Information Sessions

[MDintheSun]

Hi all. Has anyone attended one of the US info sessions put on by UMHS? I attended the Chicago session last week and thought it worthwhile. It was nice to put faces to names, and ask questions. The main speaker was the VP of Admissions Mgmt. She also had her husband speak and answer questions. He is a practicing MD and a graduate of Ross, but no affiliation with UMHS. The session lasted about 2 hours, but I was suprised how few people asked questions, considering more than a few had traveled pretty far to be there. I knew just about everything I wanted to know before I got there thanks to these forums, but thought it useful to hear the presentation and talk to the staff. Of interest was the fact that if you visit the school prior to attending, and then are accepted and do attend, they will credit you $500 off your tuition. Also, If a family member visits with you, they will credit an additional $500 off your tuition. They addressed several issues, including class size (and limiting potential future growth to keep the student-teacher ratio down), rotations and housing. Again, nobody seemed to be asking any questions that I would have thought important to a prospective med student unable to readily visit a school in the carribean (although maybe they asked individually after - I did). They also stated that they may/will require the MCAT in 2010. They stated they still had a few open slots in the January and May classes, and that if considering attending, plan on 6 - 12 months lead time. I know from what I've read here that some people have been applying and getting in on what seems like very short notice, but this is what they said. They said they had a large amount of applications to process, and it would benefit you to apply early. They seemed to stress the visa taking some time to acquire. They conducted 4 interviews following the presentation (I wasn't one of them), and then had a presentation for their School of Nursing (only saw a handful of people waiting for that). I was impressed with everything I have read about UMHS here in the forums, and their presentation solidified that. So, anyone else have any input?

[sarcomere700]

Hi all. Has anyone attended one of the US info sessions put on by UMHS? I attended the Chicago session last week and thought it worthwhile. It was nice to put faces to names, and ask questions. The main speaker was the VP of Admissions Mgmt. She also had her husband speak and answer questions. He is a practicing MD and a graduate of Ross, but no affiliation with UMHS. The session lasted about 2 hours, but I was suprised how few people asked questions, considering more than a few had traveled pretty far to be there. I knew just about everything I wanted to know before I got there thanks to these forums, but thought it useful to hear the presentation and talk to the staff. Of interest was the fact that if you visit the school prior to attending, and then are accepted and do attend, they will credit you $500 off your tuition. Also, If a family member visits with you, they will credit an additional $500 off your tuition. They addressed several issues, including class size (and limiting potential future growth to keep the student-teacher ratio down), rotations and housing. Again, nobody seemed to be asking any questions that I would have thought important to a prospective med student unable to readily visit a school in the carribean (although maybe they asked individually after - I did). They also stated that they may/will require the MCAT in 2010. They stated they still had a few open slots in the January and May classes, and that if considering attending, plan on 6 - 12 months lead time. I know from what I've read here that some people have been applying and getting in on what seems like very short notice, but this is what they said. They said they had a large amount of applications to process, and it would benefit you to apply early. They seemed to stress the visa taking some time to acquire. They conducted 4 interviews following the presentation (I wasn't one of them), and then had a presentation for their School of Nursing (only saw a handful of people waiting for that). I was impressed with everything I have read about UMHS here in the forums, and their presentation solidified that. So, anyone else have any input?

bummer that others didn't speak much! i would like to know if they said anything about getting future stafford loans (i can't remember the proper name for them) considering that the school's president is on some educational board for the government...?

[MDintheSun]

As far as I know, and this was confirmed at the info session, no federal loans, and no future prospects for such. Just private loans (Citibank) as discussed on other threads here.

[gx255]

You are actually wrong there. There is prospect for federal loans. Check the main website if you haven't.

[dandaman486]

Where exactly on the website?

"Due to the fact that UMHS is not yet recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, existing student loans will not be eligible for the automatic in-school deferment students may be used to."

that'd be great but how soon can we expect that, hopefully before Sept 09

[StLouie]

Go to the main page of the UMHS web page. Then go to the bottom left under News and its the first item (Warren Ross Chosen by the US Department of Education).

[ntopieces]

i too came to the info session and knew pretty much everything that was presented so i didn't asked any question. did you notice how they were dodging and redirecting the question when people asked about people passing and failing. it seems like they didn't want us to know about. i for one don't care much who pass or fail cus my grade is all that matters to me and do well. it won't hurt if they could be a little honest, cus i really believe in honesty. but yeah, i was a bit concern when i saw how few people attended. on the phone, i asked them how many people signed up and they said "30"- we all know there was a lot less than that.

[sarcomere700]

i too came to the info session and knew pretty much everything that was presented so i didn't asked any question. did you notice how they were dodging and redirecting the question when people asked about people passing and failing. it seems like they didn't want us to know about. i for one don't care much who pass or fail cus my grade is all that matters to me and do well. it won't hurt if they could be a little honest, cus i really believe in honesty. but yeah, i was a bit concern when i saw how few people attended. on the phone, i asked them how many people signed up and they said "30"- we all know there was a lot less than that.

well, i heard that OHSU, the medical school in Portland Oregon, had 5 or 6 students fail such that they have to repeat the year again...oh, great. more "hear-say"..:rant: however, it was from a very reliable source.

the point: every school is going to have those who have a rough start. you have the right attitude in not worrying about how others do...crap, i am tarting to sound like self-help guru. i am outta here. :outtahere:

[StLouie]

Not to talk $&!^, but if you,re worried you need a new career choice. Come on now!!! If you are applying to med school then you have made it through physics, organic chemistry, and most likely biochem. Now think back to when those classes started. You were probably sitting in a lecture hall with a few hundred students, however, when the class was finished a few months later there was only half the students left in the class. You were one of them!!!! As long as you know your always gong to be one of those who remains then forget about what the hell everyone else does. Worry about you self, actually better put, "you are your only priority." Remember this and you'll have less obstacles to overcome late on.