Des Moines University (DMU-COM) Discussion Thread 2012 - 2013

[felix2929]

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I have a pretty big dog so that is kind of a limiting factor for me. I'll have to look back in that packet they gave us! Thanks

 

[BabyDoc86]

So after reading a different thread, I have a question. I can't remember how many students per cadaver DMU told us there were, and if groups alternated on who dissected on certain days. Can anyone help me out? Thanks! 🙂

 

[deleted236787]

So after reading a different thread, I have a question. I can't remember how many students per cadaver DMU told us there were, and if groups alternated on who dissected on certain days. Can anyone help me out? Thanks! 🙂

For the DOs, there should be 5 students working on a cadaver at one time. The DOs are divided into two groups which alternate every other lab - so if we're talking about a specific cadaver, 5 students from Group 1 will come one day and 5 students from group 2 will come the next day. So you end up dissecting about every other day. This means that every time you have lab you first must spend a few minutes reviewing what the other group did the previous lab, but the instructors use an "eye in the sky" camera to demonstrate the structures for the class over a videostream on monitors at each station.

 

[BabyDoc86]

Hey thanks! I couldn't remember, and couldn't find it in my notes. Just curious.

 

[JaBoomDay]

For the DOs, there should be 5 students working on a cadaver at one time. The DOs are divided into two groups which alternate every other lab - so if we're talking about a specific cadaver, 5 students from Group 1 will come one day and 5 students from group 2 will come the next day. So you end up dissecting about every other day. This means that every time you have lab you first must spend a few minutes reviewing what the other group did the previous lab, but the instructors use an "eye in the sky" camera to demonstrate the structures for the class over a videostream on monitors at each station.

When I first heard about this I actually wasn't too happy about having to share a cadaver with 9 other people and only doing half of the dissections. However, during my interview our student guide brought up a good point on how dissections can be a lot of tedious work cutting through tons of tissue to get to the structures you are studying and having other people doing some of that tedious work is actually helpful. I thought it was a unique perspective on it. Just thought I'd share.

Care to add to this FrkyBgStok? 😀

 

[BabyDoc86]

Here's a link to the thread from yesterday:

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=968043

Lots of good/differing opinions on #students/cadaver.

 

[deleted236787]

When I first heard about this I actually wasn't too happy about having to share a cadaver with 9 other people and only doing half of the dissections. However, during my interview our student guide brought up a good point on how dissections can be a lot of tedious work cutting through tons of tissue to get to the structures you are studying and having other people doing some of that tedious work is actually helpful. I thought it was a unique perspective on it. Just thought I'd share.

Care to add to this FrkyBgStok? 😀

I think it's perfect. Some med schools have three groups so you only dissect every three times (University of Iowa, but theirs is split up a bit differently so each group dissects for one whole week at a time), so this is not an uncommon thing at med schools. It is very tedious work and most students are just waiting for them to take attendance so they can leave. Also, if two students are doing most of the dissection on a particular day, the other three students can be looking at bones or models or reviewing material on the dry erase boards in lab. You do learn structures while you are dissecting, but you also learn when you come in outside of lab and review structures and identify structures without having to do the actual work of dissection. Labs are open 6AM-10PM on weekdays and 1-4PM on weekends for this purpose. Trust me, after a few months of anatomy lab you'll be sick of it and wishing you could come in less!

I will also point out that lab time is much more efficient when you have reviewed the material before lab. It's fairly easy to stay caught up at the beginning of the semester but halfway through when you start getting bogged down with other exams I notice that students really aren't prepared for gross lab and aren't using their time in the lab effectively. It's fine, it's just means they'll have to come in more outside of lab and do extra work.

Also, DMU uses an "eye in the sky" camera system so at the beginning of each lab, the professor demonstrates what structures the group dissected the day before and what structures you will be dissecting that day. He points them out on a prosected cadaver that the TAs dissect that morning and the groups watch via live video stream on the monitors at each lab station. And then you spend the first few minutes of lab making sure you can identify what the group did the day before. It works out very well.

Source: I am getting my Masters of Anatomy at DMU and have been through the entire gross course once and taught it once.

