanks guys!

Hey guys,

Any suggestions on how to go about finding a roommate for this fall? I've checked out craigslist and the school website....are these pretty much it? I'm not even certain which communities I should be looking in. I have a dog so my options are a bit more limited. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks guys! :D

I just got my letter two days ago. See you all this fall.

Hey current CMS students.

I am planning my budget for the coming year. I know what the school recommends to budget for books, but I wanted to hear from current students: Do you actually purchase the books or mostly use the notes? Are there books available at the library to take home or only to use at the library? Any information will be greatly appreciated. Thanks
babi

I guess this is more a question for current students at CMS but...

I was checking out the 2007 match list and I noticed that most of the students got their residencies in IL or CA - does anyone know if this is because most of the students wanted that and are from those areas or because they just didn't match in NY/NJ?

I only ask because I am from the NY area and would like to return after school and was curious of my chances to get a residency there. Thanks guys!

while this quesiton can probably only be answered by our dean of student affairs or someone (about what % of students got one of their top choices), the fact that lots of students got residencies in IL or CA is due to the fact that at most schools, they put the most amount of people at their home programs. (e.g. UIC puts a large proportion of people in UIC programs) So think of the chicago area hospital programs as our "home programs", it makes sense. We've rotated through, we've lived in Chicago for 4 years, the attendings know our faces....it's no shock people are more likely to stick around. Plus there's some great residencies in chicago. The california thing is a little different. In previous years, the largest proportion of our class came from CA. CA's population is 1/6 of the country and we're a private school, so we get a lot of CA applicants. In more recent years, I think this has shifted and if I remember correctly CA is no longer the top contributor to our incoming classes. So a lot of CA residents want to get out of cold Chicago and back to sunny california. To each his own.

let me just advise everyone to take match lists with a grain of salt. you should look at it for the following things: do students seem to place into the specialtie(s) I'm interested in? do they seem to place in areas I'm interested in? do students seem happy with their matches? that's about it. don't try to sort through what the good programs are and what the competitive specialties are just yet, just get a feel for where graduates are kind of going and what they're going into if you want to look at match lists.

Hey current CMS students.

I am planning my budget for the coming year. I know what the school recommends to budget for books, but I wanted to hear from current students: Do you actually purchase the books or mostly use the notes? Are there books available at the library to take home or only to use at the library? Any information will be greatly appreciated. Thanks
babi

textbooks? not very much. some students buy textbooks and like them, but with the exception of a few (the Respiratory Phys book, the Renal phys book, an anatomy atlas, a neuroanatomy atlas) I don't think people buy many textbooks. most if not all are on reserve in the library.for the few times that you sit down for an hour or so and review the recommended text readings. the course notes are pretty much comprehensive, and they test off of the course notes.

that said, make SURE you buy the books you're told by every upperclassmen to buy and make SURE you buy the diagnostic equipment they tell you to get. upperclassmen may tell you "oh, you don't need it, they've got otoscopes on the walls on the wards", but that's not really true, and do you really want to be that guy who doesn't have it when the attending asks? and is it REALLY that important for you to save a few bucks rather than having the basic tools of practice as a physician? just buy 'em and get it over with.

When are we suppose to get our finaid packages, Im getting worried about that and would really like to see how steep im in for.

bump

this thread needs more posts!!!

bump

this thread needs more posts!!!

If RFU accepts the people from the Pre-allo thread (Bigdog, gujumd, heston, mave, jscrippe, myself, and more) this thread would be bumping!!!

We are all on the "waitlist" now, so hopefully we can join you here soon :luck:

I guess this is more a question for current students at CMS but...

I was checking out the 2007 match list and I noticed that most of the students got their residencies in IL or CA - does anyone know if this is because most of the students wanted that and are from those areas or because they just didn't match in NY/NJ?

I only ask because I am from the NY area and would like to return after school and was curious of my chances to get a residency there. Thanks guys!

My class had a huge proportion from California and Illinois. Looking at the list, I know there were many that ended up where they wanted to geographically. I can't speak for the programs, however. Match lists are very hard to judge without really having an idea of the class dynamics, etc.

that said, make SURE you buy the books you're told by every upperclassmen to buy and make SURE you buy the diagnostic equipment they tell you to get. upperclassmen may tell you "oh, you don't need it, they've got otoscopes on the walls on the wards", but that's not really true, and do you really want to be that guy who doesn't have it when the attending asks? and is it REALLY that important for you to save a few bucks rather than having the basic tools of practice as a physician? just buy 'em and get it over with.

While I agree with the book suggestion, I completely disagree with the diagnostic set issue. Otoscopes/opthalmoscopes are a complete waste of money. As I pack my stuff to move, I've just found my pan optic, which has not been used in 3 years. ICM scares you into buying that equipment, and most of the hospitals do have them, especially the Advocate locations (ask the nurses where they keep them if not on the wall). I would really save your money on not buying it...there are plenty of other expenses that you will find. There has not been one person that has carried around a diagnostic set during my rotations. You've got enough in your pocket to deal with. But that's my opinion on this issue. You'll hear differently from others.

When are we suppose to get our finaid packages, Im getting worried about that and would really like to see how steep im in for.

Same here. I actually called a couple days ago and left a message (on Tuesday actually) and didn't hear anything back. :confused: Hopefully we'll hear soon.

I kept calling the Financial Aid office, but they never returned my calls regarding my status (I haven't received the fin aid package yet). I emailed and they responded in a few days saying they'll process it "about a month before my program starts." Um. Aren't we about there? I can't help but worry that they'll be like "Sorry! No monies left!" Has anyone else had this?

I'll be moving into the Woodlands mid-July if anyone wants to meet and figure out what the hell we're doing.

I kept calling the Financial Aid office, but they never returned my calls regarding my status (I haven't received the fin aid package yet). I emailed and they responded in a few days saying they'll process it "about a month before my program starts." Um. Aren't we about there? I can't help but worry that they'll be like "Sorry! No monies left!" Has anyone else had this?

I'll be moving into the Woodlands mid-July if anyone wants to meet and figure out what the hell we're doing.

