CSPM students general thread

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Hey all CSPM students let's use this thread to talk about anything and everything. ps join the facebook group if you haven't already as a way to get connected with fellow class of 2013 students.
 
ThetaChiNAU1856 said:
Hey all CSPM students let's use this thread to talk about anything and everything. ps join the facebook group if you haven't already as a way to get connected with fellow class of 2013 students.
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What's the deal with housing? I hate getting the runaround for 5 months...
 
so mongous you're for sure going to cspm?
 
j0ez0r said:
so mongous you're for sure going to cspm?
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Have a deposit in, but not definite for there. I was curious of the housing situation, but we keep getting "2 more weeks" etc. We were supposed to know in December...
 
Plenty of housing in the East Bay. I'd call the admissions office or an upperclassmen for help. Or you could always live in my mom's basement with me.
 
Sean Don said:
Plenty of housing in the East Bay. I'd call the admissions office or an upperclassmen for help. Or you could always live in my mom's basement with me.
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LMAO! Unless the basement is divided into different rooms, then not so funny. But I do agree, plenty of housing in the east bay. And it gets less ghetto the further out you are from oakland.
 
streetsweeper said:
LMAO! Unless the basement is divided into different rooms, then not so funny. But I do agree, plenty of housing in the east bay. And it gets less ghetto the further out you are from oakland.
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like berkeley to the north, sf to the west, hayward/castro valley/san leandro to the south? that far enough?
 
ThetaChiNAU1856 said:
like berkeley to the north, sf to the west, hayward/castro valley/san leandro to the south? that far enough?
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Berkeley is pretty crowded. I suggest anywhere north of albany and avoid richmond .
To the east, Anywhere past piedmont....Orinda area is beautiful
To the west, don't move to SF unless you're in the 3rd year.
To the south, hayward/castrovalley/san leandro is pretty good but not necessary to go past San Leandro, though.
 
If the housing doesn't go through ill be looking for a place in either, berkeley, orinda, castro valley, or san leandro....lord knows i wont be looking for a place in OAKLAND....yuck, what a cesspool-but um yeah so hopefully that housing works though, since it will be so close to campus!

hey are you going to be class of 2013? (streetsweeper)
 
Depending on how far you are willing to commute, there are several decent options. I'm not sure what living conditions you are looking for, but keep in mind that the Bay Area tends to be inordinately expensive. As for close by areas that would probably appeal to you, look in Berkeley, Emeryville, Albany, El Cerrito and the following districts of Oakland, Oakland Hills or Rockridge. In terms of transportation, you can pay for either parking (I believe ~$150/semester for a parking pass), or BART (the local train system). There is a shuttle that runs for the MacArthur station to the campus every 15 minutes or so and you will be able to purchase discount tickets through the school as well (for BART).
Other areas you may want to look at (if you're willing to put up with the commute) include Hayward, Castro Valley, Lafayette, Walnut Creek. Hope this helps expand your options for your living situation.
 
i've been looking on craigslist, what about the oakland piedmont/montclaire, lake merritt, and jack london square area? are those places any good?
 
Piedmont and Montclair are nice, but both Lake Merritt and Jack London Square are sketchy. I wouldn't say Lake Merritt or Jack London Square are overtly dangerous (especially since Jack London has some nice restaurants and a theater), but if you're not from the area (or used to less than middle-income urban areas), they can definitely be a little intimidating.
 
hey so I wanna get a scooter or a motorcycle....cheaper than a car..expecially in california. so i've been checking craigslist for places and its like fora safe quite place within walking distance to BART or trader joes or whatever with no bug infestation its like a G....is that normal? what should I be prepared to spend? If I get a motorcycle or a vespa I dont want to have to commute on the freeway to school-too dangerous for me-and i need a place probably since this housing situation with cspm is falling through.
 
Unfortunately yes, average prices for a decent place are going to be around $1000/month. Here's a quick breakdown:

Studio - $1000/month
1 Bedroom - $1200-1500/month
2 Bedroom - $1800-2200/month

Depending on location and accessability, it will be +/- $200/month. Note that these are East Bay prices, you can add on $150-250 for San Francisco prices.
 
so I just got my financial award thingy and it says i get a fed award that is shy by about 3750 of the budget total....the award contains like sub and unsub staffords plus the grad PLUS loan and a scholarship.....HOW DO I MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE?
 
