OSU-COM Discussion Thread 2010-2011

[1student]

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I was wondering if OSU-COM has sent out all the interview invites yet? I submitted my sec. late oct but nothing since then. I did the online check it says application is complete. Anyone else in same situation?

 

[Phlame217]

Congrats to everyone!

 

[deleted317914]

I was wondering if OSU-COM has sent out all the interview invites yet? I submitted my sec. late oct but nothing since then. I did the online check it says application is complete. Anyone else in same situation?

Yes, I am too! I received an email from them in early December letting me know that my file was complete, but haven't heard from them since...

 

[Phlame217]

You will either receive and invite by end of February or eventually receive a rejection letter after Feb. They may extend interviews due to weather and all, but I have no insight into that.

 

[MLT2MT2DO]

You will either receive and invite by end of February or eventually receive a rejection letter after Feb. They may extend interviews due to weather and all, but I have no insight into that.

After Feb interviews do you know how often the selection committee meets to go over the waitlist?

 

[Phlame217]

Typically all slots are spoken for by the end of Feb.
Adcom will finish out interviews, develop a ranked waitlist.
Waitlist will be cut off after a certain point; those cut will receive a rejection letter.
As slots open by people releasing there seat, people will be pulled top down from the waitlist.

 

[caligirl10]

waitlist letter today. Interviewed on 1/27.

 

[MLT2MT2DO]

Typically all slots are spoken for by the end of Feb.
Adcom will finish out interviews, develop a ranked waitlist.
Waitlist will be cut off after a certain point; those cut will receive a rejection letter.
As slots open by people releasing there seat, people will be pulled top down from the waitlist.

As always thanks for the info, Phlame.

 

[EdLongshanks]

waitlist letter today. Interviewed on 1/27.

Make sure and call to get a reason for your waitlisting. I spent 3 weeks on the waitlist, but only because they were waiting on my latest transcript. You also could have an issue that you can change, like insufficient clinical experience or a specific grade that they are waiting on.

 

[caligirl10]

Thanks, I will call today.

 

[Phange]

I've been on the waitlist since November and have called numerous times. Never had much in the way of advice other than to "be patient". Becomes increasingly hard to do after a while

 

[EdLongshanks]

I've been on the waitlist since November and have called numerous times. Never had much in the way of advice other than to "be patient". Becomes increasingly hard to do after a while

My heart goes out to you. I know how you feel. In my opinion, patience is NOT a virtue in these cases. OU put off giving those of us who interviewed in Oct a decision until mid November. They told me that "patience is a virtue." But they knew they were going to turn me down on the first day. Every time I think of one particular person who (knowing that my refusal letter was on the way) gave me a sickly smile and told me to "be patient", my blood boils.

There's not much you can do this year. If you could have an effect on the decision, they would have told you what to do. But there might be something that you can do for next year - apply more places, raise your MCAT score, retake a class. If so, you would want to start working on that right now.

 

[longroad59]

I was supposed to interview last week, but because of weather it was pushed to this Friday. Hopefully there are still a few spots left to be had.

 

[caligirl10]

I will say that I know someone who graduated from OSU 2 years ago that had interviewed and was turned down at OSU, but after being accepted somewhere else, was then accepted at OSU. She was a D.O. /MBA student, though.

I know that she continued to call the school after having received a rejection letter. What optimism and faith in herself!

 

[Phlame217]

I was supposed to interview last week, but because of weather it was pushed to this Friday. Hopefully there are still a few spots left to be had.

There will be; a good chunk of the early seats are held by people whom have multiple acceptances and are undecided as to where to go; things will trickle throughout the next few months until May when a date will be set by schools that you can no longer get a refund on your deposit; since a lot of schools require a hefty deposit, you will see a lot of rapid movement within the weeks after that date as people withdraw from schools; OSU is treated like the little brother to OU and for in state applicants, there are a lot of people that apply to OSU as a safety net behind OU and will free up seats as soon as said date hits.

 

[MLT2MT2DO]

There will be; a good chunk of the early seats are held by people whom have multiple acceptances and are undecided as to where to go; things will trickle throughout the next few months until May when a date will be set by schools that you can no longer get a refund on your deposit; since a lot of schools require a hefty deposit, you will see a lot of rapid movement within the weeks after that date as people withdraw from schools; OSU is treated like the little brother to OU and for in state applicants, there are a lot of people that apply to OSU as a safety net behind OU and will free up seats as soon as said date hits.

Phlame, I know you're not OOS but you seem to be have a wealth of information on OSUs admissions process. Do you know what/if this means anything for OOS students? Like is there a deadline where the school is allowed to open up more seats for OOS?

