University of Maryland Class of 2012

[LadyWolverine]

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If a second-look is important to you (it was to me as well), you can ask Dr. Foxwell or the staff of the Admissions Office to set you up with an informal second-look. When I came for my second-look, I sat in on a lecture in the morning (oncology - which we actually recently finished 🙂 ), then spoke with the Dean of the Office of student research. Around lunchtime I was set up with a student (happened to be a 4th year with a similar background as my own) who chatted with me for about an hour, answered all of my questions, and then took me around the hospital on an "insider tour," so to speak.

Now that I am on the "other side" of the admissions game, I have been called upon a couple of times by Admissions to help out students on these informal second-look days. In my own experience, both applicants that I took around for their second-look ended up enrolling here, and are currently first-years. The school really sells itself. But, I think it's important to take a second look for such a monumental decision. You might also want to contact the Public Health School/Epid department, and meet with them to discuss your options there as well.

Good luck, and let admissions know that you are interested in a second-look.

 

[MSKalltheway]

PS. MSK, we are post-buddies 🙂

LOL I know, I feel like theyre gonna start to think we are the same person. In reality, I just actually want to be you.

Thank you for posting so much information!

I loved Maryland, and will most likely be going there. I just wanted to learn a bit more. I know there is no official second look day, but do you know if accepted students can attend a class, etc.? I will be around next week, and would love to check it out.

Didn't read LW's post, but I'm sure the following will be repetitive. If you want to stay overnight, I'm sure OSA will set you up with a first year (or even one of us 2010ers!) to stay a night if you want. If you want to just check out class, you could probably just get away with walking into Bressler at 7:55am, signing in with the security guard, walking into the back of Taylor and no one would even ask you questions. You'd likely be mistaken for another first year lol. OSA would be your best bet though, since you'll likely get a better and more thorough tour of the joint.

Edit: LW has actual second look experience, so go with that. I didn't bother with one since when I got in, I pretty much dropped all other acceptances/pending interviews/pending decisions for personal reasons. 2nd looks are an excellent idea though, and I highly suggest them though I never actually went to one myself.

 

[LadyWolverine]

I just realized how many times I used the term "second-look" in my above post. I sound like a robot. Sorry, I'm tired. Too much cardiology all day. The weekend doesn't look much different 🙁

 

[87138]

Any of you UMD students (or anyone on this thread actually) have an opinion on Penn State vs Maryland? I'm sorry to turn this into one of those threads, but I've been accepted to both and I'm having some trouble deciding. I had really positive experiences at each one while interviewing.

A little about me: I'm a PA resident. I don't have my mind made up about what I want to go into, although I've tossed around orthopedic surgery and emergency medicine in my head thus far. I've never done research but I wouldn't mind trying it, especially if it'd help me with residency placement.

I know the locations are polar opposites, but I feel like either a small town or a big city would be ok with me. I know I'm not giving you a lot to work with, sorry. Basically I'd be very interested to hear what you guys know about or have heard about PSU, and how that compares with your Maryland experience.

 

[MSKalltheway]

I dont know a whole lot about Penn State to be honest, but I do know people who are currently there and have met grads from there who go to residencies and fellowships at Maryland and other institutions. They all seem to have/had great experiences at Penn State, and it sounds like a fine school. An Infectious Disease fellow decided to come to Maryland over Penn State because he is interested in focusing on HIV and you see more of that here. He also mentioned that Penn State has a vastly different patient population than at UMD, which was more conducive to a fellowship in ID.

In terms of matching into specific residencies, this will mostly be dependent on how self motivated you are to study as hard as you need to in order to get the grades/scores in order to match into said specialty. Both schools will do just fine in setting you up to get into any specialty you want, so long as you work for it.

I'm sorry I cant give you more, but my opinion would be that at the end of the day, if you really cant decide between the two and since you are a PA resident, I would go with Penn State. Your pockets will thank you for it in the end. Not that we wouldnt love to have you(!), but being as unbiased as possible, coming out with the least debt as possible is an important consideration. And Penn State football just sounds like so much fun (sorry LW!!! I'm an ACC boy so I have no specific Big Ten loyalty, though I would have gone to UMich for ugrad if they slashed the price a bit) Good luck to you!

 

[87138]

I dont know a whole lot about Penn State to be honest, but I do know people who are currently there and have met grads from there who go to residencies and fellowships at Maryland and other institutions. They all seem to have/had great experiences at Penn State, and it sounds like a fine school. An Infectious Disease fellow decided to come to Maryland over Penn State because he is interested in focusing on HIV and you see more of that here. He also mentioned that Penn State has a vastly different patient population than at UMD, which was more conducive to a fellowship in ID.

