*** Official NYCOM Class of 2009***

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Thanks Microbe. I got my letter today also. Congrats to you and everyone who got into DO schools. Others, hang in there guys/gals. I am sure there are people with multiple acceptances like me and sooner or later we are going to make up our minds.
Thanks to you all for all your support and best wishes, guidance, suggestions, advice and help.
 
I interviewed in late Novemeber and got my acceptace a few days ago. This is my first acceptance so I am breathing easier now. Hope to see everyone next year. 🙂
 
I am in NYCOM as well. I knew I was in a few weeks ago but the letter finally arrived today. Hooray!!!
 
I'm in too. Anyone have info on the housing situation in the Old Westbury area? I would prefer to not have to commute from bklyn. What neighboring towns are reasonably priced and convenient for someone looking for a 1bdroom for <$1000?
 
Most students live in glen cove area. There is an apartment complex on glen cove road (sorry can't remember the exact name) that cost about $800 to $1000. If you have access to school's webboard, also check out the housing section.
 
Most of sudents have roommates for romm goes for $500-700. The name of the above mentioned complex is Avalon and its pricy
 
Ok, I finally made my difficult decision and NYCOM is where I will be attending next year. I am looking forward to meeting all of you! 🙂
 
I will also be going to NYCOM in Fall 2005. Should be a great year after the 4 years of hell Ive been through. 😀
 
Another addition to the class of 2009 at NYCOM 😀 See y'all there.
 
My first acceptance...the chances are looking pretty good that I shall indeed be attending NYCOM this fall!
 
There is a 90% chance that I will be going to NYCOM in August! Hope to see you guys there too! Congrats on all of your acceptances!
 
So who is already thinking about housing? (Hopefully everyone!)
 
I'm about 95% decided on NYCOM. Luckily I live 25 minutes away with traffic. I'm considering renting out a room in my home to another student.... I'll let you all know as we get closer to the summer. Congrats to all, see you in August.
 
I'm 90% sure I'll be going to NYCOM this August. Does anyone know how far it is from Manhattan?
 
mblum151 said:
I'm 90% sure I'll be going to NYCOM this August. Does anyone know how far it is from Manhattan?

Depends... without traffic, it takes me about half an hour to drive there, granted I'm speeding. 😛
 
Hi all... I'm another heading to NYCOM in the fall. 😀 😀
 
OK, so here is the scoop. I called NYCOM and found out that the orientation is scheduled for August 23-26 (Tuesday through Friday). Actual classes begin August 29th (Monday). So please plan your summer break accordingly.
I think now on, we should post NYCOM news/questions/feedback here.
See you everyone on August 23rd, 2005, Tuesday.
 
Thank you Doc2B. Hey, do I remember correctly that you are a non-trad? I am...
 
I have been looking into places in Queens with a friend of mine starting a job downtown (financial center). The more the merrier...if anyone needs some housing let me know.
 
Biodork111 said:
I have been looking into places in Queens with a friend of mine starting a job downtown (financial center). The more the merrier...if anyone needs some housing let me know.

Where in queens are you living?
 
I found a few relatively affordable places in the Bayside/Douglaston area. I'm originally from College Point, so yes I know these are the more pricey areas of Queens...but so far what I've found isn't awful...just more than where I live now.
 
Biodork111 said:
I found a few relatively affordable places in the Bayside/Douglaston area. I'm originally from College Point, so yes I know these are the more pricey areas of Queens...but so far what I've found isn't awful...just more than where I live now.

Does anyone have access to the message board? Isn't that the place where there are housing options? Any info would be great...Thanks.
 
I just received my acceptance letter yesterday... can't wait until August
 
mblum151 said:
Does anyone have access to the message board? Isn't that the place where there are housing options? Any info would be great...Thanks.

You won't get access to the board for another few months, which is not really a big deal since there is nothing really listed as of now.
 
Hey all... can you tell me the average time between your interview and acceptance letter??

Just curious cuz I interviewed the other day and I'm wondering how long till I get the big news!
 
4 weeks but maybe sooner since you applied after January.
 
Any of you guys received NYCOM Financial Aid package? I received it yesterday and was wondering which lender to choose for loans? Any insight from current NYCOM students would be appreciated.
 
