MCW Class of 2010, Part 3

[Ashers]

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Well, the day of the White Coat ceremony there is a special "orientation" for family...they get a tour and hear about our curriculum and stuff and I think get a "your son/daughter/significant other" now has no life, expect them to be stressed out" kind of talk.

My parents really liked the orientation and the white coat ceremony. They really like MCW -- perhaps even more than I. They said that the whole orientation for parents was really helpful, and apparently, they were told not to bother their kids because they're going to be busy studying. My parents try to be good about that, but sometimes they forget.

 

[jmtanes]

Thanks Agent Splat and Ashers - I'm trying to help my family decide if they are going to come up or not for that day. I appreciate the info.

 

[Ashers]

Thanks Agent Splat and Ashers - I'm trying to help my family decide if they are going to come up or not for that day. I appreciate the info.

Personally, I really liked having my parents here to help me get organized. My mom ran errands while I was at orientation, and then, we went out for dinner or she cooked. It just made it a lot easier. My dad flew in just to come to the white coat ceremony and orientation on the Friday because he couldn't take too much time off work (but we were also able to work in a Brewer's game).

If it's at all possible, I'd recommend having your family come.

 

[scotttennis]

I have a question about the white coat ceremony also. Some schools allow a parent who has a MD to present the white coat to his/her student. Does MCW do this?

 

[Ashers]

I have a question about the white coat ceremony also. Some schools allow a parent who has a MD to present the white coat to his/her student. Does MCW do this?

No, they don't. They have a system where there are 6 doctors on stage, and basically, you go up in groups of 6 people (you also sit in groups of 6), and your name is read as you walk onstage. You then hand the doctor your coat, you put your arms back, and they put the coat on you. You have to be careful not to hit the doc while you put on the coat.

That's a cool idea to have a parent MD coat you. I think it could lead to chaos with 200 some odd students though.

Oh yeah, and if you guys have family coming, let them know to bring cushions if they want. The place they have the white coat ceremony is Wisconsin Lutheran College's gym, and the bleachers are hard.

EDIT: the students don't sit on the bleachers. I think we had plastic folding chairs.

 

[Tiger26]

With the post in the allo forum about going/not going to class, I was wondering what most people do at mcw. I'm a real self-learner, so I'd rather not go unless there is a real compelling reason otherwise.

 

[Ashers]

With the post in the allo forum about going/not going to class, I was wondering what most people do at mcw. I'm a real self-learner, so I'd rather not go unless there is a real compelling reason otherwise.

I attend just about every class. Except for one where they read the slides practically verbatim, but I'm a compulsive class go-er. I have friends who go to basically no classes. We have almost all our lectures recorded on put online as mp3s. However, the one day that I ditched class on purpose to go snowboarding, the sound system dysfunctioned, so I couldn't listen to the 2 lectures I missed. It just depends on your learning style, like you said. However, some teachers are great to go to their lecture anyway because they're so cool.

 

[Slim Snoopy]

I attend just about every class. Except for one where they read the slides practically verbatim, but I'm a compulsive class go-er. I have friends who go to basically no classes. We have almost all our lectures recorded on put online as mp3s. However, the one day that I ditched class on purpose to go snowboarding, the sound system dysfunctioned, so I couldn't listen to the 2 lectures I missed. It just depends on your learning style, like you said. However, some teachers are great to go to their lecture anyway because they're so cool.

Snowboarding in Milwaukee???? That seems counterintuitive to me. Growing up in Utah has spoiled me..I didn't think the midwest had mountains?? Where do you snowboard? And is it even good? We just had ~12" of new snow last week 😱 . That is one thing I thought I was going to lose when I move out there.. Does anyone else snowboard or skateboard?

 

[Ashers]

Snowboarding in Milwaukee???? That seems counterintuitive to me. Growing up in Utah has spoiled me..I didn't think the midwest had mountains?? Where do you snowboard? And is it even good? We just had ~12" of new snow last week 😱 . That is one thing I thought I was going to lose when I move out there.. Does anyone else snowboard or skateboard?

Ok, so compared to Utah it's not good at all. I grew up skiing at Mammoth Mountain, but my parents moved us to Hawaii where there's a decided lack of snowboarding (most years -- I've never been when they have it on the Big Island). Anywa, there are some places, and for fairly cheap you can go for a few hours. There's also a ski trip every year that goes to the Upper Peninsula of MI (the UP), and that's a little bit better. My friends and I who do go boarding/skiing are dying for better mountains (ok, so for any mountain -- I classify the things here as hills), but it's what we got, so we take advantage of it.

