Lecom MSII Here to answer Questions

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Hey man,

You may have tried to mean well, but I've read your posts, and you did more to scare me than any other person on this forum. Your harshly realistic perspective didn't do me any good I can tell you that. I know you're an MS-II and know more about LECOM than I do, but I really don't need to hear about how much the school sucks, how many people I won't graduate with and/or will become alcoholics, etc.
If LECOM is anything like you say it is, I will obviously find that out for myself. But in the mean time, I need to stay positive. I'm not going to be unrealistic and think it won't be hard, but nevertheless I need to maintain focus and a positive attitude.
Well, now that I've spent a long time sounding like I'm trying to pick a fight but not actually meaning to, I'll take off.

Andrew, MS-I
 
hey hippocates

i'm gonna be a MS-I at lecom in the fall. I actually found your post to be enlightening. Its definitely good to hear what really goes...i mean it was harsh, but as long as it's an accurate portrayal of what goes on, then by all means, people should know about it. I'm a little hesitant about attending lecom. My reservations about attending the school has to do with its reputation. As i stated in other posts, i've had a lot of people tell me that lecom isin't a really a solid school academcally, which worries me, and that a lot of their students don't really place into good residencies (the school doesn't make their list available to the public, which i find suspicious). What do you know about that? i really don't mind the dress code, life in dreary erie, etc cuz i intend to study all the time anyways, but i'd like to know that i'm making a solid decision as far as attending lecom. but i'm definitely optimistic about it. hows the neighborhood around the school? i'll be living in one of those studios located on west grandview boulevard, i decided to get a place as close as possible to the school. thanks for any help.
 
hippo,

By any chance, do you know the MCAT score ranges for the entering class of 2001-2003?
 
Can you give us more details the dress code? Are they really that strict? Does it also apply to the pharmd students?

Can you buy the labtop at the lecom bookstore(if there is one)?

You talked house rentals close to campus? how do you go about searching for those? Right now, i am thinking of granada apartments because it is very cheap and right next to the city bus stop.


Is there a parking lot/garage for students? How much does it cost?
 
Hey Hippocrates, I too found your posts to be informative. There are ups and downs to every school, and if everyone just remembers that, it'll help a lot I think...
So I'm on LECOM's waitlist, and I applied to their post bacc and got in, just in case i don't get off hte list. I'm afraid ad coms is going to think that I'm satisified with going to the post bacc and they won't review my app for consideration to the med school this year. Some lady told me who works at LECOm that applying to the post bacc actually " increases my odds" of getting off the list bc it shows I really want to go there, which I do. do you know anything about this or waitlists in general?? any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. thanks soo much in advance!!
Kylie
 
I agree with sax, while I need to be grounded in reality I've already made my decision and want to stay positive. At least until I experience LECOM for myself. It's easy to focus on the negatives about a place and allow that mentality to paint your whole picture despite the good points. I certainly don't want to be down on LECOM before I even walk through the doors. Also don't get swayed about the "downers" of living in Eire before you've spent more then an afternoon in the town. I grew up in a military family that moved around quite a bit. One thing I learned is that no matter where live, the natives think it sucks and can't wait to move out. Each place is simply what you make of it. Good luck and let YOUR experiences dictate how you feel about the situtation.
 
