2010-2011 Boston University Application Thread

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Dr2015MD said:
Could someone give me some details about BU's simulation center? How/when is it incorporated into the curriculum, and what kinds of simulators does BU have? I don't remember seeing the sim center on my interview day. Thanks!
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Based on my memory of re-visit day, I wouldn't say that BU has a simulation center... it's more like a room with a few computers and one medical simulation mannequin. Dean Witzburg mentioned that they are still working on incorporating use of simulations into the curriculum and on getting more simulation equipment. Based on some of the other simulation centers I have seen on the trail, I would say that BU's use of and resources for simulation technology is pretty low.

That said, BU's strength is in clinical training with real, diverse patients, which (in my opinion) is more valuable than a state-of-the art simulation center.

Again, this is just based on my impression from my interview day and revisit. A current student can probably offer more insight on this.
 
Peacecraft said:
I found it especially disconcerting that federal loans wont even cover full cost of living, unlike many other medical schools of similar academic reputation.
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That's actually not quite true. The difference between BU and other schools is that BU does not list Federal Grad Plus loans on the financial aid package, since these are credit based loans. Other schools list them, hence the discrepancy between the cost of living and the BU financial aid package. The unsubsidized and super-unsubsidized loans are actually the same exact thing, often listed together as simply unsubsidized.
 
anotheruser said:
Based on my memory of re-visit day, I wouldn't say that BU has a simulation center... it's more like a room with a few computers and one medical simulation mannequin. Dean Witzburg mentioned that they are still working on incorporating use of simulations into the curriculum and on getting more simulation equipment. Based on some of the other simulation centers I have seen on the trail, I would say that BU's use of and resources for simulation technology is pretty low.

That said, BU's strength is in clinical training with real, diverse patients, which (in my opinion) is more valuable than a state-of-the art simulation center.

Again, this is just based on my impression from my interview day and revisit. A current student can probably offer more insight on this.
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That's good to know. While it would be cool to use a sim center, part of what attracted me to BU is how strong the clinical training appears to be. So I guess I should probably be thinking more about that than getting to play with fancy electronics.
 
Dr2015MD said:
That's good to know. While it would be cool to use a sim center, part of what attracted me to BU is how strong the clinical training appears to be. So I guess I should probably be thinking more about that than getting to play with fancy electronics.
Click to expand...

Actually found out the other day that they're building a brand new simulation center. Not sure when it's supposed to be done, but that's the plan anyways.
 
anotheruser said:
Based on my memory of re-visit day, I wouldn't say that BU has a simulation center... it's more like a room with a few computers and one medical simulation mannequin. Dean Witzburg mentioned that they are still working on incorporating use of simulations into the curriculum and on getting more simulation equipment. Based on some of the other simulation centers I have seen on the trail, I would say that BU's use of and resources for simulation technology is pretty low.

That said, BU's strength is in clinical training with real, diverse patients, which (in my opinion) is more valuable than a state-of-the art simulation center.

Again, this is just based on my impression from my interview day and revisit. A current student can probably offer more insight on this.
Click to expand...

I remember Dean Witzburg saying that BU has four simulation mannequins, and they are getting a fifth this summer. The room that I saw only had one, but not sure where the others were. I was actually pretty impressed by the simulation center, which was better than most of the places I interviewed (only topped by UVM). GW really talks up its simulation center, but IMO it wasn't any nicer than BU. I also liked that you get to use the sims at some point during the first two years, which isn't the case at other places I've been. However, Dean Witzburg did say that they aren't very well integrated into the preclinical curriculum, which is something they are working on.
 
I was not wanting to post on this thread. But due to a personal favor for a person who has gotten me a lot of info about BU admissions in the past and been a huge support I'm posting this to you all now.

This was written to me by an incoming BUSM Class of 2015 student who graduates with me from the MA in Medical Sciences program this coming Friday. As I noted earlier, he's been a reliable source of info with regards to BU Admissions and is very well acquainted with the faculty over there on a regular basis. Please not what I have italicized from his email down below.

Especially note the bolded. Although I've been deleting my posts slowly I will leave this one up for those of you trying to make decisions because I'm posting this as a favor to someone to correct information.


