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UT-Houston Class of 2010
Started by karirunner
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First off, CONGRATS to all of you! We're all so stoked about the new class and can't wait to meet you all 🙂
Totally feel free to ask us (current students) questions, I'll respond to some recurring themes here:
Research-- If you'd like to do research here summer before MS1, I don't think there's a set program for it, but you could browse the GSBS (grad school) page and email PI's you'd like to work with. Research during the year..would be harder to pull off.
Housing-- I live in the UT-H housing on El Paseo, it's a pretty good deal. I would find the rail to be more convenient than the shuttle, though. But housing is only ~10 minute walk from the rail if you need it on weekends or something.
Car-- As other people have said, driving to school daily isn't a good idea-- better to take a shuttle or rail. But it is useful to have a car for groceries, going places not on the rail line (Chinatown!!), etc. Houston is kind of a city where it's best to have a car (though biking to the grocery store would probably work). I personally have commuted with buses *alot* in the past (I grew up in Houston), and it can get you to the airport/alot of places, it just takes a while.
Computer-- If you'd really rather not buy a PC right away, you could put it off until 2nd semester (I think some people did this). The LRC (learning resource center) at school is like a big study hall/library with lots of computers you could use to watch lectures and stuff.
But at the end of last summer, we were all notified of a sizeable discount for (was it Dell?) laptops for incoming students. So keep an eye out for that, it makes buying the computer affordable.
Welcome Weekend-- We don't have a date set for the revisit weekend, but don't worry, you'll be getting lots of emails about it when our plans our finalized (I'm doing publicity, come to think of it). More importantly, though...you HAVE to come to retreat in August!
Gosh, what else...if you're new to Houston, there's actually quite alot happening here. Concerts of all kinds, museums, artsy events all over the place, quirky little coffee shops, downtown bars, sports, any kind of food you can think of. It takes a little bit of searching, but Houston is not nearly as boring as you might have heard it to be.
Totally feel free to ask us (current students) questions, I'll respond to some recurring themes here:
Research-- If you'd like to do research here summer before MS1, I don't think there's a set program for it, but you could browse the GSBS (grad school) page and email PI's you'd like to work with. Research during the year..would be harder to pull off.
Housing-- I live in the UT-H housing on El Paseo, it's a pretty good deal. I would find the rail to be more convenient than the shuttle, though. But housing is only ~10 minute walk from the rail if you need it on weekends or something.
Car-- As other people have said, driving to school daily isn't a good idea-- better to take a shuttle or rail. But it is useful to have a car for groceries, going places not on the rail line (Chinatown!!), etc. Houston is kind of a city where it's best to have a car (though biking to the grocery store would probably work). I personally have commuted with buses *alot* in the past (I grew up in Houston), and it can get you to the airport/alot of places, it just takes a while.
Computer-- If you'd really rather not buy a PC right away, you could put it off until 2nd semester (I think some people did this). The LRC (learning resource center) at school is like a big study hall/library with lots of computers you could use to watch lectures and stuff.
But at the end of last summer, we were all notified of a sizeable discount for (was it Dell?) laptops for incoming students. So keep an eye out for that, it makes buying the computer affordable.
Welcome Weekend-- We don't have a date set for the revisit weekend, but don't worry, you'll be getting lots of emails about it when our plans our finalized (I'm doing publicity, come to think of it). More importantly, though...you HAVE to come to retreat in August!
Gosh, what else...if you're new to Houston, there's actually quite alot happening here. Concerts of all kinds, museums, artsy events all over the place, quirky little coffee shops, downtown bars, sports, any kind of food you can think of. It takes a little bit of searching, but Houston is not nearly as boring as you might have heard it to be.
Can any of you people in med school now tell me about how much free time a week you have? For example, do you have an hour or two a day to workout, watch TV, do stuff with friends, or generally do non-med school stuff? Or is pretty much sleep-class-study with intermittent eating?
