MCW Class of 2012

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Do you guys think that moving in October is a recipe for disaster? After my original roommate prospect didn't want to live far enough west for me, I found a couple of others who would be great to live with. The only problem is they have a lease that doesn't end until October. I can crash with them until then and move, but is it stupid to plan on moving two months into school? Thanks again!


I would not recommend that. October will be in the middle/end of block 2......

haha, once you get here, you'll realize why that's a bad idea 🙂 It would be very hectic and hard and probably much unneeded stress. But, that said, if you know it'll be a good living situation...well, a good living situation can also take away a lot of stress.
 
I would not recommend that. October will be in the middle/end of block 2......

haha, once you get here, you'll realize why that's a bad idea 🙂 It would be very hectic and hard and probably much unneeded stress. But, that said, if you know it'll be a good living situation...well, a good living situation can also take away a lot of stress.

I moved during a fairly light rotation at the beginning of third year, and I can tell you it wasn't exactly easy then. If I had tried moving in the middle of studying like a crazyperson during first year, I definitely would have either failed a few tests or not been moved out in time. I really recommend against moving then. Try to be settled at the beginning of the school year. Unless, of course, you have very few belongings and it would be quick to get it all boxed up and moved.
 
Just out of pure curiosity (and you don't have to answer this if you think the question is dumb and pointless...because it is), what do you mean by this? I'm trying to imagine it... and my mind is failing me. 😉

I agree with the other responses to this question. I meant mostly in a white-trash kind of way. They are older stores than the ones I am used to out west and in poorer upkeep, besides generally not being in the nicer neighborhoods (at least the two I am thinking of). I have heard that the Germantown one is better.
 
I moved during a fairly light rotation at the beginning of third year, and I can tell you it wasn't exactly easy then. If I had tried moving in the middle of studying like a crazyperson during first year, I definitely would have either failed a few tests or not been moved out in time. I really recommend against moving then. Try to be settled at the beginning of the school year. Unless, of course, you have very few belongings and it would be quick to get it all boxed up and moved.

I figured this was what people were going to tell me. I really don't want to make this harder on myself than I have to, but I had one really bad roommate experience in college, and now I'm a little scared of random roommates. (I've discovered that I really enjoy not knowing the cops on a first name basis :scared:) Do you think it would be possible to find sublettors for august/september? It seems like there would be people needing short term housing there, but I could be completly wrong. I wouldn't mind paying a little extra to live with these guys, but 4 months extra rent is just more than I can pull off.
 
I had one really bad roommate experience in college, and now I'm a little scared of random roommates. (I've discovered that I really enjoy not knowing the cops on a first name basis :scared:)

Me, too!!! Hence, I'm planning to live by myself for the first year...and I might consider a roommate the second year and beyond once I get to know people more up there.

My bad roomie is my best friend. We're still buddies, but man, I can't live with her. 🙁 I have nothing against heavy smokers, but I really wished that she'd stop smoking in the tiny dorm room. And the spring time was awful, since she would keep opening the windows to smoke...but I'm allergic to pollens. :scared:

So yeah, since I had such a hard time living with my best friend, I can understand why you would think it would be little scary to live with total strangers.

But man, I never saw the cops. That sounds really bad to know them on a first name basis.
 
Me, too!!! Hence, I'm planning to live by myself for the first year...and I might consider a roommate the second year and beyond once I get to know people more up there.

My bad roomie is my best friend. We're still buddies, but man, I can't live with her. 🙁 I have nothing against heavy smokers, but I really wished that she'd stop smoking in the tiny dorm room. And the spring time was awful, since she would keep opening the windows to smoke...but I'm allergic to pollens. :scared:

So yeah, since I had such a hard time living with my best friend, I can understand why you would think it would be little scary to live with total strangers.

But man, I never saw the cops. That sounds really bad to know them on a first name basis.

