DMU-COM Discussion Thread 2010-2011

[AlmadeDr]

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I just got my interview invite yesterday and I'm thinking I'm lucky I jumped on the interview scheduler when I did. I'm interviewing this Monday, Oct. 18th. It was that or wait a month or more, and since I'm within driving range I was at least able to guarantee I could get there on such short notice.

Looks like I'll be seeing some of you down there! 🙂

 

[CTSDTV]

I just got home, but wanted to reconfirm that the interview here is definitely laid back. I was definitely WOW'ed!

Anywho, for those still searching where to stay--I stayed at the Heartland Inn near the airport for approximately $82. You do not need to rent a car if you stay here. You can take a free shuttle to/from the airport to the hotel (Keck shuttle). On the day of the interview, Heartland Inn Hotel's shuttle will take you the school on time for the interview. They will also hold your luggage until you come back. When the day is done, take a cab back to the hotel and they will comp the taxi ride.

P.S. This is an awesome school! 👍

 

[wiscRD]

I just completed the secondary earlier today (not the hardest thing to do, I know) but at least I finally got one in! and recieved an interview invite back about an hour later!!!!

How is that even possible? They wouldn't have had your letters yet...

 

[MightyMoose]

How is that even possible? They wouldn't have had your letters yet...

You should read the rest of the thread. If you meet certain MCAT and GPA requirements you get an automatic interview invite.

 

[firfghtr]

Has anyone interviewed at both DMU and UNE?

 

[DoctorJDO]

I interviewed at DMU, and I withdrew my interview from UNE but I have been there several times if you have any questions about comparisons

 

[firfghtr]

I interviewed at DMU, and I withdrew my interview from UNE but I have been there several times if you have any questions about comparisons

I just interviewed at UNE and am scheduled to interview at DMU. Any comparisons would be greatly appreciated. You obviously preferred DMU.

 

[DoctorJDO]

I just interviewed at UNE and am scheduled to interview at DMU. Any comparisons would be greatly appreciated. You obviously preferred DMU.

sent you a PM. I did prefer DMU, it is a great school and works for me. UNE is also nice and a good choice, though

 

[jkizzle]

You should read the rest of the thread. If you meet certain MCAT and GPA requirements you get an automatic interview invite.

yes. it was fast tracked or whatever it's called, I just have to make sure the letters are there by interview day

 

[FutureDoc1988]

I just got an interview invite but the earliest days are in December and I have to put a deposit down for another school on Dec 15. Does anyone know if there is a way to move up the interview?

 

[DoctorJDO]

You can call the admissions department and they will call you whenever someone cancels, and ask if you would be able to take their time slot

 

[FutureDoc1988]

You can call the admissions department and they will call you whenever someone cancels, and ask if you would be able to take their time slot

Thanks for the information. Just called them and got put on the list.

 

[Polo423]

Got an interview scheduled for November 18th! Anyone else here interviewing then?

 

[Doctor Drew]

I'm getting really anxious waiting to hear back post interview. I know they said 2 weeks and it has only been 8 days, but......

 

[wolverine1]

I'm getting really anxious waiting to hear back post interview. I know they said 2 weeks and it has only been 8 days, but......

Thank God, I thought I was the only one freaking out. This is worse than waiting for mcat scores to be released.

 

[Biochem88]

Thank God, I thought I was the only one freaking out. This is worse than waiting for mcat scores to be released.

If it makes you feel any better, I interviewed the 8th of September and didn't get a status update until the 28th. Apparently admissions was out on vacation for a week. It could be worse lol, but I know the feeling...good luck!

 

[Melkor]

Just withdrew from my oct. 28th interview so if someone has a later interview and would like one on the 28th, there might be a spot open now. Good luck

 

[wolverine1]

I have a feeling that those who interviewed 1-2 weeks ago will hear back tomorrow...just a hunch..

 

[Pourquoipas]

Thank God, I thought I was the only one freaking out. This is worse than waiting for mcat scores to be released.

Agreed. I loved this school and all others have failed to impress me the way DMU has...

 

[PsychEpathic]

Just got an interview yesterday too! To those who interviewed, what did you like and not like about the program?! I am scheduled for12/13. Thanks!!

 

[reezer4]

Just got an interview yesterday too! To those who interviewed, what did you like and not like about the program?! I am scheduled for12/13. Thanks!!

Yay for another person interviewing in December, I'm interviewing on the 16th! Good luck!

