2009-2010 Washington University in St. Louis Application Thread

[SwineSue]

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I hope you are not awarded a scholarship so you can see how you feel when you're paying for medical school. Let me guess... you're from an upper-middle class to upper-class family and you've never wanted for much? You probably haven't thought about the cost hard-working people will pay for this plan because you have never worried about money.

"hard-working people", which I assume means middle-class white people, are getting subsidies under the bill with which to buy health insurance...that's the point of it all.. (they also can't be denied over pre-existing conditions, can't hit lifetime caps, can't be dropped when they get sick, etc. etc. etc.) the perception I suppose is that those 'hard working people' are getting hit with some mythical tax to fund subsidies for "other", non-hard-working people. Such is the result of 30 years of the Republican propaganda/race-baiting machine

The revenue in the bill comes from squeezing drug companies, insurance companies, and medical device companies, squeezing medicare in a hopefully intelligent way and eliminating subsidies to private insurers under medicare advantage, taxing $22,000+ employer sponsored plans, taxes on investment income (nearly all investment income in the US is made by the upper class) and higher Medicare payroll taxes for families making $250,000 a year or more.

 

[TheBigBang]

Not being able to treat patients daily because they are uninsured would hurt me much more than earning less and paying more taxes (given that physicians are in the top 5% in income and that loans average ONLY a year of income)

HEALTH>MONEY

 

[litconsultant]

speaking of health reform- is anyone going to be around Sunday April 11 (after second look) and interested in seeing arctic monkeys in st. louis? it seems like fate that they will be in town while I am also in town.

 

[vpdr]

totally off the topic of health care reform, but does anyone know when we are supposed to hear back about the full tuition merit based scholarships? Have any of you already been awarded one of those?

 

[vpdr]

speaking of health reform- is anyone going to be around Sunday April 11 (after second look) and interested in seeing arctic monkeys in st. louis? it seems like fate that they will be in town while I am also in town.

I am staying that Sunday! Personal Message me and maybe we can go!

 

[ksmi117]

totally off the topic of health care reform, but does anyone know when we are supposed to hear back about the full tuition merit based scholarships? Have any of you already been awarded one of those?

Two people on SDN have been awarded them. I haven't heard one way or the other. I want to hear though.

 

[Hirudo]

Yeah it's a different situation for docs though, because they're really going to get the triple-whammy:

1) Lower salary
2) Higher taxes
3) Both 1 and 2 above fuel a system that will require docs to work more/harder.

So basically it's "see more people for less money" and "your tax money will pay for your patient"

hmm... Doctor's paying to treat their patients. Sounds like a great plan 👎

Whew. Good thing I'm not going into medicine to make a lot of money!

 

[WashMe]

Whew. Good thing I'm not going into medicine to make a lot of money!

I'm not going into medicine to make a lot of money either, I just don't believe in government-mandated handouts. Never have, never will. It isn't the fact that my salary will go down that really bothers me. It's the idea of paying for medical school and attaining higher education into my 30's only to have the government tell me I have to treat people and then get ripped off on the repayment. The government doesn't tell contractors they have to build houses for homeless people and get paid less-than-cost. You can't force altruism, and when you try to do so then real altruism fades away.

 

[WashMe]

As a disclaimer:

What I say is not necessarily representative of the collective beliefs of WashU students or faculty. Many of us are infuriated by the bill, but there are many other people who think the healthcare bill passage is a great thing. The majority of people don't speak their minds either way.

Now I won't feel responsible if you choose not to come here 😉

 

[SwineSue]

I'm not going into medicine to make a lot of money either, I just don't believe in government-mandated handouts. Never have, never will. It isn't the fact that my salary will go down that really bothers me. It's the idea of paying for medical school and attaining higher education into my 30's only to have the government tell me I have to treat people and then get ripped off on the repayment. The government doesn't tell contractors they have to build houses for homeless people and get paid less-than-cost. You can't force altruism, and when you try to do so then real altruism fades away.

Are you talking about Medicaid? Medicaid already existed before this bill. And doctors are not required to take Medicaid patients.

 

[Hirudo]

As a disclaimer:

What I say is not necessarily representative of the collective beliefs of WashU students or faculty. Many of us are infuriated by the bill, but there are many other people who think the healthcare bill passage is a great thing. The majority of people don't speak their minds either way.

Now I won't feel responsible if you choose not to come here 😉

Fair enough. Agree to disagree.