Originally posted by niceguydoc
hey hippocates

i'm gonna be a MS-I at lecom in the fall. I actually found your post to be enlightening. Its definitely good to hear what really goes...i mean it was harsh, but as long as it's an accurate portrayal of what goes on, then by all means, people should know about it. I'm a little hesitant about attending lecom. My reservations about attending the school has to do with its reputation. As i stated in other posts, i've had a lot of people tell me that lecom isin't a really a solid school academcally, which worries me, and that a lot of their students don't really place into good residencies (the school doesn't make their list available to the public, which i find suspicious). What do you know about that? i really don't mind the dress code, life in dreary erie, etc cuz i intend to study all the time anyways, but i'd like to know that i'm making a solid decision as far as attending lecom. but i'm definitely optimistic about it. hows the neighborhood around the school? i'll be living in one of those studios located on west grandview boulevard, i decided to get a place as close as possible to the school. thanks for any help.
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Well, in my perspective I have given an accurate portrayal of life at lecom. It seems though that most first year students at many medical schools are unhappy until they make the adjustments whatever they may be. Here at lecom expect to be treated like a child by most of the administration. I guess they have had problems in the past keeping their weaker students on track, and believe me there will be at least 15% of your class that will fall into this category. As far as reputation, I dont really know how they are viewed by other osteopathic schools or the AOA. What I do know is that if you stay on track and pass your courses and the boards you will become a doctor. In my personal opinion, I wouldnt hesitate about attending lecom; especially if it is your only choice. It is medical school. Even though alot of people may become negative, there will be those positive people who can make good of anything. I would say it is best to ride off there emotional high, kinda keeps up the moral of other students. I think things in the future will get better for Lecom, every class changes it a little at a time. As far as getting a good residency; If you do your best at the school, score high on the boards, do well in clinical rotations, and can interview well you shouldnt have too much of a problem with residency. I dont know everything yet....So in the future I can help guide people as I learn too. What you need to do though is follow the rules. Make sure you wear a tie if you are a man, if you are a lady the dress code is not much of a problem, as long as you dont wear a high cut skirt with fishnet stockings. Well, guess I may have seen that here a few times and the person still attends. Guess the dress code apply's to men only. what the HECK??? It is not soooo bad here so dont be scared. Just takes alittle getting used to. Again I cant stress it enough, you must start out well in anatomy and work your butt off, this is the killer course at lecom. Many of my peers are remediating this stuff in the summer about 20-25% I think? Well at least quite a few people. About housing, I think west grandview is an ok place to live- as most students try to stay around the neighborhood. Stay away from the east side=hood. Also, the granada is supposedly a dump, with roaches and stuff- according to fellow students. Lakeview is too expensive for the area also. I would look at condo's, private homes, and even real estate companies if you havent already rented. I think you will have a good experience overall once you have gone through the whole 4 years according to my mentor. So try to enjoy the rest of your summer and the first year of medical school. There are plenty of good people who will help you. Just try to keep out of negative circles that could affect you in a bad way and you will make it.
 
Originally posted by Dr_sax
Hey man,

You may have tried to mean well, but I've read your posts, and you did more to scare me than any other person on this forum. Your harshly realistic perspective didn't do me any good I can tell you that. I know you're an MS-II and know more about LECOM than I do, but I really don't need to hear about how much the school sucks, how many people I won't graduate with and/or will become alcoholics, etc.
If LECOM is anything like you say it is, I will obviously find that out for myself. But in the mean time, I need to stay positive. I'm not going to be unrealistic and think it won't be hard, but nevertheless I need to maintain focus and a positive attitude.
Well, now that I've spent a long time sounding like I'm trying to pick a fight but not actually meaning to, I'll take off.

Andrew, MS-I
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My intention is noble.... Just want you guys to be ready...You will have a positive experience as long as you make one. It will take alot of work and flexibility but it can be done. I am not trying to say the school sucks. U know reality at all medical schools come to light and the world is a harsh place. Some people find it easier to palate if they sugar coat it, I am not one of these people. Reality will not steer U wrong- but it will scare U. I wish U good luck.
 
Originally posted by EarlyEditionDude
hippo,

By any chance, do you know the MCAT score ranges for the entering class of 2001-2003?
Click to expand...

I am not sure of the exact range. I would imagine averages around 7 to 8 are the norm.
 
Originally posted by Heyyyyy
Can you give us more details the dress code? Are they really that strict? Does it also apply to the pharmd students?

Can you buy the labtop at the lecom bookstore(if there is one)?

You talked house rentals close to campus? how do you go about searching for those? Right now, i am thinking of granada apartments because it is very cheap and right next to the city bus stop.


Is there a parking lot/garage for students? How much does it cost?
Click to expand...

