AZCOM Class of 2012 Thread

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Hey guys, I thought I'd chime in about the apartments. After researching online, the only apartment complex that looked comparable to San Lagos/San Prado and was one of the most affordable for single bedrooms, was The Pavilions at Arrowhead. The single bedroom apartments are either 764 or 769 sq. ft. and the price range for those is $675-710. That sure beats the $1000+ for a single at San Lagos or San Padro. Plus, from the online photos, The Pavilions looked liked a pretty snazzy place (car care, small movie theater, etc). It's about 1.5 miles from school so it's still close enough.

I discovered that the easiest way to look for apartments near the school was to mapquest the school's address then type in "Apartments" for the "nearby places". It will number off the apartments from closest to farthest, then you can just research those apartments on their websites or on apartmentguide.com.

Anyway, hope that helps!

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Hey Guys,

Hope everyone is enjoying their Summer. I thought I would pass along some cash saving advice for you incoming students.

Do everything you can to find alternative insurance to what the school will offer you; it is a horrendous insurance plan. There are comparably priced, and better plans out there. Aetna comes through the school and will run you about 200$/month, and they will refuse to pay for damn near everything. If you need a normal medication refill, they will deny the office visit. If you find yourself having allergies to the Arizona weather, they will deny the visit. If you get an ear infection (happened to a friend) and need to go get antibiotics, they will deny the office visit. If you break a bone and need to go see a specialist, they will approve the visit, then make you pay for everything anyway by "applying it to the deductible".

The schools insurance plan has not paid for a single thing for me the entire 6 months I have had it. Avoid them and get a better carrier.
 
Hey guys, I thought I'd chime in about the apartments. After researching online, the only apartment complex that looked comparable to San Lagos/San Prado and was one of the most affordable for single bedrooms, was The Pavilions at Arrowhead. The single bedroom apartments are either 764 or 769 sq. ft. and the price range for those is $675-710. That sure beats the $1000+ for a single at San Lagos or San Padro. Plus, from the online photos, The Pavilions looked liked a pretty snazzy place (car care, small movie theater, etc). It's about 1.5 miles from school so it's still close enough.

I discovered that the easiest way to look for apartments near the school was to mapquest the school's address then type in "Apartments" for the "nearby places". It will number off the apartments from closest to farthest, then you can just research those apartments on their websites or on apartmentguide.com.

Anyway, hope that helps!
Dancer,
I have been researching the apartments in a similar manner. I did get excited about the Mark Taylor less expensive pavillions, but then I read a lot of awful reviews on apartmentratings.com about how the place is old and it will be a while before Mark Taylor can redo the place which will end up increasing the rent. Did you visit this place in person? Thanks for chiming in!
 
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The Pavillions is on my list to check out when I'm there June 20-22. I'll let you guys know how i feel once I've seen it if that helps at all. I think I'll check out San Lagos and San Prado too just for comparison....
 
Dancer,
I have been researching the apartments in a similar manner. I did get excited about the Mark Taylor less expensive pavillions, but then I read a lot of awful reviews on apartmentratings.com about how the place is old and it will be a while before Mark Taylor can redo the place which will end up increasing the rent. Did you visit this place in person? Thanks for chiming in!

Anywhere you live, will be fine. If you are looking for the best place with fewer hassles, you will have to pay a little more. You won't have problems with your apartment every day, if ever... but when you do, if you want to be sure things will get taken care of, I suppose I'd listen to the reviews? Prado and Lagos ARE significantly nicer all around, and you can tell... but that is in no way necessary to have in medical school. But if the question is that you do get a nicer complex for the money?... yes. If you are wondering if the others are a bad place to live?... not at all!

*I have never lived in any of these, so I can't comment on management, but I can go by location and facilities*
 
Dancer,
I have been researching the apartments in a similar manner. I did get excited about the Mark Taylor less expensive pavillions, but then I read a lot of awful reviews on apartmentratings.com about how the place is old and it will be a while before Mark Taylor can redo the place which will end up increasing the rent. Did you visit this place in person? Thanks for chiming in!

