OUWBSM motto

[oaklandguy]

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Well the University I am currently attending plans to open up a medical school and start accepting applications in 2010. The school has a partnership with a very strong hospital in the metropolitan Detroit area; however, they have had a lot of struggles with opening up the medical school due to financial shortages and postponed the opening date (were supposed to accept applications for this cycle). This pathetic effort on behalf of my school got me wondering about the school itself and after a few emails sent to the dean a frequently asked questions link has opened up on their website. While reading through this I found that the slogan for the med school is, "We see the medical school at Oakland University not as a competitor, but as a contributor."

This has saddened me deeply and the reality of how pathetic my university is has finally sunk in. Not to mention that the overall University slogan is, "Oakland University, you can afford this!". -This is on billboards all throughout the area I live in, it actually embarrasses the students.

Not something like, "Arts, knowledge, truth" or "Pursuing excellence and glory." They don't even put the school motto on the billboards, "Seek virtue and knowledge."

Anyways, I was wondering how this would affect the rest of the competition between my state schools. I assume that having a school that isn't competitive at all would bring all the higher-tiered schools' statistics up because they will be able to accept more out of state students knowing that the in-state students that don't have the exceptional statistics will be going to the lower-tiered school. Does it work out this way or will it make med-school less competitive?

 

[Mattabet]

Ultimately, that could happen, but I wouldn't expect UMich's admissions policies to change overnight. There will probably be some ramifications down the line, but I wouldn't expect to see great effect for a few years after a brand new school opens. It takes time to carve a niche.

 

[schrizto]

Not to mention that the overall University slogan is, "Oakland University, you can afford this!". -This is on billboards all throughout the area I live in, it actually embarrasses the students.

Wow, sounds like a crap advertising motto.

I would think founding a medical school will bring more prestige to an institution.

 

[musafirah]

um.. i think you should've posted that "motto" in its context. it's silly to think the school won't be competitive admissions-wise. just the fact that its associated with beaumont and the students will do their clinicals there is enough reason for competitive admissions.

The context:

How will OU's medical school compete with other medical schools in Michigan?
Given the projected shortage of doctors and medical specialists nationwide, there is clearly room for all of us. Last year, the Association of American Medical Colleges called for a 30 percent increase in medical school enrollments by the year 2015. Without such an enrollment boost, we could face a 20 percent shortfall of physicians by 2020. These staggering statistics in part inspired the creation of this new school. We see the medical school at Oakland University nadmissions-wise.ot as a competitor, but as a contributor.

clearly, they are talking about not being a competitor for sucking up state resources, not implying the admissions process won't be competitive.

oakland county is considered a medically underserved area, and OUWBMS seems to be trying to address that. we NEED another med school, especially with the high demand in MI (and the crappy economy making any other career a bad choice), and UofM taking so many OOS. that doesn't make this a "low-tier" medical school.

i don't think another 50 or so medical students in michigan per year will have a huge effect on the competitiveness of getting into med school.

if i don't get in this cycle (oh i sure hope i do..), i'm definitely going to apply there.


and.. i think you put too much thought into the slogans.. especially if you're embarrassed by a billboard, and "deeply saddened" by some FAQ remark, despite the potential opportunity to do clinicals at BEAUMONT. just focus on doing well at whatever school you are at.

 

[Disinence2]

I think the OP is right to be concerned about being a part of any medical schools first class. However its important to remember that if its good enough for the LCME then you really shouldn't need to worry. Just be prepared to be the guinea pig of sorts.

Also in 2010 MSU CHM will be expanding their class by another 100 students. Just due to these numbers alone if you want to go to medical school in Michigan, and your applying during the 2010 cycle your chances did just go up.

 

[oaklandguy]

um.. i think you should've posted that "motto" in its context. it's silly to think the school won't be competitive admissions-wise. just the fact that its associated with beaumont and the students will do their clinicals there is enough reason for competitive admissions.

The context:

clearly, they are talking about not being a competitor for sucking up state resources, not implying the admissions process won't be competitive.

oakland county is considered a medically underserved area, and OUWBMS seems to be trying to address that. we NEED another med school, especially with the high demand in MI (and the crappy economy making any other career a bad choice), and UofM taking so many OOS. that doesn't make this a "low-tier" medical school.

i don't think another 50 or so medical students in michigan per year will have a huge effect on the competitiveness of getting into med school.

if i don't get in this cycle (oh i sure hope i do..), i'm definitely going to apply there.


and.. i think you put too much thought into the slogans.. especially if you're embarrassed by a billboard, and "deeply saddened" by some FAQ remark, despite the potential opportunity to do clinicals at BEAUMONT. just focus on doing well at whatever school you are at.