 

[DoctorJDO]

Just got an interview yesterday too! To those who interviewed, what did you like and not like about the program?! I am scheduled for12/13. Thanks!!

The area is very nice, in a grassy neighborhood-type area, but only minutes from downtown. The school's facilities are newish and very nice. They have a lot of hands on experience there, such as the surgical skills lab (I don't know anywhere else that has one). Every school has a patient simulator lab, and they all brag that theirs is somehow special, which it isn't, but DMU has one. It's borderline average/cheaper than most DO schools, and they do have a few scholarships also. The cost of living is low, even in the nice area the campus is on. The students are friendly and seem to be cooperative. There are a LOT of study areas and a nice quiet library compared to most schools. The faculty are approachable as I was told by some students, and I think there is some merit to this, as it was the most enjoyable interview I have had. There really wasn't anything I didn't like about this school. One thing others might not like, or like depending on personal choice, is that it is only a graduate/professional school, so it is smaller than other schools that might have an undergrad campus attached to it. There is also no central hospital, which was a bummer, but overall it was my favorite school I applied to. You should read some previous posts, and last years forums, a lot of people really liked DMU

 

[seap3]

Just got an interview yesterday too! To those who interviewed, what did you like and not like about the program?! I am scheduled for12/13. Thanks!!

Things I liked:
-recorded lectures & notepool
-nice tablet laptop included in tuition
-nice sim lab
-des moines is nice/safe with plenty to do (ok, I'm looking at this from a mom point of view, so maybe not so much to do for young singles) - not too big and not too small
-tuition isn't incredibly high
-staff was very friendly
-great anatomy lab - monitors at each station and the lab didn't smell as bad as others I've been to

Things I didn't like:
??

 

[metalgirl14]

Just got an interview yesterday too! To those who interviewed, what did you like and not like about the program?! I am scheduled for12/13. Thanks!!

The good:
enthusiastic and helpful students
awesome facilities (sim lab, surgical skills lab, etc)
nice area (not too city-like but not small town-ish either)
low cost of living
relatively inexpensive (compared to other DO schools)
in general, the school was pretty health conscious (nice gym, wellness testing on students, etc)

The bad:
no swimming pool (but I can live without that)
no football team!!! (I can still watch NU football on tv but it's not the same as going to a game)

I loved DMU though. It seemed like a really nice school. 🙂

 

[PurplePandaPJs]

Interviewing tomorrow. I'm so excited!

 

[Assmosis]

Just got an interview yesterday too! To those who interviewed, what did you like and not like about the program?! I am scheduled for12/13. Thanks!!

Got an interview scheduled for November 18th! Anyone else here interviewing then?

I just got an interview invite but the earliest days are in December and I have to put a deposit down for another school on Dec 15. Does anyone know if there is a way to move up the interview?

I was just wondering of those of you that got recent interview invites, when you were complete. I received the complete e-mail on 09/20 and today has been the 30 day mark so I'm getting a little worried , thanks!

 

[FutureDoc1988]

I was just wondering of those of you that got recent interview invites, when you were complete. I received the complete e-mail on 09/20 and today has been the 30 day mark so I'm getting a little worried , thanks!

I was complete on 9/27 and received my invite on Monday

 

[doctorpurple]

So, I have a major concern (maybe minor for many) about the PC's that DMU provides to freshman students. I am a mac user and I'm wondering if the tablet PC that they provide is the computer that I NEED to use or can I substitute it for another laptop of my choice?

 

[AlmadeDr]

So, I have a major concern (maybe minor for many) about the PC's that DMU provides to freshman students. I am a mac user and I'm wondering if the tablet PC that they provide is the computer that I NEED to use or can I substitute it for another laptop of my choice?

Someone asked this on my tour group. The current student's response was that you can use a mac if you are want to, it is just not guaranteed as far as documents compatibility, etc. She made it sound as if the major benefit of using the PC was that they would deal with any hardware/software malfunctions. And that they pay for it.

 

[PsychEpathic]

I was just wondering of those of you that got recent interview invites, when you were complete. I received the complete e-mail on 09/20 and today has been the 30 day mark so I'm getting a little worried , thanks!

Yo. I was complete on 9/27, invite 10/18. It took them about 3 weeks to get back to me. Good luck! 🙂

 

[PsychEpathic]

Thanks for the replies! I am excited about DMU and glad to hear great things. 🙂

 

[MightyMoose]

So, I have a major concern (maybe minor for many) about the PC's that DMU provides to freshman students. I am a mac user and I'm wondering if the tablet PC that they provide is the computer that I NEED to use or can I substitute it for another laptop of my choice?