Yea, the finaid office is impossible to get a hold of, money is quite important and I would definitely like to know whats going on with it way before I start.

As for meeting, I think that would be a great idea, I am totally up for it. Although I don't have housing yet, haven't even gone to look. I'm still hoping for on campus if I get lucky off the housing wait list, do you know if woodlands still has any openings?

We need more posts here!

i think i emailed them a couple weeks ago. they said i'd get my financial aid package "within a month or so"...a month being June 21. as for people who were just accepted recently...im guessing itll be longer for you...

Hi everyone, can't wait to meet you in August! :)

Oh regarding fin aid, I was told a few days ago that they wouldn't even begin sending award letters for at least 2-4 weeks, has anyone had a different experience?

Talked to Finaid today. They say award stuff will go out aprox a month before school starts.

Is there any reason to expect we wouldn't get all the loans we applied for? I'm being optimistic about all of this, but I'm wondering if I shouldn't be...

And that is the most quiet Facebook group. Come on, kids.

Oh, and yes, there are openings at the Woodlands. I think. The 1 bedrooms have a sizable waitlist so I hear, but the 2 bedrooms aren't as bad. And the 2 bedrooms aren't that much more expensive than the 1s. Call right now if you want to be put on any of the waitlists. http://www.woodlandsongreenbay.com/

Nice people. I like it there. I can't wait to move in.

I also got an email today that financial aid award letters will be mailed in few weeks. I am just trying to get all immunizations, forms in as soon as I can so I can enjoy whatever is left of my summer.

I have lived in Chicago for the last 10 years and currently live in Evanston. If any of you out staters need some help feel free to pm me.

I also agree that this thread needs to be more active.
babi

..

yep, i grew up in downtown chicago. i moved to dc for 7 years, but now i'm back. this notion of moving to the suburbs is slightly bumming me out, but at least rent's cheap.

I will be joining you guys at CMS.

I called the the Financial Aid Office today. They said they are busy with the M4 papers. However, they should get the ball rolling within the next two weeks. Award letters are not going to be sent out until a month before school starts as the above posters mentioned.

I have lived in Northbrook my whole life. Anyone else from the area? Does anyone living in the student housing/dorms know when we can move in?

Isn't Northbrook commutable?

I am looking for apartments within 30 mins radius. Anyone know of cheap apartments? I heard of Briarwood in Waukegan. Just wondering how the place is...

...

Northbrook is about a 30 min drive. I guess its commutable, but I'd rather live right next to the school. You can stay with my parents though! But I still have a bunkbed haha.

Thanks.:laugh:

How is the drive up I-94? Traffic? I don't know what suburbs would be good to commute from.

As far as financial aid is concerned, it says in the MSAR that the average scholarship/grant given in 10,000, is this true? That is a whole lot of money and if I can get even half that itll save me 20k over 4 years.

Thanks.:laugh:

How is the drive up I-94? Traffic? I don't know what suburbs would be good to commute from.

Depends on how far south you live from North Chicago, I-94 can be absolute HELL, but not usually that far north.

Hey everyone!!!! I cannot wait for school to begin... what is everyone doing these days???
As for me.... I am working to kill time.. and trying to get all my medical forms in place for school!!!

Ill be heading to Chicago next week to find a place to live, I cant seem to get a hold of the housing office for info on the on-campus wait list. Is anyone in need of a roommate, if I cant find a single I may need one.

What happens during orientation? What's the schedule like? What do we do? (I'm trying to make this more real, less like it's all in my imagination.)

Hi there new guys!

Welcome to the family!

Lot's to say:

Housing:

I lived in the woodlands last year and will be moving over to the dorms for this year. If you haven't lived in Chicago before or have a set social group out here, I highly recommend living in either of those two places (though I hear the dorms are full). The woodlands are great. There's an outdoor pool and a little work out room which I've used a lot more than I thought. Plus, if you ball, you can play at the Lake Bluff center for free every tues night (my personal fav). The rooms are nice and the neighbors are really quiet (unless you live next certain people). It's mostly students, but it's got more of a normal appartment feel. But I'm cheap, and will move to the dorm for tax implications.

Fin Aid:

Sorry, but I don't think I know anyone with one of those "scholarships." But do yourself and your fellow students a favor and vote democratic so we'll get lower interest rates (Buck Fush). Here's your fin aid package: $8,500 stafford subsidized, $30,000 stafford unsubsidized, and however much you want in the other loans. So you want to buy a new porsche right now? Pull out more loan. You want to pull it cheap? take out just the staffords and live in waukeegan (get on your knees for Ned).

The Location:

You'll barely ever go into North Chicago at all. Yeah we're technically in city limits, but I spend most of my time in the other north shore (ie, old money) suburbs. What you don't know:


You're a 3 min train ride from Ravinia and the CSO is free for students
Yeah, you can use Lake Forest's library
The beach at Fort Sheridan does not have unexploded ordinance
There's great mexican a few miles down in Highwood
You can do anything with access to a car


http://www.ravinia.org/

The Faculty

They're great! I really mean it. There is nothing funnier than Dr. McCormick lecturing on female reproductive endocrinology ("You used to be able to tell by the lack of pubic hair growth, but now women like to ....").
:laugh:

The Coffee

Caribou in Libertyville is sweet. Don't go to Starbucks!

The Gym

Do what I did, skip biochem to avoid the pre dinner rush.

The Orientation

Have as much fun as possible! Go out every night! Go downtown! Go drinking! Find out where the Cubby Bear is! Get together with your classmates (and M2's too)! It's all down hill from there.

I was one of the tour guides, and I've already gotten emails from a few of you. If you have any questions, I'd be more than happy to help!


Congratulations! See you in a few months!

