##--DMU Class Of 2010--## part 01

[jbone]

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Bone, you better send him a self portrait before he decides to pay your tab!

Good point....I'm a big man. What can I say. 😳

 

[shminger]

I'm living in SA right now too. I was actually in Austin this past weekend for a friend's bday...went downtown woohoo. I REALLY miss it there. I'm going to be there next weekend too because my parents are going to be in town.

YES we do put salsa on everything (and lime and cilantro). yummy!

I got my orientation package in the mail today, too. It got me really excited about moving there in August. Yay!

Oh yea, and what about a fruit cup!! Fresh fruit, covered in fresh lime juice and CHILI POWDER!!!!! Believe it or not, it's actually really tasty!

 

[shminger]

Bone, you better send him a self portrait before he decides to pay your tab!

Good point....I'm a big man. What can I say. 😳

Thanks for the warning... I'll definitely lower my standards so I don't

 

[LuvGrand]

Oh yea, and what about a fruit cup!! Fresh fruit, covered in fresh lime juice and CHILI POWDER!!!!! Believe it or not, it's actually really tasty!

I don't like chili powder on everything but my boyfriend does. He likes all of that candy with chili powder too. Also, tobasco on popcorn....that's a tex mex thing. We will be sharing some fruit or popcorn and I go to grab some and it's contaminated with chili powder or tobasco. I think he does it so he doesn't have to share. 🙂

 

[Redneck]

Dear Future Classmates,

Random thought: I’m officially getting excited for class in August.

Sincerely,
Me



Chili powder on food?? Huh. I think I need to start experimenting. There's an interesting hot sauce found in certain Asian restaurants called 'sirachachi' (sp?) sauce, red comes in squirt bottle, really hot. I like that one. Know of it?

 

[expat03]

I don't like chili powder on everything but my boyfriend does. He likes all of that candy with chili powder too. Also, tobasco on popcorn....that's a tex mex thing. We will be sharing some fruit or popcorn and I go to grab some and it's contaminated with chili powder or tobasco. I think he does it so he doesn't have to share. 🙂

There is a great bar on Beaverdale that has free popcorn -- they also have some sort of buffalo wing sauce that you can put on the popcorn if you want. It is awesome. I don't know if you guys like Boulevard Wheat, but it goes great with popcorn and hot sauce. mmmmmmm. I think the bar is called Conney's--but it is nice because it is not a place that a lot of college students hangout--very local.

 

[goinverted]

Thanks for the warning... I'll definitely lower my standards so I don't

fu-nny

 

[kahoo99]

There is a great bar on Beaverdale that has free popcorn -- they also have some sort of buffalo wing sauce that you can put on the popcorn if you want. It is awesome. I don't know if you guys like Boulevard Wheat, but it goes great with popcorn and hot sauce. mmmmmmm. I think the bar is called Conney's--but it is nice because it is not a place that a lot of college students hangout--very local.

Hey expat,
Hope all's well...I've never heard of Boulevard Wheat...beer? I'm looking into homes in the beaverdale area, and I'm coming out next thursday for a whirlwind tour.

 

[Jamers]

Dear Future Classmates,

Random thought: I’m officially getting excited for class in August.

Sincerely,
Me



Chili powder on food?? Huh. I think I need to start experimenting. There's an interesting hot sauce found in certain Asian restaurants called 'sirachachi' (sp?) sauce, red comes in squirt bottle, really hot. I like that one. Know of it?

I once knew someone who used katchup on their chicken noodle soup...YUM!

 

[LuvGrand]

Dear Future Classmates,

Random thought: I’m officially getting excited for class in August.

Sincerely,
Me



Chili powder on food?? Huh. I think I need to start experimenting. There's an interesting hot sauce found in certain Asian restaurants called 'sirachachi' (sp?) sauce, red comes in squirt bottle, really hot. I like that one. Know of it?

Is it that one with the rooster on it? I always eat that at vietnamese restaurants on the noodle soup. It's REALLY hot but good.

Expat, That bar sounds really cool. My bf and I are always looking for a chill place to go hang out and have a drink so I'll have to try it out. I'm always down for free popcorn! We're going to be poor med students so anything free is going to be great. 👍

 

[FS-Pro]

There's an interesting hot sauce found in certain Asian restaurants called 'sirachachi' (sp?) sauce, red comes in squirt bottle, really hot. I like that one. Know of it?