Also do you know what the OOS restrictions are for the DO/MBA program? I haven't put in for it at OSU but had at a couple other schools, it is something I've been toying around with in my head for a bit. Still not sure I'd go this route (have other acceptances), I'm just trying to gather info.

 

[Phlame217]

As far as OOS and movement, they are limited to the amount of seats due to the legislator (since its a state school w/ state funding) so the amount of seats will not change; each years movement varies on the seriousness of those who hold the seats and their intentions so its hard to predict what will go on there. I know the OOS seats will go to OOS first if they open.

I have no information on the D.O./MBA other than that it is not that difficult. I am friends with a few students who took it and three of the 8-10 that did last years MBA and are now apart of my class (2014) said that the MBA process was laid back and three of the eight were OOS from Arkansas.

 

[MLT2MT2DO]

As far as OOS and movement, they are limited to the amount of seats due to the legislator (since its a state school w/ state funding) so the amount of seats will not change; each years movement varies on the seriousness of those who hold the seats and their intentions so its hard to predict what will go on there. I know the OOS seats will go to OOS first if they open.

I have no information on the D.O./MBA other than that it is not that difficult. I am friends with a few students who took it and three of the 8-10 that did last years MBA and are now apart of my class (2014) said that the MBA process was laid back and three of the eight were OOS from Arkansas.

Great, thanks again. Guess it's time to subtly see how the wife feels about the MBA side and a 5th year of school.

 

[EdLongshanks]

I see that OSU placed fifth in the percentage of graduates who matched DO residencies this year.

http://www.natmatch.com/aoairp/schltot.htm

1. MSU-COM 67.1%
2. LMU-DCOM 52.8%
3. PCOM 51.7%
4. WVSOM 50.7%
4. LECOM 50.7%
5. OSU-COM 50.5%

Are the folks there satisfied that this was a successful DO match day?

 

[Phlame217]

Of the reports I have heard, there's a general satisfaction with the match.

A fun fact for everyone as I learn more and more information, for Step II you have to take both a written and practical exam. The practical is done in the North East and involves you seeing 12 patients and conducting an exam and making a diagnosis. OSU ranks #1 in passing this.

 

[Bravetown]

Hey Phlame I had a question about computers, do we need anything special or is there just a particular operating system that they require. I'm just asking because I got a new laptop like a month ago because my old one crashed hard and I want to make sure I don't need to return it.

 

[Phlame217]

To answer your question, no... not really.

Now my shpeal.... (yes, i spelled it weird)

I say go Apple. I have been a techy since my gateway 95 back from 1995. I have built computers, programmed, used every OS out to date pretty much. I was always turned off apple due to their mark up in technology and how it gets outdated after 3-5 months so you have to buy right at a product refresh. After burning through a few HP, a dell, and a few other laptops I finally forked over for an apple for school. I haven't looked back. I continue to build my own desktops, but my apple runs at ~38 degrees (heat is the determining life factor of any computer for the most part) which is a far cry from my HP Dell and others that idled at 50-55 and ran 80 + under load (in celsius). My mac runs max 65 under load. The quality and satisfaction is just undeniable.

Anyways. Have windows, or if mac you'll need a program called crossover. I can get a free copy of crossover so don't worry about it if you need it. If you run linux or google OS, you'll need a windows distro or virtual machine to run the histology software which is proprietary windows software.

As far as specs, I recommend >3.0 ghz dual core or preferably >2.5 ghz core i5 or best of all an i7. Ram minimum is 4 gigs, I run 8. Rest is preference for the most part, but you will want a 500 gig harddrive to keep plenty of space and you will want multiple back up sources. I have two 32 gig flash sticks that I keep current with school documents one at home, one with me and then I have a RAID0 with two western digital 1 terabyte harddrives that I keep backups on of my computer. Back up once a week.

Alot of information, but let me know if you have any specific additional questions.

 

[Bravetown]

Nope that kind of covered it, thanks Phlame.

 

[EdLongshanks]

Phlame, as a fellow IT geek, I have a few questions about how to most effectively use my tablet.

What I have been doing this semester - and it seems to be working. Is skipping the note taking, and instead using my class time to make flash cards. The teacher's notes are sufficient for me to get the concepts, I just need to memorize the details. I take my notes in MS Excel and save them as a CSV, which then imports into AnyMemo on my droid. Studying, in the morning, consists of me sticking my droid to a holder over my recumbent exercise bike and peddle, click, peddle click.