Eww really? I haven't seen the Pavilions in person, but I definitely would check it out before considering renting there. I personally would love to live where a lot of other classmates are, so I'm still trying to work out San Lagos or Prados.

Enough with this apartment searching! I'm ready to get this show on the road! :D
 
Horay to begining of fourth year! From the past three years at AZCOM, aside from the endless hours of staring at notes and long hours of being the residents' b**ch on the wards I really got a feel for the hot night spots around the valley, especially in old town Scottsdale and Tempe. So for those of you single guys and gals wanting to check out what the valley has to offer for night life, I can help point you in the right direction. Believe me, after getting the life sucked out of you the minutae of first and second year, you will want to go out and have a good time out on the town. If you don't want to go all the way out to Scottsdale or Tempe, there are new opportunities on the west side now that the West Gate complex has opened near the Cardinal's football stadium.

If I were you guys I would arrange a couple (or maybe more) nights out during orientation weekend to help get know you know your fellow classmates as well as students in the other programs like pharmacy, PA, OT, masters, biomed, and now dentistry. From that week I made friends that I still keep to this day... I think the only way I kept my sanity during the first two years was going out at least one night a week, so don't feel like you have to study every waking moment of the day.

Just something I would think about ;)
 
hey guys, does anyone knows of or has a list of all the books we are going to need? are we suppose to have all of them ready by the first day of class? Thanx :)
 
hey guys, does anyone knows of or has a list of all the books we are going to need? are we suppose to have all of them ready by the first day of class? Thanx :)


Nope, you will not need them for the first day of class. During orientation they will cover a lot of what you need, then the first day of class they will do faculty introductions and cover the syllabus and books.
 
Just thought I would introduce myself, my name is Whitney and I was accepted a while ago and just found this site. It is a great feeling to finally make a decision and know where I am going to be living, at least for the next three years.

I am so excited to start school and I am coming out to look for apartments in the middle of the month, does anyone have any suggestions? Well, I hope you all are having a great summer, I was told to live it up, so that is what I plan to do! Take care.
 
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My husband and I just signed a lease for a one bedroom across the street from the school at San Lagos. We have not visited but have heard good things about it. After taxes, our rent comes to 770 which isn't bad. Good luck!!!
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My husband and I just signed a lease for a one bedroom across the street from the school at San Lagos. We have not visited but have heard good things about it. After taxes, our rent comes to 770 which isn't bad. Good luck!!!
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wow, HillMill! $770! that is a great price for san lagos! the listed rent is at least $865! Do they have discounts for midwestern students? did you do everything via an online website or did you call them? thanks :)
 
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Hey Guys,

Hope everyone is enjoying their Summer. I thought I would pass along some cash saving advice for you incoming students.

Do everything you can to find alternative insurance to what the school will offer you; it is a horrendous insurance plan. There are comparably priced, and better plans out there. Aetna comes through the school and will run you about 200$/month, and they will refuse to pay for damn near everything. If you need a normal medication refill, they will deny the office visit. If you find yourself having allergies to the Arizona weather, they will deny the visit. If you get an ear infection (happened to a friend) and need to go get antibiotics, they will deny the office visit. If you break a bone and need to go see a specialist, they will approve the visit, then make you pay for everything anyway by "applying it to the deductible".

The schools insurance plan has not paid for a single thing for me the entire 6 months I have had it. Avoid them and get a better carrier.


Hey! This is the exact problem I was worried about when I was looking over AZCOM's insurance coverage. Is there a better plan you can recommend for me? I'm from California so plans over here are pretty different. Any pointers? Thanks!
 
Hey 2012er's,

I'm looking for a new roommate for next year to share a 2 bedroom/2 bath 1100 sq/ft apt at Sagestone. It's 5 mins from campus walking. I'm a 2010er and I'll be on rotations about half the time. Rent is $500 plus half utilities. It's an excellent location to save on gas and what not. The apartment is basically furnished (since I have furniture already). You'll just need stuff for you room. I'm an easy roommate to get along with and you won't have to deal with me being around half the time when I'm on away rotations. I'd prefer a male roommate but it's not required. Call me at 217-417-2657 (Nick) or e-mail me at [email protected] The room is available as early as July 15th. Did I mention I'm a good cook too?

