COMP Class of 2010

[kahoo99]

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it was pretty easy for me, my wife got pregnant!
they were understanding.
Does anyone know/remember how COMP grades? is it on points?

 

[JakeHarley]

Non-trad here too. I'll be 29 when I start in the fall. I'm moving from South Dakota so I know exactly how you feel about the weather! Good riddance, I'm never coming back!

I too will be 29, moving from a junk weather state and looking forward to it!

 

[md10]

I too will be 29, moving from a junk weather state and looking forward to it!

hey you cold weather peoplez.....i'm non-trad too (although i'm thinking that the trads definition needs to be redefined since there are soooo many "non-trads" starting at DO schools)..... and have been on the cold northeast coast for a few years....so SoCal's weather is definitely much bigger of a draw than i ever thought it would be...

 

[dr.z]

it was pretty easy for me, my wife got pregnant!
they were understanding.
Does anyone know/remember how COMP grades? is it on points?

I think they give letter grades along with numerical score.

 

[Khenon]

Non-trad here too. I'll be 29 when I start in the fall. I'm moving from South Dakota so I know exactly how you feel about the weather! Good riddance, I'm never coming back!
By the way, out of curiosity how difficult is it to defer at COMP? Do you need a really good excuse?

I don't think it's difficult at all. If you have a reasonable reason, whatsoever, I think they'll let you defer. My reason was because of a job I *had* to take while I was waiting on interviews to med school. I took the job before I had a single interview, then got accepted just a couple of months later to COMP. I felt really bad leaving my job so quickly, so I asked for a deferral. I also listed some personal reasons (family obligations, etc), but my primary reason was the poor timing of this job offer and my acceptance into med school. Mind you I didn't get my acceptance at COMP until March, so my reason was valid. Anyway, I got no questions at all, and my deferral was accepted just weeks after I submitted my letter. 🙂

 

[truckibear]

Wow lots of non-trads 🙂 Congrats!

 

[dr.z]

When is March deposit due?

 

[Khenon]

When is March deposit due?

Hey dr.z!! I think it's March 15 for the final deposit. At least that's when I'll be sending mine in. 😉

So you decided for sure on COMP, huh. When are you moving (or do you even need to move)? I'm planning to move from Minnesota the beginning of July.

See in August! 😀

 

[dr.z]

Hey dr.z!! I think it's March 15 for the final deposit. At least that's when I'll be sending mine in. 😉

So you decided for sure on COMP, huh. When are you moving (or do you even need to move)? I'm planning to move from Minnesota the beginning of July.

See in August! 😀

Thank you Khenon. I'm 99% sure I'll be at COMP. I'll move to Pomona at the end of July if things are as planned. I'll PM you about my 1% uncertainty later.

I spend 3 years in Minnesota during highschool. I've moved out to So Cal since graduating, and I can't seem to leave this place.

 

[jenniemh]

I think they give letter grades along with numerical score.

Grades are given by straight percentages - and those percentages are used to calculate your cumulative grades (kinda like a cum GPA - there's a formula to convert the % score to a GPA score).

One great thing about comp is that the average age is around 27... so while 1/3 to 1/2 are coming straight from undergrad, most of us have much more life experience. In the DO2009 class, there are many marrieds, lots of people with kids...

 

[truckibear]

Grades are given by straight percentages - and those percentages are used to calculate your cumulative grades (kinda like a cum GPA - there's a formula to convert the % score to a GPA score).

One great thing about comp is that the average age is around 27... so while 1/3 to 1/2 are coming straight from undergrad, most of us have much more life experience. In the DO2009 class, there are many marrieds, lots of people with kids...

Really? That's interesting. I know that the mean age of those matriculating to med school in general is mid-20s. How does the 2009 class get along? I'm interested in class dynamics. I know that every year the dynamic of each class is different but I like to see what past classes have been like.

 

[NewNick]

Hi everyone, I just got accepted to COMP a few days ago. I'm still thinking between COMP and KCOM. It's a difficult choice for me. I kind of lean toward COMP. I'm a non-trad student and will be 29 this summer. 🙂 I hope I'll see you later.