Yeah, the cops didn't come into play until the end of the year. At first it was just stuff like putting kitchen garbage in my bed when I dared to go on vacation on my week to take out the garbage. It got a little uglier when the knives started coming out. At one point a girl stopped breathing and she tried to stop everyone from calling an ambulance because she didn't want to get in trouble for providing alcohol to a minor. It was quite a life lesson for the little girl from rural Minnesota... fortunatly since then I've had like 20 fabulous roommates, but yeah... I'm not sure I'm ready to live alone. Have you all done it before? I think I'd get bored, but I'm pretty sure no random med student is going to threaten to stab me, so maybe it's worth it?
 
Yeah, the cops didn't come into play until the end of the year. At first it was just stuff like putting kitchen garbage in my bed when I dared to go on vacation on my week to take out the garbage. It got a little uglier when the knives started coming out. At one point a girl stopped breathing and she tried to stop everyone from calling an ambulance because she didn't want to get in trouble for providing alcohol to a minor. It was quite a life lesson for the little girl from rural Minnesota... fortunatly since then I've had like 20 fabulous roommates, but yeah... I'm not sure I'm ready to live alone. Have you all done it before? I think I'd get bored, but I'm pretty sure no random med student is going to threaten to stab me, so maybe it's worth it?

this sounds like your average night in Mankato!


as for the moving thing...i'd say evaluate how you study and how organized you are. if you can stay on top of your ****, then it probably would be doable. but if you procrastinate and end up having to play catch on weekends and stuff, i wouldn't recommend it.

i moved during july of m3 year while on inpatient medicine at froedtert. i would NOT recommend that.
 
this sounds like your average night in Mankato!
quote]

Strangely enough I've spent quite a few nights in Mankato and never seen a stabbing. must've been hanging out with the wrong crowd...
 
Do many people use the gym in the basement or do people find somewhere else to work out? I also heard about intramural sports. Where do these go on?
 
Yeah, I was disappointed to see that "gym" during my tour. I have friends who work across HWY45 that have memberships at Wisconsin Athletic Club (or something to that end). It's supposedly reasonable, they have sites throughout Milwaukee (one is across watertown plank road from MCW), and the facilities are supposedly really nice.
 
Do many people use the gym in the basement or do people find somewhere else to work out? I also heard about intramural sports. Where do these go on?

I've never used the gym, but every time I walk by it, it's busy. I probably should go use it for weight lifting, but right now, I'm in my lazy months. I don't like to exercise inside. Once it gets warm, I'll stop being lazy.
 
I've never used the gym, but every time I walk by it, it's busy. I probably should go use it for weight lifting, but right now, I'm in my lazy months. I don't like to exercise inside. Once it gets warm, I'll stop being lazy.

I just don't like to exercise when there are other people around that can tell how big of a pansy I really am.
 
I just don't like to exercise when there are other people around that can tell how big of a pansy I really am.

That's a big reason I don't like to be indoors (I also turn bright red, which is easily noticed/felt by anyone within a 20 yard radius of me). Outdoors though, with friends, eg. our no-rules tennis, I don't really care.
 
Do many people use the gym in the basement or do people find somewhere else to work out? I also heard about intramural sports. Where do these go on?
I know a number of people who use it. I have a membership at the WAC, and it's pretty nice over there. Wisconsin Lutheran College also lets you buy a membership for quite cheap, I believe.
 
WLC has limited hours, though.

I do use the downstairs gym, and it is workable. They added a new elliptical to replace the rusted-out wreck they used to have, so now there are three that actually work, and I think next fiscal year they're adding a 4th treadmill. The weight equipment is what it is. Some fine, some shabby, but it mostly works and the price is right. IF you do join the WAC, I am told the warmest towels are the ones in the middle of the stack.
 
i checked out the WAC website, and it seems nice...how much is a membership?.....
 
Does the WAC have a pool?
 
yes the WAC has a pool. They have an exercise pool, hot tub, and a 25 YARD lap pool. and the WAC is literally less than 1/4 mile from school. It is on the walk to the parking lot.

The membership is like $53 if you are under 25 (because you qualify as a junior member) and like $65 if you are over 25. I might be off by a dollar or two on those numbers, but it is close.
 
$65/month????

Yeah, it's kind of a gold-plated club. There's also a Bally's a bit south of school, and a YMCA a few miles northwest for those so inclined. Prices are lower but it's not as fancy.
 