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don't believe the hype, there is plenty of time to have a life (in fact, a lot of people at our school seem to take up training for marathons for some reason.) things most likely will be harder than college and those of your friends not in medical school will never totally be able to understand what it feels like studying for block tests. the hardest part to overcome and getting that life is this constant feeling of 'I should be studying!!!!!' the first semester to year which makes it hard to relax and enjoy the time you aren't studying. I learned I had to leave town about once a month to get that feeling off my back and totally relax.karirunner said:
if you have been out in the world working, you'll find you have more free time when you putting in your 40+hrs a week, but you won't have the weekends mentally free from studying responsibilities.
even now as a third yr I find what I consider a 'late' day to be leaving after 3-3:30 in the afternoon on medicine and peds.
Thought I'd share the article about it with you all:
http://publicaffairs.uth.tmc.edu/distinctions/archive/2006/February/200M.html
http://publicaffairs.uth.tmc.edu/distinctions/archive/2006/February/200M.html
I'll be in H-town this weekend and want to get a jump on searching for apartments (no worries; just looking for now).
Could current students chime in with how much your aid packages provide for housing? I recognize that board is probably factored into that number, so maybe you could give a middle 50% range of what you think students spend. I'll be relying entirely on aid in this matter next year and don't want to look at places that are too expensive. Reading through last year's thread, I'm interested in El Paseo and Lanesborough right now....
Thanks!
Could current students chime in with how much your aid packages provide for housing? I recognize that board is probably factored into that number, so maybe you could give a middle 50% range of what you think students spend. I'll be relying entirely on aid in this matter next year and don't want to look at places that are too expensive. Reading through last year's thread, I'm interested in El Paseo and Lanesborough right now....
Thanks!
Called the UTH office today, spoke with Jessamyn, and found out the important entering dates for our class:
Computer Orientation: August 7 and 8
Student Orientation: August 9
MS0 Retreat: August 11-12
Classes Start: August 14
Hope this will help some others make their summer plans (that's why I called).
On a more aggravating note, based on last year's thread, I'd been expecting to receive the BIG packet sometime this week. But Jessamyn said it's still in the prep stages and should go out "sometime in the next two weeks". Garrr. Me want more exciting information! 😉
Computer Orientation: August 7 and 8
Student Orientation: August 9
MS0 Retreat: August 11-12
Classes Start: August 14
Hope this will help some others make their summer plans (that's why I called).
On a more aggravating note, based on last year's thread, I'd been expecting to receive the BIG packet sometime this week. But Jessamyn said it's still in the prep stages and should go out "sometime in the next two weeks". Garrr. Me want more exciting information! 😉
Here's the list for the entering class of 2006.
http://med.uth.tmc.edu/administration/admissions/february mailing 05/2006 entering class.doc
http://med.uth.tmc.edu/administration/admissions/february mailing 05/2006 entering class.doc
Scouring the financial aid website, I found the following:drchekhov said:
http://sfa.uth.tmc.edu/student_budgets_0506.htm
And with living expenses broken down:
http://sfa.uth.tmc.edu/living_exp_budget_0506.htm
Hope this helps others.
Hey, thanks for the links, and they do help. I am pretty sure that I am going to take out all that they will give me. I do believe that we can request 2k for a computer in addition to living expenses. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
bungo said:
You're right, but I believe it is a one time fee of $3000...or at least that is what other schools told me at the financial aid meetings on interview days.
BTW everyone, go online to the UTH financial aid page and fill out the institutional application. The finan aid lady told me it is due on March 1st. I don't know how we were supposed to know that, but I wanted to pass it along to you all.
Just to introduce myself--my name is Natalie, 23, from Dallas, I just graduated from TCU in December with a BS in Bio(who would have guessed) and a minor in sign language. I look forward to meeting everyone.
drchekhov said:
http://sfa.uth.tmc.edu/app_instructions_0607.htm
Underneath the FAFSA link is the link for the institutional app
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halo1570 said:
Housing information forthcomingI want to give a thorough picture of things, espeically given the changes since last year due to the influx from New Orleans.
Definitely by tomorrow night. Possibly sooner if I need a long break from the paper I should be writing!
Is everyone planning on attending the Welcome Weekend? Our thread needs some spirit...the other TX threads have 6 pages each.[/QUOTE]
I'm coming to the Welcome Weekend...flying in from NYC on friday night and leaving early sunday (so I won't get to go on the housing tour). I hope a lot of people come...can't wait to meet everyone! Oh yeah, and my roomie is coming too- Kat, you need to post on here!
