2017-2018 Des Moines University (DMU-COM)

Med School Insiders
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Hey everyone! Current 1st year - if anyone has any questions not already answered I would be happy to share my thoughts! I moved from a very different area than Des Moines so I can give advice to anyone curious about moving to the area. Overall I have loved being at DMU, there are so many great opportunities as others have mentioned and your fellow classmates and faculty truly want you to succeed (just wait until you get fist bumps from Dr. Matz in anatomy!). Congrats to those accepted and to those with interviews coming up it is one of the most relaxed interviews I had - enjoy your day!
 
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How are exams done at DMU? Do they get a series of smaller exams or a few big exams for each class?
 
phantomyinyang said:
How are exams done at DMU? Do they get a series of smaller exams or a few big exams for each class?
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Usually about 4-5 per class so far that are decent sized (I'm in my first year). Not overwhelming if you stay on top of things every day but medical school exams are undergrad midterms on steroids themselves. Just figured I'd throw that out there because some come in assuming more of undergrad in terms of exams.
 
phantomyinyang said:
How are exams done at DMU? Do they get a series of smaller exams or a few big exams for each class?
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You can expect about 2 exams per week. That probably sounds overwhelming but they'll ease you into it at first-- our first exam wasn't until we were almost 4 weeks in, and the 2/wk thing didn't start until October.

My partner goes to a school with a block schedule, so he only gets maybe 2-3 huge exams a month, but I honestly prefer the way DMU does it because you really don't have the option to fall behind. The stress of exams is so much less because they're so commonplace.
 
PastaandFriends said:
You can expect about 2 exams per week. That probably sounds overwhelming but they'll ease you into it at first-- our first exam wasn't until we were almost 4 weeks in, and the 2/wk thing didn't start until October.

My partner goes to a school with a block schedule, so he only gets maybe 2-3 huge exams a month, but I honestly prefer the way DMU does it because you really don't have the option to fall behind. The stress of exams is so much less because they're so commonplace.
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Thanks. I was trying to decide between here and CCOM, which gives a lot of small exams instead of a few big ones. Now that I know you guys do the same thing it pretty much seals the deal for me on DMU.
 
phantomyinyang said:
Thanks. I was trying to decide between here and CCOM, which gives a lot of small exams instead of a few big ones. Now that I know you guys do the same thing it pretty much seals the deal for me on DMU.
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I am unable to message you for some reason. I am in the same DMU vs. CCOM dilemma. Can you speak to why you are choosing DMU over CCOM? Feel free to PM me or reply to this thread!
 
Rainbows&Waterfalls said:
I am unable to message you for some reason. I am in the same DMU vs. CCOM dilemma. Can you speak to why you are choosing DMU over CCOM? Feel free to PM me or reply to this thread!
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I am in the same dilemma as well and would appreciate hearing why as well!
 
Rainbows&Waterfalls said:
I am unable to message you for some reason. I am in the same DMU vs. CCOM dilemma. Can you speak to why you are choosing DMU over CCOM? Feel free to PM me or reply to this thread!
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DMU is $20,000 cheaper than CCOM, has a lower COL and it's more involved in rural health, which is what I'm leaning towards doing. When I interviewed at DMU, the people were also more welcoming and seemed more laid back. At CCOM I felt like I was interviewing for a corporate job, and my interviewers there directly said that it can get competitive and gunnerish.
 
Pre-interview hold. ): Anyone know the likelihood or timeframe of a spring interview from this list?
 
I'd Rather Be Reading said:
Pre-interview hold. ): Anyone know the likelihood or timeframe of a spring interview from this list?
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I guess I don't know any statistics about it, but I know it's definitely possible because I was on pre-interview hold last year. Another kid I worked with was also on hold at DMU and never got an interview, so it can go either way. I think it may help if you just periodically express interest so that admissions knows that DMU is still a priority to you.
 
