Aug 9: Class BBQ
Aug 11: Orientation
Aug 11: 12-PAC Lunch
Aug 15: Class Dinner
Aug 16: Fun Run
Aug 16: 80's Party!
Aug 20: Bowling Night
Aug 22: Class Dinner
Aug 29: White Coat Ceremony
Aug 30: Bull Run

To-Do

Physical Exam
POM Name Tag
Little Sibling Survey
12-PAC Supplies Order
USF COM 2012 Facebook
USF Oasis Account
USF ID Card
USF Health Email Account
USF NID/Blackboard Account
Immunizations.htm
Health Coverage
Disability Insurance
Find Housing
Student Parking
Purchase Laptop

Important Links

Student Affairs
Welcome Class of 2012
Educational Affairs
Academic Calendars
USF COM IT Support
Class of 2011 Website

Welcome COM Class of 2012 and DPT 2011!

Dear Incoming Students,

Congratulations on your acceptance to the University of South Florida College of Medicine and School of Physical Therapy! On behalf of the COM Class of 2011 and DPT 2010, we welcome you and are excited for you to start a new journey with us at the University of South Florida COM/PT.

We are the Peer Advisory Committee (PAC), a peer group of 12 COM students whose role is to make your transition into medical school and your first year a successful one. However, what's a little bit of success without some fun welcoming events to go along with it? Our 12-PAC again this year includes 2 members of the DPT class of 2010, so we are actually 14, but who's counting? We all look forward to meeting you and welcoming a new class of student-doctors, and are available all summer to answer any questions you may have. Seriously, we are here for anything and everything that we can help with, so please don't hesitate to contact us or ask anyone of us!

With that, please look Right(►) and see some important dates you need to remember and deadlines. Also, please follow the links to the right, along with the To-Do checklist, to ensure that you get your Immunizations in, Housing Info, Financial Aid, and the Order Forms for your cool new medical stuff as well as our Survival Guide (a compilation of students opinions on class, books, restaurants, where to go out, housing and much more!) Please take a minute to follow these links, especially the order form, Financial Aid and Immunizations (THESE HAVE DEADLINES )

Our housing/apartment guide is available to you. It is a compilation of comments our class and those before us have lived and if they would recommend them or not. One thing is for certain…AVOID APARTMENTS LOCATED ON THE WEST SIDE OF BRUCE B DOWNS BLVD, FROM BEARS AVE TO BUSCH BLVD. This area is just not a good place to call home. South Tampa is not a bad decision, many students live south of I-4, and find that the 15-20 minute drive to class everyday is worth it for close quick access to TGH, bars and restaurants that Hyde Park and SoHo provide. In North Tampa/New Tampa, its suburban sprawl with plenty of apartments and condos available, slightly larger and slightly cheaper, with around a closer (5-15 min) minute drive to school, but obviously farther away from TGH, and some of the entertainment options in S. Tampa.

Another little number we need ya'll to take care of is the Little Sibling Questionnaire. Please take a minute to fill it out! Next year you will have an assigned Big Sibling, and this helps us know you better as well as pair you with your Big Sib. You can abuse your Big Sib for advice, guidance, hand me down books, reviews, etc etc. This is informal, so enjoy it! Only us 12-PACers will see it, so there is no need to censor your responses.

12-PAC also gives you a First Year Survival Guide, a summary of tips and pointers from the classes before you on how to adjust to this new chapter in life better. This includes such things as a summary of all first year classes, information about textbooks and equipment, the roles of class officers and liaisons, class attendance policies, noteservice, video archives, some safety info as well as some suggestions on where to chow down, enjoy a pint, unwind, work out, and spend a nice little Saturday off. This is what we found works, so I hope it helps you too!

During the weekend before the start of your classes( POM), and your first couple weeks( and more!) of school, this motley crew has organized tons of fun stuff to do. This way, you can become familiar with the school, Tampa, and more importantly, your "colleagues". We hope that you will make it to these; they are definitely fun and a great way to start the year, get to know your classmates. Feel free to bring any significant others or family members to any and all these events!

Disclaimer: 12-PAC IS A SELF-FUNDED STUDENT ORGANIZATION. We raise money our money for these events by selling shirts and equipment to incoming first year student. In addition to class shirts and shirts for Bull Run, we also sell to the incoming class physical diagnosis kits that you will need for PD class. These kits include the necessary (REQUIRED) tools at prices lower than those offered by the bookstore on campus, and are very competitive to local prices*(basically ours are better). We also sell scrubs that you will need for anatomy lab. Keep checking the 12-PAC website for updates throughout the summer and early next year. These highlighted links in this letter or on our site will guide you: Medical Sales Order Form, First year Survival Guide, the Big/Lil Sib Questionnaire, and the Apartment Guide.

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR ACCEPTANCE TO MEDICAL SCHOOL, NOW GO HAVE FUN THIS SUMMER AND RELAX! If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to contact us via phone or email. Seriously, we mean it, we'd love to hear from you and also keep checking the 12-PAC website for updates and more events we will add. To the M.D class of 2012 and the DPT class of 2011, welcome to the University of South Florida!!

Sincerely,

12-PAC