2013-2014 Western Michigan University School of Medicine

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PROFNL Griefer said:
Agreed! It really just came down to $, WMed (ahem, I mean Stryker School of Medicine 🙂 ) is going to be a great school
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Haha, I wish Stryker wasn't the big secret donor. I have developed a bit of dislike for Stryker as a corporation (they are totally opaque when it comes to supplying information on their devices, which makes my current job that much harder) so this kind of colors my view of the school. ... Or maybe I'm just bitter to have been denied any application updates since my phone interview in August! 😕
 
PROFNL Griefer said:
Agreed! It really just came down to $, WMed (ahem, I mean Stryker School of Medicine 🙂 ) is going to be a great school
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yeah money seems to be an issue for me as well, the lack of FAFSA being applicalbe may be a problem. Im hoping to get some merit based though and I am certain it is going to be a great school. Do you mind me asking where you are headed? Best of luck with your pursuits!
 
medschoolmyname said:
yeah money seems to be an issue for me as well, the lack of FAFSA being applicalbe may be a problem. Im hoping to get some merit based though and I am certain it is going to be a great school. Do you mind me asking where you are headed? Best of luck with your pursuits!
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And it was encouraging during Interview Day that they said "more for all instead of most for some" when it came to scholarships. I'll be at IUSM next year, and best of luck to all of you as well!!
 
I was just waitlisted. Interviewed March 3, 2014. I sure hope there is a lot of movement on the waitlist, 'cause I'd love to go to medical school this year...
 
How do you guys feel about the school?
 
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Xenoblade said:
How do you guys feel about the cons of the school?

- No federally subsidized loans where you start to accrue interest the second you take out the loans
- Not fully accredited, hence the problem above ^^^^^^^
- No research, so competitive specialties will be a stretch.
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I didn't think federally subsidized loans were available for medical education at all (after 2011?). I could be wrong, though.

Since I was not accepted, my opinions should be taken with a grain of salt... but I get the feeling that there will be no accreditation issues and that students will be moderately competitive based on WMed's connections that are already in place. Plus, a new school gives students an opportunity to really create new connections, start groups, and be a trendsetter for the school.

It's an interesting question, though. I'll bet WMed and CMed will have match results similar to MSU-COM for at least the first few years.
 
Xenoblade said:
How do you guys feel about the cons of the school?

- No federally subsidized loans where you start to accrue interest the second you take out the loans
- Not fully accredited, hence the problem above ^^^^^^^
- No research, so competitive specialties will be a stretch.
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1. I was under the same impression as johnamo. As for having federal loans vs. private loans, you'll probably have about double the interest on a private loan than a federal loan. In my opinion, the loan situation all comes down to how interested you are in the school. I think at the end of the day it is not going to matter much because you shouldn't have too hard of a time repaying the money once you are a physician anyway.

2. I do not think not being fully accredited will be a problem at all. I believe they will be fully accredited by the time the first class graduates. They seem to have it together pretty well.

3. If I remember correctly, they will have research. It might not be on the biggest scale, but I am sure you can find something. As for competitive specialties, I think it may be a little harder, but it can happen. Maybe not at Harvard or something like that though. I also think the school will be very invested in the students and thus, will use connections to help all the students go where they want to the best of their ability, which is a big pro.
 
Xenoblade said:
How do you guys feel about the cons of the school?

- No federally subsidized loans where you start to accrue interest the second you take out the loans
- Not fully accredited, hence the problem above ^^^^^^^
- No research, so competitive specialties will be a stretch.
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I agree what has been said above. If you are taking federal loans vs. private loans, you will be paying more interests, no doubt. However, it will not be so hammering that makes it unbearable.
Accreditation should not be a problem.