Also, we were on the SDN this morning during the meeting looking at the BU Med one. I have a favor. A person stated that we only have a "little" sim center with one dummy in a small room based on his tour at second look. This is not true. BU has 5 dummies, but they are building a new sim center to open in the summer and they just wheeled that dummy into a convenient location to show people while keeping the rest over at the new center. This was stated at the talk about the sim center. With decisions due by sunday the admin won't be able to correct that in time. Do you think you could post a little blurb correcting that. Thanks.
 
I am headed to Boston next week to apartment hunt, sort out some financial aid stuff, etc. One of things I am hoping to do is open up a bank account, since I am moving to Boston from Canada. Does anyone have any recommendations regarding a decent bank? Ideally, I am looking for a bank with reasonable fees and/or a student rate, and lots of locations (especially ATMs) in Boston. Thoughts?
 
mcgillperson said:
I am headed to Boston next week to apartment hunt, sort out some financial aid stuff, etc. One of things I am hoping to do is open up a bank account, since I am moving to Boston from Canada. Does anyone have any recommendations regarding a decent bank? Ideally, I am looking for a bank with reasonable fees and/or a student rate, and lots of locations (especially ATMs) in Boston. Thoughts?
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Danvers bank is a small, but awesome bank that offers free combined checking/savings accounts with 3% APY interest on savings. They also allow free universal ATM usage, which is glorious. Only draw back is that they have very few branch locations, but its worth it for the perks IMO.

Otherwise, there are Bank of America ATM's or branches on nearly every block. Customer service and perks are weak, but they are reliable for the bread and butter checking/savings accounts.

I WD from BU yesterday, GL to those on the WL 👍.
 
90minIPA said:
Danvers bank is a small, but awesome bank that offers free combined checking/savings accounts with 3% APY interest on savings. They also allow free universal ATM usage, which is glorious. Only draw back is that they have very few branch locations, but its worth it for the perks IMO.

Otherwise, there are Bank of America ATM's or branches on nearly every block. Customer service and perks are weak, but they are reliable for the bread and butter checking/savings accounts.

I WD from BU yesterday, GL to those on the WL 👍.
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Thanks for the insight!
 
Thanks for the clarification gujudoc! I didn't mean to provide any misinformation, just what I remembered from the day.
 
Anyone else on this thread hoping to get off the waitlist here? Feels like not many people are posting about it.
 
TheDuude said:
Anyone else on this thread hoping to get off the waitlist here? Feels like not many people are posting about it.
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Bc bu waitlist basically equals rejection.... no one really gets off

Sent via Tapatalk on Android
 
TheDuude said:
Anyone else on this thread hoping to get off the waitlist here? Feels like not many people are posting about it.
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I' am as well, but after speaking with admissions, they told me not to expect anything until the first week of June. Based on the WD rate thus far, and the fact that administration vocalized that acceptances offered this year were lower than normal (~400?), i feel like we will see some wait list movement. lets all just try to stay positive and keep each other posted.
 
EuropaMoon said:
I' am as well, but after speaking with admissions, they told me not to expect anything until the first week of June. Based on the WD rate thus far, and the fact that administration vocalized that acceptances offered this year were lower than normal (~400?), i feel like we will see some wait list movement. lets all just try to stay positive and keep each other posted.
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Thanks buddy. it looks like last year there were people hearing in May.. but of course anything could happen.
 
Any MD PhD students at BU on this forum? Would you be so kind to please message me?
 
90minIPA said:
Danvers bank is a small, but awesome bank that offers free combined checking/savings accounts with 3% APY interest on savings. They also allow free universal ATM usage, which is glorious. Only draw back is that they have very few branch locations, but its worth it for the perks IMO.

Otherwise, there are Bank of America ATM's or branches on nearly every block. Customer service and perks are weak, but they are reliable for the bread and butter checking/savings accounts.

I WD from BU yesterday, GL to those on the WL 👍.
Click to expand...


Although I loathe Bank of America. There are at least 3 BoA ATM's on the Med Campus. There is one in the basement of med school by the cafeteria which is quite convenient.That might play into your decision.

Citibank is very good. Good service. Free Student Account
 
Dr2015MD said:
That's good to know. While it would be cool to use a sim center, part of what attracted me to BU is how strong the clinical training appears to be. So I guess I should probably be thinking more about that than getting to play with fancy electronics.
Click to expand...