In terms of matching into specific residencies, this will mostly be dependent on how self motivated you are to study as hard as you need to in order to get the grades/scores in order to match into said specialty. Both schools will do just fine in setting you up to get into any specialty you want, so long as you work for it.



I'm sorry I cant give you more, but my opinion would be that at the end of the day, if you really cant decide between the two and since you are a PA resident, I would go with Penn State. Your pockets will thank you for it in the end. Not that we wouldnt love to have you(!), but being as unbiased as possible, coming out with the least debt as possible is an important consideration. And Penn State football just sounds like so much fun (sorry LW!!! I'm an ACC boy so I have no specific Big Ten loyalty, though I would have gone to UMich for ugrad if they slashed the price a bit) Good luck to you!

Thanks for the speedy reply MSK!

Two points I have. First, as a PA resident, there's not a huge tuition break for PSU. Basically I'm looking at maybe 31,000 or 32,000 at PSU, and 39,000 or so at UMD. Also, PSU is in Hershey, about an hou and a half to two hours away from State College where the undergrad campus (where the football team plays) is. 🙂

Anyone else have any input?

 

[MSKalltheway]

Thanks for the speedy reply MSK!

Two points I have. First, as a PA resident, there's not a huge tuition break for PSU. Basically I'm looking at maybe 31,000 or 32,000 at PSU, and 39,000 or so at UMD. Also, PSU is in Hershey, about an hou and a half to two hours away from State College where the undergrad campus (where the football team plays) is. 🙂

No problem! Hmmmm, unfortunate you dont get a better deal on price, I can see why this is gonna be hard for you!

PSU that far away? Damn, that's unfortunate...kinda like here and UMD-College Park (well 45 minutes to my alma mater to watch games isnt so bad 😍)

 

[dcMDiva]

You guys are all so great and responsive. Your responses essentially echoed the little rational voice within my head that says I would be making a wonderful decision by attending UMD. Every now and then, just at the moment of "final decision", I get the jitters and begin to re-examine my choice. Each and every time I return to UMD and smile as I think of what a great place it will be to attend. I'm SO excited. I hear, also, that the students/classmates make or break the experience, and so if you guys are representative of what's to come, I AM SOLD!

Thanks a million for your insight! 😀

 

[LadyWolverine]

MDiva, that's great. I'm sure you will be very happy here. The vast majority of our classmates have no regret about our choice to attend (although we do get very stressed out around exam times...but, that's natural 🙂 )

As for Roger's dilemma, I cannot recommend Penn State to anybody - it's against my religion. It would be like telling somebody to go to MSU or Ohio State. However, I don't really understand what you are asking for. You are asking us to compare our own school (UMB) against a school that none of us have attended (PSU). I agree with MSK that, all else being equal, go with the cheaper option. (In this case, PSU is the cheaper option.) However, we don't know if "all alse is equal" - you're not going to get much help here, as most of us have never been to PSU SOM and therefore have no basis for comparison.

Obviously, small-town PA is going to be extremely different from Baltimore. However, both schools will ultimately be able to get you where you want to go - whether it be in ortho, EM, or anything else. Research opportunities will abound at either institution. In response to your comment, "Basically I'd be very interested to hear what you guys know about or have heard about PSU, and how that compares with your Maryland experience" - most of us have heard very little/nothing about PSU, and therefore it would be very difficult to compare it to our experience at UMB.

If you think that the opportunities at UMB are worth the extra $8K/year, go with Maryland. Otherwise, go to PSU.

 

[LucidSplash]

I echo everything my classmates said here but would like to add that $8k/year is nothing to sneeze at. Over the course of 4 years, that's $32k, or approximately an entire year's tuition paid over again. Definitely weigh your options carefully. I second LW's assertion that you should only choose UMD if there is something in the experience here you can say is worth that extra year's tuition.

 

[JTeam]

I think I may actually be able to shed some light on the PSU/UMD debate event though I won't actually start at MD until August.

I am a MD resident who went to undergrade at PSU. I particpated in a summer program with Hershey that bascially gave us an inside look at their medical school. We lived there, did rotations with 3rd years/residents and went to lectures/seminars. The location was the big issue for me. The patient population is mostly suburban, amish, or farming. Vastly different from inner city Baltimore and I wanted exposure to more than what Hershey seemed to have. PSU certainly is a school which is on the rise, at least that was my impression from the summer. They have implemented many programs that I was interested in such as patient project and the people their are outstanding. This was really the best thing about Hershey. The doctors and residents are so supportive and make a huge effort to make your medical school experience everything you want it to be. I have to say I was partial to Hershey when I was there though because I have the PSU undergrad spirit.