I am going to party so F***ing hard during orientation I just might die!!! See you all soon.

i like to hear that there will be some orientation partying going on...definitely looking forward to that!

anyone living in forest pointe/deer valley apts? i'll be in forest pointe.

what are people doing as far as laptops? i'd like to get one, but don't know if they are popular among cms'ers or if there are any special specifications that might be necessary?

looking forward to meeting you all :)

i like to hear that there will be some orientation partying going on...definitely looking forward to that!

anyone living in forest pointe/deer valley apts? i'll be in forest pointe.

what are people doing as far as laptops? i'd like to get one, but don't know if they are popular among cms'ers or if there are any special specifications that might be necessary?

looking forward to meeting you all :)

Yay! It looks like I'll be living there too. Right now I'm looking at a one-bedroom but I'd rather find a roommate and get a two-bedroom so if anyone's looking for a roommate...PM me!! :D

i like to hear that there will be some orientation partying going on...definitely looking forward to that!

anyone living in forest pointe/deer valley apts? i'll be in forest pointe.

what are people doing as far as laptops? i'd like to get one, but don't know if they are popular among cms'ers or if there are any special specifications that might be necessary?

looking forward to meeting you all :)

It will definitely help if you have a laptop especially since the administration/faculty is pushing to become 'paperless' although notes are available to download and print for most courses. Some courses also make it possible to purchase notes through the university. As for what your laptop needs to do, it just needs to be able to open pdf and powerpoint files so it doesn't matter if you decide to get a pc or mac. I would, however, recommend that you look into a tablet as it'll make it much easier to take quick notes during lecture and allows you the freedom to easily circle and draw arrows with.

http://lfc.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2362139150&ref=mf

hey guys this is the link for the CMS Class of 2011 group on facebook.... also the admin is the orientation advisor for our class!!!

i like to hear that there will be some orientation partying going on...definitely looking forward to that!

anyone living in forest pointe/deer valley apts? i'll be in forest pointe.

what are people doing as far as laptops? i'd like to get one, but don't know if they are popular among cms'ers or if there are any special specifications that might be necessary?

looking forward to meeting you all :)

i just bought a macbook pro for school

i like to hear that there will be some orientation partying going on...definitely looking forward to that!

anyone living in forest pointe/deer valley apts? i'll be in forest pointe.

what are people doing as far as laptops? i'd like to get one, but don't know if they are popular among cms'ers or if there are any special specifications that might be necessary?

looking forward to meeting you all :)

Don't think you have to have the latest laptop. I got by last year without a computer, however, it was a little rough at times. And fight tooth and nail against digitization of class material. It is impossible to study off a computer given the volume of material we have.

Has anyone received the class schedule? If not, does anyone know if a sample exists from previous years? I would like to know when class starts and ends. I also want to see when labs are.

If you have this information please PM me or just post here. Thanks!

Has anyone received the class schedule? If not, does anyone know if a sample exists from previous years? I would like to know when class starts and ends. I also want to see when labs are.

If you have this information please PM me or just post here. Thanks!

http://66.99.255.20/cms/M1schedule.pdf

http://66.99.255.20/schedule/M1_T1.pdf

http://66.99.255.20/schedule/

Classes start Aug 13th this year, with orientation Aug 8-10

Thank you!!

Are exams only during midterms and finals? Or are there also weekly exams after several chapters?

so I joined the facebook group...

I'm going to be living in Chicago(Lakeview) and taking the Metra. Does anyone know if there is a white coat ceremony? My parents want to try to be there for it. I'm an only child :laugh:

so I joined the facebook group...

I'm going to be living in Chicago(Lakeview) and taking the Metra. Does anyone know if there is a white coat ceremony? My parents want to try to be there for it. I'm an only child :laugh:

:laugh: That's cute.

so I joined the facebook group...

I'm going to be living in Chicago(Lakeview) and taking the Metra. Does anyone know if there is a white coat ceremony? My parents want to try to be there for it. I'm an only child :laugh:

I know they had white coat ceremony in previous years and I am pretty sure there is one this year as well. You might want to contact them and ask when exactly it is going to take place.
On a different note, I visited the school again yesterday and gave them all the required forms. I got a chance to look at the evaluation center (did not see it during interview day), and it is sooooo cool. They even let me see the big dummy (I forgot its name) we get to practice on. Not to mention that everyone one I met from the admissions office, financial aid, library has been super nice and helpful. What a good feeling to know there is so much support.
BTW I live in Evanston so if anyone has questions about chicago do not hesitate to pm me.
Babi

Anyone who has lived at the Woodlands or knows anyone who has: is it nice or is it a better idea to live at Deer Valley/Forest Pointe?

Excited to see you guys in August!!! :)

I think ill be trying to get housing at forest pointe/deer valley, woodlands has no 1 bedrooms free.

Well, i just got off the housing wait list for the on campus housing, so I dont have to go looking for an apartment after all :)

Just got the call (sort-of - see the Pre-Allo thread for details) today. So I guess I'm going to be looking for housing very soon!

Looking forward to meeting you all :)

If you have the option of living in the woodlands or one of the other apartment complexes, definitely go with the woodlands. You'll want to be around students and campus. Those other places are just far enough to make it difficult. I thought the woodlands were real nice, and made campus really accessible.

anyone else planning to commute???

Just got the call (sort-of - see the Pre-Allo thread for details) today. So I guess I'm going to be looking for housing very soon!

Looking forward to meeting you all :)

congrats mave!!!
i guess u need to go partying first!!! :hardy:

anyone else planning to commute???

I'll be commuting-living in Lakeview and taking the Metra from Ravenswood or Evanston.

What kind of computers are people planning on getting? I'm starting to look around, since my beloved laptop is starting to circle the drain, and I'm trying to decide whether I should make the jump to a Mac or stick with a PC.

I know that somewhere on the RFU website is their recommendations on tech specs for computers, but I can't find it now.

Anyone looking for a roommate? I'm thinking Forest Pointe or Woodlands. I have a dog (see left). He's super cool and well-behaved, as am I. :D

Anyone looking for a roommate? I'm thinking Forest Pointe or Woodlands. I have a dog (see left). He's super cool and well-behaved, as am I. :D

I was at Forest Pointe today, looking for a 1BD apartment. Now, though, I'm off the waitlist for a shared 2BD in the on-campus housing and I'm trying to decide between the two. It's a lot of money to be saved...