This works great, except when my question/answer is graphical - like the structures of the amino acids, or the prominent carbs. What I want to do is type the question and then clip a part of the screen for the answer.

Right now, this consists of having Microsoft Paint up, pasting to that, saving to the answer.png and then typing <img src=answer.png> in the answer. By the time I do this, I have fallen behind.

Is there a better way to make graphical flashcards?

 

[Phlame217]

For flashcards, flashcardexchange.com
A lot of students share and make flash cards through this website and it is useful. Don't know if it will work for the phone or not however.

As far a studying with a tablet, Its a lot of preference. I wouldn't ever use one because I hardly listen to a lecture. I learn best by outlining. Histology and parts of physiology and microbiology you have to pay attention because there are clicker questions throughout the lecture that count for points or bonus points. Otherwise I am just making an outline doing the learning objectives as they talk. Other times I am surfing the internet.

Tablet specific advantage would be via microsoft one note where you can use a .pdf file and take notes, screen shots, etc and keep it all very organized. Alot of professors will post their note packets in a onenote friendly package.

 

[EdLongshanks]

For flashcards, flashcardexchange.com
A lot of students share and make flash cards through this website and it is useful. Don't know if it will work for the phone or not however.

As far a studying with a tablet, Its a lot of preference. I wouldn't ever use one because I hardly listen to a lecture. I learn best by outlining. Histology and parts of physiology and microbiology you have to pay attention because there are clicker questions throughout the lecture that count for points or bonus points. Otherwise I am just making an outline doing the learning objectives as they talk. Other times I am surfing the internet.

Tablet specific advantage would be via microsoft one note where you can use a .pdf file and take notes, screen shots, etc and keep it all very organized. Alot of professors will post their note packets in a onenote friendly package.

I tried one note for one semester and did not like it. The problem that I have with it, is that my notes aren't worth studying. Since I read this material when we were going over it in class, I understand it. What I need to do is memorize the facts that furnish the understanding - therefore the flashcards.

On your recommendation, I went ahead and paid the money to buy a lifetime flashcardexchange membership. This takes care of the sharing problem, but doesn't solve the image issue. They still want to attach images from files. I'm afraid that I'm going to have to program my own solution to this. Looks like about 30 to 50 hours to cobble together a non-commercial program.

 

[Phlame217]

to be honest, theres hardly anything I can think of you're going to have to learn such as chemical structures (ie that of biochem or organic chem). Biochem is heavy mechanisms from test 3-5. Test 1 & 2 are alot of intro to biochem.

And as far as a clipping tool, sorry i didnt read into it further, mac has one built in (command + shift + 4) and i highly recommend you use one note in the case of windows as it also has a clipping tool. Simply activate it, drag a box over the area you want to clip (screen shot) and release click. On windows it will save it to the clip board or auto insert into your onenote file from which you can save a .jpg or .png file.

And I am not trying to intimidate you, but first semester will rock your world. I never cracked a book in undergrad other than to do required problems or look up occasional information. I studied maybe a day or 2 pre-exam and skated through. Med school is another beast, but i have already learned to appreciate it because its putting me to my limits and showing me that I am capable of alot more than I ever thought. Don't expect to learn it all while sitting in class. Histology and Anatomy require you to pay attention throughout the whole lecture (for bonus points which arn't bonus, its the difference between letter grades). You can get away with it in OMM and biochem, but that is just first semester. 2nd semester is already proving to be more devious.

 

[ERmedic]

Quick Question, would it be worth sending in my app this late?

 

[Bravetown]

Since Phlame has seniority here you might want to listen to what he has to say, but being this late in the cycle you might be just wasting your money. You would probably be better off applying first thing next cycle which I believe opens June 1 and yes apply June 1 everything becomes so much easier if you do.

 

[Phlame217]

No, apps are due by Feb 1st. http://www.healthsciences.okstate.edu/student/admissions/application_components.cfm

You could apply for bridge (http://www.healthsciences.okstate.edu/student/bridge/index.cfm) but now that I look, app deadline for that was Feb 1st.

I think you are out of luck for this cycle. Look to apply starting this June. In mean time, might try beefing up the application. One weakness with this last application cycle was clinical experience. Try to get 50-75 hours minimum of shadowing, >100+ preferred.

 

[EdLongshanks]

I tried one note for one semester and did not like it. The problem that I have with it, is that my notes aren't worth studying. Since I read this material when we were going over it in class, I understand it. What I need to do is memorize the facts that furnish the understanding - therefore the flashcards.

