CCOM Class of 2008

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
Members don't see this ad.
Hello.

Well, it has been awhile since I have written on the ol' SDN. I want to welcome all you guys to the best medical school in the country. My name is Adam. I am a first year student here at CCOM. I absolutely love it. I am very partial to your incoming class, because my brother, Noah, is part of it. Anyway, the friends I have made here are unbelievable. Yes Kris, that includes you too. Anyway, I would like to make a few suggestions.

1) Stop worrying about money. Loans will always be available, and like 90% of the other med students you will have to pay them back, but not for many years.

2) Enjoy the little time you have left. School is fun, but it is also a lot of work. The volume is amazing. Be prepared to wake up, go to class for 8hrs, eat dinner, then study. This is a very typical day.

3) DO NOT study over the summer.

4) You guys should really try hard to meet up this summer. We did it and it turned out to be awesome. Plus, orientation was cool because you already knew people.

5) If anyone is thinking about the apartment dorms, I am in one and would be happy to answer any questions you have.

6) Also, I am getting married in 8 months, so if anyone has those type of questions just ask away.

Okay, that is it for now, but please do not hesitate to ask me anything. I will do my best to answer whatever I can. I hope everyone has a great day, and I hope to hear from you guys soon.
 
Hi Adam!
I sent you a private message. 🙂

Lari
 
I agree with adam's advice.......

also, a question that most everyone has when they get here is what books to buy?!

the best thing to do is not to buy anything right away. our notes here are gold. they pretty much contain everything you need to know. of course there are a few exceptions;

1. you need to get Netter's Anatomy Atlas
2. a color anatomy atlas with pictures of cadavers is also a good idea
3. also many people bought the histology atlas, i personally thought is was a huge waste. i also would not get the histology text
4. a good study aid is First Aid for USMLE Step 1 ( although you probably won't use it too much the first quarter or so)
5. and....Lippincott's Biochem is not a bad idea.


I hope that helps.....

feel free to ask more questions. by the way, i also live on-campus, but i live in the traditional dorms. ( thank god adam is on the other side of campus in the apts.!!!) :laugh:
 
SM-UCLA tech,
Thanks for the tips! I definitely would not want to buy more than I really need--books/supplies are definitely expensive as it is! I'm curious--I hope this question isn't going to sound too stupid....is the USLME First Aid a book that has a new edition every year? 😕 I just do not want to buy an older edition if a more updated version is made later in the year.

Tell Adam to check his private messages. 😉 Just kidding--he's probably busy. 🙂

Lari
 
I believe there is a new edition for the First Aid books printed every year, or every other year. I don't think it would be a big deal to get an edition that is one year behind though.
You could just buy it when you get here.

And I'll tell Adam to check his PM's. 🙂

By the way, where in Nevada are you from? Like Cathy in your class, I'm from los angeles. Are you driving out to Chicago? When I moved here, I made the drive with a friend. It was great, we stopped in Vegas for 4 days! :clap:

Well, take care.......I'm off to study 🙄
 
BUMP...BUMP....BUMP
 
me again...any future ccomers want to add to our thread????
 
hey everyone, i am very close to deciding on CCOM (i am revisiting DMU next week to give it one more chance), and i have definetly eliminated cost as a deciding factor. that being said, does anyone have any tips on where to live off-campus reasonably? i have tried the internet realty places and they dont turn up too many places close to the school. i have heard that there are many advantages to living in the dorms, but i just dont think i could handle it after living in a dorm-like setting for the past 4 years. also, i have heard that the on-campus apartments fill up really fast...is this true? how soon would i have to sign up for them? any advice would be sweet.
 
there are lots of great places really close to school, some that ill mention really fast are The covington...only 1.5 miles from school up in lombard off of finley! Another place that lots of people live are apt.s called Versailles...dont know much about them but they are full of mwu students.

As for myself, i live on the border of Naperville, and LIsle, in a great complex called lincoln at the parks, wow is all i can say. It has all the bells and whistles, brand new buildings, very light and a great pool!!! The price is much less than most apt.s around, dont ask me how or why but I love it here. It is however a further drive, it takes me 15 minutes, and you dont have to hit any traffic like most commutes from naperville!!! Great location becuase you are really close to downtown naperville, lots of coffee shops and what not. So that is another option...id be glad to show you much place if interested!