As for location -- the UP has been the best around here so far. there's a place north of Madison; it takes about 1.5-2 hours to get there, and it's ok. then a place 35 min from milwaukee -- the runs are short, but one of my friends and I went after class and for $17/person (discounted day) it was a good to way to procrastinate from studying.

 

[Gimlet]

Yeah, don't count on enjoying winter downhill sports in Wisconsin if you're from out west. It wouldn't even be worth it to go on the dinky little 45 second runs out here when you've skied in the mountains. Fortunately, I've never been skiing out west, so it's not ruined for me yet. 😛 One of the ski hills out here is actually built on top of an old landfill, to give you an idea of how pathetic it is.

The UP isn't horrible....it's a far cry better than what you'll find in WI, but still wouldn't compare to anything in Utah, Colorado, etc.

A lot of people out here cross-country ski in the winter, but I personally would rather let Paris Hilton give me herpes than strap on a pair of cross country skis and waddle around a snowy trail for a couple of hours.

 

[Ashers]

Yeah, don't count on enjoying winter downhill sports in Wisconsin if you're from out west. It wouldn't even be worth it to go on the dinky little 45 second runs out here when you've skied in the mountains. Fortunately, I've never been skiing out west, so it's not ruined for me yet. 😛 One of the ski hills out here is actually built on top of an old landfill, to give you an idea of how pathetic it is.

The UP isn't horrible....it's a far cry better than what you'll find in WI, but still wouldn't compare to anything in Utah, Colorado, etc.

A lot of people out here cross-country ski in the winter, but I personally would rather let Paris Hilton give me herpes than strap on a pair of cross country skis and waddle around a snowy trail for a couple of hours.

OH MY GOODNESS! So your post, Andy, became a mini-study break for me and Gina J while we're studying neuro. That's hilarious.

I'd have to say even though Alpines runs last like 30s, it's still more fun than studying neuro! 😉

 

[akpete]

Hey Tiger, does going to class on exam days count? Well, if those don't count then I've been to class 1 day since sometime in Nov or Dec. And that was the 1st day of the semester. Well, actually I have gone to neuro lab a couple times, but that's not really class, it's more self-learning with a group and help nearby if you need it. The audios of class, co-ops, and the notes we have to buy are more than enough. And my grades are just fine. You do have to go to small group stuff, but those aren't all that frequent. So really, if you don't want to go to class, definitely don't. But I would try it out first, then decide. Med school classes are a bit different than undergrad. Actually in undergrad, I went to most all classes. 🙄

As for the snowboarding, I'm from WI, but close to Minneapolis, and I'm a little more familar with snowboarding in that area and northern MN/WI. Those places aren't mountains or anything, but certainly better than Milwaukee/Madison area. Plus the snowfall is a little sketchier down here. But it's usually cheap, esp. for night lift tix. The UP is pretty decent. However, I've never been out West, so I don't know any better.

I hate cross-country skiing too, but I wouldn't go that far...

 

[omar322]

hi-
i've been accepted to both mcw and rush and i'm having a really tough time deciding which to choose. the facilities at mcw were awesome from what i remember when i interviewed back in october. then again its a tough decision because chicago seems like it would be a cooler city with more stuff to do and at rush it would be really cool doing rotations at cook county hospital. i just went to a second look day for rush two weeks ago too and was wondering why mcw doesn't have a similar type of event. can you guys let me know of any major differences between rush and mcw or anything in particular that should make me choose one over the other. thanks!

 

[Hawkeye Kid]

hi-
i just went to a second look day for rush two weeks ago too and was wondering why mcw doesn't have a similar type of event.

Just because there's no formal "second look day" doesn't mean you can't come back and take a second look. Contact the admissions staff and tell them what you want (another tour, talk to pre-clinical students, clinical students, etc) and they'll likely work to accomodate you. The only suggestion I would make is to ask for a time when the M1-2s aren't taking tests, as they'll be less stressed and have more time to talk to you.

As for comparing MCW to Rush, well, I can't. It sounds like in your mind, the pros for Rush are

1. Chicago vs. Milwaukee: Can't argue that Chicago isn't a more fun place to be. However, there are also hassles in Chicago that aren't as evident in MKE (cost of living, traffic, parking, etc). Depending on where you're coming from, this may or may not be a big deal.

2. Clinical training: I can't speak for Rush or CCH, but I can assure you that MCW provides excellent clinical training--or at least I hope they do, because I don't have any more clinical training between now and graduation. I am very confident and comfortable with patients and don't know that training at any other hospitals (CCH or otherwise) would make me moreso.

