2009-2010 Case Western Reserve University Application Thread

[WaitingSucks]

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Laptop finale for Meat-

Dell.com with 30% coupon XRHR$T3JKBPT04 for the E6510:
$1,218 (pretax)
$1,320 (post tax + env fee)

Modifications:
No backpack / External HD / Wireless mouse (resale value at ebay ~$100)
Upgraded to full HD 1920x1080p Display 😍
Every other aspect on the laptop is the same


Case E6510:
$1,475 (pretax)
$1,593 (8% Ohio tax)

Differences:
1600x900 resolution as opposed to 1920x1080 listed above


Price difference: $1,593 - $1,320 = $273 + $65 BING Cash Back = $338 (assuming I get it back >.>)

Not a huge difference, but certainly significant to me. This extra money means I can afford a season pass to Brandywine / Boston mills (snowboarding park 30 minutes south of Case). Also, I am SO stoked about the higher resolution display. I'm a multitasking ***** and LOVE to rock multiple open windows, even considering rocking a 1440x900 XP version inside Windows 7, should be awesome. From what I hear RGB colors are fantastic on the full HD and clouding is minimal.

To all those accepted today, congratulations are in order! WOOTZORZ

EDIT** I used the BING search engine w/ BING cash back. Bing currently gives 5% on dell small business orders, so thats ~$65 more.

So does that mean you have to mail it in to them in advance? And is that including the fancy warranty?

 

[Meat]

So does that mean you have to mail it in to them in advance? And is that including the fancy warranty?

Yes, you have to mail your laptop to them two weeks in advance (shipping ~$15/$20)

My setup includes a 3 year warranty + 3 year complete care accidental warranty. This was okay'd by David Pilasky. I think this is a HUGE waste, as I have owned two Dell laptops for 5+ years and never had any kind of hardware / software issue that I had to have Dell solve for me. I understand for non-enthusiast users this Warranty is helpful, but don't be stupid and your laptop will last for years. Don't eat next to your laptop. Don't throw your laptop. Don't drop your laptop. Reformat once every six months / year. To be covered by Case, your Dell MUST have the same specifications as the one provided by the school AND have a 3+ year warranty + Accidental Warranty.

That being said, please go with the school package if you don't feel %100 about utilizing the Dell coupon / comfortable with configuring your own package.

My package is a great savings if you are looking to customize your order (I had a slightly smaller Hard drive but greatly increased screen resolution) and don't feel like wasting money on the goodies. Just be sure you are in contact with David Pilasky at IT and let him know you are buying through Dell.

Finally, the coupon I posted expires tomorrow at 11PM, at which point the school deal is better.

 

[Myuu]

Yes, you have to mail your laptop to them two weeks in advance (shipping ~$15/$20)

My setup includes a 3 year warranty + 3 year complete care accidental warranty. This was okay'd by David Pilasky. I think this is a HUGE waste, as I have owned two Dell laptops for 5+ years and never had any kind of hardware / software issue that I had to have Dell solve for me. I understand for non-enthusiast users this Warranty is helpful, but don't be stupid and your laptop will last for years. Don't eat next to your laptop. Don't throw your laptop. Don't drop your laptop. Reformat once every six months / year. To be covered by Case, your Dell MUST have the same specifications as the one provided by the school AND have a 3+ year warranty + Accidental Warranty.

That being said, please go with the school package if you don't feel %100 about utilizing the Dell coupon / comfortable with configuring your own package.

My package is a great savings if you are looking to customize your order (I had a slightly smaller Hard drive but greatly increased screen resolution) and don't feel like wasting money on the goodies. Just be sure you are in contact with David Pilasky at IT and let him know you are buying through Dell.

Finally, the coupon I posted expires tomorrow at 11PM, at which point the school deal is better.

Haha, wow. I'm glad that the laptop worked out for you. I, on the other hand, had most of the parts of my Dell laptop replaced twice in the first three years I owned it, despite not eating on or next to it, throwing it, or dropping it.