 

[BabyDoc86]

Source: I am getting my Masters of Anatomy at DMU and have been through the entire gross course once and taught it once.

Wish I could call dibs on lab partners....

 

[deleted236787]

Wish I could call dibs on lab partners....

Haha I will probably be teaching the course in some aspect next year, rather than being in a dissection group. Haven't worked out the details yet but I'll probably either be a full-time TA that comes every day or else just fill in for people when they're sick and help out in the labs on the weekends.

 

[BabyDoc86]

Haha I will probably be teaching the course in some aspect next year, rather than being in a dissection group. Haven't worked out the details yet but I'll probably either be a full-time TA that comes every day or else just fill in for people when they're sick and help out in the labs on the weekends.

I love that DMU gives you that option. The med school where I work, if you take a med school class without being a med student, you still have to take it once you become a med student.

 

[deleted236787]

I love that DMU gives you that option. The med school where I work, if you take a med school class without being a med student, you still have to take it once you become a med student.

That would be a bummer. Yeah I get to transfer 10 credits so I'm actually going to sit for the gross exams and take the course for credit, but then I'll transfer a couple smaller courses like cell, neuro, and path.

Also if anyone is interested in getting a dual MSA degree along with your DO I can give you the details on that! 😀

 

[BabyDoc86]

That would be a bummer. Yeah I get to transfer 10 credits so I'm actually going to sit for the gross exams and take the course for credit, but then I'll transfer a couple smaller courses like cell, neuro, and path.

Also if anyone is interested in getting a dual MSA degree along with your DO I can give you the details on that! 😀

Would you, please? I'm interested in several of the joint degrees.

 

[JaBoomDay]

I think it's perfect. Some med schools have three groups so you only dissect every three times (University of Iowa, but theirs is split up a bit differently so each group dissects for one whole week at a time), so this is not an uncommon thing at med schools. It is very tedious work and most students are just waiting for them to take attendance so they can leave. Also, if two students are doing most of the dissection on a particular day, the other three students can be looking at bones or models or reviewing material on the dry erase boards in lab. You do learn structures while you are dissecting, but you also learn when you come in outside of lab and review structures and identify structures without having to do the actual work of dissection. Labs are open 6AM-10PM on weekdays and 1-4PM on weekends for this purpose. Trust me, after a few months of anatomy lab you'll be sick of it and wishing you could come in less!

I will also point out that lab time is much more efficient when you have reviewed the material before lab. It's fairly easy to stay caught up at the beginning of the semester but halfway through when you start getting bogged down with other exams I notice that students really aren't prepared for gross lab and aren't using their time in the lab effectively. It's fine, it's just means they'll have to come in more outside of lab and do extra work.

Also, DMU uses an "eye in the sky" camera system so at the beginning of each lab, the professor demonstrates what structures the group dissected the day before and what structures you will be dissecting that day. He points them out on a prosected cadaver that the TAs dissect that morning and the groups watch via live video stream on the monitors at each lab station. And then you spend the first few minutes of lab making sure you can identify what the group did the day before. It works out very well.

Source: I am getting my Masters of Anatomy at DMU and have been through the entire gross course once and taught it once.

Cool! Thanks for the info! 👍

 

[cmagic84]

Just turned down my offer of admission and withdrew my application. Hopefully one of you will get it! Good luck. 👍

 

[GopherMD]

Accepted! Now I have to make a tough decision...

 

[ModernAlchemist]

Accepted! Now I have to make a tough decision...

Congratulations and good luck!

 

[GopherMD]

Congratulations and good luck!

Thanks!

 

[smccreery86]

Accepted! Now I have to make a tough decision...

Congrats! I just received my acceptance e-mail today as well. I love how quick this school is to make a decision. Two more interviews, with one being my #1 school though. So, we'll see! Good luck to you on your tough decision. Either way, you're going to medical school!!!😀

 

[Scriblette K]

Recieved an interview invite, and the earliest date was Feb 8th! I assume there will be a lot of snow by then? I'm from Texas, and we don't have snow. Lol

 

[jp988]

Recieved an interview invite, and the earliest date was Feb 8th! I assume there will be a lot of snow by then? I'm from Texas, and we don't have snow. Lol

If you want to move it up just call the admissions office once or twice a week. I moved my interview up by two months. A lot of ppl will be canceling this time of year so it can't hurt.