The third point is the one I have concerns about. No basic research is not a big deal; however, how much pure clinical research (retrospective studies, case reports) opportunities are available to the students-how much do the existing mentors foster this kind of research? (Assuming there won't be translational research available). No MS1 summer also means no opportunity to apply to outside summer programs (not a huge deal). I will be assuming that a competitive step 1 score for the specialty of choice, honoring 3rd year clerkships (note: step 1 after all 3rd yr....), research, LOR, leadership can get you into a good residency program. If FIU is any indication, I think Wmed does have a good future. I had a very good feeling after the interview day. I can safely assume that the administrators/educators/clinicians will do everything they can to cultivate leadership opportunities (a big PLUS); however, will the top programs be more reserved for a competitive specialty like ortho/plastic/radiology/radiation oncology/opth/derm? (These average 5+ publications/abstracts).

I will need to research more into pt 3 before making a decision....BIG PROS and CONS.
 
I talked to dean of the som. He said you can sacrifice an elective/selective to do research.
 
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Xenoblade said:
The interest is a big deal imo. The interest starts accruing day one. We aren't talking about chump change over here. Financial aid hammered that into our heads during interview day. We are assuming that we will get federal loans after the second year, which is a major assumption because **** happens. Just look at UCR.
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Interest accrues from day one regardless of what type of loan you get. Federal loans are not subsidized for medical students. That is why most folks are saying the loan issue isn't a huge deal.
 
Xenoblade said:
I understand that it isn't subsidized. That isn't the issue now. The issue is getting private loans because a whole set of different rules apply. That is really nerve racking because the interest can be higher depending on your credit score, which is an issue because we aren't talking about chump change here. You are essentially paying a premium here.

I feel like the only way to make it out of Western Michigan is through HPSP, which I wouldn't touch because military medicine is such an unmitigated mess, especially with residency placements. They were really pushing this on my interview day.
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Also especially true for Michigan residents as WMed (~$50k) and Oakland (~$47k) are the only private schools out of the 7 in the state. In-state tuition discounts apply for CMU (~$33k), Wayne (~$30k), Michigan (~$28k), MSU (~$28k), and MSU-COM (~$38k).
 
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I think WMED offers some mentoring opportunities.

I think a doctor is assigned to the entire class, but I could be mistaken. Anybody know?
 
Xenoblade said:
I think WMED offers some mentoring opportunities.

I think a doctor is assigned to the entire class, but I could be mistaken. Anybody know?
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I know they divide the class into 4 groups and there are 2 mentors per group. I don't know if there are any more than that though. There may be, but I am not sure.

Anybody have any ideas on good places to live nearby?
 
Mona93 said:
Anybody have any ideas on good places to live nearby?
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Vine neighborhood has a lot of grad-student-aged people. The houses are old and not the nicest but rent is cheap. It's within walking distance (15- to 20-minute walk from the school; I walk downtown where the school is at least once a day because it's quicker than finding parking).

Stuart neighborhood is even closer to the school and pretty similar to Vine. A nice area with lots of young people and old old houses.

The neighborhood north of Stuart across W Kalamazoo ave is called the Northside and people seem to think it's dangerous. I think it's fine. A lot of residents there are African American families. You'll be fine there.

Downtown Kalamazoo is tiiiiiny and you can definitely walk everywhere.
 
okokok said:
Vine neighborhood has a lot of grad-student-aged people. The houses are old and not the nicest but rent is cheap. It's within walking distance (15- to 20-minute walk from the school; I walk downtown where the school is at least once a day because it's quicker than finding parking).

Stuart neighborhood is even closer to the school and pretty similar to Vine. A nice area with lots of young people and old old houses.

The neighborhood north of Stuart across W Kalamazoo ave is called the Northside and people seem to think it's dangerous. I think it's fine. A lot of residents there are African American families. You'll be fine there.

Downtown Kalamazoo is tiiiiiny and you can definitely walk everywhere.
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Thank you so much for your very helpful and detailed answer! Do you happen to also know of any places that may come furnished?
 
