KCUMB Discussion thread 2007-2008

[thzone1986]

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For the students currently attending KCUMB, what is your opinion on the class size? I for one usually suck when I am in large classes but when I was there for the interview, they made it seem like it was a non issue. I realize that group study is a huge must, but I'm still concerned at the class size. I'm hoping that its not like undergrad where you get lost in the class size and have limited teacher interaction. Is it like that, and what is the student-teacher ration? Thanks for the info, this is probably my biggest hangup towards going to this school.

It'd be interesting to see what the largest class is out there for DO schools? I wonder if any schools break the 300 barrier

 

[t-funk]

I know I don't go to KCUMB, but I was worried about this myself at first and asked the girl that I stayed with. She seemed to think it wasn't a big deal and talked about how they divide the class into 4 by last name for lab and you basically get to know that quarter of your class really well and tend to study with them and such. This made me feel a lot better about the idea. I don't really ask questions or talk to professors much and tend to run out the door ASAP when class ends so the large lecture wasn't a big deal to me. Maybe some current students will come on and give their perspective.

 

[thzone1986]

personally not a problem at all. I go to a state school where I'm used to having over 450 people in a single lecture hall for 1 class period.

Only bad thing would be resources such as tutoring/study rooms/anatomy labs. As long as those things don't get compromised by class size.

 

[spicedmanna]

I know I don't go to KCUMB, but I was worried about this myself at first and asked the girl that I stayed with. She seemed to think it wasn't a big deal and talked about how they divide the class into 4 by last name for lab and you basically get to know that quarter of your class really well and tend to study with them and such. This made me feel a lot better about the idea. I don't really ask questions or talk to professors much and tend to run out the door ASAP when class ends so the large lecture wasn't a big deal to me. Maybe some current students will come on and give their perspective.

Well, it probably depends on your personality, but for me it's no big deal. I'm a very independent person and I'm not really that close to my class. We know each other by name (sometimes), but I don't know much about most. I certainly know my lab group better, especially my anatomy tank mates, but they are all acquaintances more than friends. I have a small group of friends that I know really well. I choose to spend time with this group and sometimes study with them. Other than that, I'm not that social with my class.

I haven't run into any issues with lectures, lab, and other events due to having a larger class size. It's a bit of a minor annoyance to check where your group is meeting and when your group is scheduled for certain things, etc., but you get accustomed to it rather quickly and stop seeing it as an issue. Rooms at Smith Hall do get filled up quickly during test time, but this is more of a problem with not having sufficient space for the number of students in the class rather than the class size itself. Also, tutors do sometimes have a number of students, but this hasn't bothered me for the most part, except for anatomy lab, when the tutors tend to get completely swamped and as a consequence, it gets a bit harder to learn, at least for me. Despite some of these minor things, I guess the only significant consequence of the large class size, at the end of the day, at least for me, is that I don't really know everyone. Then again, I'm seeing medical school as primarily an independent situation, with the support of a few good friends.

 

[osli]

For the students currently attending KCUMB, what is your opinion on the class size? I for one usually suck when I am in large classes but when I was there for the interview, they made it seem like it was a non issue. I realize that group study is a huge must, but I'm still concerned at the class size. I'm hoping that its not like undergrad where you get lost in the class size and have limited teacher interaction. Is it like that, and what is the student-teacher ration? Thanks for the info, this is probably my biggest hangup towards going to this school.

Hasn't been a problem for me that I can recall. I came from a high school with graduating class of about 60, and my major at a state university yielded classes of no more than 50 for anything past freshman year (and not many even then), and more like 20 or less for junior or senior classes. I wasn't really accustomed to a class of 250+.

But it doesn't seem like it has really impacted my learning negatively. The lecture auditoriums are well equipped for that many students, and unless you have poor and uncorrected eyesight you should be able to see all the slides clearly from anywhere. Audio, when microphone batteries aren't dead 🙄, is fine anywhere in the room.

For anything other than lectures, the class is divided into half, quarters, or smaller depending on the setting. OMT actually seems a little crowded to me with half the class and lots of TA's and other professors in the room, but since learning and practicing OMT isn't a life passion of mine it really doesn't bother me. At least there are plenty of people nearby to answer questions. For anatomy it works really well with half the class, and the lab seems well sized to handle 130 or so students. Study rooms do sometimes get hard to find right before a test, but even then I can usually find a room for the hour or two that I have a break between classes and want to study... it's getting a room for the whole day right before the final exam that might be tough. But a lot of students forget that there are plenty of areas in the library to study, the lounges in the AB and Smith hall, and also empty rooms on the bottom floor of SEP that students can use for study, as well as the cafeteria and usually two of the three classrooms are empty before the final.

