Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine (ACOM) Discussion Thread 2015 - 2016

[DogLuvr2]

I called. I think I really hindered myself by applying so late in the cycle.

Same here. I hope to call as soon as I think it's appropriate and find out where I am on the list, but I'm really trying to face the reality that this is probably not my year. Good luck to you all! You never know! Your next problem might be not having enough notice to quit your current jobs ☺️

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[medschoolplease123]

Anyone with under a 500 MCAT mind sharing if you were accepted and what your GPA was and if there was anything "unusual"/ nontraditional about your app?

 

[BobberWins]

Seriously?

Hmmm. I know two doctors that are SGU grads. One is general surgeon and the other is the Director of EM at a large hospital in my area. Both seem to be very well respected.

 

[deleted636933]

Anyone with under a 500 MCAT mind sharing if you were accepted and what your GPA was and if there was anything "unusual"/ nontraditional about your app?

I had a 498 MCAT and a 3.34 overall GPA (I had a big upward GPA trend for my last 4 semesters when I realized that I was being a fool) . I was clearly not a poster-boy applicant by the numbers, but I had plenty of clinical experience through work and shadowing, community involvement, and some research that resulted in a publication. I think it was enough to show that I was in it for the long-haul, and very likely what got my foot in the door.

 

[jgphillips]

Hmmm. I know two doctors that are SGU grads. One is general surgeon and the other is the Director of EM at a large hospital in my area. Both seem to be very well respected.

And pretty much every other doctor you know came from an American medical school. You can be successful anywhere, thats true, but your life becomes so much easier when you go the domestic med school route.

JMO

 

[echo87]

Lets not turn this into a caribbean discussion thread. There's way more than enough info out there for someone to do their due diligence and decide for themselves.

 

[DrMikeP]

Lets not turn this into a caribbean discussion thread. There's way more than enough info out there for someone to do their due diligence and decide for themselves.

I completely agree!!! Lets try and stay on things at least remotely involving ACOM!

 

[anonymous2266]

Spoke to Mr. Willis today, he advised that Dr. Reynolds called a few people off of the Waitlist Friday. He said there was still a few more spots. Good luck everybody still waiting!

 

[jmiller2578]

Just got accepted off the wait list!!!!

 

[DrMikeP]

Just got accepted off the wait list!!!!

Congrats, join us on the ACOM 2020 Facebook page! Brittany at summer field I think still has some openings.

If you have any questions let me know. ACOM will be sending you a dozen emails shortly I'm sure. Biggest thing is find your immunization paperwork because you'll need it in 2wks.

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[RoushLove]

Those of you who are still on the Waitlist, what state are you coming from? I'm from Alabama.

Alabama yep!

 

[RoushLove]

They do! They're very helpful.

How do you get the feedback?

 

[RoushLove]

Anyone with under a 500 MCAT mind sharing if you were accepted and what your GPA was and if there was anything "unusual"/ nontraditional about your app?

I got waitlisted at ACOM but accepted to VCOM with a 3.63 GPA and a 492 MCAT. But my interview scores were one the highest scores VCOM gives. IDK about ACOM

 

[ArtSci]

Hi everyone, first off, congratulations on finishing the first year of medical school (assuming it's over)! Secondly, I'm a non-traditional applicant with a few questions about the school. I just submitted my secondary and I'm looking forward to an interview invite (crossing my fingers!). Would anyone have a few minutes to spare and answer a couple of questions about the culture and overall tone of the institution? I would really appreciate your time and effort

 

[DrMikeP]

Hi everyone, first off, congratulations on finishing the first year of medical school (assuming it's over)! Secondly, I'm a non-traditional applicant with a few questions about the school. I just submitted my secondary and I'm looking forward to an interview invite (crossing my fingers!). Would anyone have a few minutes to spare and answer a couple of questions about the culture and overall tone of the institution? I would really appreciate your time and effort

Of all of the schools i interviewed at ACOM had the most collegial and OMM excited faculty.

What are your questions?

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[ArtSci]

Of all of the schools i interviewed at ACOM had the most collegial and OMM excited faculty.

What are your questions?

That's great know!! Thank you for sharing that! Do you see yourself furthering your OMM knowledge and practice after medical school? Or, is that too early to ask? Lastly, what drew you the most to this institution?

 

[DrMikeP]

I see myself using OMM as a tool when it's applicable. ACOM had a great feel. The training opportunities are well established due to its background (rare for new schools) and the faculty came across as sincerely wanting the students to succeed where some schools they acted like they could care less.