 

[WashMe]

Are you talking about Medicaid? Medicaid already existed before this bill. And doctors are not required to take Medicaid patients.

Big change is made in small steps, and we have 10+ years to ride out the wave of lunacy if this crap continues. That's what I'm talking about.

 

[DuckFook]

I think that there's something to be said of attempting to change a medical system that can physically support the entirety of the US population but isn't able to do so due to insurance and monetary issues. As doctors, we should strive to heal and comfort every ailment and fix every injury, but we aren't able to under the current system. If we were able to but made the same amount of money, then why wouldn't we choose to do so? PERHAPS the new bill will allow this to happen.

The problem is the doubt that this will occur. The worry is that we'll all be doomed, be unable to sustain our practice of medicine, make much less money, be swamped by medicare patients who pay little to nothing, etc. My (our?) hope and vision of US healthcare may not come to fruition, but if this is the case, then healthcare is a big enough industry that any fault will be quickly recognized. Because health is so vital (heh) to our way of life, action will be quickly taken to ensure that the healthcare system allows us to, quite literally, survive. Then, more change will be sought and the system will correct itself. So all in all, I think we should be hopeful and optimistic but also very observant and open with new ideas concerning the new practice of medicine.

 

[SwineSue]

Big change is made in small steps, and we have 10+ years to ride out the wave of lunacy if this crap continues. That's what I'm talking about.

When you're a doctor you can treat whoever you want to treat. You can put a big sign on the door of your office that says "Rich people only. No lazy minorities on government handouts treated here. Go home and die."

 

[WashMe]

I really can't argue with you guys, but I've just been throwing my opinion our there. Your responses are exactly what I would expect from students who are just wrapping up the admissions process and have given "compassionate" answers for the last 6 months. Maybe you'll feel otherwise once you're in medical school, and maybe you won't. The reality of this experience is different from anyone's preconceived notions, and it can change you.

 

[takethat12]

Big change is made in small steps, and we have 10+ years to ride out the wave of lunacy if this crap continues. That's what I'm talking about.

Young republicans scare me.

 

[SteinUmStein]

I really can't argue with you guys, but I've just been throwing my opinion our there. Your responses are exactly what I would expect from students who are just wrapping up the admissions process and have given "compassionate" answers for the last 6 months. Maybe you'll feel otherwise once you're in medical school, and maybe you won't. The reality of this experience is different from anyone's preconceived notions, and it can change you.

Not all med students feel this way, and not all physicians feel this way. Cynicism is not inevitable by any stretch of the imagination. Our naive and immature opinions, as I'm sure you see them, are shared by many with decades of experience in medicine. Certainly not all, but some. I think that says a lot about a physician's priorities and what they choose to value most in their life.

 

[nygiant]

When you're a doctor you can treat whoever you want to treat. You can put a big sign on the door of your office that says "Rich people only. No lazy minorities on government handouts treated here. Go home and die."

Sorry swinesue...but when you take emergecny room call...and all attending physicians must as a condition of being on staff...you WILL accept any patients that need emergency care. And if you refuse, expect a visit from the State Professional Disciplinary Committee. Yhey will yank your license to practice in no time.

I can see you are in medicine as a means to an end, rather than an end in itself.

 

[bigman225]

Sorry swinesue...but when you take emergecny room call...and all attending physicians must as a condition of being on staff...you WILL accept any patients that need emergency care. And if you refuse, expect a visit from the State Professional Disciplinary Committee. Yhey will yank your license to practice in no time.

I can see you are in medicine as a means to an end, rather than an end in itself.

Just out of curiosity, what was your VR score?

 

[SteinUmStein]

Sorry swinesue...but when you take emergecny room call...and all attending physicians must as a condition of being on staff...you WILL accept any patients that need emergency care. And if you refuse, expect a visit from the State Professional Disciplinary Committee. Yhey will yank your license to practice in no time.

I can see you are in medicine as a means to an end, rather than an end in itself.

I can confidently state that you completely misread her post.

 

[SwineSue]

Sorry swinesue...but when you take emergecny room call...and all attending physicians must as a condition of being on staff...you WILL accept any patients that need emergency care. And if you refuse, expect a visit from the State Professional Disciplinary Committee. Yhey will yank your license to practice in no time.

I can see you are in medicine as a means to an end, rather than an end in itself.

follow the thread. I was sarcastically mocking WashMe.