Everyone, including visitors are expected to adhere to the dress code. It is supposed to be strict, but women get by with alot as far as the dress code. If you are a guy, wear a tie, shirt and slacks- U should be ok then. Some people dont adhere well, never seen anyone sent home yet. Laptop? Look in the paper and try to connect with other students that need roomates, or call real estate agents, or just drive around looking at signs. Do not rent over the phone or internet!!!!! Check out the place well, the neighborhood, neighbors, ect.... visit the place on friday or saturday night around midnight before commiting to a lease. This will show you the true character of the place you will live for at least a year. Hear not so pretty things about granada....Dont know what is true. So check it out.
 
Originally posted by KylieP54
Hey Hippocrates, I too found your posts to be informative. There are ups and downs to every school, and if everyone just remembers that, it'll help a lot I think...
So I'm on LECOM's waitlist, and I applied to their post bacc and got in, just in case i don't get off hte list. I'm afraid ad coms is going to think that I'm satisified with going to the post bacc and they won't review my app for consideration to the med school this year. Some lady told me who works at LECOm that applying to the post bacc actually " increases my odds" of getting off the list bc it shows I really want to go there, which I do. do you know anything about this or waitlists in general?? any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. thanks soo much in advance!!
Kylie
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I dont know anything about how the waitlist works. Keep your head up and you will do ok. Lots of postbac's in my class. Most do very well. It would probably be helpful for you to do post bac if you think you will have problems with any med school courses. It will give you a 60% or so head start for the first year.
U definitely dont want to start med school and fail out. I know several people who started, failed out and then went into postbac, finished that and made it through the first year of medical school. Seriously, the first year of med school is a real challenge anywhere you will go. Make sure you are ready.
 
Originally posted by Green912
I agree with sax, while I need to be grounded in reality I've already made my decision and want to stay positive. At least until I experience LECOM for myself. It's easy to focus on the negatives about a place and allow that mentality to paint your whole picture despite the good points. I certainly don't want to be down on LECOM before I even walk through the doors. Also don't get swayed about the "downers" of living in Eire before you've spent more then an afternoon in the town. I grew up in a military family that moved around quite a bit. One thing I learned is that no matter where live, the natives think it sucks and can't wait to move out. Each place is simply what you make of it. Good luck and let YOUR experiences dictate how you feel about the situtation.
Click to expand...

I didnt say everything is bad!!! Just told about the essential things that U should know. I did it so you could avoid the negatives and have a positive first year experience. I want you guys to do well. It is not paradise, but few places are. Nice things about the place are: close parking, new building, friendly bookstore staff, some very helpful professors, cost is not bad for a private school, wonderful MSII's who WANT to help U, presque isle-for getting away without really leaving the area, safe area compared to NY city or philly.

Well I hope I did not scare U too much it was not the intention. But it did get your attention. Take the advice with a grain of salt and if your experience is different, maybe I was able to help.

Happy Independance Day!!!
 
Hippocrates,

Thanks for your honesty. I really do appreciate any insight that an MS-II or III can give us. You just seemed really bummed about the experience in one of your posts and it must have made me do too much self-reflection about the decision I made. But's it all cool, water under the bridge my friend- I do like it when people don't sugarcoat the experience for me.

Have a Happy 4th of July everyone!

Andrew
 
Class of 2007,

I will be updating the webpage in the next few days with very valuable information and advice that you will also be getting in the mail from our class (the MS II's). Our class has given you helpful, practical info and opinions about LECOM and Erie.

Please check in at www.lecomsga.com for information on popular attractions around erie, info about housing, etc. Though it is not entirely inclusive, it gives you a good idea of what to expect and what student life offers.

Throughout the remainder of the summer even more changes will be made to the website to continually improve it.

Again, I expect to have it updated sometime this weekend.

Thanks,
njdo

Any other questions? There are more of us here to answer them as well. Housing is something that has been hammered to death on these forums--go see the places for yourself is the best advice.
 