Someone asked this on my tour group. The current student's response was that you can use a mac if you are want to, it is just not guaranteed as far as documents compatibility, etc. She made it sound as if the major benefit of using the PC was that they would deal with any hardware/software malfunctions. And that they pay for it.

I didn't get that impression. They made it seem very much like you need to use their PC. You are going to get one, which is built in to your tuition, but whether you use it at home is up to you. My impression was that they have streamlined the PC's with all the software you need and they completely service them for you if yours goes down (I think they said you will even get a loaner until it's fixed).

 

[rocketman0314]

It would be sweet if they migrated from PC's over to the IPAD!!! That thing is sweet.

 

[wolverine1]

It would be sweet if they migrated from PC's over to the IPAD!!! That thing is sweet.

or the new macbook airs...god those things are sweeet.

 

[doctorpurple]

or the new macbook airs...god those things are sweeet.

Yeah I agree. Oh well I guess I'll just use my MacBook pro at home. Sucks because I'm thinking of buying the latest version just before I start school. I guess I can still do that. Maybe I'll get the MB Air.

 

[twocentnews]

What kind of a tablet PC is it, does anyone know?

 

[MightyMoose]

What kind of a tablet PC is it, does anyone know?

It's a Toshiba. It looks pretty decent. You probably can't game on it, but for school it's probably all you need.

 

[doctorpurple]

It's a Toshiba. It looks pretty decent. You probably can't game on it, but for school it's probably all you need.

well I checked out the toshiba tablet. It's ok I guess. I'm still going to use Mac outside the classroom. By the way, how did you know that is toshiba?

 

[MightyMoose]

well I checked out the toshiba tablet. It's ok I guess. I'm still going to use Mac outside the classroom. By the way, how did you know that is toshiba?

My previous career was reading minds, predicting futures, and detecting pc's that medical schools use...

Haha. I kid I kid. One of the med students showed me the PC when I was there for an interview. He seemed to think it worked well.

 

[g8orlife]

For those interested, I may be dropping my 10/28 interview date. I'll let you guys know in the next few days.

 

[wolverine1]

My previous career was reading minds, predicting futures, and detecting pc's that medical schools use...

Haha. I kid I kid. One of the med students showed me the PC when I was there for an interview. He seemed to think it worked well.

One of the student's showed me their "tablet" during my interview. Honestly people, the thing looks ancient compared to almost everything else on the market. They are ugly and fat, not to mention running windows.

 

[MightyMoose]

One of the student's showed me their "tablet" during my interview. Honestly people, the thing looks ancient compared to almost everything else on the market. They are ugly and fat, not to mention running windows.

I think they are thicker because they are tablets. I prefer windows pc's to Macs.


Here are some pics of it, or one very similar to it:

 

[OneTyme]

One of the student's showed me their "tablet" during my interview. Honestly people, the thing looks ancient compared to almost everything else on the market. They are ugly and fat, not to mention running windows.

To be honest, I'm a mac fan. However, the tablet PC's aren't all that bad. We use something a lot like that where I work and they work fine. The computers the students were using worked well and obviously the system that the school uses is built around this type of operating platform. When it comes down to it, DMU has a technical system that is far above the other schools that I have been to. The difference between getting mac vs. a pc included in your tuition is kinda splitting hairs, at least in the big picture (you know, since DMU totally kicks hiney).

Everyone join the DMU class of 2015 Facebook page!!!!!

 

[Biochem88]

To be honest, I'm a mac fan. However, the tablet PC's aren't all that bad. We use something a lot like that where I work and they work fine. The computers the students were using worked well and obviously the system that the school uses is built around this type of operating platform. When it comes down to it, DMU has a technical system that is far above the other schools that I have been to. The difference between getting mac vs. a pc included in your tuition is kinda splitting hairs, at least in the big picture (you know, since DMU totally kicks hiney).

Everyone join the DMU class of 2015 Facebook page!!!!!

+1. I personally hate macs, but if they gave me one for free I wouldn't be upset. Just approach this with the same maturity it took to get into medical school and say "thank you DMU" not "what else you got?"

 

[burnettj]

+1. I personally hate macs, but if they gave me one for free I wouldn't be upset. Just approach this with the same maturity it took to get into medical school and say "thank you DMU" not "what else you got?"

