Official UTHSCSA Class of 2008 Thread

[lane]

the big move is tomorrow see yall down there

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[futrdrbaker]

Have fun moving! It's hot, as usual, but at least it's not raining! When I moved down here, it rained for the next five days with flash flood warnings everyday. What a welcome!

 

[Stuart]

Hey all,

I moved into my new SA APT today and just set up the CPU. I wish I would have known about this site and thread the past 6+ months. It would have cut down on some of the guess work associated w/ medical school.

Anyway, I liked what I saw during my interview at UTHSCSA and that out of the approx 20 or so people I met from UTHSCSA (or that knew someone from UTHSCSA), exactly zero had anything but good things to say about the school. Most gushed.

One comment, someone posted that the average age of the UTHSCSA incoming class is 27. Can that possibly be right? That seems like a rather old class (no offense). If true, how does that affect the social scene/interaction amongst students? How does it compare to what any of your friends have told you that attend other medical schools? I know it became harder and harder to pull my friends out to the bars when they became older and I would imagine medical school would only compound that difficulty.

Cheers,

- Stuart

 

[Ghost]

i would love to still be able to go out to the bars, but at the ripe old age of 27, i don't venture out after dark anymore. i don't want to get mixed up with all those hoodlums hopped up on the marijuanas. hmmm, my knee is hurting.........must mean rain.

 

[G0S2]

Welcome Stuart!!

I believe I found the 27 stat in the MSAR. When I start next year I will be 30 and by November, 31. Joints are starting to hurt and I will be the only one in the lecture hall yelling "Speak up!"

I am going to see Van Halen tonight and that certainly will not help that case.

Nevertheless, I will still hit the bars in med school.

 

[roja]

My class average was about 27. Remember, an average is an average. Half the people are below it and half at or above. If you have one outlier, like someone in thier late 30's or forties, it can skew the number.

And our class average didn't seem to deter our quite notorious druken, partying selves...

 

[dustin04ag]

Well this 21 y.o. will be hitting the bars here in San Antonio. This weekend I tried to get a feel for the night life and found some really cool bars. School starts in T minus 7 days.... whoa hell.

Good luck to all you people moving in. It has taken me like a freaking week to get settled and i still have way more $hi+ to do.

There seems like quite a few people on this thread... maybe we should try to get togther before school starts. We could try to hit the bars really early for all of you 27 year old senior citizens. j/k.

 

[Ghost]

There seems like quite a few people on this thread... maybe we should try to get togther before school starts. We could try to hit the bars really early for all of you 27 year old senior citizens. j/k.

 

[keekee]

Well this 21 y.o. will be hitting the bars here in San Antonio. This weekend I tried to get a feel for the night life and found some really cool bars. School starts in T minus 7 days.... whoa hell.

Good luck to all you people moving in. It has taken me like a freaking week to get settled and i still have way more $hi+ to do.

There seems like quite a few people on this thread... maybe we should try to get togther before school starts. We could try to hit the bars really early for all of you 27 year old senior citizens. j/k.

Actually, Ghost was telling me the other day how much he wants to hit up all the metrosexual martini bars in SA when he gets here. The men in our aging "27-year-old generation" are really into that trendy stuff...

 

[Ghost]

dang it, outed by keekee yet again!!

 

[pillion]

...whe-e-n I was the-e ripe young a-age of 27, we-e used to call'm pubs.

I'm up for a drink or two if people are gatherin. Drop me a PM.

 

[keekee]

Pillion and I are going to meet up this Wed at around 7 if anyone else wants to join us. How about the Bombey Bicycle Club- for old times sake?

Well, Bombay's not really metro...but sure! Count me in!

 

[pillion]

Directions to BBC from the Medical/Floyd Curl intersection?

 

[animeita]

Hey everyone! Finally back from China and finished moving out of Cali. What a crazy month! Now I hafta move again...blargh!

But it seems like things have been moving along out there. Makes me excited to get out there to SA.

Coupla quickie questions:

Does anyone know about the shuttle bus system around the campus? I went in today and there is NO parking left whatsoever except out in the boonies...I feel like I just wasted $60 cuz my apartment's like a block away from my parking space.

For the women: I think someone's asked about this already, but when the letter about White Coat ceremony said "professional dress" but "comfortable", does that mean business dress? business casual? semi-formal?

 

[keekee]

Hey everyone! Finally back from China and finished moving out of Cali. What a crazy month! Now I hafta move again...blargh!

