AACOM accredidation standards

[FutureCTDoc]

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Why does the AACOM keep on accrediting schools with 3.2 GPAs and 22 MCATs? It does a huge diservice to those of us who plan to attend or attend decent schools. Any other opinions? Each year they seem to crank out a few more god awful schools. All of the decent ones are older.

 

[JaggerPlate]

Why does the AACOM keep on accrediting schools with 3.2 GPAs and 22 MCATs? It does a huge diservice to those of us who plan to attend or attend decent schools. Any other opinions? Each year they seem to crank out a few more god awful schools. All of the decent ones are older.

Huh?? Schools don't set what they want their MCAT/GPA then apply, other way around. Worry about getting through school.

 

[Laryngophed]

Why does the AACOM keep on accrediting schools with 3.2 GPAs and 22 MCATs? It does a huge diservice to those of us who plan to attend or attend decent schools. Any other opinions? Each year they seem to crank out a few more god awful schools. All of the decent ones are older.

🤣

:troll:

 

[JaggerPlate]

Actually, FutureCT is a student in the combined BS/DO program at NOVA and normally has good input. This seems a little out of character.

 

[beckhunter116]

Accreditation has nothing to do with admissions standards--see below. And how many people do you honestly think were accepted this cycle with a 3.2 and 22? Even if they were accepted they probably had incredible experience like being a EMT, RN, or PA for years. The averages at almost all of the schools are much higher than that.

And really why do you care what other people have? Is it so terrible that someone who could make a terrific physician but had issues of some sort occur be at the same school as you?

http://www.osteopathic.org/index.cfm?PageID=ost_comacc
The American Osteopathic Association Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) is the only accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education (USDE) for accrediting colleges of osteopathic medicine (COM).


Accreditation action taken by the COCA means a college of osteopathic medicine (COM) has appropriately identified its mission, has secured the resources necessary to accomplish that mission, shows evidence of accomplishing its mission, and demonstrates that it may be expected to continue to accomplish its mission in the future. Accreditation of a COM means that the COM:

• Incorporates the science of medicine, the art of caring and the power of touch within a curriculum that recognizes the interrelationship of structure and function for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes
• Recognizes the importance of addressing the body as a whole in disease and health
• Recognizes the importance of homeostasis and self-regulation in the maintenance of health

COCA-Accredited schools have met or exceeded the COCA standards for educational quality with respect to:

• Mission, Goals, and Objectives
• Governance, Administration, and Finance
• Facilities, Equipment, and Resources
• Faculty
• Students
• Curriculum
• Research and Scholarly Activities

The process of accreditation is a cooperative activity calling for continuing self-assessment on the part of each COM, periodic evaluation through site visits and other forms of monitoring directed by the COCA.

EDIT: I have a headache so this may have come off as harsh, I don't mean for it to be.

 

[JaggerPlate]

'3.5/28' is what I've heard at every (5+) school I've interviewed at.

 

[FutureCTDoc]

I recognize COCA sets standards, however the policy of continually acreditting new schools is distressing from a residency standpoint. I'm class of '17 in a BS/DO and I'm concerned that AACOM is allowing more schools than we have residency spots, especially in the most competitive specialties. Allo schools are really ramping up their numbers, there are about five or six new MD schools in the works. The worst part is for those of us contemplating IM/Specialty track within the osteopathic end of the match. That's my concern, not so much currently standing schools. I may have misphrased my first comment, mea culpa.

 

[FutureCTDoc]

'3.5/28' is what I've heard at every (5+) school I've interviewed at.

It depends on the school, NSU-COM, MSU-COM, OSU-COM, PCOM, Western and MWU definitely are in this range as well as some other schools. Some of the newly accredited schools, are not getting these truly higher caliber students. In addition some of the schools in the pipeline look likely to have this issue.

 

[GraceEuphoria]

I, too, have been wondering about the issue of residencies what with all the new schools opening and current schools hiking up their class sizes. I know the issue has been addressed some, but what is being done to prevent a shortage of spots? Sorry if it's an inappropriate question to pose, but since the OP clarified and included the topic, I figure it's okay 🙂

 

[FutureCTDoc]

I, too, have been wondering about the issue of residencies what with all the new schools opening and current schools hiking up their class sizes. I know the issue has been addressed some, but what is being done to prevent a shortage of spots? Sorry if it's an inappropriate question to pose, but since the OP clarified and included the topic, I figure it's okay 🙂

The problem is nothing is being done. It doesn't appear that new schools have opened up enough residencies to cover their own students. In addition the number of community based programs has either decreased or remained steady depending on specialty. The same is true for allo. There are presently more MD residencies than US MDs so a large number of DOs go there for OB/GYN and IM, these are not increasing. In addition to this Ross, AUC, SGU and SABA are increasing in size and are sending more students each year to the US. I'm just afraid of a major league squeeze especially in IM and OB/GYN. Plus a lot of FP programs have closed in recent years.