HOpe that helped a little...hope to hear from ya soon
tovah
 
Hi everyone!
Housing applications were sent out about a couple weeks ago (so if you haven't received one, I suggest you call ASAP). I sent mine back, and I was curious what you all decided on your top choices. I chose the on-campus apts as my first choice. It's a really a toss up for me on the residence halls and LLC. I just want to live ON campus somewhere, but it'd be nice if I get placed in the apts. I guess we hear back from them after April 1st.

For those students living on-campus at CCOM currently, what do they mean by "Room Draw" that happens in March?

Lari
 
Originally posted by Lari29
Hi everyone!
Housing applications were sent out about a couple weeks ago (so if you haven't received one, I suggest you call ASAP). I sent mine back, and I was curious what you all decided on your top choices. I chose the on-campus apts as my first choice. It's a really a toss up for me on the residence halls and LLC. I just want to live ON campus somewhere, but it'd be nice if I get placed in the apts. I guess we hear back from them after April 1st.

For those students living on-campus at CCOM currently, what do they mean by "Room Draw" that happens in March?

Lari
Click to expand...

Hi Lari,

I sent in my housing this past weekend (okay, yesterday to be exact). I chose the residence halls first, followed by the LLC, and then the apartments (I *highly* doubt my need for a kitchen :laugh: ).

Did you get a chance to see any of the rooms or apartments when you visited?

Oh, and random question to current CCOMers, but are the rooms well-lit with white lights?

Oh, and I *HAVE* a CCOM roommate, she just got accepted, and was my roommate back my sophomore year in undergrad!!! I am thrilled! :clap:

Cat
 
Hi Cat,
One of the med students that gave us a tour lives in the residence halls. He showed us his room - and from what I remember, it's quite liveable. I think he said that the dorm room was originally designed for two people - but now one person uses it. So you get two desks, etc. (just picture a dorm room from your undergrad college and instead of two people, you now have one person with the space). I don't know about lighting...that's one thing I didn't make note of.

I chose 1) apts 2) residence halls 3) LLC

The space for the LLC I think will give me cabin fever.

Lari
 
Thanks, Lari 🙂

Oh my gosh!!! Did you say *TWO* desks?!?! :clap:

I always put together two desks when I study since it organizes all of my stuff so much better than one. How exciting!
 
Yes Cathy.....2 desks! 🙂

And they both have hook-ups to the T-1 line for the internet.

Lari, the lighting is good in the dorms. There are 3 lights. Plus you can get your own lamp if you want. But it's not necessary to bring in the extra light.

I'm wondering if I was the one that gave you your tour???? Hmmm 🙄
 
Originally posted by SM-UCLA tech
Yes Cathy.....2 desks! 🙂

And they both have hook-ups to the T-1 line for the internet.

Lari, the lighting is good in the dorms. There are 3 lights. Plus you can get your own lamp if you want. But it's not necessary to bring in the extra light.

I'm wondering if I was the one that gave you your tour???? Hmmm 🙄
Click to expand...

Hi Kris!!! :clap: :clap: :clap:

Oh my gosh...you have NO IDEA how excited I am!!! 😀

Glad to know it's bright, although I will need extra light - full range spectrum lighting to fight off S.A.D.

Okay, yup, just a little compulsive. :scared: 😉
 
Scuba...bring the whole spectrum if you can...this winter stuff here stinks. I am not from a sunny part of the country, but this blows. The first few weeks of winter were hard to get use to, and you get to the point where...you just suck it up, its bitter but what do you expect. but at this point in the winter, all i can do is wonder if its almost over...i cannot think of the last time that we have had more than a few hours of sunlight!!!! The bad part is...we still have at least another month, if not two of this crap!!!! But...such is life right?

Cant wait to meet everyone...again, let me know when you guys move to town...bbq at my place!!!

tovah
 
stop scaring Cathy! LOL 😛

Cathy.....she is exaggerating. it's not nearly that bad. tovah will agree that I have liked the winter. i was wearing shorts and short sleeves the last couple days.

when you meet hoosierdo you'll find that she's a little "weird". i think her meds were decreased too early! :laugh: :clap:

( ok now i have to hide from her for the next two weeks!!! ) 😱
 
cathy i think we could both agree that kris is a little off his rocker and that you can only belive half of what comes out of his mouth...maybe not even that much. But someone granted my wish and the sun is shining today...it soing to be about 45!!!!!!! I have never in my life looked so forward to the spring time...
 
