Official UNECOM class of 2008

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hey kids ....

my AIM name is joanspice and i'm online pretty regularly ... but remember i'm on west coast time, so count me out of midday chats (unless i'm ditching work ... which, truth be told, has been the case fairly frequently in recent weeks)

and if jon's six flags commerical wasn't entertainment enough for you, here's a little story that made everyone at my office shed a few tears of laughter (apologies to those of you who i already told this too) :

a woman i used to work with once worked as a receptionist at a peds office, and she gets a call one day from a distraught mommy of a toddler. she had been in the office a few days before and her kid was diagnosed with an ear infection and prescribed antibiotics, but the mom didn't think it was working. my friend asked her what the problem was, and the mom answered, "i've been using the medicine from the pharmacy, but no matter what i do, i can't keep that damn pink liquid from dribbling out his ears!"

this poor mom was pouring oral amoxicillin in her kid's ears and wondering why the ear infection didn't seem to be clearing up.

happy wednesday everyone.

joanie
 
Hi everyone!

First of all let me say welcome and congratulations to all of you! :clap: I am a first year here at UNECOM and I am loving it (except when I am still up at 3am studying for BacT)! From what I have been reading, you seem to have a number of questions and concerns and want answers. Let me caution you to get your answers from a reliable source (a student, a graduate, a faculty member or administrator.) Don't rely on hearsay, rumor or second-guessing - you'll be sorely misinformed! You are welcome to contact me and I'll see if I can help. Also, don't be afraid to call Student Affairs (Dean Kelley's office) and ask. They are very helpful!

Next, let me tell you a bit about how I got here and maybe that will allay some concerns. I was in the very last interview group last year (wow was it only a year ago ??) and was received notification that I was on the "Space Available" list the next week. From then on, I regularly contacted Lisa Lane-Lacroix, by email and phone, to see what my status was and to see if I had moved up on the list. Every time I got an acceptance to another medical school, I contacted her. Now you may think that was excessive but I wanted her to know I was still interested and not willing to give up. UNECOM was my first choice and I just didn't want to settle for going anywhere else (but I would if that was my last resort.) Lisa always got back to me even though it might have taken a while because she was so busy. However I was loosing hope since I thought time was running out. The day I sent my deposit in to NYCOM, at the end of June, I got my acceptance to UNECOM. Needless to say, I cancelled my check to NYCOM. So, for those of you on the wait list, don't give up! There are even students who come in the very first week of classes! You just have to be patient and willing to drop everything and come on short notice.

Now, here I am using more brain cells than I even knew I was capable of! In between studying for exams, I am helping to get ready for the incoming students (you all) so I am concerned with any of the problems or questions you might have. If you have something that you want addressed, let us know. We want to make your transition, which will be difficult no matter what, as easy as possible.

Good luck and I look forward to meeting you in July! 😀
 
Thank you for the nice welcome and encouragement for those on the waiting list. Every time I read emails on this particular thread, I confirm my reason as to why UNECOM was my first and only choice.
I cant wait to meet the class of 2007!:clap: and I cant wait to meet everybody on this forum. I think it is 116 days before we start or at least have orientation.
👍
 
Thank you MomDO2B! That was very encouraging to hear. I feel very welcome at this school. Are you on the orientation committee by any chance? I was wondering if our orientation events had been planned out yet or not. When is a good time to begin buying the books and supplies that we need?

Also, do you know Jackie Allen? I will be moving into her apartment on State Street.

Kelley
 
Moms always have wise words, but DO moms, wow,
even better!!! 😉

Several of us had a great AIM chat today. I'm so happy
I've made the choice to come to UNE!

I'm really doing this right now ------> :clap:

I'm planning to be in Maine the 3rd weekend in April and
will likely come the 4th as well. I look forward to meeting
who ever will be around!

Allison
 
I am so glad to see you happy and excited people! Yes, I am on one of the orientation committees and will be an OL for the incoming class. We are in the midst of lots of planning and info will be going out to you all shortly. Actually you will probably be slightly overwhelmed with the amount of info you will be getting, but don't worry, it's all pretty basic stuff! Just make sure you read things and follow the deadlines for everything. It will really help speed things up when you get here.

kmwmorris - yes I do know Jackie! 🙂
 
Sorry, I forgot about books....There should be a booklist with the info being sent and one posted on the bookstore link. However, if you want to save on book prices, there will be second and third years around who will be selling their books during orientation and the first couple of weeks. We are also doing a survey for you guys that will tell you which books we found useful and which ones were a waste of money. If you are anxious to get started though, you can get great book deals on www.campusi.com which searches all available sites for the best prices, new and used. If you really want to get a jump on things, get a Grant's Dissector and an atlas (Nettor's, Clemente, or Rowan whichever you prefer) and start studying the upper limb! BUT don't blow your summer studying - it's not worth it! Enjoy one of the last 2 free summers you will have!
 
