2014-2015 Western Michigan University Application Thread

[Bbroush]

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I do use anki (I don't know if Toad does). I find it great. It's important to know what's important to anki and what's not good for anki... but anki is a powerful tool (in my opinion) that has helped me a lot.

that's good to know. I had been told you have to know the Wozniak's 20 rules for formulating knowledge in learning and just generally don't make complicated cards or cards for things you should use logic to understand.

I was just thinking that with step 1 being 3rd year that Anki would help with ensuring you retain info.

Thanks for the info!

 

[tellme_areyoufree]

that's good to know. I had been told you have to know the Wozniak's 20 rules for formulating knowledge in learning and just generally don't make complicated cards or cards for things you should use logic to understand.

I was just thinking that with step 1 being 3rd year that Anki would help with ensuring you retain info.

Thanks for the info!

I'm basically making two separate anki decks. One to study for class and one to study for USMLE. The depth you need for class is a bit deeper than what you need for USMLE.

I know a few other students use anki, so if you end up coming to WMed you may be able to check out other people's decks and get tips about it.

 

[Captain Toad]

I don't use anki. I tried and they didn't work for me, but that was for a rough and fast course that lasted 3 weeks.

I am going to take a little hiatus from sdn.

In deciding where to go, the best advice I can give is to trust your gut.

I wish everyone the best of luck. WMed is a great school that has a lot to offer.

 

[Oh_Gee]

I am applying next cycle
Do you guys think it is worth applying to this school if I have no ties whatsoever to Michigan?
I'm just thinking I won't have anything to write for the first secondary question

 

[cmc21br]

I am applying next cycle
Do you guys think it is worth applying to this school if I have no ties whatsoever to Michigan?
I'm just thinking I won't have anything to write for the first secondary question

IMO there is no problem to apply without ties to the area. But it is important that you share some of the same values/vision as the school. So make sure to demonstrate that when answering the secondary essays.
Cant give you any guarantees but it worked for me...

 

[BertMacklin]

I am applying next cycle
Do you guys think it is worth applying to this school if I have no ties whatsoever to Michigan?
I'm just thinking I won't have anything to write for the first secondary question

Half of the people from my interview day were from California and several of them had never seen winter. If you're a good fit for the school, it seems like they consider you with or without ties to Michigan.

Good luck!

 

[felixbyu]

I am applying next cycle
Do you guys think it is worth applying to this school if I have no ties whatsoever to Michigan?
I'm just thinking I won't have anything to write for the first secondary question

I don't have any ties to Michigan and I'm accepted! So it's definitely worth it to apply I think.
Just be creative when you're trying to write your essays, both AMCAS and secondary. Write about something that makes you unique!

 

[Bbroush]

I don't have any ties to Michigan and I'm accepted! So it's definitely worth it to apply I think.
Just be creative when you're trying to write your essays, both AMCAS and secondary. Write about something that makes you unique!

So are you coming to WMed? I know you were waiting to hear back from the U, right?

 

[felixbyu]

So are you coming to WMed? I know you were waiting to hear back from the U, right?

I'm coming!

 

[Oh_Gee]

Half of the people from my interview day were from California and several of them had never seen winter. If you're a good fit for the school, it seems like they consider you with or without ties to Michigan.

Good luck!

I'm from southern CA and I've only seen winter once lol. I was in Virginia for Spring Break

 

[tellme_areyoufree]

Half of the people from my interview day were from California and several of them had never seen winter. If you're a good fit for the school, it seems like they consider you with or without ties to Michigan.

Good luck!

Agent Macklin has it pretty accurate. Think of ties to SW Michigan as a "bonus." If you've got that bonus, awesome.

 

[singergirl18]

I also was recently accepted and withdrew. Hope my spot goes to one of you!

 

[FriendOfTheCupcake]

Withdrew as well! WMed is an *amazing* school and community, and everyone who goes there will undoubtedly become an exceptional physician 🙂 Best of luck, fellow future docs!!

 

[tellme_areyoufree]

Withdrew as well! WMed is an *amazing* school and community, and everyone who goes there will undoubtedly become an exceptional physician 🙂 Best of luck, fellow future docs!!

Aw, good luck cupcake!

 

[FriendOfTheCupcake]

Aw, good luck cupcake!

I like to think that we'll just be a few hours away from each other - I bet we'll run across each other someday as successful physicians 🙂 Thanks again for all of your help!! The new class is lucky to have you and Toad for guidance!

 

[Ruby31]

So this thread has been pretty quiet for a while.....anyone on the waitlist hear back recently?

 

[deleted436726]

So this thread has been pretty quiet for a while.....anyone on the waitlist hear back recently?