Thanks,
Nick
 
They gave us two months free and my husband negotiated quite a bit with them I think. That rate will be for 14 months which is sweet. He did all of it over the phone. Good luck!
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Just thought I would introduce myself, my name is Whitney and I was accepted a while ago and just found this site. It is a great feeling to finally make a decision and know where I am going to be living, at least for the next three years.

I am so excited to start school and I am coming out to look for apartments in the middle of the month, does anyone have any suggestions? Well, I hope you all are having a great summer, I was told to live it up, so that is what I plan to do! Take care.

Hey Whitney! You should also check out the AZCOM 2012 group on Facebook. We have almost 100 members, so I think that's where most of us communicate. Oh, and I'm also going out to Phx this month (18-19th) to go apartment hunting. There are a ton of apartments to choose from, but so far on my list I have Sierra Canyon, Stray Horse, Sage Stone, The Pavilions, Laguna, Tresa at Arrowhead, Camden Towne Center, and probably San Lagos just for the heck of it (HillMill revived my hope :D). Hope you're enjoying your summer!
 
Hey Whitney! You should also check out the AZCOM 2012 group on Facebook. We have almost 100 members, so I think that's where most of us communicate. Oh, and I'm also going out to Phx this month (18-19th) to go apartment hunting. There are a ton of apartments to choose from, but so far on my list I have Sierra Canyon, Stray Horse, Sage Stone, The Pavilions, Laguna, Tresa at Arrowhead, Camden Towne Center, and probably San Lagos just for the heck of it (HillMill revived my hope :D). Hope you're enjoying your summer!

Don't forget to join our future class portal too:

http://www.azcom2012.com/

You have to use your Midwestern.edu email to register.
 
Hey all,

I am an MS-IV who plans to move out of my current room towards the end of July. So if anyone wants to rent this room for next year they could start in August.

Here are the details: 1 room in a three bedroom, three bathroom house. House is two stories and located about a mile from campus (< 5 minute drive). Two other students live in the house currently. An MS-IV (the owner) and a second year occupational therapy student. Overall a very spacious, chill living environment close to campus as well as shopping and food.

Price is $560 per month which includes utilities and cable/high speed internet.

If interested give me a call at 623-628-7777 or e-mail me at [email protected]

Thanks,

Matt
 
Hey! This is the exact problem I was worried about when I was looking over AZCOM's insurance coverage. Is there a better plan you can recommend for me? I'm from California so plans over here are pretty different. Any pointers? Thanks!

Hi, congrats on the acceptance. Sorry it took so long for me to respond, I was out of town. At the end of the Summer I am going to switch over to my wife's insurance plan and be free (YAY!) from the Aetna plan from the school. I don't know too much about how private insurance works, but I have heard many students seem to like Blue Cross, Blue Shield of Arizona.

I'll keep my eyes out and see if I can find others with private insurance.
 
Hey! This is the exact problem I was worried about when I was looking over AZCOM's insurance coverage. Is there a better plan you can recommend for me? I'm from California so plans over here are pretty different. Any pointers? Thanks!

I have to switch off my parents plan for next year and I am looking at AMSA and SOMA's plans. I don't know anyone who has them but on paper they look pretty good. You can look them up and see them on both of the organizations webpages.
 
So this is a question for all of you current, and very wise:D, AZCOMers: Just out of curiosity, what system/part of the body do we start with in Anatomy? It seems like the other schools have started the first few weeks with neck, spine, and upper extremities--is this true at AZCOM? How long do we study that section, like two weeks and then have the exam?
 
