Mike2010 said:
Whats up, After everything has played out for me I have put my deposit down at NYCOM. Class of 2010 here I come! Im real excitied about the next four years and although i think I know how hard and fun it will be it is actually more likely that I have no idea. My name is Mike (obviously), I am 22 and from fishkill NY. I finished Undergrad (Biology) in May and am working and saving money until I go back in August. Hopefully I'll get to meet a few people before we start up. Congrats to everyone else here!
I havent recieved any financial aid stuff yet, my deposit was recieved certified two days ago though, so I assume they will be sending some more forms of various types shortly including aid packets, I cant fill out FAFSA anyway until all of my W2s come in i think (I have 1 out of 4).
I have a question for you guys though... What do you think about the PBL curriculum? I am going to apply for it b/c I think it is a better overall learning approach but I am kind of scared about how well it prepares you for the COMPLEX/USMLE. I dont know.
Congratulations on your acceptance and decision to join us at NYCOM next year. I am very excited for you.
Regarding your FAFSA, you can file it without your W2s. FAFSA will ask you if you "Have Filed", "Will File", or "Will Not File". You can choose "Will File", and it will ask you to estimate your gross and net incomes. Otherwise, you can fill in everything else since you know it, and they will complete the FAFSA form as is. Then, once you have filed, you can go into the FAFSA website and file a correction to update your income information. I would suggest filling out the FAFSA as soon as possible, so you have a better chance at receiving first come first serve loans, such as the Perkins Loan.
Otherwise, none of us have received any financial aid documents. As far as I know, all anyone has received is the information given to us during the interview, our acceptance letters, and the technical standards pamphlet that came with the letter.
Regarding the PBL program, I do think it is an amazing program. However, I am not applying for a position in it, purely out of fear. I only have one shot at getting my medical school education, and I am fearful of being a guinea pig to a new program. I am sure everyone at NYCOM gets an equally good education, but I am still fearful. Call me a traditionalist
. A medical school education is what you make of it, and I know I will make more of it with lectures, textbooks, exams, and a traditional systems-based lecture style. My learning style is one that can be adapted to either, but I know many people who have learning styles that lend them to one or the other. A person who cannot sit still or absorb enough information sitting in a lecture or a person who is self-driven enough to make good use of the time given to PBL students to do research is a good fit for the program. That is just my two cents.
By the way, I am Shannon, a 23 year old female currently finishing my Master's at UMDNJ in Newark, NJ. I went to college at Indiana University, and I have lived in NY, California, Indiana, and NJ. Now, I am definitely ready to go back home to NY
!