LECOM Erie Class of 2012 Thread!!

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pm'd you!
Would you mind PM'ing me as well with some Ob/Gyn referrals? My wife and I are also Prego and we are looking around with no success thus far.

Thanks D
 
Would you mind PM'ing me as well with some Ob/Gyn referrals? My wife and I are also Prego and we are looking around with no success thus far.

Thanks D


Just did. Let me know if you have any other questions.
 
😀👍

BTW, although we used Snell I believe they may be switching this year but am not sure. I would contact the bookstore to be sure.


they did switch, it's grey's anatomy for students according to the woman in the bookstore
 
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Does anyone know a good ob/gyn in the Eire area? My wife and I just found out she's pregnant! Thanks.

Bifferd09,

Where are you from in Idaho. I'm glad to see someone else from the state will be joining me at LECOM. I don't think very many Idahoans will be around. 😀
 
Ellasmom, who would you recommend as ob\gyn, My wife is trying to find one up in the area since hers is 4 hours away.. Also does anyone recommend a pediatrician or group of peds in the area.. I would like to have information just in case for my daughter...

I would also like to thank all the 2nd years + for their help with us fresh meat into the system... 😍 Without you we would be lost lambs led to the slaughter :laugh:
 
Is the dental insurance (United Concordia) offered by LECOM, for $194.40 any good? Does anyone use some other plan? I would appreciate your input.

Anyone have any input on this? I would like to know as well.

P.S. good blog Igor4sugry.
 
Has anyone recieved their financial aid email? If not, has anyone called lecom to see when we're suppossed to get it? I'm getting concerned we start in classes in 5 weeks. I wanted to see if anyone has any information about it before I call.
 
Has anyone recieved their financial aid email? If not, has anyone called lecom to see when we're suppossed to get it? I'm getting concerned we start in classes in 5 weeks. I wanted to see if anyone has any information about it before I call.
I haven't received any financial aid information either. I just placed a call, but they weren't in so hopefully they will get back to me. When they do, I'll repost and let you know.
 
I haven't received any financial aid information either. I just placed a call, but they weren't in so hopefully they will get back to me. When they do, I'll repost and let you know.

Just got the email for financial aid award. I assume everyone else should get it soon also.
 
Is anyone here doing the HPSP program? If so I have a few questions for you, thanks!
 
Hi!
Is there anyone here who has lived in an apartment in Erie who would be willing to estimate their annual heating costs? I'll have a 2 BR at Laurel Ridge (electric heat, I believe), and I'm trying to work out a budget for the year- but I have no clue what my electricity bill is going to look like.
Thanks!
 
I got my financial aid award today too.


I have a question for current students. I was offered about $9,000 for the grad plus loan. Now I have about $12,000 in the bank from work and stuff.

Would you recommend not accepting the grad plus loan because of the high interest rate and instead use money from the $12,000 I already have in the bank????

THANKS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙂 🙂
 
I got my financial aid award today too.


I have a question for current students. I was offered about $9,000 for the grad plus loan. Now I have about $12,000 in the bank from work and stuff.

Would you recommend not accepting the grad plus loan because of the high interest rate and instead use money from the $12,000 I already have in the bank????

THANKS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙂 🙂


Well you're just looking at one year's worth of financial aid, right? So that $12,000 would have to last you all four years. Personally I would keep it to have as a cushion in case something came up (illness, car trouble, etc) and take out what you need for school, living, etc in the loans.
 
Anyone know who they will use as their lender or have an idea of who works well with Med student loans? I haven't looked into it yet but I'm curious to see if anyone else has chosen a lender.
 
azdesertgirl,

Yea I would only do that for the first year (use that 12,000 instead of taking out the gradplus loan). The other three years I would have to take out the gradplus loan. Unless I win the lottery of course :laugh:!!!!


DC DOC,

I was also wondering the same thing about what lender to use.
 
azdesertgirl,

Yea I would only do that for the first year (use that 12,000 instead of taking out the gradplus loan). The other three years I would have to take out the gradplus loan. Unless I win the lottery of course :laugh:!!!!