I agree that you cannot base an opinion about a school over a billboard or a slogan or a FAQ answer... but apparently you have never been to OU. You have never been in a class where a student asks why the answer is 7, and the teacher points out that 9 minus 2 is 7. Oakland county is an under served area, this part is true. However, Oakland County is the second richest county in the U.S., why the school that represents the county can give it's President a 40% raise, and raise tuition by 9%, yet postpones the medical school due to insufficient funds blows my mind. Absolutely blows my mind. If I were you, I would come visit the campus, and ask about 20 or so students how they feel about the institution, then go online and see student reviews about the institution and then make your decision about applying.

http://www.studentsreview.com/MI/OU.html

And I realized it wasn't a motto, in the text I wrote it as a slogan. The quote from the FAQ, in my opinion, is saying that because Michigan has a shortage, it is not as important to be competitive as it is to get more physicians in the state. And seeing how Oakland University is one of the easiest schools admissions wise, only a 20% rejection rate (realistically if you have a 15+ on your ACT and no criminal record you're in) I think that would translate to the same credentials for medical school admissions as for regular college admissions ex: Harvard hard to get in undergrad, hard to get in med school. MSU is easier to get into for undergrad and easier to get into for Med school than U of M. Granted there are tons of exceptions and what not, but generally that seems to be the case.

 

[oaklandguy]

um.. i think you should've posted that "motto" in its context. it's silly to think the school won't be competitive admissions-wise. just the fact that its associated with beaumont and the students will do their clinicals there is enough reason for competitive admissions.

and.. i think you put too much thought into the slogans.. especially if you're embarrassed by a billboard, and "deeply saddened" by some FAQ remark, despite the potential opportunity to do clinicals at BEAUMONT. just focus on doing well at whatever school you are at.

Just out of curiosity when did Beaumont become that great of a hospital? They have one of the worst Emergency Rooms in Michigan and are severely troubled financially. Every Doctor employed by Beaumont hospitals had to take a 10% decrease in salary last year. And Beaumont has many many problems. Granted DMC is in a huge "state of emergency" according to the Michigan State Medical Society. I personally have been to many metro-Detroit and Detroit hospitals and I prefer Henry Ford. If Beaumont wasn't so conveniently located it wouldn't be as big of a name and there wouldn't be such a misconception about the quality of the overall hospital. The good thing about Beaumont is that all of the buildings are relatively new and have very classy artwork, and it has a very large campus in Royal Oak, and the Troy campus is shaping up to be very beautiful as well.

Nevertheless U of M's hospital is undoubtedly the best hospital in the state of Michigan and one of the best in the entire country. So I doubt BEAUMONT is going to cause a lot of people to choose OU, but maybe people in Oakland County will choose OUWBSM to stay at home for Med-School.

 

[DrYoda]

Just out of curiosity when did Beaumont become that great of a hospital? They have one of the worst Emergency Rooms in Michigan and are severely troubled financially. Every Doctor employed by Beaumont hospitals had to take a 10% decrease in salary last year. And Beaumont has many many problems. Granted DMC is in a huge "state of emergency" according to the Michigan State Medical Society. I personally have been to many metro-Detroit and Detroit hospitals and I prefer Henry Ford. If Beaumont wasn't so conveniently located it wouldn't be as big of a name and there wouldn't be such a misconception about the quality of the overall hospital. The good thing about Beaumont is that all of the buildings are relatively new and have very classy artwork, and it has a very large campus in Royal Oak, and the Troy campus is shaping up to be very beautiful as well.

Nevertheless U of M's hospital is undoubtedly the best hospital in the state of Michigan and one of the best in the entire country. So I doubt BEAUMONT is going to cause a lot of people to choose OU, but maybe people in Oakland County will choose OUWBSM to stay at home for Med-School.

Beaumont is a good hospital. I think you're letting your dislike for your undergrad cloud your thinking on the subject.

 

[oaklandguy]

Beaumont is a good hospital. I think you're letting your dislike for your undergrad cloud your thinking on the subject.

I never said it was a bad hospital, but Beaumont is not the undisputed best hospital in the metropolitan Detroit area. They have this cockiness about them like their advertisements asking, "Do you have a Beaumont Doctor?" When the reality of the situation is that when it comes to Pedo, the DMC is the #1 in Michigan. I personally would go to Beaumont for a surgery, but I've learned my lesson at their emergency room. I'm not sure if any of you have been to the new Henry Ford West Bloomfield, but go there before you put Beaumont on such a pedestal. And to think there are St. John's Novi, Oakwood, and Crittenton. If Beaumont hospital were located in Ann Arbor, do you possibly think it could advertise the same way sitting next to U of M's hospital? That being said, Oakland County residents are very lucky to have such great hospitals in the area, but to crown one as the best is absurd.