Deciding for me came down to two things, one was tuition, double at PSU vs. MD, and location. I knew I would get a great education at either school and when I went for my interview at UMD I saw how much they had to offer as far as curriculum and diversity of the class.

Plus, I spent the whole summer at Hershey and honestly, they don't have ANYTHING to do in that city unless you want to drive to Harrisburg or go to the park, Baltimore is much more dynamic.

 

[MSKalltheway]

Plus, I spent the whole summer at Hershey and honestly, they don't have ANYTHING to do in that city unless you want to drive to Harrisburg or go to the park, Baltimore is much more dynamic.

Man, that must be REALLY bad then, if there's much more to do in Baltimore

 

[cugymnast06]

Is there class this coming Monday (President's Day)? If so, who should I contact to find out if I can sit in on something?

Also, during the interview day I remember hearing something about a summer program called CAPS (?). What is that again, and who is eligible to participate?

 

[LucidSplash]

Is there class this coming Monday (President's Day)? If so, who should I contact to find out if I can sit in on something?

Also, during the interview day I remember hearing something about a summer program called CAPS (?). What is that again, and who is eligible to participate?

1) Yes there is class Monday. Contact the Admissions Office and tell them you're interested in doing an informal 2nd look day and would like to sit in on a class. Do it as soon as possible so they have time to arrange something for you.

In case you're interested, the lecture schedules for Monday are:
MSI: Introduction to GI Function (Fasano) and Neural and Hormonal Regulation of Gut Function (Shea-Donohue)
MSII: Secondary Hypertension (Hanes) and Pathological Consequences of Hypertension (Burke).

If I were you I'd go see Dr. Fasano at 8am.

2)The summer program is PSP. CAPP is something different.

PSP - LW can tell you more about this - she did it. Any incoming 1st year can do this but spots are filled on a first-come first-served basis. There are around 16 I think? I think you have to have committed to attending Maryland.. There is a small stipend. You will get info about it from the Admissions Office at some point in the next couple of months. LW - anything to add?

CAPP - You'll hear more about this once you start first year. CAPP = Combined Accelerated Program in Psychiatry. You are eligible to apply during 1st year and if there are more people than spots available there is an interview and selection process. You do not need to plan on going into psychiatry to do it. I know that a lot of people do it for the extra clinical experience. Dr. Perez heads it up and I think she's great. I'm not sure if any of the regulars on here are in CAPP? But anyway, you'll find out more information once you matriculate and the ball starts rolling.

 

[LucidSplash]

I guess I didn't say anything about what PSP is. LW can expand on it but basically it is a short program during the summer prior to matriculation where you get the first 2/3 of anatomy, some of biochem and maybe a little of functional systems (physiology). I'm not entirely positive about the composition of the curriculum. Its taught by rising 2nd years that did extremely well in the respective portions they teach as well as some of the anatomy faculty. I've heard that you get out of it what you put in. Its not graded so you can do nothing and it will help you get a bit of a jump on things but not that much. You can put a lot of study effort in and get more out of it.

1) Yes there is class Monday. Contact the Admissions Office and tell them you're interested in doing an informal 2nd look day and would like to sit in on a class. Do it as soon as possible so they have time to arrange something for you.

In case you're interested, the lecture schedules for Monday are:
MSI: Introduction to GI Function (Fasano) and Neural and Hormonal Regulation of Gut Function (Shea-Donohue)
MSII: Secondary Hypertension (Hanes) and Pathological Consequences of Hypertension (Burke).

If I were you I'd go see Dr. Fasano at 8am.

2)The summer program is PSP. CAPP is something different.

PSP - LW can tell you more about this - she did it. Any incoming 1st year can do this but spots are filled on a first-come first-served basis. There are around 16 I think? I think you have to have committed to attending Maryland.. There is a small stipend. You will get info about it from the Admissions Office at some point in the next couple of months. LW - anything to add?

CAPP - You'll hear more about this once you start first year. CAPP = Combined Accelerated Program in Psychiatry. You are eligible to apply during 1st year and if there are more people than spots available there is an interview and selection process. You do not need to plan on going into psychiatry to do it. I know that a lot of people do it for the extra clinical experience. Dr. Perez heads it up and I think she's great. I'm not sure if any of the regulars on here are in CAPP? But anyway, you'll find out more information once you matriculate and the ball starts rolling.

 

[LadyWolverine]

FWIW (and some will disagree with me, no doubt), I strongly suggest doing PSP. As LS said, I participated in the summer of 2006. However, my background was a little different than most (out of undergrad for 5 years - I did go to school to get my M.S. during that period, but spent the vast majority of those 5 years working), so I felt like I needed a "refresher" to get back into the school mindset.