I got mine yesterday too. I have no idea which lender to choose. There are so many ways u can be screwed later on in life if we decide to go with one over the other. Im gonna try and contact the financial aid office at NYCOM and see what they have to say.
 
djquick83 said:
I got mine yesterday too. I have no idea which lender to choose. There are so many ways u can be screwed later on in life if we decide to go with one over the other. Im gonna try and contact the financial aid office at NYCOM and see what they have to say.

Thanks djquick83. Let me know what you find out. I think contacting NYCOM fin-aid is the best way to start.
Thanks again and keep us posted.
 
DrMedic said:
I just received my acceptance letter yesterday... can't wait until August

You won't be as excited and motivated a year from now. Be prepared to waste 100-120 hours of your life studying Dr Stepp's physiology packets which won't help you during your 2nd year (which is all systems pathophysiology) or during the boards. See the following threads:

Dr Stepp, NYCOM's Crappy Physiology Professor Extraordinaire

NYCOM- the school with ONLY an 80% 1st-time board pass rate

I know step 1 of the boards seems like a long ways away for you guys (and, frankly, for you gusy it is) but this time next year it will definately be on your mind and you will hate NYCOM for wasting your time on such low-yield Physiology.

Oh BTW, this Dr Stepp I talk about, he has a PhD in BIOCHEMISTRY yet teaches PHYSIOLOGY .

My advice to people who got accepted into NYCOM? If you were accepted into CCOM, PCOM, NOVA, UMDNJ-COM or to any US allopathic school, go there. They beat NYCOM.

But if NYCOM is the best you can do then prepare to waste 100+ hours of your life on 'Physiology' you probably won't even use (even for the boards).
 
medstudent3563 said:
You won't be as excited and motivated a year from now. Be prepared to waste 100-120 hours of your life studying Dr Stepp's physiology packets which won't help you during your 2nd year (which is all systems pathophysiology) or during the boards. See the following threads:

Dr Stepp, NYCOM's Crappy Physiology Professor Extraordinaire

NYCOM- the school with ONLY an 80% 1st-time board pass rate

I know step 1 of the boards seems a long ways away (and it is for you guys) but this time next year it will definately be on your mind and you will hate NYCOM for wasting your time on such low-yield Physiology.

Oh BTW, this Dr Stepp I talk about, he has a PhD in BIOCHEMISTRY yet teaches PHYSIOLOGY .

My advice to people who got accepted into NYCOM? If you were accepted into CCOM, PCOM, NOVA, UMDNJ-COM or to any US allopathic school, go there. They beat NYCOM.

But if NYCOM is the best you can do then prepare to waste 100+ hours of your life on 'Physiology' you probably won't even use (even for the boards).

Dont listen to this looser. Im not sure what his problem is, anyone has questions about nycom feel free to pm me. It's a great school.
 
Cowboy DO said:
Dont listen to this looser. Im not sure what his problem is, anyone has questions about nycom feel free to pm me. It's a great school.

This guy has rose-colored glasses on. You guys want to know why he doesn't think there's anything wrong with NYCOM's Physiology course? Because he has an undergraduate degree in Physiology....he already knows it.

It doesn't bother him that Dr Stepp teaches a weird Biochemistry-Physiology hybrid that has waaaaaaaay too much biochemistry in it (there's definately some overlap between the two subjects, but Dr Stepp's version is of 'physiology' is just ridiculous; instead of calling the course 'Medical Physiology' they should call it Physio-Biochemistry or something. And there's a reason why NYCOM has a seperate Biochemistry course and a seperate Physiology course).

But if you've never taken a Physiology course before (as was the case with me as well as many of my fellow first-years) and are relying on NYCOM to teach you Medical Physiology then buddy, you are screwed! And prepare to teach yourself all the Physiology NYCOM failed to present you during the summer because all 2nd year is pathophysiology.

And if a student doesn't know standard medical Physiology (not Dr Stepp's weird biochemistry-heavy hybrid) then there's no way in hell they are going to do well in Pathophysiology. You need to know the 'normal' (learned in Physiology) before you can learn the 'abnormal' (Pathophysiology).

