MCW Class of 2012

[achybrachy]

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Don't turn anyone down, unless, of course, you get 24 invites. Then you have to make some sort of decisions. It's extremely random though: one program I was expecting to be high on my list did end up number one, but otherwise there's no way I could have predicted how it ended up.

Lists are due Feb 27th. Mine's already in.

Eep. I still have 2 more places to go. I haven't heard good things about Thomas Jefferson's program either, but UVA should be good.

I think if you got 24 invites you probably applied to too many places.

On an unrelated note, asparagus makes my pee smell funny.

 

[Ashers]

Eep. I still have 2 more places to go. I haven't heard good things about Thomas Jefferson's program either, but UVA should be good.

I think if you got 24 invites you probably applied to too many places.

On an unrelated note, asparagus makes my pee smell funny.

Good luck. =)

That's a well known side effect of asparagus, not only applicable to you. Sorry, if that makes you feel less special. It was talked about in the movie Elf and in the show Psych (not you again, the asparagus effect).

 

[Xandie]

I think if you got 24 invites you probably applied to too many places.

I concur. OB was a little crazy last year, with only four spots in the scramble, and all at the same program. Accordingly, a lot of us applied broadly. Also, since I was applying mostly to east coast programs, I didn't know how they would perceive me. Some places, I was "Wisconsin girl" and I spent the whole interview trying to convince them that I really did want to move. Other places, they kept referring to MCW as a "rural" medical school... you know, because everything in the midwest is rural. Uh huh.

On an unrelated note, asparagus makes my pee smell funny.

Not mine! I don't have the mercaptan enzyme. Which is great, because I love asparagus.

 

[achybrachy]

Not mine! I don't have the mercaptan enzyme. Which is great, because I love asparagus.

I love asparagus too, even more so because of the pee thing.

 

[Xandie]

You are one odd duck.

 

[samenewme]

...

Not mine! I don't have the mercaptan enzyme. Which is great, because I love asparagus.

There was some belief for a while that everyone converts the asparagus and the real genetic difference had turned out to be the ability to smell it. I am sad that this may not be true.

 

[Xandie]

Nope. My ex had the enzyme--I don't.

Only 46% of British folks have the enzyme, while 100% of French folks do. I'm not sure what that says about my Irish/Russian heritage, but you know, fun facts to know and tell.

 

[samenewme]

Nope. My ex had the enzyme--I don't.

Only 46% of British folks have the enzyme, while 100% of French folks do. I'm not sure what that says about my Irish/Russian heritage, but you know, fun facts to know and tell.

This is sad.

Also, I seem to have gotten the lack of enzyme from my New Englander mom and not the presence from my Cajun dad. Or something.

 

[relf]

random question....does MCW have an intramural sports program?....

 

[Xandie]

Yes.

 

[ecca58]

What kind of IM sports are there? ... and also, is it fairly easy to participate in, even if you suck as a player?

I pretty much suck at most sports, but I would like to try something new. 😳

 

[Agent Splat]

What kind of IM sports are there? ... and also, is it fairly easy to participate in, even if you suck as a player?

I pretty much suck at most sports, but I would like to try something new. 😳

off the top of my head there's softball, volleyball, cagefighting, and i think less-organized but active ultimate frisbee(more just people getting together and playing, really). There was curling going on at some point as well.

 

[achybrachy]

off the top of my head there's softball, volleyball, cagefighting, and i think less-organized but active ultimate frisbee(more just people getting together and playing, really). There was curling going on at some point as well.

I went to the curling once last month. It was weird but kinda fun.

 

[45408]

Softball was fun. Skill level is irrelevant.

