Oklahoma future 2011ers part 01

[Wizard of Oz]

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I didn't know AG was a TA, which is somewhat of an oxymoron, considering the TA Gross avg. is prolly, oh say 99.5 or so...AG my ass!! 😀

I'm done with my coat WOOO!!!

You know, I didn't buy a kit; I had a small complement of tools already, but it seems like there is more than enough hardware on the east tables to mangle some anatomy...

I used latex for a box, but I doubled up (like you would on a rockin' trauma or some girl you just met) and found I liked the latex better. Your hands still stunk, but they smelled like when you finally opened that rubber you kept in your wallet when you were 14, "just in case". But after a year you're like, "well ****, I guess I'll make a water balloon..." and it reeks like the air inside a basketball... But at least then your hands don't smell as much like the crap in the lab, which to me smells A LOT like cherry Chloraseptic; incidently I don't spray that **** in my mouth anymore...

You crack me up!

I used cotton glove liners. O'Don (that's one of the profs) made fun of me.

 

[Doctor Bagel]

There is another thread in the Allopathic forum asking: "How old were you when you started med school?"....so, that got me wondering how old is everyone who posts on this thread?

30. I think all the old people in our class post here. 🙂 The average age is 23, I think, but our oldest student is in his 50s.

 

[Mr. Freeze]

Did you guys know our prez is only 19??!?! He can't go to bar tour!?!?!?

 

[Wizard of Oz]

There is another thread in the Allopathic forum asking: "How old were you when you started med school?"....so, that got me wondering how old is everyone who posts on this thread?

Many of us who are MS 1's are older than the average student, but I won't unmask anybody since most of us don't publicize our ages on our public profiles.

My true biological age is a mystery because I was brought to this planet as an infant and left in a small west-central Kansas town. I allow people to believe that I am older than 25 and younger than 35. I took my last med school pre-req when Clinton was president.

 

[Doctor Bagel]

Did you guys know our prez is only 19??!?! He can't go to bar tour!?!?!?

I heard he's 20 now. 🙂 I think he got through college in 2 years or something like that. My thought is what's the hurry.

So, confession, I haven't studied at all tonight.

 

[Doctor Bagel]

our dissection groups are broken up into 2 groups of 4 and we rotate dissection days. so one group will dissect monday and friday one week and wednesday the second week. now the overzealous pre-med/medical student may think this is a bad setup, but i learn very little in lab so it works well for me. i have heard there is an anatomy elective 4th yr for those students that feel they didnt get enough during ms1.

Yep, dissection's overrated. I get a lot more out of looking in Rohen's and watching the videos online. I don't know anybody who wishes we dissected more.

 

[Non-TradTulsa]

There is another thread in the Allopathic forum asking: "How old were you when you started med school?"....so, that got me wondering how old is everyone who posts on this thread?

I was 44 when I started and turned 45 a couple of weeks later. I'm NOT the oldest in the class - I'm the second oldest.

I looked considerably younger than 44 when I started. Now I look a little haggard many days. An all-nighter does terrifying things to your face when you're over 40 - I learned the hard way.

 

[Non-TradTulsa]

So, confession, I haven't studied at all tonight.

I couldn't bear Chung's with bad weather coming, so I transcribed my notes from the Embryo lecture today. My backside will probably fall off from boredom when I stand up. I still haven't done notes from O'Don's embryo lecture - they "forgot" to do the audio/power point taping, so there's only the .mp3 (and no notegroups last time I looked) and the power points separately. Given the complexity of that lecture, it's going to be an adventure to figure out which slide he's on while listening to the tape. Sigh...

 

[Wizard of Oz]

I heard he's 20 now. 🙂 I think he got through college in 2 years or something like that. My thought is what's the hurry.

Yeah he is an OSSMer. A lot of their kids take AP credit during HS and bypass all of the med school prereq's that way. Most of the people who graduate there either go off to private schools and complete their education at a normal pace or stay here and speed past everybody. I think his sister started med school at 17 a few years ago. Methinks she matched an IM residency on the east coast. Their dad is a pediatric neurosurgeon or something in Tulsa. I agree with you, but when I was that age, I thought I had to do everything at light speed too. He's a cool guy, but I've previously commented on leadership so I'll leave it at that.