Originally posted by HoosierDO
cathy i think we could both agree that kris is a little off his rocker and that you can only belive half of what comes out of his mouth...maybe not even that much. But someone granted my wish and the sun is shining today...it soing to be about 45!!!!!!! I have never in my life looked so forward to the spring time...
Click to expand...

:scared:

Kris is right...I am scared of the weather, but I put on the *toughest* face in front of friends and family when ALL they can mention about my move to Chicago is the awful weather and how I am gonna learn how to drive in the snow...on top of my wardrobe change :scared: ...

The weather doesn't scare me, but the idea of *clothes* does scare me. :laugh:

I still can't wait.

AND....yes, we all know Kris is off his rocker and needs some help....hopefully I'll be able to institutionalize him the instant I get my degree. 😀
 
man....it sounds like i'm going to have to watch my back over here next year!!!!

by the way cathy.....the 2 desks in the rooms are bolted to the walls on opposite sides. so they cannot be combined to make one big desk.

and tovah, you are going to get it! 😀
 
oh ya....i just have 2 more words for you two......

gross anatomy! :laugh:
 
Originally posted by SM-UCLA tech
by the way cathy.....the 2 desks in the rooms are bolted to the walls on opposite sides. so they cannot be combined to make one big desk.
Click to expand...

🙁

Remind me to bring my power tools when I move. 😀

So is ALL of the furniture bolted? :wow:

I HAVE to rearrange my furniture whenever I'm stressed...
 
no...just the desks.....

well....there isn't any other funiture, unless you count the built in wall dresser/vanities. (2 of them 😀 ).

The only other thing is the bed. and you can rearrange that until you are all happy and smiley. but when will you have time to do that???? :laugh:
 
Originally posted by SM-UCLA tech
no...just the desks.....

well....there isn't any other funiture, unless you count the built in wall dresser/vanities. (2 of them 😀 ).

The only other thing is the bed. and you can rearrange that until you are all happy and smiley. but when will you have time to do that???? :laugh:
Click to expand...

I will have time when it snows 😛 since I'll be snowed in :scared:

YIKES!!!

I hope the bed isn't too heavy that I can move it around. 😀
 
Hey guys! Just wanted to say hello to some of my new classmates; I'll be starting at CCOM in the fall too! Is anybody out there already living in the Chicago area? We should meet up before orientation to get to know one another. I just got back from the Dr's office getting my 2nd hepatitis B shot🙁 Make sure to follow that schedule if you don't have yours yet!
 
bumpety bump

welcome ali...i think you will love it here!!!
 
helllllllllllloooooooooooooo guys...lets keep this thread going...any new acceptances????
 
Originally posted by HoosierDO
helllllllllllloooooooooooooo guys...lets keep this thread going...any new acceptances????
Click to expand...

Hey, HoosierDO,
are you a Chi-town native too? All the "locals" (and any out-of-staters already here) should get together before orientation. Its cold here in the city today!!! All California-born CCOMers beware!!!
(at least the icebergs are gone in Lake Michigan!!!)
Look forward to meeting all of you!!!!
 
Hi everyone,

Looks like I'll be part of the 2008 class at CCOM as well!!!!!
I originally was set on going out of state since I have lived in Chicago all my life, but it took many friends and constant bugging from the parents to stay here.....

At first, I was pretty nervous about CCOM as my choice....but after talking to current midwestern pharmacy students and past graduates....i have realized that I have made the right choice!!
I have also talked with many current physicans regarding CCOM and every single physician I have talked to recommended going to CCOM.

My family physician, Dr. Perry Menini (internal med) attended CCOM and graduated in 1998. He just landed a hemo(something) oncology fellowship at Rush and from what I've heard, it is one of the most competitive fellowships. This just proves that CCOM students are really well known throughout the chicago hospitals for their hardwork and dedication and we will have many doors open to us in the future!!

Anywayz, after all that out-of-state drama, I am glad I chose CCOM over other schools and I am sure I will not regret it! I am definetly for the idea of getting together over the summer and getting to know each other, even before orientation!