I'm Pretty sure AZCOM starts with the back and upper extremities. Tests are every 3-4 weeks (as with all the other classes). AZCOM does a rotation with tests and tests are generally every mon and fri (depends on the quarter). So for example:

Week 2 Monday: Test in Class A
Week 2 Fri: Test in class B
Week 3 Monday: Test in Class C
Week 3 Friday: Test in Class D
Week 4 Monday: Test in Class A
Week 4 Fri: Test in class B
Week 5 Monday: Test in Class C
Week 5 Friday: Test in Class D
Etc....
 
If you go to the online.midwestern.edu site and pick AZ block schedules from the drop down menu it will give you your schedule for the upcoming year. I don't think it's up yet but it should be up some time in July. It wil show all of your tests and daily schedule.
 
Hi all! I am going to be starting as a medical student at MWU's glendale campus in the fall and was wondering if anyone is still looking for a roommate? I'm pretty sure I'd like to l live at San Lagos, as it's so close to campus and seems pretty luxurious :thumbup:

Anyway, I'm 23, love to travel, graduated undergrad in physics/philosophy in '06, don't smoke, like people, and am now finishing up my MS in orthopaedics. I'll be traveling down from the beautiful state of Ohio, where I grew up.

Please send me a message if you're interested in talking about the possibility of rooming together!

Your ff (future friend),
Joe
(male...but open to guy or girl roommates)
 
Joe, what part of Ohio? I'm from the Columbus area!
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I'm Pretty sure AZCOM starts with the back and upper extremities.

Yep, we started with back first, then upper extremities last year. They were both on the same, very large exam.

I cannot remember how long we spent on those two, but it was probably about 3 weeks.
 
Can a current student talk about what is covered in the EBM/Epi I class? Also does anyone know more details about trying to get advanced credit for such a class?
 
Can a current student talk about what is covered in the EBM/Epi I class? Also does anyone know more details about trying to get advanced credit for such a class?


Hi all.

The first year EBM class covers the basics of research and EBM analysis (sensitivity, specificity, cohort studies vs. clinical trials, etc). You also learn how to analyze research papers to determine if they meet certain criteria that could apply to your patient. It is an extremely easy class with almost no time requirement =D

I am not sure how you go about getting advanced credit for the class, I know some students who attended MWU for a master's program were able to by-pass the class, but others in the same situation were not. My guess is that unless you took it at MWU with the same faculty, you will have to take it over again. It is important for the board exams so I doubt they will be lenient with advanced placement.
 
Hi all.

The first year EBM class covers the basics of research and EBM analysis (sensitivity, specificity, cohort studies vs. clinical trials, etc). You also learn how to analyze research papers to determine if they meet certain criteria that could apply to your patient. It is an extremely easy class with almost no time requirement =D

I am not sure how you go about getting advanced credit for the class, I know some students who attended MWU for a master's program were able to by-pass the class, but others in the same situation were not. My guess is that unless you took it at MWU with the same faculty, you will have to take it over again. It is important for the board exams so I doubt they will be lenient with advanced placement.

Thanks for the reply! I guess it wouldn't hurt to try to get out of it. Although it is good that it doesn't require too much time. I just graduated with my MPH with a concentration in epidemiology so I've gone over those subjects in depth. I also took Epidemiology of Public Health Practice taught by a DO and it is a semester long course on evidence-based medicine. It just seems redundant to do it all over again but at least it would be easier for me I guess. I'll check into it and see. Thanks again! :D
 
Joe, what part of Ohio? I'm from the Columbus area!
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Alright! Looks like Ohio's going to be representin! :D

I'm from the lovely northcoast shores of Cleveland. It might take a while to get used to having no forests, rain, seasons, squirrels, etc. but i think that constant t-shirt weather might be a fun change.
 
Thanks for the reply! I guess it wouldn't hurt to try to get out of it. Although it is good that it doesn't require too much time. I just graduated with my MPH with a concentration in epidemiology so I've gone over those subjects in depth. I also took Epidemiology of Public Health Practice taught by a DO and it is a semester long course on evidence-based medicine. It just seems redundant to do it all over again but at least it would be easier for me I guess. I'll check into it and see. Thanks again! :D

Honestly, it was one of the easiest classes that I've ever taken and the lectures were really entertaining. The guy who taught it was great and made an otherwise dry subject fun. Trust me, it won't hurt to take it again and help boost up the GPA, which we all need.