Anyways, we're not arguing about the best hospital in Michigan, Beaumont is a good hospital and probably a good hospital to associate a medical school with; however, I don't think people are going to be choosing OUWBSM over U of M for med school because of the Beaumont association.

 

[DrYoda]

Anyways, we're not arguing about the best hospital in Michigan, Beaumont is a good hospital and probably a good hospital to associate a medical school with; however, I don't think people are going to be choosing OUWBSM over U of M for med school because of the Beaumont association.

I doubt anyone not given $$$ by Beaumont would pick it over U of M simply because it is new. Maybe one day they can compete with each other, but Beaumont/Oakland would need to prove itself as a med school first. I don't think the hospital would be the deciding factor for either school in a who-is-better contest.

 

[Optimalsauce]

This pathetic effort on behalf of my school got me wondering about the school itself and after a few emails sent to the dean a frequently asked questions link has opened up on their website. While reading through this I found that the slogan for the med school is, "We see the medical school at Oakland University not as a competitor, but as a contributor."

This is not the slogan of the medical school. This is the context of your quote.

How will OU’s medical school compete with other medical schools in Michigan?
Given the projected shortage of doctors and medical specialists nationwide, there is clearly room for all of us. Last year, the Association of American Medical Colleges called for a 30 percent increase in medical school enrollments by the year 2015. Without such an enrollment boost, we could face a 20 percent shortfall of physicians by 2020. These staggering statistics in part inspired the creation of this new school. We see the medical school at Oakland University not as a competitor, but as a contributor.

While I agree that the current slogan for the OU's undergrad is not optimal, the med school will be a separate entity, and will likely increase the prestige of OU undergrad in the long run.

Bashing your undergrad school is arrogant, and if you feel unsatisfied, transfer.

 

[musafirah]

i never said beaumont was the best, but it does have a good reputation. i've been going to henry ford my whole life, but my few experiences at beaumont have been amazing. they have plenty to be proud of, especially excellent doctors and staff.

also, i did take one semester at OU. i didn't like it so i transferred to wayne state. i'm immensely happy with my decision. you could've easily done something about it, once you realized you didn't like being at OU. still, i recognize there are good things about OU.

no one is trying to compare OU to U of M. i just think it's a good thing to have more spots especially for MI residents applying to med school and wishing to serve this area.
i just don't see what you are so worried about, and so what if it turns out to be "low tier"? like someone else stated the LCME accredits it, and thats all that matters. you won't find unqualified people getting into medical school like you see in undergrad, just becuase OUWMBS doesn't see itself as negatively competing with other MI schools. beaumont is doing good things for OU and oakland county. you should be happy about it. (but, you have every right to be angry about OU undergrad and tuition rises, etc)


edit: i agree wholeheartedly with OptimalSauce.

 

[Optimalsauce]

I agree that you cannot base an opinion about a school over a billboard or a slogan or a FAQ answer... but apparently you have never been to OU. You have never been in a class where a student asks why the answer is 7, and the teacher points out that 9 minus 2 is 7. Oakland county is an under served area, this part is true. However, Oakland County is the second richest county in the U.S., why the school that represents the county can give it's President a 40% raise, and raise tuition by 9%, yet postpones the medical school due to insufficient funds blows my mind. Absolutely blows my mind. If I were you, I would come visit the campus, and ask about 20 or so students how they feel about the institution, then go online and see student reviews about the institution and then make your decision about applying.

This might be brought on by frustration of a professor teaching arrogant and entitled students in the "second richest county in the US".

Also, tuition is probably being raised to gather funds for the med school. <--- not fact based, just my opinion

 

[musafirah]

arrogant and entitled students in the "second richest county in the US".

OMG!! that's the main reason i left OU. i was like shiit im born in detroit raised in pontiac, i dont need this crap
👍

 

[oaklandguy]

i never said beaumont was the best, but it does have a good reputation. i've been going to henry ford my whole life, but my few experiences at beaumont have been amazing. they have plenty to be proud of, especially excellent doctors and staff.

also, i did take one semester at OU. i didn't like it so i transferred to wayne state. i'm immensely happy with my decision. you could've easily done something about it, once you realized you didn't like being at OU. still, i recognize there are good things about OU.

no one is trying to compare OU to U of M. i just think it's a good thing to have more spots especially for MI residents applying to med school and wishing to serve this area.
i just don't see what you are so worried about, and so what if it turns out to be "low tier"? like someone else stated the LCME accredits it, and thats all that matters. you won't find unqualified people getting into medical school like you see in undergrad, just becuase OUWMBS doesn't see itself as negatively competing with other MI schools. beaumont is doing good things for OU and oakland county. you should be happy about it. (but, you have every right to be angry about OU undergrad and tuition rises, etc)


edit: i agree wholeheartedly with OptimalSauce.