On the other hand, it sounds like the main pro for MCW is the physical plant. While I definitely agree that we have great facilities, I would argue that the building doesn't teach you much, and if that's your main reason for hopping on the MCW train you'll likely be disappointed. Unless the facilities at Rush are dismal I don't think I'd let that factor much into my decision.

Finally, congrats on your acceptances. Having to choose between two medical schools is a great problem to have and the best thing you can do is gather as much info as possible and make the best decision you can. Good luck.

 

[jmtanes]

Hawkeye Kid is right - just contact Michael Istwan, and he'll arrange some time for you to come back and check things out. I went up in February with my wife, and he personally showed us both around for about an hour. I pretty much had already decided on MCW at that point, but the personal attention that I got that day would have pushed me over the fence if I was still deciding. Mike Istwan is an awesome guy, and he even helped my wife with her job search too.

As for comparing to Rush - I can't since I know very little about MCW. I like Milwaukee because its a huge city (compared to where I am now) but it's not as big as Chicago. I'd rather not have to deal with housing and other living costs, traffic, etc that goes along with big city life - but that's me. Good luck making your decision. Hope to see you in August.

 

[Ashers]

Hawkeye Kid is right - just contact Michael Istwan, and he'll arrange some time for you to come back and check things out. I went up in February with my wife, and he personally showed us both around for about an hour. I pretty much had already decided on MCW at that point, but the personal attention that I got that day would have pushed me over the fence if I was still deciding. Mike Istwan is an awesome guy, and he even helped my wife with her job search too.

Mike Istwan is awesome. He really helped me while I was on the waitlist last summer, and he's incredibly nice, but then everyone here is very nice, which is one reason I really wanted to come to MCoW.

I can't say anything about Rush because I decided not to fill out a secondary there. I do know that I really like MCW (despite the coldness of winter, and today was the first day I turned on my a/c!) There's also amazing custard in Milwaukee.

 

[Ashers]

Hey Tiger, does going to class on exam days count? Well, if those don't count then I've been to class 1 day since sometime in Nov or Dec. And that was the 1st day of the semester.

It was good to actually see you today before the neuro test. 😉

 

[munadel10]

Good to see many 2009ers on this thread. Hope to meet you all soon. On another note does anyone have this years match list.

 

[Ashers]

Good to see many 2009ers on this thread. Hope to meet you all soon.

Some of us were talking recently about how we were turning the thread into a "let's complain about our exams" sort of thread. Well, we're done with exams for a few weeks, so hopefully that stops. =)

EDIT: I found this link in one of the match lists thread
http://www.mcw.edu/display/displayF...ts_-_NoNameResidencyMatchAppointments_web.pdf

 

[akpete]

today was the first day I turned on my a/c!)

😱 The high was only like 70. You're from a warm climate. 😕

Or maybe it's just me. I never turn on my ac until the high gets to by 90 or more. And then I don't turn it off again until Sept.

 

[Ashers]

😱 The high was only like 70. You're from a warm climate. 😕

Or maybe it's just me. I never turn on my ac until the high gets to by 90 or more. And then I don't turn it off again until Sept.

My apartment was nearly 80 with the heat and a/c off. When I'm at home, I stay inside because I don't like hot. Counterintuitive I know. I like air conditioners... it's how I survived Arizona. =)

 

[opmed]

Bump...what a disgrace that this thread has fallen to the second page.

 

[indo]

Bump...what a disgrace that this thread has fallen to the second page.

Itswan said we have to have lives outside of the internet.

How bout that boston marathon ehh? Who'da thought a Kenyan would win....again

 

[indo]

What are the window tint laws in Wisconsin?

 

[samenewme]

What are the window tint laws in Wisconsin?

Maybe not the most authoritative source, but here:

http://www.tintdude.com/ptow.html

 

[Agent Splat]

What are the window tint laws in Wisconsin?

Tinting the windows on your Pinto might disqualify it from most stock races...just so you know.

 

[Franimal]

Did anybody read the article that Itswan e-mailed about the Light Speed heart scanner. That was pretty fascinating. Do we have a school mascot? I know we don't have any official sports teams, but we should still have a mascot right?

 

[Gimlet]

Did anybody read the article that Itswan e-mailed about the Light Speed heart scanner. That was pretty fascinating. Do we have a school mascot? I know we don't have any official sports teams, but we should still have a mascot right?

My submission for MCoW's mascot:

 

[Ashers]

My submission for MCoW's mascot:

That's a good one. And, Andy, I nominate you to dress up like that for official MCoW events.

