UT-Houston School Thread

[DocPsychosis]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

The first, oh, $8000 or so of the year is subsidized, so no interest until a bit later. The rest - about $25,000 if you take the max - is unsubsidized, so interest starts accruing (and capitalizing) immediately, but you don't have to pay it off until later so long as you don't mind the principal growing on a quarterly basis.

 

[Invictusmaneo]

Is anyone else planning to do the Pre-Entry program in July?

 

[armybound]

never heard of it

 

[HerrTex]

Is anyone else planning to do the Pre-Entry program in July?

Well I got the invite for it but I got a trip already planned for Alaska for fishing. I decided Alaska was the better way to go before I start school🙂.

 

[Zweisamkeit]

Is anyone else planning to do the Pre-Entry program in July?

I didn't do it but maybe there's someone who frequents this board who did and can tell you more about it. However, I do have friends that participated in it and they said it was very helpful and a nice way of getting your feet wet when grades don't count. Based on their experiences, if you don't have any plans, I recommend that you do the program. 👍

 

[armybound]

did the invite come in the mail?

 

[HerrTex]

Email about a month ago

 

[DocPsychosis]

I don't think everyone is invited. As far as I know it's more for people who have been out of school for a while and would like to get reacquainted with the classroom lifestyle. I know I never received any invitation or notice about it.

 

[Invictusmaneo]

I called and asked if i could do the program after i got accepted in april, but i think it usually is only by invitation. i had read about it on the website and thought it would be worth my while since i haven't taken a science class since the summer of 2001. I was just wondering if anyone else in here would be doing the program with me.

 

[MiSfiT2013]

Is anyone else planning to do the Pre-Entry program in July?

I'm planning on doing the program as well. I talked to a few people who were in the program last year and they said the exposure to anatomy was the most helpful part of the 5-week course. It seems like a good way to get your feet wet without worrying about grades so I think it will be worth a try.

 

[armybound]

My answers would pretty much be the same as OddNath's. A few extra details:

-Syllabi are available in print at the bookstore, and also as PDFs online so you can print/bind them yourself or use a program like OneNote as I do. These days I run a nearly paperless system.

-Class attendance is not great these days. Depending on scheduling and such, maybe 1/4-1/2 at most. Many people take advantage of the videos.

-New this year the administration is providing students with First Aid books in the second year to aid studying for both classes and Step. It's not a big change, but a nice gesture. Really though you don't start reviewing for the test in addition to normal coursework until January at the earliest.

sorry to rehash old material.

the syllabi are in the bookstore... do you have to pay for them? if so, how much are they?

since the syllabi are printed, how often do you actually use a computer for class? if you use a computer, can you use a desktop or are you doing things on a computer in class? (basically I want to know if I can get a netbook or if I need something larger & more powerful).

 

[Zweisamkeit]

sorry to rehash old material.

the syllabi are in the bookstore... do you have to pay for them? if so, how much are they?

since the syllabi are printed, how often do you actually use a computer for class? if you use a computer, can you use a desktop or are you doing things on a computer in class? (basically I want to know if I can get a netbook or if I need something larger & more powerful).

Yes, if you buy them in the bookstore, you have to pay for them. The price varies depending on the number of pages. They usually range $15-35ish. Keep in mind that they are not bound when you buy them (there was one circumstance when one syllabus was). So you will either have to buy a binder for them or have them bound at Kinkos. If you're smart, you'll learn how to bind them for free in the LRC. 😀 They also post the syllabi on Blackboard, so you can have them printed out at Kinkos or on your own printer.

A computer was necessary for neuro lab, but they had a few desktop computers in the neuro labs so eh.... But it's best that you have your own computer. People will bring laptops to class in order to take notes. Others use them to surf when the lecture is boring. Others don't go to class. 😀

I think a netbook will be fine. The program that you use for neuro lab isn't heavy duty.

Edit:
I don't know how it was for the 1st year classes, but for the 2nd year classes, if we wanted to buy a syllabus from the bookstore, we had to sign up in the store to have one printed out for us. They used to print them out in masses, but they said that it wasn't as profitable. Just wanted to give you the heads up on that.

 

[DocPsychosis]

Edit:
I don't know how it was for the 1st year classes, but for the 2nd year classes, if we wanted to buy a syllabus from the bookstore, we had to sign up in the store to have one printed out for us. They used to print them out in masses, but they said that it wasn't as profitable. Just wanted to give you the heads up on that.

They've been going back and forth on this issue lately. God only knows how it's going to be in the future, so everyone keep an eye out for announcements regarding ordering syllabi (-buses?) toward the end of summer.

 

[kakalak]

I called the financial aid office the other day to clear something up and they told me that they were going to try to send out some grant/scholarship offers tomorrow. Let us know if you hear something!