 

[twick121]

skill is needed in softball! it is not easy to catch a softball without setting down your beer, but the few league all-stars find a way

 

[ecca58]

it is not easy to catch a softball without setting down your beer

yes. catching is very difficult for me. 🙁 ...even when I'm sober.
for many many years, I thought I was just dumb and uncoordinated whenever I got smacked in the face with a ball during PE.

then, I found out that I had amblyopia (lazy eye) due to the esotropic strabismus of my left eye (surgically fixed at age of 1).

no wonder I couldn't see those "hidden" images in the magic books!!! darn skewed depth perception!

 

[ecca58]

Ok. So new question:

When are you given your MCW email address??? 😕

I'm guessing that you wouldn't get it until post-May 15th, but the Financial Aid Application asked for one. It specifically warned be about not leaving anything blank, but I just had to leave it blank since I had no clue. I'm not suppose to make up one, right?

 

[Agent Splat]

Ok. So new question:

When are you given your MCW email address??? 😕

I'm guessing that you wouldn't get it until post-May 15th, but the Financial Aid Application asked for one. It specifically warned be about not leaving anything blank, but I just had to leave it blank since I had no clue. I'm not suppose to make up one, right?

you'll get your mcw email address when you get here. don't worry about it. i just put "n/a" in any field i'm leaving blank for that form.

 

[Agent Splat]

aahhh....stories from my home county.

http://www.wisn.com/news/15163833/detail.html

DODGE COUNTY, Wis. -- A reverse 911 call led police to arrest a Dodge County woman accused of drunken driving.

A sheriff's dispatcher called the Fox Lake woman on her cell phone after receiving a hang-up call from that number early Sunday morning.

The woman told the dispatcher her boyfriend made her call 911 because he thought she was too drunk to drive.

The following is a part of the conversation between the driver and the dispatcher:

Operator: "Hello, Dodge County Sheriff's Department calling. We just got a 911 call from your cell phone."

Driver: "Yeah."

Operator: "Is everything OK?"

Driver: "I need someone to follow me home. Somebody thinks he's the big guy, and I can't drive home straight."

Operation: "OK, why is that?"

Driver: "He seems to think I'm too intoxicated to drive."

Operator: "OK, and so you called 911 or he called 911?"

Driver: "He wanted me to call 911 because he thinks I'm too drunk to drive."

Operator: "And he's riding in the car with you?"

Driver: "Yes, he is. I'm just about home."

Operator: "And you're driving now?"

Driver: "Yes, I am."

Police met the woman on her porch when she got home.

She was arrested, accused of operating while intoxicated.

It was her first offense.

 

[ecca58]

Operator: "OK, and so you called 911 or he called 911?"

This is one of the reasons why I also wanted to work as a Dispatcher. As an EMT-on-orientation, I remember one 911 call where the dispatcher told us, "male complaining of big TV on his chest." We were laughing the entire time as we drove to the scene. Ah, fun memories.

Anyway, since I have more questions, I guess I'll just bombard them on this thread.

(1) Any good karaoke places in WI? If so, where? How far away from MCW? Also what style of karaoke? (a) the one where you sing in front of a large random audience or (b) the one where you can seclude your friends and yourself in private rooms.

(2) Any Asian convenient stores (I've been spoiled by Tomato and Super H-Mart) in WI? I can't live w/o good Japanese food. I'm planning on cooking, but I will need ingredients.

(3) Where is the closest bowling alley? I love bowling. 😍

(4) Is Wisconsin considered as a liberal/moderate/conservative state? This MCW-alum pediatrician that I met in the ER told me that WI is a conservative state, but I didn't get that impression while I was at the interview. But then again, the med school and the rest of WI may be located in separate realms.

Darn, I can't think. I know I had more questions last night. Oh well, I post them up as soon as I remember them.

 

[Gimlet]

This is one of the reasons why I also wanted to work as a Dispatcher. As an EMT-on-orientation, I remember one 911 call where the dispatcher told us, "male complaining of big TV on his chest." We were laughing the entire time as we drove to the scene. Ah, fun memories.

Anyway, since I have more questions, I guess I'll just bombard them on this thread.