 

[Agent Splat]

That's a good one. And, Andy, I nominate you to dress up like that for official MCoW events.

He's too busy performing with his various bands....Toxic Megacolon and Saccular Macula.

 

[Ashers]

He's too busy performing with his various bands....Toxic Megacolon and Saccular Macula.

So we just have the bands perform at things like Commencement (or whatever the ceremony thing was at the beginning of the year) to liven that up -- or even at the reception afterwards. This can work 😉

 

[Gimlet]

Toxic Megacolon might be a little too '80s hair metal for the White Coat ceremony, and Saccular Macula, playing new wave punk, clearly wouldn't fit in at med school functions. Don't forget about my emo/alternative band, Indifferent Gonad, though.

 

[Ashers]

Toxic Megacolon might be a little too '80s hair metal for the White Coat ceremony, and Saccular Macula, playing new wave punk, clearly wouldn't fit in at med school functions. Don't forget about my emo/alternative band, Indifferent Gonad, though.

So you're volunteering Indifferent Gonad for the white coat ceremony? I'll let Dr. Haldemann know at the orientation committee meeting I have this afternoon. No doctors will fall asleep this year!

 

[Gimlet]

So you're volunteering Indifferent Gonad for the white coat ceremony?

We'll play as long as you fulfill our contract rider and only serve us green M&M's. (They make us horny.)

 

[Ashers]

We'll play as long as you fulfill our contract rider and only serve us green M&M's. (They make us horny.)

Dang, I already promised those to Marc. Will you play for blue and yellow?

 

[Gimlet]

Bump....Good Lord, someone ask us a question so we can stop ruining this thread with our inane banter!

 

[samenewme]

Bump....Good Lord, someone ask us a question so we can stop ruining this thread with our inane banter!

Sure! Give me more advice on where to live! I went driving around this afternoon out there. Wauwatosa is a freakin' Moebius strip. Every time I turned around I was crossing Highway 41 and then magically reappearing on Watertown PlankRoad.

I'm trying to find somewhere where I can reasonably bike to school, but it looks like it's all a recipe for Street Pizza.

 

[Ashers]

Sure! Give me more advice on where to live! I went driving around this afternoon out there. Wauwatosa is a freakin' Moebius strip. Every time I turned around I was crossing Highway 41 and then magically reappearing on Watertown PlankRoad.

I'm trying to find somewhere where I can reasonably bike to school, but it looks like it's all a recipe for Street Pizza.

There are a bunch of duplexes, quadruplexes, and apartments right near campus... like walking distance -- off of Watertown Plank and then on streets off of Watertown Plank as well. I live at the Reserve on State street, and yesterday I really wanted to ride my bike up to the Menomenee River park thing, but 1) cars scare me, and 2) construction terrifies me, and the combination of the two, prevented me from doing anything aside from putting air in my bike tires.

 

[opmed]

Sure! Give me more advice on where to live! I went driving around this afternoon out there. Wauwatosa is a freakin' Moebius strip. Every time I turned around I was crossing Highway 41 and then magically reappearing on Watertown PlankRoad.

I'm trying to find somewhere where I can reasonably bike to school, but it looks like it's all a recipe for Street Pizza.

I think Tosa might have one of the most confusing street systems out there. Streets will randomly end and then reappear about a block and a half west. If you want a good way to get rid of someone forever just tell them you live in Wauwatosa and don't give them directions.
Right now there is a ton of construction going on State St., which makes it a mess to drive around the Eastern portion of Tosa. If you take State Street from where the Chancery is to around where Saz's is, it seriously feels like you're on some sort of off-road obstacle course.
There seem to be a lot of places with 'for rent' signs in the windows right around campus. I've been meaning to check them out, but haven't gotten around to it yet.

 

[Gimlet]

Samenewme,

What type of place are you looking for? Single-unit, duplex, apt. building? Between all of us I'm sure we can come up with some good ideas for you. I remember being REALLY frustrated by Wauwatosa's streets when I came down to look for places. So much so, that I pretty much just took the 1st place that we saw that wasn't a dump, 'cause I was sick of trying to find my way around. We lucked out that it turned out to be a great apartment, I guess.

You get used to the crazy streets after about a week of driving around them...I'm still discovering new ways to get places, though.

 

[Gimlet]

I know Samenewme is planning on using the roommate list to find someone to live with...how many of you other 2010ers are doing the same? I have a friend (an M1 this year) that is planning on putting herself on the list this summer and finding a 2 BR place.