Mona93 said:
Thank you so much for your very helpful and detailed answer! Do you happen to also know of any places that may come furnished?
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It's highly unlikely any of the houses in those neighborhoods would be furnished. For furnished places, your best bet is an apartment in a complex. Apartment complexes on or near Main Street or in the "Hill neighborhood" would be good options. They're not walking distance from the school but would be a 5-10 minute drive. However I'd really advise furnishing from Craigslist and living in the walkable neighborhoods if you like to have a few beers on the weekend, because there's a ton of breweries downtown and it sucks to have to worry about driving home. Also, this winter especially the roads were awful, and now they're full of terrible potholes. But like I said it's a really short drive, so pretty doable.

For a little more upscale homes, try the Westnedge Hills neighborhood, which is also a short drive from the school. Probably unfurnished though.
 
Also, if you bike you can live pretty much anywhere in Kalamazoo and bike to school. There are also apartments downtown, but they're pretty expensive compared to the rest of the town.
 
okokok said:
Also, if you bike you can live pretty much anywhere in Kalamazoo and bike to school. There are also apartments downtown, but they're pretty expensive compared to the rest of the town.
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I was under the impressions that the mountains of snow in the winter would make biking impractical for 1/3 of the year?
 
I think it depends on if you're a hardcore biker and can brave the literally icy winds. I don't have a lot of cycling experience, so I didn't even try it. My boyfriend is from Seattle, where it's much more hilly than here, and finds it easy to cycle here even in the winter because it's so flat. He wears like a ninja mask made for cycling in the winter and a lot of warm layers. So I guess it depends on your experience and desire. It won't kill you, but it'll definitely make you tougher 🙂

I'm going to start biking this spring/summer in hopes I'll be experienced enough and psyched up enough to continue through the winter.

If you know about bike stuff and want to talk to someone else who knows about bike stuff in Kalamazoo, I'd be glad to put you in touch with my boyfriend!
 
okokok said:
I think it depends on if you're a hardcore biker and can brave the literally icy winds. I don't have a lot of cycling experience, so I didn't even try it. My boyfriend is from Seattle, where it's much more hilly than here, and finds it easy to cycle here even in the winter because it's so flat. He wears like a ninja mask made for cycling in the winter and a lot of warm layers. So I guess it depends on your experience and desire. It won't kill you, but it'll definitely make you tougher 🙂

I'm going to start biking this spring/summer in hopes I'll be experienced enough and psyched up enough to continue through the winter.

If you know about bike stuff and want to talk to someone else who knows about bike stuff in Kalamazoo, I'd be glad to put you in touch with my boyfriend!
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It is funny you mention biking because I was thinking of doing that, but I do not know how realistic that is being that I don't bike and there will probably be a lot of snow. I am not too concerned about the cold because I am coming from MN where we think it is warm as long is it is 0 degrees or more and from what I know it does not get that cold in Kalamazoo (at least I hope it does not and that does not change when I come). I really appreciate all the input on housing! I am looking around to see what I can find. Your help and advice has been super helpful. I really appreciate it and thank you! Are you starting here in the Fall?
 
Mona93 said:
It is funny you mention biking because I was thinking of doing that, but I do not know how realistic that is being that I don't bike and there will probably be a lot of snow. I am not too concerned about the cold because I am coming from MN where we think it is warm as long is it is 0 degrees or more and from what I know it does not get that cold in Kalamazoo (at least I hope it does not and that does not change when I come). I really appreciate all the input on housing! I am looking around to see what I can find. Your help and advice has been super helpful. I really appreciate it and thank you! Are you starting here in the Fall?
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This past winter had many, many, many sub-zero days! It was unusually harsh this past year, but sub-zero temperatures are unfortunately pretty common. I'm still undecided as to where I'll be this fall. I hope you like Kalamazoo though 🙂
 
johnamo said:
"Your application is no longer active". Guess that means rejection! Considering I had my phone interview in August, that's not all too surprising...
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I've been seeing you post in a lot of the same school threads as me--have you made any decisions about where you'll end up?
 
okokok said:
I've been seeing you post in a lot of the same school threads as me--have you made any decisions about where you'll end up?
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I'll be at MSU-COM. 🙂 I am still on post-interview hold at a couple of MD schools, but I think MSU is somewhere I will fit in well. How about yourself?
 
okokok said:
This past winter had many, many, many sub-zero days! It was unusually harsh this past year, but sub-zero temperatures are unfortunately pretty common. I'm still undecided as to where I'll be this fall. I hope you like Kalamazoo though 🙂
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Oh boy, that is really cold. I really thought I would be catching a small break on temperature. 🙁 oh well. Anyway, wherever you decide to go I am sure they will be very lucky to have you!
 