I'm coming to the Welcome Weekend...flying in from NYC on friday night and leaving early sunday (so I won't get to go on the housing tour). I hope a lot of people come...can't wait to meet everyone! Oh yeah, and my roomie is coming too- Kat, you need to post on here!
You can finally exhale now; Im posting my housing thoughts. 😀 In all seriousness, I hope this information will be useful in helping everyone to plan their own searches.
First, I wanted to let you know my realtors thoughts on the market. While Im not so naïve as to trust every point she made, there were a few things in which I could see merit. I thought she was really experienced and fairquite a change from some of the pressuring bozos Ive dealt with in Austin. Current Condoland residents, please chime in with comparisions; youre really our best sources! Also, if you want to know which realtor I used, PM me.
Market Point #1: Dont bet on condo value to escalate as much as they have in the past ten years. If you look on last years thread, youll see some anecdotes from recent UTH graduates discussing condo values doubling in four years and other insane things. Yet if you drive around any area of Condoland today, youll see a solid level of construction. My realtor said that when she started focusing on properties in this area 15 years ago, there werent many condos aroundUTH housing and some other apartment complexes were the main properties. She said that once the Oilers left and Astros made it clear that they wanted a new downtown stadium, property values got pretty depressed. Then the demand for condos started rising from med students and other people working in the TMC. Since there was very little supply initially and a burgeoning demand, condo prices skyrocketed, but now that the supply of condos has caught up, prices are leveling out. Judging from the mega-construction that I saw and my realtors reasoning, I dont think you should consider buying a condo for anywhere near this level of investment. If you need to buy in order to establish residency, by all means, DO IT! If you prefer to buy because youve got the cash for a nice down-payment and dont want to waste rent money, likewise go for it. Im not considering a condo because I dont have the cash, dont want to deal with maintenance hassles, and dont want to be bogged down with a owning proparty since Im considering taking off a year to pursue an MPH between third and fourth years. In any case, if youre going to pursue this route just come in aware that market prices seem like theyre tapering.
Market Point #2: Dont expect big rent breaks. After reading last years thread and hearing some of the discounted rental rate that students were getting, I was pretty excited about just how much cheaper housing was going to be in Houston than Austin. Well, Katrina ruined that. In past years a lot of places ran very competitive specials in April-May, knocking up to $200/month off rent. Well last year, my realtor said that complexes (either in H-town as a whole or just that area, I cant remember) had been operating at 94% occupancy for a few years. After Katrina hit, occupancy in Condoland ascended to 98%. Even though a lot of residents are moving back to New Orleans, the increased occupancy wont make this as much of a buyers market in years past.
Market Point #3: Katrinas had other effects. This ones a little sad. You guys know that the Astrodome is very close to UTH Housing and a lot of the other complexes. You may also have heard that Houston crime rates increased sharply with the influx of Katrina refugees. According to my realtor, a lot of the complexes in Condoland have been hit the worst. I havent yet checked statistics on rent.com or other places yet (they may not even be so recently updated; anybody want to volunteer to try some research?), but its definitely something to keep in mind. Houston isnt like New York in the 80s, but its not the safest city either. Just keep safety in mind when choosing your place for next year; Ive definitely begun to value it higher than I do now in UTs North Campus.
Anyway, I visited seven places. My major concerns are proximity to the TMC or rail/frequency of shuttle runs (since Im a person that tends to run late), price (duh), safety (see above), and layout/architecture (since Im a bit of a design-snob). Aslo, all the complexes save one have a washer/dryer in every unit; four of my five years in college I lived with communal laundry facilities and Im not eager to return to such a situation. A brief run-down of each appears below:
UTH Housing (New Development on El Paseo): the leasing office was closed on Saturday, but a friend whos a current student let me drop by and see his place. Hes in a nice 1/1. The complex is very secure with a 24-hour guard station. The layout was okaymy only real peeve is that the sink is on a quasi-island with no overhead cabinets, which, I think, might make for a dearth of cabinet space. The rooms were adequately sized; since hes on the fourth floor, he actually had vaulted ceilings. The biggest benefits are that the complex is adjacent to the rec center, its shuttle runs more frequently than most (at peak time, every 9-12 minutes vs. 30 minutes), and the price. Im on the waitlist for a 1/1 at $600/monthI doubt youll be able to find another recently-constructed complex in Condoland at such a cheap price!
