Help on deciding AZCOM review from current student or alum?

Started by bigmac131
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bigmac131

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10+ Year Member
I was wondering if anyone could give a review of AZCOM, I was very impressed by the school but was wondering if a current student or alum could give a review of the school.

Sort of like this one on Nova: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/show...&postcount=945

Curriclum: Do all of the simulations really help?

Location
Faculty
Reputation: It's a newer school does it have much of one?
Clinical Rotation: Are they set? Lots of moving around 3/4 year?
Housing
Study Areas
Board Prep: Does it have a class for this? Do those classes really matter or is it all on your own

Administration:

Thanks for any advice
 
bigmac131 said:
I was wondering if anyone could give a review of AZCOM, I was very impressed by the school but was wondering if a current student or alum could give a review of the school.

Sort of like this one on Nova: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/show...&postcount=945

Curriclum: Do all of the simulations really help?

Location
Faculty
Reputation: It's a newer school does it have much of one?
Clinical Rotation: Are they set? Lots of moving around 3/4 year?
Housing
Study Areas
Board Prep: Does it have a class for this? Do those classes really matter or is it all on your own

Administration:

Thanks for any advice
Click to expand...

Check out this year's AZCOM thread. It has a lot the info you're looking for.
 
bigmac131 said:
I was wondering if anyone could give a review of AZCOM, I was very impressed by the school but was wondering if a current student or alum could give a review of the school.

Sort of like this one on Nova: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/show...&postcount=945

Curriclum: Do all of the simulations really help?

Location
Faculty
Reputation: It's a newer school does it have much of one?
Clinical Rotation: Are they set? Lots of moving around 3/4 year?
Housing
Study Areas
Board Prep: Does it have a class for this? Do those classes really matter or is it all on your own

Administration:

Thanks for any advice
Click to expand...

We're all taking finals this week, so finding someone to take the time to write a lengthy response in the next 4 days might be slim. I'll try to get back to you tonight, but for now:

Location: can't be beat. It's in the upper 80s today.

Faculty: awesome. Legitimate open-door policy. They really want you to succeed.

Clinical rotations: you submit which location you want, so yeah. If you stay in the valley(s), not much moving (except for rural rotations). If you choose LA or another spot, no idea. I would assume you wouldn't move too much.

Housing: I live on-campus and it is fantastic. Zero complaints. Reasonably priced, all utilities paid for (except electricity, which also isn't very much), GREAT internet (important for me).
Study areas: there are quite a few spots on campus you can always use. The library has some study rooms, and there are lots couches/desks scattered across campus. I study at home...

Board prep: I'm a MS1, so not entirely positive on this one, but from what I understand it's mostly up to you. The school gives you a Kaplan Qbank subscription during 2nd year, but I think that's it. You would probably be more effective on your own anyway using something like Pathoma, DIT (if you're into that), Goljan, some BRS books, UWorld, etc. Plenty of online options to choose from.

Another important note: I would also take into consideration that this school's tests/grades are VERY fair. Our class averages consistently in the B+ range on every test. Granted, everyone bombs a test here and there, but there are several opportunities to bring that grade up. Anyway, good luck!
 
Thanks for taking the time to write up a response during your finals week! Your response will definitely help me when I apply.
 
Hey how are finals done? All in one week at the end of the quarter or do each week do you have exams?
 
bigmac131 said:
I mean exams
Click to expand...

I am not a AZCOM student as of right now so be advised this info might not be exactly right, but my wife is a current MS-III , so i have learned a lot from her. The curriculum is set as individual classes (unlike a block schedule) so you have usually a test ever Monday, and sometimes two exams in a week when the quarter gets going (usually the second test is OMM and/or ICM, but not always.) Some may think AZCOM is a little test heavy, but from talking with my wife and her friends, while demanding the test schedule really keeps you on top of the material and helps keep things fresh (that is of course you dont cram for each test)

AZCOM is also on a quarter system (1st from July-Nov, 2nd from Nov-Feb, and 3rd from Feb-May) so you have finals at the end of Nov, Feb, and May, with it being like a finals week, an exam every day.

As far as boards prep, there is a board review class your last quarter of your 2nd year, though most of the students I talked to choose not to go and do their own studying during that class.