I am at OU solely for the fact that I have a full-ride there and because I cannot bring myself to paying $4 a day for parking at Wayne and because my parents being middle eastern wanted/forced me to stay at home and I can't really go against them. I am not an arrogant student, but I set the curve in almost every class and I wasn't even top 10% at my high school GPA-wise. I'm mainly concerned about the direction of the school, I thought getting a med-school would help the schools reputation, but the recent trend of the school has been discouraging. Especially postponding the opening of the medical school.

As for my woes with beaumont, I don't hate beaumont, I do research with Beaumont through the OU Eye Institute. I just think it is a highly over-rated hospital, and that is all I stated. I really hope OU's medical school will be able to compete with U of M's or Wayne's, it just doesn't seem that that is the path OU wants to take with their medical school or with their institution. I find it very unfortunate that I'm paying 10x more a semester when my profs are the same profs teaching down the road at the community college which is a lot cheaper. I'm there now and I have credits that won't transfer so I won't transfer, I just wish that the institution would take in mind student opinions rather than just try to make as much profit as possible. Hopefully one day the school will live up to it's potential.

Edit: Also another large reason for my distaste towards the institution is browsing MDapps and seeing where OU students end up in medical schools and just talking to pre-med advisors (who suck at their jobs) and having them tell me that the best place I'll end up coming out of OU is Wayne's med school. It also sucks that students from U of M with the same statistics as students from OU get into better med-schools, I know a lot of people say that the institution doesn't mean as much as the GPA/MCAT, but it really does, just browsing MDApps shows the affect. People with 29's on their MCAT's and 3.6 GPA's get into Wayne from U of M, people with 3.8's and 31 on their MCAT didn't get in with almost the same EC's. I know you can't trust MDApps but it's just been bugging me now for a while. All I can do is play with the hand I was dealt, it just gets stressful sometimes I'm sure most of you can relate.

 

[RogueUnicorn]

how does one person set a whole class curve.

 

[oaklandguy]

how does one person set a whole class curve.

By achieving the highest grade on all of the quizzes and exams. Not all of my classes give curves, but the pre-reqs all did and on rare occasion I chose not to study and ended up with a 98% on a test or something of that nature. The only reason I do not have a 4.0 gpa is because my university has an 80% fail rate for calc II, I ended up with a 2.4 in the class and was a top 5 student in the class. The class started with 60 students and finished out with 18, out of those 18, 13 passed after the final.

 

[Optimalsauce]

I am at OU solely for the fact that I have a full-ride there and because I cannot bring myself to paying $4 a day for parking at Wayne and because my parents being middle eastern wanted/forced me to stay at home and I can't really go against them. I am not an arrogant student, but I set the curve in almost every class and I wasn't even top 10% at my high school GPA-wise. I'm mainly concerned about the direction of the school, I thought getting a med-school would help the schools reputation, but the recent trend of the school has been discouraging. Especially postponding the opening of the medical school.

As for my woes with beaumont, I don't hate beaumont, I do research with Beaumont through the OU Eye Institute. I just think it is a highly over-rated hospital, and that is all I stated. I really hope OU's medical school will be able to compete with U of M's or Wayne's, it just doesn't seem that that is the path OU wants to take with their medical school or with their institution. I find it very unfortunate that I'm paying 10x more a semester when my profs are the same profs teaching down the road at the community college which is a lot cheaper. I'm there now and I have credits that won't transfer so I won't transfer, I just wish that the institution would take in mind student opinions rather than just try to make as much profit as possible. Hopefully one day the school will live up to it's potential.

Edit: Also another large reason for my distaste towards the institution is browsing MDapps and seeing where OU students end up in medical schools and just talking to pre-med advisors (who suck at their jobs) and having them tell me that the best place I'll end up coming out of OU is Wayne's med school. It also sucks that students from U of M with the same statistics as students from OU get into better med-schools, I know a lot of people say that the institution doesn't mean as much as the GPA/MCAT, but it really does, just browsing MDApps shows the affect. People with 29's on their MCAT's and 3.6 GPA's get into Wayne from U of M, people with 3.8's and 31 on their MCAT didn't get in with almost the same EC's. I know you can't trust MDApps but it's just been bugging me now for a while. All I can do is play with the hand I was dealt, it just gets stressful sometimes I'm sure most of you can relate.

If you have a full-ride, why do you care that OU's costs are increasing and about a lecturer who teaches at two schools, your school being more expensive? Also, UM is 45 minutes away from OU.

There are about 600 UM students that apply to allo-med school, how many apply from OU, 30? I'm sure the data comparing the two are insignificant, if not UM gets a slight advantage, otherwise it's just that UM wins on sheer numbers. It probably has more to do with attitude and motivation. The MCAT is an equalizer.

