Student Hosts -- Advantages and Disadvantages?

[166035]

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[DoctorDreamer]

It's free, they generally get you where you need to go in the morning (no getting lost/public transportation), you get a better feel for the way students live there, and you have a built in Q&A partner. I've done it for all but my home interview and it's been great.

 

[Jolie South]

pros:

*you're not wandering around like a loser come interview day because your host has shown you where to go
*you get a better feel for the lives of students at said school
*you save money
*they will sometimes pick you up at the airport
*you can ask them questions that you might not be comfortable asking interview day

cons:
*you're staying at someone else's house and thus at the mercy of their schedule
*bad futons/couches to sleep on
*difficult to chill and be alone

 

[da me ka don]

pros:

*you're not wandering around like a loser come interview day because your host has shown you where to go
*you get a better feel for the lives of students at said school
*you save money
*they will sometimes pick you up at the airport
*you can ask them questions that you might not be comfortable asking interview day

cons:
*you're staying at someone else's house and thus at the mercy of their schedule
*bad futons/couches to sleep on
*difficult to chill and be alone

nuff said!😎 Jolie sums it all up.

 

[167649]

pros:

*you're not wandering around like a loser come interview day because your host has shown you where to go
*you get a better feel for the lives of students at said school
*you save money
*they will sometimes pick you up at the airport
*you can ask them questions that you might not be comfortable asking interview day

cons:
*you're staying at someone else's house and thus at the mercy of their schedule
*bad futons/couches to sleep on
*difficult to chill and be alone

I think this sums up everything pretty well. One thing I would like to point on though is asking questions to your host. Absolutely ask questions and be yourself, and be casual and have a good time. Treat the host politely, remember that they have given up their time to accomidate you. But do not act like a jerk though. And don't ask overly rude or improper questions. It is a casual experience and it is supposed to be, but don't think for a second that if you are a psycho to your host the adcom won't find out about it. It is surprising that many interviewees treat the admissions staff or their hosts poorly, and despite how well the interview went this is a good guage of your true character. Common sense always serves you well.

Personally, I didn't opt for the host option as an interviewee. I would rather stay in a nice hotel room and have some quiet time to think rather than sleep on a futon in a sleeping bag, and not be able to go anywhere because your host is studying. But that's just me. Staying with a host is a great way to learn about the school. It really comes down to what is best for you.

 

[BrokenGlass]

pros:

*you're not wandering around like a loser come interview day because your host has shown you where to go
*you get a better feel for the lives of students at said school
*you save money
*they will sometimes pick you up at the airport
*you can ask them questions that you might not be comfortable asking interview day

cons:
*you're staying at someone else's house and thus at the mercy of their schedule
*bad futons/couches to sleep on
*difficult to chill and be alone

What are the odds of a student host saying something like 'you cannot use my shower because.....' What do you do then?

 

[Jolie South]

What are the odds of a student host saying something like 'you cannot use my shower because.....' What do you do then?

i think that is highly unlikely. everyone i met was very accomodating.

 

[puppiesarecute]

What are the odds of a student host saying something like 'you cannot use my shower because.....' What do you do then?

Yeah, I highly doubt that too because most of the med students who host do it voluntarily, so they're pretty hospitable, very accomodating, and eager to answer your questions. I've had very good experiences with my hosts.

 

[167649]

What are the odds of a student host saying something like 'you cannot use my shower because.....' What do you do then?

Axe body spray.

 

[BrokenGlass]

Yeah, I highly doubt that too because most of the med students who host do it voluntarily, so they're pretty hospitable, very accomodating, and eager to answer your questions. I've had very good experiences with my hosts.

What if your host is smoking hot and you feel completely disoriented and forget the reason you are there? It could be distracting, no?

 

[jochi1543]

cons:
*you're staying at someone else's house and thus at the mercy of their schedule
*bad futons/couches to sleep on
*difficult to chill and be alone

Unless your student host is as nice as mine was at Case and gives you her queen bed with 8 pillows while she sleeps on the couch.😍

 

[BrokenGlass]

Axe body spray.

I'll try anything once.

 

[166035]

x

 

[Aynsl156]

On the subject of student hosts ... what is the best way to go about thanking them? Would a letter/e-mail suffice? Or a gift? Or could you buy them dinner or something while you are there?

I got mine gift cards to starbucks or b&n. I figure books and caffeine should be right up their alley.

 

[MyInitialsAreJC]

Yeah there's a ton of benefits to staying with a host, i definitely recommend it.

Some of the drawbacks are that even if s/he says "Make yourself at home" you're still going to feel like you don't want to intrude on anything. If there's only one shower to work with you want to make sure you don't jump in it when they're used to.

Also when i'm in a new town i like to jump in my car and explore around but that's kind of awkward to come and go as you please when you're with a host.

 

[Funky]

On the subject of student hosts ... what is the best way to go about thanking them? Would a letter/e-mail suffice? Or a gift? Or could you buy them dinner or something while you are there?

I bought my student host breakfast and a sb giftcard. I figured it's the least I could do for eating the hotpocket that he had, watching his tv, getting rides to and from the airport, and asking him a gazillion questions.

 

[DrBowtie]

On the subject of student hosts ... what is the best way to go about thanking them? Would a letter/e-mail suffice? Or a gift? Or could you buy them dinner or something while you are there?

I bought mine dinner the night before and he mentioned that people don't usually do anything to thank them and that he was really appreciative.

 

[166035]

x

 

[blerg86]

Bringing along some baked goods for your student host(s) is also an easy and thoughtful way to say "thanks" while staying on the less expensive side of gifts... I made my hosts a batch of chocolate chip and cranberry cookies that were a great complement to studying for the reproduction final my host had the next morning!

Also, staying with a host really lets you see into the daily life/study habits of the students. I tagged along while my student host (MSI) practiced physical exam skills with an MSIV... so awesome. Now I know something about palpating the liver, the thyroid, and PMI, which sure beats spending $75 on a hotel room and stressing out all night long!

 

[blerg86]

However, be ready to improv your normal morning routine... The apartment I stayed in had a mirror but no outlet in the bathroom, so there I was at 7 am drying my hair while kneeling on the floor in the living room, where I had dragged in a floor length mirror! Good times. But yes, overall, staying with a student host is a great option (if you're flexible).

 

[172858]

i saw it like this:

on the plus side, i would have a free place to stay at and a fridge to raid.

as far as the biggest con... unfortunately, no matter how bad i needed to go number two, holding would be the ONLY option.

hey - i'm just being real and saying what everyone else is thinking, right?

 

[Asp]

as far as the biggest con... unfortunately, no matter how bad i needed to go number two, holding would be the ONLY option.

hey - i'm just being real and saying what everyone else is thinking, right?

I'm confused 😕

 

[WellWornLad]

i saw it like this:

on the plus side, i would have a free place to stay at and a fridge to raid.

as far as the biggest con... unfortunately, no matter how bad i needed to go number two, holding would be the ONLY option.

hey - i'm just being real and saying what everyone else is thinking, right?

Wow - that's weird. Sorry, I wasn't thinking that at all. A fridge to raid? You would raid a host's fridge? And why would you not use the bathroom, again? Is this some phobia I've never heard of?

 

[175961]

Axe body spray.

I think they have done every type of situation possible with this stuff (nurse, teacher, secretary, etc....) now they need to have one with a hot adcom, just in case you cant take a shower the morning of your interview

 

[Concubine]

For me, having a student host was an advantage.