DMU-COMS Class of 2008

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macman

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Welcome to those of you coming to Des Moines this summer. I am one of the current OMM Fellows and a fourth year student (some of you would have met me if you interviewed before x-mas). I am more than happy to answer ?'s you may have about coming here.
 
Hello Macman!
Thanks for volunteering to answer questions. What cellular phone company has the best coverage in the DMU area? What would you recommend?
 
Most of my class mates got either sprint or verizon-both are fine for des moines. I got sprint b/c I knew I would be in fairly big cities for my rotations as well and its workes well for me. Verizon would be better for people looking to go more rural.
 
I know I have T-Mobile right now and when I was out there for my interview I got great service. Although T-Mobile is not good if you travel alot, but like sprint is good if you stay near big cities. However, I do like that I can keep everything the same going from MA--->IA.

Josh
 
I am in the class of 2007, and I have AT&T and I think that they have really good coverage and they have good plans. Not many people at the school seem to have it though.

Also if anyone has any questions about DMU or anything feel free to ask.
Jenny
 
I have heard that at DMU there are days that you are finished with class by noon. What is a typical class schedule like? What percentage of classes do you need to purchase books for? I am from the midwest myself and have only heard great things about Des Moines. I really have not heard anything negative. Can this be true.

Thanks
Tom
DMU 2008
 
rescuetomm said:
I have heard that at DMU there are days that you are finished with class by noon. What is a typical class schedule like? What percentage of classes do you need to purchase books for? I am from the midwest myself and have only heard great things about Des Moines. I really have not heard anything negative. Can this be true.

Thanks
Tom
DMU 2008
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Tom-

1. Do not buy any books until you get here

2. How many books you buy depends on your study style and your personality. I found that I could do very well in my most courses w/o the "required/suggested" text(s). In many courses the professors provide such complete handouts that the only text books with pictures (like for anatomy ) are essential. In histo-I bought a board review book. Also-the library has all the books so unless all you do is try to cram you can use those too. In a nutshell I bought many fewer books that I thought I would need to.

3. In terms of negative things-the big one in the past was the clinical affairs dept.-that has vastly changed for the better to probably one of the better systems out there
 
Definately don't buy books until you get the handouts. I ended up buying 3 books total all year, two anatomy and the physical diagnosis book. And if I needed to reference a book, I went to the library. You'll have handouts, notepool if you participate, and books. If you can use all three without getting bogged down with time, more power to you. Or if you're like Luckystar and Cremaster, you're already a genius and don't have to worry about it. Also, Lucky likes to babysit animals if you ever go out of town....especially cats.

Rick James
 
What is this, a conspiracy to get my apartment covered in 2 inches of animal fur? I am a dog and reptile person, but will do cats and even plants (!!) if I must. Just to clarify.
 
luckystar said:
What is this, a conspiracy to get my apartment covered in 2 inches of animal fur? I am a dog and reptile person, but will do cats and even plants (!!) if I must. Just to clarify.
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You would DO cats and even plants......desperate times call for desperate measures eh lucky?
 
Have you seen the new tree in my apartment? It would put you to shame.
 
You two are crazy...............also if anyone is around this summer you might want to consider going to a grand rounds or two at the mercy MEC by Mercy Hospital. Any questions ask one of us.
 
Hey DO 07-

its great you guys use this forum a lot-but please use your other threads for conversation-I would like to use this thread for incoming students for their questions. Thanks!
 
Hey MacMan
I just want to hear your opinion about clinical rotations for 3rd and 4th year students at DMU. I've read a lot of negative stories about DMU especially from ripulpancal. Are these stories really true?

Porland
DMU 2008
 
Hey,

I'm going to post this here and in the 2008 thread. I've finished the beginnings of the DMUNotePool.com site. If you would be so kind as to vote at http://www.sether52.com I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks!
 
porland said:
Hey MacMan
I just want to hear your opinion about clinical rotations for 3rd and 4th year students at DMU. I've read a lot of negative stories about DMU especially from ripulpancal. Are these stories really true?

Porland
DMU 2008
Click to expand...


Porland-

Without knowing what was said by whom I cannot directly respond. But as a fourth year-going into my fifth year and having rotated at sites from our core sites to the core sites for other DO schools to two rotations with Harvard med school I think I have a lot of perspective.

First let me say that I think you can most fairly compare DMU to other DO schools in terms of clinical rotations.

Our strengths: Flexibility-compared to many other DO schools DMU gives you a ton of flexibility interms of where and when you get to do rotations. All of your fourth year except two months is up to your own creativity and desires. We have new deans in that dept. who are more involved and dedicated. We also have affiliations with some of the better core sites of other DO schools-so we get all their advantages without the inflexibility.

