But if I meet the credit hour requirement should I just blindly go with the school one? I don't have time to research all the intricacies.
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But if I meet the credit hour requirement should I just blindly go with the school one? I don't have time to research all the intricacies.
I would seriously consider the AMSA coverage - it is pretty legitimate.
https://www.uhcsr.com/uhcsrBrochures/Public/ClientBrochures/2012-503-1%20Preliminary%20Benefit%20Summary-v6.pdf
Harvard's is $1600 per term. AMSA is $1800/yr, and its really good. I had a bad bike crash and ended up fracturing and tearing a tendon in my finger. I've paid $0 out of pocket so far, including an ER visit, 4 follow up OT visits and 2 visits with a specialist.
I've used it for the past 8 months. It's quite good, much better than most other non-employer plans you're eligible for.
Does that $1800/yr by any chance include vision and/or dental?
No, sadly.
hello,
what are your thoughts about taking some introductory pre-med courses at a community college?
I never took any science or math back in undergrad and that was almost a decade ago. After learning the fundamentals, I plan to complete my pre-med requirements through HCP.
Also, if I take these intro science courses at a local community college, will this exempt me from applying for the HCP diploma program?
Thanks
what are your thoughts about taking some introductory pre-med courses at a community college?
I never took any science or math back in undergrad and that was almost a decade ago. After learning the fundamentals, I plan to complete my pre-med requirements through HCP.
Also, if I take these intro science courses at a local community college, will this exempt me from applying for the HCP diploma program?
Thanks
The general consensus is that it is better to take them at a four year university, unless you have good reason not too.
As long as you don't take any equivalents of the courses required for the diploma program it won't exempt you.
Thanks, but i was planning to take introductory chemistry and physics to get the basic down before i tackle gen chem. i am afraid that if I go straight to gen chem that i might bomb it and just ruin my confidence. i don't have any science or math background (besides in high school).
Gen chem is introductory chemistry. What class were you planning to take at a community college?
A lot of people don't have science backgrounds (me included) and have done fine in these classes.
Question for anyone who has O-chem and/or A&P: how necessary is the textbook? I never picked up my book in Tucci's class, but have sworn by it in some of my bio classes.
I picked up the student study guide for O-Chem, but have yet to find a decent price for the book. Any thoughts?
I picked up the student study guide for O-Chem, but have yet to find a decent price for the book. Any thoughts?
Chem you can jump right into. Tucci is one of the best professors I've had in my 160+ credit hours of undergraduate courses.
If anything is going to mess you in in first semester physics it's going to be your lack of math skills, not lack of physics knowledge. Make sure your trigonometry and algebra is solid and you'll be OK.
Thanks Jennet, I had no idea tuition was that cheap here. That is definitely worth keeping in mind.
https://idm.fas.harvard.edu/idm/user/login.jsp
I was able to get an email account, but I have yet to figure out how to sign into it.
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Thanks! Trying to figure out how to log-in now too
I never used the OChem textbook. There's a whole lot of extraneous information in the assigned readings. The lectures and review sections should give you all you need. After that it's just a matter of practice and more practice. And when you don't understand something, you ask a TF, or Sirinya, or Brandon, and then you practice some more. And then you destroy the test. Rinse and repeat for a year.
Those of you that volunteer at MGH, did you go to the volunteer orientation page and sign up there? I checked the page about a week ago and emailed the office (no response) to verify that you can sign up for orientation online. Last week the page said THE UPCOMING ORIENTATION IS CURRENTLY FULL. Please check back on this website after 12:30pm on Tuesday July 31st to sign up for the next orientation.
So I checked back today, just now.
And it says THE UPCOMING ORIENTATION IS CURRENTLY FULL. Please check back on this website after 12 Noon on Thursday, August 16th to sign up for the next orientation.
Is this normal? I guess I should try calling the volunteer office.
So I checked back today, just now.
And it says THE UPCOMING ORIENTATION IS CURRENTLY FULL. Please check back on this website after 12 Noon on Thursday, August 16th to sign up for the next orientation.
Is this normal? I guess I should try calling the volunteer office.
This is quite normal - you need to be on the website as soon as the information is posted. I finally got a slot by waiting until 12 noon on the posted time and registering like a crazy person. It is a popular program and the city is saturated with pre-med kids.