On your recommendation, I went ahead and paid the money to buy a lifetime flashcardexchange membership. This takes care of the sharing problem, but doesn't solve the image issue. They still want to attach images from files. I'm afraid that I'm going to have to program my own solution to this. Looks like about 30 to 50 hours to cobble together a non-commercial program.

Phlame, thanks for your help on this. I kept worrying at it, and something one of the students at the accepted student day today said helped me solve the problem. I am now using powerpoint to produce alternating question/answer slides. I save the slide set as JPG's and wrote a quick script that creates a CSV file that I can input to any flash card program. Each set of notes only takes me 5 minutes to convert and put on my droid phone. It took me about 5 hours to refine the system and get it working on my computer.

I'm trying to get this note/study system refined BEFORE I start histology. 🙂

 

[mnoon1]

Quick Question, would it be worth sending in my app this late?

In my interview they were blown away by my 300+ hours of shadowing so make sure you have enough of that/and/or other clinical experience such as a medically related job? I raked in the shadowing by treating it as a full time job over the summer and they thought it was impressive that I dedicated Monday thru Friday for a couple months to shadowing a surgeon.

Other than that, get your app in early, like phlame said work out any rough spots: shadowing, increasing a low mcat score, retake a class in the fall, volunteer etc.

Good luck to you!

 

[mnoon1]

can we talk about where to live for those of us who know nothing about tulsa!?😕

I keep hearing different opinions but forget the names of places/areas and if some of you tulsa natives wouldnt mind helping the rest of us out, it would be great to have ideas posted on here so that we can always come back and look at it later. thanks!

also i have kids so need good schools!

 

[Phlame217]

Okay I have only lived in tulsa 10 months, but this is what I've learned in the short time I've been here.

If you DONT have kids, places to look:
Peoria between 40th and 25th. Older houses, most rent between 900 - 1200. Not a bad area, but is surrounded by bad areas. Right by Riverside for fast commute to the 21st street bridge. Tulsa schools = NO GO.

Area surrounding University of Tulsa:
This area is similar to the peoria area and isnt bad, but is older and all. The closer to TU the better, right by the BA expressway for a 10 minute commute. Again Tulsa schools = NO GO!

Areas With/With out kids:
Anywhere along Okmulgee expressway south of I-44.
Ie specifically Nickel Creek Apts at 81st/Union. I believe this puts you in Jenks Public Schools (#1 in Tulsa); We rented a two bed for $800 mo and utilities averaged 90 for electric and water/sewer was ~28-35 a month. Straight shot north on I75/Okmulgee expressway to get to school in 5-10 minutes.

Anywhere west of the river and south of 71st is great on into Jenks.

Anywhere south of 71st and East of the river is good, but depending on where you live you might get Tulsa schools (not good).

Farther out areas, but overall good.
Anywhere in Broken Arrow, Bixby, Glenpool, and Sapulpa are good. All have up and comming school sytstems (BA is pretty up there already) but all have a longer commute.

 

[EdLongshanks]

can we talk about where to live for those of us who know nothing about tulsa!?😕

I keep hearing different opinions but forget the names of places/areas and if some of you tulsa natives wouldnt mind helping the rest of us out, it would be great to have ideas posted on here so that we can always come back and look at it later. thanks!

also i have kids so need good schools!

BTW, my wife and I will be offering to board 2 single men. You would be sharing the upstairs with my college-age son. Besides the three bedrooms we also have a large family room upstairs which will be converted to a study room for all of us. There's a pool out back. My full-time homemaker wife does the cooking/cleaning/washing. It's a good deal for someone who wants a family atmosphere.

 

[mnoon1]

Thanks phlame!

 

[Tussis]

Just wanted to say congrats to everyone so far that's been accepted to OSU. You'll see just how amazing it is going to a medical school where everyone knows you by name, and where everyone supports you inside and outside of the classroom. When I leave for residency, it's definitely going to blow, because I've made some of my best friends in medical school, and I wouldn't trade my shared experience with them for the world.

It looks like a bunch of the questions regarding the first/second year have been answered. If anyone has any questions/concerns about OSU's rotations in third/fourth year, I know myself and some of the other OSU-SDNr's would be happy to answer them.

And, of course, best of luck to those still in waiting. Keep your hopes up!

 

[denco88]

Just wanted to say congrats to everyone so far that's been accepted to OSU. You'll see just how amazing it is going to a medical school where everyone knows you by name, and where everyone supports you inside and outside of the classroom. When I leave for residency, it's definitely going to blow, because I've made some of my best friends in medical school, and I wouldn't trade my shared experience with them for the world.