Thanks so much MomDO!!!! I am so excited to see all the happy people too. I think its so awesome that we havealreayd started forming bonds and July isnt even here yet! And its awesome to know that all the soon to be MS2's are excited to see us also! I can't wait to get up there! See you all in April!
 
Oh I almost forgot. Is anyone thinking about going to the Sports Medicine Symposium at UNE on the 16th of APril? Some of the topics looked pretty interestign and I was thinking of sneaking up for the day!
 
This is an excellent thread, everyone!!

I must say that when I was initially deciding which school to attend, I was afraid to leave the west coast behind - the 'vibe' and open mindedness that were a part of the city in which I lived.

Maine, however, is an awesome state and I loved UNE's emphasis on biomedical research and, of course, the campus locale....

And you guys are great. I enjoy keeping up with the thread and I really look forward to seeing you!
 
I second that Gioia! This is a wonderful thread and I've met so many wonderful people and learned a lot as well! Sorry I haven't posted anything in a while...my life is neverending chaos! But whose isn't? You guys remember me, right? :clap:

Thanks for the info Mom2BDO! So are you a mom to be? or already mom that's a DO to be? If you're already a mom, I have some questions for you re: dealing with the work load of med school and having a family. Now you said the first semester will make us "slightly overwhelmed." Is that an understatement? or is it manageable without having a nervous breakdown? 😕

Talk to you all soon!

Hugs,
Melissa 😀
 
Hi Melly, I already am a mom and am going to be a DO!:clap: When I said that you may be slightly overwhelmed, I was referring to the amount of info for orientation. As for the first semester (and the subsequent ones for that matter) you will feel overwhelmed no doubt about it! That's just the way it is. The material thrown at you is overwhelming just in sheer volume but is compounded by the complexity. You can handle it but you just need to find your balance and the way in which you study best in order to get thru it all. No one has had a nervous breakdown in our class as yet (although after the Pop Health exam today, there might be a few of us who are close!)
 
Oops! I'm sorry...I called you Mom2BDO....I apologize for getting that backwards! Silly me.
 
Hi Melly!

I'm a mom as well. I can't offer you the advice that MomDO2B is able to 🙂 , but I can offer you my support as a fellow first year student!
 
Oh Melly,

Budget for a housekeeper.

If you live near me, maybe we can go in on one together - they usually do good rates for close proximity locations!
 
mom DO isn't messing with you guys...MS1 year is pretty overwhelming, and she's totally right in saying that you need to enjoy your summer and not study during it.

Additionally...
Pfizer is holding a 'Pain Symposium' at une sometime next week, some md/phd from UCSF is going to come talk, and it's free for students, I think you guys are included...the info is below if you're going to be in Maine. If you're interested, call and ask about it (don't ask me...I'm just the messenger). We have events like this all the time, and tons of lunch speakers on cool topics from DOs in MD residencies (our alums have come back to talk to us about this) to AIDS patients to Psych to CAM for you hippies, so feel free to come to any of them and eat our free food.

Love,
the grumpy UNECOM ms1 who still can't figure out how to change her SN.


The College of Osteopathic Medicine is hosting the 2004 Pfizer Pain
Symposium on the Biddeford campus in the Decary Cafeteria Function
Rooms on Tuesday, April 13th from 12 - 5:00 p.m. Registration begins
at 11:30 a.m. The symposium, sponsored by an educational grant from
Pfizer, Inc., features Howard Fields, M.D., Ph.D., Professor or
Neurology and Physiology at the University of California San Francisco,
and Director of the Wheeler Center for Neurobiology of Addiction. The
title of his Keynote lecture will be "Neuropathic Pain: Mechanisms and
Management."

Registration fees for this outstanding symposium are: $50.00 general;
$15.00 UNE faculty/staff (with UNE ID); free for UNE students (with
UNE ID). Registration includes a light lunch.