Places where I think the large class size might be a negative:
- anatomy, since the two class halves share dissection duties and each builds on the dissection the previous half did. If you aren't a gung ho surgeon wannabe or one of the students that need to spend 20 hours per week in the anatomy lab dissecting and going over every structure a dozen times to learn it, then you (like me) might think it is something of a benefit that you don't have to dissect everything on the body (but have every opportunity to dissect as much as you wish, in contrast to using prosections only).
- OMT? Everyone can see an HD monitor, but it seems a little "busy" to me.
- Having to keep track of your half, quarter, group, or subgroup schedule for various things. But as said above, you get used to it. A lot of things are scheduled down to the person (patient interviews, OMT practical times) and would probably be that way anywhere.

 

[Dakayus]

Umm sorry to break the thread nor meaning to steal it.
I'm pretty sad since I was wait listed with a 3.5 gpa 29P MCAT. My interviews went very well so I have no idea what got me to be in the wait list.
Anyways I'll just share my experience of the school since that's about all I can contribute to this growing thread.

It's very very VERY cold there. I like the systems base teaching method, but I don't like the cold nor the fact that it's not in the best of neighborhoods. That's all. Wish me luck to be wait listed in!

 

[t-funk]

It's very very VERY cold there. I like the systems base teaching method, but I don't like the cold nor the fact that it's not in the best of neighborhoods. That's all. Wish me luck to be wait listed in!

And it is also very, very hot in the summer! Good luck, I hope you get off the waitlist! 🙂

 

[LSU Alex]

It's very very VERY cold there. I like the systems base teaching method, but I don't like the cold nor the fact that it's not in the best of neighborhoods. That's all. Wish me luck to be wait listed in!

I think I'd be worried if it was the middle of winter in KC and it wasn't "very, very, very cold." Hope it works out for you. Bonne chance, mon ami.

 

[osli]

It's very very VERY cold there. I like the systems base teaching method, but I don't like the cold nor the fact that it's not in the best of neighborhoods. That's all. Wish me luck to be wait listed in!

KC was a bit of a shock to me to as far as the cold winters! It doesn't stay that cold all winter, but the "cold streaks" are much colder and last longer than what I was used to. Seems like we will have several days up to a week or so of "bitter cold" and then back to the normal 40's winter weather. Today was 57. Go figure.

Neighborhood certainly isn't anything to add to your top ten dream vacation site! I understand why the school has always wanted to remain there, but I'm a guy and I sometimes wonder how it affects the women in the class. Most say it isn't a problem since security will always escort you to CT or the parking lot if you ask, but I'm guessing a lot of people never ask that would probably appreciate the escort.

Anyway, best of luck on the waitlist and/or any other interviews/waitlists you may have. 👍

 

[PokerDoc]

you guys are wusses, i had single digit temperatures all week 😛

 

[Tachymeter]

I lived 8 years in Alaska. One time I was in Fairbanks for a week and it had a high of -40 degrees Fahrenheit.

 

[spicedmanna]

I lived 8 years in Alaska. One time I was in Fairbanks for a week and it had a high of -40 degrees Fahrenheit.

Yeah, now that's cold. KC isn't that bad. The worst and best part of the weather is that it feels like it changes a bit more than average. The old joke is that "if you don't like the weather here in KC today, wait until tomorrow," or something like that. In the winter, it can be pretty cold one day and then be pretty warm and nice the next.

 

[PokerDoc]

Yeah, now that's cold. KC isn't that bad. The worst and best part of the weather is that it feels like it changes a bit more than average. The old joke is that "if you don't like the weather here in KC today, wait until tomorrow," or something like that. In the winter, it can be pretty cold one day and then be pretty warm and nice the next.

yeah i have KC's weather in my iphone and i remembered it going from 28 to 59 to 61 to 31 on 4 consecutive days

 

[simon8r]

I've been accepted, but I'm trying to decide if kcumb is for me. I know a lot about the first two years at the school, but the 3rd and 4th are a mystery. Are the clerkship locations in KC good? What is an typical day like in 3rd or 4th year?

 

[stmclovin]

I've been accepted, but I'm trying to decide if kcumb is for me. I know a lot about the first two years at the school, but the 3rd and 4th are a mystery. Are the clerkship locations in KC good? What is an typical day like in 3rd or 4th year?

when did you interview?

