Nontrad Pre-med/med student conference.

[TypeA]

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Has anyone made plans to go to this? I think I am going to go...the sked looks very interesting. Of course, the dates are 3 weeks after I move from Northern Virginia!!! Nothing like moving just to come back and stay in a hotel for 4 days! I have impeccable timing.

 

[Midazolam2112]

Has anyone made plans to go to this? I think I am going to go...the sked looks very interesting. Of course, the dates are 3 weeks after I move from Northern Virginia!!! Nothing like moving just to come back and stay in a hotel for 4 days! I have impeccable timing.

I've never heard of OldPreMeds - but this conference sounds pretty damned impressive. There are a couple of other threads that give more information. As for me, I am just now considering going back to school to become a physician...or at least some sort of healthcare profession. My current job SUCKS!

Maybe I will meet you there?

 

[pingouin]

I am definitely considering it. My college roommate lives in Rockville, MD, and just had a baby 4 weeks ago, so I'm thinking about coming out for a week and hanging out with them for a few days before or after the conference. The only holdup for me right now is cost, between airfare and hotel..... the conference itself is dirt cheap.

 

[TypeA]

I will definitely be there. I made my reservation today.

Re: cost of hotel and airfare... here are my suggestions: I don't know where you are flying from, but fly into BWI instead of Reagan National. Then take the MARC to Union Station and Metro from there. The MARC will cost you $10 (I am fairly certain) and you will save more than that flying into BWI (it's a Southwest hub I think). Book now...the reservations will be cheaper (duh). The trip will be longer, but likely cheaper.

As far as the hotel, it's like the cost of living here...too high. That is actually a really good rate for a hotel. I mean, I am sure you can find something less expensive, I think there is a Comfort Inn or something like that near there. But, if you know someone who is going alone, get the double and share the cost. The only deal is Crystal City pretty much is Reagan Nation Airport. Airport = high $$ accomodations. I am impressed with the rate frankly, but with that said...it still cost something and $$ is $$.

I hope to see y'all there!!

 

[TypeA]

I've never heard of OldPreMeds - but this conference sounds pretty damned impressive. There are a couple of other threads that give more information. As for me, I am just now considering going back to school to become a physician...or at least some sort of healthcare profession. My current job SUCKS!

Maybe I will meet you there?

OPM is the org that is sponsoring the event. Check them out at www.oldpremed.com (or is it .net? ... maybe .org? - anyway, check them all) 🙄

 

[Midazolam2112]

Thanks for the insight. Was having a bout of insomnia last night & went looking for their website. I am pretty damned impressed! All three (.org, .com & .net) appear to go to the same site. Some of the home page links go to nowhere, but according to their forums, their site is undergoing on overhaul...under and over...anyway, you get my drift.

I looked all over the place to see what joining costs/year - but it FREE. Man, I didn't think anything that was worth a damn was free anymore! I plan to lurk there a while before I post. Like I mentioned elsewhere, I am still a "closet" pre-med & professional cat herder. There seems to be a ton of valuable info there. I was up until nearly 1am perusing their forums. I will look for your screename next time I am there.

Anyone else recently discover OldPreMeds?

 

[OldManDave]

I went to the conference last year for the first time. And let me tell you that I am soooo glad that I went. I would have made 3 deadly mistakes (before getting my horrid MCAT score) that would have killed me.

There was a seminar on writing a personl statement and I was able to meet with the speaker after wards who helped me edit my personal essay.

Not to mention the great head to head, Kaplan vs TPR and the fact that there were 4 medical schools there to talk to as well as Georgetown SMP.

Here is the flyer for this year's conference

http://www.oldpremeds.org/ubbthreads/userfiles/38026-Final 2006 OPM.pdf

I am very glad that you enjoyed & benfitted from last year's conference. The 2005 speaker line up was tough to beat, but I think we have done so for this year. Also, we've decided to definitely keep the exhibitors over both lunch hours. It is early yet, but we have a solid array of programs that will be hosting booths for us this year. Off the top of my head:

Medical Schools
George Washington
Georgetown
VCOM
KCOM
WVSOM
PCOM
Ohio State

UGrad / Post-Bacc
Georgetown Special MS
Georgetown Post-Bacc

Vendors
NowLoan$
Princeton Review
Kaplan

And we continue to work to bring more...there are several more that are tentative.

