University of Cincinnati students....any contracts available?

Eileen,
I am a first year student at UC. Your GRE may well land you a 60%-ish scholarship, but I heard recently that they are re-looking at the current policy of using the GRE as an exclusive tool to award those scholarships--keep your ear to the ground it may change. I personally don't like the current policy, but then again I did not get a 1242 on the GRE. I landed the scholarship for the 2nd and 3rd Qtrs. of my first year with a substantially lower score than yours. Contracts are a sticky deal-- be careful--do your homework. You can usually find about $1000/month for a 2 year commitment and some of my classmates have gone that route, but it is not like it was in years past for the Cincy market. I have heard of groups in Dayton and Columbus doing them too. Most try to structure the monthly amount like it is a loan so you don't pay taxes on it 'til you are working later after school. I am doing the Army Reserve Specialized Training Assistance Program (STRAP), which is about $1900/month for an 8-year hitch in the Reserves. There is some other money that goes with that, but it varies alot on a case by case basis. My short-term advice is to exhaust the loan options before you--up to and including private loans before you commit to working anywhere; alot can change in 27 months of school.

Eileen,
I like my program just fine. I am sure they are all challenging in their own ways--many the same...some different. While my didactic instruction has been pretty good, I feel the clinicals and the design of the program are really the main selling points. You get in the OR early and start doing your own cases during the second qtr. How many other schools even offer scholarships? Your peds rotation is at the busiest peds OR in the US. The program director is a past pres of the AANA. Housing is very reasonable here--we came out of a pricey market in Salt Lake City, UT. The students in my class range from mid-twenties to a few over 40. with the average being closer to 30-ish.
Good luck,
B

Hey Beedog.....just a quick question totally unrelated. I am struggling with having to buy a Verizon phone for this fall. The iphone is great and the service is cheaper than Verizon. Is it absolutely necessary to have a Verizon phone? Do you know if there is any reception at all in the OR with ATT? Thanks! And only two and a half more months until this show is on the road. Starting to freak a little.

You will need a Verizon phone. You will be calling your CRNA the night before clinical and they are all on Verizon. I've been told that they get a bit upset if you use their minutes (if you aren't Verizon, you will)... Some people have gotten together with classmates and gotten a family plan and split the cost. It is a cheap way to get Verizon. Then keep the ATT phone for everyday use.

You won't absolutely need Verizon until winter quarter. You could wait and see. Use the ATT phone in the OR and see what it does, then make your decision.

Good luck!