Hey njdo,
Hippocrates didn't know anything about waitlisting, would you? I'm anxiously hoovering over the phone! thanks in advance,
KP
 
Sorry Kylie,

Don't know anything about waitlisting. I know about 5 or so people from our class left during orientation/1st week for various reasons. I myself was taken off the waitlist somewhere else after the first week but decided to stay at LECOM. So, spots will open up. Have some faith. Good luck.

njdo
 
Hey, i have a few more questions. what classes comprise the first year. Can you list the classes we'll be taking during the first and second semesters. Is it official that our class will be doing prosections instead of dissections for anatomy lab?? can you also recommend out of all the classes we'll be taking in our first year, which textbooks are absolutely needed - i'm trying to plan accordingly and budget myself. I was also wondering what people eat during lunch usually, or if a lot of folks bring in their own food - i remember during my interview, the food in the cafeteria wasn't the most appetizing meal. Just curious, is there a subways sandwhich place around the school? is there a refrigerator at the school that students can use to store their food and drinks in?? i drink tons of water during the day, so i hope there is a place i can put it in. i was also wondering if a ranking system exists at lecom, and if yes, when do you find out where you rank. How often are exams administered during our first and second semesters at lecom? i hope it's not one of those block exams - absolutely detest those. thanks for any help to these questions!
 
thanks for the information njdo, your advice is greatly appreciated! I'll keep the faith!
KP
 
niceguydoc,

Please see my last few posts in the LECOM Class of 2007 Thread. They answer a lot of your questions.

As for lunch, sometimes I bring my own lunch and eat at the cafeteria , rarely do I buy lunch there (way overpriced). Sometimes I go to various places nearby with friends (Panera Bread, Subway, Maria's, etc.). I also may drive home and eat lunch in my apartment. Just depends on the schedule, $, and what I feel like.

There's no fridge that I know of where you can store lunch/water. Plus, no food is allowed out of the cafeteria, though you will surely find people sneaking it into lecture (another one of the crazy rules).

As for ranking, the only time I see a ranking is for the final grades for each class, and I don't even trust those. There's no big posted ranking in the hall like some schools. When you get your electronic final course grade it tells you where you place in the class. The gunners in the class all compare their ranks, thinking they have to be in the top 10 or so. I just strive to do well, and it all works out well for me in the end. It's not a competition. If you know your stuff and work hard, it will show on rotations where it matters.

Anatomy is definitely prosection only. There may be opportunities to dissect a tank that's set aside for those interested, but I would doubt it-the anatomy lab is VERY VERY cramped (a big problem at the school). I really hope they do something about it in coming years. Rumor is there are talks of trying to expand it.

Exams vary by course, but count on having a test every 1-2 weeks. Core tests are combined (one test will have the various core components)-it ends up being about 5-8 tests I think (really I've forgotten already). Anatomy has 5 tests with lab practicals. OMM has 4 tests (including the cumm. final exam). No big block exams to worry about. The smaller courses (healthcare management, spirituality and medicine, medical ethics, etc. have 1-2 tests for the course and are repeated 2nd year for further study).

Best of Luck!

njdo

Again, see the other thread for more answers
 
I just reread the last post and didn't want to have people thinking you can't store a lunch bag outside the cafeteria--it's not THAT strict. The student lockers are on the second floor and I just keep my lunch there.
 
ok i find it disturbing that the school does not provide a fridge or microwave for students to put their lunches in. i mean, what if i wanted to bring my own lunch and didn't want it to spoil? and i drink lots of cold water during the day, so i need somewhere to put my water in...do you think i could ask the cafetaria staff if i could put my water in their fridge - or better yet, can't the student government allocate some money in purchasing a fridge or microwave for the students - i think a lot of students would find this an useful investment. when i was in grad school, virtually all the students brought in their own lunches and put it in the fridge.


I'm in the lecture pathway, and i understand the hours involved are hectic, 9-5. I imagine there are a lot of folks that fall asleep or doze off during lecture - i tend to be one of those folks - do you suggest i sit in the back of the room or do you think if i sit in the front of the room, i'll somehow force myself to stay awake. how useful are the lectures anyways? which classes in the first year do the exams primarily come from the lecture-so i can get a heads up and definitely try to pay attention during those classes.
thanks for your help, i appreciate it
 
Another note on exams for the soon-to-be MS-II's:
Expect to have an exam every Monday for the second year. The only Monday in our first semester of second year that I don't remember having an exam was on Labor Day, and that was only because we weren't in school. (The exam was on Tuesday.)

