2017-2018 Touro University - California Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine

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Interviewed yesterday, 10/3. Just wanted to chime in for everyone waiting for interview invites. They just started interviews last week and they only invite about 9-10 candidates per interview day. Also, their interview dates run all the way into May. I spoke with a student last year who interviewed in April and was accepted. So don't stress too much, the invite will come!

Edit: They must have started interviewing before last week judging by the acceptances, but the point is still valid. They start interviews slightly later than other DO schools and they have gaps in interview dates especially during the Jewish holidays making their interview season last later than other schools.

Good to know, I really would love an II here ;'(

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Same! And congrats!! It was killing me that they delayed the decision date twice for me >_<

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LizzyM = 66.10 with upward trend and strong ties to the school. Complete 8/17
Has anyone had trouble submitting the deposit? I've tried everything and cannot validate my account!
 
California resident here looking for some love! This is my #1 choice and hope I get an II soon!

SUBMITTED Touro CA secondary on 08/07!


Did you guys get a COMPLETE e-mail or message? My application only says I have submitted, but I don't see the word "complete" anywhere.
 
California resident here looking for some love! This is my #1 choice and hope I get an II soon!

SUBMITTED Touro CA secondary on 08/07!


Did you guys get a COMPLETE e-mail or message? My application only says I have submitted, but I don't see the word "complete" anywhere.

I got a complete e-mail 2 days after submitting/payment. Did you get the payment e-mail?

Also, I received an II last week, was complete 9/19.
 
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Just became complete today (I applied way back in June but JUST recently completed my secondary because, long story) - I know it's pretty slim considering how long I took to get my secondary in but man REALLY hoping for an interview! Have one at one at touro ny coming up but I'm realizing how much I would love to be in CA.
 
I got a complete e-mail 2 days after submitting/payment. Did you get the payment e-mail?

Also, I received an II last week, was complete 9/19.

I just checked and I submitted on 08/07, and was complete on 08/17.
 
Just became complete today (I applied way back in June but JUST recently completed my secondary because, long story) - I know it's pretty slim considering how long I took to get my secondary in but man REALLY hoping for an interview! Have one at one at touro ny coming up but I'm realizing how much I would love to be in CA.

Are you from California?
 
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Canceled my interview scheduled early November, hopefully that opens up a spot for someone else.

Good luck guys!


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Can anyone who's interviewed comment on the interview day and how stressful/formal it was?

I checked on the interview feedback page and it says it's a group + panel interview with open file, is this true?
Interview is at the end of the interview day.
Yes, it's group and panel and open file.
Don't stress! Best of luck to you.
 
Can anyone who's interviewed comment on the interview day and how stressful/formal it was?

I checked on the interview feedback page and it says it's a group + panel interview with open file, is this true?

Interview is beyond relaxed (and I was a mess going into it). Make sure to know your application as they asked all of us very specific questions from our applications.

I was accepted within 2 weeks after the interview. MCAT 511 and gpa ~3.5. In state. non-trad. Good luck, you got this!
 
Is it too late to submit a secondary? I want to attend a DO school and would love to go to school in California but this process has draineeeeeeed my wallet so this late in the game I don't want to apply if there's no shot of even getting an interview and it would just be a complete waste. NY resident, 3.34 uGPA and 3.2 sGPA from a great school in northeast, 3.95 post-bac GPA, and 507 MCAT. Great ECs, LORs, etc. Thanks for the input!!
 
Is it too late to submit a secondary? I want to attend a DO school and would love to go to school in California but this process has draineeeeeeed my wallet so this late in the game I don't want to apply if there's no shot of even getting an interview and it would just be a complete waste. NY resident, 3.34 uGPA and 3.2 sGPA from a great school in northeast, 3.95 post-bac GPA, and 507 MCAT. Great ECs, LORs, etc. Thanks for the input!!