 

[ajh1983]

Recieved an interview invite, and the earliest date was Feb 8th! I assume there will be a lot of snow by then? I'm from Texas, and we don't have snow. Lol

when were you complete if I may ask?

 

[GopherMD]

Does anyone know what the general class schedule is like. I've heard class usually 8-12, labs in the afternoon?

 

[BabyDoc86]

Does anyone know what the general class schedule is like. I've heard class usually 8-12, labs in the afternoon?

That's what I've heard; although there are variations day by day. Apparently Wednesdays start at 10am to give everyone a break.

 

[deleted236787]

Does anyone know what the general class schedule is like. I've heard class usually 8-12, labs in the afternoon?

That's what I've heard; although there are variations day by day. Apparently Wednesdays start at 10am to give everyone a break.

Yep this is correct! What specific lectures you have will vary from day to day, but the nice thing is that the schedule is pushed out to your Outlook calendar so you always know exactly where and when you need to be somewhere.

 

[Scriblette K]

If you want to move it up just call the admissions office once or twice a week. I moved my interview up by two months. A lot of ppl will be canceling this time of year so it can't hurt.

That's a great idea, thank you!

when were you complete if I may ask?

My file was complete on 11/21 🙂

 

[ajh1983]

That's a great idea, thank you!

My file was complete on 11/21 🙂

Mind sharing basic stats?

 

[Scriblette K]

Mind sharing basic stats?

Yeah no problem: cGPA 3.5, sGPA 3.4, MCAT 31P

 

[whatsthatyousay]

so i just got put on pre-interview hold 🙁

has anybody that has been put on that been invited to interview?

 

[weirdmutt]

ii here today! Happy but the earliest date is feb 14th... Hopefully something opens up sooner.

 

[ModernAlchemist]

Congrats to all that were accepted I have just completed my file, waiting for an interview. OOS 3.1s 3.1c GPA and 29 MCAT with three years of medial research/corporate software company experience. What are my chances here?

To be honest, your gpa is pretty far below the average here (3.66). Your MCAT is slightly above, but I still think it will be an uphill battle, especially this late in the cycle. If I were you, I would focus on retaking some classes and reapply next year in June. Good Luck!

 

[jp988]

Congrats to all that were accepted I have just completed my file, waiting for an interview. OOS 3.1s 3.1c GPA and 29 MCAT with three years of medial research/corporate software company experience. What are my chances here?

The GPA is a tad low but the research experience is a big plus. If you can get an interview the playing field kind of gets leveled out, once they have you come in they are more interested in whether you are a good fit for the school. I think the avg GPA is about a 3.6 but ppl with lower do get in. It would help if the low GPA was due to maybe poor performance early and then there was solid improvement later on. Good luck.

 

[jp988]

Thanks so much for your honest opinion guys! Yeah, I started off with a 1.5 GPA freshman year and then had 3.6 the last three years. Have a couple published papers, presentations, recommendations from 2 directors of big academic medical programs. I hope I get an interview! Are the GPA and MCAT statistics typically higher than other schools here at DMU?

That's not bad at all. I'm 27 and before I decided to go premed I had a list of withdrawals and subpar grades, but once i went back I kept a 4.0. They asked me about it in my interview but weren't overly concerned with it and we're more interested in what I had done since. I ended up getting accepted, the hardest part will prob be getting the interview.

 

[BabyDoc86]

Thanks so much for your honest opinion guys! Yeah, I started off with a 1.5 GPA freshman year and then had 3.6 the last three years. Have a couple published papers, presentations, recommendations from 2 directors of big academic medical programs. I hope I get an interview! Are the GPA and MCAT statistics typically higher than other schools here at DMU?

Your app sounds great so I will have my fingers crossed for you!