And the administration wonders why so many 2nd years struggle at NYCOM and so many NYCOMer's fail the boards their 1st time around. Being mistaught Physiology has A LOT to do with it.

Don't get me wrong, medical school is hard work. But I think the job of a medical school is to guide students, telling them what they need to know to become good doctors. Students are supposed to provide the hard work. But as far as Physiology goes at NYCOM, students are misled.

And that's made more unfortunate considering how incredibly important Physiology is in doing well in medicine (I really can't stress that enough).

So if you want to be mistaught Physiology by a Biochemistry PhD (Dr Stepp) then attend NYCOM. But my advice is if you were accepted into CCOM, PCOM, NOVA, UMDNJ-COM or any US allopathic school, go there. I think those schools are better than NYCOM.

NYCOM's a middling DO school (good 3rd and 4th year clinicals save it from being bottom of the barrel).

Don't say I didn't warn you.

ps- don't PM this clown if you have questions about NYCOM. Post them on this webboard so you can can both sides of the story. The rose-colored glasses version and the real version.
 
medstudent3563 said:
This guy has rose-colored glasses on. You guys want to know why he doesn't think there's anything wrong with NYCOM's Physiology course? Because he majored in Physiology....he already knows it.

It doesn't bother him that Dr Stepp teaches a weird Biochemistry-Physiology hybrid with waaaaaaaay too much biochemistry in it (there's definately some overlap between the two subjects, but Dr Stepp's version is of 'physiology' is just ridiculous; instead of calling the course 'Medical Physiology' they should call it Physio-Biochemistry or something. And there's a reason why NYCOM has a seperate Biochemistry course and a seperate Physiology course).

But if you've never taken Physiology before (like I and many other first-years have) and are relying on NYCOM to teach you medical Physiology then buddy, you are screwed! And prepare to teach yourself all the Physiology NYCOM failed to present you during the summer because all 2nd year is pathophysiology.

And if a student doesn't know standard medical Physiology (not Dr Stepp's weird biochemistry-heavy hybrid) then there's no way in hell they are going to do well in Pathophysiology. You need to know the 'normal' (learned in Physiology) before you can learn the 'abnormal' (Pathophysiology).

And the administration wonders why so many 2nd years struggle at NYCOM and so many NYCOMer's fail the boards their 1st time around. Being mistaught Physiology has A LOT to do with it.

Don't get me wrong, medical school is hard work. But I think the job of a medical school is to guide students, telling them what they need to know to become good doctors. Students are supposed to provide the hard work. But as far as Physiology goes at NYCOM, students are misled.

And that's made more unfortunate considering how incredibly important Physiology is in doing well in medicine (I really can't stress that enough).

So if you want to be mistaught Physiology by a Biochemistry PhD then attend NYCOM. But my advice is if you were accepted into CCOM, PCOM, NOVA, UMDNJ-COM or any US allopathic school, go there. I think those schools are better than NYCOM.

NYCOM's a middling DO school (good 3rd and 4th year clinicals save it from being bottom of the barrel).

Don't say I didn't warn you.

ps- don't PM this clown if you have questions about NYCOM. Post them on this webboard so you can can both sides of the story. The rose-colored glasses version and the real version.

Listen, medstudent, don't you have anything better to do than bitch here? The fact of a matter is that Physiology and Biochem are closely related, whether you like it or not. Dr. Stepp might be boring to listen to BUT he teaches, I can vouch for that and I did not take Physio since 1989.
What I do not understand is why don't you spend your energy on learning rather than complaining.
 
Dreamer said:
Listen, medstudent, don't you have anything better to do than bitch here? The fact of a matter is that Physiology and Biochem are closely related, whether you like it or not. Dr. Stepp might be boring to listen to BUT he teaches, I can vouch for that and I did not take Physio since 1989.
What I do not understand is why don't you spend your energy on learning rather than complaining.

He teaches!?! What lectures have you been going to!? Ask anybody, he reads straight from his packets. And if he teaches anything its not the medical physiology we need for 2nd year or the boards. Just look at how many 2nd years struggle and how crappy NYCOMer's do on the boards (relative to other schools).
 
medstudent3563 said:
This guy has rose-colored glasses on. You guys want to know why he doesn't think there's anything wrong with NYCOM's Physiology course? Because he has an undergraduate degree in Physiology....he already knows it.

