tips for staying with a student host

[caffeine52]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Some advice from a med student perspective:

1. Requesting a host: send out a nice, respectful email with a little information about yourself. I'll feel more comfortable hosting a stranger if I know where they work or go to school and what kinds of things they're interested in.

2. Realize the med student may be busy. I've been asked to host applicants that live in town so they can "see what the life of a med student is like". Please. I'm a normal person, and my life isn't very different from any other student. If you live in town and would like to meet with a med student for additional information (and you feel that the interview day isn't enough), offer to take them out for coffee/lunch or something a little less time intensive.

3. I would err on the side of caution and bring your own towel, washcloth and toiletries. The host may not have extras. One applicant asked to borrow my makeup the morning of the interview. Don't do this.

4. Leave a note or a small gift. I know everyone's strapped for cash this time during applications (otherwise you'd be shelling out for a hotel, right?) but it's a nice touch and helps the med student feel appreciated. Some ideas are starbucks cards (it can be a small amount like $5-10), chocolates, a souvenir from where you live, etc. If you're really low on funds, at the very least leave a thank you note.

5. Keep in touch at the end of the cycle and let us know where you end up!

6. If you stay with hosts during your application cycle, make sure to sign up to be a host as a med student to help out future student doctors. 🙂

 

[prettyslick]

Great tips 👍

 

[njbmd]

Some advice from a med student perspective:

1. Requesting a host: send out a nice, respectful email with a little information about yourself. I'll feel more comfortable hosting a stranger if I know where they work or go to school and what kinds of things they're interested in.

2. Realize the med student may be busy. I've been asked to host applicants that live in town so they can "see what the life of a med student is like". Please. I'm a normal person, and my life isn't very different from any other student. If you live in town and would like to meet with a med student for additional information (and you feel that the interview day isn't enough), offer to take them out for coffee/lunch or something a little less time intensive.

3. I would err on the side of caution and bring your own towel, washcloth and toiletries. The host may not have extras. One applicant asked to borrow my makeup the morning of the interview. Don't do this.

4. Leave a note or a small gift. I know everyone's strapped for cash this time during applications (otherwise you'd be shelling out for a hotel, right?) but it's a nice touch and helps the med student feel appreciated. Some ideas are starbucks cards (it can be a small amount like $5-10), chocolates, a souvenir from where you live, etc. If you're really low on funds, at the very least leave a thank you note.

5. Keep in touch at the end of the cycle and let us know where you end up!

6. If you stay with hosts during your application cycle, make sure to sign up to be a host as a med student to help out future student doctors. 🙂

These are good tips but I will add a few more:

1. Medical students are busy; don't expect that they will fetch you around town or spend loads of time with you especially if an exam is coming up. Do some recon on your own and know how to get around town. If they offer to give you a lift, that's fine. Be sure to fill their gas tank if this happens.
2. Clean up after yourself. Bring a sleeping bag if they have a sofa to offer you or place your sleeping bag on the bed. Offer to launder your linens/towels etc. If you bring your own sheets, make your bed the next day and leave the room clean and neat.
3. Have a list of things that you want to know. Have your own itinerary and let your host know when you will be going and coming. Be respectful of hours and don't be arriving at 3am with loads of noise and revelry when you know others are sleeping.
4. Offer to purchase dinner/leave a gift certificate or anything that will be helpful as a thank you gift for your host. Arrive with your gift and leave something (a nice note) too. This is just good manners.
5. Eat out and invite your student host; don't cook anything that is smelly like garlic dishes/fish. Keep your perfume and aftershave to a minimum too (you don't need this for interview anyway.
6. Your student host's apartment/home is NOT a hotel. They are doing you a favor. Keep this in mind and be respectful. If you find that you don't get along with your student host/their roommates, have a back-up hotel ready.
7. Find out if your student host has pets/roommates and take this into consideration. If you are allergic to cats and your student host has one, you need to find another student host. You don't ask your student host to remove the cat for your visit.
8. Send a written thank-you note to your student host with a CC to the Dean of Admissions. This will reflect nicely on your and your student host.
9. Be an adult and don't whine, complain, or otherwise act like a juvenile. Remember, this person is doing you a favor. Be considerate in every way.

 

[Ashers]

I'll add some too. I never thought I'd have to say these, but these are from personal experience, and why I stopped hosting. (I did have some really cool hostees, but the bad one made it too annoying. These are all from 1 person.)

1. Please wake yourself up. Don't have your host come in and wake you up after she hears your alarm going off occasionally for the past 30min.

2. Be ready to go on time if the host is going to give you a ride. Don't make the host late for class.

3. If the hosting time is only for 1 night, don't ask to stay longer. The host may have plans to be out of town the next night.

 

[ADeadLois]

1. Don't ask for a key to the host's apartment. My roommate got into trouble with out landlord for this.

2. Don't act like you know everything about the school already because you read the interview feedback. I've had hostees who act like they're experts on the school already. This is very annoying. Keep in mind that this information comes from people who've been at the school for one day.

 

[[pj]]

3. I would err on the side of caution and bring your own towel, washcloth and toiletries. The host may not have extras. One applicant asked to borrow my makeup the morning of the interview. Don't do this.

Wow, that's pretty insane. I would figure this is common sense. I guess not... 🙄

 

[alwaysaangel]

[*]Find out if your student host has pets/roommates and take this into consideration. If you are allergic to cats and your student host has one, you need to find another student host. You don't ask your student host to remove the cat for your visit.

Wow. I hope no one has ever done this. I warned my host that I had a cat before she came - but if anyone ever asked me to somehow keep him pent up just because they were there I'd be irked (granted I did keep him in that room that night so he wouldn't wake her up - but for someone to expect that would be rude).