 

[Optimalsauce]

By achieving the highest grade on all of the quizzes and exams. Not all of my classes give curves, but the pre-reqs all did and on rare occasion I chose not to study and ended up with a 98% on a test or something of that nature. The only reason I do not have a 4.0 gpa is because my university has an 80% fail rate for calc II, I ended up with a 2.4 in the class and was a top 5 student in the class. The class started with 60 students and finished out with 18, out of those 18, 13 passed after the final.

You should take this as a positive that OU does not grade inflate, at least the Math department. You've already mentioned that the students there on average have less capability than yourself.

Score well on your MCAT and help improve the prestige of OU.

 

[Compass]

The easiest way to solve this is to tell the school to get a better PR representative. The US Army spent $7 million to get Army Strong as a motto. I'll settle for about $1000.

 

[shiftingmirage]

Not to mention that the overall University slogan is, "Oakland University, you can afford this!". -This is on billboards all throughout the area I live in, it actually embarrasses the students.

Not something like, "Arts, knowledge, truth" or "Pursuing excellence and glory." They don't even put the school motto on the billboards, "Seek virtue and knowledge."

I think this is kinda unfair. I checked out Oakland's mission statement, and why I do find it umm....let's say not as philosophicly enlightening as other schools, it's more than 'we're cheap, come here'. And let's be honest, Oakland is near Detroit, and Detroit has had financial issues for a while, and the added economic issues, GM going belly up...people are going to say, I don't have $ to go back to school. It's not uncommon for a school to market its affordability.

but apparently you have never been to OU. You have never been in a class where a student asks why the answer is 7, and the teacher points out that 9 minus 2 is 7.

While I get your point, stuff happens. During gen bio, we talked about triploidy, basically some plants mate and because of mutations, you get a 3N seed that grows into a plant. Since some plants have both female and male parts, they can reproduce with themselves spawning a 3N species. One girl in the class asked if this could happen in humans, and the prof explained to her that humans can't asexually reproduce. We all have our moments.

I do not have a 4.0 gpa is because my university has an 80% fail rate for calc II, I ended up with a 2.4 in the class and was a top 5 student in the class. The class started with 60 students and finished out with 18, out of those 18, 13 passed after the final.

A friend said he got the highest grade in the class, and it was a B+. He was ticked.

You mentioned about a premed advisor, while my school had someone by title only, I never talked to him. The 4 other people from my class that went to med school never talked to him either.

Yes, you're situation isn't ideal, but seriously, if these are the biggest problems you face in life, consider yourself lucky. If you don't like the school, transfer. If there are enough incentives to keep you there, suck it up. You're not helping your school's reputation by bashing it. Go be successful, and tell the world you went to OU. As people hear about successful individuals from a university, their opinion about the university will improve.

 

[oaklandguy]

If you have a full-ride, why do you care that OU's costs are increasing and about a lecturer who teaches at two schools, your school being more expensive? Also, UM is 45 minutes away from OU.

There are about 600 UM students that apply to allo-med school, how many apply from OU, 30? I'm sure the data comparing the two are insignificant, if not UM gets a slight advantage, otherwise it's just that UM wins on sheer numbers. It probably has more to do with attitude and motivation. The MCAT is an equalizer.

For clarification OU is about 85 minutes from U of M, I have done the drive... U of M is about 45 minutes from my house though and I live on the western part of metro detroit. I got a scholarship to U of M too, but the full ride was too tempting and my parents did not want me leaving home (bummer but what can you do).

As far as the increase in tuition, it is affecting my friends whose parents have lost jobs and it's not the increase I'm worried about, it's where the tuition is going that I'm worried about. They raise the President's pay by 40% and they don't have the money for a med school? I mean I understand that med schools cost millions of dollars, but seriously in the economic struggle we have in metro Detroit, they raise our President's pay by 40%? I don't know, maybe some things make me mad more than other people, I just hope that the University plans on moving forward. Right now they have a housing crisis, the housing is so full that the honors college cannot fit all of it's people for housing and the single person rooms are now being forced to have roommates. Yet, the school refuses to build more dorms/apartments. It is what it is, I just hope that the school will one day have more prestige and a better reputation.

I'm motivated for the MCAT, I'm going to study my ass off and probably take a specific MCAT class because I don't know how well OU prepared me for the MCAT, but either way I'm confident as a future applicant, I just wish I could have the peace of mind that those at a top 20 school would be able to have when applying. I almost feel like a 3.8 at OU is worth as much as a 3.5 at U of M or Princeton, schools of that nature.