Regarding the schedule, there are days that are 9-5 (8-5 actually), but it is certainly not like that every day. I can't comment on the first year schedule (how the classes worked were different when I was a first year) but our second year we had days we were done at 2:30, at 3:30, or earlier.

And as for paying attention in lecture - I found that for the most part ALL of the exams rely on material taught in lecture. Some people can get away with reading scribe notes and do well, but I found that paying attention was the only way I could really understand the material. Plus a lot of the professors emphasize important points or flat out say "this will be a test question" so I would try to pay attention as much as possible if I were you. I sat in the back or the middle of the room for all the lectures, and most of the time I was able to stay awake, although I had days that I almost dozed off. I would think that sitting in the front might help you stay awake easier, but you have to find someone to switch their seat with you because we are alphabetized first and then people can switch seats.

Good luck and enjoy the summer before med school starts (and for soon to be MS-II's DO NOT study for the boards this summer!)
 
The good news is, there is a microwave, and some of the MSI students last year began requesting a fridge. However, do not ask the cafeteria lady to do ANYTHING extra for you. If you didn't buy lunch from her, don't even ask for napkins. It is a business separate from LECOM, and she is very testy about the cost of everything. Just remember, you have been warned! 😉

You get a break every 50 minutes, so buy a bottle of water and just leave some of your stuff (a notebook or a folder) with the water on a table in the cafeteria. With Lecom's security, I doubt that your stuff will move before you come back on the next break.
 
wow, can't believe the cafetaria lady is that testy! i mean whats the big deal about putting a bottle of water in the fridge for someone. this really sucks. the first thing i'm gonna do when i get to lecom is request a fridge for the students to use. i mean, i intend to bring in my own lunch everyday and i don't want my food to spoil. it's great that things won't get stolen at school, but i don't know if it's a good or bad thing with security so tight, hate the idea of having "big brother" constantly watching over you.

During classes, how are notes taken? i understand we bring our laptops to class and download the powerpoint presentations onto our notebooks, but do people actually use pen and paper to write notes, is there an official notetaker for the various classes, and if yes, how much do they get paid...i think i would like to be a note taker and earn some extra money. i'd feel much more comfortable taking notes the old fashioned way, pen and paper.

I was also wondering if anyone can tell me the various gyms that are located in erie, and if possible the membership fees and such. I'm looking to get back in shape, and i think joining the gym would be a great outlet for relieving stress. i checked out the so called "gym" at lecom, and that does not cut it.
 
niceguydoc,
regarding gyms....
being a body builder, I would strongly recommend American Fitness on W 38th and Greengarden. Its like 4 blocks from school and only costs $22/mo for lecom students. You do not need to sign a yearly membership like Nautilis/Family First. The local YMCA isnt that bad either. I would STRONGLY advise against Nautilis/Family First. Its prices are way out of range for such a crappy club. I was a member for 2 years and my fees rose from $25/mo to 40/mo. I have also never been to a club that is so much out of touch with the key demographics of 18-35 yo.
Penbriar isnt too bad, but the prices are still way too high.
American Fitness however, is geared towards those that want to lift....so there are plenty of meat heads. There are a few professors who lift there as well.
stomper
 
hey stomper627,

wow, 22 bucks/mo is definitely a bargain! i'm paying 80 bucks/mo for my gym membership right now, but then again i'm in nyc so everything here is overpriced. i'll definitely look into American Fitness. the location is pretty convenient for me. i'll be living on west grandview boulevard, which i think is pretty close to the school. i've been working out for about 7 months now, and my goal is to get bigger and put on more muscle, although i've reached a plateau at the moment. thanks for the info, i appreciate it.
 
