LECOM - Bradenton Discussion thread 2007-2008

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Oh I just noticed.. this is the 2000th post in this topic!!!! :banana: This just goes to show how freaking fantastic and awesome we all are. Class of 2012 and friends rock!
 
Hahahaha.. I work from home so I'm on my own schedule. I can't wait for school to start! 1 month until the massive move-downs commence.
 
hey class of 2012ers,

i'm a class of 2013 hopeful with a couple of questions. i figure you would be the ones to ask (these questions are specific to lecom-b, btw):

1. does lecom generally use the same essay questions every year for their secondary? i want to get started, but not if the questions are going to change on me...

2. okay, so i have a 25 (eh) mcat score, and i'm planning to retake in august. my question is, will lecom wait until my 2nd score comes in (sept) before reviewing my app? or, if they like the rest of my application, is there a chance i'll be invited to interview without this next score?

thanks a lot in advance!
 
hey class of 2012ers,

i'm a class of 2013 hopeful with a couple of questions. i figure you would be the ones to ask (these questions are specific to lecom-b, btw):

1. does lecom generally use the same essay questions every year for their secondary? i want to get started, but not if the questions are going to change on me...

2. okay, so i have a 25 (eh) mcat score, and i'm planning to retake in august. my question is, will lecom wait until my 2nd score comes in (sept) before reviewing my app? or, if they like the rest of my application, is there a chance i'll be invited to interview without this next score?

thanks a lot in advance!

Hmmm...I'll try...no promises that this is accurate:

1. I think that they have used the same questions in the past, but I don't know for sure. I just did mine once I got the secondaries. You want to be yourself and honest on those anyways, and that can't really be done by writing a planned essay over a few weeks. It always comes off as contrived. I just wrote honest, quick, good essays for my secondary after I got it. Proof-read it really well though.

2. They will probably wait for your new score. Again, I didn't personally do this, but that 25 would likely get you pushed back a little farther anyways...

Anyone else? I might be wrong...let's see...
 
2. okay, so i have a 25 (eh) mcat score, and i'm planning to retake in august. my question is, will lecom wait until my 2nd score comes in (sept) before reviewing my app? or, if they like the rest of my application, is there a chance i'll be invited to interview without this next score?

For starters, definitely retake the MCAT in August, and hopefully you have the opportunity to have been working on improving your score and continue to do so now and up until you retake the exam. I know it's a grueling ~6 hour exam but any improvement, particularly >25 MCAT to your application will certainly increase your chances of acceptance. If you read some posts earlier in this thread apparently somewhere in ACCOMAS it says to not even bother applying to LECOM-B with less than a 25 MCAT. I'm not sure of all that but the point is the competitiveness in applications is significantly increasing with each class, so stay motivating and make sure to improve that score in August!

LECOM-B will NOT wait until your second score comes back in September, the sooner you turn in application material, the sooner they will review it in consideration of an interview.

If they like the rest of your application there is certainly a chance of being invited for an interview. I had all of my application material submitted except for one LOR so technically my application was incomplete but I was still invited for an interview. After the interview it took me a few weeks to get that LOR in for various, frustrating reasons. Long story short I finally got it in and they told me they had planned to accept me all along, pending the final LOR.

With an MCAT score of 25 and another one pending your application isn't even really incomplete, you'll just be added to it if you increase your score in August. Get everything into them as soon as possible and know they are constantly reviewing all material in people's applications, complete or not. Further incentive to improve that MCAT and get it into them ASAP is if you are lucky enough to get the interview but be placed on the waiting list. This early in the game (and even as late as September) turning in additional information to strengthen your application will bump you up the ranks in the alternate list to your eventual (read hopeful) acceptance.