 

[Non-TradTulsa]

Woo-hoo!!! School is OFFICIALLY closed tomorrow, per the website!! Yay, an entire day to study anatomy in my jammies. I might actually get something done...

 

[Benoit]

Although I do not start until next year, I am currently 23.

What's wrong with latex gloves btw? I used them in my undergrad anatomy course both as a student and a TA.

 

[Doctor Bagel]

Although I do not start until next year, I am currently 23.

What's wrong with latex gloves btw? I used them in my undergrad anatomy course both as a student and a TA.

Some people do use latex gloves but most prefer nitrile. I think double gloving with latex works perfectly -- in fact, my hands get a little less stinky than when I single glove with nitrile. I'd just get what's cheapest.

 

[soonereng]

I saw your numbers on the MCAT forum. You are in unless you have Asperger Syndrome. In the meanwhile, ask questions here--lots please. I'm seriously bored, and I pass most of my down time by rambling on incessantly on this forum.

Is this your first interview?

Yes this was my first interview. I am hoping OU will accept me because my wife has a good job which will help pay for school... the tuition went up again from what I can tell according to the financial aid documents they gave us.😱

I am still finishing pre-reqs (finishing org 1, org2 & cell biology next semester).

Does anyone think that not having the pre-reqs already completed is a knock against me for the adcom?

 

[Amxcvbcv]

Why in God's name am I awake now?

Some comments based on the flood of messages tonight (what the heck, guys?!)

I didn't know AG was a TA, which is somewhat of an oxymoron, considering the TA Gross avg. is prolly, oh say 99.5 or so...AG my ass!!

There's a difference between being a gunner and being intelligent. 😛 AG is just a sharp guy and definitely one of the more laid back people I know. If e's a gunner, he's keeping it under wraps. 😉

But at least then your hands don't smell as much like the crap in the lab, which to me smells A LOT like cherry Chloraseptic; incidently I don't spray that **** in my mouth anymore...

I too will never again be able to appreciate Chloraseptic thanks to anatomy lab. Damn my primitive brain for making such connections. (Neuroanatomy is actually kind of fun - if by fun you mean difficult and sometimes irrelevant.)

There is another thread in the Allopathic forum asking: "How old were you when you started med school?"....so, that got me wondering how old is everyone who posts on this thread?

I'm currently 26.

Yeah he is an OSSMer.
*snip*
I think his sister started med school at 17 a few years ago.

I was in Logan's sister's class at OSSM - class of 1999. To save you from doing the math, that means I took five years to finish my undergraduate degree (At the University of Oklahoma, with three major changes, a semester off, and a couple of 12-13 hour semesters). After that I took another year off unvoluntarily thanks to getting declined for the Class of 2008. Imagine how crazy it is to think a high school classmate of mine started residency the same year I started medical school. 😛 It's a different paradigm than some of you more non-traditional students, sure, but I think I still have a point.

As a semi-related aside, I actually am one more year "behind" because I repeated my junior year of high school after my car accident. I did it once at my original high school straight out of rehab, then did it again at OSSM. So yeah. Five years of high school and five years of college. I never thought about it until now, but I really hope I don't take five years to get through medical school.

What's wrong with latex gloves btw? I used them in my undergrad anatomy course both as a student and a TA.

In my opinion, the latex does an inferior job of keeping the smell of the preservative off your hands. I used nitrile gloves and never had problems eating dinner after lab or got any complaints from my wife. 😉

And finally...

Does anyone think that not having the pre-reqs already completed is a knock against me for the adcom?

Not having completed your pre-requisites prior to the interview will only be a problem if you're not on course to complete them prior to matriculation. When I initially interviewed I still had the third English course on my plate for the Spring semester. Now, I didn't get in that cycle, but the reapplication committee didn't cite that as one of the reasons. Isn't there a form you fill out in the secondary that you send in or bring to interview day that lists all your prerequisites on it? I'm pretty sure you just write on there when you'll be taking the course if you haven't already.


Time to wander back to bed. I'm guessing this thread will be busy tomorrow since classes have been cancelled (www.ouhsc.edu/insidehsc).

 

[Jwax]

Woo-hoo!!! School is OFFICIALLY closed tomorrow, per the website!! Yay, an entire day to study anatomy in my jammies. I might actually get something done...

