yup, the pattern is that the school accepts a lot of weak students and some of them will look for any reason to cry. but thats been going on as long as Ross has existed. funny how this stuff doesnt seem to hinder the majority of people who went there.

The problems with the water and electricity are common to third world countries. Suck it up.

I don't see how you can say that the Financial Aid department is anything but incompetent. Check out the emails we have received from this star department

This email was dated 7/29/05

We are aware that you have not received your Award Letter for the September 2005 thru December 2005 Semesters. However, you can apply ahead of receiving your Award Letter. Your Award Letter will be sent to you via. your rossmed e-mail account. Applying now will allow you to receive a Refund Check on time when you return to Campus after the break.

Apply for a Federal Stafford Loan for 9/06/05 -12/16/05 for $9,250.00 at http://opennet.salliemae.com
Apply for a Signature Loan for 9/06/05 -12/16/05 for $12,171.00 at www.salliemaeedloan.com (for Academic Prog. choose ' general graduate' )
www.studentloanxpress.com/apply/
www.mymedinvest.com

Hilary F. Joseph (Mr.)
Financial Aid Coordinator / Campus
Ross University School of Medicine
P O Box 266, Roseau
Commonwealth of Dominica, West Indies
Phone: (767) 255 6500 ext. 6306
Fax : (767) 445 4867
e-mail: hjoseph@rossmed.edu.dm




And then on 8/12/05 we receive this news which means all the loans we applied for 2 weeks ago are wrong. This just looks like the blind leading the blind



The office in New Jersey has informed Campus staff that your Award Letter for the September 2005 thru August 2006 Semesters was sent via. your personal e-mail address on 8/11/05. This time around every student can apply for Federal Stafford loans and a Signature / Alternative loan for three consecutive semesters. Please be guided accordingly.

Apply for a Federal Stafford Loan for 9/06/05 - 8/17/06 for $27,750.00 at http://opennet.salliemae.com
Apply for a Signature Loan for 9/06/05 - 8/17/06 for $36,513.00 at www.salliemaeedloan.com (for Academic Prog. choose ' general graduate' )
www.studentloanxpress.com
www.mymedinvest.com

Hilary F. Joseph (Mr.)
Financial Aid Coordinator / Campus
Ross University School of Medicine
P O Box 266, Roseau
Commonwealth of Dominica, West Indies
Phone: (767) 255 6500 ext. 6306
Fax : (767) 445 4867
e-mail: hjoseph@rossmed.edu.dm

The good news just keeps on rolling

RUSM Community-

To bring everyone up to date on the current problems we're experiencing with respect to our potable water distribution system, the following update is forwarded to your information and use. Please pass along to colleagues and classmates to ensure that everyone understands the current situation. There are two separate problems that we are working to resolve at this time.

An email update was forwarded Friday afternoon regarding a small water leak near classroom #4 and the library area. After completing some initial investigation of the problem, it was determined that the pipe could not be fixed within a reasonable timeframe to avoid impacting community use of the restrooms prior to the exam week. Water to all sections of campus was restored Friday evening, but the Library, Classroom #4/ICM & Classroom #1 restrooms have experienced lower than normal pressure since that time as a result of the small leak.

Sometime between midnight and 6:30am this morning, our main water line received a large pressure surge from the local water system. We have not been able to determine the cause of the surge, but have confirmed that a pipe fitting attached to our main water line shifted underground, causing the water pressure to drop on the entire campus. The maintenance team mobilized quickly this morning and is nearing completion of temporary fixes for both the main water line break, as well as the break in the line serving the Library, Classroom #1, Old Administration & Classroom #4/ICM restrooms.

The restroom pavilion backup water system was energized this morning at 8:00am and is currently operational. Classroom #4, Classroom #6 and Executive Office Bldg restrooms have been closed. All other restrooms remain open for community use. The grounds maintenance and housekeeping teams have brought emergency water supplies from RUH (this water is being stored in the large blue drums around campus). This water will support the more frequent cleaning required during this water curtailment.