I love that stuff!

 

[FutureNavyDOc]

Hey DMU class of 2010, I'm a 2nd year at DMU currently getting ready for boards. Just wanted to let you in on some things going on at DMU that could have major impacts on you.

Not sure if any of you know this yet but the dean at DMU, Dr. Reed, is currently working on altering the rotation structure for 3rd year.

We have a class meeting with him tomorrow about it, but as his plan is right now, ALL 3rd year rotations will be done in the state of Iowa.

I have no clue how the school plans to go from just over 80 rotation spots in Iowa to 220 in 2 years. I'll try to make time tomorrow to post and let you all know what I learn at the meeting.

Additionally, effective this Monday, Dr. Boesler the head of the OMM department is no longer at the school. The school is currently undertaking a "nationwide search" for his replacement.

 

[kahoo99]

Is this a major loss? How many profs make up the OMM dept? Are the others good?

 

[jbone]

Is this a major loss? How many profs make up the OMM dept? Are the others good?

That's a huge loss. I guess he is one of the best in the country. 🙁
I met him on my interview, he was a great guy. Oh well.

 

[Redneck]

I once knew someone who used katchup on their chicken noodle soup...YUM!

Yuck. Too many people ruin good food with katchup. *shudders*

Is it that one with the rooster on it? I always eat that at vietnamese restaurants on the noodle soup. It's REALLY hot but good.

I love that stuff!

I think we're thinking of the same stuff. I hope DM has the vietnamese soupy food restaurants. I believe there is a chain called Pho something... *drooling*


I wonder how this propsed third year requirement would affect the match rate of DMU students into the Ohio/Michigan AOA residencies. By notching off a whole year from these key states my simple mind wonders if this could be detrimental for 'auditioning'.

 

[kahoo99]

I'm waiting to see how it all works, but it feels a little like false advertising. For me and my family part of the draw to DMU was the flexibility in the 3rd and 4th years, and the OMM (for me).

 

[Megustamaiz]

I've managed to avoid the lime juice and chili powder so far in Austin. 🙂 I can't imagine putting anything spicy on popcorn. More up my alley is the Kraft cheese powder you can sprinkle on popcorn. Yummy!

If you think that Sriracha chili sauce is spicy try the ominous red chile oil that sits on the table. I'm not a fan of spicy things, but yes, some people may choose to eat that chili sauce with Pho (the beef broth and rice vermicelli noodle dish). I prefer to eat it with that sweet, brown Hoisin sauce. You can also eat the chili sauce with congee (rice porridge) or chow mein. There's a restaurant on the southside of DSM, Nut Pob, that has good pho, from what I've heard. It claims to be Thai, but my parents think that it's more Thai/Vietnamese/Laotian. It's called Nut Pob. I love the pad thai, the pepper chicken, and the crab rangoon from there! I've tried a couple of other places, but nothing else really compares although Cool Basil in WDM has great pad thai and spicy chicken fried rice though. Nothing compares to the homemade stuff though. I'm still in the process of learning. 🙂

Also, I was in shopping heaven the other day in San Marcos, TX. The Tanger outlet mall was a dream!!! Has anybody else been there?! The Tanger outlet mall at Williamsburg, IA which is about an hour away from DSM, does not even come within 10 miles of that.

 

[Megustamaiz]

Hearing about Dr. Boesler leave made me curse outloud. That is such a surprise and disappointment. I was really looking forward to working with him. It is unnerving that so many good instructors and administrators are leaving before we even start! I was also looking forward to the flexibility of rotations third year, but yes, we'll just have to wait and see what happens. However, if they ever do anything to that effect 4th year, I will be outraged.

 

[Munchkin6245]

I used to be the assistant manager at the Kitchen Collection store there. I miss San Marcos!


If anyone is looking for an AWESOME realtor let me know. Mine is FAB-U-LOUS! We just closed on our house today and I would've gone crazy to do this with anyone else but her, especially since we're in the middle of finals.

PS. Don't close on a house during finals.....FYI

 

[Redneck]

More up my alley is the Kraft cheese powder you can sprinkle on popcorn. Yummy!

There's a restaurant on the southside of DSM, Nut Pob, that has good pho, from what I've heard.