I don't think I have ever been so disappointed by school being closed. I'm worried our interviews will be rescheduled to after Christmas. This = 👎

🙁 😡

 

[Wizard of Oz]

Yes this was my first interview. I am hoping OU will accept me because my wife has a good job which will help pay for school... the tuition went up again from what I can tell according to the financial aid documents they gave us.😱

I am still finishing pre-reqs (finishing org 1, org 2 & cell biology next semester).

Does anyone think that not having the pre-reqs already completed is a knock against me for the adcom?

No, but that certainly explains your assymetrical yet still awesome MCAT. Dude, if you retook that mo-fo after organic you'd probably be able to get a full ride at a number of schools and/or have solid odds at a cheaper TX school if money is a concern for ya. Then again, I'm the only person I know who chose to hold off starting because he was poor.

Imagine how crazy it is to think a high school classmate of mine started residency the same year I started medical school. 😛 It's a different paradigm than some of you more non-traditional students, sure, but I think I still have a point.

BTW what does Amxcvbcv mean?

Though I don't consider myself non-traditional for a myriad of reasons that I won't go into right now, I can relate. Imagine walking past a composite for the class of 2004 everyday which includes the faces of people who you actually interviewed with six years ago. Imagine having a resident physician write a recommendation letter for you who was your student as an undergraduate (and having a former student in each class from 2003 through 2010 and likely 2011). Imagine having an ex-student MS 4 come to your module for a PCM demonstration and pretend he doesn't know you until everybody else leaves (all the while picking on you to demonstrate physical exam skills). Unrelated but still interesting to most--imagine being accepted to med school on the first interview cycle after being rejected from PA school the previous year.

So yeah, all of us have some oddball stories.

In my opinion, the latex does an inferior job of keeping the smell of the preservative off your hands. I used nitrile gloves and never had problems eating dinner after lab or got any complaints from my wife. 😉

When they would keep the bodies submerged between dissections, a lot of my friends say that the latex was more permeable to the phenol; and it left their hands feeling numb afterward.

 

[Jwax]

i have heard there is an anatomy elective 4th yr for those students that feel they didnt get enough during ms1.

That is a really interesting setup... I bet it is for everyone interested in surgery as their specialty.

Speaking of 4th year, I'm actually kinda confused about how it works, since you have so much elective. 3rd year you are pretty much going through rotations non-stop from July til June, right? Then 4th year starts... and what? I read a post somewhere about a 4th year who had just taken 6 months of vacation??? Bizzare.

Anyways, that's for you, Wizard, since you like to ramble on incessently (as you said). That ought to give you something to ramble about.

P.S. Still depressed about not interviewing today. I really wish I had gotten to interview yesterday 🙁 . Sadness.

 

[Mr. Freeze]

When they would keep the bodies submerged between dissections, a lot of my friends say that the latex was more permeable to the phenol; and it left their hands feeling numb afterward.

That is when I started doubling up, which may have been the first day. I just remember my hands, lips, and tongue being numb. And no, I didn't lick my cadaver; just fumes I guess. Even through two gloves on the lower leg day was a numbing experience, just the way the preservative pooled I guess.

Man, am I glad I won't be smelling like that too much more; my family eats out all the time and one night (hand night, when even Keith left BSEB before us) I was particularly ripe; my wife was at the dinner table, "You ****-ING SMELL!!" I'd come home and give her hugs before she realized I'd been in the lab or had a practical and she'd get all mad.

There's a difference between being a gunner and being intelligent.

Sure. All the TAs have been awesome, and not just with GA. None of 'em have any gunner streaks...nobody that did would be a TA, methinks.

 

[Wizard of Oz]

Speaking of 4th year, I'm actually kinda confused about how it works, since you have so much elective. 3rd year you are pretty much going through rotations non-stop from July til June, right? Then 4th year starts... and what? I read a post somewhere about a 4th year who had just taken 6 months of vacation??? Bizzare.

Anyways, that's for you, Wizard, since you like to ramble on incessently (as you said). That ought to give you something to ramble about.

Thanks! It's looking like today might be filled with much typing. Blast me not keeping any food in my apartment!

Since I'm an MS 1, I'll preface by stating that this is conjecture. While many I've spoken to say that MS 4 is the most expensive vacation they've ever taken (this may have been said here on SDN, dunno), our school's time requirement (i.e. time spent on the proverbial "clock") is similar to the third year with time off allotted to do interviews for PGY. You will take your step 2 sometime that year, but it will be your choice as to whether or not you report it to residency programs.