Registrations will be accepted by mail at: Office of Continuing
Medical Education, UNE, 11 Hills Beach Road, Biddeford, ME 04005; by
fax at 207-294-5957; by phone at 207-283-0170 ext 2589; or by email at
[email protected].
 
Happy April Fool's Day!!!! Anyone have a good prank happen to them! Unfortunately for me I found out that my transmission is broken on my fairly new car 🙁 .
But on a brighter note, there is a new ER episode and it is suppose to focus on the new third year medical student(sorry, I forgot her name). :clap:
I would really be interested in going to the symposium on the 13th...is anyone going from the Bangor, ME area?


Have a great evening,
datcha
 
Thanks for your support Gioia! It's great to know there are other moms out there who can relate to the torn obligation of med school as a priority and having a family as well.
May the force be with all of us! I actually heard from my interviewers that the first year of med school is definitely the worst, so after that, hopefully it won't be too too bad...yeah right. I'll keep telling myself that. Let's just hope for the best and stay strong-willed! Grrrr!!!! :meanie: WE CAN DO IT! WAHOO! :clap: YEAH!
 
....the first year of med school is definitely the worst, so after that, hopefully it won't be too too bad...yeah right. I'll keep telling myself that. Let's just hope for the best and stay strong-willed! Grrrr!!!! WE CAN DO IT! WAHOO!

strong willed and use EAR PLUGS at home!😀
 
Hey guys....STOP WORRYING ABOUT 1ST YEAR!!! Enjoy your summer and things will fall into place. After the fall of 1st year, everything is cake. 2nd yr is even easier...just have to study for boards. Better yet, 3rd year is easier than year 2....

I'm almost done w/3rd year and only hard thing is starting the residency process.

work your butts off during the first 2 yrs (and have fun) and 3rd year will be a breeze and you won't have to worry about getting into a good residency.....our school has a good track record for that.

Well, I stop for now...otherwise, I can go on and on and on....need some sleep. 😴

Good luck folks!
 
UNEOSTEO

Thanks for the reassuring words!!! Hopefully I'll experience the same trend.
 
Yeah, thanks UNEOSTEO, those were comforting words. Now I can start worrying about something else!😀
 
finally signed up to aol im:

mlldo08

:idea:

-matt.
 
Hi everyone, I hope you all had a great weekend!

UNEOSTEO is right about working hard in your first two years and the next few will be much easier. From everything I have been hearing from graduates and from administration, UNE prepares us very well for our clinical rotations so we have no reason to worry about them.

He's also right about not worrying about it until you get here and start! I know that for some of you that is impossible since you are so excited and want to do you best so you are already gunning and wanting to start studying already. Please try to curb that desire! You will just burn yourself out early! Enjoy your family, your fun, your relaxaiton time - whatever you feel like doing! Come to UNECOM relaxed and ready for the hard yet rewarding work ahead!
 
Thanks MomDO2B,

I appreciate the time you have taken to keep us informed and share your wisdom!
 
Hey MomDO2B,

Thank you for the encouragement- I will take your advice and relax!

Are you in any clubs/organizations at UNECOM? I was thinking about joining a club that travels to the nearby hospitals and gets to be in a clinical environment. Do you know which clubs those are? Maybe Surgery or Pediatric?

Thanks,
Kelley🙂
 
Eeek! Um, I mean ok....if you want to remain encouraged and energized by the idea that med school is easy beyond the fall of 1st year, don't read the rest of this message.

:laugh: 😉

First of all, what is "easy" to you? That's what you need to know when you interpret these messages of upperclassmen who tell you things get easy. I agree that things get EASIER, and the latter half of med school can be a cake-walk compared to the beginning, but I didn't ever think it was easy.

"Easy" to me is getting lots of sleep, eating well, and finding social time without trying too hard to do so. Easy is not having to study until the day before the test, or the week before even. Easy is not having to study more than three hours in a day, and understanding everything the first time around. Easy is not having any test or requirement that makes me nauseated in anticipation of it. Easy is never having too many things to do at once, and never having to choose which one to do a shoddy job in because I don't have time to do well and I'll fail if I don't do it at all. Easy is having a rats chance in hell of NOT BEING BEHIND!!

So 1st year is hardest at first, but mostly because you don't know what you are doing or what to expect. You get into a rhythm, and it becomes easier to handle, but it doesn't get less busy. You'll still study many hours every day. You'll be behind, whether you like it or not.