Hey guys and gals,

Let the student government work for you. I am part of the student government and if you are interested in getting a fridge, it's something I am sure everyone would back you up on. Sometimes our hands are tied with what the administration will allow, but having our own fridge in one of the back locker rooms or somewhere in the cafe makes sense.

njdo
 
hey njdo,

i'll definitely be bringing this up with the student government when i get to lecom. i don't see why the administration would be agaisn't having a fridge for the students. i know doctortobee is on me with this one 🙂 lets all start a movement for a fridge at lecom!
 
BEWARE THE LECOM CAFETERIA NAZI!!!

You seriously have no idea what evil is until you have felt her wrath. You may laugh now, but I DARE you to ask her to put your water in her fridge. Just make sure and let me know when you plan to do it, I want to see her head spin around and the flames shoot out of her eyes!🙂

Seriously, she is not a nice woman, and certainly not on our side! But I don't think you will have any problems getting a fridge, just as long as you go through the proper channels. Its all about proper channels at LECOM, as you will soon find out.

Good luck with your fridge crusade, and consider yourself warned twice now about the monstrosity in the cafeteria!!
 
Note to self: Don't cross the cafeteria lady...

YIKES!
 
nice guy-- i'm sure a fridge would be great, and i'm certainly not opposed to one,however nothing you would ever bring for lunch would spoil during the 4 hours between arrival and lunch. in high schoool i used to bring half of a tuna fish sandwhich and a yogurt everyday to eat after school and before practice. 8+ hours in a hot locker and it was always fine, trust me. and if you're really particular about cold food, put your lunch in the freezer the night before. as far as cold water is concerned, whats the deal? who cares if its a little room temperature. your body can't assimilate ice cold water until it warms up in your GI tract anyway. no offense or anything, but i would focus my worries on something a bit more serious, say . . . anatomy, maybe? let the simple things take care of themselves, you'll feel a lot better. there's too much other stuff to stress about 🙁 🙂

stomper-- do you know which gyms, if any, have a pool? i know YMCAs usually do . . .
 
Pools....
not high on my list of workouts ( I sink....too much muscle mass), but I do know that the Y does. Nautilus also does, but I will stress again....overpriced. The Y is like 25/mo (I think), so its not bad. Im gonna knock Nautilus again in the fact that from Memorial Day to Labor Day they are not open on Sundays (and there is no reduction of membership fees) They are also closed on every holiday....and I swear even the uncelebrated days like Flag Day, Arbor Day, etc. I will repeat....do not join that gym.
Im not sure if the Pennbriar does....they might. Beyond that, I cant help you. I do my cardio outside primarily (yes even in the snow)...I run quite a bit. THe schools cardio equipment is very nice...top of the line. I will use it during cross training days of eliptical, or biking, or interval sprints.
Sorry I cant help you with the swimming....
stomper
 
sorry for my rambling on the fridge topic, but i drink lots of water in a day, and i only drink cold water. i know i can buy water at the vending machines, but i'm trying to save some money by bringing my own water to school everyday.

i had another question. whats the easiest way for me to drive to erie - i live in queens, ny so basically i'm coming from nyc. i recall reading thru the posts and someone said driving up to buffalo, then to erie would be the fastest route, taking about 8 hours or so, but then i looked it up on mapquest, and it said the fastest route would be going thru pennsylvania, and then up to erie, taking about 6.5 hours or so. can anyone verify this and let me know. thanks
 
niceguydoc,
dont stress over the fridge issue too much. It is doubtful you will get one (we had one my post bac and MSI year...but with the remodel they took it away).
Heres what I recommend for cold water....take .5 or 1 Liter bottles of water and fill them half full. Freeze them over night. Then in the morning fill them up the rest of the way=ice cold water all day long!!!
For rotations that dont have fridges either, these double as coolant for my cooler.

on the travel issue....my girlfriend lives on Long Island. It only takes us a little over 6 hours by way of I-80 thru PA (yeah I do speed) from door to door (that is if traffic on the GWbridge is good).
stomper
 
stomper627,

that's actually a clever idea. i was thinking about doing something along those lines if i can't get a fridge in the building.

i'm glad to hear it takes only 6 hours to get to erie. you're right the GW bridge can be a pain the ass, but nothing is worse than being stuck on the LIE during rushhour! i don't know why couple of folks said going up to buffalo, then to erie would be the easier route, or maybe they meant easier to maneveur, but they all said that route takes about 8 hours or so. i actually just started to learn how to drive and i already got my first parking ticket yesterday, 105 big ones, so speeding is definitely out of the question for me.
 