This is correct, I managed to sneak in my registration at 11:58am. Hopefully you'll have better luck next time.
Beautiful. That's what I was hoping to hear. I picked up O-chem as a second language and the textbook study guide which I plan on perusing through before classes start.
Took me 3 tries. It's going to be tougher than usual to get a spot now since all the college kids are coming back.
I signed up for the mgh orientation today because I heard it fills up really fast. I signed up like at around 11:55am (before they said to check back). That sucks it fills up so quickly. Mount auburn hospital volunteering is filled up for the summer so I really need to get the ball rolling with clinical volunteering which is why I wanted to sign up for mgh right when it was open. I'm surprised it filled up only a couple hours after it opened. Next time keep refreshing the page minutes before their stated time.
Mgh- gotta gun for even a volunteering spot huh?
I'll be at the orientation on the 15th.
Mgh- gotta gun for even a volunteering spot huh?
I'll be at the orientation on the 15th.
Volunteer. I'm sure a few locations offer this perk, but when I volunteered at Brigham and Women's Hospital, I was able to get discount T-passes every month. Saves almost 50% if I'm not mistaken.
I buy my pass every month at the harvard square terminal. If you're coming from the airport or commuter bus you will most probably pass through south station, you can buy a pass there. The monthly passes are issued on what is called a "charlie card" and you refill it everymonth for bus, T(subway) or both.
My girlfriend volunteers at brigham and womens hospital and she gets a discount but i dont think she uses it. Im sure others on here have discounts through their work or volunteering. If you have a student id you might get a discount but im not sure about that.
If you work for a partners institution you get discounted T-passes. My biggest advice is to get the monthly pass - you will almost always ultimately save money. The passes for MGH employees are $40 as opposed to the standard $70.
Has anyone here utilized MEFA loans? First I've heard of anything like this!
http://www.mefa.org/loans/home.aspx
http://www.mefa.org/loans/home.aspx
Unless you live super far away, I find that my bike is the easiest to get around. It seems faster too, at least faster then the time google maps gives me on taking the bus.
I'll see you there!
Nope, but there much better options out there 7% origination fee, talking about gouging. Their introductory interest rates are comparable to other, but get kicked up big once you're out of school. If you have a good credit score you can find better.
I'll see you there!
Nope, but there much better options out there 7% origination fee, talking about gouging. Their introductory interest rates are comparable to other, but get kicked up big once you're out of school. If you have a good credit score you can find better.
I've tried and was rejected, because I'm not in a degree-granting program. You might have better luck if you're going for the diploma instead of straight HCP, but I wouldn't be too hopeful. Never hurts to apply, though.
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Hi All,
My girlfriend and I are relocating to attend the HCP for Fall 2012. We've started to look for places in the Cambridge area and everything just seems so expensive (we're eyeing a 1BR apartment in Cambridge that is $1950 a month after rent and utilities). I just wanted to get an idea of what areas most of you fellow HCP'ers stay and what you all would say the average monthly rent for a 1BR apartment in those areas are? Also, I've been thinking about bringing my car, but seeing how expensive it seems to live up there, coupled with the fact that it seems like it costs at least $100 a month just to park is making me second guess that decision. Is the city fairly public transportation friendly if I decided not to bring my car? Also, does Harvard offer any overnight parking options? Thanks in advance for all of the feedback and I look forward to starting the program and meeting you all soon.
Edit: Also curious to know what percentage of incoming students to the program, per year, are relocating from out of state. Thanks!
My girlfriend and I are relocating to attend the HCP for Fall 2012. We've started to look for places in the Cambridge area and everything just seems so expensive (we're eyeing a 1BR apartment in Cambridge that is $1950 a month after rent and utilities). I just wanted to get an idea of what areas most of you fellow HCP'ers stay and what you all would say the average monthly rent for a 1BR apartment in those areas are? Also, I've been thinking about bringing my car, but seeing how expensive it seems to live up there, coupled with the fact that it seems like it costs at least $100 a month just to park is making me second guess that decision. Is the city fairly public transportation friendly if I decided not to bring my car? Also, does Harvard offer any overnight parking options? Thanks in advance for all of the feedback and I look forward to starting the program and meeting you all soon.