What kind of computers are people planning on getting? I'm starting to look around, since my beloved laptop is starting to circle the drain, and I'm trying to decide whether I should make the jump to a Mac or stick with a PC.

I know that somewhere on the RFU website is their recommendations on tech specs for computers, but I can't find it now.

I got a dell, the 12 inch one. Its good, light, and has great battery life. I tend to do more heavy duty things in my spare time (picture/video editing) so I wanted something that was powerful and light.

Additionally, HP has a student discount with Rosalind Franklin, I think you get 15% off, or maybe more. Worth looking into.

I am really looking forward to CMS in august, cant wait to see you all. Well for now Im going on vacation for a month :).

I was at Forest Pointe today, looking for a 1BD apartment. Now, though, I'm off the waitlist for a shared 2BD in the on-campus housing and I'm trying to decide between the two. It's a lot of money to be saved...

What a coincidence, I got in off the wait list for a 2bd for on-campus just the other day, maybe we will be roommates :)

What kind of computers are people planning on getting?

i bought a laptop earlier this year.... toshiba a 135... but it has windows vista.. and as of now vista sucks

Does anyone know how bad of a commute it will be coming from the Des Plaines area to campus?

Also, will this area be a good choice for living during 3rd/4th years?

Does anyone know how bad of a commute it will be coming from the Des Plaines area to campus?

Also, will this area be a good choice for living during 3rd/4th years?

I294 runs through des plaines...you just take that north...so id guess it would depend on how traffic is. I'd say you could do it in 40 minutes but in bad traffic over an hour.

probably wouldnt be a bad choice for 3/4 year either. kind of a middle ground between the campus and the hospitals.

I have an odd request, but here goes. I'm in charge of getting people to respond to the 31 question's thread in the mentor forum and am looking for current students at all of the med schools of the US. So, I realize this is the class thread for the incoming class, but perhaps someone from previous classes has been helpful in answering your questions and giving you advice in this thread. I have no time to read through every single class thread to get this info, but if you could post some user names of some such people (or pm them to me, including what school you are from), I can pm them with my request. Thanks!

Anyone looking for a roommate? I'm thinking Forest Pointe or Woodlands. I have a dog (see left). He's super cool and well-behaved, as am I. :D

Your dog is so cute!




I'll be living in the Woodlands in a 1 bedroom and I'm really excited about meeting all of you guys - when are you all planning to move in?

I'm taking the on-campus apartment that I was offered, but I'm not sure when I'm moving in yet. I have a younger sister in college in Cleveland, so a lot depends on when she needs to be back at school. I'm sure that it'll be sometime over the first few days of August.

Any word on when the white coat ceremony is?

I'm taking the on-campus apartment that I was offered, but I'm not sure when I'm moving in yet. I have a younger sister in college in Cleveland, so a lot depends on when she needs to be back at school. I'm sure that it'll be sometime over the first few days of August.

Any word on when the white coat ceremony is?

call me dumb, but what is a white coat ceremony???

call me dumb, but what is a white coat ceremony???

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Coat_Ceremony

I guess this mentions that the WCC is much later on for medical students. From what I've seen, WCC's are early on in the year for MS1's at most if not all US medical schools.

Any word on when the white coat ceremony is?

August 8th, 5 PM

Just got an email with some updates and orientation info. Check your inboxes!

has anyone heard anything from the financial aid office yet??

August 8th, 5 PM

Just got an email with some updates and orientation info. Check your inboxes!

I just checked my email and I got it too. I don't even bother with checking email anymore so thanks! :D

call me dumb, but what is a white coat ceremony???

It's a little ceremony in the auditorium (family invited) where all the incoming medical students dress up and have their white coat put on them on stage, shake hands with the Dean, etc. It's the first time you recite the Hippocratic Oath too. The other physicians present recite it with you. Then they paddle you. It's kind of nice.

It's a little ceremony in the auditorium (family invited) where all the incoming medical students dress up and have their white coat put on them on stage, shake hands with the Dean, etc. It's the first time you recite the Hippocratic Oath too. The other physicians present recite it with you. Then they paddle you. It's kind of nice.

I'll wear my control tops.

Does anyone know how bad of a commute it will be coming from the Des Plaines area to campus?

Also, will this area be a good choice for living during 3rd/4th years?

I just bought a townhouse with my fiance in des plaines. Did a test drive a month or so ago and it took me about a half an hour. 294 is under construction and gets congested, I am hoping some of it clears up by the time school starts. I have a feeling that there wont be much traffic once you get past where you can exit to other expressways going east and west.

One of the interviewers told me that he expects more students to spend good portions of their 3/4 years at lutheran general and its in park ridge, so minutes from desplaines.

I just bought a townhouse with my fiance in des plaines. Did a test drive a month or so ago and it took me about a half an hour. 294 is under construction and gets congested, I am hoping some of it clears up by the time school starts. I have a feeling that there wont be much traffic once you get past where you can exit to other expressways going east and west.

One of the interviewers told me that he expects more students to spend good portions of their 3/4 years at lutheran general and its in park ridge, so minutes from desplaines.

Yeah, it's just not the "ideal" or traditinoal CMS student living situation. Usually we live in the dorms or in the Woodlands for the first two years, and move downtown to a somewhat centrally-located apartment close to the EL with a classmate or two for third and fourth years. Some people don't mind a 30-45 minute commute every day, but I couldn't do it. Lutheran is by no means the only place you'll rotate through, but you may be able to get a few there (out of 9 total rotations 3rd year) if you want them. Obviously you can make it work so please do so but I don't think Des Plaines is particularly ideal.

For those of you who are thinking, "gosh, do I really want to live in North Chicago for the next two years?"......you do. Being walking distance from campus is a huge advantage as a student. Obviously, if you've got other priorities (home for your family vs. apt), then the tradeoff may be worth it, however. Best of luck.

I just bought a townhouse with my fiance in des plaines. Did a test drive a month or so ago and it took me about a half an hour. 294 is under construction and gets congested, I am hoping some of it clears up by the time school starts. I have a feeling that there wont be much traffic once you get past where you can exit to other expressways going east and west.