How do you get kraft cheese powder? Steal it from the mac and cheese boxes??

Hearing DM has pho/thai food has put an enormous smile on my face! 😀 I've been living in a land that began to make me think steak was the only meal. Yippie!

 

[FutureNavyDOc]

Is this a major loss? How many profs make up the OMM dept? Are the others good?

Huge loss, Boz was the heart and soul of the OMM dept and was the face of DMU to the majority of the outside world for the last several years. Super nice guy, great instructor, very passionate about students and teaching.

Unfortunately he commited some unnamed sin significant enough for DMU to cut ties with him. We don't know what he did, but it apparently didn't sit well with the school. I'm sure there will be rumors flying around campus soon enough as to the details.



Basic summary from the meeting with Dr. Reed today, the goal is to have all 3rd year rotations in Iowa by 2008 (3rd year for the class of 2010), however that is a gradual and difficult process. The Ohio Core and the Michigan rotations will be the last ones pulled in, i.e. they'll still probably be there when your class is doing 3rd year rotations.

DMU is working on hiring a new OMM clinician to work in the clinic, a head of the OMM department and another dean of clinical affairs. These three will work to replace Boesler, that's how much he did at the school and how difficult he will be to replace.

Dr. Woolley is the interim OMM chair until Boz is replaced, which they hope will happen before the school year starts, but that will be difficult. More than likely Woolley will use Boz's OMM notes and lectures, so the material won't change much at all, however Dr. Woolley is far from being as dynamic and invigorating as Boz was.



On another subject, I believe there is a Thai restaurant in DM that I've heard is pretty good. HuHot for mongolian food is stellar.

For the Coffee drinkers among you, a Caribou Coffee just opened up a few months back a block from school.


I'll be here occassionally over the next week as I get ready for boards (7 days to go), hit me up if you have any questions about coming here next year.

 

[kahoo99]

thanks for the post.
rock the boards!

 

[expat03]

Huge loss, Boz was the heart and soul of the OMM dept and was the face of DMU to the majority of the outside world for the last several years. Super nice guy, great instructor, very passionate about students and teaching.

Unfortunately he commited some unnamed sin significant enough for DMU to cut ties with him. We don't know what he did, but it apparently didn't sit well with the school. I'm sure there will be rumors flying around campus soon enough as to the details.



Basic summary from the meeting with Dr. Reed today, the goal is to have all 3rd year rotations in Iowa by 2008 (3rd year for the class of 2010), however that is a gradual and difficult process. The Ohio Core and the Michigan rotations will be the last ones pulled in, i.e. they'll still probably be there when your class is doing 3rd year rotations.

DMU is working on hiring a new OMM clinician to work in the clinic, a head of the OMM department and another dean of clinical affairs. These three will work to replace Boesler, that's how much he did at the school and how difficult he will be to replace.

Dr. Woolley is the interim OMM chair until Boz is replaced, which they hope will happen before the school year starts, but that will be difficult. More than likely Woolley will use Boz's OMM notes and lectures, so the material won't change much at all, however Dr. Woolley is far from being as dynamic and invigorating as Boz was.



On another subject, I believe there is a Thai restaurant in DM that I've heard is pretty good. HuHot for mongolian food is stellar.

For the Coffee drinkers among you, a Caribou Coffee just opened up a few months back a block from school.


I'll be here occassionally over the next week as I get ready for boards (7 days to go), hit me up if you have any questions about coming here next year.

I have heard that it is a huge loss, but also that the dept is very strong. There are other profs that are just as good with OMM. I am obviously not a current student, but one of my best friends is in her third year and very involved with the school.

From what I understand, FutureNavyDoc is correct in saying that Boz is very dynamic and invigorating which is a major reason that his leaving is unsettling. With that said, the staff who are currently there are just as well trained, just perhaps lacking the charisma that made Boz so popular with students.

On another note, Boulevard Wheat is a Beer made in Kansas City and served with lemon. It goes well with popcorn and buffalo sauce. 🙂

I'm doing well Kahoo99, thanks! I am back in America and getting excited to start school. I'm still in New York, but I should be heading back to Des Moines by July 1st.

Beaverdale is a great place, you should check out the 42nd street area too--great neighborhoods, not too expensive.