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PastaandFriends said:
I guess I don't know any statistics about it, but I know it's definitely possible because I was on pre-interview hold last year. Another kid I worked with was also on hold at DMU and never got an interview, so it can go either way. I think it may help if you just periodically express interest so that admissions knows that DMU is still a priority to you.
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Will do, thank you!! 🙂
 
I know a couple people in this class who were on pre-II hold, got an interview in Jan-Feb, etc. And got in. Just remind yourself that all these applicants and acceptees can only go to one school, so there usually is movement around deadline day
 
phantomyinyang said:
DMU is $20,000 cheaper than CCOM, has a lower COL and it's more involved in rural health, which is what I'm leaning towards doing. When I interviewed at DMU, the people were also more welcoming and seemed more laid back. At CCOM I felt like I was interviewing for a corporate job, and my interviewers there directly said that it can get competitive and gunnerish.
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That was a big factor in my decision too. I'm from right near CCOM but the environment was a little more cutthroat whereas at DMU everyone shares study materials that work for them, people make flashcards anyone in the class can use, etc. Everyone knows that we're all going to be doctors. Also the faculty is very outgoing and available, along with the learning specialists in the Center for Teaching and Learning are very helpful in developing a study strategy and helping if you get overwhelmed. 10/10 would recommend
 
How often do DMU students have exams? Does anyone know?
 
Jim90 said:
How often do DMU students have exams? Does anyone know?
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PastaandFriends said:
You can expect about 2 exams per week. That probably sounds overwhelming but they'll ease you into it at first-- our first exam wasn't until we were almost 4 weeks in, and the 2/wk thing didn't start until October.

My partner goes to a school with a block schedule, so he only gets maybe 2-3 huge exams a month, but I honestly prefer the way DMU does it because you really don't have the option to fall behind. The stress of exams is so much less because they're so commonplace.
Click to expand...
 
Pre-Interview hold 🙁. From Des Moines, but I am in a one year Masters program at Iowa State and was told by a contact that it is common for DMU to want to see the first semester transcripts from a Masters program. Really hoping that is true as DMU is my #1! Congrats to everyone that has been accepted; Des Moines is a great and extremely underrated city!
 
I received an II but the interview dates are not until January. Does anyone know if these late interviews are for the "wait list?"
 
Phil4:13 said:
I received an II but the interview dates are not until January. Does anyone know if these late interviews are for the "wait list?"
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When I log into the interview scheduler, I see dates as early as the end of November through December. In fact, I don't even see any for January...
 
When they say December 14th deposit deadline... What time is the cut off? Midnight? Can I pay around 7 PM on 12/14?
 
Rainbows&Waterfalls said:
I'm waiting to hear from my priority in-state school and was told I'll find out by the end of the day 12-14. DMU is my #2 choice so I don't want to risk paying $500 if I get an offer from my #1 choice. The timing is just sort of cruddy.
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Damn...that's an absurdly tricky situation. At the same time, you'd be paying it when admissions is closed at the last second, so if anything goes wrong you're out of luck. Hopefully the other school is quick 🙁
 
phantomyinyang said:
Thanks. I was trying to decide between here and CCOM, which gives a lot of small exams instead of a few big ones. Now that I know you guys do the same thing it pretty much seals the deal for me on DMU.
Click to expand...
Full disclosure, DMU switches to a systems-based block-schedule for second year DO students. Also, the first-year student government is petitioning (or planning on petitioning) the administration to have that systems-based block-schedule start right off the bat for first years and have everything be P/F. I'm pretty doubtful for either of those actually happening but it's still good to know.

Rainbows&Waterfalls said:
When they say December 14th deposit deadline... What time is the cut off? Midnight? Can I pay around 7 PM on 12/14?
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Call admissions, it seems to vary school to school. I remember KCU gave me a weird deadline of noon on the final day.
 
