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[Bacchus]

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Hey guys,

It's your friendly moderator, Bacchus, here. I apologize that I no longer post nearly as voluminously as I used to. Residency has me busy so I find myself on SDN and perusing the forums when I have downtime such as 0300 on a Sunday morning :x.

Purpose of this post is to see if there is anything I can do for you guys. Obviously this will be reviewed but trying to make myself more available to you. Don't forget ShyRem is also around, but definitely even busier than me.

It seems the forum is doing well and you guys are moderating yourselves just fine, but just want to see if there is anything that can or needs to be looked into.

Thanks,
Bacchus

 

[thepoopologist]

I would like a cheeseburger and fries

 

[Bacchus]

I would like a cheeseburger and fries

Sorry, our cafe is closed. There's 3 minibags of pretzels in the on-call kitchen, though.

 

[deleted407021]

Hey doc,

Occasionally, when I'm editing a response or typing a post, when I hi-light a line and delete it by hitting 'Delete' (Mac backspace), I'm bumped up to the very top of the page and I'm forced to scroll back down. This seems to happen randomly. I'm using Safari 8.0.2.

Also, on my iPhone, when I enter Safari and hit the SDN 'Favorite' to get on the forum the site crashes my mobile browser about half the time, meaning it closes it completely and forces me to re-opena and try again.

Sorry if this is no the type of problem you were talking about! 😀

 

[Major]

How about a DO acceptance??




On a serious note, do you review PS?

 

[Goro]

I submit that one of the most helpful things you can do is to explain to neophytes (including me) what makes a good residency, and to interpreting match lists.

Hey guys,

It's your friendly moderator, Bacchus, here. I apologize that I no longer post nearly as voluminously as I used to. Residency has me busy so I find myself on SDN and perusing the forums when I have downtime such as 0300 on a Sunday morning :x.

Purpose of this post is to see if there is anything I can do for you guys. Obviously this will be reviewed but trying to make myself more available to you. Don't forget ShyRem is also around, but definitely even busier than me.

It seems the forum is doing well and you guys are moderating yourselves just fine, but just want to see if there is anything that can or needs to be looked into.

Thanks,
Bacchus

 

[IAmNotaRobot]

As someone who came to this forum as a confused premed, I think the Andrew Taylor Still Stickies could be updated. Not just with links, but also general information. A pre-osteo guide that's well curated would do wonders for hundreds of people, and might serve to reduce some of the insanely ignorant posts.

I would be more than wiling to help work on it should you need assistance or lack the time.

 

[Mad Jack]

Hey guys,

It's your friendly moderator, Bacchus, here. I apologize that I no longer post nearly as voluminously as I used to. Residency has me busy so I find myself on SDN and perusing the forums when I have downtime such as 0300 on a Sunday morning :x.

Purpose of this post is to see if there is anything I can do for you guys. Obviously this will be reviewed but trying to make myself more available to you. Don't forget ShyRem is also around, but definitely even busier than me.

It seems the forum is doing well and you guys are moderating yourselves just fine, but just want to see if there is anything that can or needs to be looked into.

Thanks,
Bacchus

I just want to let you and @ShyRem know that I greatly appreciate what you do, and that you inspired me to get where I'm at. Thanks, to both of you.

 

[ShyRem]

Ah the days of residency where I actually had time to eat. Or go to the bathroom. I know I have a call room. I've seen it once during my two years as a nocturnist so far. I'm not kidding.

I've thought about updating some of the links but frankly with all the changes with the merger I'm waiting to see how things shake out before we give out more misinformation under the guise of "update".

As to picking a good residency, that depends a LOT on what you are looking for. To some, a good residency is one that gives you a good balance of life and work. To others it's one that has a feeder to a fellowship. Or research availability to get published. Not a simple question. Almost any residency program can be a good one. Programs with the highest board pass rates aren't necessarily the best programs. Sometimes those programs focus so much on passing exams they skimp on learning how to be a doctor. Some programs have so many fellowship programs that as a resident you don't get to learn and do as much as in other programs.

How to interpret match lists. With a jaundiced eye that is at this time an ever changing landscape. Match lists depend a great deal on what the students want to go into and what their submitted lists originally were. It is far more important if you can find out how many of the students get their top choice, or one of their top 3 choices. That is far more telling of how good the school is. Not all schools will give you this information.

 

[Shinobiz11]

I'd like to see a sticky on ranking DO schools, since we get that thread weekly. Maybe do a large thread about applying to osteopathic schools, what you'll need, how to personally rank them, etc.

 

[costales]

Ah the days of residency where I actually had time to eat. Or go to the bathroom. I know I have a call room. I've seen it once during my two years as a nocturnist so far. I'm not kidding.

I've thought about updating some of the links but frankly with all the changes with the merger I'm waiting to see how things shake out before we give out more misinformation under the guise of "update".

As to picking a good residency, that depends a LOT on what you are looking for. To some, a good residency is one that gives you a good balance of life and work. To others it's one that has a feeder to a fellowship. Or research availability to get published. Not a simple question. Almost any residency program can be a good one. Programs with the highest board pass rates aren't necessarily the best programs. Sometimes those programs focus so much on passing exams they skimp on learning how to be a doctor. Some programs have so many fellowship programs that as a resident you don't get to learn and do as much as in other programs.

