SUNY Buffalo Class of 2012

[Laker4Life]

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Don't worry so much about the grad plus. They know they have to get it together because most people will have to have at lease a small one IS or OOS. The form will get up at some point but you just gotta make sure you have money to cover yourself for August if necessary. So, save your cash for rent and use your credit card until you get the loan.

• Graduate Data Form for Federal Direct PLUS Loans (PDF) AVAILABLE SOON
• Instructions for Graduate Data Form for Federal Direct PLUS Loans (PDF) AVAILABLE SOON

Keep checking.

 

[kdburton]

• Graduate Data Form for Federal Direct PLUS Loans (PDF) AVAILABLE SOON
• Instructions for Graduate Data Form for Federal Direct PLUS Loans (PDF) AVAILABLE SOON

Keep checking.

I had to take out a Grad PLUS loan since I was OOS as well. As far as I know, when the form becomes available its as simple as filling it out, faxing/mailing/turning it in by hand to a financial aid office, and then accepting the loan over their automated phone system. Loans aren't disbursed until late in the first week of August and I imagine you can do it up until that point. As a matter of fact I bought a computer last week and wanted to increase my budget to account for the ~$800 I spent. I went to walk-in hours at the financial aid office, filled out a budget increase form and a direct loan revision request and the financial aid adviser just typed it into the computer and I was ready to go in 5 minutes. Its probably going to take that same amount of effort to get your Grad PLUS loan rolling, so I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[kdburton]

Did you guys ever figure out if getting a Palm Pilot is required for your class? I have a T|X that I plan on keeping, but I have an older model which would suffice that I would sell at a considerable discount (and I've barely ever used it).

 

[0101010101]

We got an email saying no need for the palm pilot anymore. So, I'm glad I held out a little longer. What apartment complex has the most number of med students by the way? Thanks.

 

[kdburton]

We got an email saying no need for the palm pilot anymore. So, I'm glad I held out a little longer. What apartment complex has the most number of med students by the way? Thanks.

Probably Boulevard Towers, but that places sucks haha. Its like a med student dorm/ retirement community, but if you're into doing water aerobics with 80 year old women then maybe its the place to be . Within a two block radius close to downtown there is a large number of med stuents living at The Westbrook, The Mayflower, and The Ambassador next year (probably between 5-10 students in each). I'm currently living in The Westbrook and there are over 10 med students, and I'm moving into The Mayflower where there are at least another 10 med students. I think most of the people living down here are 3-4th year students because they are very centrally located and within walking distance from at least 3 of the hospitals where students rotate at, but I lived here for my 1st year and its also centrally located and within walking distance to all of the bars and pretty much everything fun that Buffalo has to offer - if you live in the burbs theres not much to do other than hang out in the dining area at Wegmans.

 

[project doctor]

I didn't really buy many books. But you will/should need an anatomy book (like Grant's or Netters, even Rohans). Also, you should invest in a wheaters for histo. People sold their old books via the listserve last year (the 2nd years) so any other books you could get that way. As far as supplies, I buy things like highliters, paper, maybe a dry erase board, binders, etc.....Now I am not sure if they gave you budget for the medical supplies kit (it was 700 bucks I think).
As far as the English requirement, I am not sure. Best to call in tomorrow like you are planning. good luck

What size binders did you end up using? I'm trying to get a head start on my back-to-school shopping - yay! I can't believe school starts so soon!

 

[kdburton]

What size binders did you end up using? I'm trying to get a head start on my back-to-school shopping - yay! I can't believe school starts so soon!

I'd suggest getting only one 2" and one 1"-1.5" and a box of individual binder rings:
http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/937624/Office-Brand-Rings-Diameter-Box-Of/
Once you finish a module take all your notes out of the binder and put them in rings for storage. It will save you $$.

Also if you're a coffee drinker get yourself a nice thermos. I recommend:
http://www.eatgourmet.com/leh-2550.html
Yes its relatively large and yes my classmates sometimes make fun of me for it (they're just jealous, muahaha)... But its well-insulated and it will keep your coffee warm from 7am to late into the night if you need it and you can get four 8oz cups out of it throughout the day. Combine this with an automatic coffee maker that has your caffeine fix ready for you when you wake up and you're saving hundreds upon hundreds of dollars each semester over those suckers who buy 2-3 cups of Starbucks/Dunkin' Donuts every day 😉

 

[project doctor]

I'd suggest getting only one 2" and one 1"-1.5" and a box of individual binder rings:
http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/937624/Office-Brand-Rings-Diameter-Box-Of/
Once you finish a module take all your notes out of the binder and put them in rings for storage. It will save you $$.