 

[allen5055]

Just out of curiosity, what was your VR score?

lol

 

[WashMe]

follow the thread. I was sarcastically mocking WashMe.

Evidently not well

 

[hector219]

I really can't argue with you guys, but I've just been throwing my opinion our there. Your responses are exactly what I would expect from students who are just wrapping up the admissions process and have given "compassionate" answers for the last 6 months. Maybe you'll feel otherwise once you're in medical school, and maybe you won't. The reality of this experience is different from anyone's preconceived notions, and it can change you.

I can't tell for sure, but you've posted quite a bit on the 2013 thread, so I assume you're a first year. Correct me if I'm wrong. All I want to say is that a year of basic sciences gives you no authority to make generalizations about about how medicine changes you, save for the fact that the statement is too general to be false.

 

[WashMe]

I can't tell for sure, but you've posted quite a bit on the 2013 thread, so I assume you're a first year. Correct me if I'm wrong. All I want to say is that a year of basic sciences gives you no authority to make generalizations about about how medicine changes you, save for the fact that the statement is too general to be false.

Sure it does, in the sense that I'm working my butt off and I feel that I have a right to the fruits of my labor. Pre-meds work hard, but it's a completely different ball game. I never referenced the experience of medicine. I referenced the experience of medical school.

 

[bigman225]

Sure it does, in the sense that I'm working my butt off and I feel that I have a right to the fruits of my labor. Pre-meds work hard, but it's a completely different ball game. I never referenced the experience of medicine. I referenced the experience of medical school.

Wow. Didn't take you long to develop a sense of profound entitlement. Congrats on that. There are many things you can do in life that I'm sure are much harder than medical school, and they don't virtually assure you a six-figure salary for life.

 

[SteinUmStein]

Wow. Didn't take you long to develop a sense of profound entitlement. Congrats on that.

Just wait, I'm sure there's more entitlement to come with Step 1 on the horizon and the brutal hours of M3 looming ahead. 😉

 

[injunjoe]

erm so anyways...how about that waitlist?! anyone know when the committee meets on deciding to let ppl off?

 

[Lyon]

Yeah, I was wondering about the waitlist as well. Any idea when the first day of school is for WashU?

And what's the waitlist procedure.. can I be out of country and correspond with the committee via email?

 

[chong852]

For 2009 classes started sometime between Aug 10 and 17th, so I'm guessing it will be about the same this year.
I think all correspondences at this point with the committee are through email or you can snail mail them if you like.
(except when they call you to accept you! looking back at last year's thread someone was out of the country and missed that call from Dean Dodson, but he/she got an email soon after)
They probably meet within the few days before May 15th, since last year they started accepting on that day.
Good luck to everyone on the waitlist!
At least we can all relax a little until mid May.

 

[WashMe]

http://medschool.wustl.edu/students/calendar11.html

 

[WashMe]

Wow. Didn't take you long to develop a sense of profound entitlement. Congrats on that. There are many things you can do in life that I'm sure are much harder than medical school, and they don't virtually assure you a six-figure salary for life.

Nothing compares to medical school/medicine when you take all of the following factors into account:

(1) Intellectual difficulty
(2) Professional liability (Easy to lose license and $$$)
(3) Length of training & postponing starting a family
(4) Hours worked per week
(5) Continuing education requirements

There are other careers that have some of those factors, but I doubt you can find another with all of them.

 

[takethat12]

Nothing compares to medical school/medicine when you take all of the following factors into account:

See definition: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=First World Problems

 

[kywii]

Hi, I just wanted to let everyone know that the Olin Scholarships have been given out. I have to say I really enjoyed meeting everyone I interviewed with (medical and non-medical peeps) and I hope to see you all again on the second look trail or in medical school. 😀

 

[ksmi117]

Hi, I just wanted to let everyone know that the Olin Scholarships have been given out. I have to say I really enjoyed meeting everyone I interviewed with (medical and non-medical peeps) and I hope to see you all again on the second look trail or in medical school. 😀

That was fast! Did you get one??

 

[kywii]

Yeah, I did. I was secretly hoping to hear from some of the other people that I interviewed with would PM me. I'd really love to compare notes.

 

[ksmi117]

Yeah, I did. I was secretly hoping to hear from some of the other people that I interviewed with would PM me. I'd really love to compare notes.

That's sooooo awesome!!!!!!! Congrats!!! Are you gonna go to WashU or not sure yet?

