So here's something I wrote for someone who private messaged me..
I absolutely love my time at ACOM here so far. I actually had a few options as well, including MD schools, but ended up choosing ACOM for many reasons, the OPP being one of them. Some of our professors/teachers/physicians put it best, if you want to be a good physician, you want to choose the best DO school that will give you the most hands on experience. You wouldn't believe the stuff we can feel and touch on our bodies. This is especially in contrast to MD schools where you gain more didactic experience (relating disease to science). Their strength in contrast to ours is that they can integrate science better with diseases (therefore do more research, etc.), where as DO's can just feel the tendon, tissue, whatever and feel the illness. So that describes a difference between MD and DO, but to become the best DO physician, you need good hands training, which is what I thought ACOM did best.
Our OPP faculty and PCS faculty are some of the best across the country and especially at teaching. They make time and help to really make us understand and get better at using our hands and the fine motor skills. This past week we had our first "aha" moment so to speak. We were able to feel a whole bone move..and it isn't the way you would typically expect. "It is like moving a boat with your hands" our professor told us. If you move a boat, you won't just push as hard as you can and then expect it to move. No, you'll literally put your hands on the boat, and just hold it there. Slowly but surely it'll move on its own. It's hard to fully explain, but the way they taught it, it was amazing. One day I woke up with the worst back pain, I was so glad I was at our school because not only was my problem designed for an Osteopathic physician, but we have fellows(3rd year students who choose to stay at the school and tutor/teach/get a masters in educations/practice OPP) who were able to fix up my back and have me pain free in 30 minutes. So the way our OPP and PCS work is amazing. Our dean has started many schools and worked at many, so he knows what works and what doesn't. Our school constantly evolves and they seemed so much more organized and caring than many others I had seen.
TL;DR: Our professors have a lot of passion due to their experience of helping patients, and truly use that passion in teaching us at developing better hand skills.
Another aspect that made me love this school was the rotation sites are already established and have been rotating students for close to 10 years now. The students don't have to cold call different places hoping there is an opening. These rotation sites know how to educate and have been educating for many years. Yes, we may not be at universities and such, but honestly, in some aspects that is an advantage because I have heard of students being able to perform procedures not even allowed at other more respectable hospitals. NUMEROUS times we have heard our school is students are more prepared, mature, and dependable than the largest MD school in Alabama (UAB). This was also a reason that UAB was upset when Blue Cross Blue Shield picked ACOM to receive scholarship and financial assistance money. Going with the fact that our rotation sites across the state have been active for 10 years, the physicians and faculty at those sites know what makes a good student. They said ACOM students perform much better than other students in the past. Why? Because this school prepares you well!! - They won't even let you take the COMLEX until you show that you can pass the COMSAE exams(which the cost in included in our tuition and so the school administers it).
Lastly is the curriculum. I have friends at other schools and they have told me about their exam schedules, curriculum structure, etc. I can say ours is hands down designed to make you become a great physician. I don't know who in the world designed it, but it integrates so well between all our classes. As soon as I see the gallbladder, pancreas, and portal system in anatomy gross lab, we cover it in our molecular medicine course and can actually picture the ducts and veins that things flow through.
I am here for two years and paying 80k along the way(4 year/160k total..but last 2 years you'll be hospital based), I am going to make sure I get the best return on investment possible, and this school does that. We are even about to have our research facilities set up by next semester where we will have actual science research labs at our school. Yes, I mean actual research labs that you see in universities with post-docs, PhD's, undergrads, and all (I am referring to the equipment here..not the actual people).
So yeah you can go to a big named college, big city, and think you'll have more opportunities, but heck...you wanna become an amazing physician? No need to look further than ACOM. The city isn't distracting, the people are amazing, and the school does a fine job.
I apologize if the structure of this didn't make much sense, but I was writing whatever came to mind about our school. If anyone has an interview and does not come look at why this school is amazing, then it is your own loss. Most people are gonna be 200-300k in debt by the time all is said and done..what is another 1k in interview costs to make sure you set yourself up for the best possible route. Don't take this as I am saying we're the best..no..there are other great schools out there I am sure...but there are way more that are worse.
. Hubby and I will probably be coming down there in May-ish to look for a house. Any recommendations appreciated!! (I think we are going to forego the on-campus apartments due to having 2 kids and needing more space).