I don't want to discourage anyone, but I think that telling you things are going to be easy isn't helpful. That encourages adopting an attitude of "If I can just get through this, things will be better" - an attitude that will slowly die when things just don't slow down enough for you to catch up.

So here's a little description of my three years, and take it for what its worth.

1st year:
Daily study time: probably 4-5 hours
Days off (with no studying): 1 every 2 weeks or so
Marathon study days per week: 2
Sleepless nights: none
Vacations: Flew home 3 times for the weekend, went rafting one weekend, went on a 10 day Spring break.
# of times I said "I can't, I have to study": ALL THE TIME
# of time I felt like if I didn't study, I might fail an exam: every exam

2nd year:
Daily study time: probably 2-3 hours, back up to 5-6 when also studying for boards
Days off: At least one per week
Marathon study days per week: Not every week, but definitely the 2-3 days before a test, and nearly every day in the last few months before boards
Sleepless nights: none
Vacations: Flew home twice
# of times I said "I can't, I have to study": not nearly as many
# of times I felt like if I didn't study, I'd fail an exam: same

2nd year will bring you fewer lecture hours, more interesting classes, easier tests, and a better handle on prioritizing your time because you learned how 1st year. It also brings you more preceptorships, sometimes on the night before tests, more busy work, more stress because of boards, the new stress of the lottery, and a crap-ass attitude if you thought it would be easy and find out that it is still harder than college at its hardest.

3rd year:
Daily study time: 1 hour, sometimes more, sometimes less
Days off: Most weekends, if not, usually a day off per week.
Marathon study days: Will be starting again, as boards are coming up in August. So far, none yet.
Sleepless nights: can't count 'em
Vacations: none yet, not enough time off for one
# of times I said "I can't, I'm on call": all the time

3rd year brings you more afternoons off, weekends off without studying for tests, no stress of tests because there aren't any (any that count, anyway). However, it is like working a 60 hour a week job and you are tired just from that. You feel stupid alot, but you feel smart alot too. You're treated both badly and well, and you don't mind all of the above because you are doing what you pushed through 1st and 2nd years to do.

:hardy:

My advice, to be taken with a grain of salt of course, is not to grit your teeth until it becomes easier, but instead to assume it won't get easier and find ways to handle what is hard about things now. Med school isn't bearable because it gets easier, it is bearable because you can handle it. You are all strong, intelligent, motivated people and are capable of getting through this. Sometimes you might feel like you can't do it, and you'll tell a friend you're through.
(Scene1: on the front lawn of the Alfond building)

You: "I can't do it!"

Friend: "Yes, you can"

You: "Really, I CAN'T!"

Friend: "YES, YOU CAN!!"

Know that this scene happened more times than I can count to more classmates than I knew I had. And they are all out on their 3rd year rotations now.

Good luck to you all, you'll get through it and before you know it, you'll be walking across a stage again.
:clap: :clap:


OH, and hi UNEOSTEO. I think I know who you are, esp when you said you have a tendency to "go on and on" once you get started. Are you eating chicken right now?

Doc Oc
UNECOM Class of 2005
 
Hello everyone!!!
So from all this advice from upperclassmen-take a break!!! Enjoy the free time now and if you do not have any-make sure you take a relaxing vacation before starting school.
Thank you Doc Oc for the reality check 😀 . What have found to be the hardest year/part in medical school so far?

Kelley,
if there aren't any clubs , you can be sure to start one. I like the idea of traveling and visiting other hospitals especially in other countries or part of this country. Please send some Florida sunshine this way-it's been getting cold in Maine.
 
The hardest part at UNECOM is the last month of first year. There are something like 14 tests in the last 30 days, plus a couple of busywork-type assignments for the "foundations of doctoring" course. During all of these tests, you take your first system course: Dermatology. Derm isn't hard in itself, but every year about half the class fails the test and they have to scale the hell out of it because people just reach their max in their ability to keep up and study well, much less attend class. It's like you spend all of first year getting your groove and when you're finally feeling like, "Well golly, it IS easier", that last month hits and boy is it merciless. I thought that was the the clear winner for the hardest time in med school. If you can find you peace during that time, you're truly golden for the rest of the time (I can't speak for 4th year because I haven't experienced it yet). It really doesn't get any harder than that last month of 1st year.
 
