Good post, thanks for the info! So it is possible to defer a year so you could move to WV and pay the lower tuition? That is something I have been thinking about and was wondering if it was possible...
If you don't mind me asking, did you move to Lewisburg or another part of WV for that year prior? And do you have to work full time during that year to become a WV resident?
Thanks in advance!
If you don't mind me asking, did you move to Lewisburg or another part of WV for that year prior? And do you have to work full time during that year to become a WV resident?
Thanks in advance!
Hi to all!
My wife is currently a 2nd year student at WVSOM. I have been reading the forum and thought I would post some information that might be of help to accepted students, interviewees and potential students.
Does Lewisburg really not have public transportation?
No it does not. As posted previously, public transportation used to be available but is not any longer. You will need to find some way to get around.
What rental car companies are located at the airport?
Avis http://www.avis.com 304-645-7243
National http://www.nationalcar.com 304-645-6044
Alamo http://www.alamo.com 304-645-4016
Hertz http://www.hertz.com 304-647-5170
Enterprise http://www.enterprise.com 304-645-2800
What is the closest airport?
The closest airport is the Greenbrier Valley Airport (LWB). The link can be found here: http://www.gvairport.com
Only a handful of flights fly in and out per day.
Is there any way to get in-state tuition without living here for 12 months prior to matriculating?
No. There is not. They will not change it. You have to realize that out of state residents are a HUGE source of income for the school. If you want in-state tuition, move here 12 months prior like we did. Sorry for the bad news.
Can I use a Macintosh computer, even though it is not recommended?
Yes, you can use a Macintosh computer. It needs to be fairly recent though so that you don't get stuck buying a new one halfway through studies. This being said, Mac users are on their own. The computer services dept hardly knows anything about PC's much less Macintosh. I'm not trying to slight their IT dept, it just seems as though most of them aren't very smart. If you can run boot camp, parallels, or VMware on your Mac for the times when you migt need Windows, you'll be fine. The website used to have a recommended PC configuration but I can't seem to find it on the site anymore. A LAPTOP IS REQUIRED! You will absolutely need a laptop for attendance at WVSOM. I would recommend something lightweight since you will be hauling this back and forth to class almost EVERY day. HEAVY books and a HEAVY laptop are not fun. Since you can't control the weight of a book, the laptop is the only way to shed some of those extra pounds. The entire campus has wireless and printing solutions. You will get a print card during your orientation that will allow you to print to the campus printers for large documents. There is a fee involved in printing. Your card will come charged with a starting amount of $100 if I'm not mistaken, but once this runs out you will need to recharge it.
Can anyone tell me where to stay while I'm here?
There are a number of options. The Hampton Inn and Holiday Inn Express (finished in Summer 2008) are the newest and nicest, as well as the most expensive. The General Lewis Inn is very old, but also very historic. If you want to stay somewhere that is classic, this is the place. Their food is also VERY good. The Brier Inn has been around for a bit and is mediocre. They also have a conference center and a bar. The Brier is a local hangout on the weekends during the summer for live music, etc. A list with contact info is below.
A.Hampton Inn Lewisburg, WV
- www.hamptoninn.com - (304) 645-7300
B.Brier Inn
- www.brierinn.com - (304) 645-7722
C.Super 8 Lewisburg
- www.super8.com - (304) 647-3188
D.The General Lewis Inn & Restaurants
- www.generallewisinn.com - (800) 628-4454
E.Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites Lewisburg
- www.hiexpress.com - (877) 863-4780
F.Fort Savannah Inn
- www.tripadvisor.com - (304) 645-3055
How long does it take once I interview to find out if I'm accepted?
The admissions board meets almost every Tuesday unless there is a conference or something is going on that has a lot of the staff out of town. If you interview on Monday, there is a chance you will know the next day. The admissions dept is VERY good about updating status information on the web page. If you have questions, don't hesitate to call Annette Moore at 304-647-6230 [email protected] or Angie Amick at 304-647-6408 [email protected].
What is the housing market like?
Housing is tough. It depends on a lot of factors such as the economy, etc. Most of you will be renting houses instead of buying. Lewisburg has a huge variety of rental options. You can get a house, an apartment, a single room at someone's house, live above the dry cleaners (seriously) and other options. Rent varies widely depending on where you live. Lewisburg, Fairlea, White Sulphur Springs, and Ronceverte are all options. Much farther than those areas and you're looking at quite a haul to school, especially during the winter months with inclement weather. You can view housing information on the WVSOM website where they have an interactive tool that will help you search rental listings. This list used to be in Word format and downloadable from the site, but it is now interactive and must be accessed with a student ID. The links can be found here: http://www.wvsom.edu/students/housing.cfm
What are the average MCAT, GPA, hair color, weight and height of students?
WVSOM seems to be different than some schools in the aspect of scores and the like. While scores DO matter, they are not the ONLY determining factor. While I cannot be sure, if you have a 2.0 and a 19 MCAT you will most likely not get into WVSOM. If you have a 3.5 and 30, you might not get in either. WVSOM tends to look at the candidate as a whole instead of looking only at grades or only at personality. If you have high scores, and come off as God's gift to the medical profession in your interview, there is a possibility that they might not accept you because of your attitude. This is all subjective and being that I'm not on the interview board, I cannot speak truth in this matter. Having met TONS of students while my wife has been here though, this seems to be the general consensus.
Is it possible to have kids while attending medical school?
YES! Whether starting school with a child or children, planning to have children while in school or just thinking about the possibility, it is certainly do-able. My wife and I had our first child while she was in her first year. She was born in March toward the end of the school year. I currently know of 4 people who are having children while in school (2nd year students or spouses). One is a student and 3 of them are spouses of students. This is NOT something to be taken lightly. If you do not handle stress well, this might not be a good option for you. If you are a strong person with a level head, then it is certainly something that can be accomplished with minimal school downtime. The school will work with you on having children while in school. While you won't get a 4 week vacation and an exam curve, they try to accommodate most situations. Speak with the dean to discuss your options.
I'll add to this list as more questions get asked. I'm not a student and don't know much about the curriculum, etc. but do have information on the area and general school information since we've been here for over 3 years. If you have additional information that you think I might be able to answer, please PM me. If it is something I can answer I wil do so promptly. If it is something I can't answer, I'm sure I can find an answer for you and reply accordingly.
Hope this helps!
The only thing you need to do for residency establishment is get a driver's license in this state and some utilities. On the driver's license, there will be an issue date. Wait 12 months and you're golden.