You don't get to work with the Sim Man in first year except for the end of year assessment where you take its BP. Opportunities to work with the Sim Man increase as you progress through the years. HOWEVER, you do get to work with real patients in first year in a class called ICM which is great. You are placed with a physician and you get to do medical interviews, vital signs and see and do all kinds of cool stuff. Trust me, its amazing! A lot of medical schools won't let a first year student go near a patient. So I think real patients trump Sim Man.
 
I got off the waitlist today! So there is hope. Don't take yourself off WL people!
 
gryffhouse said:
I got off the waitlist today! So there is hope. Don't take yourself off WL people!
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Congratulations. Is this your first acceptance???

Wow this is unexpected. I heard movement here starts after June so this was a def. surprise. Have several GMS friends on the w/l here
 
Really? Congrats. Did any one else get an email last night saying the class was full and they aren't taking any one yet? Weird that they would send that then accept someone the next day, unless it was their way of telling me I'm at the bottom of the pile.
 
So after some thinking, Ive decided to go to BU! Im from southern California so i dont know much about the Boston area. I figure i should start looking for a roommate or roommates now with classes starting 2 months from now. Im a non-smoker and would prefer other non-smoking roommates (males or females). And i guess i would prefer a room vs a walled off/curtained off area. let me know if you have some spaces available. message me or call/text 949 342 4037
 
futuredoc528 said:
Really? Congrats. Did any one else get an email last night saying the class was full and they aren't taking any one yet? Weird that they would send that then accept someone the next day, unless it was their way of telling me I'm at the bottom of the pile.
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I am currently waitlisted, and i did not receive this email? do you mind sharing its contents? I think it weird they sent it to you and not me, and then accepted someone the next day. how confusing.
 
futuredoc528 said:
Really? Congrats. Did any one else get an email last night saying the class was full and they aren't taking any one yet? Weird that they would send that then accept someone the next day, unless it was their way of telling me I'm at the bottom of the pile.
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also waitlisted and did not receive any emails... if this was a post-waitlist rejection, i'd say it was kinda nice of them. i'd prefer a rejection over being waitlisted and THEN rejected in August.
 
everling said:
So after some thinking, Ive decided to go to BU! Im from southern California so i dont know much about the Boston area. I figure i should start looking for a roommate or roommates now with classes starting 2 months from now. Im a non-smoker and would prefer other non-smoking roommates (males or females). And i guess i would prefer a room vs a walled off/curtained off area. let me know if you have some spaces available. message me or call/text
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I would delete your phone number from your post and put that in the BU fb group. Probably not the best idea to put such information on such a public open forum as SDN, which is why I didn't quote it.
 
EuropaMoon said:
I am currently waitlisted, and i did not receive this email? do you mind sharing its contents? I think it weird they sent it to you and not me, and then accepted someone the next day. how confusing.
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I'm also on the waitlist and received no such e-mail.

I just got accepted at the other school I interviewed at on Friday. I will be withdrawing from the waitlist at BU soon. Big thanks to everyone on this thread for keeping me sane these past several months. I wish you all the best of luck.

-Duude
 
I received the email last night... All it said was that the class is currently full and if you do not wish to be on the list anymore to tell them on the portal.
 
Yes, I also got this email. Haven't a clue what it means, though. For those curious:

"Dear Mr. BaronVonZ,

Our entering class is currently fully subscribed and we do not yet know if or when we might be able to consider waiting list offers. *In recent years, when we have had activity on our waiting list, it has typically been during the months of June and July. *We are writing now, in advance of any consideration of candidates on the waiting list, to ask that you do the following:

1. ****If you are no longer interested in being considered for a seat in our entering class, please log on to MyApplication at BUSM (see URL below) and withdraw your application by clicking Withdraw on the Application Status page. *Doing so will allow us to be as responsive as possible to those individuals who do wish to be considered.

2. ****If you wish to remain on the waiting list be sure that your contact information is current. *You can update your contact information in MyApplication (see URL below) by clicking on Update Contact Information.