One of the interviewers told me that he expects more students to spend good portions of their 3/4 years at lutheran general and its in park ridge, so minutes from desplaines.


I will also be living in Des Plaines with my wife. I don't think it should be that bad of a commute. 30 mins sounds about right. You can definitely commute to hospitals for 3rd/4th years too. I haven't gotten the chance to check out Des Plaines. How is the city?

I dont move for a couple of weeks but I live about 20 min south of des plaines and from what I have gathered des plaines is pretty mixed. For example, I was driving around and on some blocks I saw fairly old small houses and then lots double the size with maybe 5 year old giant brick houses kind of like the ones in elmhurst. The downtown area was recently revitalized and looks pretty cool. There are lots of chain restaraunts and restaraunts unique to the area. Theres more to do to the west in the schaumburg area and the blue line is just south in rosemont which will take you into the city, plus theres a metra down town. Also there is a new downtownish area being constructed in rosemont with a giant movie theater, shopping and a waterpark which is planned to rival the ones in wisconsin.

Where abouts did you decide to move to in Des plaines? I am just off of touhy east of mannheim a few blocks from the all state arena.

If I could I would probably live in north chicago but my fiance has a few years left at midwestern and so des plaines ended up being our midway point.

I will also be living in Des Plaines with my wife. I don't think it should be that bad of a commute. 30 mins sounds about right. You can definitely commute to hospitals for 3rd/4th years too. I haven't gotten the chance to check out Des Plaines. How is the city?

My husband and I bought a condo in the Lakeview area of Chicago so I will have a very long commute. I'm planning to study/sleep on the Metra.

Moniker, do some students live in the city during the first two years or am I a complete anomaly?

I dont move for a couple of weeks but I live about 20 min south of des plaines and from what I have gathered des plaines is pretty mixed. For example, I was driving around and on some blocks I saw fairly old small houses and then lots double the size with maybe 5 year old giant brick houses kind of like the ones in elmhurst. The downtown area was recently revitalized and looks pretty cool. There are lots of chain restaraunts and restaraunts unique to the area. Theres more to do to the west in the schaumburg area and the blue line is just south in rosemont which will take you into the city, plus theres a metra down town. Also there is a new downtownish area being constructed in rosemont with a giant movie theater, shopping and a waterpark which is planned to rival the ones in wisconsin.

Where abouts did you decide to move to in Des plaines? I am just off of touhy east of mannheim a few blocks from the all state arena.

If I could I would probably live in north chicago but my fiance has a few years left at midwestern and so des plaines ended up being our midway point.

My wife is working in the western suburbs so Des Plaines is a good midway point for us as well. Is your fiance going to the med school at midwestern?

I have found a couple places in Des Plaines but haven't yet decided. We will be finalizing things sometime soon.

I was at Forest Pointe today, looking for a 1BD apartment. Now, though, I'm off the waitlist for a shared 2BD in the on-campus housing and I'm trying to decide between the two. It's a lot of money to be saved...

Hey everyone! I can't believe I have just started posting on this thread. I have been looking at the Pre-MD for Rosalind Franklin for a while and somehow forgot about this one.

I am living in the student housing as well...sharing a 2-bedroom with [still to find out...anyone know when we are told, I think it was mid-late July]. I am so glad to be right on campus, I know I would never be able to commute although a lot of people do. I live in East Lakeview right now and then will be moving up to N. Chicago whenever we get our move-in days. Is anyone else (I requested female roommate) going into a 2 bedroom on campus blind?? Maybe we will be roomies!

I am so excited to start in Aug and am happy to see that we will be having a good time at orientation! :p Gotta get in the free time while it lasts! I can't wait to meet everyone and know we will have a great year together!

My husband and I bought a condo in the Lakeview area of Chicago so I will have a very long commute. I'm planning to study/sleep on the Metra.

Moniker, do some students live in the city during the first two years or am I a complete anomaly?

No, students definitely do live in the city. Whenever I need to, I like taking the Metra personally, you just have 30-60 minutes to sit and relax and watch the northern neighborhoods glide by (or sleep or read) and it's not bad. So for the average unattached student I would recommend living in the dorms or Woodlands, but if you've got a good reason to live with a commute (spouse, family, etc.) it's definitely do-able and maybe preferable. Chicago's a great city. You'll enjoy it.

Glad people are getting excited! Your biggest assets coming into medical school are your enthusiasm, passion, and respect for the profession. It's so worth it. To be candid, med school is really as great as I was hoping it would be, and I love it here at CMS. Be as strong as you can and contribute as much as you can and your school and classmates will be proud of you.

My wife is working in the western suburbs so Des Plaines is a good midway point for us as well. Is your fiance going to the med school at midwestern?

I have found a couple places in Des Plaines but haven't yet decided. We will be finalizing things sometime soon.

My fiance is going to be in her 2nd year of pharmacy school next year. Are you buying or renting in desplaines? I was looking at both for a long time and www.chicagotribune.com ended up being a better resource than I would have expected from a newspaper.

I'm looking for a female roommate. Please PM me. Thanks!

People living on-campus, check your emails! Roommate letters just went out!

I wish I had seen your post before today, I never received the email! Has anyone heard/received anything from financial aid?

I wish I had seen your post before today, I never received the email! Has anyone heard/received anything from financial aid?

Haven't heard a word yet. I'm getting kinda worried. Not that I doubt that I will be in debt, but I just want to know how deep I will be! :p

i just noticed that they posted the M1 2007-2008 schedules (http://66.99.255.20/schedule/M1_T1v1.pdf) over at the rfums page.

neat. it is nice to know that i'm safe from biochem for a few months.

i feel the urge to go buy a planner and write this all down :p

Where in the world are our finaid packages?

Where in the world are our finaid packages?

God only knows!!! when i spoke to them earlier last week, they said I should be receiving them in the mail this week.. However, I have not received anything yet! I am freaking out now!!!:scared:

From the schedule, does anyone know what "Physiology Small Groups" and "HSB" are? Are they mandatory?

DoctorSaab,

I don't know what physio small groups are about, but HSB stands for health sciences building, ie where those small groups will meet.