 

[armybound]

I called the financial aid office the other day to clear something up and they told me that they were going to try to send out some grant/scholarship offers tomorrow. Let us know if you hear something!

thanks for letting us know!

 

[armybound]

Yes, if you buy them in the bookstore, you have to pay for them. The price varies depending on the number of pages. They usually range $15-35ish. Keep in mind that they are not bound when you buy them (there was one circumstance when one syllabus was). So you will either have to buy a binder for them or have them bound at Kinkos. If you're smart, you'll learn how to bind them for free in the LRC. 😀 They also post the syllabi on Blackboard, so you can have them printed out at Kinkos or on your own printer.

A computer was necessary for neuro lab, but they had a few desktop computers in the neuro labs so eh.... But it's best that you have your own computer. People will bring laptops to class in order to take notes. Others use them to surf when the lecture is boring. Others don't go to class. 😀

I think a netbook will be fine. The program that you use for neuro lab isn't heavy duty.

Edit:
I don't know how it was for the 1st year classes, but for the 2nd year classes, if we wanted to buy a syllabus from the bookstore, we had to sign up in the store to have one printed out for us. They used to print them out in masses, but they said that it wasn't as profitable. Just wanted to give you the heads up on that.

cool, thanks. do you happen to know if it's a Windows-only program that you have to use, or if it will work on Linux?

I think I'll just get that netbook I was planning on getting and pray that it will work fine.

 

[aggiesarah2007]

cool, thanks. do you happen to know if it's a Windows-only program that you have to use, or if it will work on Linux?

I think I'll just get that netbook I was planning on getting and pray that it will work fine.

It is windows only. all the mac people pretty much had windows on their computers to do it. Or they used the desktops in lab. Oh neurolab.......I'm so glad I'm done with that!

 

[armybound]

what is this program? what does it do, what does it show you? is it graphics-heavy?

 

[Zweisamkeit]

what is this program? what does it do, what does it show you? is it graphics-heavy?

If I'm not mistaken, it's called NeuroLab. I know, it must have taken them a long time to come up with that title. 🙄 There are graphics on it, but nothing extreme. Just simple pictures with text. There are places where you have to click on parts of the brain and identify them. Like I said earlier, it's nothing heavy duty. I'd tell you how much space it took, but I deleted it asap from my computer. Maybe someone around here still has it on his/her computer and can tell you how big the program is.

 

[DocPsychosis]

90 MB on the hard drive after installation, and roughly 20 MB on RAM when it's running. Hardly even worth noticing.

 

[armybound]

oh ok, yeah, it sounds like a netbook will work if that's the only program you use on a regular basis.

thanks for the info 😎

 

[disarticulate]

Scouting report: Vintage Lounge off of shepherd is prime time

 

[DocPsychosis]

Scouting report: Vintage Lounge off of shepherd is prime time

Never heard of it, have to check it out some time. How's the beer selection?

 

[armybound]

I still have 156 brews to go, so I'm not foregoing Flying Saucer for a while.

do you know if homebrewing is against the University Housing rules?

 

[gobaylor]

do you know if homebrewing is against the University Housing rules?

I would call and ask just to hear the reaction.

 

[heartland]

I still have 156 brews to go, so I'm not foregoing Flying Saucer for a while.

do you know if homebrewing is against the University Housing rules?

I don't think it could be against their policy at all. It's totally legal and not unlike baking. No one would ever know anyway. I'm planning on bringing my homebrew kit when we move into University Housing.

BTW, if you're new to Houston, this a really good homebrew shop: http://www.defalcos.com/

Their site's not the best, but their shop is great, and they're super knowledgeable and helpful.

 

[heartland]

duplicate

 

[armybound]

I don't think it could be against their policy at all. It's totally legal and not unlike baking. No one would ever know anyway. I'm planning on bringing my homebrew kit when we move into University Housing.

BTW, if you're new to Houston, this a really good homebrew shop: http://www.defalcos.com/

Their site's not the best, but their shop is great, and they're super knowledgeable and helpful.

I hear that bottles break from the CO2 produced, so I could just see someone "investigating" some bottle breaking sounds and come to find OMG THAR MAKIN TEH MOONSHINE!!

have you gotten a UH assignment yet?

 

[heartland]

I hear that bottles break from the CO2 produced, so I could just see someone "investigating" some bottle breaking sounds and come to find OMG THAR MAKIN TEH MOONSHINE!!

have you gotten a UH assignment yet?

I had heard stories of bottles breaking too -- I think they're then called grenades. But if you let the brew finish fermenting and use only the proper amount of priming sugar, no explosions are possible, just deliciously refreshing carbonation. It's like a ridiculously easy organic chemistry lab that gives you five gallons of beer.