My $.02
 
Hi Guys,

I'm so excited to be heading back to school but I've been out of school for a while and I'm starting to panic. All this talk about class and GPA is honestly scaring me a little. Anyone have any study tips or something of that sort? How do I drop and run once school starts? Anyone else in the same boat?
 
Everyone has to find the best way to study for them. Since we all have different backgrounds, everyone is going to have thier own areas of strengths and weaknesses. But I would also recommend reading (anything) over the summer, just to get your brain "warmed up and stretched out" before we dive into the mania of school. The once school starts, just review that day's lectures and other supplemental stuff until your confortable with the material. I think staying ontop of the material will be the most beneficial, since we have tests every few days it will be difficult (especially with the volume of material) to cram for every exam.
 
Everyone's different I guess, but personally I don't recommend reading or doing anything academic unless you absolutely love to. When late November comes and you haven't done anything that normal people do (i.e. watched a movie, TV, or talked to another human being), you will look back on any free time that you had and ask yourself why in the hell you were studying/reading when you didn't have to. Maybe everyone has to experience it for themselves, but your use of free time will dramatically change.

Enjoy your summer.




Everyone has to find the best way to study for them. Since we all have different backgrounds, everyone is going to have thier own areas of strengths and weaknesses. But I would also recommend reading (anything) over the summer, just to get your brain "warmed up and stretched out" before we dive into the mania of school. The once school starts, just review that day's lectures and other supplemental stuff until your confortable with the material. I think staying ontop of the material will be the most beneficial, since we have tests every few days it will be difficult (especially with the volume of material) to cram for every exam.
 
Hi Guys,

I'm so excited to be heading back to school but I've been out of school for a while and I'm starting to panic. All this talk about class and GPA is honestly scaring me a little. Anyone have any study tips or something of that sort? How do I drop and run once school starts? Anyone else in the same boat?


Everyone's different I guess, but personally I don't recommend reading or doing anything academic unless you absolutely love to. When late November comes and you haven't done anything that normal people do (i.e. watched a movie, TV, or talked to another human being), you will look back on any free time that you had and ask yourself why in the hell you were studying/reading when you didn't have to. Maybe everyone has to experience it for themselves, but your use of free time will dramatically change.

Enjoy your summer.


I agree with medschoolsoon, enjoy your summer, get a tan, go out and be social. It is not that you will never have free time once school starts, its just that you don't get to pick when your free time comes. Worse, when that free time does come, you may be too tired to do anything other than sleep.

If you absolutely MUST do something academic this summer, I would suggest getting some Netter flashcards and reviewing some of the structures for the back and upper extremity. The first quarter is really not bad as far as volume goes but most people do not know how to study as a medical student and it takes a few weeks to get your rhythm down - the note cards would at least familiarize you with the material before you are learning it in class/lab.
 
Hey all-
Let me rephrase...... If you have recently been a student (which is going to be the majority of us), I agree, rest your brain before school and socialize.

However, if you haven't done anything that resembles regular studying in the last few years (5, 10, 20 years?....i.e. non-traditional students), I think you're going to have an even harder time adjusting. You don't have to start diving into netter or metabolic pathways over the summer- you will burn yourself out before school even starts. But you would probably have an eaisier time getting back into studying by starting with something casual (reading, writing, whatever) that gets you thinking and using your brain differenly than in your daily normal routine.

Don't worry, we will all survive:)


Only 65 more days!!!! Woo Hoo- so excited
 
Nothing you do over the summer will properly prepare you, let alone 'warm you up' like med school will.

If you simply go in with the mentality that you will study many, many hours a day....especially on the weekends...then you will be aight.
 
hi all,
first time posting. im comin from akron ohio area. anyone know anything about loans for azcom? i havent gotten any tuition information so has anyone tried to apply for a loan? I figured you'd need some paper documentation stating how much tuition is for before you could apply.
 
hi all,
first time posting. im comin from akron ohio area. anyone know anything about loans for azcom? i havent gotten any tuition information so has anyone tried to apply for a loan? I figured you'd need some paper documentation stating how much tuition is for before you could apply.