The ambulatory and rural are the only mandatory spins as far as I know, and the hummingbirds who whisper in my ear say that you do get some say in where you do your rural. If your clinical years are in Tulsa, then you can also drive down here for some selectives (say if you are interested in something competative and want to do research in OKC).

You can do as much as 3 months away if, for instance, you want to impress a residency program in another state. No more than three selectives can be in the same specialty. You can also do sub-internships ("sub-I's") which are a little bit more like PGY-1 whereby you can learn more about admitting and intern-type stuff, or you can treat it more like a vacation and wait until you're getting paid before you subject yourself to the pace. Much like the senior year of high school, your grades won't matter, and a lot of your recommendation letters should already be lined up.

It is during MS 4 when you can more freely insult the deans in inappropriate emails (long yet still funny story) without as much fear of repercussion. Just don't draw the ire of surgical attendings.

During MS 1 and 2, there is plenty of time to get to know your classmates and stuff; and the party scene is essentially an extension of Norman's greek life if you want to participate in it. Once you cross over that step 1 hurdle, however, we all scatter like roaches with the lights on. Crickets chirping on the MS 3/4 discussion boards, nobody answers their emails anymore, only an inkling show up for interest group meetings (and even then, it's because they are the officers). MS 3 is particularly raunchy because that is where you will hit your core shelf exams. Most traditional 4-year schools have nearly identical MS 3 spin schedules. Methinks it is a lotto as to what order you take them. Also, Tulsa is completely optional. Nobody is forced to move.

So, in sum, you learn most of what you will need for step 2 during MS 3. MS 4 is a transitional sort of year in which you really nail down what you want to do for the rest of your medical career. As such, they make it flexible for you. It is at this time when you will actually see some of the beautiful smiles of your friends return. 😀

So hopefully I've successfully rambled enough for now. I'll be here all day folks..... Maybe I should go create some random drama on allo. Who can I rile up today? Law2Doc and njbmd have been pretty benign lately, but it's fun to mess with those MCW students who are on here even more than me.

 

[Non-TradTulsa]

P.S. Still depressed about not interviewing today. I really wish I had gotten to interview yesterday 🙁 . Sadness.

Ah, nuts, Jwax, I'm sorry to hear that - jeez, after all you've been through. Gotta assume it's for a reason - maybe you would have had an accident coming down from Edmond - did you see the news footage of the Belle Isle bridge last night? Nasty. Not to worry - I'm sure they know it's horrible to get all ready for interviews and then to get let down - there'll be a sympathy factor when they do re-schedule.

I was a little confused yesterday when I saw a couple of guys in suits with faces as shiny as their new shoes - they looked really thrilled to be outside with no overcoat in the bloody miserable weather - which confused me until I realized that they were interviewing. Hehehe... they were already following the interview advice I'd give anyone - from the minute you walk on campus until the time you leave, look happy - you never know who's watching. Given the weather yesterday, I was impressed with the grace under pressure.

Benoit - I think the theory is that, since latex is a natural product, it is actually porous to a very small degree - and formaldehyde seems to be able to migrate through solid walls, if you ask me. Most people seem to prefer nitrile first, vinyl second, and latex last in our lab. Actually, I usually avoid latex because I've had contact allergies - and there is some anecdotal evidence that, the more years you wear latex on a daily basis, the greater risk you have of eventually developing a reaction to it.

 

[Amxcvbcv]

BTW what does Amxcvbcv mean?

It comes from my days at OSSM. Everybody was signing up to AOL's instant messenger, and me being one of the sheep did it as well. Every screenname I liked and wanted was already taken, and I refused to do the whole name plus some random numbers at the end - toosexyforthisshirt6969, for example. Instead I just smacked the keyboard in frustration after the umpteenth attempt. Bang! Amxcvbcv was born.

So, it doesn't really mean anything... except that I'm not very creative and can sometimes get frustrated/impatient. 😉

 

[Doctor Bagel]

I don't think I have ever been so disappointed by school being closed. I'm worried our interviews will be rescheduled to after Christmas. This = 👎

🙁 😡

That really sucks. I'm sorry. 🙁 I'm sure they're going to be really prompt and considerate in rescheduling you guys, though.