 

[Optimalsauce]

For clarification OU is about 85 minutes from U of M, I have done the drive... U of M is about 45 minutes from my house though and I live on the western part of metro detroit. I got a scholarship to U of M too, but the full ride was too tempting and my parents did not want me leaving home (bummer but what can you do).

As far as the increase in tuition, it is affecting my friends whose parents have lost jobs and it's not the increase I'm worried about, it's where the tuition is going that I'm worried about. They raise the President's pay by 40% and they don't have the money for a med school? I mean I understand that med schools cost millions of dollars, but seriously in the economic struggle we have in metro Detroit, they raise our President's pay by 40%? I don't know, maybe some things make me mad more than other people, I just hope that the University plans on moving forward. Right now they have a housing crisis, the housing is so full that the honors college cannot fit all of it's people for housing and the single person rooms are now being forced to have roommates. Yet, the school refuses to build more dorms/apartments. It is what it is, I just hope that the school will one day have more prestige and a better reputation.

I'm motivated for the MCAT, I'm going to study my ass off and probably take a specific MCAT class because I don't know how well OU prepared me for the MCAT, but either way I'm confident as a future applicant, I just wish I could have the peace of mind that those at a top 20 school would be able to have when applying. I almost feel like a 3.8 at OU is worth as much as a 3.5 at U of M or Princeton, schools of that nature.

Gary Russi Total Compensation : $350,000 after 40% increase
Mary Sue Coleman Total Compensation: $760,000 in 2007-2008

“Yes, President Russi received a raise last year that finally brought him in line with other university presidents in Michigan with similar records of tremendous accomplishment and length of service,” said university spokesman Ted Montgomery. “The return on the university’s investment in President Russi is incalculable.” The Oakland Press


Let it rest my friend. The OU med school's rollout plan may have been overly ambitious, especially in a down economy. Setbacks happen.

Also, check Md applicants, 2 years ago someone from OU got into Mayo, you should be aware of her as she worked at OU's Eye Institute. According to OU's website only ~25 applicants apply each year, both MD and DO (2000-2003). You can't expect people to get accepted into top schools with so few people trying to become doctors. Wayne is a great school as well. Don't be discouraged, try your best, get involved, and ace the MCAT. You'll do great.

 

[oaklandguy]

Gary Russi Total Compensation : $350,000 after 40% increase
Mary Sue Coleman Total Compensation: $760,000 in 2007-2008

“Yes, President Russi received a raise last year that finally brought him in line with other university presidents in Michigan with similar records of tremendous accomplishment and length of service,” said university spokesman Ted Montgomery. “The return on the university’s investment in President Russi is incalculable.” The Oakland Press


Let it rest my friend. The OU med school's rollout plan may have been overly ambitious, especially in a down economy. Setbacks happen.

Also, check Md applicants, 2 years ago someone from OU got into Mayo, you should be aware of her as she worked at OU's Eye Institute. According to OU's website only ~25 applicants apply each year, both MD and DO (2000-2003). You can't expect people to get accepted into top schools with so few people trying to become doctors. Wayne is a great school as well. Don't be discouraged, try your best, get involved, and ace the MCAT. You'll do great.

Thank you very much for finding that. I am doing research with OU's Eye Institute and hopefully am on the right track as far as everything else goes. Thanks for the encouragement and again I cannot stress it enough, I hope OU one day becomes an amazing school, it's just very hard to say that it is right now. I cannot help but bash it because it falls so low of the expectations it's faculty set when I went and visited about my full-ride offer. Hopefully all goes well, all I can do now is try not to stress for the next 2 years 'till application time.

 

[AbRKnight]

um.. i think you should've posted that "motto" in its context. it's silly to think the school won't be competitive admissions-wise. just the fact that its associated with beaumont and the students will do their clinicals there is enough reason for competitive admissions.

The context:

clearly, they are talking about not being a competitor for sucking up state resources, not implying the admissions process won't be competitive.

oakland county is considered a medically underserved area, and OUWBMS seems to be trying to address that. we NEED another med school, especially with the high demand in MI (and the crappy economy making any other career a bad choice), and UofM taking so many OOS. that doesn't make this a "low-tier" medical school.

i don't think another 50 or so medical students in michigan per year will have a huge effect on the competitiveness of getting into med school.

if i don't get in this cycle (oh i sure hope i do..), i'm definitely going to apply there.


and.. i think you put too much thought into the slogans.. especially if you're embarrassed by a billboard, and "deeply saddened" by some FAQ remark, despite the potential opportunity to do clinicals at BEAUMONT. just focus on doing well at whatever school you are at.