She would be an ideal roommate...she's the one of the nicest, sweetest girls I've ever met, is very studious but likes to have fun as well, and she spends a lot of time at her boyfriend's house. I have another M1 friend who rooms with an M2, and she loves it...it's like having a live-in Big Sib to guide you through first year.

If anyone is interested, I could possibly hook you up with my friend's e-mail so you could get in contact and see if you would make good roommates. That way you wouldn't have to wait until the roommate list comes out in June or whenever, and could avoid having to wait to find an apartment until the good ones are taken.

PM me if interested...(I like getting PM's, they make me feel special. 😍 )

 

[DoctorFunk]

PM me if interested...(I like getting PM's, they make me feel special. 😍 )

You're being too hard on yourself. We're all special here at MCW. Some are just a little more specialer than others.

 

[Agent Splat]

You're being too hard on yourself. We're all special here at MCW. Some are just a little more specialer than others.

I'm not special. And that's what makes me unique.

 

[Tiger26]

I think doctorfunk mentioned buying into the notetaking service on another thread. So is that done by students or someone else and is it pretty easy to self-study from that?

 

[akpete]

I think doctorfunk mentioned buying into the notetaking service on another thread. So is that done by students or someone else and is it pretty easy to self-study from that?

Hi. I use the coop notes A LOT. I don't go to class, but even when I did last semester, I suck at taking notes, and used the coop notes heavily. Plus then you can just sit in class and actually listen, rather than trying to write everything down. I think it was $50 1st semester and $25 this semester. Basically, during orientation, the president of our coop will come in, explain how it works, hold sign-ups (and subsequent drawing out of a hat) for positions like president, distributors, treasurer, etc., and then you're kinda on your own. We'll tell you how we run it, but it's up to your class to decide how you want it run.

Obviously, some notes are better than others, but you also get a cd with the coops from the past few years.

Does that help?

 

[Gimlet]

Counterpoint: My co-ops last semester sat in a pile on the floor for the most part. In the rare instance that I needed one, the co-op would invariably start with "This is pretty much the same as last year's co-op, but I have changed a few things." Some of the writers started getting really lazy with their co-ops later in the semester and basically just started printing off last year's co-op and handing it in. Great...I have last year's co-op on a disk so why are they bothering to put it in my mailbox? I didn't join the co-op for the 2nd semester, and haven't missed it since. Once or twice I've needed a co-op, and I just looked up an old one on the disk of previous years' co-ops that I already have.

If the co-op system made some major changes, I would be in it for sure. For one, they need to move to a paperless system. Having a 3 inch stack of notes to file away every week is not very easy to organize. We have an awesome computer at MCW that would easily accommodate the electronic distribution of the notes. I'm sure the Kinko's in the basement would throw a fit if we tried to take away all that business, though.

 

[Tiger26]

Thanks for the great info. I really like the point-counterpoint format--it should become standard posting procedure.

 

[Ashers]

We have an awesome computer at MCW that would easily accommodate the electronic distribution of the notes. I'm sure the Kinko's in the basement would throw a fit if we tried to take away all that business, though.

And heaven forbid that they make it cheaper for us poor med students by getting rid of the paper.

I was never in coops -- well, except at the very beginning of the year, and I had to write 1 coop for biochem before we had to pay. That's when I decided it wasn't worth it for me. I'm a compulsive class goer (as I've said before) and I write down practically everything that the lecturers say. I haven't missed not having coops. I have the old cd, and if an M2 tells me there's a really funny coop, I'll go read it, but I don't use them.

 

[akpete]

For one, they need to move to a paperless system. Having a 3 inch stack of notes to file away every week is not very easy to organize. We have an awesome computer at MCW that would easily accommodate the electronic distribution of the notes.

They actually tried to put the coop on ANGEL, but the school wouldn't allow us. They thought it would deter people from going to school at all. In their minds, at least now we have to show up to get the coops from our mailbox. Last I heard was something about trying to get our own website with a password, but I don't think anyone has put in the work to do that. Personally, I like the printed out version because I would print it out at home anyway. I like reading things on paper rather than on computer, and I highlight things as I go through them in conjunction with the powerpoints. I have a separate ring binder for the blocks coops to keep it organized.

Besides, then I would lose my job as a distributor!

 

[Agent Splat]

Thanks for the great info. I really like the point-counterpoint format--it should become standard posting procedure.

I do NOT like the point-counterpoint format, and it should NOT become standard posting procedure.



More excitement pumping: At MCW, you get TWO mailboxes as a first and second year. You can't be that. You just can't. You can have your harvards and your yales and your whatever else...but at MCW, you get TWO mailboxes. THAT is value. True value (not the hardware store, but pretty close).