Yeah, we're actually moving into the El Paseo building this Friday. My girlfriend and I showed up to camp out at 3pm the day before applications were accepted and were lucky enough to be first on the list.

I've heard that the turnaround on the one bedroom units is fairly quick...

 

[professoris]

Hey heartland,
Does University Housing ( either El Paseo or Cambridge) have washer/dryer units?

 

[professoris]

Does anyone else know how important it is to get a place close to school? Like, how much more stressful is it commuting daily if I dont intend going to class everyday ( watch podcasts, read syllabus).. how many activities are 'attendance heavy"? Thanks guys..

 

[armybound]

I had heard stories of bottles breaking too -- I think they're then called grenades. But if you let the brew finish fermenting and use only the proper amount of priming sugar, no explosions are possible, just deliciously refreshing carbonation. It's like a ridiculously easy organic chemistry lab that gives you five gallons of beer.

Yeah, we're actually moving into the El Paseo building this Friday. My girlfriend and I showed up to camp out at 3pm the day before applications were accepted and were lucky enough to be first on the list.

I've heard that the turnaround on the one bedroom units is fairly quick...

so if I requested July, I shouldn't wait to hear anything until July? do they not know when peoples' leases are up and when units will become available?

I don't know if I should just sign a contract somewhere else or gamble with UH

 

[armybound]

Does anyone else know how important it is to get a place close to school? Like, how much more stressful is it commuting daily if I dont intend going to class everyday ( watch podcasts, read syllabus).. how many activities are 'attendance heavy"? Thanks guys..

labs require attendance (when it's your turn to teach or dissect). aside from that, I don't think you have to go at all 😕

 

[heartland]

Does anyone else know how important it is to get a place close to school? Like, how much more stressful is it commuting daily if I dont intend going to class everyday ( watch podcasts, read syllabus).. how many activities are 'attendance heavy"? Thanks guys..

The El Paseo complex has washer/dryers in each unit, and the Cambridge complex has shared, coin-operated washer/dryers.

I've always thought that Houston is an awesome city as long as you don't have to commute on the highways and interstates. The best parts of Houston and the best traffic situation are inside the loop.

 

[professoris]

I see.. so it wouldnt be to bad of an idea to rent out of the loop/Medical center and make these intermittent commutes. Thanks armybound.

incidentally, I am in the same fix regarding gambling with University Housing. I called them today and they were deliberately vague on when ( if ever) housing would open up.The lady even suggested that for 100% assurance, it would be wise to rent somewhere else. I asked for a July move in date too.

 

[heartland]

so if I requested July, I shouldn't wait to hear anything until July? do they not know when peoples' leases are up and when units will become available?

I don't know if I should just sign a contract somewhere else or gamble with UH

The earliest you would hear something is June 1st. Tenants give a 30-day notice when they plan to move out, and as soon as the leasing office gets the notice, they contact the next person on the list. After you're contacted you have the choice to move in anytime from the first day the unit's available to 30 days after that, so about 30-60 days from when you're contacted.

For their waiting list, they have a master list based on the order apps were received, and they just "gray" your name out on their Excel sheet until they make your name "active" 30 days before your choice of a move-in month.

They're pretty friendly in the office, and I'm sure they'd be willing to tell you where you are on the list.

 

[Zweisamkeit]

Does anyone else know how important it is to get a place close to school? Like, how much more stressful is it commuting daily if I dont intend going to class everyday ( watch podcasts, read syllabus).. how many activities are 'attendance heavy"? Thanks guys..

Traffic generally isn't too horrible if you live inside 610. If you have to take highways to get to school, then you're effed. Another thing that you have to keep in mind is parking. Parking is a huge, huge commodity in the medical center so you're either going to have to set aside a decent chunk of money for parking or be smart and park someplace free where you can hop on the rail, bus, or student shuttle.

Also, in 2nd year, you don't have mandatory labs but you have classes like PBL, genetics small groups, and ethics small groups where you have mandatory attendance. I admit, if you're not a regular class-attendee, it kind of sucks coming to school every other day (PBL) for something that only lasts 1-2 hours. The further away you live from school, the more irritating it can be.

So.....just keep that stuff in mind 🙂

 

[Thanatos]

I see.. so it wouldnt be to bad of an idea to rent out of the loop/Medical center and make these intermittent commutes. Thanks armybound.

incidentally, I am in the same fix regarding gambling with University Housing. I called them today and they were deliberately vague on when ( if ever) housing would open up.The lady even suggested that for 100% assurance, it would be wise to rent somewhere else. I asked for a July move in date too.