The pros: Got a leg-up on medical school curriculum, which certainly eased the transition once the actual year began. I also got to meet 16 (well, actually 15, since one ended up getting off the waitlist at *another* Baltimore school and thus defected...which I thought was in poor taste) of my classmates, which was a big plus for me - I was apprehensive about being a bit older/coming from a non-pre-med background, and it was nice to realize that most of my classmates are surprisingly mature and non-competitive people. It was nice to have already established a social life here in Baltimore once school began - this also made the transition easier. I had recently bought a house in Balt, and I used the summer and the low-stress pace of PSP to take the time to move in, get settled, get things I needed, etc. Also, the program is stipended, which was nice (although I did take a major paycut from my previous job).

The cons: It is a 6-week program, and you need to be present for the whole program in order to get paid (I think). You also may have to give up your job, if you have been working - this was a major consideration for me, believe me, especially given my mortgage payments - but, I believe that I made the right decision in the long run. That said, many of my PSP classmates continued working (several were RNs, and picked up swing shifts since we only had class in the mornings).

For me, it came down to either 1) staying at my old job for another few weeks, or 2) getting paid $1600 total to participate in the 6-week program (or maybe it was $1800? I can't remember now - regardless, it was less than 25% of what I would have made, had I continued at my old job), but having only half-days of class, meeting new people, settling in, learning my way around Baltimore, and getting some real-life medical school experience. In the end, I chose the latter - and I also had some time in between PSP and medical school orientation to travel, have fun, and work a little bit.

One more thing - the program is what you make of it. Although every one of us came to school every single morning, some of PSP participants chose to participate less than others (e.g. not take the exams very seriously, not study outside of class, etc.) - which is TOTALLY ACCEPTABLE and completely understandable. You don't want to kill yourself over your last free summer! However, a few participants chose to complete the program as though they were actually in medical school (spent time studying outside of class, preparing for exams as though they were the real deal, etc.) - and it REALLY paid off for them. I would say that those who put in at least a little effort ended up doing just fine during S&D and CMB, while those who put in a lot of effort during the summer ended up absolutely spanking those two blocks.

We did not cover functional systems (physio) material - BUT - the study skills that you begin to develop (starting with PSP and beyond) definitely translate into other blocks/material.

I strongly recommend the program for anyone looking to get a leg-up on medical school, and I think it's especially beneficial if you treat it like the "real deal."

Hope this helps!

 

[freelove]

Hello! I just got my acceptance letter today... 😀

 

[MSKalltheway]

Hello! I just got my acceptance letter today... 😀

Congrats!!! You KNOW you want to come here!

How about that rotation schedule 2nd years? They ACTUALLY sent it to us the day they said they would, lol!

 

[LucidSplash]

How about that rotation schedule 2nd years? They ACTUALLY sent it to us the day they said they would, lol!

I think they feared the neurotic backlash where the class would rise up against them if we didn't get it. People are nuts.

And in all fairness to OME, they are usually good about getting that stuff to us on time. Its not L-Rob and the ICM peeps after all. 🙂

 

[MSKalltheway]

And in all fairness to OME, they are usually good about getting that stuff to us on time. Its not L-Rob and the ICM peeps after all. 🙂

That is true, I'll give you that. I think those that didnt get what they wanted were too specific in what they asked for. I let them pick most of my schedule for me, so I have no complaints. Just glad for "vacation" (ie FM, Psych, Neuro) from April to June!

 

[cugymnast06]

I visited the school yesterday (again), and was even more impressed than I was when I interviewed! It looks like they are building a new student center right next to the library (with a new fitness center). Does anyone know when this is scheduled to be done?

For anyone who has not gone back to take another look, I highly recommend it! I am so excited!!!

 

[LadyWolverine]

I visited the school yesterday (again), and was even more impressed than I was when I interviewed! It looks like they are building a new student center right next to the library (with a new fitness center). Does anyone know when this is scheduled to be done?

For anyone who has not gone back to take another look, I highly recommend it! I am so excited!!!

It's slated to be done sometime in early 2009. Usually, with city construction (this goes for any place, not just B'More), they give an approximate "done date" which is almost invariably 6-12 months earlier than the actual "done date." 🙂 The new student center does seem to be progressing nicely, though, and perhaps by the time I am a 4th-year, I will be able to swim in that nice, new pool 😀

 

[LadyWolverine]

PS: My 3rd-year schedule is EXACTLY what I wanted:
1) FM/Neuro/Psych
2) Medicine
3) Surgery
4) OB/Peds

I can't wait to rock out all over 3rd year. There are only so many pods-till-11pm days a girl can take in her lifetime - I think I've hit my quota. I know LS doesn't have any rotations aligned with mine (which is probably good, since the universe would likely implode if we were in the same place at the same time, we're both that awesome) - how about you, MSK? Can I look forward to seeing you in the trenches?