How to interpret match lists. With a jaundiced eye that is at this time an ever changing landscape. Match lists depend a great deal on what the students want to go into and what their submitted lists originally were. It is far more important if you can find out how many of the students get their top choice, or one of their top 3 choices. That is far more telling of how good the school is. Not all schools will give you this information.

^ Folks, that is some hard-earned wisdom right there.

 

[the_fella]

The answers to the new MCAT would be nice. Lol. Barring that, I'll accept cash.

 

[Awesome Sauceome]

Hey guys,

It's your friendly moderator, Bacchus, here. I apologize that I no longer post nearly as voluminously as I used to. Residency has me busy so I find myself on SDN and perusing the forums when I have downtime such as 0300 on a Sunday morning :x.

Purpose of this post is to see if there is anything I can do for you guys. Obviously this will be reviewed but trying to make myself more available to you. Don't forget ShyRem is also around, but definitely even busier than me.

It seems the forum is doing well and you guys are moderating yourselves just fine, but just want to see if there is anything that can or needs to be looked into.

Thanks,
Bacchus

I know personally I would like a place where people can post stats for future applicants. We have tried several times to make such threads but because they are not stickied they disappear and/or people are able to mess with the stats.

Basically we want to create a mixture between MDapps and a WAMC thread combined. So like people are able to post their stats and where they applied (easier with DO schools since there are so few of them) and how they did through the cycle. That way future applicants can gauge their competitiveness. It is challenging for us DO applicants since we do not have an MSAR. So I wanted to be able to semi make one.

Basically something like this:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/2014-2015-applicant-stats-thread.1069450/

But because it wasnt stickied and/or the docuent wasnt under better control it basically went to the crapper.

I think if we had a more concise and permanent version of some sort of stats thing for DO applicants then we would see significantly less WAMC threads as well as people derailing threads because of neurotically trying to figure out how they stack up to everybody else.

I have a lot of free time, I am willing to work with anyone to make this idea a reality/make it better. But I am aware that I honestly dont have the know-how to do it alone.

Thanks so much for your time man.

 

[chizledfrmstone]

There's a lot of good information on here about how to pick the right schools. I know because I made one of those threads. We need to get some of that content stickied because when it's buried people start asking the same stupid questions again.

 

[Omppu27]

School-specific threads grouped together based on the application year, just like they have in pre-allo. I think someone brought this up earlier this summer but nothing was done about it.

 

[Awesome Sauceome]

School-specific threads grouped together based on the application year, just like they have in pre-allo. I think someone brought this up earlier this summer but nothing was done about it.

Wait dont we have this already? Am I misunderstanding you?
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/forums/osteopathic-school-specific-discussions.603/ ?

 

[Omppu27]

Wait dont we have this already? Am I misunderstanding you?
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/forums/osteopathic-school-specific-discussions.603/ ?

But in there you will find school-specific threads from the 2013-2014 application cycle as well. It's not really an issue now, but when the summer rolls around there will be threads from the 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 cycles all grouped together. In the pre-allopathic forums, each cycle has its own specific area.

pre-allo 2014-2015: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/forums/2014-2015-allopathic-school-specific-discussions.974/

pre-allo <2014: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/forums/allopathic-school-specific-discussions-2014.962/

 

[Awesome Sauceome]

But in there you will find school-specific threads from the 2013-2014 application cycle as well. It's not really an issue now, but when the summer rolls around there will be threads from the 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 cycles all grouped together. In the pre-allopathic forums, each cycle has its own specific area.

pre-allo 2014-2015: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/forums/2014-2015-allopathic-school-specific-discussions.974/

pre-allo <2014: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/forums/allopathic-school-specific-discussions-2014.962/

ahh I gotcha, yea I could see that being annoying, and it seems like a simple fix - just as sub folders.

 

[chizledfrmstone]

I vote @AlteredScale for mod!

I understand the current mods are busy but there has to be someone around to keep the trolls in check. Pre-DO is gaining popularity and compared to Pre-Allo the poster:mod ratio is messed up.

Last year I saw a veteran member being harassed by a troll. I think he ended up finding her FB and bugging her on there.

 

[AlteredScale]

I vote @AlteredScale for mod!

I understand the current mods are busy but there has to be someone around to keep the trolls in check. Pre-DO is gaining popularity and compared to Pre-Allo the poster:mod ratio is messed up.

Last year I saw a veteran member being harassed by a troll. I think he ended up finding her FB and bugging her on there.

I vote @chizledfrmstone for mod for the osteopathic medical student section.

I would absolutely think it would be wonderful to create a sticky that shows the most recent updates of what is going one with the AOA/AACOM and COCA and have an interpretation of how those changes may affect students down the road.

 

[chizledfrmstone]

I vote @chizledfrmstone for mod for the osteopathic medical student section.

I would absolutely think it would be wonderful to create a sticky that shows the most recent updates of what is going one with the AOA/AACOM and COCA and have an interpretation of how those changes may affect students down the road.