ThetaChiNAU1856 said:
so I just got my financial award thingy and it says i get a fed award that is shy by about 3750 of the budget total....the award contains like sub and unsub staffords plus the grad PLUS loan and a scholarship.....HOW DO I MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE?
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PB&J all day, everyday.

The estimated budget (63K) is towards the higher end I heard, and the estimations were made when gas prices were very high. (notice: transportation = 6K) .......so I wouldn't worry
 
There's work-study too if you want. (Library jobs, etc.)
 
lyhrrus said:
There's work-study too if you want. (Library jobs, etc.)
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one wouldnt want to work while in podiatry right?! :scared:

I imagine I make up the difference with private loans for like 3500K from wellsfargo or b of a or chase or whatever? I just wish Tanya would write me back, it takes forever for a response.
 
make it 4000. i doubt you have factored in at least 5 bills for rims for your vespa.
i just got a 1800sq ft house with 2 car garage, fenced in back yard and basement 8 minutes from school for 900 a month. gotta love iowa
 
air bud said:
make it 4000. i doubt you have factored in at least 5 bills for rims for your vespa.
i just got a 1800sq ft house with 2 car garage, fenced in back yard and basement 8 minutes from school for 900 a month. gotta love iowa
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dang dude thats insane....and its ludacris to put rims on a vespa...its a scooter but you know that

and about your house thats great and all BUT ITS IOWA!... oops!!!


just kidding, as usual
 
True, I would not recommend working, even though it is possible. I only suggest something like the library since there's not too much to do there so you can read while waiting, and since it is a school job they probably are able to schedule around your insanely busy times. (I would say "exam times", but since you'll have them every Monday, there's really no time that is not.)

I can't see 6k for transportation unless you're driving every day and they're figuring in car maintenance and airplane tickets back home. If you're using BART, it'll be ~$6 a day round-trip (and that's from Hayward, less if it's closer) and you can get uber-discount tickets through the school (so it'll be less than $6/day). Say 200 days of being at school so $1200. Then multiply by 1.5 for weekend fun if you do go out so... $1800? Gas wise will probably the same, since with conservative estimates at $3/gallon would say you spend about $6/day on gas (I'm going to assume you live within 30 miles of campus). Even going back home 4 times a year, I'm going to guess you can get $300 roundtrip tickets (since you're from AZ and not the East Coast) you're topping out around $3k.

(blah blah blah, synopsis - $3k a year for transportation unless you're rolling in an Escalade, less if you're using public transportation)
 
lyhrrus said:
True, I would not recommend working, even though it is possible. I only suggest something like the library since there's not too much to do there so you can read while waiting, and since it is a school job they probably are able to schedule around your insanely busy times. (I would say "exam times", but since you'll have them every Monday, there's really no time that is not.)

I can't see 6k for transportation unless you're driving every day and they're figuring in car maintenance and airplane tickets back home. If you're using BART, it'll be ~$6 a day round-trip (and that's from Hayward, less if it's closer) and you can get uber-discount tickets through the school (so it'll be less than $6/day). Say 200 days of being at school so $1200. Then multiply by 1.5 for weekend fun if you do go out so... $1800? Gas wise will probably the same, since with conservative estimates at $3/gallon would say you spend about $6/day on gas (I'm going to assume you live within 30 miles of campus). Even going back home 4 times a year, I'm going to guess you can get $300 roundtrip tickets (since you're from AZ and not the East Coast) you're topping out around $3k.

(blah blah blah, synopsis - $3k a year for transportation unless you're rolling in an Escalade, less if you're using public transportation)
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I suppose you are right...it's just depressing that I can't take my escalade...

I mean you get a baRT pass for 40 bucks which is good for bart, bus, and most trains, and the sweet little trolly cars

and yeah I have had those jobs where you can "study" and I cant study at them lol people come just enough to not let you finish more than a couple paragraphs
 
OK so for all of you either getting or that currenty have stafford loans either sub unsub or both and/or a GRAD PLUS loan...who did you choose as your lender and why??



I hear AWFUL things about salliemae

I am not sure who to chose and what options/benefits they have: specifically like loan repayment options who has interest reduction benefits etc.

Does anyone know anything about this?
 
Hi everyone,

I'd like to give away my Kaplan MCAT prep books to a friend but wonder if I should keep them for my first year at CSPM. Did you need them? Or were you provided all needed matarials/references?

Thanks!
 