 

[JaggerPlate]

Residencies are a problem all around, and the reason I personally tell people not to go to Caribbean medical schools. Couple of fun facts: 1. Residency numbers for ACGME have been capped since like 1997, but the number of students admitted has crept up steadily since that time (new schools increased class sizes etc). 2. There are not enough AOA spots for every DO student. This is something the AOA is aware of, and the past few presidents have put an emphasis on beefing up OGME. 3. This means that DO students depend on those ACGME spots, and MD schools are increasing their class sizes by 10% in the near future. IE: problem. It's not the end of the world, and there is so much change on the horizon, that it will get worked out (even if it's not pretty). I don't really know what the take home message is here ... just some facts I guess.

 

[JaggerPlate]

The problem is nothing is being done. It doesn't appear that new schools have opened up enough residencies to cover their own students. In addition the number of community based programs has either decreased or remained steady depending on specialty. The same is true for allo. There are presently more MD residencies than US MDs so a large number of DOs go there for OB/GYN and IM, these are not increasing. In addition to this Ross, AUC, SGU and SABA are increasing in size and are sending more students each year to the US. I'm just afraid of a major league squeeze especially in IM and OB/GYN. Plus a lot of FP programs have closed in recent years.

Schools should have to open X number of residencies before they are approved. This should be a far bigger concern that the statistics of their students for the first couple of classes.

 

[JaggerPlate]

It depends on the school, NSU-COM, MSU-COM, OSU-COM, PCOM, Western and MWU definitely are in this range as well as some other schools. Some of the newly accredited schools, are not getting these truly higher caliber students. In addition some of the schools in the pipeline look likely to have this issue.

They will probably all get up there. Also, some schools, like PCOM actually, are kind of funny, and still have lower MCAT/GPA averages. It really goes to show that they are looking for something else in their students, because obviously PCOM is one of the best medical schools in America.

 

[lastcall]

Schools should have to open X number of residencies before they are approved. This should be a far bigger concern that the statistics of their students for the first couple of classes.

+1

Just look at some of the threads in the residency forums titled something along the lines of "Will future residency matches become a bloodbath?", etc.

 

[FutureCTDoc]

They will probably all get up there. Also, some schools, like PCOM actually, are kind of funny, and still have lower MCAT/GPA averages. It really goes to show that they are looking for something else in their students, because obviously PCOM is one of the best medical schools in America.

The majority of DO schools are lower because it really isn't as number based as MD. Here at NSU we are more diverse than most MD schools, have a great program etc. However you know the schools to which I'm reffering to with MCATs beneath a 24. I recognize that there are plenty of great physicians both allo and oste who had lower mcats, however it is merely a convenient statistic to look at to compare.

 

[beckhunter116]

It depends on the school, NSU-COM, MSU-COM, OSU-COM, PCOM, Western and MWU definitely are in this range as well as some other schools. Some of the newly accredited schools, are not getting these truly higher caliber students. In addition some of the schools in the pipeline look likely to have this issue.

Why not name names? Which school do you think are taking the low caliber students? If anything you should be happy to be competing against the low caliber students, right?
NOTE: I don't think that every applicant that has lower stats is automatically a low caliber student. I recognize that life hands everyone hurdles to overcome.

Schools should have to open X number of residencies before they are approved. This should be a far bigger concern that the statistics of their students for the first couple of classes.

Agree 100% 👍

The problem overall is that education, nowadays, is a real money maker with increasing tuition rates, in addition to a lot of people still wanting to be a physician no matter what is on the horizon for healthcare and reimbursement. I think at this point we can only educate ourselves on the issues and be concerned with our grades/board scores/LOR so that we are competitive once our match comes around.

Personally, I have no concern over how other applicants get accepted, I only hope I am competitive enough to be successful next cycle.

 

[FutureCTDoc]

If you're that worried about this... break your contract with the NOVA program and apply once your time comes.

Unless I made a major league move up either to my instate school, UConn or a few other select medical school I doubt I will break my contract.

 

[Handy388]

why not transfer to a different school and apply MD when the time comes?

 

[JaggerPlate]

why not transfer to a different school and apply MD when the time comes?

Wouldn't even have to transfer. The beauty of BS/DO or MD programs is that you can opt out and simply apply when your time comes. However, I think the OP likes the school, they are simple concerned about the standards of newer DO schools popping up, and the adverse affect this could have on their future.

 

[Limvostov]

PNWU is brand new and is at nearly 27 MCAT average and about 3.45 GPA. I am sure this number will only rise. I don't think that's really diluting the quality of applicants... especially for it's second class.

 

[JaggerPlate]

PNWU is brand new and is at nearly 27 MCAT average and about 3.45 GPA. I am sure this number will only rise. I don't think that's really diluting the quality of applicants... especially for it's second class.

Nice. Yeah, I interviewed at a school that was less than 5 years old and quoted 3.5 cgpa, 3.4 sgpa, and a 28.