 

[OnMyWayThere]

Congratulations to you all! You seem like you'll be great classmates within eachother and we'll be here to answer any of questions. It's true that class dynamics differ from class to class. I can see a huge difference between 2008 and 2009. I think first semester everybody is scared of failing and just keeps to themselves, and then you start relaxing a little bit 2nd semester realizing its not hell afterall... I'm a non-trad too and didn't realize that a lot of my classmates would be older than me with families! Looking forward to seeing you guys in August. If you have any questions, let us know.

Class of 2009

 

[Khenon]

Hey, is anyone looking for housing yet? I've been checking the internet for rent prices . . . how do "students" qualify for these amounts? Luckily my husband will be employed while I'm in med school so that helps me out. But I can't see how a single student, with no income, is able to qualify for these apartments.

 

[TheFish005]

Hey, is anyone looking for housing yet? I've been checking the internet for rent prices . . . how do "students" qualify for these amounts? Luckily my husband will be employed while I'm in med school so that helps me out. But I can't see how a single student, with no income, is able to qualify for these apartments.

show them your award letter from financial aid. this takes the place of income for purposes of proving you have the money to make rent. whether you take out the full amount or not is irrelavent, they don't need to know how much you actually have, just that you got it covered.

 

[NewNick]

Hey,

Anyone in Southern CA ? We can get together to talk before we enter the class. I'm so pumped up. Can't wait until the school starts. 😍

 

[dr.z]

I'm in SoCal.

 

[Khenon]

Hey,

Anyone in Southern CA ? We can get together to talk before we enter the class. I'm so pumped up. Can't wait until the school starts. 😍

I'm getting really excited too. It sucks right now though because there's really nothing I can do in the mean time. I already applied for financial aid, my house is sold, it's too early to look for a place to live in Cali and my husband is looking for work, but there's not much I can do to help him. I just wish there was something I could DO in the mean time . . . except my current job of course.

 

[NewNick]

I'm in SoCal.

Oh yeahhhhhhhhh ......we should arrange some time to meet. 🙂 Anyone else wants to join ? Hey, M1 and M2, when do you have Spring Break ? I'll buy you a drink. 🙂

 

[NewNick]

I'm getting really excited too. It sucks right now though because there's really nothing I can do in the mean time. I already applied for financial aid, my house is sold, it's too early to look for a place to live in Cali and my husband is looking for work, but there's not much I can do to help him. I just wish there was something I could DO in the mean time . . . except my current job of course.

When are you going to move over here ? Let's rock this forum.

 

[Khenon]

When are you going to move over here ? Let's rock this forum.

I'm moving the 1st of July. I figure that gives me a month to move and settle in before classes start. I'm sure I'll need that down time. 🙂

 

[dr.z]

Oh yeahhhhhhhhh ......we should arrange some time to meet. 🙂 Anyone else wants to join ? Hey, M1 and M2, when do you have Spring Break ? I'll buy you a drink. 🙂

Any time is fine for me.

 

[JakeHarley]

Hey guys, have any of you seen any studio apartments in the $600-$650 range? I've been looking in a couple places, but all I see advertised are 1 and 2 bedroom places...

 

[Khenon]

Hey guys, have any of you seen any studio apartments in the $600-$650 range? I've been looking in a couple places, but all I see advertised are 1 and 2 bedroom places...

Do you have your Banweb account yet? There's a housing link on there with alot of listings. Also check ForRent.com and Rent.com. They have alot of various listings, including studios.

 

[dr.z]

Do you have your Banweb account yet?

When/where did you get it?

 

[Khenon]

When/where did you get it?

You should have received a letter after your acceptance giving you your Western email address. I was emailed all my Banweb info (ie log in name and password) a few months ago to my western email account.

 

[dr.z]

You should have received a letter after your acceptance giving you your Western email address. I was emailed all my Banweb info (ie log in name and password) a few months ago to my western email account.

I lost that info then. I moved since I got accepted so I might have gotten rid of it.

 

[Khenon]

I lost that info then. I moved since I got accepted so I might have gotten rid of it.

I'd give the admissions office a call and get that info then. They're going to send all your info to your Western email address (not the email address you may have listed on your application), so you'll want to check that. 🙂

 

[donvicious]

You might just try logging in to your western email using the following format.