(1) Any good karaoke places in WI? If so, where? How far away from MCW? Also what style of karaoke? (a) the one where you sing in front of a large random audience or (b) the one where you can seclude your friends and yourself in private rooms.

There's a bar/restaurant near school called The Chancery that does karaoke on Wednesdays, which is popular with the students. It's an "in front of a large crowd" type karaoke. I don't know of any specific karaoke-only or every night karaoke type places, but that doesn't mean they don't exist.

(2) Any Asian convenient stores (I've been spoiled by Tomato and Super H-Mart) in WI? I can't live w/o good Japanese food. I'm planning on cooking, but I will need ingredients.

http://www.mapquest.com/maps/map.ad...de=MH2rweM9OazNb9oPCbWrGA==&cat=asian grocery
There is also a Japanese restaurant up here that does two for the price of one sushi on Monday nights...lots of students go each week.

(3) Where is the closest bowling alley? I love bowling. 😍

There's a bowling alley on Bluemound Rd. right near school.

(4) Is Wisconsin considered as a liberal/moderate/conservative state? This MCW-alum pediatrician that I met in the ER told me that WI is a conservative state, but I didn't get that impression while I was at the interview. But then again, the med school and the rest of WI may be located in separate realms.

Depends on the area of the state you are in. Waukesha County (directly to the west of school) is one of the most conservative/Republican counties in the entire country. Madison is probably one of the most liberal cities in the country. I would say Milwaukee falls somewhere closer to the middle. Wisconsin has a Democrat for a governor, and I believe has gone blue in both of the last two presidential elections. MCW in general is fairly liberal...you will get indoctrinated with many liberal causes during your time here.

Darn, I can't think. I know I had more questions last night. Oh well, I post them up as soon as I remember them.

Keep 'em coming!

 

[Xandie]

I'm a terrible person to answer questions about that stuff, because... well, I stay in. Anyway.

1) The Chancery has a karaoke night, and it's about a mile and a half from school. I've never been there, so I can't address a) or b).

2) We have a pretty diverse (although segregated) community here, and I'm sure there are tons of good stores around. There's one Kosher grocery store, and there are far fewer Jews than there are Asians.

3) Bluemound, I'd think, which is pretty close.

4) It's a blue state, due almost entirely to Madison and Milwaukee. So the city itself is somewhat liberal, the more rural places are more conservative, as is expected.

Stupid Gimlet. I'm trying to be helpful. Me no love you no mo.

 

[Gimlet]

Stupid Gimlet. I'm trying to be helpful. Me no love you no mo.

That makes Andy a sad panda.

 

[Xandie]

You'll get over it. Splat did.

 

[DoctorFunk]

You'll get over it. Splat did.

But the herpes lasts forever.

 

[Xandie]

Oh, I definitely don't love you anymore. Your wife and I need to have a chat.

 

[akpete]

I'm from rural WI. My county in the last number of elections has narrowly gone red, but my theory is that many democrats, like myself, tend to stay in larger cities after college.

My brothers consistently vote republican, but cannot actually tell me why. Perhaps because my grandparents are farmers, so they think they should be conservative.

But either or, you'll find a place here.

I was at Long Wong's on Friday. Man those were some BAD karaoke singers.

 

[Agent Splat]

and i'm left wondering how i got dragged into this.


i will make you all pay.

 

[DoctorFunk]

Oh, I definitely don't love you anymore. Your wife and I need to have a chat.

Ike still loves ya baby. I already invested in Valtrex stock, so it's all good.

 

[DoctorFunk]

and i'm left wondering how i got dragged into this.


i will make you all pay.

Always with the promises...

 

[samenewme]

All the karaoke places I know of are of the random bar sort. There's a Web page out there, no longer updated, that lists karaoke nights. I can ask who's got the good song selections on specific nights if you want--I know someone who knows. You know?

