UC Davis now requires laptops

[fusionid]

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UC DAvis requires laptops for all incoming students. Any student from Davis here ever found the need to have one? They are expensive...

 

[madcadaver]

I don't have a laptop and certainly never had a need for one. I think all preclinical exams are done on laptops now, but the school has computers for this purpose. I don't know why they would require you to buy one.

Hope I answered your question. Fight the man!!

madcadaver
UCD 2004

 

[fusionid]

they are wiring the whole medical school for wireless access too. One of the requirements is a WiFi card too. I am fine if they think we need a laptop, I just think that should have been computed in the financial aid package. How do you like Davis? You are graduating next year right, how did you feel as far as being competitive for the best residencies?

 

[Moskeeto]

hey fusion, if you buy/bought a new laptop within 30 days of the first day of class and save the receipt, you'll get compensated for it in your loans. I think you have 2500 dollars to spread out over the 4 years in computer related loans.

 

[fusionid]

did you already get yours?

 

[Moskeeto]

I bought a used one about a month ago, but i was thinking that it might not be a bad idea to get a new one since the school will front the money, but I doubt I'll do it.

 

[fusionid]

I 'm leaning towards buying a new one. I'm thinking it prob isn't worth it to bring my desktop all the way to Davis. So I can just rely on my laptop to do everything. Something like 1800 sounds too expensive?

 

[pallhaco doce]

You can get a better deal than $1800 if you're planning to get a new laptop! Check out http://www.techbargains.com or some other coupon site for deals, and see what bargains are available on Dell laptops.

As for me, I will be using an old hand-me-down. Not the newest or best, but it is more than sufficient for taking notes.

Good luck,
PD

 

[blackbird03]

First of all, Doesn't UC Davis have computer labs anyways? Can someone enlighten me on this matter? What exactly are we gonna do with laptops there that we can't do on a desktop?

If I absolutely have to buy a laptop I'd consider a tablet, but have never used on myself. Any comments on tablet PCs and how useful they would be for notetaking in med school?

thanx aggies!

 

[fusionid]

it is required. I was told this during the interview and I posted the message in the medical school forum and same thing. Laptops are required with WiFi access. 802.11g or b
Syllabus will be available on line, you will be able to download the class daily notes, etc

 

[UCSBMed1]

Thanks for the info, fusionid.

Does anyone know how to go about getting Davis to compensate for funds used to buy the computer?

 

[Ai]

You should give Lauren Snow (financial aid) a call, she is incredibly helpful. I think you can either buy a computer and then submit your receipts or you can submit an estimate to get the funds first. You should give her a call for the details. See you all very soon!

 

[madcadaver]

Yes, there is one central computer lab with about a dozen computers and another dozen or so spread out in the main classroom building. Requiring a laptop makes no sense to me. I can't imagine the entire class of 93 people sitting in the tiny elementary school desks in the Tupper lecture hall pounding notes on a keyboard during a lecture (if you've seen that pathetic looking lecture hall you know what I mean).

Keep in mind that the $2500 available for computer purchase will most likely be in unsubsidized loans, so use it wisely. I also used this money for purchase of PDA and memory card. It's very easy to get reimbursed from the financial aid office with a receipt. Just call the office and ask for details, things may have changed in the last couple years.

Fusionid-- Overall Davis has been very good. The preclinical curriculum needs a lot of work but they are very committed to making it better (already it is probably so much different that I wouldn't recognize it). Clinical rotations are mostly excellent. As for competitiveness for residencies, I don't think your school makes a lot of difference, it is more your performance on rotations and boards. However, Davis has an excellent reputation throughout the state and beyond academically.

 

[fusionid]

so I gather it is smart to buy a PDA for rotations. Do you have to buy the important software for it?

 

[madcadaver]

Yes, probably good to have a pda for rotations. A few people in my class (2004) and a handful of residents and staff choose to get by without one but I think it's indispensable. There's a lot of great free stuff available but you might want to buy a quick reference databases (the famous 5 minute clinical consult for example) and medical dictionary. Good luck.

 

[UCSBMed1]

Hey guys--

Does anyone know anyone who is selling a bed, desk, or dresser?

You can email me at [email protected]. Thanks a lot.

 

[Ai]

Check out the davis411 classifieds, there always seems to be a lot for sale. 🙂