DC DOC,

I was also wondering the same thing about what lender to use.


You could also think of it as comparing taking out 9K at one interest rate (is it 7% now?) versus having your 12K in some sort of high-yield interest account or other investment earning you money. So it comes down to which one is going to benefit you more/cost you less over time.
 
I got my financial aid award today too.


I have a question for current students. I was offered about $9,000 for the grad plus loan. Now I have about $12,000 in the bank from work and stuff.

Would you recommend not accepting the grad plus loan because of the high interest rate and instead use money from the $12,000 I already have in the bank????

THANKS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙂 🙂

I didn't accept all of my loan awards last year and when I got a bit tight, I spoke to financial aid and requested some of what I didn't take and had it in about 2 weeks, so that's always an option. Also, you could take it out, sit it in an account just in case you need it and if not make a very large payment back to the provider.
 
just wondering, but for current students in the LDP pathway, do you have to bring textbooks to class (and if so, how many)? I'm trying to figure out what kind of a bag to use and thought this might be important. Thanks!
 
Does anybody know the website for some orientation thing we need to complete? The security guy told me I needed to complete it before I showed up to get my ID taken. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks
 
Last year, if I remember correctly, we had to complete the security thingy in one sitting or it didn't work. Set aside about an hour, it's no big deal. You get to find out what all of the different color ID badges indicate (Who's ISP, PBL, PCSP, LDP, ADD, OCD, LSD, THC, MDMA, professor, clown, staff, Pharmacy student, vegan, tech support, security, post bac, campus police, stripper, maintenence, shark tamer, etc). They may have changed it for you though.
 
just wondering, but for current students in the LDP pathway, do you have to bring textbooks to class (and if so, how many)? I'm trying to figure out what kind of a bag to use and thought this might be important. Thanks!

You'll never need it for class. But you will need your lab manuals/anatomy atlas when you have labs, obviously.
 
Last year, if I remember correctly, we had to complete the security thingy in one sitting or it didn't work. Set aside about an hour, it's no big deal. You get to find out what all of the different color ID badges indicate (Who's ISP, PBL, PCSP, LDP, ADD, OCD, LSD, THC, MDMA, professor, clown, staff, Pharmacy student, vegan, tech support, security, post bac, campus police, stripper, maintenence, shark tamer, etc). They may have changed it for you though.

:laugh:
 
amindwalker, I think we should have gotten the shark tamer badges, I think they look cooler with their Jabber Jaw Stickers---Does that date me or what....

Welcome 1st years!!
 
keithengineer: Jabber Jaw!!!! I haven't thought of that in a cupla decades. Personally, I liked all the Sid & Marty Kroft stuff. Hey, where were you today?

MDROCKSTAR: Yup, there's a quiz. There will also be a quiz on the last day of orientation, about - orientation.
 
keithengineer: Jabber Jaw!!!! I haven't thought of that in a cupla decades. Personally, I liked all the Sid & Marty Kroft stuff. Hey, where were you today?

MDROCKSTAR: Yup, there's a quiz. There will also be a quiz on the last day of orientation, about - orientation.
Sure seems like they are quiz happy
 
I am a little confused. I emailed financial aid a few days ago and they never emailed me back, so maybe someone here can help me??

So it says that T.H.E. (who did our loans last year) have temporarily suspended processing applications or whatever and now we have to pick lenders. So when I did this a few days ago, I went to the lenders list, and T.H.E. was there as who I could pick....so I emailed financial aid asking about how we can select them if they aren't doing loans. I haven't heard back, and now when I logged on tonight, T.H.E. is not in the list anymore...

😕
 
I would sign another MPN for a different lender since we know T.H.E. isn't going to disperse you loans this year. Then just send Melissa another note saying the lender that you chose to disperse loans, because she will be the one to confirm your status.
 
Hi D.O. Class of '12 !