Edit: Also curious to know what percentage of incoming students to the program, per year, are relocating from out of state. Thanks!
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If you plan on living in Boston or Cambridge, then I wouldn't bring a car. If you don't have experience driving through a city in the northeast, it could be a lesson in frustration and rage. Public transportation is widely accessible throughout Boston, Cambridge, Brookline, Somerville, Belmont, Watertown, and Newton, and extends into some locations further out such as Malden and Revere. If you insist on bringing a car, Somerville is probably your best bet, since it's very close to campus, has plenty of parking within the city, and apartments are relatively cheap.
I will be relocating from Chicago to Boston in the next few days! Really curious to see how this whole public transit/finding a relatively inexpensive place to live in works out. Where are you coming from? Anyone else relocating from the Midwest?
Moved here from the west coast. As medwonk said I wouldn't bring a car if you plan on living in those areas. I had a rental car for my first week and and let me tell you driving around here sucks. Unless of course you're using your car to move things here then you don't have a choice. Parking pass at Harvard are pretty insane, when I check they were like $100 a month or something similar. You will find cheaper places in somerville if you want to remain close to the school. You can get a residential parking pass for on street parking in cambridge, but I don't know how that all works. I don't know about apartments, but I'm living in a bedroom before utilities for $800 a month.
Cambridge is expensive which is generally why people take on roommates. I lucked out and just found a place for $690 with 2 roommates around Harvard. The best thing you can do is to get on the Harvard Housing website at http://www.huhousing.harvard.edu/HarvardUniversityHousing/index.aspx. For the most part, the people posting here are a little different than your average Craiglist ad. You may have a hard time finding a place for 2 people, but it is worth a shot.
You'll find more affordable housing in Somerville and Belmont but transportation can be a pain. Last year I lived in Somerville off a bus route and getting home after class was a royal pain. I would take the T then wait for my bus which ran on a 1/2 hour schedule. Not pleasant so I decided to move.
Cars are tricky in Cambridge and Boston. Parking is divided into MA resident and non-resident, nearly impossible to find, and also expensive in lots and garages. Harvard has nice parking under the new law building, but I do not know if it is overnight. Go online and search for the parking rates at that underground lot; you'll be able to find out easily. Also, check your parking options wherever you rent - some places only offer resident parking or street. This goes unsaid but in residential Cambridge neighborhoods "street parking" usually means "resident parking only on side streets and non-resident on big streets". Finding a parking spot on a bigger street with all the other non-residents is a chore. I survive on a monthly T pass and a Zipcar membership. I highly highly recommend Zipcar to everyone; it will do for anything in a pinch (shopping trips, moving, etc.)
Good luck, it's a warzone out there for rentals. I'm moving from Fenway to Somerville for convenience and monetary reasons. If you can avoid it, try to stay off of the Sept. 1st move-in cycle. Most of the student friendly apartments were rented months ago.
My advice, avoid a car and purchase a bike.You can get everywhere on bike and Boston is one of the more bike-friendly cities I've seen.
Public transportation advice: buy a bike, seriously. I bike everywhere and it will only save you money in the long run.
Housing: make your broker work for you. I doubt you'll be able to find any decent "by-owner" listings at this point. If you're going to pay a broker fee you might as well make them bust their ass.
My advice: ****, tough choice. Both are going to be extremely helpful when it comes to medical school and the MCAT. A&P is a lot of memorization, and you're given weekly quizzes. Chemistry has some memorization and physics has none. Biochemistry is the hardest class I've taken in my life; it's as if someone took all of the confusing **** from biology and chemistry and threw them together into a blender. Also, Biochemistry is taught as if you've taken Chemistry and Biology already.
My vote: A&P. You can sit next to me and tell me to stay off of my phone.
Make sure you look at scheduling options. A&P labs are only offered on certain days; make sure they don't overlap with your Physics and Chemistry lectures.
Look like A&P it is, almost forgot about that prerequisite for biochem good thing I asked. I couldn't find a rating for either biochem or a&p professor, I didn't think they were new? I think I'll be find that the a&p lab wont overlap, syllabus makes it seem like it will only be offered wednesday night. Seems like physics and chem lab schedules are pretty flexible so I hope it will all work.