Niceguydoc,
not sure if youve already paid your ticket....but for future reference....
Always contest the ticket. Get the court date, and write to the DA to get all the info for your case. 90% of the time you will not receive this info before the court date. You can then ask the judge that the ticket be dissmissed based on "Discovery"---it is your right to have all the information the prosecution has. He will have to let you off.
It costs more money to have someone gather the info and mail it to you than what they will make (granted it works better in highly populated cities or counties) off the ticket. If this works you will pay no fine or have insurance rates raised.
Another ploy is to request that the officer be present at your hearing.
Yes, these have worked for me....but not until after I had received many tickets.
on a side note....the LIE is nothing compared to rush hour in seattle....I90 bridge or 520 bridge....1 mi.....60 minutes!!!! Worst traffic...1 LA 2 Seattle 3 Houston
good luck with the drive....keep an eye for the cops (theyre everywhere in NJ)
stomper
 
Before you go out and buy a nice laptop, you may want to consider finding out the current LECOM policy on their use. It is rumored that they have cracked down this summer on pharmacy students and only allow usage during lunch and afterschool hours. Would be a waste of time to bring them if you cannot use them. So be sure to ask the administration, and make point to tell them that they shouldnt be claiming credit for the use of such cutting edge technology if they are making it such an impotent effort.
 
Even if they don't allow you to use them during class, the laptops are great for downloading info (powerpoints, class notes, etc) to study at home. It's expensive, but even in PBL, my computer was one of the most important tools I had last year... especially in Gross. Several of my friends disagree with me on this point, but I think that they have DSL, so they can download info pretty fast from home.
 
hey stomper627, thanks for the info bro. i was just about to send in my check for 105 bucks until i read your post. whew! didn't know there were a few ways to outsmart the legal system. i'll definitely be looking into that. this will be really helpful cuz i anticipate myself getting a few more tickets in the future.


what is your take on lecom so far. having gone thru the first two years, whats some advice you would give for a soon to be MS1?
 
i'm confused. i thought we had to have laptops and i thought we were supposed to have them in class. maybe i misinterpreted something? 😕
 
Originally posted by raspberry swirl
i'm confused. i thought we had to have laptops and i thought we were supposed to have them in class. maybe i misinterpreted something? 😕
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Well, the administration will tell you that you are going to need the computer for class. This is not true. As a matter of fact they make you close them down for some instructors and have reportedly been shutting down internet service during the day.

It does help if you can download the powerpoints ahead of time and take notes on them. This is much faster for those who type quickly or learn a type of computer shorthand. In the past we have had internet connections all day and some screwoffs sit there and surf during lectures and this P I S S E S off some of the instructors and administrators especially when people start complaining that they are failing so and so's class. If you use stuff respectfully it wont get taken away. Sorry some people had to spoil it for the newby's.
 
for some misguided reason i believed that because all the lectures were online and we could sit there and stare at them in class and then go home and stare at them, that taking our own notes was just sort of supplementary. i take it i am wrong again. so i assume we will all still be scribbling frantically to get everything down the lecturer says?
do you or have you used the note service?
 
Just wait until school starts before you begin worrying about the use of the laptop, or call the school and ask them specifically. To date, the only instructor that has asked us to put down our laptops is Dr. Silvia herself. Or sometimes, if notes aren't needed, the instructor may ask you to close your laptop.