It's a purple state. We voted for the marriage is for boy and girl people amendment, but flipped blue in the last presidential election. So kind of a grab bag.

 

[Agent Splat]

All the karaoke places I know of are of the random bar sort. There's a Web page out there, no longer updated, that lists karaoke nights. I can ask who's got the good song selections on specific nights if you want--I know someone who knows. You know?

It's a purple state. We voted for the marriage is for boy and girl people amendment, but flipped blue in the last presidential election. So kind of a grab bag.

wait...i thought we voted for concealed carry of firearms for unborn babies?

 

[samenewme]

wait...i thought we voted for concealed carry of firearms for unborn babies?

Well, only during baby-hunting season, so it doesn't count.

 

[ecca58]

Man those were some BAD karaoke singers.

Oh poo. I might have to kiss goodbye to karaoke. I've never sang at those open karaoke bar before. Large crowds scare me. I don't think drinking will help the situation, either.

Maybe I'll have to move on to my next hobby. Ok. from now, I will save up for a PS3.

 

[penguin18]

Oh poo. I might have to kiss goodbye to karaoke. I've never sang at those open karaoke bar before. Large crowds scare me. I don't think drinking will help the situation, either.

Maybe I'll have to move on to my next hobby. Ok. from now, I will save up for a PS3.

If you invest in the PS3 you can always make your own karaoke party with Karaoke Revolution. .. Which I would totally invite myself too! hehe

I applaud your asian food inquiry as well!! One of the first things I looked up about the Milwaukee area was if there were any Korean restaurants around. And with that... ARE there any Korean restaurants?

 

[penguin18]

Also... does anybody have any advice about managing finances while married in medical school?

I'm getting married to my fiance this summer before starting up school and we're attempting to figure out how to manage things for the upcoming year. (and beyond...) He'll be working and going to school part-time to finish up his bachelor's degree while I'll be pulling out the loans for medical school. We're basically at a complete loss on even where to start because we're young, inexperienced and clueless hehe 🙂 Any thoughts would be great...

 

[Xandie]

If you behave yourselves, you should be able to get by on your living expenses loans plus whatever your husband makes.

Make good choices, live cheaply, don't go out for dinner constantly, find a job for your summer between M1 and M2, and you should be good.

Save, save, save, save.

 

[45408]

Also... does anybody have any advice about managing finances while married in medical school?

I'm getting married to my fiance this summer before starting up school and we're attempting to figure out how to manage things for the upcoming year. (and beyond...) He'll be working and going to school part-time to finish up his bachelor's degree while I'll be pulling out the loans for medical school. We're basically at a complete loss on even where to start because we're young, inexperienced and clueless hehe 🙂 Any thoughts would be great...

Don't buy a new car. Let someone else pay the massive depreciation on it. If you spend lots of loan money now because you think you'll have lots of money later, you'll spend lots of money later because you're making lots of money, but you'll end up paying tons of interest on things you don't have any more. How much school does your fiance have left? Where will he be going?

 

[penguin18]

Thanks for the advice!! We've both been working this past year and saving as much as possible... so yes saving is definitely in the works! Hopefully we'll make more good decisions than bad.....

And car talk! Yes! We've just been debating that one. Buy new(er)? Lease? Keep the old junker? (that may possibly die on the way to wisconsin hehehe)

He technically has about 1 year left of credits to finish up his degree, but plans on spreading that out over about 2 years so he can work full-time. He is "going" to the University of Illinois-Springfield, but it is an online program in computer science. So it is pretty flexible. His tuition is minimal (about $2000 a semester ... he gets instate tuition for being in an online program apparently?) compared to med schools costs anyway. 🙂

Eek. I appreciate all the advice!!

 

[Xandie]

Keep your junker. I love my junker. I'm hoping to keep it up until the beginning of my third year of residency. If not, I'll buy a car when I need it, but every minute my old car lasts is the more car I can get for my money, if that makes any sense.