From the schedule, does anyone know what "Physiology Small Groups" and "HSB" are? Are they mandatory?

Yikes, already asking this question huh?

No, they're not mandatory (or weren't when I took it) but it might be a good idea to attend at least at first to decide whether or not you'd be foregoing a valuable resource by skipping.

Physio groups are NOT mandatory. Theyll assign you to groups in the beginning, but most people just figure out who the good facilitators are and go to them. Theyre purely there as a resource, so if they dont help you, dont go. That simple.

Physio groups are NOT mandatory. Theyll assign you to groups in the beginning, but most people just figure out who the good facilitators are and go to them. Theyre purely there as a resource, so if they dont help you, dont go. That simple.

But certainly you wouldn't recommend that incoming M1's ALREADY be planning on not going?
Best to start out going.

But certainly you wouldn't recommend that incoming M1's ALREADY be planning on not going?
Best to start out going.

Of course. Go to the first few, see if it helps you. Thats really what its all about. In fact, I went to all of the facilitator sessions. But I didnt go to the one I was initially assigned to. I had to switch a few times and then found someone who did an AWESOME job, so I stuck with him the rest of the time.

All Im saying is, dont be afraid not to go if you dont get anything out of it. You guys will have 6 weeks till your first set of exams. By the end of the 2nd week, latest 3rd, you should know what works and what doesnt and plan your schedule accordingly.

Guys I talked to the FinAid the other day and they hope to have all the packages sent out by the end of this week(tomorrow I guess). We should expect the mail packet mid next week depending on where we live.

Of course. Go to the first few, see if it helps you. Thats really what its all about. All Im saying is, dont be afraid not to go if you dont get anything out of it. You guys will have 6 weeks till your first set of exams. By the end of the 2nd week, latest 3rd, you should know what works and what doesnt and plan your schedule accordingly.

By "you" and "you guys" you mean "them", of course. I'm not an M1.

This is good advice, though.

By "you" and "you guys" you mean "them", of course. I'm not an M1.

This is good advice, though.

Ahhh. What year are you?

And yes, I was referring to the incoming M1s.

I got my financial aid and orientation info today!

just got orientation info. no finanacial aid package yet...:( I am in chicago, hopefully it will arrive by monday

Congrats. You will get your financial stuff tomorrow most likely. I got everything I asked for.

RFUMS wants us to do an additional orientation online. However, I don't see anything online. Anyone else able to see the online orientation?

I found this on the website. I haven't gotten anything yet (financial aid or otherwise), but I've spent some time on the website the last few days:

http://www.rosalindfranklin.edu/students/orientation/

Theyre doing an online orientation now?? And they still have her picture up there?! Jeez... *smacks hand on forehead*

It would be really helpful if older students can list books that are a MUST to buy for the CMS M1 curriculum.

It would be really helpful if older students can list books that are a MUST to buy for the CMS M1 curriculum.

You definitely NEED:

1) An anatomy atlas. Usually Netter (drawings, better for clarity & understanding relationships) or Rohen (dissection photos, better for studying for the practical). Others are probably ok. I recommend hardcover, as a floppy paperback is a little unwieldy. [~$70]

2) A neuroanatomy atlas: Haines.

3) Vander Renal Physiology (thin book)

4) Pulmonary Physiology (thin book)

That's about it, that's all I used and all I really read. Every once in a while I'd read other textbooks (and definitely bought more, which I really didn't end up using), but in those instances I checked them out of reserve at the library. You may want to use textbooks, however. There's usually a used book sale early in the year. The goal is to figure out whether the textbooks they recommend are a resource that are a worthwhile to you (and worth the money). Obviously if you use them a 1/2 dozen times and then never again, it's probably not worth the $75+ to buy them. But if you like reading the material in a textbook-style explanation format and want to have a reference text in case you'd like to refer to it in your years of training or think you'll use it a decent amount, it's definitely worth it. There is an allotment of money in the student budget for books and supplies. But don't waste money if it's not useful. And if you know you'll need some textbooks (e.g. the ones above), I'd order them as cheaply as possible online or something. I'm not a big fan of our bookstore though.

The course notes are almost always sufficient to do well on exams.

Let me also just recommend to start researching which diagnostic equipment to get. It's expensive, and it'll take some time to decide what's the best option for you. Some people will tell you that you don't need it for whatever reason ("you'll never use it", "they've got all that stuff in the hospitals", etc.). But I HIGHLY recommend buying it. This isn't something you want to cut corners on. You will use it. And if you don't, the $300 or so you spend on it will be well worth the peace of mind of knowing you've got it if an attending asks, or knowing you've got a set to practice with for your M1 full physical exam practical, or if you're in a hospital on your M2 preceptorship and don't want to have to track down an oto/ophthalmo every time you do a physical, or if you go abroad to work in a clinic you've got your own (3rd world countries don't have otoscopes/ophthalmoscopes on every wall), or if you volunteer in a free clinic, etc. I recommend you just get it. I mean you're going to be a doctor, it's a pretty reasonable thing to have.

Personally I recommend the Welch Allyn Pocket Otoscope/Ophthalmoscope set, I don't think you need to go with the PanOptic or anything super fancy, but WA is high quality and I think this is the best option for med students, fits well in white coat pocket, battery powered, sturdy, etc.

Check out any online sites you find for the most inexpensive way to buy the same products:
http://www.steeles.com
http://www.allheart.com

There's varying advice on stethoscopes. I'm of the opinion that you should have one nice one (whatever you are convinced that is) that you spent some money on, and one "back-up" crappier one that you got free for signing up for some med student organization or found used online or found in a hazardous waste bin or something - just in case something happens to your good steth. If you've got JUST a nice one or JUST a crappy one, it'll suck if you're either in a situation where your nice one was lost/stolen or your crappy one was insufficient. I mean, for your purposes that may not happen, but if an attending asks to use your steth and he notices the Fisher Price logo on it, you might get some pity if you've got "my littmann got stolen" to fall back on...

What if we haven't completed all of these by the time orientation starts?

What if we haven't completed all of these by the time orientation starts?