Doc Oc,

Thanks for the healthy dose of realism. Your post is a great insight into what is in store for all of us.

I will do my best to curb my enthusiasm for UNECOM, but the anticipation of starting class in just 4 months is killing me right now.

Your post reminds me the old saying:
Be careful what you may wish for.... you just might get it!
 
Well Doc Oc,

Regardless of what happens to our naive enthusiasm, I like your writing style. It could easily be the opening to a 'what your getting yourself into when you apply to medical school' kind of book. Very well written!

Thanks😉
 
Thanks Doc Oc, that was a wonderful summary of the first 2 years of med school. Would you mind talking about 3rd year more? I'm a little nervous just thinking about clinicals. I've heard from some folks that even the janitors treat 3rd years badly since they are the lowest on the totem pole so to speak. What if I faint during a C-section or can't stitch up a person's arm cuz I don't feel confident enough? Do 3rd year students ever get kicked out of the program? 🙁
 
3rd year is alot like having a job. You show up, do what you're supposed to, and go home. You either like your co-workers or you don't, and you're either respected or you're not. Then, once you get used to it, you're thrown into a different setting for another rotation with entirely different expectations. So in a way, it's like starting a new job every 6 weeks.

3rd year is fun. It's hard to describe what it'll be like because each of the rotation sites are so different, and each rotation itself is different. So I'll try to give you an idea:

Internal Medicine: This was my first rotation. Depending on the resident, I was expected to either know nothing and jump for joy when allowed to write in the chart, or I was sent to the ER to admit someone by myself. I tended to stick like glue to the residents who let me do things and who trusted me to suggest the treatment plans and attempt to manage my patients. You can either be comfortable on rotations or you can see what its like to be a doctor. I did very well on this rotation because of the level of independence that I was given, I was able to show what I am capable of. The staff generally treated me well, and I had to stop writing orders without getting them cosigned first because they were following them without the other signature. I felt respected, and when I helped the staff out I felt appreciated.

Psychiatry: I was one-on-one with an attending. I mostly followed him around seeing patients, then later I was allowed to see patients on my own and write notes. The attending's goal seemed to be to make sure I was comfortable with what I was doing. He definitely wouldn't have sent me to the ER to admit someone. In fact, I wasn't really expected to function anywhere near an intern level like I was on IM. As long as I showed up, showed interest, and amswered pimp questions, I was a good student. I got a good grade, but I'm not sure I did anything spectacular to deserve it. In this rotation, it wasn't what I was capable of that made a good impression it was my attitude and my "fund of knowledge". The staff pretty much ignored me, and most acted annoyed if I had questions. Later in the rotation, I took on the "cute, vulnerable little girl student" persona and all of a sudden when I'm as non-threatening as a mouse, people were at least nice to me and let me borrow charts, etc. So I got more work done and got along with them better, but I felt crappy about having to act like everyone's granddaughter to do it, and I definitely didn't feel respected.

Family Practice: Alot like IM most of the time, but sometimes I had to just follow the resident I was with from room to room, most of the time not even getting introduced to the patient before the resident started in with the appt. So I got to sit there, with the patient occassionally shooting looks of "Who the heck are you?" across the room at me. So I was very uncomfortable at times, and very irritated when I didn't get the opportunity to discuss patient care. I spent 1st and 2nd year watching patient care, and I've complete IM, so I think I can be given a little more to do. I usually asked if I could see a few people on my own and try to come up with a plan. Most were open to this, but sometimes they said no. It was hard to shine in this rotation, because I worked with so many different people (14-15 or so). The staff was wonderful though, especially when I saw people on my own. They weren't terrible to me at all, and when I didn't know something they didn't act like I was an idiot for not knowing.

Surgery: Very task-oriented. I was a hard worker, asked for opportunities to suture, put in central lines, etc., had a decent fund of knowledge with the pimp questions, evaluated people in the ER on my own, enjoyed my on-call nights, had a good attitude, but at the end of the rotation I was told that I need to "brown-nose" more and speak up and show how much I know. I was told that I needed to be more independent and that I should have "molded" the rotation more. Then I was told that she wasn't surprised because she knows "the kind of student that chooses UNECOM", and said that she doesn't expect much from us anyway. So what works for one rotation might not work for another. Same staff, however for some reason, some of the ICU nurses were mean to me even though they weren't when I was on IM.

