UNECOM Class of 2012

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Yo yo,

UNECOM MS1 here and congrats to you all....
I am enjoying the school and classes are good. Super hard but thats the point.

if you folks have ?s hit me at [email protected]. I dont float here too much since starting school. SDNs purpose for me went downnnnnnn.......after starting school

cheers
dave
 
Oh, dave.. just wait until you start second year and begin thinking about boards. There are forums for Step I, rotations, residency.... I think it's just the MSI year that most folks flake off.

Now, dave... GO STUDY. you have exams in a week and a half! (of course, I have one next week and two the week after.. but hey...)
 
Happy Holidays everyone, hope you are well and warm! : )
 
So I'm just a bit late finding this group. I was actually accepted back in October. Barring anything really bizarre and unforseen, I'll be joining y'all in August. There's like a 5% chance I'll go somewhere else. I loved UNECOM when I visited, and Biddeford and Saco were neat too. Everyone was pretty nice, and since it rained one day that I was there, I felt pretty at home (I'm from Washington State).
 
haha, you can always count on shyrem checking out SDN. She is awesome heh.... if you want to find someone who is on top of their stuff.. it is definitely her 🙂. Now i think about it, if i ever do get ill... i would definitely trust her for my medical care.. and that's enough said.. 😀


Just remember getting into medical school is only a tip of the ice berg. The rest of the work is still hidden that you'll only discover after nights and nights of studying till 3:00am.. and all you want to do is just sleep and relax. 😀

As far as boards go... due to the lack of preparation time between end of class and my test date.. I've decided to start studying for boards last month. and i have witnessed and heard from multiple residency selection programs, is that board score is extremely important.

as long as you have good board score and no "red flags" (i.e. failed classes, bad recommendation) plus no personality issues and gets along with people. you're almost good as in 🙂 to anywhere you want to apply.
 
Pretty quiet on this board recently....







Wook


yeah I would say... by the way... for the incoming class of 2012, if you want to get started on buying books for first year and look over the firehose of information where you're going to put your mouth to. PM me I'll sell them in bulk and cheap 🙂
 
it has been way too quiet on here! I am definitely excited for August. Here's a question for anyone with experience with credit cards/loans: is it possible to take out a little extra in student loan money to pay off credit card debt? let's say 3,000 dollars (hopefully not more than that!!)? Anyone done this before?
 
Your loan money is capped by your cost of attendance, set by the FA folks. Me, with two children and a husband who took almost a 50% pay cut, gets the same FA package that a single student with no dependents does.

But if you can scrimp and save and live really cheaply, you might be able to pay that $3K off. I'd probably pay it off and then try not to use the card unless necessary. Keep it up each semester and you'll be paying less in interest and hopefully not rack up so much debt each semester.
 
thanks for the info! I will definitely try to get it paid off before school!! even though that probably means very little savings before school starts (at least it is interest free until december!) i guess it would be better to get most of it out of the way asap. just lost my job so the balance is a little daunting, but hopefully back on my feet soon! : )
 
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Congratulations to those of you who have already been accepted. Use these next few months before school starts to relax, visit friends and family, and simply have fun. Once classes start, you will find any spare time lacking and you might even feel guilty if you arent studying. Dont get me wrong, UNECOM is an amazing place. I love it here and wouldnt want to be anywhere else!!!

A second note to those of you who may still be waiting on an interview. I interviewed January 23rd and didnt hear until April 6th. I was accepted as a Space Available student, a status that I wasnt quite sure what it was. ASA status means you are accepted, but currently, the class is full, or maybe you might not fit with the personalities of the current class. UNECOM does an amazing job at matching the personalities of our classmates, and I truly enjoy every member of our class.

Keep plugging along. Keep your chin up. Keep on keeping on. If anyone has any questions, please feel free to drop me a line. With classes and upcoming exams, it most likely will take me a while, but I will try to answer any questions. Take care everyone.

-Rob Parker
VP Class of 2011, UNECOM
President, Clown Patch Club
 
Got my official acceptance letter today - I'm incredibly excited!
I've been in love with the school for years and years and can't believe I'm finally at this point - and that I get to stay in Maine!

🙂
 
Hey guys and gals,

This is my new favorite thread, kinda nice to belong somewhere. I look forward to meeting everyone.
 
I got paid today -- made the call -- and paid my deposit!