It doesn't bother him that Dr Stepp teaches a weird Biochemistry-Physiology hybrid with waaaaaaaay too much biochemistry in it (there's definately some overlap between the two subjects, but Dr Stepp's version is of 'physiology' is just ridiculous; instead of calling the course 'Medical Physiology' they should call it Physio-Biochemistry or something. And there's a reason why NYCOM has a seperate Biochemistry course and a seperate Physiology course).

But if you've never taken Physiology before (like I and many other first-years have) and are relying on NYCOM to teach you medical Physiology then buddy, you are screwed! And prepare to teach yourself all the Physiology NYCOM failed to present you during the summer because all 2nd year is pathophysiology.

And if a student doesn't know standard medical Physiology (not Dr Stepp's weird biochemistry-heavy hybrid) then there's no way in hell they are going to do well in Pathophysiology. You need to know the 'normal' (learned in Physiology) before you can learn the 'abnormal' (Pathophysiology).

And the administration wonders why so many 2nd years struggle at NYCOM and so many NYCOMer's fail the boards their 1st time around. Being mistaught Physiology has A LOT to do with it.

Don't get me wrong, medical school is hard work. But I think the job of a medical school is to guide students, telling them what they need to know to become good doctors. Students are supposed to provide the hard work. But as far as Physiology goes at NYCOM, students are misled.

And that's made more unfortunate considering how incredibly important Physiology is in doing well in medicine (I really can't stress that enough).

So if you want to be mistaught Physiology by a Biochemistry PhD (Dr Stepp) then attend NYCOM. But my advice is if you were accepted into CCOM, PCOM, NOVA, UMDNJ-COM or any US allopathic school, go there. I think those schools are better than NYCOM.

NYCOM's a middling DO school (good 3rd and 4th year clinicals save it from being bottom of the barrel).

Don't say I didn't warn you.

ps- don't PM this clown if you have questions about NYCOM. Post them on this webboard so you can can both sides of the story. The rose-colored glasses version and the real version.

ps, ps- 'Physiology' at NYCOM is not a small course either. Its massive, in fact its NYCOM's longest course. It lasts 7 months of your first year, 5 of the 6 blocks during your first year. The course requires a massive time commitment.

And that's a big reason why I'm so peeved. So much study time (100+ hours), a lot of which is spent in vain (ie- not relevant to 2nd year or the boards).
 
I think its best if everyone ignores this guy, he’s obviously trolling. Thanks for ruining a perfectly benign class of 2009 thread.

If anyone is perturbed by this and wants to talk PM me. You know your going to get his opinion wether you ask for it or not but I’m not responding to it anymore, there’s no point.
 
Cowboy DO said:
I think its best if everyone ignores this guy, he’s obviously trolling. Thanks for ruining a perfectly benign class of 2009 thread.

If anyone is perturbed by this and wants to talk PM me. You know your going to get his opinion wether you ask for it or not but I’m not responding to it anymore, there’s no point.

Trolling? No, no. I actually attend NYCOM and all I say comes from personal experience and the experiences of my fellow classmates.

And who cares about benign?! I think they want the truth- good, bad and ugly. Take off your rose-colored glasses and try to look outside yourself. Personally, I find it hilarious how you spit all this sunshine out of your as* about NYCOM when you know the ugly facts....the scores of 2nd years struggling, a large percentage of people failing the boards on their 1st attempt. I don't need to tell you, you know the ugly facts.

No sugar coating from me. I'm just telling it as it is.
 
medstudent3563 said:
when you know the ugly facts....the scores of 2nd years struggling, a large percentage of people failing the boards on their 1st attempt. I don't need to tell you, you know the ugly facts.

It's real easy to blame the professors, eh? Perhaps they should start being more selective with who they admit and start looking for students who don't need to be spoonfed and won't whine and complain about everything. Just a thought.
 
I love how its "facts" now too.
 