 

[jbone]

Hearing DM has pho/thai food has put an enormous smile on my face! 😀 I've been living in a land that began to make me think steak was the only meal. Yippie!

Good to see they have good Thai food. I hope it's good. I need it for survival.

 

[Redneck]

Basic summary from the meeting with Dr. Reed today, the goal is to have all 3rd year rotations in Iowa by 2008 (3rd year for the class of 2010), however that is a gradual and difficult process. The Ohio Core and the Michigan rotations will be the last ones pulled in, i.e. they'll still probably be there when your class is doing 3rd year rotations.

I just typed out a long thing that was mostly rambling so here is the synopsis. I wish I knew more information and that this was targeted for the ensuing class. Who would be the best person to find out more information from? Or is this still in early drawing board stages?

 

[FutureNavyDOc]

thanks for the post.
rock the boards!

Thanks, I'm gonna give it my all!

I have heard that it is a huge loss, but also that the dept is very strong. There are other profs that are just as good with OMM. I am obviously not a current student, but one of my best friends is in her third year and very involved with the school.

From what I understand, FutureNavyDoc is correct in saying that Boz is very dynamic and invigorating which is a major reason that his leaving is unsettling. With that said, the staff who are currently there are just as well trained, just perhaps lacking the charisma that made Boz so popular with students.

I would have called the OMM dept extremely strong with Boz her and sufficient now without him, of course this is entirely dependent on who they bring in to replace Boz if they can get someone before you guys start classes. Dr. Woolley is more into the Myofascial release (glorified massage which works for some people) and cranial aspects of OMM, I think I've only seen her do a couple of the crack-pop techniques in my time here. Dr. Figueroa is more into Physical Med and Rehab and does a lot of trigger point injections and things of that nature in clinic. He's a funny dude, but again neither is as dynamic as Boz.

I just typed out a long thing that was mostly rambling so here is the synopsis. I wish I knew more information and that this was targeted for the ensuing class. Who would be the best person to find out more information from? Or is this still in early drawing board stages?

I would say it is still very early in the drawing board stages. The simple fact that they would need to create 130+ new core clinic and core hospital rotation spots in Iowa (they have about 80 right now) over the next 2 years to make the plan work makes it seem like a very daunting task. My guess is the Ohio and Michigan rotations will still be around for you guys when you are 3rd years. It's just a guess though, but thats my gut feeling.

As far as who to contact about all this, go through the admissions dept. They're the best people to contact about any questions/ concerns you have until you start orientation.

 

[DORocksMySocks]

I just typed out a long thing that was mostly rambling so here is the synopsis. I wish I knew more information and that this was targeted for the ensuing class. Who would be the best person to find out more information from? Or is this still in early drawing board stages?

If you do call in or speak to someone in some way, please let us know. I too wish that we had known about this, because their flexability in years 3 and 4 were a big part of why I selected the school. I would be interested in knowning what is going on, but I don't want the offices of DMU to get 50 calls from all of us incoming students......

I could always get off my lazy butt and shoot the school an e-mail or what have you....

 

[Krazykritter]

As a first year almost finished, this is my view on the situation:

Losing Boz was a huge loss, but we will still have a great OMM tradition that is ours to uphold.

As to the whole 3rd year rotations thing:

3rd year has always been done 90% in one of the core hospitals/clinics. They are now trying to establish more core hospitals in Iowa. This isn't all that big of a surprise considering most schools like to keep their students in state to "benefit the programs." However, the way that it is now, they are a long way from having quality (which was said to be the concern) sites for 3rd year. Personally, I do not think that they will pull in the sites in Ohio & Michigan b/c they have been quality sites, many of which are affiliated w/ residencies.

As for 4th year...there will still plenty of freedom. 50% of your required electives will still have to be done under DO supervision (or DO as DME). I don't think that anyone should have problems b/c this year is meant to be seen by places you will be applying to residency.

 

[Redneck]

If you do call in or speak to someone in some way, please let us know. I too wish that we had known about this, because their flexability in years 3 and 4 were a big part of why I selected the school. I would be interested in knowning what is going on, but I don't want the offices of DMU to get 50 calls from all of us incoming students......

I could always get off my lazy butt and shoot the school an e-mail or what have you....