Our weakness: we do not have a "DMU medical center", but then again most DO schools do not have a major medical center to call their own. I'm not sure this is a huge problem unless you cannot bear the thought of rotating outside of Des Moines (we have spots for approx. 1/3 of the class to stay here in Des Moines at affiliated hosp. We are adding sopts each year with the new leadership.
 
hey cremaster07, macman:

Could you please elaborate on the grand rounds... What exactly is it and what do you get to do??

thanx

avi
 
Luluzbello said:
hey cremaster07, macman:

Could you please elaborate on the grand rounds... What exactly is it and what do you get to do??

thanx

avi
Click to expand...

Avi,
I posted in the Osteopathic page in a sort of sarcastic tone what it is but I will try to explain it to you more seriously. Grand Rounds happens every thursday from 7:30-9:30 in a building across from Mercy Hospital. Basically interns to senior residents give either case presentations or talks on a particular subject. The attendings sit through these talks and then grill the presenter with questions ranging from anatomy on CT's, x-rays, and etc. to treatment regiments. Its a good experience to go learn some anatomy/surgery information in the context of clinical cases. It also gives you a very good idea of what your life will be like if you are planning anything remotely close to surgery. Each week there is a different topic presented, and there is the M&M once a month. All in all I feel that I learn quite a bit from them, so whenever I feel like I have free time or that I can skip class I grab Lucky and we head there for some "med school entertainment". If you have any other questions feel free to ask away. I'm sure lots of people have info on Grand Rounds.
 
Ok, I now have a house. It's a 3 bdrm 2 miles from school. I'm looking for 2 roomates. PM me for more info.
 
Thousandth,

I'm in the process of closing on a home also. I have been waiting to send in my financial aid stuff for fear that it will show up on my credit report and i won't get the house. How did you do it? Do you know if they even care about medical school loans? Thanks for advice,

Seth
 
I called Financial Aid and they said that it wouldn't affect your aid package. I also have the house in my parents name. That takes away any problems also. 😀
 
I will also be starting in the fall, I am currently a Respiratory Therapist and wanted to know if it's possible to pick up one 8hr shift a week for extra money? I didn't know if there is enough free time in the school schedule to allow this.

Also (if anyone is still looking for a place to live), my wife and I are going to move into the Sun Prairie apts, it seemed really nice to us. I timed the drive and it took no more than 20 minutes to get to DMU, although this was not during rush hour.

I think Dodgeball would be awesome, has anyone seen the movie yet? It' hilarious.

Sether52, I can't get your link to open up, is it just me?

Hopefully to see you all soon,

Abel
 
Creamfly said:
I will also be starting in the fall, I am currently a Respiratory Therapist and wanted to know if it's possible to pick up one 8hr shift a week for extra money? I didn't know if there is enough free time in the school schedule to allow this.

Also (if anyone is still looking for a place to live), my wife and I are going to move into the Sun Prairie apts, it seemed really nice to us. I timed the drive and it took no more than 20 minutes to get to DMU, although this was not during rush hour.

I think Dodgeball would be awesome, has anyone seen the movie yet? It' hilarious.

Sether52, I can't get your link to open up, is it just me?

Hopefully to see you all soon,

Abel
Click to expand...


I personally like being in an apartment next to school-but everyone is different (I prefer a 3 minute commute over a 20 minute-especially on the morning of a test). I lived at 3000 grand which was fine but I did not like the management or the price. My wife and I now live at Windsor Terrace which is a little older but has character and hardwood floors and is inexpensive-we like it a lot. Let me know if you have other ?'s. Oh yea-you asked about working-I would hold off for a while until you get into a groove-I actually worked at the library-but that is 90% study time (of course less pay than RT)
 
Creamfly said:
Sether52, I can't get your link to open up, is it just me?

Abel
Click to expand...

Hey Abel,

I think I interviewed with you back in November. I can't forget a name like Abel. Do you remember the tall, goofy-looking guy? That was me. Anyway, the link is working well for me. Try it again. I'd be all about Dodgeball if anyone is up to it.

On a side note, my wife and I have an apartment that we are moving out of july 31st. It's a little close to the start of school but it's a great 2 bedroom in West Des Moines for only $590 and it comes with free cable and hot water. Just thought I'd let people know.
 
11-06-03%20normal.jpg


Which one is you, Abel? Anybody else posting on the DMU 2008 thread in this picture?

Seth
 
I'm the guy with the shaved head without the goatee (two to the left of the tall goofy guy). The link seems to work just fine now, I'm sure it was my computer. There's no way it was MY fault.