 

[Lyon]

For 2009 classes started sometime between Aug 10 and 17th, so I'm guessing it will be about the same this year.
I think all correspondences at this point with the committee are through email or you can snail mail them if you like.
(except when they call you to accept you! looking back at last year's thread someone was out of the country and missed that call from Dean Dodson, but he/she got an email soon after)
They probably meet within the few days before May 15th, since last year they started accepting on that day.
Good luck to everyone on the waitlist!
At least we can all relax a little until mid May.

Thanks!

 

[WashMe]

http://medschool.wustl.edu/students/calendar11.html

This is the academic calendar for next year. Just making sure you guys (and gals) saw this from the last page. It was the last post on the page so I just didn't want it to be passed over.

 

[kywii]

I was just curious about the second year grading system at WashU. What is the general break down for the class between Honors/High Pass/Pass/Fail and is it curved or very close to one (i.e. enough could get an A but the tests are so hard everyone flunks and then they curve it anyway)?

 

[Keg]

I was just curious about the second year grading system at WashU. What is the general break down for the class between Honors/High Pass/Pass/Fail and is it curved or very close to one (i.e. enough could get an A but the tests are so hard everyone flunks and then they curve it anyway)?

Mostly Honors, a few less High Pass, some Pass, rare Fail. No curve.

 

[naijaboi]

Uggh,

Most of these top-10 schools should refine their websites. It is impossible to get any meaningful information from them. I don't mean to single out WashU (only Yale and UCSF) actually have aesthetically pleasing and informative websites.

 

[TheBigBang]

Props to whoever made the facebook group but I had been looking for it for months without getting anything in the search results until I found the link for it on sdn the other day. I think the name should be changed to something that ppl can actually find, that way we might get more members than 29 and maybe coordinate events for revisit.

BTW the link is:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=351667167368&ref=ts

 

[Nerday Shortay]

Props to whoever made the facebook group but I had been looking for it for months without getting anything in the search results until I found the link for it on sdn the other day. I think the name should be changed to something that ppl can actually find, that way we might get more members than 29 and maybe coordinate events for revisit.

BTW the link is:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=351667167368&ref=ts

Sorry, but I don't know how the search works and I assumed any component of the name would bring up the group in a search (I couldn't even find groups for the current classes at Wash U, so idk if those exist either). Actually, I withdrew from Wash U today, so please feel free to PM me your name. I can make you an admin on facebook, and you can change the name of the group/coordinate any events you like.
~Nerday

P.S. Congrats to the Olin winner - I know who you are, and you deserved it. For any others I've met along the trail, I've decided on Mayo. I just need to cut the cord with Hopkins. Best of luck to all, and enjoy Wash U for those of you matriculating!

 

[masturhu]

Sorry, but I don't know how the search works and I assumed any component of the name would bring up the group in a search (I couldn't even find groups for the current classes at Wash U, so idk if those exist either). Actually, I withdrew from Wash U today, so please feel free to PM me your name. I can make you an admin on facebook, and you can change the name of the group/coordinate any events you like.
~Nerday

P.S. Congrats to the Olin winner - I know who you are, and you deserved it. For any others I've met along the trail, I've decided on Mayo. I just need to cut the cord with Hopkins. Best of luck to all, and enjoy Wash U for those of you matriculating!

Congrats!! You sound like an awesome person and a soon to be awesome physician.

 

[justscared]

Anyone know or call to see what's happening with the waitlist canditates?...

 

[orderandchaos]

Anyone know or call to see what's happening with the waitlist canditates?...

According to the admissions office, there has been waitlist movement already, and it will continue through the day before orientation. Again, the WL isn't ranked, and the size of the WL was not available for popular consumption.

 

[Comoroa]

This is what I heard about the waitlist:

They like to hear from you if you are seriously interested in a school, i.e. letter of intent. They want to hear what you have been doing since you've interviewed, and why you really want to go to WashU. Apparently, this has lots of sway with the committee.

 

[GodisGood12]

This is what I heard about the waitlist:

They like to hear from you if you are seriously interested in a school, i.e. letter of intent. They want to hear what you have been doing since you've interviewed, and why you really want to go to WashU. Apparently, this has lots of sway with the committee.

I know everyone asks this, but do you honestly think it matters if its via mail or email?

 

[Hirudo]

Who's excited for the Second Look Weekend?