 

[Meat]

Haha, wow. I'm glad that the laptop*s* worked out for you. I, on the other hand, had most of the parts of my Dell laptop replaced twice in the first three years I owned it, despite not eating on or next to it, throwing it, or dropping it.

Most of your "Parts?" (Incoming rant :O) I sincerely doubt your processor heat sink malfunctioned, your northbridge fried or your GPU overheated. Ram doesn't really "break." Did your CD drive get stuck? Did your hard drive fail? Thats the only common aliment I could possibly think of. Even then, just grab a new HD ($30-$50?) from newegg and throw it in yourself. Most components are standardized (albeit for the mobo), so you could also be blaming the individual suppliers (Western digital, corsair, intel, whatever). I did have a fan die on one of my laptops, which I had to buy online and install. I'm assuming you're referring to a software related problem, which is easily fixable and not Dell's fault. Blame Windows IMO. /rant

If anyone in this thread is like Myuu and finds their PCs consitantly breaking, then yes, be sure to take out the full warranty, or, just buy a Mac
My GF has a Mac and absolutely loves it. Its really reliable for her, and while its starting to show its age the mac still has plenty of kick left in it. Really easy to use, just not ultra customizable and not my cup of tea. Also, kinda expensive.

Before I saw the pricing, I was considering rocking one of the Macs, just always boot camped in Windows 7 (I have some serious Mac OS hate 🙁 ). Good hardware and solid battery life (least we not forget the superior graphics card in the Mac models over the Dells).

 

[IHeartSleep]

Most of your "Parts?" (Incoming rant :O) I sincerely doubt your processor heat sink malfunctioned, your northbridge fried or your GPU overheated. Ram doesn't really "break." Did your CD drive get stuck? Did your hard drive fail? Thats the only common aliment I could possibly think of. Even then, just grab a new HD ($30-$50?) from newegg and throw it in yourself. Most components are standardized (albeit for the mobo), so you could also be blaming the individual suppliers (Western digital, corsair, intel, whatever). I did have a fan die on one of my laptops, which I had to buy online and install. I'm assuming you're referring to a software related problem, which is easily fixable and not Dell's fault. Blame Windows IMO. /rant

So if I have any quikfix computer problems over the next couple of years, you'll come fix it for me? 😀

 

[Myuu]

Most of your "Parts?" I sincerely doubt your processor heat sink malfunctioned, your front side bus fried or your GPU overheated. Did your hard drive fail? Thats the only common aliment I could possibly think of. Even then, just grab a new HD from newegg and throw it in yourself. I did have a fan die on one of my laptops, which I had to buy online and install. I'm assuming you're referring to a software related problem, which is easily fixable and not Dell's fault. Blame Windows IMO.

If anyone in this thread is like Myuu and finds their PCs consitantly breaking, then yes, be sure to take out the full warranty, or, just buy a Mac

Well, I'm glad you've assumed that because I use a mac I know nothing of the care and maintenance of computers. Also, why would I blame them for a software issue? That doesn't make any sense. At all.

Hard drive failure is quite common across most if not all widely distributed OEM models (and did occur for me post-warranty due to normal wear and tear x2, which is a very simple diy fix), but I did have a number of overheating issues despite attempts at creative, non-liquid cooling schema. This was greatly unaided by poor fan placement inherent in the design, which is a well-documented issue for that model (replaced x3). Please note that this was in 2002, which must've been a particularly bad year for Dell's QC process, as a number of my classmates (CpEs) had similar issues. Most issues with my laptop were mechanical as a result of otherwise normal use, though I went through two bad wireless cards and toasted a GPU. That was also a bad year for batteries, but that's not really a "computer" issue (unless we're talking about issues secondary to rampant power surges, which we're not) and wouldn't have been covered under warranty after the first 30 days anyway. The motherboard was also replaced once, but that doesn't really count, as the problem was that the headphone jack was loose, the soundcard was integrated, and they refused to let me solder it back on without voiding the warranty.

I really wish they'd just send me the parts and let the service tech have the afternoon off.

