A little help with selecting

[pguin]

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Hi there everyone, I'm having some scheduling issues so I thought someone might be able to give me some good advice. I've just started a new job and already have an acceptance at KCUMB and interviewed at NSUCOM. I have scheuled interviews at AZCOM, CCOM, KCOM, TUCOM, and LECOM-Bradenton but for time and monetary reasons I can only realistically attend 1-2 of these interviews on top of CCOM (since its near home). I know rankings are absolutely useless so I was wondering if anyone who had maybe interviewed at some of these schools can give me some inside interesting info which might help me to choose which to attend. I know it will just be opinions but they could be very helpful in making a choice!. Thx in advance!

 

[MikeyLu2010]

this is very hard for other ppl..mainly because u didnt tell us what factors are most important to you...location? cost of living? reputation? board scores? clinical ed? curriculum? etc..theres so many factors...and each school has a unique blend of all..some strong in some areas..and not so strong in others..

 

[pguin]

this is very hard for other ppl..mainly because u didnt tell us what factors are most important to you...location? cost of living? reputation? board scores? clinical ed? curriculum? etc..theres so many factors...and each school has a unique blend of all..some strong in some areas..and not so strong in others..

Very good point. Heres a list of some traits of a school that I'm looking for. I'm not too concerned about board scores and matches because I figure medical school will be what I make of it.

1. Early TRUE clinical experience. Simulators are fine but I'd prefer to work with humans
2. Activities in and around the campus - I don't want to be stuck in the middle of nowhere.
3. Newer technology at the campus
4. Affiliated hospitals for 3rd and 4th years which are preferably large. I don't mind it's in a completely different city.
5. Nice apartments near the campus - preferably there will be a place where many of my colleagues live in the same building or vincinity.

If people have been to either KCUMB or Nova heres what I liked and disliked about each school. maybe it will help you see what I like

KCUMB -
Pros - Beautiful new technology, students seem to work together, nice study areas for students, 50 percent of students live in same place, Kansas City is a nice city.
Cons - location in the ghetto, Only 1 classroom for the each year, small library

Nova
Pros - Awesome city location with amazing weather, campus is closer in size to my undergrad (Indiana U), Beautiful campus, colleagues in many different levels and areas of education, good large affiliated hospitals in Ft Lauderdale and Miami
Cons - Students don't seem to live close together, a little older technology then KCUMB (they need to get some plasmas! but still nice), ridiculous cost of living

Hope this helps people help me! 🙂 Thx

 

[Jadyn21]

Pguin, so i guess I'm in the same situation. I took your advice and went out to KCUMB and now I have the same problem in terms of picking schools. I just found out I got in this week so I was pretty psyched about that. I was really impressed with their approach to teaching medicine (systems based) and that would be the number one reason I would go there. Also I can choose to go back to the east for 3rd and 4th year if I wish. However, it was about 30 degrees during my interview at Kansas City, a far cry from the mid 70s at NSU when we were there. The only thing I think we disagree on, from your post above, was the campus feel. I'm not sure if the students were as tight knit as I'd want a campus to feel...thats only from one day, so I might have gotten the wrong impression.


So I'm just wondering if you have narrowed it down to one from these two schools. Also, the other schools I am mainly waiting on is NYCOM and PCOM, and I'm not sure about CCOM because I don't feel like taking tests every two days (or that's what I read, but that could be wrong...can anyone fix me on that?)



And as far as KCUMB being in the ghetto...hahahahahahahhahaha...not even close IMO. I grew up in a diverse area and work in Paterson, NJ so when you said it was in the ghetto I was expecting something really bad...it wasn't bad at all IMO 😎

 

[pguin]

Pguin, so i guess I'm in the same situation. I took your advice and went out to KCUMB and now I have the same problem in terms of picking schools. I just found out I got in this week so I was pretty psyched about that. I was really impressed with their approach to teaching medicine (systems based) and that would be the number one reason I would go there. Also I can choose to go back to the east for 3rd and 4th year if I wish. However, it was about 30 degrees during my interview at Kansas City, a far cry from the mid 70s at NSU when we were there. The only thing I think we disagree on, from your post above, was the campus feel. I'm not sure if the students were as tight knit as I'd want a campus to feel...thats only from one day, so I might have gotten the wrong impression.