J1515 said:
It's real easy to blame the professors, eh? Perhaps they should start being more selective with who they admit and start looking for students who don't need to be spoonfed and won't whine and complain about everything. Just a thought.

Spoonfed? I don't need to be spoonfed. Notice I haven't criticized Dr Youmans or Dr Yu (the other NYCOM physiology professors) because they actually want you to learn real medical physiology. At least with their material, a student can pick up a good physiology textbook or BRS to help understand the material. In lectures, Dr Yu and Dr Youmans are boring as hell but they want you to learn concepts in medical physiology. And if I’m not mistaken, Dr Yu and Dr Youmans actually have PhD’s in Physiology. Hey, what a concept! Your professor actually having a degree in the subject he’s teaching.

But that BIOCHEMISTRY PhD, Dr Stepp, is a totally different ballgame. Its not about concepts, its about memorizing his hybrid Biochemistry-Physiology handouts verbatim. And believe it or not, with Dr Stepp's material, consulting a physiology textbook is to your detriment because its all about his crappy handouts. We're not learning the medical Physiology we need (for 2nd year and the boards) with Dr Stepp.

Unfortunately Dr Stepp teaches the bulk (60-70%) of the 7-month long physiology course at NYCOM.
 
medstudent3563 said:
Spoonfed? I don't need to be spoonfed. Notice I haven't criticized Dr Youmans or Dr Yu (the other NYCOM physiology professors) because they actually want you to learn real medical physiology. At least with their material, a student can pick up a good physiology textbook or BRS to help understand the material. In lectures, Dr Yu and Dr Youmans are boring as hell but they want you to learn concepts in medical physiology. And if I’m not mistaken, Dr Yu and Dr Youmans actually have PhD’s in Physiology. Hey, what a concept! Your professor actually having a degree in the subject he’s teaching.

But that BIOCHEMISTRY PhD, Dr Stepp, is a totally different ballgame. Its not about concepts, its about memorizing his hybrid Biochemistry-Physiology handouts verbatim. And believe it or not, with Dr Stepp's material, consulting a physiology textbook is to your detriment because its all about his crappy handouts. We're not learning the medical Physiology we need (for 2nd year and the boards) with Dr Stepp.

Unfortunately Dr Stepp teaches the bulk (60-70%) of the 7-month long physiology course at NYCOM.


I think something has to be clarified. Last semester, before the syallabus was amended, I printed it out. The old one containes the information about the faculty that the new one does not. I have the old one in front of me and I quote: Larry Stepp "received doctoral degree in physiology with minor in microbiology from Vanderbilt University." Dr. Youmans on the other hand received his "doctoral degree in medical biphysics with a moinor from Indiana University" You are right about Dr. Yu.
Also, BRS is not a study book, it is REVIEW book. So, after we cleared the facts about the faculty, something that took three threads, two of which were closed due to medstudent abusive language, I think it is time to apologize for polluting the thread of Class of 2009, for current stident rants should not scare incoming class or diminish their desire to study medicine. Granted, NYCOM has its issues, some of them are significant, but show me the school that does not.
 
Dreamer said:
I think something has to be clarified. Last semester, before the syallabus was amended, I printed it out. The old one containes the information about the faculty that the new one does not. I have the old one in front of me and I quote: Larry Stepp "received doctoral degree in physiology with minor in microbiology from Vanderbilt University." Dr. Youmans on the other hand received his "doctoral degree in medical biphysics with a moinor from Indiana University" You are right about Dr. Yu.
Also, BRS is not a study book, it is REVIEW book. So, after we cleared the facts about the faculty, something that took three threads, two of which were closed due to medstudent abusive language, I think it is time to apologize for polluting the thread of Class of 2009, for current stident rants should not scare incoming class or diminish their desire to study medicine. Granted, NYCOM has its issues, some of them are significant, but show me the school that does not.

I haven't seen those credentials, do you have the pdf file? Maybe you can email it to me. Besides, I'm not trying to diminish anyone's desire to study medicine, I'm just advising prospective students to think twice before choosing NYCOM.

Was going to write a longer response but I need to go to bed. Going to wake up early to go through one of Dr Stepps crappy handouts.
 