Flexability was a selling point for me too. However, I won't be able to sniff out details for this. I'm leaving early monday to head back to the middle of nowhere until early June. I'll be logging/camping/constructing/burning brush piles where I won't have the luxury of modern amenities.

 

[FutureNavyDOc]

As a first year almost finished, this is my view on the situation:

Losing Boz was a huge loss, but we will still have a great OMM tradition that is ours to uphold.

As to the whole 3rd year rotations thing:
3rd year has always been done 90% in one of the core hospitals/clinics. They are now trying to establish more core hospitals in Iowa. This isn't all that big of a surprise considering most schools like to keep their students in state to "benefit the programs." However, the way that it is now, they are a long way from having quality (which was said to be the concern) sites for 3rd year. Personally, I do not think that they will pull in the sites in Ohio & Michigan b/c they have been quality sites, many of which are affiliated w/ residencies.

As for 4th year...there will still plenty of freedom. 50% of your required electives will still have to be done under DO supervision (or DO as DME). I don't think that anyone should have problems b/c this year is meant to be seen by places you will be applying to residency.

Not entirely true about the 3rd year. 3rd year is broken into 3 blocks, 1 block is entirely core hospital, another block is 8 weeks of core family practice clinic and 8 weeks of true electives, and the final block is core electives (FP, Peds, Ob/Gyn, and Psych). Core electives are not done at the same site as your core FP clinic.

As far as required DO time, you need 22 weeks of "DO time" total in 3rd and 4th year not counting your core hospital or clinic. I believe core electives can count towards this. Any time spent in a DO hospital counts, any military and public health rotations count, and the DME doesn't have to be a DO. If you are at a site run by an MD and are primarily supervised by a DO, you can get that site to count as well.

Keep in mind that many if not most DO students end up going to allopathic residencies, as such many are not picking up DO time during fall of 4th year which is prime get seen by residency program rotation time.

 

[Munchkin6245]

Ok, enough already! Here is the information we got from Boz at our clinicals meeting. If it doesn't match up with what 2nd year students did last year, then something must've changed.

Third Year Rotations:

Hospital Block: 16 weeks
- 4 week minimum General Internal Med
- 4 week minimum General Surgery
- 8 weeks split btw Emergency*, Pathology*, Anesthesia*, Radiology*

*Suggested rotations, the actual rotations that you do are scheduled for you to complete your core hospital block will depend mainly on what is available at the hospital you are assigned to.

Ok so let's run through this: Hospital Block is a CORE 16 week block, you must do it at one of the locations that DMU has on it's list. This will be one of the rotation blocks that they will be trying to pull back into Iowa. This rotation block is done by the lottery system, meaning, you choose your top 3 sites you want to rotate through and they put it in a calculation that decides on where everyone is going. Most people are not affected by the lottery system and get their #1 pick.

Clinic Block: 16 weeks
- 8 weeks Core Family Practic Clinic
- 8 weeks True Electives - these are optional and may be deferred until 4th year

Let's go through this one too:
CORE FP Clinic is 8 weeks you must do at one of the locations that DMU has on it's list. This will be one of the rotation blocks that they will be trying to pull back into Iowa. This rotation block is done by the lottery system, as stated above. This rotation site is different than your Hospital Block rotation site.
True Electives are 8 weeks as well. These may be done with whomever you want(**see below for details), but you must request this through your rotation coordinator. You may also use this time as vacation for 3rd year and do these electives your 4th year instead.

Required Clerkship: 16 weeks
- 4 weeks General Pediatrics
- 4 weeks OB/GYN
- 4 weeks Psychiatry
- 4 weeks Elective Subject (within Primary Care field)

Again:
These rotations are done at sites that are NOT scheduled via lottery system. You may choose where you do these at sites from the DMU list OR you may request a new site through your coordinator.

Third year rotations extras:
-40-48 weeks total (depending if you take your electives as vacation time)

-starts the day after Labor Day

-1 week off for Christmas Holidays

-Most rotations are 4 weeks long

-Core hospital block and Core Family Practice Clinic must be done at DMU sites that they already have listed. They are scheduled via lottery system. If you want to do a core at a hospital or clinic not on the list: you must complete a special circumstances form - then it will be determined if it really is a special circumstance why you must do a core somewhere not on the list...so dont' get your hopes up that you're gonna get it b/c you probably won't.