 

[bullishMD]

for the cafeteria at MCW is there any type of meal plan or anything?

and do students have 24 hour access to the building and/or library?

 

[donnyfire]

for the cafeteria at MCW is there any type of meal plan or anything?

and do students have 24 hour access to the building and/or library?

1. no. you probably wouldn't want one anyway

2. yes

 

[Agent Splat]

1. no. you probably wouldn't want one anyway

2. yes

to clarify Speedy's answer, yes, you can get into the building 24/7 and use study rooms and such, but the library has variable hours by day and time of year. in general it's open till about 11pm except on weekends.

 

[45408]

Thanks for the advice!! We've both been working this past year and saving as much as possible... so yes saving is definitely in the works! Hopefully we'll make more good decisions than bad.....

And car talk! Yes! We've just been debating that one. Buy new(er)? Lease? Keep the old junker? (that may possibly die on the way to wisconsin hehehe)

DON'T LEASE. It makes almost no sense unless you like to drive the newest high-end luxury cars and you want a new model every other year, or if you are a business owner and can deduct the depreciation and such. Don't even buy a car that's younger than 3-4 years. These days, a car with 40-60,000 miles will probably still be under the factory warranty. Check out a site like http://milwaukee.craigslist.org and look at the cars for sale. Some people have to ditch a car fast (called up to active duty in the military, medical emergency, etc), and the cars are a pretty good deal. My wife and I are getting a second car soon, and our target is something like a '98 Toyota Corolla/Camry for $4000, and we'll just pay that in cash.

Having a car payment is a great way to talk yourself into spending too much on a car.

 

[Gimlet]

My wife and I are getting a second car soon, and our target is something like a '98 Toyota Corolla/Camry for $4000, and we'll just pay that in cash.

You would pay that much for a 10 year old car? Seems steep.

Bullish, about the cafeteria -- there's pretty decent food there, but the prices are steep and they're only open for breakfast and lunch so aren't much help if you're studying at school late. You're better off bringing your own food or trekking over to Froedtert where you can get a decent meal for super cheap compared to MCW's cafeteria.

 

[Ashers]

Bullish, about the cafeteria -- there's pretty decent food there, but the prices are steep and they're only open for breakfast and lunch so aren't much help if you're studying at school late. You're better off bringing your own food or trekking over to Froedtert where you can get a decent meal for super cheap compared to MCW's cafeteria.

I've boycotted the cafeteria since M1 year for their lack of a discount. I don't care what they said in that email earlier this year about cheap prices. I can bring my own lunch for a lot cheaper.

Froedtert's decently priced (even if you go to the wrong cashier who refuses to give you a discount for not being an "employee." BS... they're making money off me by not having to hire someone else) and their food's not bad. There's a 24 hour Patio Cafe at froedtert with good quesadillas. And there's the 23 hour desperado cafe at children's.

 

[Agent Splat]

i only buy used lunches... let someone else pay the massive depreciation on them.

 

[Ashers]

i only buy used lunches... let someone else pay the massive depreciation on them.

What you do is you find the ward full of anorexic people and ask them if they really want to eat their food. They'll be happy to give you a free lunch. j/k! 😉

 

[Xandie]

You would pay that much for a 10 year old car? Seems steep.

Welcme to the world of Toyota. My '94 Tercel (which I love) is... the base model, let us say. In '04, it was $2000 and I was the happiest woman in the world. Toyota/Honda just don't depreciate like other cars. This is why I love them and will have them for the rest of my life. Yay.

 

[Agent Splat]

What you do is you find the ward full of anorexic people and ask them if they really want to eat their food. They'll be happy to give you a free lunch. j/k! 😉

reminds me of a story an M4 told me on IM last semester... said that at the VA their team had a patient that just refused to eat the food...he was getting meals from elsewhere. So the guy's student started taking his food (with the patient's permission). They even changed his diet orders to something more palatable.