OB/GYN: This rotation is weird. I am the only student, and I have a list of possible things to do: Labor and delivery, office, NICU, maternal-fetal medicine, OR, etc. I am actually under a private OB/GYN, but I am somehow supposed to report to the residents too and stay abreast of what they are doing. Basically, I'm supposed to keep my eyes and ears open and gravitate toward where I think I will learn the most. This is strange, because I always have this feeling of not being sure the powers that be know that I'm doing good things. I have a schedule, so I know that I am where I'm supposed to be, but I'd like to know that everyone else knows that. As for the staff, they are nice to me but it took some warming-up time and a couple of nights on call. They definitely assumed I'm an idiot and openly disrespected and scorned until they got to know me better. Everything I asked or wanted to do was somehow an inconvenience. Luckily, I get along very well with patients, so once they saw that patients liked me I think they felt more comfortable involving me with the next patient. I have no idea how things will turn out with this rotation. I'm being independent like on IM, I'm honing my fund of knowledge like on Psych, asking for opportunities like on FP, and trying to "mold" like on Surgery. We'll see how it goes.

So 3rd year, while fun, is harder emotionally and physically than the rest of medical school. I never quite feel comfortable in my environment, and have had to get used to alot of uncertainty about how people feel about me and how to act. I'd like to say you can just be yourself and not give a damn if people like you, but that's just not the case. If people don't like you, you'll never keep a chart for long enough to write a note and you won't get shown procedures. If your attending doesn't like you, kiss your grade good bye, no joke.

HOWEVER...it is so fun being a little student doctor. Patients are the best thing about rotations. You learn so much and see so many crazy things. Amidst all the awkwardness, you can sort of see yourself for what you will be when you get through all this.
 
Woah, wait a minute - I never said anything about it being EASY just easIER!!! I would have to be nuts to say it was easy! Doc Oc is right when he says you learn how to handle it. You do more than that though. You learn how you learn best (hopefully sooner than later), you learn how to prioritize and you learn how to balance. All of these are just as important as cramming everything into your brain for the next exam. But knowing your priorities makes it easier to say "no I have to study" or "I need some time not studying right now." I make time for my children because that is important to me. If the price for that is that I don't high pass the next exam then so be it. As for never feeling behind - forget that - never going to happen. And in this case forget the "never say never" too! I don't think I have ever in my life been caught up with everything so what's a little more to add to the list of things to do? The list will always be there!

One of the other great things about UNECOM is how close you get to your classmates. Whenever I feel at the end of my rope and that I can't do any more, there is always someone there who says "yes you can" and "how can I help you?" Hopefully all of you incomings can find someone like that to encourage you and yank you out of the bottomless pit of despair!

Fear not, we'll make it thru and all the better for it!😀
 
Doc Oc,

Your posts are great! Thanks for yet another stellar post. Third year sounds like fun so far. Seems like the student's ability to mesh/deal with personalities and work environments can be just as important as "knowledge base" and working hard.
 
😳 Ummmm... change all my references to Doc Oc as he to SHE and I apologize for having been so unPC as to jump to the conclusion that she was a he!!!! My bad🙁
 
Doc Oc,

How do you 'brown nose' more? What can you as a student doctor, with relatively little experience, to be independent in a surgery setting? ... Remind them that in the days of Hippocrates, surgeons were regarded as little more than butchers?

It seems like surgery rotations always have stories like that. Correct me, if I'm wrong.

Also, did you do your rotations in southern Maine or elswhere?
 
Generic Q:

Worst case scenario: Whoever you report to on rotations despises you.

What methods can a rotating student employ to preserve their grades - beside natural charm, skill, and vodoo dolls?

Are there any training classes or lectures, before we go out on rotations, to aid us in those situations?
 
Hello! I was just catching up on everyone's posts. I am new to studentdoctor net but wanted to say hi. I will also be going to UNECOM this fall and so excited to start. I can't wait to meet everyone, as it sounds like some of you have already had a chance to meet.

I'm sure everyone has moved past the housing issue, but that is what I am currently trying to figure out. Kelley helped me alot but if anyone else has advice I would greatly appreciate it! I will probably be moving to Maine in mid July from Colorado and not to sure where to start! I have emailed a few landlords but can't decipher if these places are true to their pictures. Also if anyone knows of future med students looking for roomates I would love to get in touch with them. My only roomate qualification is that I have a dog that will be coming with me😀

Thanks to everyone for all the advice, can't wait to start meeting you all.