But it seems like things have been moving along out there. Makes me excited to get out there to SA.

Coupla quickie questions:

Does anyone know about the shuttle bus system around the campus? I went in today and there is NO parking left whatsoever except out in the boonies...I feel like I just wasted $60 cuz my apartment's like a block away from my parking space.

For the women: I think someone's asked about this already, but when the letter about White Coat ceremony said "professional dress" but "comfortable", does that mean business dress? business casual? semi-formal?

Hey! Welcome back! As for the dress code thing...Eh. I'm wearing a skirt and a nice blouse or something...Professional dress shouldn't mean uncomfortable in what's sure to be hot and humid weather...

 

[lilstina]

welcome back animeita

i guess as an add on to the clothes question... is sleeveless ok? and what about open toe? i don't have any dressier shoes that aren't open toe...

 

[keekee]

welcome back animeita

i guess as an add on to the clothes question... is sleeveless ok? and what about open toe? i don't have any dressier shoes that aren't open toe...

I hope so because I'm doing sleeveless and open toe!...I think it looks very nice and professional for San Antonio and it's the most comfortable...I honestly don't think it's really that big of deal...As long as you don't come in shorts and a t-shirt, I think you're okay...

 

[keekee]

Here is the 2004 UTHSCSA Match List:

I finally got around to looking at the list the other day, and I have to say how surprised and to be honest, a little concerned, I was at the lack of diversity in chosen specialties. Anesthesiology is waaaay over-represented, and I saw very few neuro, psych, or EM on that list. It's really surprising...Anybody know why this is?

 

[animeita]

I finally got around to looking at the list the other day, and I have to say how surprised and to be honest, a little concerned, I was at the lack of diversity in chosen specialties. Anesthesiology is waaaay over-represented, and I saw very few neuro, psych, or EM on that list. It's really surprising...Anybody know why this is?

yeah, I had sort of the same reaction. It seems like a lot of the top specialties aren't represented there...but that doesn't mean our class four years from now won't be different, eh?

I think UTHSCSA does seem to have a more general primary care bent to it, but based on some of the really good residency matches, I also feel like if there's something you really wanna pursue, they'll help you get there.

 

[Ghost]

Does anyone know about the shuttle bus system around the campus? I went in today and there is NO parking left whatsoever except out in the boonies...I feel like I just wasted $60 cuz my apartment's like a block away from my parking space.

hey animeita, welcome back! how was china? the shuttle busses leave lot 17 every half hour, starting at 5:16 am. the last bus back to lot 17 is around 7 pm, so if you are going to stay late on campus, you need to move your car onto campus after 6 pm and before 7 pm so you don't have to hike out to lot 17 after dark. also, did you get on a waitlist for a better permit? the one i got on takes like 2 years or something.

 

[Ghost]

well if that's true, that sucks. i was just gonna go with the school insurance, but maybe i should start thinking otherwise.

 

[Ghost]

I'll be there, keekee will be there, pillion will be there. Who else?

i wish i could go, but it looks like i won't be in san antonio much before saturday.

 

[roja]

my class had derm and ent matches in them. it can vary from year to year.

 

[keekee]

Okay, so I heard that the insurance suggested by our school is based on reimbursement. So you pay and they'll pay you back. And, I heard that is easier said than done.

Anyone got some private insurance that they are fond of?

Humana's got good individual insurance that will cost you a little over $100 a month. When I was a TA at UT-Austin, I got the employee health insurance for a year. It was a Blue Cross/Blue Shield PPO plan and it was the best insurance I've ever had- it paid for virtually everything. I'm not sure if BC/BS has individual insurance offered, but the website might say so. If they do, I'd definitely go with them provided you can get on their PPO plan and not HMO...

 

[hillofbeans]

I just signed up for a plan from Unicare. $58/month. Warning: the deductible is very high. I'm not sure how the benefits compare to other plans, but this one does have the major medical option required by the school.

I heard a rumor that the insurance offered through the school (MegaLife) is overpriced.

 

[pillion]

IMO, I wouldn't get health insurance through the school. More than likely, it's way over priced. Your best bet is to get married to someone who has a job and gets decent health insurance. That's what I did!

 

[abbiequeen]

Pillion and I are going to meet up this Wed at around 7 if anyone else wants to join us. How about the Bombey Bicycle Club- for old times sake?

