ACOM vs. KCUMB

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LiamNeesons

LiamNeesons

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Location: I prefer the small town feel of Dothan, and being 80 miles from the beach will be nice during breaks. Kansas City is large and the school is in a shady part of town. I want to live close to campus but in a safe area.

Tuition: The tuition difference is negligible in my opinion.

Rotations: Both schools will have good rotations. ACOM is part of a medical center. I like the convenience of a one stop shop. I don't like the idea of moving every two years for training. I'm looking for stability, and prefer to minimize relocation. At ACOM I could potentially stay in one city for medical school and residency. I want to do primary care in underserved areas. ACOM will have a great mix of med center rotations during third year and community hospital (more hands on) rotations during fourth year.

Curriculum: KCUMB has the genesis curriculum which is amazing. ACOM has a new systems based curriculum which could be good or bad. It includes hospice care and nutrition. Both schools will present essentially the same material and ultimately it is up to the student to learn it so not sure how much of a difference this makes. In my experience, newer professors usually work harder at lectures and care more.

School age: KCUMB is established and I would have second year students to lean on for advice. At ACOM I would be part of the inaugural class. However, I don't know that anyone should consider medical school if they aren't confident they can succeed on their own.

Interview: At ACOM I felt more respected by the faculty. KCUMB wanted me to convince them why I was good enough to go to their institution, and it came across as demeaning.

Summary: KCUMB would probably be better for my professional life and future career. ACOM would probably be better for my personal life, marriage, and overall happiness. I am looking to match into internal medicine, family medicine, or maybe general surgery. I guess I prefer ACOM but just want to make sure that I'm not missing something really important. Any input is welcomed. Thanks.
 
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LiamNeesons said:
Location: I prefer the small town feel of Dothan, and being 80 miles from the beach will be nice during breaks. Kansas City is large and the school is in a shady part of town. I want to live close to campus but in a safe area.

Tuition: The tuition difference is negligible in my opinion.

Rotations: Both schools will have good rotations. ACOM is part of a medical center. I like the convenience of a one stop shop. I don't like the idea of moving every two years for training. I'm looking for stability, and prefer to minimize relocation. At ACOM I could potentially stay in one city for medical school and residency. I want to do primary care in underserved areas. ACOM will have a great mix of med center rotations during third year and community hospital (more hands on) rotations during fourth year.

Curriculum: KCUMB has the genesis curriculum which is amazing. ACOM has a new systems based curriculum which could be good or bad. It includes hospice care and nutrition. Both schools will present essentially the same material and ultimately it is up to the student to learn it so not sure how much of a difference this makes. In my experience, newer professors usually work harder at lectures and care more.

School age: KCUMB is established and I would have second year students to lean on for advice. At ACOM I would be part of the inaugural class. However, I don't know that anyone should consider medical school if they aren't confident they can succeed on their own.

Interview: At ACOM I felt more respected by the faculty. KCUMB wanted me to convince them why I was good enough to go to their institution, and it came across as demeaning.

Summary: KCUMB would probably be better for my professional life and future career. ACOM would probably be better for my personal life, marriage, and overall happiness. I don't care about prestige and am looking to match into internal medicine, family medicine, or maybe general surgery. I guess I prefer ACOM but just want to make sure that I'm not missing something really important. Any input is welcomed. Thanks.
Click to expand...

ACOM is a new school. They still have to figure out how to do things and the first class will be the guinea pigs. There is no alumni base, and the rotation directors will be unexperienced in teaching students. If you seriously conside how far the beach is from the school as a deciding factor between schools, maybe you should go ahead to ACOM.
 
kgpremed11 said:
ACOM is a new school. They still have to figure out how to do things and the first class will be the guinea pigs. There is no alumni base, and the rotation directors will be unexperienced in teaching students. If you seriously conside how far the beach is from the school as a deciding factor between schools, maybe you should go ahead to ACOM.
Click to expand...

An alumni base will make or break matching into primary care, rotation directors don't know their ass from their stethoscope because they've never interacted with a medical student, and taking into consideration that my wife likes the beach since she basically has to give up a decade of her life while I study is a foolish thought. Got it. Would anyone who has attended medical school like to weigh in?
 
kgpremed11 said:
ACOM is a new school. They still have to figure out how to do things and the first class will be the guinea pigs. There is no alumni base, and the rotation directors will be unexperienced in teaching students. If you seriously conside how far the beach is from the school as a deciding factor between schools, maybe you should go ahead to ACOM.
Click to expand...

The rotations that ACOM will utilize have been established and operational for nearly a decade via AMEC so the clinical faculty/rotation preceptors are experienced in most cases.


OP...this is a personal decision. Too many personal factors play into it. If being 100 miles from the beach is important to you, well then it is! I appreciate you looking for advice here as I know how tough making this decision is...but you should take most things you hear here with a grain of salt since (as shown above) people don't know what they are talking about sometimes. Seems like you have an idea of what you want and what each school offers. Make a pros and cons list and add to it as you think of thing. That way when the time comes to make a decision, you will have a tangible reference to aid you.
 
Mr Kenobi said:
The rotations that ACOM will utilize have been established and operational for nearly a decade via AMEC so the clinical faculty/rotation preceptors are experienced in most cases.
Click to expand...

Good point.
 
Mr Kenobi said:
The rotations that ACOM will utilize have been established and operational for nearly a decade via AMEC so the clinical faculty/rotation preceptors are experienced in most cases.


OP...this is a personal decision. Too many personal factors play into it. If being 100 miles from the beach is important to you, well then it is! I appreciate you looking for advice here as I know how tough making this decision is...but you should take most things you hear here with a grain of salt since (as shown above) people don't know what they are talking about sometimes. Seems like you have an idea of what you want and what each school offers. Make a pros and cons list and add to it as you think of thing. That way when the time comes to make a decision, you will have a tangible reference to aid you.
Click to expand...

Is this guy kidding me? Go look at the William Carey thread and behold.
 
LiamNeesons said:
Location: I prefer the small town feel of Dothan, and being 80 miles from the beach will be nice during breaks. Kansas City is large and the school is in a shady part of town. I want to live close to campus but in a safe area.

Tuition: The tuition difference is negligible in my opinion.

Rotations: Both schools will have good rotations. ACOM is part of a medical center. I like the convenience of a one stop shop. I don't like the idea of moving every two years for training. I'm looking for stability, and prefer to minimize relocation. At ACOM I could potentially stay in one city for medical school and residency. I want to do primary care in underserved areas. ACOM will have a great mix of med center rotations during third year and community hospital (more hands on) rotations during fourth year.

Curriculum: KCUMB has the genesis curriculum which is amazing. ACOM has a new systems based curriculum which could be good or bad. It includes hospice care and nutrition. Both schools will present essentially the same material and ultimately it is up to the student to learn it so not sure how much of a difference this makes. In my experience, newer professors usually work harder at lectures and care more.

School age: KCUMB is established and I would have second year students to lean on for advice. At ACOM I would be part of the inaugural class. However, I don't know that anyone should consider medical school if they aren't confident they can succeed on their own.

Interview: At ACOM I felt more respected by the faculty. KCUMB wanted me to convince them why I was good enough to go to their institution, and it came across as demeaning.

Summary: KCUMB would probably be better for my professional life and future career. ACOM would probably be better for my personal life, marriage, and overall happiness. I am looking to match into internal medicine, family medicine, or maybe general surgery. I guess I prefer ACOM but just want to make sure that I'm not missing something really important. Any input is welcomed. Thanks.
Click to expand...

Don't underestimated this.
You can make the academics work at either place. Your professional options are unlikely to be determined by attending KCUMB over ACOM. KCUMB is a great school that I almost chose too but ultimately I think its us, pre meds, that believe which DO school we select is really a bigger deal than in actuality.
Personal life, marriage and happiness will mean a lot in the next few years, just my two cents.

Good luck!
 
LiamNeesons said:
Location: I prefer the small town feel of Dothan, and being 80 miles from the beach will be nice during breaks. Kansas City is large and the school is in a shady part of town. I want to live close to campus but in a safe area.

Tuition: The tuition difference is negligible in my opinion.

Rotations: Both schools will have good rotations. ACOM is part of a medical center. I like the convenience of a one stop shop. I don't like the idea of moving every two years for training. I'm looking for stability, and prefer to minimize relocation. At ACOM I could potentially stay in one city for medical school and residency. I want to do primary care in underserved areas. ACOM will have a great mix of med center rotations during third year and community hospital (more hands on) rotations during fourth year.

Curriculum: KCUMB has the genesis curriculum which is amazing. ACOM has a new systems based curriculum which could be good or bad. It includes hospice care and nutrition. Both schools will present essentially the same material and ultimately it is up to the student to learn it so not sure how much of a difference this makes. In my experience, newer professors usually work harder at lectures and care more.

School age: KCUMB is established and I would have second year students to lean on for advice. At ACOM I would be part of the inaugural class. However, I don't know that anyone should consider medical school if they aren't confident they can succeed on their own.

Interview: At ACOM I felt more respected by the faculty. KCUMB wanted me to convince them why I was good enough to go to their institution, and it came across as demeaning.

Summary: KCUMB would probably be better for my professional life and future career. ACOM would probably be better for my personal life, marriage, and overall happiness. I am looking to match into internal medicine, family medicine, or maybe general surgery. I guess I prefer ACOM but just want to make sure that I'm not missing something really important. Any input is welcomed. Thanks.
Click to expand...

Actually dude, you would be better off asking this to medical students, pre meds don't really know anything. Trust me it matters where you go to school.
 
Sounds like acom is the right option for you. From my experience interviewing, I think most DO schools are lumped together, so I don't know much it matters going to a "well established" school.
 
if you like ACOM more and want to go there,you need to go there and nobody should sway you. If you really can't decide and are completely torn, KCUMB is more established and you aren't risking anything at all because program directors know KCUMB puts out good students. But honestly, you and your family being happy is 1000x more important than school name. If you are leaning more towards ACOM for any reason at all, go there and make the best of it as you will likely do much better in school as well as your family will be happier.
 
KCUMB. All arguments for "ACOM>KCUMB" are false.
 
kgpremed11 said:
Actually dude, you would be better off asking this to medical students, pre meds don't really know anything. Trust me it matters where you go to school.
Click to expand...


You're a pre-med. I'm so conflicted.
 
kgpremed11 said:
No but they are arguing ACOM = KCUMB. Which just is not the case. KCUMB>>>>>>ACOM.
Click to expand...

Nobody is arguing ACOM = KCUMB. They're saying that personal factors are important and if KCUMB will put a significant damper on your relationship/family/happiness, then ACOM is a better choice. Every DO student and every MD student with knowledge of DO programs on SDN will say the same thing. All the MD students that don't know anything about DO schools will tell you that all DO schools are the same anyway so just go where you'll be happier.
 
kgpremed11 said:
No but they are arguing ACOM = KCUMB. Which just is not the case. KCUMB>>>>>>ACOM.
Click to expand...

I have yet to see people argue that either. People are saying the OP needs to make a choice and weight the different factors that are important to him. Other people (current med students) have also mentioned what they have experienced and find important regarding topics that the OP touched on and is considering.

Edit: MedPR...you're fast as hyper speed
tumblr_ljvygsDBx61qguurxo1_500.gif
 
If you go to KCUMB, it doesn't mean you can't also do your residency in KC. There are 2 allopathic schools in town that accept many KCUMB grads every year according to the match statistics.
 
Mr Kenobi said:
The rotations that ACOM will utilize have been established and operational for nearly a decade via AMEC so the clinical faculty/rotation preceptors are experienced in most cases.
Click to expand...

Only time will tell how valuable this becomes to ACOM students, but ACOM was cofounded by a hospital, SAMC and AMEC. The first osteopathic school to be founded by a hospital.
 
I'm feeling the same way. Go to the school (RVU) that I have concerns about, but is in my favorite part of the country, or go to the established school with a good reputation (NSU). My hope is I get into my #1 and it's all moot.
 
OP, I was faced with a very similar, nearly exact, decision. I went with the school I was most comfortable with - faculty, location, education, etc considered - rather than the "more established" program.

It was a very difficult decision; however, you and I have both met the faculty at ACOM and seen their passion for this program. Personally, I was inspired and encouraged to be a part of their effort.

I acknowledge that being part of an inaugural class has negatives, but it also has positives. But this is for another discussion (I think).
 
I would be cautious about attending a brand new school. There can be many unforeseen kinks the first few years, which can cause your education to suffer. I would argue that your career options could suffer if you aren't very self motivated if you choose this new school over KCUMB. KCUMB is a proven brand and their students do very well.

Ask Sylvanthus, he attended PNWU as their second class...it's been a roller coaster and he will be the first to tell you! You can justify going to ACOM however you like, just be careful not to have unrealistic expectations.
 
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Dissected said:
I would be cautious about attending a brand new school. There can me many unforeseen kinks the first few years, which can cause your education to suffer. I would argue that your career options could suffer if you aren't very self motivated if you choose this new school over KCUMB. KCUMB is a proven brand and their students do very well.

Ask Sylvanthus, he attended PNWU as their second class...it's been a roller coaster and he will be the first to tell you! You can justify going to ACOM however you like, just be careful not to have unrealistic expectations.
Click to expand...

This 👍

Only few are brave enough to speak the truth and not just tell this kid what he wants to hear.
 
kgpremed11 said:
Actually dude, you would be better off asking this to medical students, pre meds don't really know anything. Trust me it matters where you go to school.
Click to expand...

Brillant

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