Did you fill out the FAFSA yet? That should be your first step and have it sent to AZCOM.

On another note, how much of a break is there between 2nd and 3rd years?
 
Does anyone know what our daily schedule will be like? I'm in a wedding september 13th that i need to fly to, and I'm wondering what time would be best to book the ticket. Are we testing on fridays and mondays? should i just assume i have to leave saturday morning and come back sunday or is there some flexibility in the schedule on friday?

Thanks for any help!
 
Mathewjm--

did you check out online.midwestern.edu ? You will apply for loans there (after doing FASFA) under the financial aid section.


asmusseh--
keep checking mwunet.midwestern.edu (AZ block schedules), as we get closer to school this year's actual block schedule will be posted there (under MSI) and includes the test schedule. it will ask for a password to open the block schedule, but just click cancle and the schedule will pop up. Tests are usually in the am (both mon and fri) before classes start- fyi


ell--
the break between 2nd and 3rd year is short ( 2nd year ends in may, 3rd year starts in july).here's this years rotation schedule:
http://www.midwestern.edu/AZRotationSchedule0809.pdf
 
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Hi - I am from Canfield Ohio - just wanted to say hello!
 
Does anyone know what our daily schedule will be like? I'm in a wedding september 13th that i need to fly to, and I'm wondering what time would be best to book the ticket. Are we testing on fridays and mondays? should i just assume i have to leave saturday morning and come back sunday or is there some flexibility in the schedule on friday?

Thanks for any help!

http://mwunet.midwestern.edu/administrative/Registrar/regAZ.htm#Blocks

that's the website that'll have the block schedule and it should be up soon I would think. I'm a MSII, and we didn't have tests on Fridays until January (though there may have been an occasional one), ours were just on Monday. But again, things might change because of the class increase. You can also miss class Friday if you need to. It's not always the best advice, but depending on what classes you have, you might feel comfortable leaving early, say after anatomy. If you want to buy your tickets now, I would suggest Southwest because you can change your ticket easily and inexpensively...like $5 is what it was last year. That works great, especially since it might happen to be a difficult week for you and you don't want to skip class. Good luck! September's a good time though because you'll only have had a few weeks of class. :)
 
ell--
the break between 2nd and 3rd year is short ( 2nd year ends in may, 3rd year starts in july).here's this years rotation schedule:
http://www.midwestern.edu/AZRotationSchedule0809.pdf

Thanks! My husband was thinking we would have more time off but I remembered it not being very long. When do you study for and take the boards?

Another question is what time of the day is anatomy lab? MH said it's probably at the end of the day so you don't end up smelling all day long. I don't remember but are there any showers at the school or do you have to wait until you get home?
 
Thanks! My husband was thinking we would have more time off but I remembered it not being very long. When do you study for and take the boards?

This year, we finished 2nd year on May 16th and our orientation for third year started on June 16th. I took the boards on June 12th (USMLE) and June 14th (COMLEX). Our orientation lasted for a week and now we have two weeks of vacation. In the past, rotations started right after 3rd yr orientation, but this year they changed the schedule so we'd be on the same schedule as the U of A. Some of my classmates still haven't taken the boards, but most have. I think the school requires that you've taken COMLEX before you start your first rotation.

I began studying for the boards right after spring break and tried to devote 4 hours/day to board review. Spring quarter of 2nd year is the lightest of the first two years, so you have plenty of time for board review and keeping up with classes. Then once school was done, I spent about 3 and a half weeks studying between 10 and 12 hrs/day to finish getting ready for them. I think it was enough, but I guess we'll see in a few weeks when we get the scores back!
 
This is a random question but, do we have dances or formals or whatever at AZCOM? I know some med schools have like "med school prom" so I was just wondering. I know TUCOM NV has them too.
 
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