Also, for current CCOM'ers....how is the LLC? I picked that as my top choice because the building does look pretty cool from the outside...but who knwos about the inside...thanks

Take care everyone!
 
Oh yea.....someone mentioned earlier about possibly moving this thread to the pre-do forum.....I am down for this....I have been looking all over the pre-do forum for a CCOM 2008 thread, but couldn't find any...i just happened to find this thread by chance....

well maybe its cuz i never even bothered checking the do forum....i've just been floating around on the pre-do forum....
 
hey desi...congrats

the LLC is nice......i live in the traditional hall. the LLC is smaller but newer. in the LLC there is air-conditioning. Although, I can say that I had not needed to use air-conditioning at all. I will be choosing to stay in the traditional hall next year.
 
hey sm-ucla tech,

thanks for the response....how much bigger is the llc then the trad dorms?

oh..and the ac....i need it...i cant survive w/o ac once the weather goes above 60...i guess you could say i was made for chicago.....thanks buddy
 
Hi WstSdDesi and allimarie!

Welcome to CCOM! 🙂 :clap:
 
Originally posted by alimarie81
Hey, HoosierDO,
are you a Chi-town native too? All the "locals" (and any out-of-staters already here) should get together before orientation. Its cold here in the city today!!! All California-born CCOMers beware!!!
(at least the icebergs are gone in Lake Michigan!!!)
Look forward to meeting all of you!!!!
Click to expand...

At this rate, I think we have a CCOM class that is comprised of 5 people. :laugh:
 
Originally posted by scubadiva
At this rate, I think we have a CCOM class that is comprised of 5 people. :laugh:
Click to expand...

lol...no kidding!
 
Originally posted by alimarie81
Hey, HoosierDO,
are you a Chi-town native too? All the "locals" (and any out-of-staters already here) should get together before orientation. Its cold here in the city today!!! All California-born CCOMers beware!!!
(at least the icebergs are gone in Lake Michigan!!!)
Look forward to meeting all of you!!!!
Click to expand...


Yea....weathers out of control this year....it isn't as bad normally....it snowed in the middle of March...what's up with that? I dont think that has happened for a long, long time.

Future CCOM'ers from warmer climates,

Yes, it obvsiously gets cold in chicago...but its not as bad as it seems.... trust me.....

Normally, you'll have a week or two of frigid weather..but other than that...its normal winter weather (20-30 F)...I think this winter...if you average up the temps...it'd definetly fall in the mid teens for sure..but its only for the winters.....the springs..falls..and summers are not bad at all....:clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:
 
Originally posted by WstSdDesi
I think this winter...if you average up the temps...it'd definetly fall in the mid teens for sure..but its only for the winters.....the springs..falls..and summers are not bad at all....:clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:
Click to expand...

Agreed...
The summers in Chicago can be quite wonderful, especially if you are by the lake. 😎
Today, St. Patrick's Day, we have "snow showers." But atleast it isn't windy.

I am so excited to start at CCOM and leave this crazy job!!!!
 
Hi Class of '08,

I'm a current MS-1 and I just wanted to say that if anybody has any questions, please feel free to e-mail me anytime. I wish I had somebody to talk to about housing, classes, lectures, etc. before coming here, so I would like to extend the offer to all of you. You are making the right decision to attend CCOM; it's great and I am really happy here, and I honestly believe an Osteopathic Education is better than an Allopathic one. That's not just some propaganda B.S. either. Good luck with your acceptances, and congrats to those who have already committed.

[email protected]
 
Originally posted by WstSdDesi
hey sm-ucla tech,

thanks for the response....how much bigger is the llc then the trad dorms?

oh..and the ac....i need it...i cant survive w/o ac once the weather goes above 60...i guess you could say i was made for chicago.....thanks buddy
Click to expand...


hey...sorry it took so long to get back to you......

I would say that the LLC is about 25% smaller. Also, I just found out that the LLC does not have year round A/C. They shut it down. The only time it has been on was the first month of school. Also with construction of a second LLC building, I would think the Traditional Hall is definitely the way to go.
 