Lanesborough: really like this place. Its one of only three complexes on the rail. The rooms were very airy, with lots of windows. Depending on the unit, you could be almost directly on top of the shuttle (good for running to class, bad for noise). Also, its literally like 300 yards from UTHs new MMI building, so walking/biking to class would be totally possible. The exercise facility was very spacious and, best of all to me, contains a racquetball court. The only major downside was the landscapingthere werent a lot of trees, so the aesthetics werent as good as they could have been and electric rates might be a little high.
Greenbriar: situated across the street from the Lanesborough. The staff was uber-friendly and kind. The rooms were a little darker and had fewer windows than the Lanesborough, but were still very cozy. The landscaping around the pool was beautiful and the exercise facility was also great. The layouts are also bit more versatile than at the Lanesborough: in the 1/1, the breakfast nook near the kitchen could be arranged into an awesome study space; if youre married/committed, they have some plans with a loft that could be converted into a nice study room; etc.
Archstone Medical Center: the final complex on the rail. Located directly across from the AstroConvention Center (or whatever its called). The rooms were a little too secluded and dark for my tastesI felt like I would be living in a hobbit hole! However, the rates here are cheaper than at the Lanesborough or Greenbriar. The grounds were nice and the exercise facilities were again fine.
Archstone Brompton Courts: a bit more to the west. Originally built as a condo complex in the early 80s, the units here were converted into apartments because they had problems selling. Since they were designed for the condo market, virtually every unit has unique size and layout. Furthermore, many of the first-floor units were flooded during Allison in 2001 and have been rebuilt with more amenities, so its really hard to generalize about them. I toured several units, and the basic differences are that: first floor units all have a built-in washer-dryer, new carpeting, better appliances, and nicer countertops; second and third floor units have communal washer/dryer rooms, and generally older everything else, although some have slightly refurbished countertops, etc. Prices vary by both the level of rebuilding/refurbishing and size, but seemed slightly lower than or comparable to Archstone Medical Center. The hassle of picking out a single unit here kind of turned me off, but if youre willing to investigate and compare, I bet you can find a gem. The complex also has a little general store on its groundsvery cute and European.
Alta Lofts: the odd ball of my visits, its located on the east side of Hermann Park. Very high ceilings, beautiful kitchen with awesome marble counter-tops, very open and airy loft floor-plan. The unit that I toured (the smallest and only one anywhere near or financial aid price range had an annoyingly small marble desk built into the wall. The amenities are out of this world, including a concierge and dry-cleaning service. However, I didnt like the concept of being so far away from the action (the TMC, Rice Village, some relatives I have who live in Braeswood). They do have a bi-hourly shuttle, which makes it possible for students to live here.
Kirby Place: didnt actually tour here, but I stayed with a two friends for my Baylor interview. I loved their 2/2: the layout was really smart; the kitchen was large, but not isolated from the rest of the rooms; the complex nestles nicely inside the surrounding area; and, although I didnt view them, my friends always rave about the exercise facilities. The downsides are the price (the 1/1s are outside the range of our fin aid budget) and possibly parking (for a 2/2 you only get one internal garage spot, but you can park another car within the complex alongside some of the curbing). But really, the latter doesnt seem to be that much of a problem. My friends alternate parking spots monthly and I was always able to find parking near the curb during the two days I stayed there.
Conclusion: Im already on the waitlist for El Paseo, and will probably choose between it and either the Lanesborough or Greenbriar. Im also likely interested in a roommate, but want to wait for a few more decisions from other schools. If I end up rooming with someone, Id probably prefer the Lanesborough or Greenbriar as theyre closer to the med center and a bit more luxurious; if I rent solo Ill probably lean more toward El Paseo because of price.