🙂🙂🙂
 
Congrats recent acceptees!! Can't wait to meet everyone in the 2012 class...good to see more people on here. There is also a facebook group if you have not yet found it! Here's the link if you need it:

http://naz.facebook.com/group.php?gid=6059619721

Again congrats fellow classmates, hope you all are enjoying the time before August as much as I am! : )

-Jenica
 
Hello Student Doctors!!!
Welcome to UNECOM!!! Jacki Cianciosi and I are the chairs for the Marketing and Publications subcommittee for your Orientation and you are going to be getting quite a bit of information from us, the RSAS office, etc. throughout the upcoming months. Our class had a meeting today, and more than 70 of us signed up to be Orientation Leaders (more than half the class) so Orientation should be great. We are currently putting packets together (between our exams) for you guys, so don't worry, A LOT of info will come at you rapid fire. If you guys have any burning questions feel free to contact me. But most of all - BREATHE!!! You made it!!! Congratulations and enjoy your time before med school... watch your favorite TV shows, read your fun books, do anything you want, because once med school starts... well you can guess 🙂

JP

--
John-Paul Bettencourt, M.P.H
UNECOM: DO'12, MMEL'12
 
JP...ThCan't wait anks for the support...I really appreciate you and your classmates participating and creating an orientation/mentorship for my class!! That is one of the main reasons I really wanted UNECOM....Can't wait for Osteoblast...
Sue
 
Sue, et al.

Actually, UNECOM has what you might call a tradition of comradely - we are a community and we work hard to take care and help each other. For example, before our exams the MS-IIs usually run review sessions (which totally saved me in anatomy!). Moreover, classmates share study notes, mnemonics, etc in a Student Generated Material webpage, and of course we all practice our skills on each other. So basically… lol… Welcome to the UNECOM community.

JP
 
Sue, et al.

Actually, UNECOM has what you might call a tradition of comradely - we are a community and we work hard to take care and help each other. For example, before our exams the MS-IIs usually run review sessions (which totally saved me in anatomy!). Moreover, classmates share study notes, mnemonics, etc in a Student Generated Material webpage, and of course we all practice our skills on each other. So basically… lol… Welcome to the UNECOM community.

JP

JP, what you mentioned above is probably the main reason why i decided on UNE. Thanks again for all of the hard work, hopefully I will see you at Osteoblast!
 
I have a list of books to sell for the incoming first years. Buying used books will save you money. 🙂 get it before it is gone.



🙂 PM Me.
 
Is the facebook group still active? I'm probably the least patient person alive for asking, haha, I just requested to join 2 days ago and I'm excited to say hi to everyone!
 
People are signing up on facebook but I am not sure how much activity is going on there.
 
We are currently working on setting up orientation packets - are there any questions you guys would like us to include and answer??? (e.g. UNECOM Student's rating of local restaurants, etc.)

JP
 
jpbet,

maybe a list of coffee shops in the area? Or just places in general that are good for studying (but I know my fiance will probably keel over if there isn't a good coffee shop in the vicinity).
 
We are currently working on setting up orientation packets - are there any questions you guys would like us to include and answer??? (e.g. UNECOM Student's rating of local restaurants, etc.)

JP
Howabout local Gyms and other fitness venues.

-Thanks again JP
 
Union House coffee shop downtown. Owned by a current MSII.
Starbucks in Saco.
For me, my kitchen espresso machine. Best coffee around.

Planet Fitness in Biddeford.
Curves, Biddeford and Saco
The school gym one building away from where you'll be spending your every waking moment.
 
Kind of a big question, but I was wondering...where do most people study? On campus? Off? Where on campus? Where off campus?
 
Kind of a big question, but I was wondering...where do most people study? On campus? Off? Where on campus? Where off campus?

Many of my classmates studied at the library. Alot also studied at home. Some found empty classrooms and studied in Alfond (where your classes are).

I know of one person who studied at his town's library.


Wook
 
How about the good cheap drink specials ... free wings... etc ... ??? happy hour specials for the days after the tests!!!
 
Gee, wook, I just had some good sleep time today as a matter of fact. Bilsky still has that same soft hypnotic sleep voice. 🙂

As for wings - I haven't found a good place for hot wings anywhere in Maine so far. I miss the places back home with their $0.25 wing nights. 🙁

I don't do the bar scene, so I can't help you there. I go home for a bottle of really good German Kabinett and a good night's sleep after exams. Either my husband has dinner made for me, or we go out that night as a family to celebrate Mom actually getting more than 5 hours of sleep that night. (yes, that's all I actually get most nights - 5 hours.)

