Hey I have a few questions:
1) Is it too late to apply for Fall 2014 start?
2) How helpful was the MCAT prep year in bringing up your composite score?
3) Were you able to live on campus? If not, how did off campus work?
4) How were your fellow classmates?
5) How helpful were the staff? Were they patient? Accessible?
6) I emailed Jara Clark (Mr. Druitt's secretary) and she'd informed me of the impending changes to the program to accommodate the 2015 MCAT change. Hvae those taken place? If so, what were they?
7) How badly in debt were you? Did the financial package cover most of your expenses?
Sorry, for the bombardment of questions - I would really appreciate any piece of advice you can offer! 🙂
No worries! I can definitely answer your questions!
1.) I believe the deadline is very close.
June 1st I think but don't quote me on that. Ms. Clark would be more help to let you know the deadline. However, I do recall some of my classmates telling me that they were accepted late in the summer last year.
2.) The MCAT prep year was very helpful if you work hard. I know this sounds like a repeated theme but this program is what you make it. There are a lot of prep materials provided to students, but its up to you to actually study from them. The staff is there for support but no one is going to hold your hand and tell you to study for an exam. With that being said completing some of the prep materials count as part of a course grade. On top of taking the pre-med courses everyone is enrolled in a Kaplan MCAT prep course (not something you have to pay out of pocket for soon as you arrive, included in your tuition) in which you listen to lectures and take practice tests.This helps tremendously bc. you have the option to retake/renew the course for the spring so you can use Kaplan's resources essentially almost a full year. So to sum it all up if you take the MCAT prep year seriously you will raise your score enough to get into medical school.
3.) You can live on campus, you do not have to live off on campus. I think most of my class actually lived off campus except for the people who were dorm graduate assistants. I live off campus and love it. If you do live on campus I believe you stay in a graduate dorm and you will have a meal plan. I think its more expensive to stay on campus than off, but depending on circumstances such as not having transportation its more of a personal choice. There are lots of apartments that are not to far of a drive from campus and not to expensive especially if you have a roommate.
4.) There are 32 people in my class, which is pretty big considering we are twice the size of the class before us. Of those 32 five of them are men, but I like all my classmates. Like any class we had minor issues in the beginning but worked it out and we are all very supportive of each other and respect each other. We offered each other tutoring sessions, and study groups. Also anything we found helpful we sent it to each other through email.
5.) The staff are patient and accessible if you have any issue they will work with you. Professors are available to answer questions after class and they have office hours. Also the staff responds well to email. If you need to meet with Mr.Druitt for any reason you can schedule an appointment or walk in his office to see if he is available to speak to you. Most of the time his door is open although he does have other duties besides our program.
6.) I am not sure about the impending changes to the program because we were the last class for the current MCAT. When we completed the first year at the end of April I had not heard any news about it. Im sure they will be changing your first year schedule to account for social sciences and biochemistry that will be covered on the 2015 MCAT.
7.) I was lucky enough to have my undergraduate degree paid for so this is the first time I have had student loans. Yes it is expensive, and I will be some amount of debt as most of us will once we leave Hampton. The financial aid did cover most of my expenses as I think it covers depending on you financial aid package and how much you take out about (3k -8k) a refund per semester. So you can live off of that here in Hampton. Just to warn you though don't expect to get a refund right away. I graduated undergrad from a PWI and was use to getting a refund weeks before school started but this is not the case at here. You will most likely be two weeks into school before you receive a refund and thats if everything goes according to plan.
I hope I have answered all of your questions! Best of luck to you!
Also, how long has it been since you got your acceptance letter? Did they say you were in the system and give you a time frame as to when you will know something? Oh yeah, are you planning a campus visit over the summer? (I need to