Hope this helps y'all!
First, I wanted to let you know my realtors thoughts on the market. While Im not so naïve as to trust every point she made, there were a few things in which I could see merit. I thought she was really experienced and fairquite a change from some of the pressuring bozos Ive dealt with in Austin. Current Condoland residents, please chime in with comparisions; youre really our best sources! Also, if you want to know which realtor I used, PM me.
Market Point #1: Dont bet on condo value to escalate as much as they have in the past ten years. If you look on last years thread, youll see some anecdotes from recent UTH graduates discussing condo values doubling in four years and other insane things. Yet if you drive around any area of Condoland today, youll see a solid level of construction. My realtor said that when she started focusing on properties in this area 15 years ago, there werent many condos aroundUTH housing and some other apartment complexes were the main properties. She said that once the Oilers left and Astros made it clear that they wanted a new downtown stadium, property values got pretty depressed. Then the demand for condos started rising from med students and other people working in the TMC. Since there was very little supply initially and a burgeoning demand, condo prices skyrocketed, but now that the supply of condos has caught up, prices are leveling out. Judging from the mega-construction that I saw and my realtors reasoning, I dont think you should consider buying a condo for anywhere near this level of investment. If you need to buy in order to establish residency, by all means, DO IT! If you prefer to buy because youve got the cash for a nice down-payment and dont want to waste rent money, likewise go for it. Im not considering a condo because I dont have the cash, dont want to deal with maintenance hassles, and dont want to be bogged down with a owning proparty since Im considering taking off a year to pursue an MPH between third and fourth years. In any case, if youre going to pursue this route just come in aware that market prices seem like theyre tapering.
Market Point #2: Dont expect big rent breaks. After reading last years thread and hearing some of the discounted rental rate that students were getting, I was pretty excited about just how much cheaper housing was going to be in Houston than Austin. Well, Katrina ruined that. In past years a lot of places ran very competitive specials in April-May, knocking up to $200/month off rent. Well last year, my realtor said that complexes (either in H-town as a whole or just that area, I cant remember) had been operating at 94% occupancy for a few years. After Katrina hit, occupancy in Condoland ascended to 98%. Even though a lot of residents are moving back to New Orleans, the increased occupancy wont make this as much of a buyers market in years past.
Market Point #3: Katrinas had other effects. This ones a little sad. You guys know that the Astrodome is very close to UTH Housing and a lot of the other complexes. You may also have heard that Houston crime rates increased sharply with the influx of Katrina refugees. According to my realtor, a lot of the complexes in Condoland have been hit the worst. I havent yet checked statistics on rent.com or other places yet (they may not even be so recently updated; anybody want to volunteer to try some research?), but its definitely something to keep in mind. Houston isnt like New York in the 80s, but its not the safest city either. Just keep safety in mind when choosing your place for next year; Ive definitely begun to value it higher than I do now in UTs North Campus.
Anyway, I visited seven places. My major concerns are proximity to the TMC or rail/frequency of shuttle runs (since Im a person that tends to run late), price (duh), safety (see above), and layout/architecture (since Im a bit of a design-snob). Aslo, all the complexes save one have a washer/dryer in every unit; four of my five years in college I lived with communal laundry facilities and Im not eager to return to such a situation. A brief run-down of each appears below:
UTH Housing (New Development on El Paseo): the leasing office was closed on Saturday, but a friend whos a current student let me drop by and see his place. Hes in a nice 1/1. The complex is very secure with a 24-hour guard station. The layout was okaymy only real peeve is that the sink is on a quasi-island with no overhead cabinets, which, I think, might make for a dearth of cabinet space. The rooms were adequately sized; since hes on the fourth floor, he actually had vaulted ceilings. The biggest benefits are that the complex is adjacent to the rec center, its shuttle runs more frequently than most (at peak time, every 9-12 minutes vs. 30 minutes), and the price. Im on the waitlist for a 1/1 at $600/monthI doubt youll be able to find another recently-constructed complex in Condoland at such a cheap price!