-There is a shelf exam after each of the following: Gen Int Med, Gen Surgery, FP Clinic, Gen Peds, OB/GYN, Psych. You must pass the shelf to pass the rotation.

-All electives and clerkships are scheduled through your coordinator. **See below note from above: There are 44 weeks of electives and clerkships = 24 for 3rd year and 20 for 4th year. 50% or 22 weeks (however you want to state it - it's the same) of these must be done at a site that has a DO as the DME (director of medical education) OR where you are supervised by a DO (even if the DME is an MD).

-You can only do 12 weeks total of one specialty as electives.


Fourth Year Rotations:

-4 weeks of Family Practice

-4 weeks of Community or Rural Medicine (population less than 1500)

-20 weeks of True Electives


Fourth year extras:
-There are some international rotations

-You must be completed with 4th year rotations at least 1 week before graduation.


Ok so here's the way I see it, now that I have that all typed out! They are pulling core sites into Iowa b/c they believe that they will have more control over what you are learning from these sites if the location was closer to the DMU campus. They are doing this to ensure that YOU as a student are getting the education that you will need for shelf exams, boards and your future career. Flexibilty is nice, but if you aren't learning squat what's the point. There is still flexibility with the new system, just not with the cores. To be honest, I would rather not rotate through a site during my cores or clerkships that I may want to do my residency at, since I will not be up to par as I would be after completing my cores. At first I wanted to do all my rotations where I wanted to, but now I understand why and I agree with it. I will not be taking vacation during my 3rd year (during the electives time) b/c I want to save that vacation time during 4th year when I will be interviewing for residencies.

 

[SOUNDMAN]

Excellent information. Thanks for the great post!

 

[It'sElectric]

Excellent information. Thanks for the great post!

I feel a lot better about everything now. It basically sounds like this will ultimately be a very good thing for the school (assuming that they can ensure all of the Iowa sites are quality).

Furthermore, we have just as much electives time as ever. 44 weeks to take part in elective rotations is awesome. In addition, the ability to have 22 weeks of those electives under anyone (MD or DO) makes it even easier to audition at the places we aspire to do our residency at.

Obviously, there is still a ton of flexibility in the rotations schedule.

 

[FutureNavyDOc]

Yeah, I guess I didn't really make the process very clear in my post. 5 hours of sleep and in my 5th month of studying for boards will do that to ya!

Thanks Munchkin.


As an aside, after the meeting with Dr. Reed, I definitely feel he is doing this for the right reason which is he wants his students to get the best clinical education possible.

One of his main goals is to ensure all rotations meet not only NBOME requirements (which they all already do), but also LCME requirements which will do nothing but boost our school's standing and reputation.

 

[It'sElectric]

One of his main goals is to ensure all rotations meet not only NBOME requirements (which they all already do), but also LCME requirements which will do nothing but boost our school's standing and reputation.

Very awesome, and I think this is incredibly important. Hearing that definitely makes me realize that DMU is working for us, which is awesome.

 

[DORocksMySocks]

Thank you Munchkin for making this all some much clearer.....it really does seem like they are just trying to provide the best education they can...for US! 🙂

 

[DORocksMySocks]

Wow, I just read almost all of the DMU class of 09 thread...what a great time. It sorta made me feel tired, and a bit worried, specifically for BioChem....then a bit for embryo....dear lord....this is all going to start happening so fast....I may start going crazy already.

 

[FutureNavyDOc]

Wow, I just read almost all of the DMU class of 09 thread...what a great time. It sorta made me feel tired, and a bit worried, specifically for BioChem....then a bit for embryo....dear lord....this is all going to start happening so fast....I may start going crazy already.

Don't start worrying about it now, enjoy your summer and relax, make some good memories that will help carry you through 1st year.

Before you know it, it'll be 2 years from now and you'll be in my shoes, ready to take Step 1 of the COMLEX boards tomorrow... maybe ready is a bit of an overstatement as I don't think you can ever be fully ready, but I'm taking them tomorrow one way or another.

 

[It'sElectric]

Good luck!

 

[misparas]

Have you folks been researching health insurance options? How does the DMU plan stack up? Thanks in advance for any info.

 

[DORocksMySocks]

I have a question for those of you who are either MS1 or MS2 or what have you a DMU...