I agree with your point, though keep in mind that nothing in medical school is free. You do pay for the laptop (actually it is sort of a rent-to-own, I think), and after 4 years you get to keep it (if you drop out early, I believe you have to give the computer back). There is nothing free about the computer. The only advantage to doing it this way, is that you know that the computer they give you is exactly the computer everything in the curriculum is set up for... and if it breaks, they fix it lightning fast (or so I was told).

I am not sure that being coerced into buying a tablet pc necessarily requires a lecture on maturity, but nonetheless, if you go to DMU, you should know that you are going to be paying for, and receiving, a tablet pc, regardless of how much you are a Mac Guy (or Gal).

 

[AutumnChild]

I agree with your point, though keep in mind that nothing in medical school is free. You do pay for the laptop (actually it is sort of a rent-to-own, I think), and after 4 years you get to keep it (if you drop out early, I believe you have to give the computer back). There is nothing free about the computer. The only advantage to doing it this way, is that you know that the computer they give you is exactly the computer everything in the curriculum is set up for... and if it breaks, they fix it lightning fast (or so I was told).

I am not sure that being coerced into buying a tablet pc necessarily requires a lecture on maturity, but nonetheless, if you go to DMU, you should know that you are going to be paying for, and receiving, a tablet pc, regardless of how much you are a Mac Guy (or Gal).

I figure you do pay for the laptop in tuition, but DMU's tuition is probably the cheapest out of all the schools I'm considering about attending so to me it's getting it for free 🙂

 

[Biochem88]

I should have clarified.

There are many medical schools that charge as much, if not more, in tuition and you don't receive a computer to use from the school. In that sense it is free...or a perk...or a benefit (whatever you want to call it).

Also, a one sentence statement hardly counts as a lecture. I was merely implying one should be grateful instead of complaining and put things into perspective. That is my opinion and carries as much merit as one opinion does.

 

[burnettj]

I should have clarified.

There are many medical schools that charge as much, if not more, in tuition and you don't receive a computer to use from the school. In that sense it is free...or a perk...or a benefit (whatever you want to call it).

Also, a one sentence statement hardly counts as a lecture. I was merely implying one should be grateful instead of complaining and put things into perspective. That is my opinion and carries as much merit as one opinion does.

And I was merely pointing out that you don't actually have to be grateful... you paid for it! BUT you do have to come to terms, that regardless of your opinion on mac v. pc, by going to DMU you are the proud owner of a tablet pc, that you bought with your loan money, whether you want it or not (I actually think it is a good idea).

 

[thegame11]

I have a few questions for y'all. 😍

1) On the budget sheet, the total COA is ~$61,000. If the two fixed expenses are tuition ($38,000) and heath insurance ($2,000), does it really cost $21,000 to live in Des Moines and cover the miscellaneous stuff? (Eg. If you choose to live in those houses next to the school, I think you can get away without a car and save around $3000...)

I think these estimates may be a bit exaggerated so you can get the maximum amount of loans if needed. But, that's just my guess.

What would be actually costs for an average student? Could you get by on $10,000? What if you were to live frugally?

2) Do you need a car for 3rd year and 4th year? Can you just live close by the hospital in your clinical years?

What about during the 4th year? Is it hectic to go to different locations every 3-4 weeks? Can you end up paying rent potentially for 2 places?

3) Doing rotations at international sites: I have noticed a lot of schools not just DMU offer this option. How does the school insure that you receive good instruction/training at these sites? Or is it mostly up to the student on what you want to get out of the learning experience?

4) Do you get time off between 2nd and 3rd year to study for the board exam?

 

[MightyMoose]

And I was merely pointing out that you don't actually have to be grateful... you paid for it! BUT you do have to come to terms, that regardless of your opinion on mac v. pc, by going to DMU you are the proud owner of a tablet pc, that you bought with your loan money, whether you want it or not (I actually think it is a good idea).

I agree. This way if something happens to your pc, you walk right into IT and walk out with a loaner until yours is fixed. I'm sure they can also easily remove your hard drive and place it into the loaner (which will be the identical PC), so you will have everything you had on your previous PC, assuming it wasn't your hard drive that crashed.

I also agree that you are paying for it. I've learned that nothing in life is free, but it is nice that they build it into your tuition. I have also heard that you don't get the Itouch or whatever the hand held device is.