Lanesborough: really like this place. Its one of only three complexes on the rail. The rooms were very airy, with lots of windows. Depending on the unit, you could be almost directly on top of the shuttle (good for running to class, bad for noise). Also, its literally like 300 yards from UTHs new MMI building, so walking/biking to class would be totally possible. The exercise facility was very spacious and, best of all to me, contains a racquetball court. The only major downside was the landscapingthere werent a lot of trees, so the aesthetics werent as good as they could have been and electric rates might be a little high.
Greenbriar: situated across the street from the Lanesborough. The staff was uber-friendly and kind. The rooms were a little darker and had fewer windows than the Lanesborough, but were still very cozy. The landscaping around the pool was beautiful and the exercise facility was also great. The layouts are also bit more versatile than at the Lanesborough: in the 1/1, the breakfast nook near the kitchen could be arranged into an awesome study space; if youre married/committed, they have some plans with a loft that could be converted into a nice study room; etc.
Archstone Medical Center: the final complex on the rail. Located directly across from the AstroConvention Center (or whatever its called). The rooms were a little too secluded and dark for my tastesI felt like I would be living in a hobbit hole! However, the rates here are cheaper than at the Lanesborough or Greenbriar. The grounds were nice and the exercise facilities were again fine.
Archstone Brompton Courts: a bit more to the west. Originally built as a condo complex in the early 80s, the units here were converted into apartments because they had problems selling. Since they were designed for the condo market, virtually every unit has unique size and layout. Furthermore, many of the first-floor units were flooded during Allison in 2001 and have been rebuilt with more amenities, so its really hard to generalize about them. I toured several units, and the basic differences are that: first floor units all have a built-in washer-dryer, new carpeting, better appliances, and nicer countertops; second and third floor units have communal washer/dryer rooms, and generally older everything else, although some have slightly refurbished countertops, etc. Prices vary by both the level of rebuilding/refurbishing and size, but seemed slightly lower than or comparable to Archstone Medical Center. The hassle of picking out a single unit here kind of turned me off, but if youre willing to investigate and compare, I bet you can find a gem. The complex also has a little general store on its groundsvery cute and European.
Alta Lofts: the odd ball of my visits, its located on the east side of Hermann Park. Very high ceilings, beautiful kitchen with awesome marble counter-tops, very open and airy loft floor-plan. The unit that I toured (the smallest and only one anywhere near or financial aid price range had an annoyingly small marble desk built into the wall. The amenities are out of this world, including a concierge and dry-cleaning service. However, I didnt like the concept of being so far away from the action (the TMC, Rice Village, some relatives I have who live in Braeswood). They do have a bi-hourly shuttle, which makes it possible for students to live here.
Kirby Place: didnt actually tour here, but I stayed with a two friends for my Baylor interview. I loved their 2/2: the layout was really smart; the kitchen was large, but not isolated from the rest of the rooms; the complex nestles nicely inside the surrounding area; and, although I didnt view them, my friends always rave about the exercise facilities. The downsides are the price (the 1/1s are outside the range of our fin aid budget) and possibly parking (for a 2/2 you only get one internal garage spot, but you can park another car within the complex alongside some of the curbing). But really, the latter doesnt seem to be that much of a problem. My friends alternate parking spots monthly and I was always able to find parking near the curb during the two days I stayed there.
Conclusion: Im already on the waitlist for El Paseo, and will probably choose between it and either the Lanesborough or Greenbriar. Im also likely interested in a roommate, but want to wait for a few more decisions from other schools. If I end up rooming with someone, Id probably prefer the Lanesborough or Greenbriar as theyre closer to the med center and a bit more luxurious; if I rent solo Ill probably lean more toward El Paseo because of price.
Hope this helps y'all!
Go to this website:bungo said:
http://ae.uth.tmc.edu/housing/index.html
Download the housing application. Fill it out, mail/fax it to them, and send them a waitlist check. You can only be on the waitlist for two units at a time.
Good luck!
I know this is not the correct forum to post this question, but no one could answer in the post-bacc forum. Can anyone comment on the masters program at UT Houston and their work with stem cell research?
Congratulations to all entering UT Houston students!!