OOOOOO Be there late! I will be arriving from Houston whenever my nannying job is finished.

~Abbiequeen

 

[keekee]

I just signed up for a plan from Unicare. $58/month. Warning: the deductible is very high. I'm not sure how the benefits compare to other plans, but this one does have the major medical option required by the school.

I heard a rumor that the insurance offered through the school (MegaLife) is overpriced.

Well, I just talked to someone in the registrar and here's the deal. If you don't have proof of outside insurance (an insurance card) by registration, which is next week, you will be charged the $900+ for the school's insurance, and even if you get outside insurance shortly thereafter, you will NOT be refunded the money you had to pay for it. It kind of ticks me off that they didn't give us better information about all this in a more timely manner so we could have planned accordingly...

That said, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas DOES have great individual plans, and I was really impressed with all the different options for deductibles and copays...They also have temporary insurance you can get while you're waiting for your insurance application to get processed, and you can get the card almost immediately (probably in time for registration). But I'm not really sure if that would suffice the registrar. I think they want to see the card for coverage for the entire year, which at this point, you won't get until the middle of July from what I was told...

So frustrating...

 

[lilstina]

I hope so because I'm doing sleeveless and open toe!...I think it looks very nice and professional for San Antonio and it's the most comfortable...I honestly don't think it's really that big of deal...As long as you don't come in shorts and a t-shirt, I think you're okay...

as long as i'm not the only one

as for the matches, i definitely think it varies from year to year depending on the interests of the class and other factors. i was surprised as well by the overwhelming number of anes matches, but looking at the sheet they gave us at the interview with matches from 1999-2003 they can change drastically from year to year. some years the representation in certain specialties has doubled from the year before!

as for megalife insurance, i'd probably be apt to think that it's overpriced as well. i had to get it for a semester in grad school because stupid me forgot to sign up for enough credits to be full time and i don't think the coverage was that great for the price i had to pay. luckily i'll be eligible to be covered under my dad's company policy for a little while yet but not too much longer. stupid age limit.

sorry, keekee, that definitely sucks about the insurance stuff.

edit: you guys post fast! i'll be moving into my apt in SA on either Friday/Saturday. everything is coming up so fast... getting nervous!

 

[dustin04ag]

Well i am going to try to meet up with you guys on Wednesday at Bombay.

And as for the insurance thing... I am on my parents insurance as long as I am a full time student, but since i graduated in 2003 i have been off for a while. And the school says you have to show proof you are on before school starts. The catch-22 is that i am NOT ON UNTIL school starts. So I asked how they checked.... and the lady told me that they just look at your insurance card and make a copy. So my plan is to just show them my old card (since they dont have expiration dates) and then register..... and then send proof of enrollment to the insurance company so that I get on. I think i can be on my parents until I am like 24 or something as long as i am a full time student. So hope this ends up working. And if not.... whatever.... its only loan money.

And the parking thing..... I really dont know. My plan is to not buy a parking pass and just walk to school. My bet is that riding a bike it would take me about 2 minutes to get to the lecture room. I live across the street from the visitor parking lot. So i figure with all the $$ that I dont spend on parking and insurance... that i will have adequate partying/drinking money for this whole MS1 thing

and i dont remember who was asking, but the reason i picked UTHSCSA...... Fiesta Texas and SeaWorld baby!!

 

[dustin04ag]

And did anyone who sent their stuff in the mail get their big sib info yet? I haven't and was just wondering what the deal was.... didnt they say that we get them before school starts?

 

[keekee]

And did anyone who sent their stuff in the mail get their big sib info yet? I haven't and was just wondering what the deal was.... didnt they say that we get them before school starts?

Yeah! I was wondering the same thing. They were supposed to post it on the 2008 website, it's still not up yet. Very odd...I suppose we could e-mail Julie Rowe and find out what's going on...

[email protected]

 

[lane]

i'm officially moved into my apartment

actually i've been moving all my crap in here since saturday but i just got cable/internet this morning i'm over in carlyle place just sitting around so let me know if yall are doing anything - what time are yall planning on going to bombay tomorrow night?

 

[futrdrbaker]

Yeah! I was wondering the same thing. They were supposed to post it on the 2008 website, it's still not up yet. Very odd...I suppose we could e-mail Julie Rowe and find out what's going on...