 

[Non-TradTulsa]

So, it doesn't really mean anything... except that I'm not very creative and can sometimes get frustrated/impatient. 😉

That's funny!! Gosh, for over a year I've thought that "xcv" and "bcv" were some kind of bizarre Roman numerals and that your screen name was fraught with hidden, and deeply significant, meaning. LOL... couldn't you have picked something easier to type? It took me forever to be able to spell your screen name correctly!

 

[SoonerGeek]

Its ok, Jwax, I'm sure that my spot will be available after yesterday. I think I might have completely shot myself in the foot by being 15 minutes late. In fact, if you interviewed yesterday, you probably know exactly who I am now since I stumbled in during the middle of Dean Hall's presentation.

I was coming from Norman, and since I make the trip to Children's every Monday afternoon, I thought I had a pretty good gauge on travel time. Normally, its a 25 minute ride, so I alotted 50 minutes to be safe. I didn't realize that traffic in Moore came to a standstill (maybe there was a wreck). I probably would have been 45 minutes late and thus late for my interview if I had not exited and taken Sooner road. I hate being late, and this was pretty much a nightmare scenario for me. I hoped that I would get a chance to see Dean Hall before lunch and personally apologize, but they had moved off (probably for the admissions meeting/lunch). Anyway, I can't stop kicking myself over this, and I'm hoping that I'll wake up and it is actually Tuesday again. 🙁

Once I got to the interview, I guess one of the physicians noticed that I came in late. She was nice about it, and another interview vouched for the sh*tty traffic in Moore in the mornings. Still, it is something I never wanted to come up in an interview. I think the rest of it went well, but I can't help but think that I just gave them a reason to defer/reject me.

Hey, soonereng, are you by chance 6'5". I think you will be a sure thing with your stellar GPA.

 

[Mr. Freeze]

I wouldn't sweat it too bad. In part because it already happened and in part because you just can't be sure it made as indelible an impression as you might think. Which is easy for me to say, but I hate being late too.

 

[Wizard of Oz]

Its ok, Jwax, I'm sure that my spot will be available after yesterday. I think I might have completely shot myself in the foot by being 15 minutes late. In fact, if you interviewed yesterday, you probably know exactly who I am now since I stumbled in during the middle of Dean Hall's presentation.

Naw don't stress over it. Dean Hall is a great politician, but she is pretty busy and probably forgot about it by lunchtime. My take is that talking to her about later would only draw more attention to it.

I showed up an hour late for my interview one year, and I still got an acceptance letter.

 

[Doctor Bagel]

I wouldn't sweat it too bad. In part because it already happened and in part because you just can't be sure it made as indelible an impression as you might think. Which is easy for me to say, but I hate being late too.

Yeah, I was late to Dr. Hall's speech as were lots of other people I've talked to who were admitted. My excuse was that I couldn't find parking -- as we all know, the parking map isn't exactly accurate.

 

[Benoit]

If your interviewers were understanding and you were able to overcome the anxiety of being late, I'm sure you'll be fine. Are they going to reschedule today's interviews for Friday? What about the out of staters? That would suck.

 

[Bravofriendly]

I can probably hook you up with a box of nitrile gloves if you need 'em. I don't think anyone uses latex.

Appreciate the offer; however, I currently have access to inexpensive nitrile gloves myself.

 

[Bravofriendly]

I'd be very interested to hear any impressions of the OU-Tulsa programs, both for MS and PGYs.

 

[Doctor Bagel]

I'd be very interested to hear any impressions of the OU-Tulsa programs, both for MS and PGYs.

From my understanding, the quality is as good as OKC, and some students prefer it because it's smaller. Right now, I'm thinking about doing it as are a couple of other students who post here. We're going to get more details about the program in our second year, which is when we have to decide what we want to do. Currently, the school has always let students rotate at whichever spot they preferred, so all people who have wanted to go to Tulsa have been able to.

One interesting thing to report is that they're working on opening an ER rotation in Tulsa. Right now, Oklahoma has no allopathic ER rotations. It's still in the works, though, so it's not a sure thing yet.

 

[SoonerGeek]

One interesting thing to report is that they're working on opening an ER rotation in Tulsa. Right now, Oklahoma has no allopathic ER rotations. It's still in the works, though, so it's not a sure thing yet.