Good luck, sounds like you're on the ball thinking about personal statements and the MCAT retake. Make sure you have all your LORs and everything else to consider your application ASAP. That is some of the best advice I can give you now, the sooner it's all in the better and the more stuff you continue to send to strengthen the application the better chance you will be accepted.
 
thanks for your replies, they were really helpful!

i'll definitely take your advice regarding the aug mcat. i'm definitely unhappy with my score, but lots of unexpected family matters got in the way of me retaking it earlier (like june or july). hopefully i'll improve! i submitted my aacomas, but lecom-b is really the only school i'm really staying on top of things for. i'd absolutely LOVE to study there for 4 years. of course, i'm open to any school that will take me! if anyone on here has more advice for me, please feel free to PM me. i could use all of the help that i can get :scared:
 
1. does lecom generally use the same essay questions every year for their secondary? i want to get started, but not if the questions are going to change on me...

The supplemental application to LECOM-B (secondary app) for c/o 2012 looks like this. Inside that you will find 2 essay questions:

1. Write a personal essay describing yourself and the qualities you possess which will make you a successful osteopathic physician.

2. Explain or describe any clinical and/or health related experiences you have had, including extracurricular school and community activities.

If these are the same essay that you receive in your supplemental application or if they are the same for any other class in the past (besides 2012, not sure about that) I would say they use the same essay questions every year.

Without knowing the questions for years past I cannot say they don't change, but I'm betting these are the same year after year. Even if this is not the case, it's probably a good idea to start thinking about these questions for all your secondaries and interviews, they are pretty universal ideas.
 
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thanks for your replies, they were really helpful!

i'll definitely take your advice regarding the aug mcat. i'm definitely unhappy with my score, but lots of unexpected family matters got in the way of me retaking it earlier (like june or july). hopefully i'll improve! i submitted my aacomas, but lecom-b is really the only school i'm really staying on top of things for. i'd absolutely LOVE to study there for 4 years. of course, i'm open to any school that will take me! if anyone on here has more advice for me, please feel free to PM me. i could use all of the help that i can get :scared:
Don't they state you need a 25 MCAT to apply? So you sent your app there assuming you'll score higher? Wondering if I should do the same.
 
Don't they state you need a 25 MCAT to apply? So you sent your app there assuming you'll score higher? Wondering if I should do the same.

He sent his application in with a 25 MCAT score so if you need a 25 to apply, he has it. He is hoping to score higher than that and turn in a better score in September.

As for you, I would recommend sending in the application even if you do not have a 25. People get accepted to this school with MCAT scores below 25, by no means is <=25 ideal but it does happen. Like I said in my previous post, they are constantly reviewing the contents of everyone's applications. As long as you don't have a terrible MCAT score (<21?) I would send in everything you have assuming you do better. When you turn in the better MCAT score LECOM-B will be ready to offer you the interview immediately because they had plenty of time to check out your solid GPA, great LORs, and moving essays you turned in awhile ago to make up for that bad original MCAT score. 😉

If you wait on submitting anything because of a less than ideal MCAT score you don't get your name out to the school early, you don't let them review ANY of your credentials (many of which may offset the MCAT) and you let other applicants get review before you which may hurt more than waiting. Others may have different advice, but I feel the earlier you get your stuff to the schools the better chance you have at acceptance, obviously under the assumption that you update them as soon as you have information to strengthen that original application.
 
Hey,

I took the MCAT last year on August 27th (around there) and completed everything in September, completed secondaries with LORs (everything) in October, received e-mails regarding interviews literally immediately after I completed and had the interview in early November, and here I am! Don't be discouraged! Just make sure while you are re-taking the MCAT in August, everything else has already been sent in except for that and you will have no problem with time frame. 🙂
 
I wonder.. do you think that would work for people who don't use UHaul?

Also, like Rege, anytime after the 18th if you need some help give me a call at 5126271552. I'd be more than happy to help.


i wouldnt mind helping either. better than paying some Uhaul ppl 12something for 2-3 hours.
 
i wouldnt mind helping either. better than paying some Uhaul ppl 12something for 2-3 hours.