Less than 3 months til Step 1 cramming begins! Woooooooooooot

 

[MSKalltheway]

Unfortunately we won't be in the same place at the same time either. That's probably a good thing though, because there's a risk of terrestrial implosion if you substitute me with LS anyways (not nearly as much, I bring the coolness down a bit!) This is how I'm rollin':

1) Surgery
2) Peds, OB
3) Medicine
4) Psych, FM, Neuro

I got what I want too, surg first (to get my early mornings out of the way FAST), neuro last (so I can look best for the PM&R rotations ill schedule immediately afterwards). Most of the schedule is a surprise because I let them pick most of it

 

[LucidSplash]

MSK you and I will rock medicine together. And by that I mean I will gun all over you every day. (Just kidding we both know I will never know the answer to any pimping).

1)Peds/OB
2)Fam. Med/Neuro/Psych
3)Medicine
4)Surg

But I feel bad graffitting the incoming class' thread with all this. I'm not sure they care about our near-hysterial happiness at the thought of being done with the 1st half of school. 🙂

 

[LadyWolverine]

Well, they retired our thread a while ago, so we have to go somewhere. Also, there were tumbleweeds blowing around and crickets chirping in here, so I thought I'd give Maryland a mighty bump back up to the top.
By the second week of medical school, I couldn't wait to be done with the preclinical years. These guys aren't too far off. 😀

 

[soccerpunk60]

haha good to know you MS-2 kids really like it at UMB. it definitely makes me feel more reassured that i'm making a good/smart choice. thanks for all your input.

btw, i applied for the PSP program, and i applied super early. when i called the woman in charge she said i was one of the very first so theres a 99% chance i'll get a spot 🙂

 

[MSKalltheway]

MSK you and I will rock medicine together. And by that I mean I will gun all over you every day. (Just kidding we both know I will never know the answer to any pimping).

LOL you'll probably gun me out without trying. Guaranteed we will be on rounds and the attending will ask "Give me a differential for hyperkalemia in the context of Diabetes Type II", and I will struggle not to say "In PM&R, I will just refer my patients to the hospitalist. Holla back at me if the pt has neuropathic pain and contractures, then I got you."

Just playin', I like all of medicine, but this cardio stuff is making me want to jump right to muscles and nerves though...THIS STUFF IS KILLING MY SOUL.

Don't worry soccerpunk, you'll like it here just fine. We are a little disgruntled right now cause its the spring semester of MS-2...every 2nd yr across the country feels this way right now. July couldn't come sooner (yes, that means I'm masochistic and prefer 430am every morning on surgery to studying >12hrs a day come exam time, ugh).

Congrats on your acceptance!

PS Youre right LW, if we dont take over this thread, where else will we procrastinate? I wager the 2013ers wont get a word in edgewise either LOL

 

[LucidSplash]

LOL you'll probably gun me out without trying. Guaranteed we will be on rounds and the attending will ask "Give me a differential for hyperkalemia in the context of Diabetes Type II", and I will struggle not to say "In PM&R, I will just refer my patients to the hospitalist. Holla back at me if the pt has neuropathic pain and contractures, then I got you."

Just playin', I like all of medicine, but this cardio stuff is making me want to jump right to muscles and nerves though...THIS STUFF IS KILLING MY SOUL.

Don't worry soccerpunk, you'll like it here just fine. We are a little disgruntled right now cause its the spring semester of MS-2...every 2nd yr across the country feels this way right now. July couldn't come sooner (yes, that means I'm masochistic and prefer 430am every morning on surgery to studying >12hrs a day come exam time, ugh).

Congrats on your acceptance!

PS Youre right LW, if we dont take over this thread, where else will we procrastinate? I wager the 2013ers wont get a word in edgewise either LOL

LOL I'm with you there - I'd rather be in the hospital than studying any day. I think maybe it will feel more like working - and I liked working, even when I was working 12 hour days. Ah, the good old days before medical school.

We're going to have problems on medicine. One of us has to be enthusiastic or at least manufacture a reasonable facsimile. I'm not totally set on a specialty yet, but EM is at the top of the list. If I get into that mindset, all my answers (in my head) to pimping will be "Is the patient stable? Then why haven't we transferred them off the floor to IM.... oh, right. This isn't the ED." But I hear you on the cardio stuff. It is interesting to a point, but I think we're all just looking ahead to being done with MSII right now, so it all feels a little painful. FOUR MORE EXAMS! (This is my internal mantra. Sometimes it helps).

 

[MSKalltheway]

bump.