Study spaces. I like to study in Alfond in a small room, or at the end of a hallway in one of those placed sitting areas. Otherwise, I get to study after my kids to go bed and my hubby goes to work - so I get to START studying at 10:30 at night. But for group studying, Alfond. My PDA was my friend during many classes - flashcards and documents on the PDA made studying while waiting in lines, waiting for dinner to be served, intermission at my kids' recitals and concerts etc. very easy and portable.
 
For me, i hate gyms. My husband and I went out and got a cheap elliptical(~$400) and some free weights. Small, always there. I've never consistently exercised in my life, and now I do it 3-4x/wk. If you are like me, I would highly suggest it!
 
Are there any books, equipment or class/lab supplies which we might want to buy now as opposed to waiting till after orientation?
 
Yeah, you'll definitely need

1. stethoscope
2. reflex hammer
3. blood pressure cuff
4. Ophalmoscope
5. Otoscope
6. Pocket Eye chart
7. Tuning Forks

there is a class called EOM which runs whole year long for Year 1 and year 2 which will be mandatory with physical exams practicals that you have to perform using the medical kit mentioned above.

I have the kit for sale, please PM me if you're interested


As far as books go, the information we learn like physiology, immunology, embryology, biochem, pharm, has not really changed since 2005 till now.

So any book published from 2006-2007 is basically identical to any new version.. I know for a fact that Gray's Anatomy Book for students has not changed for the past 10 years.

I have all the books for sale with some from 2006 and some from 2007 in terms of the published date. if you're interested PM me and get these at the lower price. than you would buy at the book store.
 
I would definitely get books used ahead of time from online places. I fyou wait, there wont be enough time. Especially anatomy. I had at least 6 books.Don't bother with the embryo book.
 
Thanks to both of you! Are there any must have books that I should buy before August?
 
anatomy, but not the Netters. I think that comes with a membership to, maybe SOMA? They'll tell you. But, rohan, the book for lab,and you can decided if the Thiemes series is for you. I got it for TAPP, and loved it, but there are others.
I have a skull anatomy book to sell, if anyone is every interested.
 
Cheesy title, but does any current UNECOM students have any ideas on how quickly I will hear back from the Admissions department if I interviewed on march 1st?:scared:
 
Hard to say. I know for a fact the adcom meets at the end of each month, but I'd bet 6 hours of private histo tutoring they meet more often than that. Call the admissions office and see if you can charm the next adcom meeting date out of them.
 
Which rotation sites are usually considered the "most desirable"? Are the rotation sites which have all six specialties in one hospital valued higher by students? How common is it for students to to stay at their 3rd year sites to do their 4th year?
 
Which rotation sites are usually considered the "most desirable"? Are the rotation sites which have all six specialties in one hospital valued higher by students? How common is it for students to to stay at their 3rd year sites to do their 4th year?

Dude/dudette:

The preferred rotation sites vary from year to year. The year I went through the lottery, it was a pretty equal distribution with some folks preferring Watertown, Pittsfield, Newark, Eastern Maine, etc. I know that some years it is not as well distributed, but would have to defer to a poster with more recent experience than 2003.

Many times, people do prefer the sites with all six specialties (especially those with family). Some, however, prefer to see new sites. So this would depend on your situation and preference.

Many people opted to stay at their 3rd year site for their 4th year with some away rotations mixed in. I did this, but opted to do 3 months of travelling for a little broader exposure.

Hope this helps.


Wook
 
Thanks Wook! (By the way, Dude)😎
 
when does the set class schedule become available? Specific dates and times instead of this class and that class?
 
You won't get a day by day class schedule until the beginning of school. During second year, you'll get each system about 1 week in advance... clinicians don't like making commitments too far ahead of time apparently.
 
What should we expect Osteoblast to be like?
 
I know it is April 19th, but not sure about the exact location
 
it'll be at the Campus Center/Gym
 
I know it is April 19th, but not sure about the exact location

At that point I will have less than 2 weeks of medical school left!!!! I'm taking May off... yay me!😀😉😛😎 Doing my last rotation at the hospital I matched at... unpacking in my new house (closing march 31st...:scared:) so I dont think I will make it... but I will be there in spirit!
 
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