Ditto. I have no idea when I'll be moving down yet, but PM me if anyone needs help with moving.
 
Hey,

I took the MCAT last year on August 27th (around there) and completed everything in September, completed secondaries with LORs (everything) in October, received e-mails regarding interviews literally immediately after I completed and had the interview in early November, and here I am! Don't be discouraged! Just make sure while you are re-taking the MCAT in August, everything else has already been sent in except for that and you will have no problem with time frame. 🙂

Thanks, that was your first MCAT in August?
He sent his application in with a 25 MCAT score so if you need a 25 to apply, he has it. He is hoping to score higher than that and turn in a better score in September.

As for you, I would recommend sending in the application even if you do not have a 25. People get accepted to this school with MCAT scores below 25, by no means is <=25 ideal but it does happen. Like I said in my previous post, they are constantly reviewing the contents of everyone's applications. As long as you don't have a terrible MCAT score (<21?) I would send in everything you have assuming you do better. When you turn in the better MCAT score LECOM-B will be ready to offer you the interview immediately because they had plenty of time to check out your solid GPA, great LORs, and moving essays you turned in awhile ago to make up for that bad original MCAT score. 😉

If you wait on submitting anything because of a less than ideal MCAT score you don't get your name out to the school early, you don't let them review ANY of your credentials (many of which may offset the MCAT) and you let other applicants get review before you which may hurt more than waiting. Others may have different advice, but I feel the earlier you get your stuff to the schools the better chance you have at acceptance, obviously under the assumption that you update them as soon as you have information to strengthen that original application.

Sorry I realized afterwards the score was 25; I had been thinking of someone's 20 from another thread.
 
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Sound the trumpets because I have found a place to live! Hahahaha!

*sigh* Well with that off my back I can finally relax a bit. I tell ya, it's definitely a burden trying to find a decent place to live near the school for a single student that's also cheap. If it wasn't for our friend Rabo here (just poking fun 😀) I would've had it a while back.. oh well.

Is anyone else living at Las Palmas, or am I all alone? :scared:


As for the 24 on your MCAT, take all of the above advice and go for it. Like PBLDO, I didn't have one of my LoRs submitted when I was given the interview, and it wasn't a problem at all. Also, if you are given an interview, just wow them with how fantastic of a person you are. The interview is done closed-file (the interviewers do not see your stats) so it takes the pressure off of how you did in school and puts it on your as a person/student/candidate. Definitely easier, in my opinion. Just do your best and we'll look around for your "I'M ACCEPTED!!!!!!!" post.

Good luck!
 
Moving is never fun or cheap, my entire move

Portland-Bradenton
Knoxville-Bradenton and then my care shipped Portland-Bradenton will cost me around $9000 when all is said and done (not to mention the airplane flights, rental cars, ect.)

*sign* thus is life

Man, if it was this much I'd probably just sell off everything and re-buy it in Bradenton. Craigslist!!!
 
No, you are all alone!


👎thumbdown👎thumbdown

I don't think I'm inviting you over for any Pineapple Upside-Down Cake!

....
......
.......
.....


Just kidding! :laugh::laugh: I'd love to have you over!
 
I haven't heard of anyone staying there, but you can always come hang out at the Yacht club with us!!
 
I would go to hang out with you guys up there, but that's at least 12 miles or so away. I'm on the other side of LECOM. Oh well.. I guess I can come up to visit just as much as you all come down.
 
Go check your emails. There's a helpful one from June Flaim.


Just got Ms. Flaim's email. digtlnoize - are you still less than 100% sure about coming to LECOM-B? We'll need musical entertainment you know!
 
Just got Ms. Flaim's email. digtlnoize - are you still less than 100% sure about coming to LECOM-B? We'll need musical entertainment you know!

Yeah...I am still waiting to hear from EVMS. I really love LECOM B and would love it there, but we'd really like to be close to family. Also, my wife has WAY more job ops up here. I just wish they'd stop stringing me along. Grrrr...
 