I think I'm gonna die. Maybe of arrhythmia, less likely a coag disorder, atherosclerosis has a high index of suspicion.

I so badly want to make Plotnick's U/S of "Do you want this inside of you?" my facebook picture. It appeals to my perv side. How can I make that dang thing a .JPG so I can do that? That will be my first order of business at 12 noon tomorrow.

 

[soccerpunk60]

bump.

I think I'm gonna die. Maybe of arrhythmia, less likely a coag disorder, atherosclerosis has a high index of suspicion.

I so badly want to make Plotnick's U/S of "Do you want this inside of you?" my facebook picture. It appeals to my perv side. How can I make that dang thing a .JPG so I can do that? That will be my first order of business at 12 noon tomorrow.

is second year that bad?? ive been talkin to a few of my first year friends at maryland they're under a lot of stress also, but doesn't seem like anything compared to you guys. is it really that big of a step-up from first to second years?

 

[LucidSplash]

bump.

I think I'm gonna die. Maybe of arrhythmia, less likely a coag disorder, atherosclerosis has a high index of suspicion.

I so badly want to make Plotnick's U/S of "Do you want this inside of you?" my facebook picture. It appeals to my perv side. How can I make that dang thing a .JPG so I can do that? That will be my first order of business at 12 noon tomorrow.

Haha. Hit me up after the exam. I'll show you how. I'm rocking the "spear through the heart" from the shock lecture as my gmail pic. Except I want to put "medschool" on the guy with the spear and "Lucid" on the guy with the heart.

I diagnosed myself with Takayasu Arteritis but I'm not a textbook case because I'm not "from the Orient."

 

[LucidSplash]

is second year that bad?? ive been talkin to a few of my first year friends at maryland they're under a lot of stress also, but doesn't seem like anything compared to you guys. is it really that big of a step-up from first to second years?

I think its a mult-factorial illness for us.

1) We're burned out. We've been doing this a lot longer than the 1st years at this point and we're just run down.

2) We're staring down STEP 1 - I alternate between feeling like I can handle it and complete and total hysteria. The hysteria is co-morbid with each exam though.

3) There's more stuff in MSII. More stuff in our schedules. More stuff on the tests. More small groups. Just more stuff.

4) I'm going to reiterate the small groups. In theory these support lectures, and they do. But they also take about 1 exam question from each small group. In MSI, you could blow off a lot of the small groups because the material isn't tested. So even though the SGs fit well with lecture, there is still "more stuff" you have to worry about before exams because you have to review all the notes from the SGs, which are mostly clinical cases.

5) I hate pharmacology.

6) Ask us how we feel again tomorrow, after the exam. We'll be much happier. Never ever listen to anything a med student says the day before the exam. We get transient emotional ischemia/hemmorhage depending on the personality of each student. Within 5 minutes of finishing the exam we're all fairly normal again.

7) I've officially lost my mind.

 

[MSKalltheway]

Haha. Hit me up after the exam. I'll show you how. I'm rocking the "spear through the heart" from the shock lecture as my gmail pic. Except I want to put "medschool" on the guy with the spear and "Lucid" on the guy with the heart.

I was actually able to figure it out. My facebook has now exploded with suggestiveness and a lovely caption to boot. Plotnick has great pics and animations for various jokes, doesn't he?

is second year that bad?? ive been talkin to a few of my first year friends at maryland they're under a lot of stress also, but doesn't seem like anything compared to you guys. is it really that big of a step-up from first to second years?

LS pretty much put it perfectly. There's no way I could ever dream up a better answer to your question. The saying is true that "first year is like drinking from a fire hydrant, second year is like drinking from a waterfall..." I have also heard "1st year, they shove and umbrella up your @$$, 2nd year they open it, 3rd year they close it, and 4th year its removed." Anyway you slice it, yeah its pretty rough. But you do it cause you're just good like that.

My question for the person who came up with the umbrella analogy: Do they shove it up there while its open during our PGY-1/intern year?

 

[Pontifex Maximus]

I actually like second year overall. The material is a crapload more interesting, and I find while the volume increased, it is actually easier for me to learn for that reason. The extra stuff is true though, the increased ICM days, the student organizations, the thinking about boards, the planning third year, finding time for fun..it is all very overwhelming. But I'm generally happier despite all this, even if I'm not 100% enjoying everything.

MSK: Nah son, they switch to the curved end.

 

[LadyWolverine]

MSK: Nah son, they switch to the curved end.

PM took the words right out of my mouth 🙂


My golf umbrella is sitting across the room from me. It has about a 5-foot diameter when deployed. That $#!& would rip my junk apart. Which pretty much sums up how I felt until about 11:45 this morning.

