Siu 2008

[dentaltom]

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Hi,

Orientation is 3 weeks away 😱 and I found a huge apartment loft across from the campus, which I am very proud of, but otherwise I feel like a total slacker up here in chicago. I want to talk to other students that will be starting with me...Just to see what's up. Any info on orientation or the first year from older students is also really helpful. Actually, I wouldn't mind any topic regarding SIU. I'd like to start an active forum since i'll be bed-ridden for the next 24 hours... doc says I suffered a mild concussion of the occipital lobe 😕 ...and I need something to do. 🙂

 

[larichar]

Hi,
Tom where did you find an apt? Is it one of the new ones by the highway, I looked at those. I am going to be buying a house when I get down there. Very exciting! The current owner is an SIU grad.
SIU question...what is the white coat ceremony all about? And should our parents come? It seems a bit early for this, but I have no problem being coated!!
Can't wait for school to start, and for work to be over!

 

[dentaltom]

Hi laura,

I got your message, thanks. 🙂 I'm really excited about school too. Your excitement is highly infectious.

A house?!! Wow! Those things are huge in alton! How far from school?

As far as my apartment builiding-it's not $new$- but I think I got damn lucky. It's right on college road and it's actually INSIDE the campus. I think this building is the unofficial dorm of the dental school. Also, its pretty nice. I WILL be taking naps at lunch time 😀 .

If any one needs any info on the building,just send me a private message.

I am also kind of surprised by the white coat ceremony. The way I look at it,it's another reason for definitely getting my maa to come down and doo my laundry 😛 ... I plan on at least inviting 50 people-but then again I don't know the details of the ceremony-so I may have to scale it down a bit.

Do you like Alton?
Personally, I feel like it's starting to grow on me. It seems to be a perfectly situated distance from St. louis. I really like the area north of st. louis and west of alton. Have you been?

 

[larichar]

Hi Tom,
I'm not familiar with that area. I lived in Clayton (a part of St Louis) while in undergrad at Wash U. I am glad to be living close to STL again...and far away from Omaha!
The house is 1.5 miles from campus. Very cute, brick ranch style.
I was not to fond of Alton when I came the first time...it looked a little too hick for my tastes. But I also think about it now it is starting to grow on me. We are close to a bigger city, but far enough away so that school is almost a retreat. hehe, or not...but that is how i am thinking of it.
I guess we will be going to Fast Eddie's alot??

 

[dentaltom]

Yep, Alton sure does have it's positives. They may be hard to see, but just like you said, they're there. What's Fast Eddies?

I've been through omaha on my way to colorado-it looks nice driving through it at 70mph....are my positive perceptions of omaha incorrect? Ever been to Chicago?

So you've lived in St. Louis, already? Any particularily interesting places?

I've only been to the casino in St. Louis. But, I've seen alot of the area around alton.
I like the area over the bridge and around I-270 and *i think* I-370-near the airport. Tons of traffic during the day though...

 

[larichar]

Hi Tom,
I feel like we are the only SIU people out here...where is everyone??

Omaha is a great place to grow up, but not where I want to live at this point in my life. This factored in a little bit when I was making my dental school decision. But you said you drove through on the way to Colorado, therefore I must apologize about the rest of NE, there is nothing to see out there!

I loved living in STL, lots of great districts/neighborhooods. The bars on the Loop are great. Overall just a great place to go to school.

I have a friend that lives on Lake Shore Drive...so I have been to Chicago once. The shopping is great! But I am looking forward to more road trips up there. Which should be easy to put together, since I am assuming a lot of our class went to school up there.

I am going to STL on Friday to visit some friends, so I will report back on how humid and hot it is down there!!

 

[openwyd22]

Sorry to join the conversation so late, but I have been gone for a while. I just returned from my honeymoon in Jamaica last night. Anyway, I am starting at SIU in August as well and can't wait for it. We are in the process of buying a house in Collinsville, IL. It will be about a 25 minute drive for me, but I don't mind. That drive will be worth the potential appreciation difference by living there.

Anyway, I think the white coat ceremony is something to welcome us to the profession in a fancy way. Mostly hoopla, but it does seem kind of nice. I will probably just take my wife.

Tom, sounds like you have been having some trouble with your concussion. I too had an incident three days prior to my wedding. I wrecked her brother's Harley Davidson. Not horribly, but I did get a severe cut on my leg. It is healing though. Small scares.

Let's keep this going and try to drag more people in. Look forward to meeting you two.

 

[dentaltom]

Openwyd22,

Big time congrats to you. All the best. 🙂
Sorry to hear about the accident. It seems that we dental students are a high risk bunch. I'm surprised that you're buying a house too. Maybe I should look into it more. Collinsville is nice,though. I stayed there for orientation. DO NOT order from the pizza hut!! On a side note, I hope that it's not too humid Friday. I'll be moving all of my stuff in that day.

I assume that you guys have seen the first semester schedule on the web-site. I'd love to have your opinion on the subject. Thanks.

 

[larichar]

So did you guys get all the info about Orientation? Have you heard anything else about it? It seems sort of strange that it is an overnight trip...
Are you getting more excited about classes starting? Tom...are you already in Alton? How is that going?
Also wondering about collecting teeth...do you we need them for first semester. The recent letter was the first I knew about this whole thing.
Hope everyone is well

 

[dentaltom]

I also got my orientation a few days ago. I agree with you that it's strange that orientation is not at the school, but I'm looking forward to starting classes finally. I know that we don't need the teeth for the first year/first semester. I think it's just a reminder.
Laura, I'm not in Alton yet. I'll probably start living in Alton a few days before orientation. How about you?

 

[qaztake82]

i am applying to siu this cycle and i just wanted to know your stats if you dont mind sharing. gpa and dat

 

[openwyd22]

Qaztake

My stats: 19 AA and 19 PA. GPA is a 3.3 overall and science. Many extracurriculars and some observation. Thats it. Good luck.

 

[dentaltom]

qaztake82, you should search the old siu threads. Several students have already posted their acceptance stats in an older thread.



3.5/3.4 overall/science
19/18 acad/pat

200 hours volunteering
25 hours shadowing a general dentist

15 days until the fun starts 😎