I am a former LECOM PostBac '08 student accepted into this September's incoming Pharmacy class and I am looking for a roommate to share a large 2 bedroom townhouse with located about 9 miles from school near the lake. It has a 2 car garage and full basement for storage. If you are a non-smoker, ok with pets, and would be interested in more details, send me an email at:
[email protected]

Thanks!
April
 
Can someone please let me know what equipment we need to buy for first year? also, can you make suggestions as to which products to buy?

I'm not referring to textbooks, but rather stethoscopes and the like.

Thank you
 
Can someone please let me know what equipment we need to buy for first year? also, can you make suggestions as to which products to buy?

I'm not referring to textbooks, but rather stethoscopes and the like.

Thank you


Sara, the book store Queen, and ruler of all knowledge of useful books, will be instructing you in that in the Spring. They have reps and stuff to help you. Realize that a package of stuff can cost around 1100, with all your scopes and stuff. Some people buy and share. You don't always need them at the same time. You don't need anything like that until Spring. The POMA gives you a free Litmann Cardio III at White coat ceremony in Jan/Feb. If you are PCSP, you get your things just after anatomy, since you are in the clinics soon after that. I remember having all these thoughts last year...crazy...
 
Sara, the book store Queen, and ruler of all knowledge of useful books, will be instructing you in that in the Spring. They have reps and stuff to help you. Realize that a package of stuff can cost around 1100, with all your scopes and stuff. Some people buy and share. You don't always need them at the same time. You don't need anything like that until Spring. The POMA gives you a free Litmann Cardio III at White coat ceremony in Jan/Feb. If you are PCSP, you get your things just after anatomy, since you are in the clinics soon after that. I remember having all these thoughts last year...crazy...

Thank you for the advice.
 
I would approach this in the following way.

The current Grad PLUS loan has a very high interest rate (8.5%). The interest rate on all loans (except subsidized stafford, which is zero), is compounded. At the end of school, this interest will be added to your principal or capitalized.

Here we have a condition where one must balance risk vs returns. The only way to come out on top is to invest in the market with a return greater than 8.5%. Any other option will result in a LOSS. Now you can invest or you can play it safe and use some of your savings and take a loss.

Basically, you will loose money if you use your savings, but you can loose even more if you invest and the investment goes sour.

Note on Investment:
If you decide to invest the $12,000.00 you must pick an investment vehicle that will return at least 8.5%. Your options here are limited. The largest interest on bonds/Money Market accounts ~4% so this doesn't work. Savings accounts are extremely low ~2%, or ~4% online, which also doesn't work. You can invest into stock market directly, but at the current market it is risky. You can invest into a mutual fund, but $12,000 might not be enough, to open an account, you need to check with the fund (I would invest into a growth Foreign Market account). Or you could add this money to your parents' mutual fund and extract when you graduate.

Option 1: Reduce Grad Plus amount
using the following calculator (you can use Excel as well): http://www.finaid.org/calculators/scripts/interestcap.cgi

Here you take a hit by paying out of your own savings, but you eliminate market risk.

$9,000 Grad PLUS for 4 year deferment @ 8.5%
grows to ->$12,642.00 ($3,642.00 interest)

Reduce to $4,000.00
grows to $5,618.00 ($1,618.00 interest)

This will reduce your interest and you will have $5,000.00 for unplanned expenses.

Option 2: Invest
Invest into a COD, but your growth is well below 8.5% of the loan.
Invest into the stock market directly or mutual fund: you have more risk, but you can get ~10-12% return provided you choose the right stocks/fund.

Here you have the possibility of paying off your loan without a loss, and even making a profit.


I got my financial aid award today too.


I have a question for current students. I was offered about $9,000 for the grad plus loan. Now I have about $12,000 in the bank from work and stuff.

Would you recommend not accepting the grad plus loan because of the high interest rate and instead use money from the $12,000 I already have in the bank????

THANKS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙂 🙂
 
I am a little confused. I emailed financial aid a few days ago and they never emailed me back, so maybe someone here can help me??

So it says that T.H.E. (who did our loans last year) have temporarily suspended processing applications or whatever and now we have to pick lenders. So when I did this a few days ago, I went to the lenders list, and T.H.E. was there as who I could pick....so I emailed financial aid asking about how we can select them if they aren't doing loans. I haven't heard back, and now when I logged on tonight, T.H.E. is not in the list anymore...