2nd this post, the fact is that Beaumont hospitals ARE great hospitals and place to do clinicals and that alone will make OUWBSM a target for many students around the midwest, regardless of the FAQ answer

 

[Optimalsauce]

Thank you very much for finding that. I am doing research with OU's Eye Institute and hopefully am on the right track as far as everything else goes. Thanks for the encouragement and again I cannot stress it enough, I hope OU one day becomes an amazing school, it's just very hard to say that it is right now. I cannot help but bash it because it falls so low of the expectations it's faculty set when I went and visited about my full-ride offer. Hopefully all goes well, all I can do now is try not to stress for the next 2 years 'till application time.

It is what it is, there's really nothing realistic you can do about it in the next 2 years. Do the best with what you got.

Also about 1 or 2 OU kids get do matriculate to Michigan med school per year, at least in the past few years.

660 kids applied to med schools last year from UM undergrad (AAMC). 51 matriculated to UM med school (Umich website). assuming all apply, 7.7% from UM go to UM.

Now at OU, assuming all 25 apply, and 1 or 2 go there. That is 4-8%. That's not bad. Granted a flaw in this argument is that more than 51 from UM may be accepted to UM and just not matriculate, but I still think there is a bright side here for you.

 

[oaklandguy]

It is what it is, there's really nothing realistic you can do about it in the next 2 years. Do the best with what you got.

Also about 1 or 2 OU kids get do matriculate to Michigan med school per year, at least in the past few years.

660 kids applied to med schools last year from UM undergrad (AAMC). 51 matriculated to UM med school (Umich website). assuming all apply, 7.7% from UM go to UM.

Now at OU, assuming all 25 apply, and 1 or 2 go there. That is 4-8%. That's not bad. Granted a flaw in this argument is that more than 51 from UM may be accepted to UM and just not matriculate, but I still think there is a bright side here for you.

Yeah I am familiar with those statistics, I personally wanted to go to Hope college, a small Christian college with one of the best pre-med programs in the state of Michigan. Unfortunately my parents and the fact that Hope costs 40K a year, 14 K a year after the 26k they gave me, still way too much when i got a full ride to OU, did not allow me to go there.

I did talk with the one kid that got accepted from OU to U of M's med school last year, he was a non-traditional student. He had came back to school to do his pre-reqs and then absolutely obliterated the MCAT, 38 I believe was his score. I mean realistically that is probably around what I will have to get to be accepted there too, but I can only bust my butt, work hard, and play the cards I'm dealt with.

2nd this post, the fact is that Beaumont hospitals ARE great hospitals and place to do clinicals and that alone will make OUWBSM a target for many students around the midwest, regardless of the FAQ answer

Fortunately Beaumont has great hospitals. However, I'm not sure that students base their judgements on med-school based on hospital association alone. If students solely based the decision on going to OU to do clinicals at Beaumont they are probably making a huge mistake. Faculty, research opportunity, location, and future job placement location should all be huge factors.The reality is that not many students come to the State of Michigan for graduate schooling. This is a known fact and is why most schools in Michigan, other than U of M, have severely high in-state acceptance numbers. A lot of people make a huge deal about the Beaumont association, I don't think it should be something of that level of importance in a medical school decision, especially since there is a much better hospital in the state of Michigan (U of M).

 

[vc7777]

Yeah I am familiar with those statistics, I personally wanted to go to Hope college, a small Christian college with one of the best pre-med programs in the state of Michigan. Unfortunately my parents and the fact that Hope costs 40K a year, 14 K a year after the 26k they gave me, still way too much when i got a full ride to OU, did not allow me to go there.

I did talk with the one kid that got accepted from OU to U of M's med school last year, he was a non-traditional student. He had came back to school to do his pre-reqs and then absolutely obliterated the MCAT, 38 I believe was his score....

Ummm...just a quick note:

I know this thread has been dead for a couple of weeks. I just wanted to set the record straight...I did my undergrad at U of M...I haven't (yet) been accepted to U of M for med school...I am applying as we speak! I am flattered that people say I 'obliterated' the MCAT, don't get me wrong! I am sorry if I misled you...I've heard some interesting rumors about me in the past few months!

I agree with optimalsauce on many of his or her finer points. The person optimal refers to getting into Mayo last year had a lower MCAT than me, so do you best, prepare well, and relax you'll be fine!

OU does have about 25 or 30 med applicants this year (I have it on good authority from a friend I met at the bar last night). That supports Optimal's claim nicely. I could have done my premed stuff at U of M or WSU or OU...I chose OU. I was really impressed with the faculty and the admissions advisors.

As for the OU versus Hope, you have to let the past go! Believe me, I had a chip on my shoulder during my undergrad because I too was forced to stay close to home. Don't let that define you!

Good luck! Maybe I'll see you on campus sometime!

Peace out!

-vc7777

 

[oaklandguy]

I am bringing this thread back from the dead for a very good reason.

