2023-2024 William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine (WCUCOM)

[drthedude]

They actually won’t all be separate this year! First years will be moving more toward integrated so it will look vastly different than past years but great changes being made!

Very interesting, ty for mentioning!

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[Ellesandra319]

They actually won’t all be separate this year! First years will be moving more toward integrated so it will look vastly different than past years but great changes being made!

yeah the first year curriculum is definitely getting overhauled and will be a work in progress for sure this year, for first years and second years 😉 come in be kind and be flexible! control what you can control and let go of the stuff you can't!

 

[futuredr001!]

yeah the first year curriculum is definitely getting overhauled and will be a work in progress for sure this year, for first years and second years 😉 come in be kind and be flexible! control what you can control and let go of the stuff you can't!

is this a good thing lol? are the changes being made positive? thank you for clarifying!

 

[Ellesandra319]

They actually won’t all be separate this year! First years will be moving more toward integrated so it will look vastly different than past years but great changes being made!

is this a good thing lol? are the changes being made positive? thank you for clarifying!

the goal is to eventually move towards systems based learning in a more collaborative and less "large group of students in a lecture hall being taught by one professor"-ish. it is not a true PBL curriculum but I imagine from the rumors that have been going around that it will have more of that flavor.

while the content may have a different delivery style, it will still be the same content. whether you have a professor teach it or a flying parrot sing it, there's know way getting around learning first year medical school biochem hahaha 😉

and as far as it being positive or not, i think it will remain to be seen! the reality is no current student, including myself, knows exactly what the changes will be and how they will impact the incoming first years, and that's mostly because admin is still working out the kinks in getting things ready for you all! but no current students, first or second year, have experienced the curriculum you will experience in the style you will receive it, so i think it would be unfair for any of us to really say for sure!

from my opinion however, i know one of the hardest things for me first year was having exams almost every week, and sometimes 2-3 exams in a week or 5-6 exams in a 8 day period. it was brutal. and i've gotten the vibe that hopefully the first year curriculum changes will help with some of that by moving towards a more system based curriculum like the current second year curriculum is.

the other thing that was hard for me first year was trying to learn cardio histo, at the same time as renal physio, at the same time as msk in gross anatomy. it just felt very disjointed. so i hope integrating the first year curriculum will help your learning process feel a little bit more cohesive! but thats just my opinion!

i just really encourage everyone to remain open to learning and adjusting on the fly, because that will definitely be necessary for first and second years alike in the upcoming school year!

 

[bekindddd4257]

is this a good thing lol? are the changes being made positive? thank you for clarifying!

Def positive! They’ve done a TONNNN of work to make a curriculum more efficient for you all and will better prepare you for second year as well.

 

[futuredr001!]

Def positive! They’ve done a TONNNN of work to make a curriculum more efficient for you all and will better prepare you for second year as well.

Thank you! do you know if it will be tailored more towards step/comlex board exams?

 

[bekindddd4257]

Thank you! do you know if it will be tailored more towards step/comlex board exams?

Honestly all integrated curriculums are going to be more helpful for boards than a non integrated curriculum, so yes! However, each student will still have to do their own work to be prepared for boards as there is only so much any school can do for their students. It takes work outside of the classroom for all students!

 

[Sneakerdoc]

Anyone looking for a roommate in the Met apartments? Thank you. 🙂

 

[potatochipdo]

Wanted to give some advice:

For those still waiting on WL or for interview invites, I got my invite around July 4th a few years ago. I got accepted 2 days later. You never know what can happen! I also had a <497 MCAT. My friend was in the same boat a couple years later with a <497. (Not saying exact years, but you get the idea).

For scrubs, I recommend Scrubs n More on Hardy St. They already have all the patches you need, white coat, and scrub color for a cheaper price. Get around 3 pairs (get more if your apartment only has communal laundry not in house). When they ask about the patch, say you want the thick one with black backing. The other one wrinkles and looks awful (rip to my scrubs).

For the tools (i.e. otoscope, stethoscope). Check ebay first! There is nothing wrong with used, and the Welsch Allen tools have replacement parts online. I didn't use some of them much in lab (but randomly they ask you to bring it to sometimes), but I used them so much for practice. One of the professors does boxing physicals for volunteering and you need to bring your own stuff to get a fulfilling experience! Invest in tools you'd want later on for the real deal, but save some cash by checking out Ebay first.