Think I'm going to go with the school's insurance, see if I can make a third year cry if I ever have to go to the clinic.
Hey there!
My boyfriend and I are in a very similar predicament. I am about to enter my second year in HCP (OChem and Bio here I come!) and my boyfriend and I are in the process of finding a new housing situation for September 1. We lived in East Somerville this past year and while there were some positives (relatively easy commute and cheap(ish) rent), we were very unhappy with our landlords and this area is a complete pedestrian deadzone. We are hoping to live somewhere along the red-line but are finding that without roommates it is going to be very difficult for us to afford to live in any of our preferred neighborhoods. Would you perhaps be interested in finding some sort of shared living situation?
Also, if anyone out there in the ether is looking for some roommates, PM me! We have a very sweet 25lb pug and a nice couch to add to the deal. I would love to live with other students, so let me know!
Have you tried looking at the Harvard housing website? I found my current place there and had better interviews than I found on CL (also better prices).
Unfortunately I do not have another room in my new place to offer; I know how difficult it can be for couples in this area. I am however always willing to puppysit your dog, lol. So jealous of everyone with small dogs - apparently they don't like 70 lb Catahoulas out here.
Looks like paddmapper,com is able to list CL again. Use that awesome resource, but good look moving in on 9/1.
You people and your dogs, barely have enough time for myself much less a dog. 🙁 I still want one though, and all these couples coming in, makes me feel so lonely.
*So I'm filling out the application for MGH volunteering and I want to be in the ED but it isn't offered under the volunteer preference. How do I get in the ED?
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It is pretty simple - once you come in for your interview, tell whomever you are with that you want an ED spot first and foremost. They will try and get you into patient transport - say no. Then the staff member will look at available times and tell you when you can work. Viola! I know you'll be fine with ED. MGH recently sent an email desperately needing volunteers for the ED on Mondays. Weekends are harder to find a spot, just a warning.
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Thanks for all of your feedback above. Looks like I probably won't be bringing my car.
mdanitka: I'm coming from Atlanta and my girlfriend is coming from Oakland. Good luck with your search!
bdd8983: This definitely would have been great, but we've already submitted funds towards a 1BR, but I definitely hope you two find something you both can enjoy.
Jennet: The link you've provided has a number of great options for on-campus housing. I found my current place using the off-campus housing link, but I was under the impression that we didn't quality for the on-campus options as HCP'ers since it's not a full-time, degree seeking program. Do we, in fact, actually qualify for this housing??
mdanitka: I'm coming from Atlanta and my girlfriend is coming from Oakland. Good luck with your search!
bdd8983: This definitely would have been great, but we've already submitted funds towards a 1BR, but I definitely hope you two find something you both can enjoy.
Jennet: The link you've provided has a number of great options for on-campus housing. I found my current place using the off-campus housing link, but I was under the impression that we didn't quality for the on-campus options as HCP'ers since it's not a full-time, degree seeking program. Do we, in fact, actually qualify for this housing??
Sorry, I should've specified. We are not eligible for on campus housing, but the HUD website has a search option for off-campus. I wish we were eligible for on campus...life would be so much easier. BTW Jscans has talked at length about renting in past posts; I'd recommend taking a look if you haven't found a place yet. There is a lot of sharking and as I like to call it "vulturing" around the area. Brokers are like vultures out here; stay clear unless they are unavoidable.
Also, here is the off-campus Harvard roommate finder: http://huhousing.offcampuslisting.com/roommate/
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Mine seemed nice enough until I realized what a broker actually is...vultures all.
My management company showed up at 8:15 to show my apartment to three people. Needless to say I had just gotten back from a bike ride and was about to hop in the shower.
They asked me how I felt about the place and gave them an earful about how horrendous, predatory and non-responsive the management company is.
Needless to say I don't think they'll be taking my apt.
Still, instant karma for telling them the truth.
http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m6uohgVPfT1r79k32.gif
That email is due to me and my partner in crime both going on vacation at the same time. Mondays in the ED aren't going to be the same for the next two weeks
Hrmm, sounds like an opportunity to steal an opening. <3
We have fun, if you can get in on Monday mornings we'd love to have another trooper.
Meanwhile, in Biochemistry studying land:
