Accepted at PCOM and KCOM - need opinions

[smc927]

---

Members do not see this ad.

I got a letter in the mail today accepting me to PCOM (four days after the interview). I have also been accepted to KCOM. My deposit to KCOM is due in 9 days.

I was very impressed by both KCOM and PCOM and feel I (and my family) could be very happy either place. But I have reservations about both places, too. I'm a PA resident so PCOM is closer to family and "home." But KCOM seems more family friendly - and we have a daughter with another little one on the way.

Just wondering what people feel are the pros and cons of each. I'd appreciate insights and your point of view.

 

[raptor5]

There are a few things that I would look at. Cost of living. It will be cheaper to live in Kirksville and is probably much nicer than Philly in terms of people, traffic, and scenery. If you are a city person then go to philly. How old is your little one? If she needs to go to school you are going to have to pay attention to where you live b/c some of the public schools are really bad, but to live in a district with a good safe school could cost you in terms of driving and money. If you plan on returning to PA for residency it may be better to go to PCOM b/c you might have better connections but if your grades and boards are excellent it won't matter. I have heard that the OMM training is better at KCOM but I have yet to find any evidence on this except for the fact that Osteopathy was founded in Kirksville and there are more hours of OMM there. I am not sure how rotations compare b/t the two schools but philly does seem to offer more and better opportunities.

Good Luck

 

[Dr JPH]

Tough decision, especially with a family.

I know of someone who moved to MO with their family and their SO was bored out of their mine.

I also know someone who moved to Philly and their SO hates the city.

no one can help you in this situation. I think this one goes beyond academics. You need to do whats best for your family at this point. Both are great schools.

 

[dirtydawg]

KCOM. I'm all about the OMM, plus, they were much friendlier there. See you there!!!

 

[NewRawTick]

I got a letter in the mail today accepting me to PCOM (four days after the interview). I have also been accepted to KCOM. My deposit to KCOM is due in 9 days.

I was very impressed by both KCOM and PCOM and feel I (and my family) could be very happy either place. But I have reservations about both places, too. I'm a PA resident so PCOM is closer to family and "home." But KCOM seems more family friendly - and we have a daughter with another little one on the way.

Just wondering what people feel are the pros and cons of each. I'd appreciate insights and your point of view.

SMC, congrats on your acceptances to KCOM and PCOM!

To address your concern about picking between the two schools, you can think of being at KCOM/Kirksville for only 2 years, then head out for your residency elsewhere. And since you're from PA, there is a rotation site at the Memorial Hospital at York, PA where you can do your 3rd and 4th years, as well as 4 other sites in NJ (among all the other sites we have across the nation too). So in that sense, moving to Kirksville can be seen as a temporary situation, if anything. Did your spouse visit KCOM/PCOM with you on your interviews? What was their impression on either school?

Like I've said in other threads before too -- Kirksville doesn't have the drama of a big city (traffic, high rent, expensive gas). The support the school gives for students' spouses and families is very visible too, since they really care about you in and out of school.

Academically, I don't know anything about PCOM's program, but as these previous posters have mentioned, OMM is a big deal at our school, since it's the founding school and all. I didn't realize how many hours we've spent in lab until I had to talk about it with another student from another school.

Best of luck in making your decision!

-N