I spoke with Annette (student affairs?) about this and she said that they'll give us a few weeks after school starts to get these done.

I spoke with Annette (student affairs?) about this and she said that they'll give us a few weeks after school starts to get these done.

Does anyone know approximately how much it costs to get all these immunizations done?

I spoke with Annette (student affairs?) about this and she said that they'll give us a few weeks after school starts to get these done.

Annette Boban is the immunization coordinator. You've got plenty of time to get the immunizations done, but do them ASAP to avoid confusion & stuff. You can get them done once you get here for school at the adjacent clinics (at least I think so, the Clinics have undergone some changes recently). They're pretty cheap I think somewhere ~$100 I think though I may be wrong....

you could always call them up and say, "hey I'm an incoming medical student and I need these immunizations, can I get them done here and how much will it cost" if you want...the number's somewhere on the RFUMS website.

I havent gotten my finaid and orientation info yet, just curious if we need to sign any paper work and send it back. Im not at home for the next week or so and if I need to sign somehting for finaid then I need to figure out what Im gonna do.

^^ Curious
Call/email the fin aid office and ask if you're app is complete.
Then proceed from there. The fin aid ppl seem very nice.

I havent gotten my finaid and orientation info yet, just curious if we need to sign any paper work and send it back. Im not at home for the next week or so and if I need to sign somehting for finaid then I need to figure out what Im gonna do.

I out of the country at the moment. I called them and they updated me on the phone, so you can definitaley call and find out where you stand. From what I understand you do not have to sign anything unless you want to refund some of the loans. You have time to do everything and can take care of it during orientation. Hope this helps

Pretty sure we can log into RFU's email now :)

Pretty sure we can log into RFU's email now :)
how?

do we actually have to register for classes before orientation? on the orientation package there are some deadlines, but I am not sure if it is relevant to incoming students. Anyone?

Hey.... When is everyone planning to move??
I still need to find someone who can drive the U-haul truck for me... and also have some muscle power to help me move!! :meanie:

i want to move in the 4th of august...i might have to call since that date isnt available on the signup sheet.

Hey guys,

If anyone wants to partner up and help each other move stuff in, let me know. I have to buy everything when I get there and I can probably have it delivered but if there's anyone that needs help moving their stuff in and would be willing to help me move some stuff in, we could trade labor. :D

do we actually have to register for classes before orientation? on the orientation package there are some deadlines, but I am not sure if it is relevant to incoming students. Anyone?

You register on the first day of orientation. It used to be that we did that first thing in the morning. But then all the M1As would ditch the rest of the activities, so they changed that to registering along the tour. It didnt really change much though.

As far as books go, the only thing you really NEED are the atlases. I never used vander and did fine for renal. As for West, pulmonary physio, I read it for a while, and then realized that our profs completely plagiarize it, verbatim. I wondered why every single paragraph in our class notes looked so familiar! :laugh:

does anyone know anything about the bookstore? prices? do they sell used texts? (i despise buying brand new books)

also, do M2s hang on to their books or do they sell them to M1s?

thanks.

I spoke with Annette (student affairs?) about this and she said that they'll give us a few weeks after school starts to get these done.

a few weeks? :laugh: Not that I am condoning it but I waited until half way through the year to start my immunizations and finished just this month. It's not a big deal. And as for the cost, that depends entirely on your insurance and the immunizations that you are missing

does anyone know anything about the bookstore? prices? do they sell used texts? (i despise buying brand new books)

also, do M2s hang on to their books or do they sell them to M1s?

thanks.

there is a book sale that the M2s put on to sell their old books to the new M1s. I would definately WAIT until after orientation and the book sale to determine what texts you want and which ones are completely unnecessary.

how?

go to the rosalind franklin homepage and look for the students email link. After that your login should be your first and last name separated by a period (John.Doe) and your default password will be your first and last initials followed by the last 4 digits of your SSN. (JD2753)

It would be really helpful if older students can list books that are a MUST to buy for the CMS M1 curriculum.

here's my opinion on the MUST HAVES:

Physio - West - Pulmonary Pathophys. Optional but helpful: Vanders Renal and BRS for physio

MCB - Nothing. Test questions come straight from the notes and if reading extra on this subject doesn't make you want to stab your eyes out, you are insane.

Anatomy - NETTERS is a must in my opinion. I also like rohen because it is real pictures, which will help you prepare for the practical. Once again the BRS is nice if you want a little bit of extra review.

Embryo - Nothing

ICM - The primary text (the authos name escapes me) is good, but you don't need it to do well in the course. But it would make a good resource to have for clerkships, and really the rest of your profession. Worth Buying

Biochem - Nothing. See: MCB

Neuro - I would buy the suggested text for this course only because the notes and lectures are convoluted and disorganized. It is a good fall back for when you have no idea what the lecturers powerpoint is saying.

That's really it. If any of my peers want to criticize or revise my suggestions, feel free:D

Do you guys know if a car is necessary? Input from upperclassmen and new students both would be great.

i think most stuff (shopping, good restaurants) could be found within 20 minutes of campus. I know there are some bad parts of North Chicago...so walking EVERYWHERE might have to be done with caution. I'm bringing my car...parking is free anyway.

i think most stuff (shopping, good restaurants) could be found within 20 minutes of campus. I know there are some bad parts of North Chicago...so walking EVERYWHERE might have to be done with caution. I'm bringing my car...parking is free anyway.

When I visited for interview, it seemed most things were quite a bit apart. Plus the winter will make it even harder. I think ill likely have a car, but Ill see after i move in to make sure.

When I visited for interview, it seemed most things were quite a bit apart. Plus the winter will make it even harder. I think ill likely have a car, but Ill see after i move in to make sure.

There are very few dining options within walking distance of campus (mostly fast food) not to mention the grocery store(s) are a bit of a ways off as well. You don't NEED to have a car though. I know of several people who get by with just asking other people for rides, but as you might imagine, it can be a pretty big inconvenience.

EDIT: just ask Praz :P

I'm bringing my car. When I was up looking for housing, I think the closest grocery that I noticed was a Jewel in Lake Bluff-ish. There's not a whole lot in walking distance.