Yeah, whats the story with that? OU's residency spots for ER got closed recently too, right? Is there something scandalous or was it a funding/interest thing? I don't see an ER spot going unmatched though.

 

[Amxcvbcv]

One interesting thing to report is that they're working on opening an ER rotation in Tulsa. Right now, Oklahoma has no allopathic ER rotations. It's still in the works, though, so it's not a sure thing yet.

I'm pretty sure you meant residency. 😛

Although, bringing this up will undoubtedly bring in the whole osteopathic vs. allopathic debate.

 

[nea11]

If your interviewers were understanding and you were able to overcome the anxiety of being late, I'm sure you'll be fine. Are they going to reschedule today's interviews for Friday? What about the out of staters? That would suck.

Dotty said she would let us know next week when the rescheduled interviews would occur...It would be nice if they would just let us do 'em tomorrow, huh? I emailed her asking when the interview might be (tenatively) so I will post on here if I get a response from her. It would suck if they rescheduled us during finals week...oops, I jinxed it (sp?)! I am knocking on wood as we speak, so no worries.

Congrats to all you folks who interviewed yesterday...just in time!

 

[Wizard of Oz]

I'd be very interested to hear any impressions of the OU-Tulsa programs, both for MS and PGYs.

As for PGY, that is where they are developing the new OU emergency medicine residency. There has not been an OU presence in Tulsa nearly as long as there has been in Oklahoma City, so they have not developed many specialty PGY programs. They are listed at http://tulsa.ou.edu/medicine/index.htm It's basically the MS 3 spins.

Med school--a quarter of the class can go there for MS 3/4. Most of the people I know up there are from the area or have a spouse who is. The shelf exams are the same as they are in Oklahoma City, so there is no difference in degree of difficulty regarding objective evaluation. There is a bit of a political rift between the OKC deans and the Tulsa folks, so you can get a lot of different opinions. In general, though, the Tulsa spins ("referred to as community based") are thought of as more laid back because they are not carried out in an academic medical center where attendings are invisible and teams are large. Do you see more cool stuff in OKC? I tend to doubt it, but it has been suggested to me that their campus offers less rigorous training. I personally don't think the average MS 3 knows enough to know what cool stuff is.

There are more instances in Tulsa where you'll have to seek out a specialty rotation, but I've never heard of a case where somebody has had a problem with it.

Are there more research opportunities available in OKC? Probably, but two years ago they had one of the most impressive residency matches (multiple derms, orthopods, a neurosurgery, several rads) I've ever seen in a group of 40 grads, so I don't think that you'd be short-changing yourself there. They even had the class valedictorian there, and he chose family medicine. The school has that match on the Powerpoint linked from their website ("Our College Overview" link). It's like undergrad and med school. You succeed because you are a good learner, not because you went to a good school.

Plug for Tulsa--I hear they give you free lunch.

If I were to choose Tulsa, it would be because I like their hospitals better; and I also think Tulsa is a much nicer place to live having previously resided there.

Yeah, whats the story with that? OU's residency spots for ER got closed recently too, right? Is there something scandalous or was it a funding/interest thing? I don't see an ER spot going unmatched though.

You can find scandal wherever you want to go looking for it. I think that they just had funding problems. The thing is, there are plenty of ER's that operate without docs specifically trained in emergency medicine, so the demand for them is questionable according to regulatory bodies. Mr. Freeze wrote about the ER residency issue in some detail a while back, so I'll leave it to him to comment if he wants to again. He's a bona-fide expert on the topic. I'm just a microbiologist. Come get me if you want to know about bacteria or infectious disease.

Although, bringing this up will undoubtedly bring in the whole osteopathic vs. allopathic debate.

Man I hope not. Anybody who chooses a DO school over OU simply because of a single lack of residency program has not done enough homework. It's like saying "Oh I can't go to OU because I don't like their football team" or something.

 

[Mr. Freeze]

Yeah, whats the story with that? OU's residency spots for ER got closed recently too, right? Is there something scandalous or was it a funding/interest thing? I don't see an ER spot going unmatched though.