Please any MSI/MSII's feel free to correct me if i misspoke about anything. Again, not a current Student but have a pretty good feel for what is going on at AZCOM.
 
jrporte3 said:
I am not a AZCOM student as of right now so be advised this info might not be exactly right, but my wife is a current MS-III , so i have learned a lot from her. The curriculum is set as individual classes (unlike a block schedule) so you have usually a test ever Monday, and sometimes two exams in a week when the quarter gets going (usually the second test is OMM and/or ICM, but not always.) Some may think AZCOM is a little test heavy, but from talking with my wife and her friends, while demanding the test schedule really keeps you on top of the material and helps keep things fresh (that is of course you dont cram for each test)

AZCOM is also on a quarter system (1st from July-Nov, 2nd from Nov-Feb, and 3rd from Feb-May) so you have finals at the end of Nov, Feb, and May, with it being like a finals week, an exam every day.

As far as boards prep, there is a board review class your last quarter of your 2nd year, though most of the students I talked to choose not to go and do their own studying during that class.

Please any MSI/MSII's feel free to correct me if i misspoke about anything. Again, not a current Student but have a pretty good feel for what is going on at AZCOM.
Click to expand...


Bingo.

Exams every Monday at least, with additional exams thrown in sometimes. Its hell since you never have a break, but it really does make you stay on top of the material. I literally study every day for at least a few hours in addition to lecture/lab. Sometimes I'll take a break on a Sat. and do nothing, but for the most part, every day.

However, going with the one-exam per monday thing, it's very easy to put aside other classes and only focus on the exam coming up, which then puts you behind for the next one, and again for the one after.... I'm so glad this quarter is almost over so I can start next quarter with a fresh slate.
 
DrWily said:
Bingo.

Exams every Monday at least, with additional exams thrown in sometimes. Its hell since you never have a break, but it really does make you stay on top of the material. I literally study every day for at least a few hours in addition to lecture/lab. Sometimes I'll take a break on a Sat. and do nothing, but for the most part, every day.

However, going with the one-exam per monday thing, it's very easy to put aside other classes and only focus on the exam coming up, which then puts you behind for the next one, and again for the one after.... I'm so glad this quarter is almost over so I can start next quarter with a fresh slate.
Click to expand...

yikes! this sounds awful.
 
angldrps said:
yikes! this sounds awful.
Click to expand...

It might just be me and how I handle things lol.

I've been adjusting myself to at least study a little bit for every class, but weekends are still mainly reserved for the upcoming exam on monday.
 
I am a current MSIII at AZCOM.

The first two years are very test heavy. I think someone counted 110 exams over the first two years for our class. You will usually have an exam every Monday morning and sometimes two exams in a week. There are 6 finals in 5 days 1st year but only 4 finals in 5 days for 2nd year. Because it's a quarter system, things go by very quickly. Be prepared to work hard during each quarter. You get two weeks for Thanksgiving, two weeks for Christmas break, and 1 week for spring break, although Christmas break is in the middle of winter quarter.

The school offers a board prep class for the last five weeks of spring quarter second year. I don't know many people that went, we just all studied on our own. Spring quarter of second year is set up to give you plenty of time to prepare for boards. Classes usually end at noon during spring quarter so you are expected to start preparing hardcore for boards come spring quarter. Most people in my class did DIT and started the prep course the week after spring quarter finals ended.

You can essentially do all your rotations besides auditions (the school gives you 4 months of auditions for 4th year) and your rural rotation in the phx valley if you wanted to.

Phx is cool, especially if you dig 7+ months of summer weather. I myself, get burnt out from the long summers here, but with any big city, there is usually always something to do (Pac-12 sports, MLB, NBA, NHL, spring training, hiking...etc). I went and checked the mail on Friday and a program from Midwestern was having a pool party to celebrate the end of fall quarter. A pool party on Nov 9th? Only in Arizona.

On campus apts are nice. There are 3 big apt complexes located directly across the street from campus: San Lagos, Sage Stone, and San Prado. They are all very nice and a lot of students from various programs live in them.

As a whole, I think our reputation within AZ and within the osteopathic world is solid. We usually do very well on boards. I think my class's average on COMLEX was something in the 540 range. The big negatives that come to mind are the price and the large class size (250) which seems to get in the way at times (getting ward based rotations..etc).

Overall, I am happy with my experience so far. The campus and facilities are great. The professors are all great. I was well prepared for boards and clinicals. And my rotations thus far have been great. Another good thing someone earlier touched on, grading is pretty fair here. I came from a big UC where everything was graded on a curve. If you study hard and know the material, getting an A is doable.
 
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