We'll have to get together when I get there and reminisce (I actually had to look the word up, I didn't know how to spell it) about all the good times we've had.
 
Here is the pic from my group. Jan 9th. I am: seated row, far right, grey suit and red hair.

It was funny the girl who is in the seated row on the far right only lives about 3 miles from me.
 

Attachments

dancinjenn said:
Here is the pic from my group. Jan 9th. I am: seated row, far right, grey suit and red hair.

It was funny the girl who is in the seated row on the far right only lives about 3 miles from me.
Click to expand...

You only live 3 miles from yourself? Sometimes I don't know where I am.
 
Creamfly said:
I will also be starting in the fall, I am currently a Respiratory Therapist and wanted to know if it's possible to pick up one 8hr shift a week for extra money? I didn't know if there is enough free time in the school schedule to allow this.

Also (if anyone is still looking for a place to live), my wife and I are going to move into the Sun Prairie apts, it seemed really nice to us. I timed the drive and it took no more than 20 minutes to get to DMU, although this was not during rush hour.

I think Dodgeball would be awesome, has anyone seen the movie yet? It' hilarious.

Sether52, I can't get your link to open up, is it just me?

Hopefully to see you all soon,

Abel
Click to expand...


Abel,
I live in Sun Prairie and I personally had no problem whatsoever when it came commuting back and forth to school. Most days I could even drive home at noon if I felt like having lunch. I liked it cause it felt like you could get away from school for awhile and forget about stuff, but like macman says it depends on your preference. I also so the movie and it was great. It looks like intramural dodgeball will be a go, so that's something to look forward to. Also, a couple of my lab partners worked as tech's at methodist and most of the time one or two days a month weren't bad, and most places will basically let you pick and choose hours cause you are in school. If I were you I'd take macman's advice and wait a couple of weeks until you get into the flow then decide if that money is worth it or not!! Enjoy the rest of your summer, school sneaks up you fast.
 
sether52do said:
You only live 3 miles from yourself? Sometimes I don't know where I am.
Click to expand...


I'm only kidding of course. 😀
 
sether52do said:
I'm only kidding of course. 😀
Click to expand...


Ok, ya got me...major brain fart!! What I mean is the one on the far left....wow, guess that brain cell has been radiated a little too much, lol.
 
I think I actually interviewed with the guy in the back far right of jen's picture but at a different school!!
 
You know, I think you could be right. With some simple triangulation you could guestimate that he looks to be about 7'3" and 300 lbs. Wow, that's neat!
 
they may look alike but the basketball guy was born in 1964, and the kid I interviewed with was younger than me and brought his parents with him. Also, there is no way he was 7'3". But I have to admit they do look similar 🙄
 
yeah 7'3" is really tall. MacMan just curious what in particular you didn't like about 3000 Grand. THat is where I will probably be living this year. Someone else said that they hike the rent on people after the first year. I know that with move in specials and stuff it's pretty good the first year. I did notice the management doesn't seem to be very nice (although helpful) but I've gotten that from other places I've lived so it doesn't bother me too much as long as if and when problems arise they are there to help. So, any feedback would be good to hear.

Josh
 
jtessier said:
yeah 7'3" is really tall. MacMan just curious what in particular you didn't like about 3000 Grand. THat is where I will probably be living this year. Someone else said that they hike the rent on people after the first year. I know that with move in specials and stuff it's pretty good the first year. I did notice the management doesn't seem to be very nice (although helpful) but I've gotten that from other places I've lived so it doesn't bother me too much as long as if and when problems arise they are there to help. So, any feedback would be good to hear.

Josh
Click to expand...

I thought the management was not helpful at all-especially once you move in-they are v. rigid when it comes to their time-but when I had a neighbor throwing parties at 4 am every weekend it took them a long time to respond. The rents their are 30-40% higher than what I pay now. I also do not like the hotel look-its a little too institutional. My personal preferences.
 
macman said:
I thought the management was not helpful at all-especially once you move in-they are v. rigid when it comes to their time-but when I had a neighbor throwing parties at 4 am every weekend it took them a long time to respond. The rents their are 30-40% higher than what I pay now. I also do not like the hotel look-its a little too institutional. My personal preferences.
Click to expand...

My roommate and I are moving into the 3000 Grand Apartments on July 20th, but have been paying rent since June 15th. We were quoted a different price than we are actually being charged - about $100 more per month - and the management are not helpful at all. The lease was not what we had specified and they were unwilling to change it. It's been a huge hassle and I would not recommend this place to anyone. I doubt we will be living there our second year. My two cents.