I have been reading a couple boards (on MD and DO threads) about how students don't go to class and they do well, even better, than if they went.....

Did most of you attend your year one or two classes regularly?? Did it benefit you? I just cant see myself paying a butt load for school and not going to class....

tips??

 

[Munchkin6245]

I have a question for those of you who are either MS1 or MS2 or what have you a DMU...

I have been reading a couple boards (on MD and DO threads) about how students don't go to class and they do well, even better, than if they went.....

Did most of you attend your year one or two classes regularly?? Did it benefit you? I just cant see myself paying a butt load for school and not going to class....

tips??

The way I felt at the beginning of the year was...I'm spending all that money I need to go to class. Well, as time goes on, you'll find what lectures/lecturers you will want to go to and which ones you want to skip. But just b/c you skip doesn't mean that time isn't being utilized wisely. There were some lectures I didn't attend b/c I knew that I would do better studying on my own at that time rather than being in class. To be honest I did miss a lot of classes, and I still did great on exams. Some schools have the option where you do self-study instead of attending classes. I took a lot of classes after undergrad that I didn't need to attend an actual class, so I was already doing that before med school. It depends on how you learn the best. On the other hand, my really good friend believes that she has to go attend every class or else she'll do bad. So it's basically up to you.

 

[SOUNDMAN]

Have you folks been researching health insurance options? How does the DMU plan stack up? Thanks in advance for any info.

We have been looking into other options. And specifically checking with other Blue Cross plans as well. For us as a family the DMU plan is fairly steep it seems. I thought that they have some excellent plans to look at on the website for blue cross and were quite comparable. I don't know why the difference in cost though. I was finding a comparable deductible, a higher lifetime maximum coverage of 2 million, and very similar coverage for less or equal money. I'm going to keep looking though.

 

[jbone]

We have been looking into other options. And specifically checking with other Blue Cross plans as well. For us as a family the DMU plan is fairly steep it seems.

No crap. $9,000/year???????????????? This is killing me.
I might be on the schools plan and I might just have my wife and kids get their coverage from the government. How else can it be done? This all sucks. 🙁

 

[kahoo99]

My wife and I just bought our first house!!! I was in des moines for about four and a half hours toured a ****-load of homes and found one I really liked and now all that has to happen is the inspection!!! We'll be moving out the 6th of July. So we'll be around from then on. I can't wait to meet y'all. Thanks for the realtor recommendations. 🙂

 

[SOUNDMAN]

Congrats on the house. We'll be closing on June 15th, and moving July 15th. Should be fun!

 

[MsEvolution]

No crap. $9,000/year???????????????? This is killing me.
I might be on the schools plan and I might just have my wife and kids get their coverage from the government. How else can it be done? This all sucks. 🙁

Unless you have huge assets (besides the home you live in) and a brand new car, you should be able to qualify for Medicaid for you AND your family. I know that's a VERY sweet deal some families here set themselves up with. I wasn't able to because (1) I own a home and a rental home in Washington and (2) I own a car that is above their limit for the value your car should have ... I can't remember what that is... but I think it needs to be less than $5000 or so. So if you meet those requirements, you should qualify for family medicaid... you should apply 1st thing when you get here to see if you can wiggle your way out of the school sponsored one!

 

[SOUNDMAN]

Unless you have huge assets (besides the home you live in) and a brand new car, you should be able to qualify for Medicaid for you AND your family. I know that's a VERY sweet deal some families here set themselves up with. I wasn't able to because (1) I own a home and a rental home in Washington and (2) I own a car that is above their limit for the value your car should have ... I can't remember what that is... but I think it needs to be less than $5000 or so. So if you meet those requirements, you should qualify for family medicaid... you should apply 1st thing when you get here to see if you can wiggle your way out of the school sponsored one!

Yea I fall into the same situation owning a home and having too new a car, kills me as well. I'm looking at one of the other Blue Cross plans that appears to be actually better in a lot of instances than what the school is offering. Insurance can be a crap shoot though and sometimes scares the willies out of me

 

[evenflowcarter]

GL DMU 10


Hope your 74 tests next year goes great!





Joe

DMU DO 09

 

[jbone]

GL DMU 10


Hope your 74 tests next year goes great!





Joe

DMU DO 09

uhhh, thanks bitter student!
74?? Ouch.