Yeah, it's kind of a gold-plated club. There's also a Bally's a bit south of school, and a YMCA a few miles northwest for those so inclined. Prices are lower but it's not as fancy.

Wow, that's significantly more than I pay without a discount now, and I've been feeling dumb for splurging on the fancy downtown gym. I'd really started to enjoy tv's on each machine. I guess I'm gonna have to learn to work out without jon stewart 🙁
 
Wow, that's significantly more than I pay without a discount now, and I've been feeling dumb for splurging on the fancy downtown gym. I'd really started to enjoy tv's on each machine. I guess I'm gonna have to learn to work out without jon stewart 🙁

i used to work out with Anna Kournikova but I got too famous for her and she got jealous. I know the feeling.
 
The wac is good if you don't mind older equipment and seeing the exact same people you see it school, at the bars, and at the coffee shops. Also, there are a lot of folks working out in there who spend most of their time on the phone and in front of the mirror.
 
I think Ashers shares my fondness for 24Hour Fitness. We seem to be in the only place in the country that doesn't have them.

Men's Fitness ranked Milwaukee as the 10th fittest city in America.
 
I think Ashers shares my fondness for 24Hour Fitness. We seem to be in the only place in the country that doesn't have them.

Men's Fitness ranked Milwaukee as the 10th fittest city in America.

There's a Snap Fitness on North I just noticed a while ago. Had no idea it was there. Those are a version of 24 Hour Fitness. I have no idea if it's nice or not though.
 
The wac is good if you don't mind older equipment and seeing the exact same people you see it school, at the bars, and at the coffee shops. Also, there are a lot of folks working out in there who spend most of their time on the phone and in front of the mirror.
the WAC has older equipment? where are they hiding it?
 
Sorry to change the subject again, but I was wondering about the necessity of a car. Can you get by without one? If not, are there a lot of dealerships around to get a certified used car? Any other suggestions?
 
Does anyone know when you have to turn in the official transcript from undergrad? I don't recall them telling me during the interview...
 
I think Ashers shares my fondness for 24Hour Fitness. We seem to be in the only place in the country that doesn't have them.

Men's Fitness ranked Milwaukee as the 10th fittest city in America.

Definitely. I miss 24 Hour Fitness. I keep my card in my wallet. Except, I can't go to EVERY 24 Hour Fitness because Maui's got a lower level one... something about not needing an indoor pool in Hawaii. I dunno.

does anyone know about this marquette discount?

From what my über-athletic friend told me, it's $55/semester. He'd go there to train off season for stuff, but he's also insane, does almost every sport, and did the Madison Iron Man in the middle of his OB/gyn rotation a few years ago. If this explains anything, he's Oregonian.

Sorry to change the subject again, but I was wondering about the necessity of a car. Can you get by without one? If not, are there a lot of dealerships around to get a certified used car? Any other suggestions?

You could get by without a car 1st and 2nd year, but I wouldn't recommend it. There are a lot of car dealerships, and they probably sell their own used cars. I don't know if they're certified or not, since I don't know what that means.

Does anyone know when you have to turn in the official transcript from undergrad? I don't recall them telling me during the interview...

By the time school starts, but I'd probably do it ASAP just to get it out of the way.
 
There's plenty of dealerships in the area, and I'm sure the "name brand" ones (GM, Honda, Tucker, Izuzu, DeLorean, etc) likely sell their own certified used cars.
 
There's plenty of dealerships in the area, and I'm sure the "name brand" ones (GM, Honda, Tucker, Izuzu, DeLorean, etc) likely sell their own certified used cars.

I bought a certified used Camry at Wilde Toyota a few years back. It's been fine. Price was decent and the only thing annoying they do is jerk you around trying to get you to buy the extended warranty.
 
Does anyone know when you have to turn in the official transcript from undergrad? I don't recall them telling me during the interview...

Hi there. I asked Mike Istwan this when I was visiting last Monday, and he said that (since I've been out of college for six years...) I should send them in at any time. So probably once you have your degree actually posted on your transcript, send them in. If you have transcripts from other places that did not give you a degree (I have some continuing education credits that I took at local collages...) you can probably send those in now.

$65/month????