[email protected]

I sent in my Big Sib stuff through the mail and I found out about a week ago, only because she emailed me. She seems really busy though, maybe that is why some of you haven't heard from your big sibs. For most of my questions, I emailed my peer advisors and they were much quicker to respond.

 

[futrdrbaker]

also, did you get on a waitlist for a better permit? the one i got on takes like 2 years or something.

Which waitlist did you get on that takes 2 years? When I went in yesterday, the woman told me which waitlists move faster than others (i.e. Parking Garage A, non-reserved on the roof; Zone 2; and a couple of others). I signed up for the waitlist for the Garage A. She said that moves fastest, but didn't give me a timeline. I hope it wasn't the 2 year one!
Also, what's with the three to four year waitlists for reserved spaces? In four years, we'll be done (hopefully)! I guess if you really want it badly enough!

Is it cool if we bring significant others on Wednesday? Neither one of us knows anybody down here, and I don't want to leave him out. If not, that's okay; I understand.

 

[futrdrbaker]

i think i will buy a stethoscope, but maybe hold off on the diag equipment until orientation starts at least to see if i can borrow or get it cheaper from someone. my big sib told me not to buy any books until i talk to her about what's good to get and what she can give/lend to me, so i'm going to wait on books as well.

i definitely think it's better to wait a bit for most of the stuff to find out what you really need vs what will be more of a waste of money.

I found a website that has better sales on diagnostic equipment than the bookstore's prices! On the 3.5v sets, it's at least $80 cheaper; on the PanOptic sets, it's about $150 cheaper. I don't know how long the sale is going to last, but if you want to save some money, this seems like a good site. Shipping is pretty cheap, so it doesn't overpower the sale prices. The website is: www.steeles.com. They also have the blood pressure cuffs we need cheaper as well.

 

[Ghost]

Which waitlist did you get on that takes 2 years? When I went in yesterday, the woman told me which waitlists move faster than others (i.e. Parking Garage A, non-reserved on the roof; Zone 2; and a couple of others). I signed up for the waitlist for the Garage A. She said that moves fastest, but didn't give me a timeline. I hope it wasn't the 2 year one!

i got the non-reserved roof parking of garage a. i got this b/c she said even though it is not reserved, they only give out as many permits as there are parking spots, so you are essentially guarunteed a spot. so maybe that is why the wait is so long. she said they oversell the regular garage a permits so there is no guaruntee you'll always get a spot.

 

[pillion]

Is it cool if we bring significant others on Wednesday? Neither one of us knows anybody down here, and I don't want to leave him out. If not, that's okay; I understand.

Fine by me. I may bring mi esposita along as well.

 

[futrdrbaker]

Does anybody know anything about the White Coat Ceremony? Such as parking for our families, where we are supposed to meet, anything like that?

It's getting close to crunch time!

 

[keekee]

What time are we meeting at Bombay tonight, kids? 7ish?

 

[roja]

Everyone have fun!

 

[Asclepius]

Any Trinity Grads?

I graduated from Trinity, S.A. in '99...one of my philosophy classes met at Bombay's every so often. San Antonio is a cool town...good luck to all of you.

 

[keekee]

I'll be there like at 730.

I'll be there at 7:31 then...

 

[roja]

YOu guys should make sure you post pictures!

 

[lane]

i'll try to be there - i'll probably be wearing a bright yellow emory baseball shirt

 

[tycho55]

I'll be there a little after 7:30! Can't wait to meet you guys!

 

[lane]

keekee

, dustin, and pillion just left my place after a great night just chillin and watching office space

it was awesome getting to meet all of yall - we'll have to get together again and you're always welcome at my place

ps. tom's wife is

 

[keekee]

keekee

, dustin, and pillion just left my place after a great night just chillin and watching office space

it was awesome getting to meet all of yall - we'll have to get together again and you're always welcome at my place

ps. tom's wife is

Yes, thank you Lane!

But why do I get a special icon, and why is it called kekekegay.gif?!

 

[lane]

Yes, thank you Lane!

But why do I get a special icon, and why is it called kekekegay.gif?!

it's from another forum - i dont know why it's called kekekegay.gif but you got it cuz when i think of the image

i think of your name

 

[G0S2]

keekee

, dustin, and pillion just left my place after a great night just chillin and watching office space

So, I just got into Texas last night and I am going to need to meet you guys on Sunday, um-kay. So, if you could just go ahead and attend the White Coat Ceremony, that would be great.


And I am drinking a cup of coffee right now.