Definitely would NOT be a complete waste if you truly want to go here if accepted. I spoke with a first year student who stated that they sent in their primary app in November and got a late interview in April and matriculated. I have no idea what their stats were or whether in state or out of state but it does happen.
 
Alright, thank you for the encouraging words! I appreciate it!!
 
People who have also interviewed here, what were your thoughts on the school and campus? Kind of curious to see what others thought! 🙂
 
People who have also interviewed here, what were your thoughts on the school and campus? Kind of curious to see what others thought! 🙂
Set on withdrawing my acceptance here. Everyone was super nice on interview day but the facilities/campus in comparison to the other schools I’ve interviewed at didn’t really match up. Seemed to me that they knew we all were from CA and that was the main (maybe only) draw. The class seems very tight knit because they’re slightly isolated on Mare Island but the whole close vibe for the class is something that is seen in the other schools too.
 
Just received a II email, I tried calling to schedule but got a voicemail so I will try tomorrow. Anyone recently receive a II know some available dates?
 
Accepted today! 🙂 Interviewed 11/14.
 
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Submitted a primary sometime in mid to late september I think, Interviewed here beginning of the month, got accepted earlier this week. Was my first and quite possibly my last interview as they were in my top list based primarily on location (can commute from home). Schools small, a bit dated as it is on Mare Island. Honestly though, I am a firm believer in any education is what you make of it, if you are there to learn, ask questions, know where to find answers and push yourself you are going to learn what you need to and be a great physician anywhere you go.

For those asking about the interview format, as it was my only interview and I don't know much else, I would say it seemed pretty relaxed. Make friends and chat with the people in your group throughout the day, for me they were all very nice and cool. You interview with 4 or 5 people against a 3 person panel (2 professors 1 2nd year student interviewer). Each person on the panel asks 2 questions (6 total). They seemed quite person specific so know your app and you will spend most of the time listening to the others. From what it sounded like if you are interviewing early then you are mostly a shoe-in. The breakdown they gave was they receive about 4k secondaries, send 1k interview invites, 650 show up, they accept 350 then of those 135 fill their seats. Obviously if you are interviewing late though there is still a chance otherwise they wouldn't be talking to you so don't give up!

The staff that I met were all great, super friendly and welcoming and you could tell students we walked by were very tight knit. If you get an interview their primary concern seems to be that they are looking for people that would mesh well with their community so maybe think about answers that could emphasize that. They seem to have a preference for California Residents and or people wanting to start a life in CA which they stated. I know on my application I had really emphasized their location and being able to stay with my family as something that was very important to me and it seems to have gotten me where I wanted to be 🙂.

This is 99% probably where I will be attending medical school, so to all of you who are still waiting the best of luck to you and I look forward to seeing some of you there! If you have any specific questions, feel free to message me.
 
Was just extended an II. However, will not be attending. Goodluck to all!!
 
II today! Complete 10/17

Edit: Declining and withdrawing my application.

Best of luck to you all!
 
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Current OMS-1 at TUCOM and am willing to answer any questions that you may have about the program!

Also for those of you waiting on interviews, don't freak out too much- when I applied last year, I submitted my application early July and didn't hear back until January!
 
Current OMS-1 at TUCOM and am willing to answer any questions that you may have about the program!

Also for those of you waiting on interviews, don't freak out too much- when I applied last year, I submitted my application early July and didn't hear back until January!

I had a few questions about housing for the school. How do things look in terms of renting a studio or 1 bedroom apartment in Vallejo? Is there a posting board for new students about housing? Are there any campus resources to help students find housing? Also when does the white coat ceremony take place? Thanks for all the help!
 
I had a few questions about housing for the school. How do things look in terms of renting a studio or 1 bedroom apartment in Vallejo? Is there a posting board for new students about housing? Are there any campus resources to help students find housing? Also when does the white coat ceremony take place? Thanks for all the help!