Also if you're a coffee drinker get yourself a nice thermos. I recommend:
http://www.eatgourmet.com/leh-2550.html
Yes its relatively large and yes my classmates sometimes make fun of me for it (they're just jealous, muahaha)... But its well-insulated and it will keep your coffee warm from 7am to late into the night if you need it and you can get four 8oz cups out of it throughout the day. Combine this with an automatic coffee maker that has your caffeine fix ready for you when you wake up and you're saving hundreds upon hundreds of dollars each semester over those suckers who buy 2-3 cups of Starbucks/Dunkin' Donuts every day 😉

Awesome suggestion about the binder rings! I wouldn't have thought of it.

I'm totally with you on the coffee thing - as a grad student, I definitely learned the value of cheap coffee - I'm sure in med school it's even more important! That Thermos looks like a lifesaver.

 

[kdburton]

Awesome suggestion about the binder rings! I wouldn't have thought of it.

I'm totally with you on the coffee thing - as a grad student, I definitely learned the value of cheap coffee - I'm sure in med school it's even more important! That Thermos looks like a lifesaver.

Going back to the binders... In most of the modules you'll definitely get enough notes to fill a 2" binder and then some. The reason why I say to get the smaller ones is because you have multiple tests throughout the module so you're probably only going to be studying off of a portion of the notes at one time. If you have any books that you're going to be using in addition then your backpack is going to overflowing if you carry a whole module worth of notes. I'd stick with the relatively smaller ones, 2" or smaller

 

[0101010101]

Going back to the binders... In most of the modules you'll definitely get enough notes to fill a 2" binder and then some. The reason why I say to get the smaller ones is because you have multiple tests throughout the module so you're probably only going to be studying off of a portion of the notes at one time. If you have any books that you're going to be using in addition then your backpack is going to overflowing if you carry a whole module worth of notes. I'd stick with the relatively smaller ones, 2" or smaller

If you don't mind, can you give a detailed list of how you take and organize all of your course notes/materials? I just want to get an idea of how it's done at UB. Also, do teachers handout powerpoint print outs for class? Or upload them so you print them yourself. etc.

 

[kdburton]

If you don't mind, can you give a detailed list of how you take and organize all of your course notes/materials? I just want to get an idea of how it's done at UB. Also, do teachers handout powerpoint print outs for class? Or upload them so you print them yourself. etc.

You have to buy the lecture notes at the beginning of each module. They're somewhere around $20-$40 depending on how many pages. They come pre-punched so you just have to throw them in a binder and you're ready to go. For most modules you'll need to pick up more than one set of notes throughout the module because they have multiple parts as you go along. They're usually copies of the powerpoints that the profs present with, but sometimes it just text (while they're presenting off of a powerpoint). Most of them have room to take notes next to the picture of the slide so everyone just takes notes right on their lecture notes if you need to take notes. Other than just a binder and maybe a textbook for whatever module you're in you don't have anything to organize. First semester of 1st year you have anatomy in addition to the normal modular course design, so you'll need to carry notes for two class. All of the notes have a lecture/lab/etc schedule at the beginning so that your day-to-day schedule is all layed out in advance.

 

[Laker4Life]

http://www.timeanddate.com/counters...=8&day=11&year=2008&hour=8&min=0&sec=0&p0=179

 

[thzone1986]

http://www.timeanddate.com/counters...=8&day=11&year=2008&hour=8&min=0&sec=0&p0=179

So that's what you look like!

Seriously though...yeah I'm just now starting to worry about what to pack

 

[thzone1986]

You have to buy the lecture notes at the beginning of each module. They're somewhere around $20-$40 depending on how many pages. They come pre-punched so you just have to throw them in a binder and you're ready to go. For most modules you'll need to pick up more than one set of notes throughout the module because they have multiple parts as you go along. They're usually copies of the powerpoints that the profs present with, but sometimes it just text (while they're presenting off of a powerpoint). Most of them have room to take notes next to the picture of the slide so everyone just takes notes right on their lecture notes if you need to take notes. Other than just a binder and maybe a textbook for whatever module you're in you don't have anything to organize. First semester of 1st year you have anatomy in addition to the normal modular course design, so you'll need to carry notes for two class. All of the notes have a lecture/lab/etc schedule at the beginning so that your day-to-day schedule is all layed out in advance.

Thanks for the info KD! I also have a question: how viable is biking around UB? I'll be w/o a car, so I'm wondering if anyone bikes to school (especially when it's snowing?)

 

[snash406]

Dent

 

[kdburton]

Thanks for the info KD! I also have a question: how viable is biking around UB? I'll be w/o a car, so I'm wondering if anyone bikes to school (especially when it's snowing?)