Nope

 

[BertMacklin]

Nope

Same here! I figure it'll be quiet til after 4/30

 

[RedRose12]

No, I asked how big the waitlist was but they wouldn't tell me. They did say they expect movement fairly regularly from now until August.

 

[BertMacklin]

No, I asked how big the waitlist was but they wouldn't tell me. They did say they expect movement fairly regularly from now until August.

I'd imagine it's a big waitlist. Not a lot of people said they were rejected post-interview (although there is some bias, since people don't brag about their rejections).

 

[RedRose12]

That's pretty much what I'm thinking. I just wanted to know for sure so I could better gauge my chances.

 

[hoihaie]

I'm wondering when I should start looking for housing. I'm not 100% set on Wmed yet (waiting on WL at other schools), but I'm scared that if I wait too long (i.e. in June or July when Chances of coming off WL at other schools slims down) it'll be too late.

 

[BertMacklin]

I'm wondering when I should start looking for housing. I'm not 100% set on Wmed yet (waiting on WL at other schools), but I'm scared that if I wait too long (i.e. in June or July when Chances of coming off WL at other schools slims down) it'll be too late.

Kalamazoo is a good sized city plus Western Michigan University has a lot of students. Surely you'll be able to find something "last minute." I'd imagine there are always sublets available.

I'm personally not worried and I've got my partner and 2 dogs to get to K-Zoo on potentially short notice. However, I'm fortunate to have a ton of family in the area, so that adds a nice safety cushion if push comes to shove.

 

[hoihaie]

Kalamazoo is a good sized city plus Western Michigan University has a lot of students. Surely you'll be able to find something "last minute." I'd imagine there are always sublets available.

I'm personally not worried and I've got my partner and 2 dogs to get to K-Zoo on potentially short notice. However, I'm fortunate to have a ton of family in the area, so that adds a nice safety cushion if push comes to shove.

alright alright alright, i feel much better, but i'm gonna crash at your place if I cant find anywhere to live cause I waited too long 😛

 

[BertMacklin]

alright alright alright, i feel much better, but i'm gonna crash at your place if I cant find anywhere to live cause I waited too long 😛

Go hop on padmapper or hotpads and browse around. There's definitely a lot available right now!

Good question for current students: do most students live super close to the school (like, walking distance/<1 mile)? Or do people live further out and drive in? Anyone live outside of Kalamazoo (like, Richland, Portage, or Mattawan)?

 

[Ruby31]

No, I asked how big the waitlist was but they wouldn't tell me. They did say they expect movement fairly regularly from now until August.

I guess so. I think it's good to have the 4/30 date as a marker still though since we know that will be when some spaces may open up. I wish we knew how big it was though gah

 

[hoihaie]

Go hop on padmapper or hotpads and browse around. There's definitely a lot available right now!

Good question for current students: do most students live super close to the school (like, walking distance/<1 mile)? Or do people live further out and drive in? Anyone live outside of Kalamazoo (like, Richland, Portage, or Mattawan)?

there's a housing survey posted in the FB group and also in the 2nd-look-update email Jean sent out that shows where the students live.

 

[BertMacklin]

there's a housing survey posted in the FB group and also in the 2nd-look-update email Jean sent out that shows where the students live.

Nope, def. didn't get that email.

 

[tellme_areyoufree]

I'm wondering when I should start looking for housing. I'm not 100% set on Wmed yet (waiting on WL at other schools), but I'm scared that if I wait too long (i.e. in June or July when Chances of coming off WL at other schools slims down) it'll be too late.

Someone was accepted off the waitlist a couple days before classes started last year. Crazy, right? But they still found a place quickly. Another person hadn't signed their lease yet, so they stayed with me for a few days until they were ready to move in. I know it's crazy, but don't sweat the details. If you get in and have to scramble for a place to live, hey, you got into med school, who cares! 😛

 

[tellme_areyoufree]

Go hop on padmapper or hotpads and browse around. There's definitely a lot available right now!

Good question for current students: do most students live super close to the school (like, walking distance/<1 mile)? Or do people live further out and drive in? Anyone live outside of Kalamazoo (like, Richland, Portage, or Mattawan)?

We're all spread out. Although in the second year, lots of students are moving downtown. I bought a house in the Westwood neighborhood, which is about 2-2.5 miles away from the school. Most of the people who live farther out are moving closer, I think... but I'm pretty happy where I'm at 🙂

 

[tellme_areyoufree]

I'd imagine it's a big waitlist. Not a lot of people said they were rejected post-interview (although there is some bias, since people don't brag about their rejections).