There is the TU student life that you can use to find housing:
Touro California Student Life
I think there should be a com 2022 Facebook page that'll open up soon- lots of people go there to find housemates/rooms/etc early on before orientation. This will likely be your best bet, especially near May/June/July when people are frantically looking for housing! I preferred using the FB group page because you're guaranteed to be with classmates then (whereas for studentlife, you may just be occupying the free room of a resident or maybe you'd live with students of the masters, nursing, or pa programs). I personally enjoy living on Mare Island just because the drive to school is literally 2-3 minutes tops, but I don't think there are any studios on Mare Island- I believe that they generally go for $1000/month minimum in the Vallejo area.

White Coat Ceremony took place about a month after school started, though I know other schools tend to have white coat right when school starts. For my class, it was a tad inconvenient because it was on a Sunday (Sabbath is observed from Friday 3pm until Saturday sundown, preventing ceremonies from occurring on Saturdays).
 
I think there should be a com 2022 Facebook page that'll open up soon- lots of people go there to find housemates/rooms/etc early on before orientation. This will likely be your best bet, especially near May/June/July when people are frantically looking for housing! I preferred using the FB group page because you're guaranteed to be with classmates then (whereas for studentlife, you may just be occupying the free room of a resident or maybe you'd live with students of the masters, nursing, or pa programs). I personally enjoy living on Mare Island just because the drive to school is literally 2-3 minutes tops, but I don't think there are any studios on Mare Island- I believe that they generally go for $1000/month minimum in the Vallejo area.

White Coat Ceremony took place about a month after school started, though I know other schools tend to have white coat right when school starts. For my class, it was a tad inconvenient because it was on a Sunday (Sabbath is observed from Friday 3pm until Saturday sundown, preventing ceremonies from occurring on Saturdays).

Thanks for the reply! A few other questions came up
1. Is the amount of money students typically spend in a year similar to the budget outlines on the Touro CA website? Or are those overestimations to account for all student circumstances?
2. Average indebtedness of graduates these days?
3. Overall quality of the core clinical rotation experiences?
4. Are rotation sites given out in a lottery system or are they based on things like test scores/gpa?
5. Are most students who are inclined to stay in CA for residency able to? (Does going here give you an advantage to stay in CA for residency as opposed to a school somewhere else in the country)
6. Are there any research opportunities with the school?
Thanks for all your help!
 
Thanks for the reply! A few other questions came up
1. Is the amount of money students typically spend in a year similar to the budget outlines on the Touro CA website? Or are those overestimations to account for all student circumstances?
2. Average indebtedness of graduates these days?
3. Overall quality of the core clinical rotation experiences?
4. Are rotation sites given out in a lottery system or are they based on things like test scores/gpa?
5. Are most students who are inclined to stay in CA for residency able to? (Does going here give you an advantage to stay in CA for residency as opposed to a school somewhere else in the country)
6. Are there any research opportunities with the school?
Thanks for all your help!

1. It's roughly an overestimation. with a 700/month rent, I will definitely have extra money left over, but I'm under my parents' health insurance and car insurance plan.
2. I don't think that I'm qualified to answer this question given that I'm only a first year, haha.
3. I don't have any experience with this so I can't answer.
4. Lottery based with a one-time swap (with a different classmate who agrees)
5. I was originally between TUC and a oos school and one of the reasons I chose TUC was because the number of people who stay in CA for residency was significantly higher at TUC than at the oos school. Most of the classmates I have here are from california and do want to stay in california for residency.
6. Lots. I've seen a few joint papers between UCSF and TUC faculty, but there are a number of TUC professors that do research and actively need people to work with.
 
II today, complete 11/27. OOS, LizzyM 70-72. Haven't called them back yet, so I don't know what dates are remaining.
 
How strict is the pre-secondary screening for Touro? How do they value the most recent semester grades (given strong upward trend) if the applicant has borderline cGPA & sGPA (2.9)?
 
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