I have classmates that live in pearland and farther....they're able to do it, but it is kind of a pain in the ass. You can get cheaper rent out of the city but you will take most if not all of it and spend it on gas and parking. First and second year you don't have to come up for much but 3rd year and a large part of 4th year you have to come in every day, working long hours. IMO, you don't want to spend what time you have in the car (although traffic is not as bad at 5 am).

There are many, many apts/condos within just about any price range in a 10 mile radius of the school. A lot of us live south of the medical center but I know several people in the rice village and museum district area as well.

 

[MiSfiT2013]

The earliest you would hear something is June 1st. Tenants give a 30-day notice when they plan to move out, and as soon as the leasing office gets the notice, they contact the next person on the list. After you're contacted you have the choice to move in anytime from the first day the unit's available to 30 days after that, so about 30-60 days from when you're contacted.

For their waiting list, they have a master list based on the order apps were received, and they just "gray" your name out on their Excel sheet until they make your name "active" 30 days before your choice of a move-in month.

They're pretty friendly in the office, and I'm sure they'd be willing to tell you where you are on the list.

I called them sometime last week because I want to move in during June. I asked where I was on the list and they told me they do not give out that information. I'm not sure why they won't, it's not top secret information...

 

[DocPsychosis]

FWIW I would never live outside the loop unless I had a family and needed the cheap space, and even then I would give it serious consideration. It's just too much of a hassle and expense getting back and forth all the time.

 

[aggiesarah2007]

I had heard stories of bottles breaking too -- I think they're then called grenades. But if you let the brew finish fermenting and use only the proper amount of priming sugar, no explosions are possible, just deliciously refreshing carbonation. It's like a ridiculously easy organic chemistry lab that gives you five gallons of beer.

Yeah, we're actually moving into the El Paseo building this Friday. My girlfriend and I showed up to camp out at 3pm the day before applications were accepted and were lucky enough to be first on the list.

I've heard that the turnaround on the one bedroom units is fairly quick...

My husband and his friend homebrew. one time i opened one of their bottles and WOOSH it gushed so high it hit the ceiling. His friend was super embarrassed that he created a gusher 🙂 I had to explain that just putting it in the dishwasher didn't make it sterile 🙂

 

[armybound]

sounds like there's going to be plenty of homebrew around.

does anyone rock climb? is there a place near school to go climbing/bouldering?

 

[alehar]

sounds like there's going to be plenty of homebrew around.

does anyone rock climb? is there a place near school to go climbing/bouldering?

I've been a few times to TX Rock Gym, and I always wished I could pick it up again. Our gym at UT has a relatively crappy wall, so no dice nearby.

Any golfers?

 

[kakalak]

I've been a few times to TX Rock Gym, and I always wished I could pick it up again. Our gym at UT has a relatively crappy wall, so no dice nearby.

Any golfers?

Golfer here. My parents live in Houston on the northside and are members at Champions. We can definitely sneak out there in the afternoon after class and play some. Idk if you're from Houston and know any of the courses in the area, but Wildcat and that course in memorial park are nearby and are halfway decent too. I was actually hoping I could find someone in the class that wanted to go play once or twice a week during the weeks right after tests when were not doing a whole lot.

 

[disarticulate]

I think I shot in the low 120s a few weeks ago at my buddies bachelor party. Needless to say, I'll be wading for trout when you guys are teeing off. I'm terrible at golf, but I'll play the hell out of just about any other sport.

 

[alehar]

Golfer here. My parents live in Houston on the northside and are members at Champions. We can definitely sneak out there in the afternoon after class and play some. Idk if you're from Houston and know any of the courses in the area, but Wildcat and that course in memorial park are nearby and are halfway decent too. I was actually hoping I could find someone in the class that wanted to go play once or twice a week during the weeks right after tests when were not doing a whole lot.

My family's from Houston, so all the golfers should meet up sometime this summer and play a round or two.

And I'm still not very good, despite having taken the UT class. Sometimes my golf scores are a little more like bowling scores

 

[HerrTex]

Hermann golf course is probably the closest to school but the course isn't that great. It is on the cheaper side in case anybody needed a close quick fix.

 

[professoris]

So guys.........heard that Baylor is switching to pass/Fail for the pre-clinical years. Will Houston try this model anytime soon? Are there any proven benefits to pass/fail grading with regards to residency selections?

 

[Thanatos]

So guys.........heard that Baylor is switching to pass/Fail for the pre-clinical years. Will Houston try this model anytime soon? Are there any proven benefits to pass/fail grading with regards to residency selections?

Residency programs really don't care about your grades during the first two years, as long as you pass everything. They care the most about your step 1 score and your clinical grades/evaulations.

You do however need to do well in the first two years if you want to be AOA.

 

[armybound]

Whoa, apparently Texas Rock Gym in Houston is really nice... if anyone wants to start climbing.