This totally depends where you live. I know people who bike/walk to school, but in general they live close to campus. You're going to be set up with a preceptor that you have to go to on a biweekly basis during 1st year and there is no guarantee that they will be close by your house either (mine was almost a 20 minute drive away). I know there are people who take the bus everywhere they need to go, but that just sounds like a pain in the ass to me.

 

[themitz]

I just want you guys to know that my class is very jealous of you all since the first year lecture hall AND anatomy lab have both been redone this summer.... Totally not fair 😛

 

[thzone1986]

I just want you guys to know that my class is very jealous of you all since the first year lecture hall AND anatomy lab have both been redone this summer.... Totally not fair 😛

Good to hear that the anatomy lab has been redone. I hope it won't still be 8ppl per cadaver though.

 

[kdburton]

Good to hear that the anatomy lab has been redone. I hope it won't still be 8ppl per cadaver though.

Its really not that bad except for maybe a couple dissections in the head & neck block. If you had 4-6 people per cadaver you'd just have to do more work anyways 😉

 

[thzone1986]

Its really not that bad except for maybe a couple dissections in the head & neck block. If you had 4-6 people per cadaver you'd just have to do more work anyways 😉

lol I hope so. At my interview one person told me she had threatened to stab her lab-mate with a scalpel if he didn't get out of the way. Scary thing was I couldn't tell if she was joking

 

[Laker4Life]

lol I hope so. At my interview one person told me she had threatened to stab her lab-mate with a scalpel if he didn't get out of the way. Scary thing was I couldn't tell if she was joking

How does it normally work among you guys? Are there rules to make sure everyone is getting a fair share or equal time slice?

 

[rerere]

I see there is an equipment fair during orientation...are the prices better than I would find at a medical supply store locally...i.e. should I buy now or wait?

And the PDA training listed in the orientation...I thought we no longer needed to have a PDA? What is the deal?

 

[thzone1986]

I see there is an equipment fair during orientation...are the prices better than I would find at a medical supply store locally...i.e. should I buy now or wait?

And the PDA training listed in the orientation...I thought we no longer needed to have a PDA? What is the deal?

We don't need a PDA anymore (per Dr. Severin's email). I imagine it's there for anyone who bought one and can't figure out how to use it.

 

[thzone1986]

How does it normally work among you guys? Are there rules to make sure everyone is getting a fair share or equal time slice?

From my dissection experience, 4 ppl leaning around a cadaver already verges on being crowded/uncomfortable. I can't imagine 8 at once, unless half of them are standing back and reading instructions from an anatomy atlas.

 

[Kazema]

Hey all, I'm a 4th year, just wanted to chime in on two things.

First, about the PDAs, don't buy a Palm. Totally worthless for the first two years, and almost totally worthless for 3rd and 4th year. The only really useful program is ePocrates, and even then it's usually faster to look something up in a pocketbook. Not worth getting a whole separate device. If you get anything I'd recommend the Centro (smaller than the Treo which is fairly bulky). Or just get an iPhone, it has a better version of ePocrates than Palm 😉.

About the Mayflower, I've lived there throughout med school. It's an alright place to live, it's not spectacular but it's not bad either. And the price is pretty good, especially since all utilities are included. Generally pretty safe area, but people have gotten cars broken into, and last year a couple people got mugged nearby.

If anyone has any specific questions regarding 3rd or 4th year stuff (or anything else), feel free to PM me...I won't regularly check this thread but I do log into SDN maybe once a week or so. Not sure if any other 4th years check these kinds of threads anymore. Good luck to you all 🙂.

 

[ma-bas]

Hey everyone,

Another 4th year here. As far as housing, I lived near campus for the first year and did bike to school, but as someone else mentioned up thread, most likely you will need a car to get to preceptor. You can request a certain area, or trade with a classmate if need be. My husband and I managed by sharing one car. We moved closer to downtown, near the Westbrook/Mayflower after the first year. Although it is further away, two classmates and I car pooled most mornings. On occasion it meant one or two of us had to take the subway home, but that is pretty convenient. Other nice buildings in the area are Fairfax House (not renovated, but cheap, all utilites, free parking, big apartments) and the Linnor (Linwood/North), which is a very pretty building, nice apartments.

I am not sure if you all got forwarded my email about the furniture I am selling. I am selling several dressers, a really nice sofa bed, a large bookcase, and some first and second year textbooks including Robbins Pathology, Boron & Boulpap Physiology, Wheater's Histology, Mosby's Physical Exam, Rohan's Anatomy Atlas, most in excellent conditions, plus I have a few review books.

I am trying to get rid of most of what I own by the end of September so PM me if you are interested in checking out my stuff.