Asiago said:
Full disclosure, DMU switches to a systems-based block-schedule for second year DO students. Also, the first-year student government is petitioning (or planning on petitioning) the administration to have that systems-based block-schedule start right off the bat for first years and have everything be P/F. I'm pretty doubtful for either of those actually happening but it's still good to know.


Call admissions, it seems to vary school to school. I remember KCU gave me a weird deadline of noon on the final day.
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please for the love of sweet baby jesus let this happen
 
Rainbows&Waterfalls said:
I'm waiting to hear from my priority in-state school and was told I'll find out by the end of the day 12-14. DMU is my #2 choice so I don't want to risk paying $500 if I get an offer from my #1 choice. The timing is just sort of cruddy.
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I second what the above poster said-- call the school. They already accepted you, so it's not like you'll risk looking bad. They want you, you're the one with multiple options.

If it makes you feel better, I'm in a similar situation as you but the school I have an acceptance to now also wants us to have a background screen and drug test done by the 14th. I'm pushing it off till like, the week before and hoping I hear back from my top school
 
fldoctorgirl said:
I second what the above poster said-- call the school. They already accepted you, so it's not like you'll risk looking bad. They want you, you're the one with multiple options.

If it makes you feel better, I'm in a similar situation as you but the school I have an acceptance to now also wants us to have a background screen and drug test done by the 14th. I'm pushing it off till like, the week before and hoping I hear back from my top school
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Just saw this in passing and just want to warn you that the background and drug screen can take some time. I have to do it for CUSOM and can only go to certain clinics for the drug test that are during my working hours and I was required to schedule an appointment for it as well. The background check takes about 2 days.
 
harkas said:
Just saw this in passing and just want to warn you that the background and drug screen can take some time. I have to do it for CUSOM and can only go to certain clinics for the drug test that are during my working hours and I was required to schedule an appointment for it as well. The background check takes about 2 days.
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Yeah, I heard it's about 3-5 days for the background check and that the drug test results are instantaneous. Luckily, I don't work and school gets out the first week of December so I'll have time to get things done. I may end up caving and just saying goodbye to my $400 earlier though 😉
 
Tomorrow will be 60 days for me. Anyone receive an II after the 60 day review period?
 
Rainbows&Waterfalls said:
I'm waiting to hear from my priority in-state school and was told I'll find out by the end of the day 12-14. DMU is my #2 choice so I don't want to risk paying $500 if I get an offer from my #1 choice. The timing is just sort of cruddy.
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I’m in the same boat. I love DMUs program but it will be more beneficial for my career interests to go to my top choice interview which they said could take like 5 weeks or more and I interviewed 11/9 :/ if I don’t have to drop 500$ that would make me happy.
 
PreMedHeart said:
Damn...that's an absurdly tricky situation. At the same time, you'd be paying it when admissions is closed at the last second, so if anything goes wrong you're out of luck. Hopefully the other school is quick 🙁
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Yeah, crossing my fingers that I'll hear sooner than later.

fldoctorgirl said:
I second what the above poster said-- call the school. They already accepted you, so it's not like you'll risk looking bad. They want you, you're the one with multiple options.

If it makes you feel better, I'm in a similar situation as you but the school I have an acceptance to now also wants us to have a background screen and drug test done by the 14th. I'm pushing it off till like, the week before and hoping I hear back from my top school
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It's good to know that I'm not the only one! The Admissions process is such a crazy game/whirlwind of emotions. I am very thankful that I've had success with my applications and that I have options. However, I've spent well over $2,000 so I'm trying to do anything I can to prevent wasting money!

H_Scheck said:
I’m in the same boat. I love DMUs program but it will be more beneficial for my career interests to go to my top choice interview which they said could take like 5 weeks or more and I interviewed 11/9 :/ if I don’t have to drop 500$ that would make me happy.
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Same! My top choice said 4-6 weeks so I'm hoping it's on the earlier end. However, from the looks of SDN, many admissions committees are falling behind.
 
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