Wow..I just got really excited.

Me too - your pineapple upside down cake sounded awesome!

On a related note.. perhaps some of the current students can give us some advice here. In the book list, it asks us to buy the most current edition. Often times, if you buy the previous edition, you pay a fraction of what you would pay for the most recent edition. And usually, differences in the content is very very small.
 
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Me too - our pineapple upside down cake sounded awesome!

One a related note.. perhaps some of the current students can give us some advice here. In the book list, it asks us to buy the most current edition. Often times, if you buy the previous edition, you pay a fraction of what you would pay for the most recent edition. And usually, differences in the content is very very small.

My guess is the only difference between newer versus older texts is page numbering and maybe some newer pics. With older texts, you may need to search a little if you're given a reference to a book and it doens't match up. But I don't think content would change much. A "gross" example would be anatomy...when's the last time the anatomy gods decided to change things around on us? In other words, "Let's decide to publish next year's anatomy text in situs inversus!"
 
Sound the trumpets because I have found a place to live! Hahahaha!

*sigh* Well with that off my back I can finally relax a bit. I tell ya, it's definitely a burden trying to find a decent place to live near the school for a single student that's also cheap. If it wasn't for our friend Rabo here (just poking fun 😀) I would've had it a while back.. oh well.

Is anyone else living at Las Palmas, or am I all alone? :scared:


As for the 24 on your MCAT, take all of the above advice and go for it. Like PBLDO, I didn't have one of my LoRs submitted when I was given the interview, and it wasn't a problem at all. Also, if you are given an interview, just wow them with how fantastic of a person you are. The interview is done closed-file (the interviewers do not see your stats) so it takes the pressure off of how you did in school and puts it on your as a person/student/candidate. Definitely easier, in my opinion. Just do your best and we'll look around for your "I'M ACCEPTED!!!!!!!" post.

Good luck!

I told you your the only west sider!!! haha

I got the email too. So now all I have to do is buy books and start reading.
 
Hey Guys,
It's been forever since I've been on so I'm a little behind. I had to stop obsessing over SDN so I could graduate 🙂.

I thought I'd respond to Kate's questions:

When are you moving? July 12th is the move out day, but I'll be spending a week in Orlando/seeing the state.

How prepared are you for classes (books, etc)? Now that we have the official book list I'll start getting the ones we need the first two weeks, but I am so broke I may need to get a credit card to buy them. 🙁

Biggest fear going into this? Being able to afford the move, and finding out that I'm not as smart as I thought I was.

Are you leaning towards any specialty as of now (I'd be interested to see how many people change in the course of our 4 years)? Right now the top three are interventional radiology, IM-infectious diseases, and anesthesiology, but I still think about GP, IM-geriatrics, and OB so we'll see in a few years... maybe I'll love surgery:laugh:

Do you want to stay in the Bradenton area for rotations? Yeah, unless I have decided on a specialty with a much better rotation somewhere else, and if I can I would like to do an international rotation.

What's one thing that we will learn about you that you are embarrassed of? I am also a bad speller. The PBL scribe scared me... I will not volunteer for that role.

Where are you living? Colonial Grand at LWR (crossing my fingers for approval)

Any pets with you? Sadly leaving our cat here with my SO.
 
On a related note.. perhaps some of the current students can give us some advice here. In the book list, it asks us to buy the most current edition. Often times, if you buy the previous edition, you pay a fraction of what you would pay for the most recent edition. And usually, differences in the content is very very small.

Yea, usually the actual content is pretty much the same, mostly just differences in page numbers and/or chapter numbers. Have a few friends who got through fine with previous editions of the physio and clinical exam books. Same material, only annoying thing was someone looked something up in their "current" edition book and then shared the page number/chapter with everyone they would have to go find exactly which page that same info was in their book.

I'm assuming they sent out the "official" book list?
 
I'm assuming they sent out the "official" book list?