If anyone is in need of a female roommate, please PM me! Thanks.

There is NOTHING in walking distance. You either need a car or need a friend with a car for the first 2 years. For clerkships, though you can take the "el" to most of the affiliated hospitals, you will probably need a car to get to the few that are out in the suburbs.

Yes, you will need a car if you plan on doing anything independently.

Train rides from the lake bluff station (2 minute drive) are 5 dollars all weekend to the city. Saves money and the hassle of parking; but it takes the train 45+ minutes to get there; but once you get to the city you can walk or take the L anywhere.

Just so you know now, you can get the print center to print and bind all the notes for a class for you. Just download them all to a disk and give it to them. Some classes will do this for you. Then pay them some dough. The only problem is that sometimes professors will add or change some slides last minute. Most of the time 15 minutes before class; so it makes little difference.

Also building 101 is the best; so if you aren't living there you should feel bad.

Just so you know now, you can get the print center to print and bind all the notes for a class for you. Just download them all to a disk and give it to them. Some classes will do this for you. Then pay them some dough.

that's nice - are the prices reasonable? i'm kind of bummed that cms doesn't have free printing like some of the other schools i checked out. anyone know of any sneaky places to get free printing?

Hi guys,
I just got my acceptance call this morning. If there's anyone out there that still needs a roommate (preferably female), please PM me ASAP. I've got to get started catching up on reading this thread& absorbing all of the good info you guys have. :)

There is a message board on the student housing section of the website. I haven't checked in a while, but there might be a few people still looking for a roommate. Good luck!

How many of you guys have moved in?

im moving into the dorms tomorrow

im moving into the dorms tomorrow

I guess most people are moving in later then I thought. Ive been here for a couple of days, and there arent very many people yet. Im sure after the weekend that will change.

what building are you? im in 2511A

I'm all moved in! 2211 - come by and visit :)

who else has moved in?

Before I forget, if you're looking to meet some of your classmates, we're currently playing soccer on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Now since orientation doesn't start until Tuesday, you guys should definitely come out on Monday. People of all skill levels are welcome (and I do mean all). We play at 5:30 so if you're interested just send me a pm (so I'm not spamming directions) and I can even arrange a ride for you if you're in need of one. Not to mention you might meet your OA a day in advance, which is a good thing because we're that awesome :laugh:

congrats to everyone who made it for this august. Im applying for 2008, hopefully ill see you guys there. If not, i may see you guys at my families restaurants, Full Moon and Flanagan's which is not too far from Rosalind Franklin. I have a couple of friends at Rosalind and they all like it there.

Do we dress formal or casual for orientation days?

And how is the white coat ceremony supposed to be? How long does it last?

Do we dress formal or casual for orientation days?

And how is the white coat ceremony supposed to be? How long does it last?

Except for the white coat ceremony, dress casual unless you're looking to impress some of your classmates ;)

As for the white coat ceremony itself, I always considered it to be something more for the family than for the students. Basically the class will be sitting in the auditorium together, a few short speeches will be given, then everyone will walk on stage one at a time and will put on their white coat with the help of alumni. It probably takes about two hours to finish and there should be a little reception available afterwards.

Except for the white coat ceremony, dress casual unless you're looking to impress some of your classmates ;)



Unfortunately, we cant all be pimps like 'richc'. ;) Are you back yet?

Do we dress formal or casual for orientation days?

And how is the white coat ceremony supposed to be? How long does it last?

The white coat ceremony's a small ceremony to acknowledge your entrance into the profession and welcome you to the school, and sort of a family day. You'll sit with your classmates in the auditorium, hear some speeches, a few words of wisdom, you'll have your white coat put on you by alumni on stage, shake hands with the Dean, and then recite the Hippocratic Oath for the first time with your classmates. It's a nice event, enjoy it. I don't think it was longer than an hour or so. Takes a while to go through 185 students, though.

are parents coming for the white coat ceremony for most of u?

are parents coming for the white coat ceremony for most of u?

Mine are

mine are, and my grandparents

Yeah, my parents are coming.

Mine said they would come if I wanted them to, but how inconvenient could RFU have made it? A Wednesday night? That means they would have both had to take two days (at least) off of work, travel, get a hotel, etc. I thought it was more trouble than it will be worth. Do you upperclassmen disagree with that? It seems like most people's are coming...:confused:

I dont get it, its been on friday for the past 2 years, and usually worked out fine. It seems like theyre totally revamping orientation though. This is the first time theyve done an all-university orientation, and it seems to be extended a bit longer.

Ah well, if you guys go downtown for any of the evening 'activities', expect to see me there! :cool:

So when do we get our $$? Do they give us a check at orientation or an opportunity to set up direct deposit?

So when do we get our $$? Do they give us a check at orientation or an opportunity to set up direct deposit?

I talked to finaid today, they said that they deduct tuition and then place the rest in your student account at the business office. Although I am still confused how it all works out, I have been spending out of pocket for supplies and what not the last couple of days and definitively like my money back.

Mine said they would come if I wanted them to, but how inconvenient could RFU have made it? A Wednesday night? That means they would have both had to take two days (at least) off of work, travel, get a hotel, etc. I thought it was more trouble than it will be worth. Do you upperclassmen disagree with that? It seems like most people's are coming...:confused:

well i dont think mine are coming...
for those of us w/o families coming for the ceremony, we can get together during the reception and keep each other company. ^^

anybody is welcome to come over tonight. rm 2511. ihateskapunk@aim

I talked to finaid today, they said that they deduct tuition and then place the rest in your student account at the business office. Although I am still confused how it all works out, I have been spending out of pocket for supplies and what not the last couple of days and definitively like my money back.

yeah you get a check (or direct deposit credit to your bank account if you signed up way ahead of time) usually no later than the first week of classes.

also just want to say welcome to all the incoming M1's who are moving in. hope everythings going smoothly!

Anyone else feel like we arent getting much work to do yet? Am I missing something here?

Anyone else feel like we arent getting much work to do yet? Am I missing something here?

no, nothing major yet. i just looked at the slides again and am studying up the ECR questions for the HPI.