 

[Meat]

Well, I'm glad you've assumed that because I use a mac I know nothing of the care and maintenance of computers. Also, why would I blame them for a software issue? That doesn't make any sense. At all.

Hard drive failure is quite common across most if not all widely distributed OEM models (and did occur for me post-warranty due to normal wear and tear x2, which is a very simple diy fix), but I did have a number of overheating issues despite attempts at creative, non-liquid cooling schema. This was greatly unaided by poor fan placement inherent in the design, which is a well-documented issue for that model (replaced x3). Please note that this was in 2002, which must've been a particularly bad year for Dell's QC process, as a number of my classmates (CpEs) had similar issues. Most issues with my laptop were mechanical as a result of otherwise normal use, though I went through two bad wireless cards and toasted a GPU. That was also a bad year for batteries, but that's not really a "computer" issue (unless we're talking about issues secondary to rampant power surges, which we're not) and wouldn't have been covered under warranty after the first 30 days anyway. The motherboard was also replaced once, but that doesn't really count, as the problem was that the headphone jack was loose, the soundcard was integrated, and they refused to let me solder it back on without voiding the warranty.

I really wish they'd just send me the parts and let the service tech have the afternoon off.

Jesus, is this the Dell ****spiron model? I owe you an apology, you have to understand that most reformed Mac users I speak with who leave PCs because of "problems" couldn't find their way out of internet explorer. I wasn't trying to come off as rude, I was just rather hesitant to believe you.

With that being said, you went through two hard drives, three fans and two wireless cards? A toasted GPU? I heavily overcloak my GPUs on my tower and current laptop. With moderate increments and an adequate testing programs I've never have any problems. If you're insinuating that your GPU failed along with all of the above just via normal wear and tear, you need to take out a lottery ticket, as you've went through quite an unlucky streak there. Perchance Dell's laptop build quality wasn't what it is today as it was in 2002.

As far as creative cooling techniques, I recall towards the end of one of my buddies GPU's life he had to carry a floor fan to all of our LAN events.

 

[Myuu]

Jesus, is this the Dell ****spiron model? I owe you an apology, you have to understand that most reformed Mac users I speak with who leave PCs because of "problems" couldn't find their way out of internet explorer.

With that being said, you went through two hard drives, three fans and two wireless cards? A toasted GPU? I heavily overcloak my GPUs on my tower and current laptop. With moderate increments and an adequate testing programs I've never have any problems. If you're insinuating that your GPU failed along with all of the above just via normal wear and tear, you need to take out a lottery ticket, as you've went through quite an unlucky streak there. Perchance Dell's laptop build quality wasn't what it is today as it was in 2002.

As far as creative cooling techniques, I recall towards the end of one of my buddies GPU's life he had to carry a floor fan to all of our LAN events.

Yeah, it was an inspiron in 2002. ...actually it could've been a latitude, but it shipped with the inspiron faceplate and self-identified as a latitude (far more likely), so who knows. Absolute junk, mostly. The GPU was probably gaming-related, but for the record, I went through 2 (3?) hard drives, 3 (4?) cd-rom drives, 2 wireless cards, a motherboard, a keyboard (my bad!), several fans, and probably would've ended up replacing the display last year if I hadn't had a new laptop already.

I'd say the longest lived components, then, were the display and the RAM.

 

[Meat]

Yeah, it was an inspiron in 2002. ...actually it could've been a latitude, but it shipped with the inspiron faceplate and self-identified as a latitude (far more likely), so who knows. Absolute junk, mostly. The GPU was probably gaming-related, but for the record, I went through 2 (3?) hard drives, 3 (4?) cd-rom drives, 2 wireless cards, a motherboard, a keyboard (my bad!), several fans, and probably would've ended up replacing the display last year if I hadn't had a new laptop already.

I'd say the longest lived components, then, were the display and the RAM.

Maybe I should look into the MBP.

 

[Myuu]

At some point the space bar spring/sensors got busted and I had to super glue them back on. Ended up with spaces every time the wind blew.

(That's after a 3-week space-less period.)