3. ****If you anticipate that financial aid will play a role in your decision about where to attend medical school, we strongly suggest that you complete the entire BUSM financial aid application now at www.bumc.bu.edu/osfs/myfapp. *Completing all parts of the financial aid application now will mean that, should we extend an offer of acceptance at any time between now and our matriculation date (8/8/2011), the staff in Student Financial Services will be able to prepare a financial package within two business days of that offer if they have the necessary documents. *This is the only way you can ensure that the financial aid information will be available quickly, should you need it. *Additional information, with links to the required forms, can be found at http://www.bumc.bu.edu/osfs/.

Thank you and best wishes.


Robert A. Witzburg, M.D.
Associate Dean and Director of Admissions
Boston University School of Medicine"
 
I didn't get such an email....strange
Sent via Tapatalk on Android
 
gryffhouse said:
I got off the waitlist today! So there is hope. Don't take yourself off WL people!
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I got off the waitlist too! 🙂 he said I was the first person he called, I feel special 🙂

i got that email this week too, surprised about his call today
 
I just got the e-mail 10 minutes ago. Glad to see they are accepting people off waitlist though. Maybe I can still hope!
 
got the email today as well. seems more of an automatic thing than a rejection.
 
what time did Dr. Witzburg call you guys to let you know you were off the waitlist??
 
He originally called me around 9 am PST but I missed the call so I called back later. I got the email a couple days before the call too.
 
curious00 said:
what time did Dr. Witzburg call you guys to let you know you were off the waitlist??
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Just before 11 am central time

Btw does anyone know if there's a Facebook group or something? Wanna meet my future classmates. Can't find anything
 
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Got the email this morning as well...don't know what to expect anymore...😕:xf:
 
gujuDoc said:
I would delete your phone number from your post and put that in the BU fb group. Probably not the best idea to put such information on such a public open forum as SDN, which is why I didn't quote it.
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so there is a facebook group? i cant find it at all> wehre is it lol
 
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questions99 said:
omg thanks. im so dumb, i kept searching BU class... but you need to search BUSM or spell it all out, but thanks for the link! 🙂
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Yeah I tried it a couple of different ways before I found it. Then my friend messaged me back little while later after I found it. No problema. Glad I could help. 🙂
 
hi all. i'm a current applicant for fall 2012 and i'm also a graduate student. i know that BU requires a grad letter from your thesis advisor if you're a grad student, but i haven't started my thesis yet, so i don't know my thesis advisor that well yet...i was wondering if anyone knew how rigid are they with this rule? i have two grad faculty letters and was wondering if i should even bother applying if i don't have the thesis advisor letter? thanks!
 
citrusguy2010 said:
hi all. i'm a current applicant for fall 2012 and i'm also a graduate student. i know that BU requires a grad letter from your thesis advisor if you're a grad student, but i haven't started my thesis yet, so i don't know my thesis advisor that well yet...i was wondering if anyone knew how rigid are they with this rule? i have two grad faculty letters and was wondering if i should even bother applying if i don't have the thesis advisor letter? thanks!
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I would contact them directly and ask them. You can just get a letter that states what you will be doing and have them send an updated letter later on if you've not heard about an interview and not been rejected yet by then. But I'd call the office. They are usually helpful in there if you call with these basic questions.
 
hi. is anyone going to the housing fair? im thinking of visiting boston on thurs-saturday to look for roommates/apartments. let me me know if you are still looking for a roommate! i hoping to keep rent under 900. you can email ([email protected]) or pm me for my number.
 
Accepted off of the MD/PhD waitlist!!!! Wow. Haven't made a final decision yet, but I'm pretty sure it'll be BU. This just made my summer. 🙂
 
BostonFan said:
Accepted off of the MD/PhD waitlist!!!! Wow. Haven't made a final decision yet, but I'm pretty sure it'll be BU. This just made my summer. 🙂
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woohoo told u to not give up hope the other day after I heard someone dropping their spot in MD/PhD at BU. Maybe you got their spot. 😀 😀

CONGRATS
 
BostonFan said:
Accepted off of the MD/PhD waitlist!!!! Wow. Haven't made a final decision yet, but I'm pretty sure it'll be BU. This just made my summer. 🙂
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Congrats! Did u hear via email or phone?? I wonder if there has been MD movement...
 
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