Dreamer said:
I think something has to be clarified. Last semester, before the syallabus was amended, I printed it out. The old one containes the information about the faculty that the new one does not. I have the old one in front of me and I quote: Larry Stepp "received doctoral degree in physiology with minor in microbiology from Vanderbilt University." Dr. Youmans on the other hand received his "doctoral degree in medical biphysics with a moinor from Indiana University" You are right about Dr. Yu.
Also, BRS is not a study book, it is REVIEW book. So, after we cleared the facts about the faculty, something that took three threads, two of which were closed due to medstudent abusive language, I think it is time to apologize for polluting the thread of Class of 2009, for current stident rants should not scare incoming class or diminish their desire to study medicine. Granted, NYCOM has its issues, some of them are significant, but show me the school that does not.

Better yet, if the pdf is unavailable and since you have this old syllabus, please just scan these ONE or TWO pages of the old syllabus for me and email me the jpeg(s)? I need to see this with my very own eyes. I'm a bit skeptical of your claims.

I dug up my copy of the old syllabus and class catalog and found no reference to credentials stating one way or the other. Sorry if this will be an inconvenience to you but I really need to see this for myself. Thanks.
 
medstudent3563 said:
Better yet, if the pdf is unavailable and since you have this old syllabus, please just scan these ONE or TWO pages of the old syllabus for me and email me the jpeg(s)? I need to see this with my very own eyes. I'm a bit skeptical of your claims.

I dug up my copy of the old syllabus and class catalog and found no reference to credentials stating one way or the other. Sorry if this will be an inconvenience to you but I really need to see this for myself. Thanks.

I'm sorry, I apologize. I actually talked to Dr Stepp in his office today (about something else) and I asked him. He does have a PhD in Physiology.

But that doesn't change my opinion that Dr Stepp's instruction of physiology at NYCOM is god-aweful. A serious disservice to NYCOM's 1st years.

Have to get back to studying. Good luck all and just consider what I've said in your final decisions on where to attend. Thanks and take care.
 
I can respect that. Not everyone likes the same teacher. I think Dr. Stepp was a sweet old guy, but in truth i went to his class maybe half the time. This maybe was because I’ve done some of this stuff before, but I also think that his handouts are so conclusive that going to class seemed redundant if you were going to read them 4x's anyway. I think that’s his intention though, class is for people who are having difficulty or want to ask questions. Otherwise if you don’t mind reading a lot you're good to go.

Also Id like to point out that memorizing minutia in the basic science courses is the very nature of med school, and is not a unique characteristic of Dr. Stepp or NYCOM. Like I said though I respect your opinion, I didn’t like Dr. Yu. However it is by no means a reason to not pick nycom as a school to attend ( a factor maybe but it shouldn’t be your only reason). Best of luck to you, it really does get better I promise. The first 2 years are the most stressful years of medical school, we are under a lot of pressure to perform, you just have to grin and bear it. To you incoming first years, get ready for the ride of your life...😀
 
medstudent3563 said:
And believe it or not, with Dr Stepp's material, consulting a physiology textbook is to your detriment because its all about his crappy handouts.

It's all in the handouts? You basically know exactly what you're going to be tested on rather than reading chapters and chapters of textbooks and hoping you studied and recall the right thing? That's called being spoonfed. So you spend 24/7 memorizing useless facts you'll never have to use as a doctor...welcome to medical school. It seems like with NYCOM's class being twice as large as the avg class size there are also twice as many whiners on this board.
 
J1515 said:
It's all in the handouts? You basically know exactly what you're going to be tested on rather than reading chapters and chapters of textbooks and hoping you studied and recall the right thing? That's called being spoonfed. So you spend 24/7 memorizing useless facts you'll never have to use as a doctor...welcome to medical school. It seems like with NYCOM's class being twice as large as the avg class size there are also twice as many whiners on this board.

You're full of <expletive>, you don't know what you're talking about. You're an incoming right? That means you haven't attended one class at NYCOM, what do you know about how things are run at NYCOM!? You have no credibility.

We'll see in a year, when you're sweating Physiology whether you still think Dr Stepp spoonfeeds you. This time next year you'll be eating some serious crow.
 
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