1st) the URL is mail.westernu.edu
2nd) username = first initial + last name (e.g. fbrown)
3rd) password = last two digits of birthyear and last 4 digits of social security # (e.g. 811234)

 

[dr.z]

You might just try logging in to your western email using the following format.

1st) the URL is mail.westernu.edu
2nd) username = first initial + last name (e.g. fbrown)
3rd) password = last two digits of birthyear and last 4 digits of social security # (e.g. 811234)

Thanks, I got to log on. I have 650 messages to delete!

 

[Khenon]

Thanks, I got to log on. I have 650 messages to delete!

I was going to warn you . . . I didn't check mine for about 3 months after I got it, and I had almost 400 messages. I figured you'd be breaking 600 after this long. 😛

 

[Daniila]

You might just try logging in to your western email using the following format.

1st) the URL is mail.westernu.edu
2nd) username = first initial + last name (e.g. fbrown)
3rd) password = last two digits of birthyear and last 4 digits of social security # (e.g. 811234)

Hey Thank You Don,
I guess I hadn't gotten info on the COMP e-mail yet. I was accepted two weeks ago so hello to everyone at the forum!!! 😀 Anyone know abou the ISAC admissions procedure?

 

[dr.z]

I was going to warn you . . . I didn't check mine for about 3 months after I got it, and I had almost 400 messages. I figured you'd be breaking 600 after this long. 😛

I still have about 150 more to go!

 

[Khenon]

I still have about 150 more to go!

Isn't it annoying? It's mostly just "for sale", "need a roommate", "let's party" crap. I think I found 2 messages that were useful.

Good luck! 🙂

 

[dr.z]

Isn't it annoying? It's mostly just "for sale", "need a roommate", "let's party" crap. I think I found 2 messages that were useful.

Good luck! 🙂

I'm done now. I had a lot from the administrator too. My mail box was too full! If they stopped sending these, it would have been less.

 

[ohhfrealz]

Hey guys,

I'll be flying in for an interview at COMP and am wondering which airport to fly in to. Is LAX too far away from the school? I imagine that with traffic, it would take a couple hours to get from there to Pomona....

 

[dr.z]

Hey guys,

I'll be flying in for an interview at COMP and am wondering which airport to fly in to. Is LAX too far away from the school? I imagine that with traffic, it would take a couple hours to get from there to Pomona....

I think Ontario Airport is the closest, but I'm not 100% certain...

 

[Khenon]

Hey guys,

I'll be flying in for an interview at COMP and am wondering which airport to fly in to. Is LAX too far away from the school? I imagine that with traffic, it would take a couple hours to get from there to Pomona....

dr.z is right. Ontaria is the closest. LAX isn't that far away . . . unless you hit some major rush hour, it wouldn't take a couple of hours. Though Ontario is closer, it might cost you more to fly in there. But several of the hotels near Western offer free shuttles to and from Ontario, and don't to LAX. So there are a few factors involved. That said, I flew into Ontario. 🙂

 

[TheFish005]

dr.z is right. Ontaria is the closest. LAX isn't that far away . . . unless you hit some major rush hour, it wouldn't take a couple of hours. Though Ontario is closer, it might cost you more to fly in there. But several of the hotels near Western offer free shuttles to and from Ontario, and don't to LAX. So there are a few factors involved. That said, I flew into Ontario. 🙂

I avoid LAX like the plague. that place is a nightmare; always crowded and traffic sucks. it's worth the extra couple bucks to use ontario. ontario is considerably closer anyway.

 

[Dr. 90605]

Does anyone have any advice, suggestions, or info on medical insurance coverage that is required by Western? Any help is greatly appreciated!!!

 

[TheFish005]

Does anyone have any advice, suggestions, or info on medical insurance coverage that is required by Western? Any help is greatly appreciated!!!

That really depends on what your needs are. I've had the school's plan since i started, and never used it. if you're generally healthy with no medical problems, it's fine and probably the cheapest you'll find, but if you need a little more coverage for any reason (asthma, kids, etc) you might want to shop around for something a little better.

 

[Skooled2much]

congrats to all who got in for 2010! i'm really leaning towards COMP but still debating. I'm also in at Nova. How can i compare? how's life in pomona? why are you all choosing COMP over other schools you've been accepted to?
it can't simply be weather... (though it's a huge factor as i'm from michigan)
thanks!