 

[mei6]

"I understand for non-enthusiast users this Warranty is helpful, but don't be stupid and your laptop will last for years. Don't eat next to your laptop. Don't throw your laptop. Don't drop your laptop. Reformat once every six months / year."
Murphy's law + expensive electronics = accidental damage warranty is a good idea. Sometimes, it ain't got nothing to do with enthusiasm.

 

[WaitingSucks]

I think I've decided to go with Case. Now I just need to sleep on that decision.

 

[abcd54321]

do you guys think there will be any more acceptances off the UP waitlist this week? Did anyone hear anything yesterday or today?

I'm on 3 waitlists with no acceptances, so really hoping to get a call.

Go Cavs!

 

[Homoochan]

do you guys think there will be any more acceptances off the UP waitlist this week? Did anyone hear anything yesterday or today?

I'm on 3 waitlists with no acceptances, so really hoping to get a call.

Go Cavs!

I doubt there will be more movement.. because quite a number of people has gotten off the alternate list already.

 

[pick8]

I definitely think there will be more movement. Most schools require responses by May 15th, and people will start getting off of other waitlists after that, dropping out of UP and opening up slots. Don't give up!

 

[Homoochan]

I definitely think there will be more movement. Most schools require responses by May 15th, and people will start getting off of other waitlists after that, dropping out of UP and opening up slots. Don't give up!

Hm.. I think a lot of people made their decisions prior to May 15th already. Hence, a lot of movement already happened. I remember reading from previous posts that there will be little movement this year from the alternate list. However, it seems like there were a lot of movements already, which means a lot of people made their decisions..

only speculations...... 🙂

 

[TheFreak]

Hm.. I think a lot of people made their decisions prior to May 15th already. Hence, a lot of movement already happened. I remember reading from previous posts that there will be little movement this year from the alternate list. However, it seems like there were a lot of movements already, which means a lot of people made their decisions..

only speculations...... 🙂

not that i disagree about the amount of movement on the alternate list, but i think pick8 is saying that there will be people who currently hold spots at case that potentially could get off of waitlists at other schools after may 15, which is when a lot of other waitlists will move. that might free up some slots at case.

im not sure how many spots that would end up being but i think that sounds reasonable.

 

[Ok2Panic]

Hm.. I think a lot of people made their decisions prior to May 15th already. Hence, a lot of movement already happened. I remember reading from previous posts that there will be little movement this year from the alternate list. However, it seems like there were a lot of movements already, which means a lot of people made their decisions..

only speculations...... 🙂

Well, it's all conjecture and anyone's guess. Looks like we'll just have to wait and see.

Awww! You'll get in, I have faith! And vicariously is one of my favorite words ^_^ I saw the class of 2014 in your sig, where were you accepted?

Thanks Auriga! Yeah, I'm currently in at SUNY Upstate and sitting on a couple of wait lists. Case is my first choice though, so still holding out hope!

 

[mrmilad]

So heres a dumb questions, when is the last possible date, if anyone knows, that there is a possibility of getting off the waitlist? Is it the end of may? or Two weeks after May 15th?

 

[Myuu]

So heres a dumb questions, when is the last possible date, if anyone knows, that there is a possibility of getting off the waitlist? Is it the end of may? or Two weeks after May 15th?

The day before school starts! I am in no way kidding, either.

 

[mrmilad]

The day before school starts! I am in no way kidding, either.

Oh just have to move across the country in 1 day. Man Med Schools are so smart and considerate. aholes....

 

[Myuu]

Oh just have to move across the country in 1 day. Man Med Schools are so smart and considerate. aholes....

That has nothing to do with the med schools and everything to do with the person who decided to bail at the last minute to go somewhere else.

 

[rockaction]

Oh just have to move across the country in 1 day. Man Med Schools are so smart and considerate. aholes....

dude, if a spot opens up, a spot opens up. the med schools don't have much control over who decides to end up where and when...

 

[mrmilad]

I am just venting after getting worn down for a year, sorry 🙁

 

[musictomed]

So heres a dumb questions, when is the last possible date, if anyone knows, that there is a possibility of getting off the waitlist? Is it the end of may? or Two weeks after May 15th?