"Big" is maybe a misnomer. Remember that we only interviewed 300 people for 60 spots. So the max the waitlist could be is 240ish (way smaller than other schools). We've made rejections (yes, we do reject a good number of people), people have declined offers, etc etc... so you can probably make a decent guestimation on the size of the waitlist and you probably wouldn't be too far off.

I'd venture that it's a smaller waitlist than most other schools... but man, sitting on a waitlist doesn't feel good no matter how small!! It's weird, I don't want anyone who has accepted to drop out but I also want some people on the waitlist to get in. I wish we could just accept everybody 😛 that's probably why they won't let me near admissions. lol.

 

[Bbroush]

We're all spread out. Although in the second year, lots of students are moving downtown. I bought a house in the Westwood neighborhood, which is about 2-2.5 miles away from the school. Most of the people who live farther out are moving closer, I think... but I'm pretty happy where I'm at 🙂

Being in westwood how long is your commute? (including parking and walking from there)

 

[emraldragon]

I am wondering the same thing actually. I was looking at a place in Eastside but was concerned it might be too long of a commute (I currently commute about 2-1/2 to 3 hours a day for work and it is wearing me down . . . )

 

[tellme_areyoufree]

Being in westwood how long is your commute? (including parking and walking from there)

Whether I ride my bike or drive, it's about 10-15 minutes either way (it's all downhill for me, so I hit 30mph on my bike! 😛 )

 

[tellme_areyoufree]

I am wondering the same thing actually. I was looking at a place in Eastside but was concerned it might be too long of a commute (I currently commute about 2-1/2 to 3 hours a day for work and it is wearing me down . . . )

We have students that live in an apartment complex in eastside. It's still a short commute. 10-15 minutes, 20 minutes if traffic is bad (door to door). Kalamazoo is a small place 🙂

 

[emraldragon]

We have students that live in an apartment complex in eastside. It's still a short commute. 10-15 minutes, 20 minutes if traffic is bad (door to door). Kalamazoo is a small place 🙂

Is that driving, biking, or walking? I think I am probably looking at the same complex many of them live in. (It was listed on the popular places on the paperwork Jean sent out)

 

[medme7]

Withdrawing my acceptance here....very sad. I wish it could have been different but I'll be attending a school closer to home. Best of luck to all of you! WMed is great and I wish more schools were as welcoming and open.

 

[tellme_areyoufree]

Is that driving, biking, or walking? I think I am probably looking at the same complex many of them live in. (It was listed on the popular places on the paperwork Jean sent out)

Driving, door to door. If it's Lakeview, look on google maps. It's suggested as a 6 minute drive. But I'm counting the time of getting in the car, parking, walking from parking, etc.

There's also a public transit (bus) option from there, but as is usually the case with public transit it would take longer.

 

[katefromlost]

Withdrew today. Good luck to someone on the waitlist.

 

[miamiheatfan]

Withdrew my app from the waitlist just now. WMed seemed like a great school! Congrats to everyone accepted!

 

[BertMacklin]

Withdrew my app from the waitlist just now. WMed seemed like a great school! Congrats to everyone accepted!

On behalf of nervous waitlisters, thank you and best wishes!!!

 

[miamiheatfan]

On behalf of nervous waitlisters, thank you and best wishes!!!

Thank you! Good luck!! 🙂

 

[Ruby31]

Found this on last year's thread and thought it was cute and funny. Good luck everybody!

"Twas the night before Waitlistmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a lab mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,
In hopes that and Admissions Dean soon would be there.

The premeds were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of acceptance letters danced in their heads.
And all the other admitted students went to sleep,
While not knowing their friends were in fear knee deep

When on my cell phone there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the phone I flew like a flash,
Tore open gmail and threw up in the trash."

-Credit to @monkeyjack

 

[Rory222]

Accepted off of the WL this morning!!

 

[BertMacklin]

Accepted off of the WL this morning!!

Congrats!!! That's the first movement we've seen in a while.

 

[kohlmanjr]

Also accepted off the WL this morning! This is my first acceptance so I seriously could not be happier!

 

[beyonce_knowles]

Also accepted off the WL this morning! This is my first acceptance so I seriously could not be happier!

Congrats! When were you initially waitlisted?

 

[kohlmanjr]

Congrats! When were you initially waitlisted?

I interviewed on 11/3 and was then waitlisted on 11/18. Other than the email they sent about the waitlist starting to move soon, I hadn't heard anything from them until today.

 

[emraldragon]

Congrats and welcome to both of you!

 

[BertMacklin]

I interviewed on 11/3 and was then waitlisted on 11/18. Other than the email they sent about the waitlist starting to move soon, I hadn't heard anything from them until today.

Did others receive a similar email about waitlist movement from WMed?

I'm thinking I'm out of the running more and more since this is the second email I know I haven't received. :-/