 

[pingouin]

I will definitely be there. I made my reservation today.

Re: cost of hotel and airfare... here are my suggestions: I don't know where you are flying from, but fly into BWI instead of Reagan National. Then take the MARC to Union Station and Metro from there. The MARC will cost you $10 (I am fairly certain) and you will save more than that flying into BWI (it's a Southwest hub I think). Book now...the reservations will be cheaper (duh). The trip will be longer, but likely cheaper.

As far as the hotel, it's like the cost of living here...too high. That is actually a really good rate for a hotel. I mean, I am sure you can find something less expensive, I think there is a Comfort Inn or something like that near there. But, if you know someone who is going alone, get the double and share the cost. The only deal is Crystal City pretty much is Reagan Nation Airport. Airport = high $$ accomodations. I am impressed with the rate frankly, but with that said...it still cost something and $$ is $$.

I hope to see y'all there!!

Thanks, TypeA!

I am in a Southwest city, and flew into BWI the last time I was out there. I need to check on whether there's a cost differential between BWI and Reagan, or if any other airline is competitive with them right now. Reagan would be sooooo much easier, though. If I do fly into BWI, my friend would pick me up and I could take the train from Rockville to Crystal City.

The hotel deal is good, I agree. I'm self-employed, though, so none of these "vacation days" are paid... need to see if I can afford to give up my income for a week. Mr. MasterCard will probably convince me to do just that. 😀

 

[NontradICUdoc]

Thanks, TypeA!

I am in a Southwest city, and flew into BWI the last time I was out there. I need to check on whether there's a cost differential between BWI and Reagan, or if any other airline is competitive with them right now. Reagan would be sooooo much easier, though. If I do fly into BWI, my friend would pick me up and I could take the train from Rockville to Crystal City.

The hotel deal is good, I agree. I'm self-employed, though, so none of these "vacation days" are paid... need to see if I can afford to give up my income for a week. Mr. MasterCard will probably convince me to do just that. 😀

The conference is not a week. If you work M-F, 9-5 you would only lose 2 days, Thursday and Friday if you leave on Wed. evening after working hours.

 

[pingouin]

The conference is not a week. If you work M-F, 9-5 you would only lose 2 days, Thursday and Friday if you leave on Wed. evening after working hours.

I know it's not a week, but see above post re: old roommate, new baby, and wanting to visit with them if I'm coming all the way out there. (OK, it turns into 5 or 6 days, but you catch my drift.) I could stay with them, but it's a long daily commute in a city I don't know all that well.. I'd rather devote that time to the conference and networking and get some quality time with the bambina later.

At any rate, I think I'll probably be able to work something out.... just need to do a little shopping on Travelocity, etc. 🙂

 

[JuniorsMom]

May I add a couple of things.

I have been involved in every conference OldPreMeds has had, except for one. I found them to be invaluable not only in getting accepted into medical school, but also in dealing with the stresses of medical school.

Along with that, at every conference you will meet new people and make new friends. It is a great way to begin networking for your future!! And you will also have a chance to participate in several raffles for some really great prizes!

As to the hotel, try to find a way to stay at the Crystal City Sheraton (believe me, it's worth every penny to stay there!). You will find there are a lot of activities that just seem to continue after the regular meeting and into the wee hours of the evening as you make new friends with whom to discuss your future dreams and plans.

You'll have a great time!!

 

[mshheaddoc]

anyone want to split a hotel room?

I found a VERY cheap flight (less than $200) so I'm going to considering going ... if anyone is willing to split a hotel with me I will only be there thurs, fri nights ... I can't stay saturday night as my flight leaves at 6pm.

 

[OldManDave]

So I have my hotel room reserved, and I registered for the conference.... just need to find airfare! (Which seems to have dropped a little this week.. yay!)

I'd get it soon before the prices go up! A gas prices rise, so do jet fuel prices...I used FFmiles to get my ticket. Of course, it is on Delta, who is now potentially about to suffer a pilots' strike...go figure!

 

[njbmd]

I'd get it soon before the prices go up! A gas prices rise, so do jet fuel prices...I used FFmiles to get my ticket. Of course, it is on Delta, who is now potentially about to suffer a pilots' strike...go figure!

Hey there,
Pilot's strike averted. The prices have to go up along with oil prices. Get those tickets early.
njbmd 😀