😕

Due to capital market conditions, T.H.E. temporarily suspended processing Federal Stafford and Graduate PLUS loan applications. Several other lenders, including AES/PHEAA, have suspended their participation in the Federal Student Loan Program. In addition, the LECOM School-as-Lender Stafford Loan will not be available for the 2008-2009 academic year. Since most LECOM students borrowed from T.H.E., AES/PHEAA or the LECOM Stafford Loan, those students will need to choose another lender for the 2008-2009 academic year. Students will need to complete another Stafford and/or Graduate PLUS loan master promissory note (MPN) with a new lender.

T.H.E wasn't there when I looked. The options were chase, discover, PNC, and citibank. They probably just didn't remove T.H.E yet when you looked. I don't think you can select T.H.E. as a lender now.
 
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Can someone please let me know what equipment we need to buy for first year? also, can you make suggestions as to which products to buy?

I'm not referring to textbooks, but rather stethoscopes and the like.

Thank you

Just fyi, I have grown to like the Littman III POMA gives you and I was very appreciative to be given a free stethoscope. However, if you are OCD about what you use like I am and want a black tubing, you'll have to get your own. They dispensed marroon, blue, and my favorite: plum🙂
 
Pearl: for anyone who wants to get a leg up on gross anatomy make sure you buy this book: BRS Gross Anatomy by Kyung W. Chung. Yeah, you're going to need to memorize like crazy, but read through this book also, and do the quizzes a day or two before your quizzes and exams. LECOM questions are almost all clinically based and this book will touch on most if not all the major thought processes you'll need for gross anatomy. Our anatomy book smelled in quality (Snell smelled 👍), and if you want the best Anatomy textbook, IMO, get Clinically Orientated Anatomy by Keith L. Moore and Arthur F. Dalley. Seriously, how well you do in gross can really impact the quality of your first semester.
 
Has anyone decided who they are going with on their lender? I don't know who to choose(I don't want to get bamboozled) and I'm a bit nervous about taking out loans from commercial banking entities. I thought the state would be able to provide assistance, and this worries me a bit. Anyone else feeling weird about the lenders?
 
Pearl: for anyone who wants to get a leg up on gross anatomy make sure you buy this book: BRS Gross Anatomy by Kyung W. Chung. Yeah, you're going to need to memorize like crazy, but read through this book also, and do the quizzes a day or two before your quizzes and exams. LECOM questions are almost all clinically based and this book will touch on most if not all the major thought processes you'll need for gross anatomy. Our anatomy book smelled in quality (Snell smelled 👍), and if you want the best Anatomy textbook, IMO, get Clinically Orientated Anatomy by Keith L. Moore and Arthur F. Dalley. Seriously, how well you do in gross can really impact the quality of your first semester.

👍
 
Has anyone decided who they are going with on their lender? I don't know who to choose(I don't want to get bamboozled) and I'm a bit nervous about taking out loans from commercial banking entities. I thought the state would be able to provide assistance, and this worries me a bit. Anyone else feeling weird about the lenders?

National City.
 
yes. what is your question about hpsp?
 
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Pearl: for anyone who wants to get a leg up on gross anatomy make sure you buy this book: BRS Gross Anatomy by Kyung W. Chung. Yeah, you're going to need to memorize like crazy, but read through this book also, and do the quizzes a day or two before your quizzes and exams. LECOM questions are almost all clinically based and this book will touch on most if not all the major thought processes you'll need for gross anatomy. Our anatomy book smelled in quality (Snell smelled 👍), and if you want the best Anatomy textbook, IMO, get Clinically Orientated Anatomy by Keith L. Moore and Arthur F. Dalley. Seriously, how well you do in gross can really impact the quality of your first semester.

I have the 4th edition of Chung's Gross Anatomy, do you think I should get the latest edition? As far as the second book you recommended, I have Moore's Essential Clinical Anatomy. Would you recommend I get the other one as well?
 
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