Yes, it can be a very long process. From May 15 onward, all those who will be starting medical school that summer/fall must have whittled their selection down to one school where they got in (assuming they have more than one from which to choose). When they do this, they free up space at each school they decline.

This, then, starts the dominoes falling. Schools that suddenly have open spots then go to their wait-list/alternates list. An individual can decide to not attend any given school for any reason. Once that decision is made, the process starts all over again. Presumably, mid-May is when you might see the majority of spaces opening up, but I have no idea how quickly medical schools fill those spaces once opened.

So, from what I understand, Myuu is absolutely correct in saying that it could be anytime up to the beginning of classes.

Of course, I'm not on the admissions committee. I'm on the alternate list. So I could be completely wrong.

 

[Myuu]

There are several people in our class who got off the waitlist in July.👍

 

[Homoochan]

There are several people in our class who got off the waitlist in July.👍

hm.. do u know approximately how many? 👍

 

[CCLCMer]

The day before school starts! I am in no way kidding, either.

Exactly. Basically, if someone drops, and school hasn't started yet, then one lucky person is going to get a last-minute surprise call.

I am just venting after getting worn down for a year, sorry 🙁

I'm sorry that applying has got you down, but you have an acceptance, and you don't have to stay on the waitlist if you don't want to. Whenever you feel like it's too late for you to change your plans, that's when it's time to drop. No one is going to force you to drop everything and come here the day before classes start. But there are some people who are willing to do that, especially if they don't have an acceptance anywhere yet and then all of a sudden a spot opens up for them last minute. I know someone that happened to (not at Case). He got in the Friday before orientation started, drove across the country all weekend, and made it just in time for orientation on Monday without even having somewhere to live yet. But it was better than reapplying. 🙂

 

[brooklynblunder]

how it goes in the land of the Cleve?

 

[Myuu]

how it goes in the land of the Cleve?

It's 49º, windy, and so I just went out and ran a mile. What happened to the 70º weather?!

Otherwise, it's very green around here.👍

 

[vc7777]

how it goes in the land of the Cleve?

Hey BB! Long time no see in the thread!

Exactly. Basically, if someone drops, and school hasn't started yet, then one lucky person is going to get a last-minute surprise call.


I'm sorry that applying has got you down, but you have an acceptance, and you don't have to stay on the waitlist if you don't want to. Whenever you feel like it's too late for you to change your plans, that's when it's time to drop. No one is going to force you to drop everything and come here the day before classes start. But there are some people who are willing to do that, especially if they don't have an acceptance anywhere yet and then all of a sudden a spot opens up for them last minute. I know someone that happened to (not at Case). He got in the Friday before orientation started, drove across the country all weekend, and made it just in time for orientation on Monday without even having somewhere to live yet. But it was better than reapplying. 🙂

Hey...I knew a guy who was literally on-line making his seat assignment (already paid for the ticket!) for the Caribbean flight when he got the call for Michigan State...Then while at orientation at MSU a week later, got another call within days remaining but ended up declining b/c he had literally just moved his stuff to Lansing! It happens. IIRC, Univ. of Michigan has/had a policy that a student could start 'no later than the third day of classes'. This obivously was an issue in the past, so they had to put it in writing.

 

[vc7777]

congrats! you're a stud. what's next? residency match.com?

oh no, i thought they would be sending carrier pigeons. i spent all this time building this bird house with the only level 1 adult and pediatric bird trauma center (where big bird came when he got injured in that fight with count dracula about one being a prime number) in the country.

bird flu? we can handle that if you have the right insurance.

I hope you feel better soon!

how it goes in the land of the Cleve?

Man, we miss your sort of humor on the thread...
wanna help us hit 5000? 😀

 

[vc7777]

Did anyone else catch that bit at the CCLCM second look events about a current student's friend having a charity in the friend's memory that will be donating stethoscopes to the incoming class? (Did you follow that?! Did I make that up?) If this is true it's a very touching thing to do.