Yep. Just got it today. I checked it with the one you posted: zero differences. Thanks for the heads up before hand!
 
Don't they state you need a 25 MCAT to apply? So you sent your app there assuming you'll score higher? Wondering if I should do the same.

btw, just wanted to add that I didn't take my mcat until the 25th of Jan. My app was just put on hold until my scores came in. The called me for an interview two days after they recieved my scores
 
In case anyone is looking for a place to live but can't find any good apartments, I would check here:

http://sarasota.craigslist.org/apa/

Don't forget to look at some of the "Sarasota" listings, the Las Palmas listings, and the Village at Lakewood Ranch listings as they are just south of the school. The Village is actually very very close to The Colonial Grand at Lakewood Ranch. There are a lot of good deals so keep checking! Good luck to everyone still searching!!
 
Not sure if I already asked...

Has anyone received their financial aid information yet?
 
Not sure if I already asked...

Has anyone received their financial aid information yet?

Not yet. It seems 3rd and 4th year financial aid is processed first because they continue their year in June. Here's what I received regarding award letter anticipated dates-- hope this helps:

As a reminder, the Office of Financial Aid will send you a financial aid award notification e-mail via your e-mail address on file, notifying you that your financial aid award letter is available. Your Financial Aid Award Letter will be posted to the Student Portal at the LECOM website. The e-mail will include instructions on how to access and navigate the Student Portal.

After you successfully login to the Student Portal, you will review your Financial Aid Award Letter and confirm your financial aid award amounts. Information and web-links to loan programs will be included so you may apply for the loans online. The Office of Financial Aid will be notified electronically when you have accepted your awards and applied for your loans. The Office of Financial Aid will then certify your loans electronically.

The Office of Financial Aid anticipates sending financial aid award notification e-mails after May 1, 2008. We will process the third and fourth year D.O. students first because they have a semester start date of June. We will then process the first and second year D.O. students, because they have a semester start date of early August. Finally we will process the pharmacy students, because they have a semester start date of September.

We ask you to be patient. We will process everyone as soon as possible according to the timeline indicated above. Be assured that if you completed your FAFSA and received a valid SAR (Student Aid Report) from the FAFSA processor, we will award you. If we need any additional information from you, we will contact you.
 
Hrm.. with that posted I don't think we'll find out until July 1 about how to access it based upon what Ms. Flaim said in her email.

"Please email me with any additional questions you might have and I will address them in Email #2 during the week of July 1st."
 
Hrm.. with that posted I don't think we'll find out until July 1 about how to access it based upon what Ms. Flaim said in her email.

"Please email me with any additional questions you might have and I will address them in Email #2 during the week of July 1st."

Well, I think that the financial aid award is going to be completely separate from what June Flaim is emailing us. Although, really we are already halfway through June! I can't believe how time is flying by. It may very well be July before we do get our award letters.
 
I hopeful you're correct, Kate, because I'm really interested in seeing the updated aid package. I had the one I got on our interview up until a month ago, so I'm just curious to see if they added/subtracted any aid.
 
So, I'm doing some online shopping today. I was looking over the dress code policy and it says no capri pants for women, does this include Gaucho pants? Do they really just not want shins exposed? I just don't want to wear long pants every day! This dress code is going to kill me!
 
wow nevermind

!
my computer didn't update till right now.. hm so i replied to an ooold post
 
Hey all,

I took the book list sent by Ms. Flaim and made all the ISBN numbers links to bestbookbuys.com website. If you go to http://www.luminousweb.com/lecom_books.html you can access the book list with links.

Each link will take you to bestbookbuys.com and in case you don't know about this website - they give you a real time price comparison of the book you are looking for. Very very useful and will save us money.
 
Anyone on the waitlist heard ANYTHING lately?
 
Hey all,

I took the book list sent by Ms. Flaim and made all the ISBN numbers links to bestbookbuys.com website. If you go to http://www.luminousweb.com/lecom_books.html you can access the book list with links.

