2hot2doc---> I've been following this discussion and the whole time I have been asking myself why you are taking this so ridiculously personal. Reading your comments I get the sense that you feel like this policy was put in place JUST for YOU. And that large deposit was geared specifically for YOU. And how dare those people say no to YOU, etc. Seriously man take it down a notch. Do you realize they have a class of 180 people and every single person has to put this deposit down (plus those who put down a deposit but then never matriculate for whatever reason)...each and every person has to make the same sacrifices and scrambling to come up with that type of money!! BTW my deposit was just $1500 (but I was accepted in December, I still had only 30 days to come up with this). If you did not plan ahead and realize that you would have to put down a deposit then shame on you not VCOM.This type of deposit is no secret. It is not like they HIDE this fact. It is listed in the CIB, as well as it is common knowledge that most DO schools require some type of large deposit. The deadlines for obtaining the deposits are also common knowledge and in the CIB. In fact, if you were accepted after January 15th (I think, haven't went to review this) you should of had only 15 days to send in your deposit !
I also do not blame VCOM for not waiving their policies for you. They are policies for a reason. Obviously if 2 different people gave you the same answer then 1. this is their policy and 2. it is a policy for a REASON! Again 180+ people are willing to put money down to hold their spot. That is a spot that thousands of people applied for and hundreds interviewed for and YOU were chosen. I felt exceptionally honored and busted my ***** coming up with that money because I knew how lucky I was to have gotten a seat. I did not expect VCOM to waive the fee or put me on payments because I did my research and I knew their was a large deposit coming up and that I only had 30 days to pay it. I DID MY RESEARCH!!!!!!!!! The minute I got the interview invite back in October I researched this school inside and out! Heck of all the schools I was accepted at VCOMs wasn't even the highest deposit, so I'm not sure why you are freaking out about how expensive and ridiculously high the fee is...you should have known about it....it should have been no surprise! Obviously this policy is in place for a reason, maybe they have had problems with this in the past. Maybe they haven't, but they want to stave off problems by having this policy. I'm sure taking payments or whatnot just creates more headaches, money and time on their part. This is medical school it is not "hold your hand through life" school. Get real...of course they care about the money. How the heck else can they keep their doors open and pay their employees than with MONEY!!!!!!
If you think the buck stops at the deposit...well then I've got news for you....you will be hemorrhaging money from now until you graduate and for years after! In addition to the deposit I've had to pay for CPR classes, a steth (apparently the 1 that's given to you isn't the best of quality, so I wanted one that would last me past residency and it was on sale so I got it now), new clothes (for the professional dress policy, again they are on sale), a security deposit and rent for housing, a new computer (must be purchased before you start school, but you don't get loans until after you start), physical and required vaccinations, background check, MOVING COSTS!!!!(hands down the most expensive part so far!!), books, etc, etc, etc. It just keeps going and going! Medical school is expensive, but people get resourceful and somehow thousands of people matriculate every year. I find it hard to imagine that all of them are rich and wealthy and can afford all this without some creative funding options.
You learn to budget, sell your stuff, beg friends and family. I am a poor, poor student, my parents are also both retired and also not well-off, but we budgeted for these expenses! I don't believe those two individuals were rude to you, and I also agree naming names was very unprofessional. They are simply following the rules set forth by the school and I applaud them. Why make an exception for 1 person when 179 other people have had to abide by those rules?
I think what bioman2006 is talking about is to ride that "i got into med school" high for as long as you can, because once you get into it...you are NOTHING! Think back to high school freshman years....but worse! lol Being a med student that doesn't mean JACK to interns, residents, attendings. Be ready to be humbled over and over! If you can't handle someone telling you NO right now....then it will be a long hard road for you...get ready for people to not care who the heck you are...and although it may seem unfair at times you will hear no over and over (and as far as I've been told...it is often not as nice as "No" some people can get pretty nasty!). STFU = shut the F*** up and HTFU = Harden the F*** Up (I think...IDK that's what urban dictionary said for this one). A simple search on the internet tells you what these are. Again man DO SOME RESEARCH!!!!!!!!!! Seems like it would solve lots of your problems...
Good luck at your other school!