Hi Class of 2013,

My name is Jen, I'm a CSPM c/o 2012 student and current vice president for the upcoming school year. I just wanted to let you guys know that I'm free to answer any and all questions you may have regarding CSPM and your first year. I am looking forward to meeting you all this fall at orientation, my class is already starting to plan what's gonna go on for that. If I'm slow at responding for the next couple of weeks, please be patient (I'm apologizing in advance), I will soon be entering our final lab practicals next week and final examinations the week after (however if I'm quick to respond, you know I'm massively procrastinating). This week is basically the "calm before the storm" but it's never really calm when you're a med school student. Get ready to do some learning this fall! And... Congratulations!

-Jen Chen
 
InterestedInPOD said:
Hi everyone,

I'd like to give away my Kaplan MCAT prep books to a friend but wonder if I should keep them for my first year at CSPM. Did you need them? Or were you provided all needed matarials/references?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

You'll be provided with everything you need. Your classes for 1st semester should be: Human Anatomy, Biochemistry, Physiology, and Histology

I believe you'll also be given weekly examinations, but that may not be set in stone. I honestly don't even know where my MCAT materials are... hahah

-Jen
 
ThetaChiNAU1856 said:
I suppose you are right...it's just depressing that I can't take my escalade...

I mean you get a baRT pass for 40 bucks which is good for bart, bus, and most trains, and the sweet little trolly cars

and yeah I have had those jobs where you can "study" and I cant study at them lol people come just enough to not let you finish more than a couple paragraphs
Click to expand...

Useful tidbit: Through Samuel Merritt University/Alta Bates Medical Center you have access to BART tickets 50% off. it's AMAZING. 👍

-Jen
 
InterestedInPOD said:
Hi everyone,

I'd like to give away my Kaplan MCAT prep books to a friend but wonder if I should keep them for my first year at CSPM. Did you need them? Or were you provided all needed matarials/references?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Give them away, BBQ them, whatever you do, you probably don't need them in your life.:meanie:

As with all standardized tests, they're good for getting you to the next stage, and then that's it. Remember the SATs? Does anyone care about those scores anymore? Same goes for the MCAT. In fact, same will go for the boards when you hit those. No one cares in 5 years. The only question is whether they were good enough to get you where you wanted to go (for the boards it's pass/fail).
 
superjen83 said:
Useful tidbit: Through Samuel Merritt University/Alta Bates Medical Center you have access to BART tickets 50% off. it's AMAZING. 👍

-Jen
Click to expand...

thats awesome! does that include the muni pass too or just daily tickets?



any other discounts?
 
ThetaChiNAU1856 said:
thats awesome! does that include the muni pass too or just daily tickets?



any other discounts?
Click to expand...

I'm not sure if they have muni passes, i know they have AC transit (which is the bus system on the East Bay). From time to time samuel merritt student body will offer discount tickets to Warriors games as well.
 
superjen83 said:
You'll be provided with everything you need. Your classes for 1st semester should be: Human Anatomy, Biochemistry, Physiology, and Histology

I believe you'll also be given weekly examinations, but that may not be set in stone. I honestly don't even know where my MCAT materials are... hahah

-Jen
Click to expand...

Thank you for the info. Do you know how much on-campus parking permit costs? Did you buy all the books for 1st year? If yes, when did you buy the books for the 1st semester? How can I have access to buying books from upper classmen/women?
 
superjen83 said:
Useful tidbit: Through Samuel Merritt University/Alta Bates Medical Center you have access to BART tickets 50% off. it's AMAZING. 👍

-Jen
Click to expand...

I'm in class of 2013. Can I buy the tickets at 50% discount NOW? I commute EVERYDAY now and would love to get some. 🙂
 
You will need to sign up through the hospital to obtain the tickets, which can be bought on specific days during the first and last weeks of the month. You should be able to do this during your orientation (Craig Elliot will have more details).

As to parking, you can either buy a semester pass (which I think is $150, though I'm unsure since I don't use it. Jen can fill you in on the details of that.) or a preloaded card with X dollars (minimum is $20 I believe) which is charged $3.50 each time you use the lot (no in and out privileges with the preloaded card).