 

[PokerDoc]

simon join the official facebook group, there are a ton of current students on there answering questions, you can find out anything u need to know from actual non-admissions affiliated students

 

[JellyJelly]

so i just got an interview invite from KCUMB, and i'm at a bit of a loss as to whether i should take it or not. i have two acceptances (GA-PCOM and VCOM) both of which i really liked, but i don't want to limit myself by not seeing what else is out there. those were the only two interviews that i took. i cancelled the rest, but i've had my eye out for KCUMB and PCOM-philly. i've heard great things about this school, but i'm just too poor and don't know if i want to spend the money to fly out there (especially since it's so late and i don't know how likely it is that i will get in).
any suggestions? opinions? advice?

 

[spicedmanna]

so i just got an interview invite from KCUMB, and i'm at a bit of a loss as to whether i should take it or not. i have two acceptances (GA-PCOM and VCOM) both of which i really liked, but i don't want to limit myself by not seeing what else is out there. those were the only two interviews that i took. i cancelled the rest, but i've had my eye out for KCUMB and PCOM-philly. i've heard great things about this school, but i'm just too poor and don't know if i want to spend the money to fly out there (especially since it's so late and i don't know how likely it is that i will get in).
any suggestions? opinions? advice?

I think, assuming you have adequate resources, it would be good to go as long as there is some possibility you would choose to attend should you be accepted, even if it's a small one. If you are reasonably sure you wouldn't attend, given the acceptances you currently have, then cancel them.

 

[stmclovin]

Had an interview last week and just received an acceptance letter today. Man, now I have to figure out where or not to pay that $2k depasit.

 

[thebus]

Had an interview last week and just received an acceptance letter today. Man, now I have to figure out where or not to pay that $2k depasit.

What day did you interview? I was on the 11th. No letter yet though.

 

[kimmi]

Had an interview last week and just received an acceptance letter today. Man, now I have to figure out where or not to pay that $2k depasit.

Welcome to the class of 2012!!

 

[t-funk]

Had an interview last week and just received an acceptance letter today. Man, now I have to figure out where or not to pay that $2k depasit.

Congrats! Good luck on the decision making! 🙂

 

[PokerDoc]

i cant believe we still got 5 more months before school, i jsut want it to start

 

[t-funk]

i cant believe we still got 5 more months before school, i jsut want it to start

In some ways I really want to be here. I have so many things to do before hand though, I probably won't be able to get them all done in 5 months. I also intend on having as fun of a summer as I can and I don't want to skip that part. 🙂

 

[PokerDoc]

In some ways I really want to be here. I have so many things to do before hand though, I probably won't be able to get them all done in 5 months. I also intend on having as fun of a summer as I can and I don't want to skip that part. 🙂

can we compromise and skip to may? Its blizzardy outside my window, i hate rochester, grrr

 

[LSU Alex]

can we compromise and skip to may? Its blizzardy outside my window, i hate rochester, grrr

It was 92 degrees here yesterday... can't say I want May to get here too quickly. We can trade places... I'm all for cold. 😀

 

[t-funk]

It was 92 degrees here yesterday... can't say I want May to get here too quickly. We can trade places... I'm all for cold. 😀

I'll trade. 😀 I hate the cold.

 

[Tachymeter]

I win, Seattle is pretty much perfect at this point. 58 degrees today.

 

[PokerDoc]

f'ers

 

[PokerDoc]

great were gettin 8-10 inches tonite.. gg me

 

[t-funk]

great were gettin 8-10 inches tonite.. gg me

Could you give me a hint on what gg me means. The only guess I have is gag me?! I hate snow too, we got a little bit yesterday. The weather man keeps predicting 40s a few days out and then when the time gets here, it doesn't get above freezing. 👎 I hate winter, especially January and February.

 

[PokerDoc]

Could you give me a hint on what gg me means. The only guess I have is gag me?! I hate snow too, we got a little bit yesterday. The weather man keeps predicting 40s a few days out and then when the time gets here, it doesn't get above freezing. 👎 I hate winter, especially January and February.

its a habit.. a lot of times when u bust in apoker tournament people say gg "good game" when youre finished, done kaput!

 

[allisome]

It's funny how it works out....we are supposed to get snow (probably more like flurries) tonight, and I couldn't be more excited! 😀

 

[ScFm546]

Quick question, with my family coming up for the white coat ceremony can anyone recommend a nearby hotel? I’m hoping for something that’s very close and not a total hole.

 

[PokerDoc]

Quick question, with my family coming up for the white coat ceremony can anyone recommend a nearby hotel? I’m hoping for something that’s very close and not a total hole.

i stayed at the holiday inn there in the city, it was a 8 min drive to the school.. comfortable and a lot of restaurants nearby

 

[thebus]

Well in terms of sunny weather, I think I got you all beat....High of 72, sunny, pretty much beach weather. I am excited for the snow next year though. To me, there is nothing like waking up with a ton of snow coming down...maybe I will change my mind.