We haven't received any official word, so go ahead as planned. If you intend to study in the library, you will want the laptop there to study and download notes. There are very crappy computers in there that are connected to the internet (and only 4). Those nice new ones they show you on tour are for specific medical programs, and have no LAN connection.

njdo
 
i'm confused too. even if laptops are allowed during class, how does one take notes on the comp, i mean its possible and all, but how thorough and comprehensive can that be, as compared to doing it the old fashioned way by pen and paper? do the majority of students use pen & paper or use the laptops?
 
Since most of the lectures are on powerpoint, most students that I know don't take extensive notes. Most often, people follow along with the lecture and add in extra points that they consider important.

Quite honestly, I got pretty good at typing notes(when necessary), as did some of my friends.
 
Originally posted by niceguydoc
i'm confused too. even if laptops are allowed during class, how does one take notes on the comp, i mean its possible and all, but how thorough and comprehensive can that be, as compared to doing it the old fashioned way by pen and paper? do the majority of students use pen & paper or use the laptops?
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Well, you need the full version of power point and when the instructor is talking and says pay attention to this point you underline or highlight that area of text or add important data not there to it. Also, Dr. Kell likes to leave blank power points where you need to fill in the important data during class or get it from a trusted friend who was attending class. If you can type quickly this is the best way to do it. You could always print off the notes the night before if they are available (65%) of the time, and just highlight these and add to them. Some advice to you. Dont bother buying note service notes. They were really crappy and full of mistakes for us this year. Not to mention that students who where failing the classes were some of your trusted note-takers. Just another way SGA gets your cash to send a select few to conventions.
 
DON NOT FOLLOW THAT ADVICE!!!! I will say JOIN NOTE SERVICE!!!!! You will want those scribe notes. Note service is SEPARATE from SGA....therefore no money is exchanged between the two. Yes, some of the scribes suck and sometimes you didnt get the notes on time, but I will tell you if you want to take notes the paper and pencil way it is recommended (and cheaper) to get note service. You will get those power points much more often then 65% of the time. Obviously class of 2006 leadership isnt worth a darn. Especially the leadership of the note service to eliminate the ineffective scribes or runners.
stomper
 
You guys crack me up. :laugh:
 
Originally posted by stomper627
DON NOT FOLLOW THAT ADVICE!!!! I will say JOIN NOTE SERVICE!!!!! You will want those scribe notes. Note service is SEPARATE from SGA....therefore no money is exchanged between the two. Yes, some of the scribes suck and sometimes you didnt get the notes on time, but I will tell you if you want to take notes the paper and pencil way it is recommended (and cheaper) to get note service. You will get those power points much more often then 65% of the time. Obviously class of 2006 leadership isnt worth a darn. Especially the leadership of the note service to eliminate the ineffective scribes or runners.
stomper
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Hey!!! Just to let you know not all note-takers are bad students and some of the notes help some people do better on tests. These are usually the students who skipped class and would otherwise not have had a clue. BUT!!!! The majority of the note-takers are not in the top (say 25%) of the class, so in effect you are trusting someone to do your job for you who may not be too good at it. See here is the deal, the reason why substandard students get into noteservice:::::no one knows who is a good student or not until it is too late..... I mean you dont get the notes until the test is over from the slackers, and they are crummy notes at that. Now remember if you do not scribe for the note service and want these notes it will cost you about 150-200 bucks. If you are a good and motivated student who is willing to sacrifice study time to do noteservice .......cheers to you. You will make a difference in some slackers life who is too lazy to take notes.

I would say everyone in my class who had no financial gain, or membership in the noteservice organization was extremely chapped. Dont ask SGA members or noteservice members about this; find a few students who have stayed outta the HIGH SCHOOL CROWD ...They will give you an honest answer...even if it is different than mine.....at least you will know that it is not someone trying to jock you for cash. This will happen alot at this school.

Bye the way if you havent noticed, a great number of SGA and the like are publishing answers to your questions here. Most are only telling you half of the story. They sugar coat everything....guess thats what politicians do. I will not....I give the straight answers.....how I and many of my peers have seen them......Want an unscensored opinion ask me I will be truthful with you......

At LECOM, watch your pocketbook and your parents mail asking for donations. They will arrive.......
 
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