You are about to begin one of the most difficult, important, and pivotal periods of your lives. I wish I had known of SDN's existence when I was in your position. A lot of priceless advice is coming to you direct from some of our students, and they can certainly offer you a perspective like no other. I am on my way out in a couple of months, and I would like to share a few thoughts with you all.
First, as you know from your interviews, the school is in beautiful shape now thanks to the restoration efforts post tropical storm Allison. It had been kind of dirty and junky for my first few years. So enjoy the nice furniture, new paint, etc.
Second, even though UT Houston is not considered a "top-tier" medical school, you actually have some of the biggest names in the world teaching at the school. As such, you have access to excellent teachers, great connections for research and publication, and some of the best letter writers who will help you come time for residency applications.
Third, you are in the medical center. Parking is a pain in the ass like you won't believe, but you will come to know. Fortunately, you do get something good out of this painful experience. You have access not only to our school but to MD Anderson, Texas Heart, St. Luke's, Texas Children's, and more. These are premier institutions, and they all will welcome you for elective rotations and provide experience few other places in the world can offer.
Fourth, housing. Most students opt to live near the medical center, and this is practical. However, you have many options besides "condoland". I lived in an area called Montrose for my first three years and can't recommend it highly enough. I preferred to live in an area with a neighborhood feel, with trees, gardens, etc. Montrose is one mile from the med center, a bus line runs from it directly to the school (route 34 if I remember right), there are lots of great cafes, bars, and restaurants, and the Museum District. Check it out. Other great neighborhood areas are West U (adjacent to Rice), the Heights, and Upper Kirby. All these neighborhood have affordable apartments (usually 650-800 for one bedroom), and they usually offer a lot of charm and personality. I think I remained more sane than I would have been because of the fantastic apartment I had in Montrose.
Five, books. Don't buy ANY of your books from the bookstore, unless you've exhausted all other sources. I suspect you have figured this out as undergrads but I remember going to the bookstore (I don't remember why I was there, but I saw an entering student buy all of her texts there. Hundreds of dollars. I recommend two excellent sources for new and used books at much better prices: half.com and amazon.com (their used section for each book). You can always beat the bookstores prices. You will have to buy course syllabi at the school, there's no way around that. But for books and review guides, use the recommended sources.
Six, class. When you begin, the excitement of being in med school will make you want to attend class (or maybe it won't). Everyone's study style is different, but many people will attest to the fact that class attendance is not neccessary to do well in school. Almost without exception everything you need to know for exams is to be found in your syllabi. But do ask more students closer to you in class; they will know better since it's been a couple of years for me.
Seven, your time. Once third year begins, your lives will dramatically change, and in no other way as much as it does in terms of your free time. So ENJOY your free time as much as you can now. Every moment. I am serious, serious, serious about this one. Your life doesn't get miserable but it will feel different, so enjoy your time now.
Eight, keep an open mind. I remember when our class started school, we all wanted to know what specialty everyone wanted initially. So we compiled the choices (for those that participated) and I remember well that most people now are doing something quite different from what they initially hoped for or expected. You will come to know yourselves much better these next couple of years.
That seems to be all the rushes to mind right now. Best wishes to all of you and if anyone has any questions, please PM me and I will answer.
Q
You are about to begin one of the most difficult, important, and pivotal periods of your lives. I wish I had known of SDN's existence when I was in your position. A lot of priceless advice is coming to you direct from some of our students, and they can certainly offer you a perspective like no other. I am on my way out in a couple of months, and I would like to share a few thoughts with you all.
First, as you know from your interviews, the school is in beautiful shape now thanks to the restoration efforts post tropical storm Allison. It had been kind of dirty and junky for my first few years. So enjoy the nice furniture, new paint, etc.
Second, even though UT Houston is not considered a "top-tier" medical school, you actually have some of the biggest names in the world teaching at the school. As such, you have access to excellent teachers, great connections for research and publication, and some of the best letter writers who will help you come time for residency applications.
Third, you are in the medical center. Parking is a pain in the ass like you won't believe, but you will come to know. Fortunately, you do get something good out of this painful experience. You have access not only to our school but to MD Anderson, Texas Heart, St. Luke's, Texas Children's, and more. These are premier institutions, and they all will welcome you for elective rotations and provide experience few other places in the world can offer.