I hit submit with 2:11 left in the game.

🙂 Here's to being done with cardio. 👍

Bring on Fasano!!!!!!!!!!

 

[LadyWolverine]

5) I hate pharmacology.

I'm going to have to second this. 😱

 

[MSKalltheway]

I'm going to have to second this. 😱

We're gonna add a 3rd.

It went OK, but that pharm destroyed my soul. For me it was definitely the tip of the umbrella, not the handle, with the ribs wide open. Inserted at the beginning of the ICM exam, and pulled out slowly over the next 3hrs and 15mins. I will not be a Cardiologist. Never, as in, not ever!

But otherwise I am a happy man now that this exam is over! The intramural basketball team I'm on beat the orthopods tonight. No seriously, residents and attendings on a team...it was like the departmental gathering. Showed 'em what PM&R is all about baby!

 

[LadyWolverine]

PM will have a shiny new "5+ year member" icon on his profile in a couple of days. And I thought that I had been the first SDN member out of all of us. He's got me beat by a whole year and a half. I'm jealous. Which is sad, I know. 😛

I didn't know you were playing IM basketball, MSK. Are you in the tournament that plays at the UMB gym? I saw a bunch of meds playing there last night. Looked pretty intense. As I was walking in, there were 2 guys helping another guy limp across the court - it looked like he had broken his ankle. I also recognized a couple of the 3rd-years in the 5:30-6:30 game. I guess we will have time to do fun stuff next year. (I think he said he was on neuro.)

Congrats on beating the orthopods! And thanks for helping distract me this morning. I doubt that there was one person in lecture this morning who was actually paying attention. All the people sitting in front of me had like 16 IM windows open. We were all talking to each other, as well as the people downstairs. PM was looking at scores on ESPN and pictures of some hot guy. I totally caught him ogling.

Did anyone try Goose's cake? I forgot and didn't get any. Did it look like baklava? 😛

 

[LucidSplash]

Did anyone try Goose's cake? I forgot and didn't get any. Did it look like baklava? 😛

HAHAHAHA. No I did not try it and it did not look like baklava (lol) but I was there when Eddie shoved an entire piece in his mouth at once. Apparently it was very good cake but, as much as I like cake, I could not do cake at 10am.

 

[Sartre]

I'm so sorry to hijack this thread, especially as I haven't received an acceptance (still waiting to hear after my interview a few weeks ago). I just couldn't help but ask -- is the Maryland acceptance letter a big envelope or a small envelope? I know, it's a silly question -- just trying to prepare myself for the most nerve-wracking moment of my life 🙁

Congratulations on your acceptances!!

 

[Pontifex Maximus]

PM will have a shiny new "5+ year member" icon on his profile in a couple of days. And I thought that I had been the first SDN member out of all of us. He's got me beat by a whole year and a half. I'm jealous. Which is sad, I know. 😛

I didn't know you were playing IM basketball, MSK. Are you in the tournament that plays at the UMB gym? I saw a bunch of meds playing there last night. Looked pretty intense. As I was walking in, there were 2 guys helping another guy limp across the court - it looked like he had broken his ankle. I also recognized a couple of the 3rd-years in the 5:30-6:30 game. I guess we will have time to do fun stuff next year. (I think he said he was on neuro.)

Congrats on beating the orthopods! And thanks for helping distract me this morning. I doubt that there was one person in lecture this morning who was actually paying attention. All the people sitting in front of me had like 16 IM windows open. We were all talking to each other, as well as the people downstairs. PM was looking at scores on ESPN and pictures of some hot guy. I totally caught him ogling.

Did anyone try Goose's cake? I forgot and didn't get any. Did it look like baklava? 😛

Way to call me out online. I can't help if people be sending me Josh Holloway pics! And yeah - I've been on SDN forever..even longer had I signed up when I first found the site.

 

[LucidSplash]

I'm so sorry to hijack this thread, especially as I haven't received an acceptance (still waiting to hear after my interview a few weeks ago). I just couldn't help but ask -- is the Maryland acceptance letter a big envelope or a small envelope? I know, it's a silly question -- just trying to prepare myself for the most nerve-wracking moment of my life 🙁

Congratulations on your acceptances!!

SMALL, if I remember. Seriously, I remember being so dejected opening it, convinced it was a rejection based on its shape and thinness. So that just goes to show you that size doesn't matter. 😀 (Sorry I couldn't help myself. I tried. A little.)

 

[JTeam]

I'm so sorry to hijack this thread, especially as I haven't received an acceptance (still waiting to hear after my interview a few weeks ago). I just couldn't help but ask -- is the Maryland acceptance letter a big envelope or a small envelope? I know, it's a silly question -- just trying to prepare myself for the most nerve-wracking moment of my life 🙁

Congratulations on your acceptances!!