I believe it was '96, when OU lost its accreditation through the ACGME. So it has been some time. I only like to think of it as "recent" because that is when I graduated HS (Go Titans, take state!!) There are people who certainly know why exactly they did, but I'm not one of them; it was likely due to several factors rather than one, but that is speculation. There is however, one beginning at OU-Tulsa (1+3, meaning you do a prelim year first in any number of specialties) and I believe people that graduate this academic year will be able to do their PGY-1 year and it will be in place by the time they finish. So it is definitely more than just an idea; the funding is there, the faculty are being hired, etc...I'm hoping they have any kinks worked out by 2010...

EM is a young field from a residency standpoint. The first EM boarded doc is still practicing. Don't know what that has to do with anything really, just thought I'd throw that out there.

As far as Tulsa goes, here is what I've heard, FWIW, and certainly don't place a great deal of faith in it:
If you want to do a res in OKC, don't go to Tulsa. If you want a competitive res, don't go to Tulsa (BS, because a buddy from HS is cutting people's faces up as a U-Mich plastics resident, and he went to Tulsa...although he did tell me not to.) If you want a res in Tulsa, go to Tulsa. If you aren't leaning toward an academic career, go to Tulsa. It has crossed my mind, but I don't consider myself qualified to make a judgment yet, based on anything other than the fact right now I live 3 mins from both my parents and my in-laws; T-Town looks better everyday...

 

[Doctor Bagel]

I'm pretty sure you meant residency. 😛

Although, bringing this up will undoubtedly bring in the whole osteopathic vs. allopathic debate.

Yep, I meant residency. Stupid typing the wrong words, twice no less. 🙂 There have always been ER rotations for us here.

It's a shame that this would cause a DO/MD flame war.

 

[Doctor Bagel]

I

As far as Tulsa goes, here is what I've heard, FWIW, and certainly don't place a great deal of faith in it:
If you want to do a res in OKC, don't go to Tulsa. If you want a competitive res, don't go to Tulsa (BS, because a buddy from HS is cutting people's faces up as a U-Mich plastics resident, and he went to Tulsa...although he did tell me not to.) If you want a res in Tulsa, go to Tulsa. If you aren't leaning toward an academic career, go to Tulsa. It has crossed my mind, but I don't consider myself qualified to make a judgment yet, based on anything other than the fact right now I live 3 mins from both my parents and my in-laws; T-Town looks better everyday...

Well, the first might be true -- I think it's always true that it's easier to get a residency wherever you rotate. The second has to not be true just based on their matchlist. The Tulsa matchlist is in no way inferior to the OKC matchlist. As for the third, also probably not true for the reason given above. Going to Tulsa is not going to stop you from getting a prestigious academic rotation.

As for the more laid-back thing that was mentioned above, I've heard that might be true. My brother did his last two years in Tulsa, and he said he felt like they were easier on him than they were on the med students at his residency at another school.

Anyway, I think it just comes down to where you want to live.

 

[Amxcvbcv]

Some tidbits we picked up from the OU-Tulsa information session a few weeks back.

If you want information on Tulsa, don't ask an OKC MS3/4. If you want information on OKC, don't ask a Tulsa MS3/4. You'll have a chance to talk with us when we go to either place, but it's important to experience it for yourself be it through Tulsa Day or setting things up on your own.


I had some more to type, but my wife wants to take a break and watch a movie with me. 😉

 

[Mr. Freeze]

I think it would make it a little more difficult to match here if you went there, but I think that would just be a local effect, not applicable to another OOS school. I may be totally off, but it seems like there is the slightest bit of big brother-little brother thing going on between the two. But I don't buy that you are completely handicapping yourself by leaving here. In fact I asked when I heard SFH was going to be getting an EM res if I should prepare to move and was told that while it wouldn't hurt, it certainly would not be the type of thing an application would hinge on. I think it is just natural to pick the people you see regularly.

Something that an application may hinge on though is the glaring lack of research in my CV.

Wiz, is there a one-stop shop somewhere that prospective or current students could seek out a particular study that may interest them, or is it just go door-to-door until you see something interesting?

 

[Doctor Bagel]

Something that an application may hinge on though is the glaring lack of research in my CV.

I'm there with ya, and just don't feel motivated to do research. So how critical is it if you just want to do something like IM, psych or maybe PM&R?

Also, does anyone have any speculation for why all the psych matches for 2006 were at OU? Psych is traditionally not a competitive match so it seems a little odd that no one would go to a nifty oos place.