Fourth, housing. Most students opt to live near the medical center, and this is practical. However, you have many options besides "condoland". I lived in an area called Montrose for my first three years and can't recommend it highly enough. I preferred to live in an area with a neighborhood feel, with trees, gardens, etc. Montrose is one mile from the med center, a bus line runs from it directly to the school (route 34 if I remember right), there are lots of great cafes, bars, and restaurants, and the Museum District. Check it out. Other great neighborhood areas are West U (adjacent to Rice), the Heights, and Upper Kirby. All these neighborhood have affordable apartments (usually 650-800 for one bedroom), and they usually offer a lot of charm and personality. I think I remained more sane than I would have been because of the fantastic apartment I had in Montrose.
Five, books. Don't buy ANY of your books from the bookstore, unless you've exhausted all other sources. I suspect you have figured this out as undergrads but I remember going to the bookstore (I don't remember why I was there, but I saw an entering student buy all of her texts there. Hundreds of dollars. I recommend two excellent sources for new and used books at much better prices: half.com and amazon.com (their used section for each book). You can always beat the bookstores prices. You will have to buy course syllabi at the school, there's no way around that. But for books and review guides, use the recommended sources.
Six, class. When you begin, the excitement of being in med school will make you want to attend class (or maybe it won't). Everyone's study style is different, but many people will attest to the fact that class attendance is not neccessary to do well in school. Almost without exception everything you need to know for exams is to be found in your syllabi. But do ask more students closer to you in class; they will know better since it's been a couple of years for me.
Seven, your time. Once third year begins, your lives will dramatically change, and in no other way as much as it does in terms of your free time. So ENJOY your free time as much as you can now. Every moment. I am serious, serious, serious about this one. Your life doesn't get miserable but it will feel different, so enjoy your time now.
Eight, keep an open mind. I remember when our class started school, we all wanted to know what specialty everyone wanted initially. So we compiled the choices (for those that participated) and I remember well that most people now are doing something quite different from what they initially hoped for or expected. You will come to know yourselves much better these next couple of years.
That seems to be all the rushes to mind right now. Best wishes to all of you and if anyone has any questions, please PM me and I will answer.
Q
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Quick question...we haven't been asked to send in a deposit yet, have we? I sent in the "hold my seat" letter and all the financial aid stuff, but there has been no request to send in moolah(other than for white coat etc).
Just hoping I haven't missed anything important. Thanks.
-Natalie
Just hoping I haven't missed anything important. Thanks.
-Natalie
UT Houston's match list http://www.med.uth.tmc.edu/student/ms4/match2006.pdf
I just got a message from the WW organizer and she said that they had inadvertently scheduled it for Easter weekend and that it would now be on the weekend of April 8, just like bungo said.drchekhov said:
She also said that if you have already paid but cannot make the new date just get in contact with one of them to get your money back.
Time to change my flights...
You see, we authorized them to send us instructions for us to pay for and run background checks on ourselves through this one company.
I would be angry if the tuition wasn't so damn inexpensive......
I hope this is not my new mantra....
I would be angry if the tuition wasn't so damn inexpensive......
I hope this is not my new mantra....
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For the Mac users out there, it looks like we won't have to get PCs after all:
http://www.apple.com/macosx/bootcamp/
http://www.apple.com/macosx/bootcamp/
Hey what's up everyone. <<Kevin . Do ya'll know how we're supposed to go about getting the additional loan to purchase a pc? See ya'll saturday.
k12balla said:
I haven't heard of a loan but I heard about discounts on laptops...but either they stopped that or they haven't renewed the contract b/c the link on the school's website won't allow me to order one. BTW, this is my first post and I'm Chris, 22 from Texas A&M, lived in Arlington, TX for 2 years, Las Vegas before that, so I'm looking forward to being in a big city again!
Hope everyone had a great time during Welcome Weekend even though it was just a small taste of what's in store for us. Anyway, is anyone here doing the Pre-Entry program? Any Navy/Army/Air Force HPSPers in this thread? I'm in the Navy program.
PS: is this Kevin I met in WW?