 

[ares8402]

When do the med equipment reps come to campus? And how soon do you really need everything/when do you start learning how to use everything? (stethoscope, otoscope, ophthalmoscope etc)?

 

[spicedmanna]

When do the med equipment reps come to campus? And how soon do you really need everything/when do you start learning how to use everything? (stethoscope, otoscope, ophthalmoscope etc)?

There are no reps, as far as I know. The school recommends a set of equipment and will ask you to pick amongst a few options, but all of them contain the standard PE equipment. The information about the kit and the order sheet should arrive along with your matriculation packet(s).

You start learning how to use everything your first year and you get a chance to practice it through a combination of IOCS lab, HPS, Path sign-out, and Score 1.

 

[PokerDoc]

my friend said she received a whole financial aid package with lists of scholarships she could apply to. i havent gotten anything like that even tho we interviewed and were accepted on the same day.. anyone else get this too?

 

[t-funk]

my friend said she received a whole financial aid package with lists of scholarships she could apply to. i havent gotten anything like that even tho we interviewed and were accepted on the same day.. anyone else get this too?

I got it. I think it only had scholarships that you could apply for bc due dates were coming up, it didn't have FA stuff. I worked for a couple of days looking into one of them and meant to for some of the others but spaced it. Thanks for reminding me.

 

[LSU Alex]

my friend said she received a whole financial aid package with lists of scholarships she could apply to. i havent gotten anything like that even tho we interviewed and were accepted on the same day.. anyone else get this too?

Yup, got it earlier this week. I'm wondering if it's region specific cause I got a lot of info on scholarships for folks who live in El Paso County... might need to let the folks know that El Paso is not as close to San Antonio as they might think. 😎

My question is when do we receive FinAid award letters? I need to know how much evidence I need to sell to cover any shortfalls. Yes, I'm going nuts with the smileys...

 

[PokerDoc]

yeah hers was region specific as well..

i guess northerners get screwed lol

 

[undecidedkev]

Hi everyone,

Do you guys know if the class of 2012 is filled or they're still interviewing/accepting people? Thanks!

 

[t-funk]

Hi everyone,

Do you guys know if the class of 2012 is filled or they're still interviewing/accepting people? Thanks!

I don't know that anyone can know the answer to this but I heard last week that there was still several spots open. This is only heresay. 🙁

 

[DiverDoc]

I don't know that anyone can know the answer to this but I heard last week that there was still several spots open. This is only heresay. 🙁

hhhhm. Did anybody else get the email about the payment deadline coming up? I think Im gonna call to make sure Im squared away on everything. Im excited for next year. My last semester (right NOW) is absolutley horrible. I feel like I am learning a TON of useless information, (i.e) the structure details of all 12 subunits in RNA Pol. II. 😱 Anyways, Im talking to much.

 

[LSU Alex]

hhhhm. Did anybody else get the email about the payment deadline coming up? I think Im gonna call to make sure Im squared away on everything. Im excited for next year. My last semester (right NOW) is absolutley horrible. I feel like I am learning a TON of useless information, (i.e) the structure details of all 12 subunits in RNA Pol. II. 😱 Anyways, Im talking to much.

Yup, deadline on the 15th. Send the money, but wait til you get their official history/physical and vaccination forms. Otherwise, you'll need a do over. If they would have sent those two forms with the first required vaccination notice, all this could have been avoided. 🙁

 

[t-funk]

hhhhm. Did anybody else get the email about the payment deadline coming up? I think Im gonna call to make sure Im squared away on everything. Im excited for next year. My last semester (right NOW) is absolutley horrible. I feel like I am learning a TON of useless information, (i.e) the structure details of all 12 subunits in RNA Pol. II. 😱 Anyways, Im talking to much.

Diver, how could you be talking too much, you never even come on here anymore. Alex either. 🙁 I'm hating biochem pretty bad too right now and I have a test over the polymerases (and other things) tomorrow. 👎

 

[PokerDoc]

yeah i got the email too..

i also got that packet i was wondering about.. good day

 

[LSU Alex]

Diver, how could you be talking too much, you never even come on here anymore. Alex either. 🙁 I'm hating biochem pretty bad too right now and I have a test over the polymerases (and other things) tomorrow. 👎

Awww... I feel the love now. 😍 You know for three semesters (4 if you count the lab), I hated biochem too. But after you survive all that, it makes all your other chemistries and biologies extremely easy. So good luck with all your tests. Let us know if we need to put a hit on someone.

 

[DiverDoc]

I havent been on much because I have the flu, biochem and molecular Bio are ruining my life, and last night was the first night I slept more than 2 hours in a week. I was a zombie. FYI Lunesta doesnt work for squat. It makes you have a hangover, thats about it. 😛