One of the guys I met on Monday pay less than that because he and his female roommate get the "marriage discount". So get a roommate of the opposite sex and save some money. 🙂
 
One of the guys I met on Monday pay less than that because he and his female roommate get the "marriage discount". So get a roommate of the opposite sex and save some money. 🙂
Not sure how they swung that - when my wife and I signed up, she hadn't changed her name yet, and our address wasn't the same, so we had to actually show them our marriage license. I'm surprised that simply having the same last name was enough.
 
Hi there. I asked Mike Istwan this when I was visiting last Monday, and he said that (since I've been out of college for six years...) I should send them in at any time. So probably once you have your degree actually posted on your transcript, send them in. If you have transcripts from other places that did not give you a degree (I have some continuing education credits that I took at local collages...) you can probably send those in now.



One of the guys I met on Monday pay less than that because he and his female roommate get the "marriage discount". So get a roommate of the opposite sex and save some money. 🙂


Hmm, I'm probably going to have a female roommate. If only Milwaukee were as liberal as Madison...
 
From what my über-athletic friend told me, it's $55/semester. He'd go there to train off season for stuff, but he's also insane, does almost every sport, and did the Madison Iron Man in the middle of his OB/gyn rotation a few years ago. If this explains anything, he's Oregonian.

$55 a semester would be deal!
 
The YMCA also has income-based discounts and since most of us don't have any income, the price can be low. I haven't been there, though.

Don't forget, people, I'm looking for a roommate after June. I'm close to the Bally's and to school.
 
Sorry to change the subject again, but I was wondering about the necessity of a car. Can you get by without one? If not, are there a lot of dealerships around to get a certified used car? Any other suggestions?

I went with no car my first 6 months here. It is no fun but doable if you live close enough to the grocery store and the med school to walk both places (I did, down in Tosa village). Still you get tired of eating at the same 4 or 5 restaurants.
 
The YMCA also has income-based discounts and since most of us don't have any income, the price can be low. I haven't been there, though.

Don't forget, people, I'm looking for a roommate after June. I'm close to the Bally's and to school.

I think it's only like $25/mo. at the Y if you bring in your financial aid sheet and show them you only get $1100 for living expenses. Though this could've gone up in the last couple years.

I have my own elliptical. It was a good investment.
 
Hmm, I'm probably going to have a female roommate. If only Milwaukee were as liberal as Madison...

It's not so conservative that most people think it's their business what sex your roommate is.
 
It's not so conservative that most people think it's their business what sex your roommate is.

lol, what I meant was that if a Madison gym had a "marriage discount" two women could probably walk in together and get it.
 
Not sure how they swung that - when my wife and I signed up, she hadn't changed her name yet, and our address wasn't the same, so we had to actually show them our marriage license. I'm surprised that simply having the same last name was enough.

to get the marriage discount you just have to have the same addresss. I know people that did that too. Although, I don't think you'd even have to live together, just put the same address down. But yes, people do do that.

But I justify paying $53 because I don't have cable at home, so I justify it as my cable and gym bill all in one
 
to get the marriage discount you just have to have the same addresss. I know people that did that too. Although, I don't think you'd even have to live together, just put the same address down. But yes, people do do that.

I'd probably have to pimpslap anyone I caught taking advantage of the marriage discount without actually tying the knot. It's one thing to have the freedom to do whatever (and whomever) you want when you're single, it's another to do both of those things and still get $10 off a gym membership like us married fogeys do. 🙁
 
I'd probably have to pimpslap anyone I caught taking advantage of the marriage discount without actually tying the knot. It's one thing to have the freedom to do whatever (and whomever) you want when you're single, it's another to do both of those things and still get $10 off a gym membership like us married fogeys do. 🙁

Well, if you LIE and say you're married to get the discount, yes, I'd be unhappy. but if the gym chooses to interpret its "marriage discount" as a "household discount", perhaps to sell more memberships, that's their own business.
 
Well, if you LIE and say you're married to get the discount, yes, I'd be unhappy. but if the gym chooses to interpret its "marriage discount" as a "household discount", perhaps to sell more memberships, that's their own business.

They should probably just call it a "Nebulous discount given to whomever we please" then instead of a marriage discount.
 
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