Review of A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona . Get the latest information, opinions of fellow students, and LizzyM and SDN Rankings.
What particular qualities do you feel that you can bring to ATSU SOMA? (Please limit your response to 500 words or less. All information provided in this section must be the original work of the applicant and not from another author.)
Discuss a situation in which you had to persevere despite facing obstacles or setbacks. How did you maintain your motivation and keep moving forward towards your goals? (Please limit your response to 500 words or less. All information provided in this section must be the original work of the applicant and not from another author.)
As a current student at ATSU-SOMA, I feel it’s important to share some concerns that may not be visible during interviews or recruitment events. Medical school is a huge investment—financially, mentally, and emotionally—and it’s crucial to make a well-informed decision.
Here are 17 issues we believe applicants should seriously consider:
Tuition is now $70,000+ per year, and fourth-year electives—despite being required—are not covered. You must pay out of pocket.
Students at some CHC sites (e.g., Scranton) report being charged $500/week in additional fees, which ATSU does not reimburse.
Core rotations are only covered if you do them at assigned sites. If you secure your own, you’re responsible for the cost.
Clinical experiences are wildly inconsistent. Some sites (e.g., San Ysidro) offer rich inpatient exposure, while others struggle to provide any.
There is no transparency or support regarding tuition increases or how funds are allocated. You will never receive an itemized breakdown of where tuition is going.
Many of our preceptors have said other schools pay them more, making us question where our tuition is really going.
ATSU’s president, Dr. Craig M. Phelps, earns over $1.1 million/year (public info)—and we’ve never even seen him.
Several top-tier faculty have resigned, including Dr. Caputo, Dr. Campbell, and Dr. Sackett.
There are rumors that a new medical school is being formed by a former staff member and will include many of the departed faculty.
Student concerns are often dismissed under the veil of “professionalism,” making it hard to advocate for ourselves.
No cadaver dissections—only prosections. Students interested in surgical specialties may find this limiting.
Pre-clinical education is largely self-taught. You're expected to teach yourself foundational medicine—yet still pay $70K/year.
While ATSU provides tools like TrueLearn and OnlineMed, their cost is significantly lower than claimed.
The school has faced multiple lawsuits related to student dismissals and alleged unethical practices.
We all want to be doctors—but $500,000 in debt for a substandard education should not be the price.
ATSU has lost many CHC partners—the very thing that attracted many of us to the school in the first place.
The only consistently praised department is OPP (Osteopathic Principles and Practice)—a bright spot in an otherwise frustrating system.
If you're applying to med school right now: Take this seriously. Please, weigh your options carefully. Bolded are COMLEX Level 1 pass rates at ATSU-SOMA.
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