Water fountains will remain closed until water supply is fully restored to the campus. After the temporary repairs are complete, our plumbers and housekeeping staff will conduct a full survey of all restrooms to ensure that they are clean, functional and well stocked will supplies prior to our teams departure this evening.

Additional information will be forwarded as it becomes available.

RJP

Water went out frequently while I was on the island. Those blue barrels were kind of funny because at first I thought we were asked to use that water to flush, but were not given buckets to carry it from the barrel to the toilet.
That and how all the toilets are clogged up by sunday before finals is the main reason why housing close to campus is so expensive.

advice: hide a roll of toilet paper in your bag. don't tell anyone you have any.

The financial aid system has changed in order to make things easier. Now you will no longer receive a paper award letter unless you want to request LESS than the full amount allowed. You receive an e-mail award letter telling you how much you qualify for. You go online, fill out the application and the school certifies you for the funds. Its very easy and quick and you can track the status of your funds online. Yes, its different, but much easier and faster than before.

As far as the water issues on campus, its sure sounds like they are doing a great job keeping students informed of the problems and suggesting alternatives. Additionally, they are trying minimize the inconvenience to students by trying to keep the system going until break when they can fix things correctly.

None of this sounds like imcompetence to me. It sounds like the school is communicating well (better than before) with students and trying to improve the process of receiving your funds.

-M

__________________
MitchDC/MD
RUSM 2006 Graduate

Just curious which part doesn't sound like incompetence?

1)The fact that on 7/29/05 the Financial Aid dept informed us we could apply for

Apply for a Federal Stafford Loan for 9/06/05 -12/16/05 for $9,250.00 at http://opennet.salliemae.com
Apply for a Signature Loan for 9/06/05 -12/16/05 for $12,171.00 at www.salliemaeedloan.com (for Academic Prog. choose ' general graduate' )

OR

2)The fact that on 8/12/05 the Financial Aid dept changed the loan amount b/c they originally gave us the WRONG amount to apply for?

Apply for a Federal Stafford Loan for 9/06/05 - 8/17/06 for $27,750.00 at http://opennet.salliemae.com
Apply for a Signature Loan for 9/06/05 - 8/17/06 for $36,513.00 at www.salliemaeedloan.com (for Academic Prog. choose ' general graduate' )

It looks like they are being really helpful b/c now I have had to cancel all of my previous loans and redue them for the new amount. Thanks again FA dept.

the amounts didn't change, just the number of terms.

That's exactly my point. You would think the financial aid dept would know that we should apply for a full year instead of 1 semester at a time. Then again after awhile you become jaded and expect nothing less from ross.

As a person who used to poopoo financial aid at Ross, I can tell you you're not as unlucky as you could be.
What you should be doing is reading your dates and feeling relieved that the school is granting aid for a whole year now. Kudos to the department for wisening up by cutting down on our paperwork.
As far as the water, when you're in a 3rd world country, learn to hold it. Or remember that campus is on the water.
Being at Ross is an option people choose for many reasons. Whatever the case, it's a chance for most to do what they most want to do, and yes, often in trying circumstances. So what matters is what you bring to it, the majority of that being the grades you make.
I suggest you invest your time studying instead of whining (as yes, most subpar students do), and book a personal counselor stateside b/c things are tougher over here...whenever you make it here anyway.

Best of luck with the books.

To the OP...even though you're in third semester (as you have stated), I must say, "welcome to Ross and life in dominica." But, the only reason I am saying this is that, if you really are in third semester (which I am not doubting), your concerns are normal for most people who are "over the hill" (those who have completed more than 50% of the program, ie, those who are in 3rd). You've been there a minimum of 8 months, and things start to grow on you. you may not be as forgiving as you were when you first set foot on the island. I'm sure you've been told that the island isnt the best place to live, and all of the things that you experienced when you first got there...well, you passed it up since you expected worse. but now, the lifestyle downt here is catching up to you, and you are now expecting less worse conditions, so the smaller things are annoying you more. you'll be done soon, so just try to do whatever you can to get off there quick. and to the above poster (valuevdm), please don't copy my coined closing, "Good luck."