Application no longer active. 🙁 Oh well! I think I applied too late anyway.
 
waitlisted today....man this was the only school left. the only other school i interviewed at rejected me. anyone here accepted from waitlist? Man they said I may have to wait until august to hear back. I can't wait that long the new cycle will have started by then. Dam it. plz michigan, plz accept me....plz?
 
I was accepted off waitlist earlier this year. It's a new school so I wouldn't lose hope yet, new programs often have a lot of movement.
 
For people who got waitlisted, does it say "admission offered" and then "waitlisted" beneath that? Just want to make sure I wasn't accidentally waitlisted lol which I am sure is not the case :-\
 
I have just been waitlisted as of 4-2-14 and I took my interview on March 21st.
I am new to this, what is a waitlist? Does this mean I have a spot for next year regardless?
 
Accepted from waitlist!!! Interviewed on March 14th, wait-listed on April 1st and Accepted on April 3rd. A very interesting wait list. . .
 
hjhjghf said:
&#!@#&#*@&$!$
I feel like everyone is getting off of this waitlist besides me. $%^&(^&*#@.
At this point I wish they would just reject me. I mean what's the point of a wailist if everyone they interview just gets waitlisted or accepted
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I really think a lot of people are going to withdraw after May 15. Don't give up! Or give up but don't withdraw because you might be pleasantly surprised next month.
 
ytc110 said:
Accepted from waitlist!!! Interviewed on March 14th, wait-listed on April 1st and Accepted on April 3rd. A very interesting wait list. . .
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Woah, thats crazy...I have never heard of someone getting onto and off a waitlist so quickly! I wonder what happened
 
orchid21 said:
I have just been waitlisted as of 4-2-14 and I took my interview on March 21st.
I am new to this, what is a waitlist? Does this mean I have a spot for next year regardless?
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So a waitlist means that you have what they think is needed to be accepted to the school but unfortunately they have already given out their maximum acceptances. However, if the number of matriculants (people who accept the offer to attend) drops below a certain number (prolly 50ish for WMed) then they begin to take people off of the waitlist and give them a spot in the class. So as of right now, you are waiting--literally--for the number to get low enough that they offer you a spot. Hope that helps and good luck!
 
hello everyone. i'm guessing someone has questions about kzoo, and i have lived here the last 20 years (although i left for my undergrad & masters, both out of state), so get at me if you're wondering things about the area. currently back here studying for my mcat.

also, if any of you happen to have older children (elementary / middle school), the kalamazoo promise (goggle it) will pay their instate tuition at any public university in the state, including UofM, provided they graduate from high school here. so if you are here for 4 years and maybe a few after, it's a unbeatable deal that you might want to consider when considering it against other schools.
 
Elewynne said:
I was accepted off waitlist earlier this year. It's a new school so I wouldn't lose hope yet, new programs often have a lot of movement.
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Hello! I interviewed at WMed on 3/21 and was waitlisted on 4/2. I am thinking about sending an update and/or letter of interest in hopes of bumping myself up on the waitlist. Did you add anything to your file or contact the ad com after you were waitlisted?
 
I did not send anything additional. If I had to guess, I think they likely rank interviewees somehow, and over time they lower their "admit" threshold, and I got accepted when they got to my rank.
 
Elewynne said:
I did not send anything additional. If I had to guess, I think they likely rank interviewees somehow, and over time they lower their "admit" threshold, and I got accepted when they got to my rank.
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That seems reasonable. If you don't mind me asking, when did you interview, when were your waitlisted, and when were you accepted? Thanks!
 
is the enrollment commitment binding? or is it like other schools where you reserve a spot?
 
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