Each link will take you to bestbookbuys.com and in case you don't know about this website - they give you a real time price comparison of the book you are looking for. Very very useful and will save us money.

This is why I love the internet! Thanks!
 
Hey all,

I took the book list sent by Ms. Flaim and made all the ISBN numbers links to bestbookbuys.com website. If you go to http://www.luminousweb.com/lecom_books.html you can access the book list with links.

Each link will take you to bestbookbuys.com and in case you don't know about this website - they give you a real time price comparison of the book you are looking for. Very very useful and will save us money.

Thanks 2deg, that's great!

www.campusi.com is another good one to compare prices...
 
You all are fantastic! Combining that with nlax and Dragonwell's comments, I'm sure we'll get some extra equipment money from our book allowance.
 
Same here, I have the same question. How current students, have you guys seen girls wearing capri dress pants (like Banana Republic or J-Crew type)? How about skirts, as long as they are knee length, it's OK right? I just don't want to keep buying dressy capri pants if they are not allowed at all!
Also, do girls wear stockings with open toe shoes at all times? Who does that still? The point of open toe shoes is the air room to breathe!😉
Lastly, how's the air conditioning at school? Is it freezing or can we wear short sleeve shirt without dying of hypothermia?



So, I'm doing some online shopping today. I was looking over the dress code policy and it says no capri pants for women, does this include Gaucho pants? Do they really just not want shins exposed? I just don't want to wear long pants every day! This dress code is going to kill me!
 
Same here, I have the same question. How current students, have you guys seen girls wearing capri dress pants (like Banana Republic or J-Crew type)? How about skirts, as long as they are knee length, it's OK right? I just don't want to keep buying dressy capri pants if they are not allowed at all!
Also, do girls wear stockings with open toe shoes at all times? Who does that still? The point of open toe shoes is the air room to breathe!😉
Lastly, how's the air conditioning at school? Is it freezing or can we wear short sleeve shirt without dying of hypothermia?

Ditto, ditto, Ditto

In other news, I am, as of today officially done with school (lets hope I passed all of my finals and will still be joining all of you next year....)

So now I can start studying anatomy......
 
I see tons of girls wearing capri pants and I have worn them plenty of times. As long as the skirt/dress is a reasonable length don't worry about it. I have even seen some girls wear some iffy short dresses/skirts but this, obviously, is not advisable. For open toed shoes, you are supposed to wear stockings but not everybody does. For girls, the dress code is not as big of a deal as it first seems.
 
Lastly, how's the air conditioning at school? Is it freezing or can we wear short sleeve shirt without dying of hypothermia?

Not going to be much help with you girls' dress code questions.... I'm doing good if I can notice when my wife gets a haircut or new dress or something.

But about the A/C, it definitely does its job and can be on the cool side at times inside. I like it cool/cold anyway, plus I'm wearing long sleeve dress shirts w/ tie so I feel fine. But I do see people keep a light sweater or something handy.
 
Ditto, ditto, Ditto

In other news, I am, as of today officially done with school (lets hope I passed all of my finals and will still be joining all of you next year....)

So now I can start studying anatomy......

Yaye! Congrats on being officially finished. 👍 Well, for 1.5 months anyways. I haven't started studying anatomy either, I've been swamped with work trying to make every last penny before school starts.

I think I am going to start to freak out when July gets here! 😱

And btw, I'm glad capri pants are permitted, I think they can definately be made to look professional and they're usually more comfy than long pants. I'm still thinking I won't come out wearing them though, I don't know if in the beginning the trend is to be more strict with the dress code.

Nlax, thanks for that! I'm usually freezing in class. At USF it was so cold in the library the glass was foggy, but then again there was a sweet smelling Starbucks in there, too (I think it was all part of the master plan 😛). Cold + coffee = Happy student 👍 I really, really wish we could drink coffee in the library.
 
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