So I'm just wondering if you have narrowed it down to one from these two schools. Also, the other schools I am mainly waiting on is NYCOM and PCOM, and I'm not sure about CCOM because I don't feel like taking tests every two days (or that's what I read, but that could be wrong...can anyone fix me on that?)



And as far as KCUMB being in the ghetto...hahahahahahahhahaha...not even close IMO. I grew up in a diverse area and work in Paterson, NJ so when you said it was in the ghetto I was expecting something really bad...it wasn't bad at all IMO 😎

hahah....fair enough....give me a break i grew up in indiana....my idea of a ghetto may be a little off! And it was nice and like 60 when i interviewed at KC...unlike DMU which was about -560 degrees.
Well, Actually within about the past 5 minutes Im pretty sure I finally made my decision as to where I wanted to go. I'm a monday morning run to the post office away from sending my money to CCOM. 24 hours for me to contemplate it and be miserable and then it should be over. I've been thinking about it non-stop for about the past month and I just really love the hospital system that chicago provides for your rotations. The other schools were all awesome but in the end I was kinda scared of where I would end up my 3rd and 4th years (like nebraska or something). I can just live in one city for the whole 4 years at CCOM, plus I love chicago. Also, I figure the more often you have to take tests the easier they are...and it will keep me from slacking for a week until the night before my test and failing! I will really really miss the weather (and girls) in fort lauderdale, but Id probably just get to distracted anyways. Anyways man, keep in touch to tell me where you end up going. You never know, if u end up in CCOM I'll need a roommate cause the cost of livings f'ing ridiculous. Good luck with the decision, ill talk to u later man

 

[Depakote]

I can't speak for the other schools, but I think you'll really like CCOM. You'll want to live off campus from the looks of it, though. But they do have some really close apartments that didn't sound too bad.

 

[pguin]

I can't speak for the other schools, but I think you'll really like CCOM. You'll want to live off campus from the looks of it, though. But they do have some really close apartments that didn't sound too bad.

yea they showed us the on-campus housing and I had a serious freshman year dorm flashback...definately getting off campus

 

[Jadyn21]

So since I listened to your advice and flew out to Kansas City and was pleasantly surprised at how great the school was, I think I will fly out to Chi-town as well. I have a college roommate there so its an excuse to go out for a weekend at least...good point about the tests, we'll see how the school is.


And holy ****, I was looking into applying to DMU as well, but after I read your post and the 1000000 angry replies back, i think i will pass. My top 2 choices in the midwest (Chicago doesnt count) were KCUMB and DMU, but i just didnt get a chance to apply to DMU yet. Haha, now i wont.


If I fly out to chicago, I will let you know what I think of the school. How expensive is it for room and board. Can't be as bad as NSU right??

 

[pguin]

So since I listened to your advice and flew out to Kansas City and was pleasantly surprised at how great the school was, I think I will fly out to Chi-town as well. I have a college roommate there so its an excuse to go out for a weekend at least...good point about the tests, we'll see how the school is.


And holy ****, I was looking into applying to DMU as well, but after I read your post and the 1000000 angry replies back, i think i will pass. My top 2 choices in the midwest (Chicago doesnt count) were KCUMB and DMU, but i just didnt get a chance to apply to DMU yet. Haha, now i wont.


If I fly out to chicago, I will let you know what I think of the school. How expensive is it for room and board. Can't be as bad as NSU right??

HAHA...yea noone was happy about my putdown of DMU!...pretty funny actually... CCOM has on campus housing which is pretty much a dorm and theres no way in hell im living there. The off-campus apartments are kinda pricey since its an upscale suburb but its not as bad as NSU. If you do go to chicago, u may not be quite as impressed by the look of the campus as NSU...but after looking at their rotations list I decided it more than makes up for it. I'd recommend giving it a shot though...if all else fails just drink it up with the roommate!...good luck with everything!