Blake
 
Just my two cents also, but I got offered a one bedroom in 3000 grand and I turned it down thinking I would regret it. However, I also have friends who live there and there seems to be quite a bit of partying going on around the building, and I haven't heard anything good from anybody about the management. The building/apartments are nice, but you can get a two bedroom/two bathroom in west des moines for the price of a one bed/one bath in 3000 grand. If you move into the newer sun prairie buildings (which I did last summer) you get a pretty good move in special. We got free icubs tickets, $50 in laundry card money, our rent was $775 (which it got bumped up to $785 this year), but we have free high speed internet (cable) and 65 cable channels for $23 a month, and our utilities tend not to be more than $30 in the winter, and we haven't had one over $50 yet this summer. Our cable/internet company is now offering a phone service through them too which is unlimited local calling for like 18 bucks which is about $15 cheaper than Qwest which I have now. If you guys have any questions about Sun Prairie that I haven't answered just PM me or reply, I would be more than happy to help.
 
I actually ended up doing the 3000 Grand thing last week, but I was curious to get some more opinions. Everything seems ok so far but I obviously will have to wait and see a couple of months before I form a complete opinion. Alot of the apartments in WDM seemed like pretty good deals. I really did like Sun Prairie, but the only apartments they had coming available (of the newer ones). They said were 815/month, which was only about 10 cheaper than the ones at 3000 Grand. They also offered some decent "move-in" specials but from some of the stories I've heard I just hope everything goes ok. Although I'd like to stay the same place my first two years. If I were to have some of these problems I obviously would look elsewhere and it's nice to know that there are plenty of options.

Josh
 
Hey Lucky and Cremaster,

What is the model number of the Toshiba PDA that we all get? Thanks,

Seth
 
sether52do said:
Hey Lucky and Cremaster,

What is the model number of the Toshiba PDA that we all get? Thanks,

Seth
Click to expand...
Seth,

Our class got the Toshiba e750 Pocket PC. I would hold off on buying any accessories until you actually receive yours just in case they decide to go with a newer model or a different one altogether. I really like having one...the more gadgets the better! 🙂
 
I agree with Lucky gadgets are fun..............but she's right I don't know if you guys get the same stuff we got.....plus at the end of year II you get a new one for rotations because that is what you use to look up drug info and ect. on. If you have questions about technology besides the PDA you should ask Lucky -- she is crazy when it comes to computers/cameras/etc. 🙂
 
luckystar said:
Seth,

Our class got the Toshiba e750 Pocket PC. I would hold off on buying any accessories until you actually receive yours just in case they decide to go with a newer model or a different one altogether. I really like having one...the more gadgets the better! 🙂
Click to expand...

I've seen her dirrrty drawer.......she LOVES gadgets.
 
I know this might not be the best place to advertise, but I am a 3rd year student moving out to go into "the world" at the end of July. I have furniture to sell dirt cheap. A full size bed, nice corner desk (with bookshelf), 7 ft couch with chair and end/coffee tables, and a dinner table and chairs. Not to mention several lamps. If you have any interest, I can send you pictures. Please let me know ASAP by writing me back. Thanks!

Good luck to all of you!
 
I will post this in both threads since it's kind of short notice. I'm looking for some help to move a few things on Mon. July 12. I will be in Des Moines that day. I probably won't be able to check for any responses until Sun., but if anybody thinks they may be able to please PM me with a way to contact you. It would be greatly appreciated. It's literally only like 2 or 3 things and shouldn't take more than an hourish, I would assume. Thank you so much again.

Josh
 
Josh, I pm'd you.
 
I put this on the pre-osteopathic forum too.

I've actually been working with a few other students and admissions to get a bunch of events together for the week before the 2008's orientation week. This information will be on the student portal for all incoming 2008s and the 007's. Great time last year. Should be even better this year. Some events will include dinners, bowling, karaoke, and an Iowa Cubs game. All the details should be up by Monday. If you have any questions, feel free to PM me. Enjoy the rest of your summers.

dmak
 
I have two items to advertise for prospective and current DMU Students

1) 1997 VW Golf GL 4dr, 43,000 miles, excellent cond, extremely well maintained, b-to-b warranty until 12/06!, red color, nds nothing! please pm me for price, etc.

2) 1 br apt, furnished, across from school, perfect for fall rotations in Des Moines, or if you can't find a place until you get here. Avail. 8/28 until 12/31/04. All my stuff will be there (minus my clothes!) including home theatre sys., dishes, etc. Rent would be very cheap for this furnished sublet and would more than offset staying in a hotel/extended stay hotel for a few weeks in august when you get here (for incoming students), please p.m. me so as not to congest this forum
 
Is there a way on the portal to look at our class list? Or does this not come about until after we get our mugshots during orientation?
 
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