 

[nea11]

It looks like they are going to reschedule our interviews for Jan. 9 & 10th🙁 ...just got the info. I am really not very happy about it, but I guess as long as we get an interview I can't complain.

 

[soonereng]

Hey, soonereng, are you by chance 6'5". I think you will be a sure thing with your stellar GPA.

Yes, I was the freakishly tall guy in the suit that hadn't been worn in 2 years. It was very tight around my waist.😀

Thanks for the kind words about the GPA. School always came pretty easy to me, although I do try my best as well.

In answer to the age question... I am currently 28, and will be 29 when I start, assuming that I get in this year.

 

[RachelD]

It looks like they are going to reschedule our interviews for Jan. 9 & 10th🙁 ...just got the info. I am really not very happy about it, but I guess as long as we get an interview I can't complain.

That sucks!! Man I'm sorry for you guys!🙁

 

[Doctor Bagel]

It looks like they are going to reschedule our interviews for Jan. 9 & 10th🙁 ...just got the info. I am really not very happy about it, but I guess as long as we get an interview I can't complain.

Okay, my thoughts. I agree that it sucks, but I doubt that interviewing later is going to have any real impact on your odds of admissions. In the past, people who interviewed later had lower admissions statistics, but OU offered interviews to students in order based on their numbers. So, the people who interviewed earlier had better numbers and were therefore more likely to be admitted anyway (not saying it's all numbers, but we all know that they're part of the consideration). In the end, your odds of being admitted are more about you and less about your interview date. Also, I'll note that I've met several people who interviewed on the last day who are here.

 

[soonereng]

No, but that certainly explains your assymetrical yet still awesome MCAT. Dude, if you retook that mo-fo after organic you'd probably be able to get a full ride at a number of schools and/or have solid odds at a cheaper TX school if money is a concern for ya.

Yeah most people probably aren't elated to see a 9 on the Biological Sciences part of the test, although I had some 10s and 11s in my practice exams. My actual MCAT was heavy on genetics which I had studied very little since it hadn't been a factor at all on the practice exams from AAMC.😡

As far as retaking it and applying next year and hoping for full-rides...that is the plan if I don't get in this year. Although I was really impressed by OU yesterday and don't plan to turn down an acceptance offer. I love the ability for independent study with all of the resources that are available.

Speaking of money, I am leaving a career in engineering, and after introductions the first question in my interview was: "Do you realize that, when taking into account tuition and lost salary, going to medical school will cost you over half a million dollars?" To which I calmly replied: "Yes." What a way to start an interview!

 

[Amxcvbcv]

I really wish we knew when the decision about campus closings for tomorrow will get made.

We've got two graded, required activities and a class lunch, and I feel way too stressed about it. 😛


I know this guy makes the final decision... I wish he'd hurry up about it. My wife already knows she'll be home tomorrow.

 

[Antigunner]

Here's a post full of random ramblings:

I'm 25 right now - took 1 year off after undergrad. It wasn't my choice at the time, but now I'm really glad it happened. It was nice to spend my first year of marriage without the added stress of medical school.

Thanks for all the kind words about my TA work - although it's basically a load of bullcrap =) We freely admit that at this point you guys know way more than we remember.

Dean Schmidt gave an update on the ER residency at the StuCo meeting last night - he said they successfully established the Department of Emergency Medicine, and now they are working on writing up the proposal to start up the residency. As someone said above, the program will begin at PGY-2, so you will do a prelim year in peds/surgery/medicine.

For those getting their interviews rescheduled - that sucks.

I'm going to go eat a nice hot bowl of chili and watch The Office.

AG out. (I like this AG thing - easier to type)

 

[Doctor Bagel]

Thanks for all the kind words about my TA work - although it's basically a load of bullcrap =) We freely admit that at this point you guys know way more than we remember.

I never know anything in lab, so you're ahead of me. 🙂 I do think we need more professors in lab, though. Yesterday, O'Don was seriously the only professor rotating around. He had something like 5 people following him constantly to drag him to their tanks.

Editing to add that I don't really have to care that much because I'll never have to dissect ever again!👍

 

[RachelD]

My kids school is closed again on Friday. I hope Anatomy is cancelled or I may have to bring 3 new students to lecture so I can get my ARS points! I wonder how well that would go over?