I am a COMP MSI who is both NWT and did ISAC. Honestly - I highly recommend doing ISAC.... but NOT for the reason you give. You need to know that COMP is on a block system (DO2009 was the first group) and ALL of gross anatomy is done in an intense 8 or 10 weeks. Which means that you will NOT have a lighter load for the rest of the semester - you will have practically no lectures to attend for those 8 weeks if you do ISAC. Now, that doesn't mean those 8 weeks need to go to waste. 1) you still are doing anatomy as a fascilitator, meaning you remember your anatomy much better and 2) you will have time to get ahead on other subjects... and we DO2009's would be more than willing to tell you what to do to get ahead.

Here's the con - you can lost momentum when you don't have to go to lectures for almost 2 months. ISAC is an intense 6 weeks and you meet great people in a very close-knit community - living in the lab with 30 people who are very focused on school. You also will do every dissection - whereas those who don't do ISAC will do every other dissection (which, during the regular school year, is very much a blessing... there's nothing more frustrating than having other exams you are worried about and having to spend 2 hours a day scraping fat before 2 more hours of dissection). So if you get into bad habits of being lazy in those "off" weeks when the rest of the class is doing anatomy, you could be in trouble when they hit the next block and you've gotten used to a nice slow pace.

I don't think there was a single person who regretted doing ISAC this summer - even though some didn't realize it would mean a block of 8 weeks with practically no lecture during the fall, rather than having a little bit lighter load all semester (you'll still have OMM & Essentials of CLinical Medicine as well as a couple other minor things).

As far as Helix goes - it's not best price around and you need to realize that the train is 1 block away and quite loud all night... but that is supposed to stop in July so it may be better. Look at craigslist for apts (inland empire or los angeles sites - Pomona's kind of in between), and Western's banweb has a housing area - both for apts/house and for finding roommates. It's literally across the street from school - which is both a pro & a con... Depends on how much you enjoyed dorm life.

Feel free to shoot me any questions regarding COMP. 🙂

 

[bananafish27]

I found a great site with things to do around the area. Check it out:
http://www.pomona.edu/magazine/pcmfl04/47thingsLIST.shtml

 

[Skooled2much]

great site!!!.... thanks!
i also thought this was interesting.. COMP is friggin' expensive! 10th most expensive med school to attend in the USA!
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/grad/webextras/brief/sb_med_debt_brief.php

I found a great site with things to do around the area. Check it out:
http://www.pomona.edu/magazine/pcmfl04/47thingsLIST.shtml

 

[dr.z]

great site!!!.... thanks!
i also thought this was interesting.. COMP is friggin' expensive! 10th most expensive med school to attend in the USA!
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/grad/webextras/brief/sb_med_debt_brief.php

It's not too bad by comparison to other schools. Yes, it is expensive but I'm sure it's worth it.

 

[Skooled2much]

yeah, actually, i totally agree...
in the grand scheme of things... 10, 20, even 50 k is a worthy exchange if you find the right medical school for your self....
you're only looking at 2.5, 4, 12.5k per year extra....

 

[Skooled2much]

hey friends...
has anybody heard if there is value in taking the "summer preparatory course" ...

 

[dr.z]

hey friends...
has anybody heard if there is value in taking the "summer preparatory course" ...

I am considering it, but I don't know how helpful it is.

 

[Khenon]

hey friends...
has anybody heard if there is value in taking the "summer preparatory course" ...

The students I talked to said that if you haven't had anatomy/physiology you'll still be fine in med school without the prep course. It seems the consensus is that you should just enjoy your last open summer and give your brain a much need rest before starting med school. Not that having an intro course isn't helpful . . . just that it maybe isn't necessary. I did get the feeling that if you're weak in biochemistry that it may be more helpful. This is just the feeling I got talking to students about it. There was no real resounding "Yah" or "Nay" on taking the course.

 

[thirdclius]

Got my letter of acceptance today! so happy 🙂

Since noone has started this thread yet, I figured I would. I believe I have decided on COMP. The weather, rotation sites, qualities of students, quality of residency matches....should have been a no-brainer but took me a while.
Here we go.
👍