As for safety, I feel some people gloss over this? Compared to cities like Houston, you've got less to worry about. But there have been more issues in the city over the past few years in full transparency. Hattiesburg Police regularly updates their pages so follow them. A lot of students I know lived a bit detached from all this, but I couldn't afford an apartment like that personally. I still felt safe enough to go places alone in the day and night, but do watch your surroundings like you would anywhere else. I'd say I am more worried about my car getting in a wreck than anything else as the traffic is awful and people don't stop at stop signs, but didn't want anyone to think Hattiesburg is unbelievably safe since it is in laid back MS (coming from a Mississippian).

Finally, there are a lot of changes happening with curriculum and things like others mentioned. It should be for the better. I struggled a lot getting through the classes. If you had a lower MCAT or struggle with how to study, use some of your loan money to invest in tutoring. The school offers peer student tutoring for free, but I needed a lot more 1 on 1 time from a professional tutor. If you are like me, look at MedSchoolInsiders. I had the same tutor for 2 years, and I couldn't have passed without his help. He actually went through all my lectures to help teach me concepts I just didn't connect with, and he went through practice questions. He also created an entire boards study schedule and offered great advice. I definitely had to budget to be able to afford this program, but it made the difference between passing or not.

Anyways, I hope this helped. Some of this is info I wish I'd gotten. Don't be scared, and know that your class is your family. Only you guys know what it's like to go through this experience at this time. Help each other out, and be willing to ask for assistance. The school wants you to become a doctor. That's why they picked you!

 

[chrismed7]

If anyone’s looking for a place to live at, myself and another medical student have a 3 bedroom 3 bath at Breckenridge. Rents about 650 a month which includes electricity and water. Message me if interested!

 

[Jay Jay Pra]

Which one is better for a Florida resident?
LECOM Bradenton or WCUCOM ?

 

[docmcstuffins24]

Which one is better for a Florida resident?
LECOM Bradenton or WCUCOM ?

WCUCOM all the way. We have great board pass rates and you’ll be happy here. From what I’ve heard from people I know who go to Lecom they’re miserable. Take it how you will.

 

[futuredr001!]

WCUCOM all the way. We have great board pass rates and you’ll be happy here. From what I’ve heard from people I know who go to Lecom they’re miserable. Take it how you will.

Do you know what the Step 1 pass rate is?

 

[Ellesandra319]

Do you know what the Step 1 pass rate is?

they don't publish the step 1 pass rate but if you google "wcucom board pass rates" the first hit will take you to the website where they publish comlex first time pass rates. i've dropped it here for your convenience!

 

[Ellesandra319]

Do you know what the Step 1 pass rate is?

also this years boards cycle isn't quite done yet so those stats probably won't come out until august/september

 

[Gigatt1234]

ik it’s a long shot anyone is still on here but last year we’re the drug test, immunizations etc due in may or anytime before the start of classes ?

 

[the great dane]

ik it’s a long shot anyone is still on here but last year we’re the drug test, immunizations etc due in may or anytime before the start of classes ?

July 1st and orientation was August 1st

 

[HopefulPre-Med]

there are no preference lists. everything happens second year. for application sites, the open applications / announce sites around october-ish and selections are annouced beginning of february. shortly after, the lottery happens for everyone that didn't apply or was not accepted to an application site (usually 70%ish of the class). there are not preferences in the lottery. you are randomly assigned a number the day before, and they simply go in numerical order on lottery day and you pick where you want to go from what is left. if you are say #5 you're gonna get your choice, but if you are #120, you are gonna have slim pickings as they say. hahaha after that is the appeals process etc if you have an extreme extenuating circumstance.

that said, i would NOT solely choose to come to WCUCOM based on the fact they have a hubsite in a location you desire. of course take it into consideration, but NO hubsite slot is guaranteed until either your application is accepted or you pick your spot during the lottery!

How do the application sites work? Does the school choose who gets them or the site itself?

 

[chemgirl97]

How do the application sites work? Does the school choose who gets them or the site itself?

It's not super transparent. I know for a fact that one of the hubsites did personally review and select applicants, while another seemed to not have a clue about the process leading me to believe wcucom chose who was selected. Echoing what my classmate said, don't come to wcucom solely for a particular hubsite.