 

[michow87]

Thanks so much for your honest opinion guys! Yeah, I started off with a 1.5 GPA freshman year and then had 3.6 the last three years. Have a couple published papers, presentations, recommendations from 2 directors of big academic medical programs. I hope I get an interview! Are the GPA and MCAT statistics typically higher than other schools here at DMU?

My honest opinion is that I don't think you will get an interview. Your GPA is pretty far below the average while your MCAT is only slightly above the average. Also, it's pretty late in the cycle.

If I were in your position, I would use this time to retake those core science classes that resulted in your 1.7 during your freshman year. Then, when the next cycle comes around, apply early and hopefully the interviews will come flying in.

 

[GopherMD]

Well I'm officially declining my acceptance to DMU this week. Good luck to everyone else!

 

[pawn2chessplaya]

Well I'm officially declining my acceptance to DMU this week. Good luck to everyone else!

Congrats and good luck. I may soon have decide between the two as well. Do you mind if I ask why you chose CCOM over DMU?

 

[GopherMD]

Congrats and good luck. I may soon have decide between the two as well. Do you mind if I ask why you chose CCOM over DMU?

For me, it was the reputation of the school, location, the rotation sites mostly being in the Chicago area, the quality of those sites, the brand new anatomy lab/science hall, and just the overall feel I had on my interview day. It was a very very hard decision. You really can't go wrong with either school.

 

[felix2929]

For me, it was the reputation of the school, location, the rotation sites mostly being in the Chicago area, the quality of those sites, the brand new anatomy lab/science hall, and just the overall feel I had on my interview day. It was a very very hard decision. You really can't go wrong with either school.

I made this same decision and decided on DMU. I'm sad tho because I was hoping to have another Minnesotan hockey fan! Good luck at CCOM!

 

[angldrps]

Apparently, DMU is enough on my mind for me to actually dream about going to another interview here. Unlike reality, this dream actually ended with a happy outcome followed by me going out for coffee with my interviewers.
Great, my dreams are trolling me now. 🙄

 

[pawn2chessplaya]

Apparently, DMU is enough on my mind for me to actually dream about going to another interview here. Unlike reality, this dream actually ended with a happy outcome followed by me going out for coffee with my interviewers.
Great, my dreams are trolling me now. 🙄

😴-->😱-->🙄

 

[BabyDoc86]

Apparently, DMU is enough on my mind for me to actually dream about going to another interview here. Unlike reality, this dream actually ended with a happy outcome followed by me going out for coffee with my interviewers.
Great, my dreams are trolling me now. 🙄

I had a dream they accepted me during my interview. Real life wasn't the same! 🙂

 

[ModernAlchemist]

Apparently, DMU is enough on my mind for me to actually dream about going to another interview here. Unlike reality, this dream actually ended with a happy outcome followed by me going out for coffee with my interviewers.
Great, my dreams are trolling me now. 🙄

Awww well I really hope you get off the WL!

 

[PlexusNexus19]

.

 

[felix2929]

After a lot of back and forth in my head I just emailed and withdrew from CCOM, KCOM and KCUMB. Looks like you guys are stuck with me. See you in Des Moines next summer!

 

[BabyDoc86]

After a lot of back and forth in my head I just emailed and withdrew from CCOM, KCOM and KCUMB. Looks like you guys are stuck with me. See you in Des Moines next summer!

Yay! I'll see you there!

 

[felix2929]

Yay! I'll see you there!

Oh good! You decided as well!

 

[BabyDoc86]

Oh good! You decided as well!

I believe so. Now to inform the other schools...

 

[felix2929]

I believe so. Now to inform the other schools...

It is kind of liberating. Now I plan to not think about school again until the Spring.

 

[BabyDoc86]

It is kind of liberating. Now I plan to not think about school again until the Spring.

Good for you! I'm all about trying to find a place to live out there now.

 

[pawn2chessplaya]

Accepted!!! Received e-mail at 11:00 AM Central Time. Interview on 12/07. Definitely a top choice school. My first acceptance as a re-applicant, all I can say to those still waiting is hang in there!!! This process is long, unfair, and mentally exhausting. Just do your best and a school will reach out you. That is all that matters in the end. So excited. Just got an acceptance from CCOM as well. Tough decision.