Heidi
 
congrats to all of you incoming first year students

I am currently an MS1 who is looking for a new roommate. I have a great place 7 minutes from campus, it has lots of space and its pretty cheap ($337.50 with heat included). For more info, email me at [email protected]

Hope everyone enjoys their summers!
 
Hey, anyone (mainly the current MSI's and MSII's) know if the lecture halls have places to plug our laptop power in? I got my new gateway laptop the other day. The battery sux, (only 2 hours on a full charge)... should I invest in the bigger battery? or does enough seats have a power plug that I can power it? Thanks!

Jon
 
All of the rows have enough plugs for one per seat. The interent is also wireless which makes for a great distraction durring some classes.
 
I'm not an MSI yet😉 , but I do recall seeing the plug-ins.

You can always upgrade your battery: either with Gateway or 'after market'. Two hours is pretty short...
 
Did Gateway give you the educational discount? If so, they may do the same for a battery..
 
Thanks for that info. As far as the educational discount, I ended up getting the computer from the business section (as opposed to home/personal section) and they were running a $50 off, free memory upgrade, and free shipping deal. So I ended up getting it for a really decent price. The battery is something that everyone complains about on all the online reviews. I guess I can't complain too much with it being a thin and light (under 4 lbs which will be good to drag back and forth to class). It's also good to know that UNE has the plugs. Anyone else worried about not having enough battery life? Have a good easter weekend everyone! :-D

Jon
 
Happy Easter everyone.
Welcome Heidi! if you have any questions feel free to im me at smiler669 or email me at [email protected]. welcome to our group!

I am also had battery life issues with my old laptop. I think I will be getting a new one ( dell possibly?) before classes start and I'll tell you how that battery is when I get it!

Janelle
 
Happy Easter to everyone (a day late)! Hope you all had a nice family, fun-filled day yesterday! I went over to my brother-in-law's new house...it was good fun! :laugh:

I haven't gotten a computer yet...my current laptop has so much "stuff" in it, it's sooooo slow. I figured I'd wait until June or so to get a new one since technology is always changing. For those who haven't gotten a new computer yet, consider getting one with Centrino technology. This processor is meant specifically for mobile computers. For example, the battery is supposed to last for up to 4 hours (or maybe even more) instead of the average 2. There is also a Pentium M (mobile) chip and a regular Pentium 4 chip that runs the fastest BUT consumes more power and gets pretty hot. It all depends on what you want more...longer battery life or faster computer. Since there are electrical outlets in the lecture room, battery power shouldn't be too much of a problem, right? I don't know much about the Pentium M chip...my guess is that it lies in the middle of the Centrino chip and Pent.4...I could be wrong, so please don't say, "Well, Melissa said..." 😛 All this info came from a quick 5 min chat with my husband...he's the computer man.

By the way, I also wanted to thank you Doc Oc and MomDO2B for all your advice to us. Now I feel I can mentally prepare myself for the course load and manage my stress. I love hearing about all your experiences...especially Doc Oc's account of her first 3 years at UNE. Oh dear, I hope my attendings like me! You sound like you should be on TLC's/Discovery Health channel's the RESIDENT. Keep it coming! I wanna hear more!

Talk to you all soon!
Hugs,
Melissa
 
Hello everyone,

Doc Oc and MOMDO2B,
What are the hardest and most tedious courses in first year? Any advice on general preparation of these course( ie study groups, old exams, etc.).

thank you,
datcha
 
Hey Everyone...I will also be joining you all in Biddeford this July. I am really excited to start school even though it will be a drastic change in lifestyle for me. I am a Mainer originally but have lived in CO for the last ten years. Does anyone need a roommate starting in July?...I am a good roommate...no pets, I am a good cook and I clean up after myself (except for my bedroom). Drop a line if you are in lookng to fill a room...otherwise I will procrastinate and look in June. 🙂

Coloradogirl...where do you live in CO. I live in Dillon (Summit County) and will also be heading to ME in Mid-July. If you are nearby we should hook up and start the UNECOM2008-West chapter...I am feeling left out as it seems all of our eastern classmates get together for brunches and the like on a regular basis...we can start a ski club.

I look forward to meeting you all in July! :clap:

Andy
[email protected]
 
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