Hey CCOM class of 2008. I am glad you have chosen CCOM as your place for medical school education. Some of you might have talked to me while you were interviewing. I am a MSI and I am in charge of the admissions tours. Most of the days I sat down with you at lunch and stood on my soap box and gave you my spiel why you should choose CCOM over any other medical school. In a few months, you will see that I was right 🙂 Anyway, if you guys have any questions about CCOM MBROWN02 and SMUCLA tech are great guys and they will give you honest feedback. So please don't be hesitant to ask questions. I know I was afraid to ask questions because I didn 't want to look stupid. When you come to medical school, you are immediately humbled. So ask away. Also, one thing I have been working with the admission office is information about local off campus housing. I am compiling a list of the apartments that most of the CCOM students live in and the price ranges. I hope to have it ready with in a week. If you will be living off campus, this will help. I loved in the traditional dorms this year and I had a blast. I also know people who lived off campus and had fun as well.... Have to run to class now... Post a message if you have any questions about housing or anything.
 
Do you have any idea when they start to ask for a deposit and let you know which housing assignment they give you?

When did you get your housing assignment?

Thanks 🙂
 
You will (or if you haven't already) receive a housing packet. It will ask you if you want to have a single, double, tradiotnal hall, or LLC, or apartment. You will get your assignment in the summer. You don't need to put a deposit down. They will charge you in September... I liked living in tradional halls this past year. It doesn't have A/C but it wasn't that warm in the fall. My good friends in the apartments rarely used their A/C.
 
Originally posted by scubadiva
Do you have any idea when they start to ask for a deposit and let you know which housing assignment they give you?

When did you get your housing assignment?

Thanks 🙂
Click to expand...

Did you send in your application yet? (the one picking your preferences on where you want to live). I talked with the housing department, and they told me that they will start sending out housing assignments after April 1st. They told me that once you get your housing assignment, that's when you pay the deposit to hold your spot. You'll also have the option of getting on a waitlist for a different housing option.

That's the info I got from Bryan at the housing dept earlier this month. Has it changed Areitman?

I'm hoping to get into the apartments. But I understand that these are quite popular.

Lari
 
Thanks Areitman and Michael for offering your advice!

I was wondering if anyone could comment on the CCOM's health insurance and the Wellness Center. Any complaints? Does it work well for you?

I was getting my titers done the other day - stupid lab!! They ignored my doctor's orders and didn't do QUANTITATIVE titers. There was then question whether they were going to draw more blood because of not having enough to do them correctly!

+pissed+

Got my tetanus shot - smarts! 🙁 It turns out I'll have to repeat the whole series of Hep B. Darn! Oh well. Glad I found this out now.

Lari
 
You are right about the deposit. You will have to put some money down. In a week the housing dept will be signing the returning students then the class of 2008 will have their assignments sent out shortly.... Bryan is a nice guy. Get to know him.

Also... the insurance here is AWESOME. Definitely get it. I have used it. I had to go to the ER and get some scans done one time. Lets just say I saved first quarters tuition...

-Aaron Reitman MSI
 
Yea, I talked with Bryan as well from housing and he said housing contracts would be sent out April 1st and that preference is given to first come first serve (by post mark date for the housing app) and we do have to pay a deposit in order to reserve our housing...I just went to CCOM on Wednesday and bought a back windshield car sticker for CCOM!!!
 
Thanks Aaron!
I see that you lived in the traditional halls - was that your first choice? That's really nice that you are putting together an off-campus housing listing - that will definitely be helpful for a lot of people! 🙂

Does the A/C get shut off in the on-campus apartments as well?

Are you signed up for a meal plan? If so, how is it working out for you?

Glad you are happy with the insurance plan - I just wanted to make it simple for me and just go with the school plan, but I wanted to be sure that it's not a lousy plan. (I currently don't have health insurance.) Do I just sign up for it at orientation?

Here's another question - what kind of cell phone plans work well over there? I'm currently using Cingular, but I know in some places certain cell phone companies don't have good reception or whatever...

Lari
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

B
Calling all people who were in the inaugural class of a DO school!
Replies
2
Views
2K
bored_suitcase
B
S
Class Rank Importance?
Replies
15
Views
6K
Dr. Anonymouss
Dr. Anonymouss
M
Letter of Support before M1
Replies
2
Views
783
pigsinacloth
pigsinacloth
I
Does class rank matter if its ONLY preclinicals?
Replies
9
Views
2K
Cornfed101
Cornfed101
F
Class Examinations Not Board-Related
Replies
8
Views
1K
Angler
Angler
Top