OU faculty has been on strike for a week now, I promised myself I would not bring this thread back unless the strike started getting ridiculous.

Now, when I said I did not like the way the school was headed, I had no idea of this faculty strike. But I definitely think that this makes a case for my earlier points about the school.

Background information about the strike:

OU has made a deal with beaumont hospitals, yet refuses to show it to anyone therefore no one knows about the finances involved nor do they know anything else about it really. They are also paying for 7 medical school deans and have no med-school students yet.

OU was able to give it's president a "well-deserved" 40% raise, but want to freeze faculty pay for the next 3 years due to financial difficulties. They also have cut faculty healthcare.

OU just spent $500,000 on building flower gardens.

They also want to cut research spending and want faculty to be teaching in a certain way.

This being said, the strike has caught national attention now and I'm pretty scared that I may not get schooling this semester. The professors I have spoken to that are part of the Union say that they have been negotiating for 3 months and have not made any ground whatsoever.

Both sides, professors and administration are blatantly lying and spinning all the stories about the strike so it is hard to take sides, but I usually go with the little man and feel that the administration is screwing the profs, especially since they all got nice fat raises last year and the school made $11 million in total profits.

I am curious as to what you all think about this strike, and if you had even heard of it up to this point.

 

[Optimalsauce]

1. Get over the 40% raise, the president is still underpaid for a university president.

2. Unions equalize power, the professors are not the little guys, hence a stalemate at the negotiation table

3. Classes will not be canceled, that is the worst case scenario for both parties. Not only that, the courts are going to facilitate a resolution.

On a side note, this adminstration gave you a full ride scholarship. Why on earth are you disrespecting your university yet again? Start filling out transfer apps and leave OU next semester.

 

[vc7777]

I'm pretty scared that I may not get schooling this semester.

If it is schooling you desire, this might be this first lesson of the year! Relax, enjoy the extra time off before the snow comes and you find yourself wondering why OU doesn't have direct walkways between any two sets of doors on campus....

1. Get over the 40% raise, the president is still underpaid for a university president.

2. Unions equalize power, the professors are not the little guys, hence a stalemate at the negotiation table

3. Classes will not be canceled, that is the worst case scenario for both parties. Not only that, the courts are going to facilitate a resolution.

I agree with OptS on these points...

...I did not like the way the school was headed...

As for the tone of your writing, I have to wonder if you read my previous post, my friend? You have to let the chip on your shoulder go! 😕 I really think you are not giving Oakland a fair trial. Just keep at your sewing machine, do a great job while you are there, and relax! Time of your life! Enjoy it before med school and the real world! If a one week strike is the worst thing that happens, then you're doing great!

Aside, any of you going tomorrow to PreMed meeting on OU campus at noon? I have it on good word the guest speaker is still going to attend, regardless of strike. I might drop in myself to say 'Hi'...

 

[klmnop]

I almost feel like a 3.8 at OU is worth as much as a 3.5 at U of M or Princeton, schools of that nature.

So i read through this cause I am from michigan and have some interest in applying to oakland, despite the thread being dead, recently the med school has been declared ready to accept students so i thought maybe id revive it.

First, I hate to be a dick and add fuel to the fire, but a 3.8 at OU is not worth a 3.5 at UofM or Princeton, more like a 3.0 or worse. Thats not to say someone with a 3.8 at OU isn't as intelligent or as capable as someone with a 3.8 at an ivy, but with respect across the educational community, OU is looked down upon... though despite oaklandguy's concerns, it is taking great strides to improve its image as a respected institution, despite the ****ty mottos (I was pretty embarrased too and I didn't even go there).

its important to remember that not all schools are trying to become Harvard, or UofM for that matter. Most colleges are money-making institutions and Oakland is one that realizes that because of its relatively late inception (over 100 years younger than UofM and MSU, and 60-70 years younger than Wayne and Central) they are competing against mighty reputations, not to mention a plethora or great small michigan privates (who also get no respect). Oakland cannot simply increase its standards overnight, people will not apply to a school with high standards and subpar professors and research. I think the addition of a medical school is a good start that will attract more innovative biomedical research to the university and subsequently more knowledgeable and respected professors. It takes time. Luckily they, unlike MSU, have the capacity to achieve greatness because of their comparatively limited enrollment. Because MSU has 50,000+ students they are unable to ever be as selective or as academically pervasive to students to allow for an increase in reputation.

A quick example. I may get some flak for this but Wayne State is largely unknown outside of the state of Michigan, Windsor and Ohio in all capacities except for maybe its Law School and Medical School... which significantly contribute to any positive reputation it has. Evidence that strong graduate schools bring in not only good research and professors, but lots of funds, good students, and increased reputation.

 

[Morsetlis]

I love the original post.