Its a big one for sure, but I've heard of people getting calls as acceptance notices and then getting the packet later.

 

[87138]

SMALL, if I remember. Seriously, I remember being so dejected opening it, convinced it was a rejection based on its shape and thinness. So that just goes to show you that size doesn't matter. 😀 (Sorry I couldn't help myself. I tried. A little.)

My acceptance was very much a large envelope/packet.

 

[MSKalltheway]

PM will have a shiny new "5+ year member" icon on his profile in a couple of days. And I thought that I had been the first SDN member out of all of us. He's got me beat by a whole year and a half. I'm jealous. Which is sad, I know. 😛

I didn't know you were playing IM basketball, MSK. Are you in the tournament that plays at the UMB gym? I saw a bunch of meds playing there last night. Looked pretty intense. As I was walking in, there were 2 guys helping another guy limp across the court - it looked like he had broken his ankle. I also recognized a couple of the 3rd-years in the 5:30-6:30 game. I guess we will have time to do fun stuff next year. (I think he said he was on neuro.)

Congrats on beating the orthopods! And thanks for helping distract me this morning. I doubt that there was one person in lecture this morning who was actually paying attention. All the people sitting in front of me had like 16 IM windows open. We were all talking to each other, as well as the people downstairs. PM was looking at scores on ESPN and pictures of some hot guy. I totally caught him ogling.

PM you an old *** man son. My condolences.

LW, we didnt play until 8pm (lol was supposed to be 8, but it started closer to 9). I got there at like 6:45 to shoot around at get some of my skill back, so i probably just missed you! when I walked in they were doing the step aerobics class, but i really tried not to look cause i know when dudes look at the girls in these classes, it looks like ogling. And even though it is me, I'm actually more interested in the aerobics, not the girls believe it or not.

Class was hella terrible today!!! I'm glad i was able to help distract everyone today, you know I'm good for messing around whenever, thats how I do.

HAHAHAHA. No I did not try it and it did not look like baklava (lol) but I was there when Eddie shoved an entire piece in his mouth at once. Apparently it was very good cake but, as much as I like cake, I could not do cake at 10am.

That cake looked INCREDIBLE. There were only two pieces left when I got there, but I couldnt bring myself to...as big as a sweet tooth I am, theres no way I could stomach cake that early. Saba was going to TOWN on that jonx, she literally engorged herself with it, to the point where it was like "Nooooo, I cant take the last bite, too much...*chomp* oh God there I did it!" Hilarious!

My acceptance was very much a large envelope/packet.

Really? Hmmm they must have changed it up now in recent years. For us it came in a small, thick envelope. Actually they sent it home to NY so my mom called up while I was at College Park and read me the letter 😀

 

[LucidSplash]

Really? Hmmm they must have changed it up now in recent years. For us it came in a small, thick envelope. 😀

That must have been your scholarship and keys to Dr. F's house on the eastern shore that made it fat.

I'm glad they switched it up a little. That little envelope was unnecessarily scary. 😎

 

[LadyWolverine]

That must have been your scholarship and keys to Dr. F's house on the eastern shore that made it fat.

MSK may have received the keys to the house, but I got the keys to the convertible. (I also received a small but thick envelope).

I'm so sorry I missed Saba scarfing cake. I bet that was hilarious.

I am going to be sitting in small group tomorrow like 😕 because I haven't done a damn school-related thing all day. A girl needs ONE day off, you know? I came home with the best of intentions, I swear. But, 1 hour of dusting/vaccuming, 30 minutes of ironing, 45 minutes of cooking, 3 hours of bills/tax stuff/paperwork/emails/evals, and a trip to WalMart later, I was too tired to do anything other than surf the web and yak on the phone.

Seriously, life goes on total HOLD during exam weeks. There's so much I haven't done yet that I need to catch up on, and THIS PLACE STILL ISN'T CLEAN!!! 🙁

(When this place is finally done, you guys should come over for dinner! I'll even cook...or call for takeout, so I don't poison all of you! Also, Eddie should come, as I have 4 little bottles of very nice port with his name on it).

 

[cugymnast06]

I received a call at like 7pm the day of the decision (via a message), and large, thick packet about one week later! Best of luck!

 

[LucidSplash]

(I also received a small but thick envelope).

Then mine was probably thick too (though I received no keys or deeds to any of Dr. F's personal effects). However, medical school has caused parts of my brain to atrophy and I have no clear memory of the envelope. I had to delete that detail to make room for neuro last year. This year has meant that large portions of my childhood are missing, but given my childhood that's probably a good thing. 🙄😎😉