I talked alot about buying one around Thanksgiving (you know, around page 50 on the thread...). But I never got around to it. I know some folks were looking into buying one for me as a gift, but I will steer them away if this is true?

 

[brooklynblunder]

yea let's hit 5000, tonight.

*sets the bar high*

 

[brooklynblunder]

Did anyone else catch that bit at the CCLCM second look events about a current student's friend having a charity in the friend's memory that will be donating stethoscopes to the incoming class? (Did you follow that?! Did I make that up?) If this is true it's a very touching thing to do.

I talked alot about buying one around Thanksgiving (you know, around page 50 on the thread...). But I never got around to it. I know some folks were looking into buying one for me as a gift, but I will steer them away if this is true?

aww 👍

i think you guys will have a nice tight class

 

[IHeartSleep]

Did anyone else catch that bit at the CCLCM second look events about a current student's friend having a charity in the friend's memory that will be donating stethoscopes to the incoming class? (Did you follow that?! Did I make that up?) If this is true it's a very touching thing to do.

I talked alot about buying one around Thanksgiving (you know, around page 50 on the thread...). But I never got around to it. I know some folks were looking into buying one for me as a gift, but I will steer them away if this is true?

I remember that part too, but I may have misheard as well--wasn't it at 8am?! In any case, we don't need anything fancy for now, so I'm trying to get people to give me gifts of cash instead for books.

 

[Ok2Panic]

yea let's hit 5000, tonight.

*sets the bar high*

Hey BK! Long time!

 

[brooklynblunder]

hey! what happened to you in the 2014 thread

 

[Ok2Panic]

hey! what happened to you in the 2014 thread

When I moved back to the States I abandoned SDN for a little while and only came back to check on my waitlisted schools' threads! You still going to Miami?

 

[brooklynblunder]

lol, no, funny because we were talking about this before, i actually did a 180 and decided on mstp@mn

 

[FluffyRabbit]

Did anyone else catch that bit at the CCLCM second look events about a current student's friend having a charity in the friend's memory that will be donating stethoscopes to the incoming class? (Did you follow that?! Did I make that up?) If this is true it's a very touching thing to do.

I talked alot about buying one around Thanksgiving (you know, around page 50 on the thread...). But I never got around to it. I know some folks were looking into buying one for me as a gift, but I will steer them away if this is true?

I vaguely remember something like that too, but having flown red eye the night before and not getting much sleep afterward, I can't really be sure either.

aww 👍

i think you guys will have a nice tight class

But of course, I'm in it.

I remember that part too, but I may have misheard as well--wasn't it at 8am?! In any case, we don't need anything fancy for now, so I'm trying to get people to give me gifts of cash instead for books.

It's hard to imagine you desperately wanting to buy books, so I'm going to pretend that was "cash instead of books". 🙂

 

[CCLCMer]

how it goes in the land of the Cleve?

brooklynblunder! You really do care!

I've spent this whole morning gazing across the lake at Canada. It's so misty in the morning.

Is MN the University of Minnesota?

 

[brooklynblunder]

aw, yes, of course I care. and yes, that would be right. MN could also be backwards for New Mexico?

 

[IHeartSleep]

It's hard to imagine you desperately wanting to buy books, so I'm going to pretend that was "cash instead of books". 🙂

I don't think telling the truth would sit well with friends and family. I'll stick with the "I need cash for expensive books" thing I got goin' on. 😉

 

[brooklynblunder]

things have slowed down since i started posting 🙁

 

[vc7777]

Meh...
you were the glue that held it together... 🙂

Nah...we go in fits and starts around here now...

Sometimes its like a virtual bar-crawl and we take over other School Specific threads

 

[Myuu]

Meh...
you were the glue that held it together... 🙂

Nah...we go in fits and starts around here now...

Sometimes its like a virtual bar-crawl and we take over other School Specific threads

It's because we're awesome.😎


Edit:

 

[brooklynblunder]

big day in cleveland today

 

[Myuu]

big day in cleveland today

Oh, definitely.

 

[vc7777]

speaking of crawl...it's on again in ClarKent's thread...