It looks like a bunch of the questions regarding the first/second year have been answered. If anyone has any questions/concerns about OSU's rotations in third/fourth year, I know myself and some of the other OSU-SDNr's would be happy to answer them.

And, of course, best of luck to those still in waiting. Keep your hopes up!

Thanks so much. Kind of general, but how did you like your core rotations? And how did you go about setting up audition rotations? Was the school helpful with that?

 

[Tussis]

CORE rotations at OSU are definitely solid, I would say, and it does what it's designed to do...
As background info, our CORE as it stands is one month each of Surgery, OB/GYN, Internal Medicine, and an IM specialty (being Critical Care in the ICU, Pulmonolgy, Cardiology, or Gastro). The school is fairly heavily looking at making both OB/GYN (and Pediatrics) 6 weeks in length, I believe, in order to support the current trend of Step II boards toward increased testing of Peds and OB. Not definite, but most likely the time-frame will be changed for the Class of 2015, if not even by 2014's third year. These rotations are all based out of either OSU's teaching hospital in Tulsa, out of Oklahoma City, or in more rural cities in Oklahoma. The discussion of the different CORE sites' advantages/disadvantages is probably one for further down the road than here.

Anyway, like I said, they do what I think they're designed to do. It familiarizes students with the hospital setting and structure, and is where the most basic skills of actual medicine (not textbook medicine) are taught, along with the paperwork to support them. Pretty much every attending is great, and is supported by an awesome group of residents. I would say that the "closeness" that's fostered in the medical school is shared similarly in the residents at the hospital (and in their interactions with the students). I was worked hard, but also fairly worked. The attendings and residents appreciate the work you put forth, and do listen / take into considerations your suggestions.

The other great thing is you are spending a lot of time (again) with your fellow students, except in the hospital. So again, your CORE group is just another group of medical students in your class that you're going to get even closer to!


Regarding electives - that is also a huge plus to OSU. We have a bunch of elective time where you can go out and do whatever you want to do. Right now, we have 8 months maximum for electives. There is though the minor stipulation that two of the months have to be in "primary care", which is pretty broadly defined by the school.
Is the school helpful at setting them up? Uh, somehwat. It's honestly a weaker spot, but they're working hard at it. The most difficult part is the myriad different forms that various elective sites require. The school does a decent job at helping you get the ones the school has to prepare, but a lot of time also has to be spent by the student gathering information and getting forms filled out, as well. However, I will say that getting electives at OSU's teaching hospital, as a student, is a piece of cake (like walking into an office and asking for it - takes like 2 minutes).

Overall, Tulsa is a great city for students. There's enough population within the city and surrounding communities to support the learning opportunities for the students. I'm enjoying it a lot!

 

[Phange]

Any news about decisions? I know the interview season wraps up in March.

 

[Phlame217]

I would expect a final waitlist before or after spring break.

 

[Chi O]

Interviews were held last Thursday and Friday, so the adcom should be meeting this week. I interviewed Friday, and they said they would be having a couple more sets of interviews for this year. They also said the waitlist is not ranked (someone somewhere in this forum said it was) and the total waitlist will be cut approximately in half for the final waitlist in late May/early June.

 

[Phlame217]

The final waitlist is ranked, not the current one; or thats what I've always been told.

 

[oklahoma]

Scheduled my interview today for March 11th...saving the best for last I hope😉 Haven't posted much on here, but try and check in from time to time. Hope to meet some of you soon.

 

[soonerlove22]

I got a call for an interview as well! March 8th! Wish me luck... hoping they saved a couple more spots for us late-interviewees 🙂

 

[duswdav]

hey phlame, i talked to dr cunningham today and she said that they DO NOT do a ranked waitlist. she seemed pretty adamant about it.
is the ranked wl a super secret?

 

[Phlame217]

Beats the heck out of me, I've always been told it was a final ranked waitlist (after they made the cut) but they may have changed it, may have never been that way, or they may just be playing a bluff. Everything I know is from experience or previous students passing on knowledge, the administration doesn't tell us much at all.

 

[longroad59]

Interviews were held last Thursday and Friday, so the adcom should be meeting this week. I interviewed Friday, and they said they would be having a couple more sets of interviews for this year. They also said the waitlist is not ranked (someone somewhere in this forum said it was) and the total waitlist will be cut approximately in half for the final waitlist in late May/early June.

I interviewed last Friday as well. 👍

 

[snowboardette19]

Withdrew my application to OSUCOM, best of luck to those that got my spot!

 

[Phange]

Too bad you can't give it to me 🙂