(see the post from 3/31/09! The information's there! Just have to look.) 🙂
 
so i was wondering where you guys and gals (before c/o 2013) are planning to stay next year? is there a general apt complex that lots of the class is planning on renting out to stay close with each other? i would like to live closer to some students attending SMU. oh and can someone tell me how the traffic coming to/from alameda is? i looked on google maps and it says to expect about a 10-15 min drive to campus. is traffic bad at all there? thankss!!! and good luck with finals! =)
 
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Most of our class lives within a 30 minute drive of campus. 10-15 minutes from Alameda sounds about right, though you may want to plan for 5-10 minutes extra in the morning given that the 80 is prone to lots of traffic during rush hour. People live as far north as El Cerrito, and as far south as Hayward, as far West as San Mateo and as far east as Walnut Creek.

There are several apartment complexes right behind the school that some students live in.

Do consider the following though:

- 1st year you'll spend 5 days a week on campus.

- 2nd year you'll be on campus 3-5 days a week depending on your clinical rotation (some rotations are on/near campus and some will be in Alameda/San Francisco).

- 3rd year you'll be on campus 1 day a week usually
 
lyhrrus said:
You will need to sign up through the hospital to obtain the tickets, which can be bought on specific days during the first and last weeks of the month. You should be able to do this during your orientation (Craig Elliot will have more details).

As to parking, you can either buy a semester pass (which I think is $150, though I'm unsure since I don't use it. Jen can fill you in on the details of that.) or a preloaded card with X dollars (minimum is $20 I believe) which is charged $3.50 each time you use the lot (no in and out privileges with the preloaded card).

(see the post from 3/31/09! The information's there! Just have to look.) 🙂
Click to expand...

I believe the exact price I pay for parking is $125 a semester, which honestly isn't too bad considering parking in the Bay Area can be a bit difficult and expensive at times and compared to big undergrad/grad schools a lot of us have come from, it's relatively cheap.
 
anyone at all at or going to be at SMU thats into track bikes??? fixies anyone!?
 
(I guess the IQWEB ain't workin' too well...I still like it though.)

First time here! Hey all! Reppin' C/O 2013!!!!👍


Jen,

What are the curriculums that must be fulfilled for the first semester? Were you blind-sighted by how difficult the first set of courses were?
 
AnkleBreaker said:
Hell yea! The purple #24 is comin' up with me to CSPM!

Forget those Warriors fans and their "religion" that could not even be backed up...how do they "Believe?":meanie:
Click to expand...

LMAO....i was having a CRAPPY day but you just turned it wonderful with that....GO LAKERS! FLOORSEATS AFTER GRADUATION
 
AnkleBreaker said:
(I guess the IQWEB ain't workin' too well...I still like it though.)

First time here! Hey all! Reppin' C/O 2013!!!!👍


Jen,

What are the curriculums that must be fulfilled for the first semester? Were you blind-sighted by how difficult the first set of courses were?
Click to expand...


I dunno if Jen's going to respond considering we've got up to 9 exams over the next two weeks. Anyway, a quick breakdown for what to expect.

Fall First Year (20 Units)

Physiology I
Biochemistry I
Anatomy I*
Histology*
Embryology

Spring First Year (24 Units)

Physiology II
Biochemistry II
Anatomy II*
Lower Extremity Anatomy*
Neuroscience*
Introduction to Clinical Medicine

* indicates laboratory portion as well

I think they're going to continue with your class what they're doing with ours, which is namely, weekly exams. You will have cumulative Monday morning exams for the past three weeks of material in all classes. Every 5 weeks or so, there will be lab exams for the * classes. You will get the following Monday off in terms of the weekly examination following lab weeks (so every 5th week you'll have the Monday exam plus 2-3 lab exams, and then you'll get a week "off"). The benefit of all this is through these 15 weekly exams (and dropping the lowest grade so 14 top scores) is that if you have an >85% at the end of the semester, you can opt out of that final. (They may drop this number to >80%.)

In terms of being blind-sided, I'm sure there will be a "settling in" period post the first exam.

P.S. Good job Lakers on losing to a Houston team that lost their main player.
 
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Thanks Lyhrrus!

Yes, the Lakers were blind-sided...sad to admit...
 
If anyone missed the chat with the school administrators today I have most of the 1pm chat saved and may have the 4pm chat later. Send me a PM and I will PM you a copy of the text.
 
illini04alum said:
If anyone missed the chat with the school administrators today I have most of the 1pm chat saved and may have the 4pm chat later. Send me a PM and I will PM you a copy of the text.
Click to expand...

Hey could you PM the noon chat? I probably will be on the later one but I'm on central europe time (ie a bit late!)

Thanks!
 
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