Probably more appropriate for the Medical Students section.

Pre-meds already have too much confidence thinking they know what the heck they're talking about.

 

[AlteredScale]

Probably more appropriate for the Medical Students section.

Pre-meds already have too much confidence thinking they know what the heck they're talking about.

Very true. Yeah it'd probably be safer going there.

 

[Awesome Sauceome]

Probably more appropriate for the Medical Students section.

Pre-meds already have too much confidence thinking they know what the heck they're talking about.

I literally chuckled at this. I know I am in that boat sometimes heh.

 

[Bacchus]

not ignoring anyone, will post soon

 

[Bacchus]

School-specific threads grouped together based on the application year, just like they have in pre-allo. I think someone brought this up earlier this summer but nothing was done about it.

I think this was discussed at some point, but it was decided because there are so few threads (compared to PA) that we'd just lock them when the new application season/school year started. If this isn't done, please let me know.

 

[Bacchus]

I vote @AlteredScale for mod!

I understand the current mods are busy but there has to be someone around to keep the trolls in check. Pre-DO is gaining popularity and compared to Pre-Allo the poster:mod ratio is messed up.

Last year I saw a veteran member being harassed by a troll. I think he ended up finding her FB and bugging her on there.

Since going to Xenforo, the moderator organization has gone to a new structure. There are mods (such as me) and then admins. There is a lot more free range on the forums for moderating.

If there is a problem, the best way to alert someone is to use the REPORT POST function. Honestly, I don't (and can't) follow all threads in this forum.

Regarding new mods, my PM box is always open for suggestions.

 

[Bacchus]

Hey doc,

Occasionally, when I'm editing a response or typing a post, when I hi-light a line and delete it by hitting 'Delete' (Mac backspace), I'm bumped up to the very top of the page and I'm forced to scroll back down. This seems to happen randomly. I'm using Safari 8.0.2.

Also, on my iPhone, when I enter Safari and hit the SDN 'Favorite' to get on the forum the site crashes my mobile browser about half the time, meaning it closes it completely and forces me to re-opena and try again.

Sorry if this is no the type of problem you were talking about! 😀

Thanks for bringing this up. Please use the contact us link at the bottom of the page to alert the helpdesk.

 

[Bacchus]

How about a DO acceptance??




On a serious note, do you review PS?

I can't guarantee an acceptance and I don't review personal statements.

 

[Bacchus]

As someone who came to this forum as a confused premed, I think the Andrew Taylor Still Stickies could be updated. Not just with links, but also general information. A pre-osteo guide that's well curated would do wonders for hundreds of people, and might serve to reduce some of the insanely ignorant posts.

I would be more than wiling to help work on it should you need assistance or lack the time.

I honestly don't have time to do this. Another use in the past considered doing this and nothing came of it. Updating them would be a monumental, but very appreciated task. The downside is we're in a very tumultuous and unknowing time of how the future of osteopathic education is going to play out.

 

[Bacchus]

I'd like to see a sticky on ranking DO schools, since we get that thread weekly. Maybe do a large thread about applying to osteopathic schools, what you'll need, how to personally rank them, etc.

The bane of any message board's existence is no one reads stickies or uses the search function. I don't think doing this will help, to be honest.

 

[Bacchus]

I submit that one of the most helpful things you can do is to explain to neophytes (including me) what makes a good residency, and to interpreting match lists.

Interpreting match lists is difficult. There is obvious selection bias. All that said, I do feel schools sending candidates to residency at bigger institutions are probably doing something more right than another. A well prepared student has more gusto to shoot for the stars than one who is not, in my opinion. Of course there are always outliers.

I picked my residency on 2 factors:
1) Location - I am ~45 minutes from my immediate family and high school friends. A lot of my college friends are within 2 hours. The same can be said for my medical school friends.
2) Feel - I rotated at my program as a 4th year and fell in love with the faculty, staff and the 2nd years. I feel good at this program... and I'm getting a good education.

 

[Bacchus]

I know personally I would like a place where people can post stats for future applicants. We have tried several times to make such threads but because they are not stickied they disappear and/or people are able to mess with the stats.

Basically we want to create a mixture between MDapps and a WAMC thread combined. So like people are able to post their stats and where they applied (easier with DO schools since there are so few of them) and how they did through the cycle. That way future applicants can gauge their competitiveness. It is challenging for us DO applicants since we do not have an MSAR. So I wanted to be able to semi make one.

Basically something like this:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/2014-2015-applicant-stats-thread.1069450/

But because it wasnt stickied and/or the docuent wasnt under better control it basically went to the crapper.

I think if we had a more concise and permanent version of some sort of stats thing for DO applicants then we would see significantly less WAMC threads as well as people derailing threads because of neurotically trying to figure out how they stack up to everybody else.

I have a lot of free time, I am willing to work with anyone to make this idea a reality/make it better. But I am aware that I honestly dont have the know-how to do it alone.

Thanks so much for your time man.

I don't know if this is a task SDN will take on. I do like the google doc idea, however. You should run with that!