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[ArtSci]

I see myself using OMM as a tool when it's applicable. ACOM had a great feel. The training opportunities are well established due to its background (rare for new schools) and the faculty came across as sincerely wanting the students to succeed where some schools they acted like they could care less.

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Thank you so much! One last question (at least for today). Did you also apply to MD schools? If so, what was the ratio of MD to DO schools that you applied to?

 

[DrMikeP]

I just applied to DO schools. Most of those in the East and a couple west. I looked at MD but decided I wanted DO and DO is more friendly to nontraditionals.

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[ArtSci]

I just applied to DO schools. Most of those in the East and a couple west. I looked at MD but decided I wanted DO and DO is more friendly to nontraditionals.

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Congratulations on getting to this point! I look forward to reading some of your posts in the near future! Your responses are greatly appreciated!

 

[JDWannabe]

Same here. I hope to call as soon as I think it's appropriate and find out where I am on the list, but I'm really trying to face the reality that this is probably not my year. Good luck to you all! You never know! Your next problem might be not having enough notice to quit your current jobs ☺️

I can live with that kind of problem.

 

[Miss Jea]

I asked Robert Willis after I asked him some questions about the waitlist. He was able to pull up my file and walk me through the decision.

How do you get the feedback?

 

[DynamicMD]

I asked Robert Willis after I asked him some questions about the waitlist. He was able to pull up my file and walk me through the decision.

Did you simply ask if you were among the 20-30 that were pulled?

 

[Miss Jea]

Did you simply ask if you were among the 20-30 that were pulled?

Unfortnately, I called before I knew about the 20-30 pulled for re-review. I only got to find out what tier I was in.

 

[DogLuvr2]

Unfortnately, I called before I knew about the 20-30 pulled for re-review. I only got to find out what tier I was in.

I'm losing hope, you guys. Have you all submitted secondaries elsewhere already? Does submitting a primary to a school you're waitlisted at currently make you ineligible to be pulled off the waitlist?

 

[DrMikeP]

I'm losing hope, you guys. Have you all submitted secondaries elsewhere already? Does submitting a primary to a school you're waitlisted at currently make you ineligible to be pulled off the waitlist?

Don't know for sure about ACOM but I know it doesn't at other schools, so wouldn't worry about that at least. I do know schools like to see how you've changed, grown, improved since your previous apply, so it's important to spell that out sometimes.

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[CrazyLilDoc20]

I'm losing hope, you guys. Have you all submitted secondaries elsewhere already? Does submitting a primary to a school you're waitlisted at currently make you ineligible to be pulled off the waitlist?

If in doubt call in to ask Now I am on the waitlist at ACOM, I called in, and they said I am welcome to apply if I want to and it would not cause any problems.

 

[hopefulstudent55]

.

 

[anonymous2266]

Gonna be a long weekend.... maybe good news will come on Tuesday. Looking at last year's post 2 people were pulled on July 7.

 

[moosheep]

Gonna be a long weekend.... maybe good news will come on Tuesday. Looking at last year's post 2 people were pulled on July 7.

July 8th for me, didn't sdn then

 

[DogLuvr2]

Gonna be a long weekend.... maybe good news will come on Tuesday. Looking at last year's post 2 people were pulled on July 7.

Has anybody called and hear anything about any open seats or is this the part where we just sit and wait and hope somebody backs out of the incoming class?

 

[anonymous2266]

Has anybody called and hear anything about any open seats or is this the part where we just sit and wait and hope somebody backs out of the incoming class?

I called today. There still spots open. Dr. Reynolds won't be back till tomorrow.

 

[deleted751949]

Does anyone know if there is some kind of learning specialist that is on campus and work with the students? Thanks!

 

[DogLuvr2]

I called today. There still spots open. Dr. Reynolds won't be back till tomorrow.

I spoke with him today and it looks like everything is full and some people might drop before the class starts up, but that might not even happen. For those who have been accepted, I wish you all the best of luck as you embark on an amazing chapter in your life. For those who were wait listed or rejected, we'll have better luck next time, just need to keep pushing forward.

 

[dca]

Does anyone know if there is some kind of learning specialist that is on campus and work with the students? Thanks!

yes there is! they actually have everyone do some survey stuff that breaks down what type of learner you are and they give you tips when you first start. And if you struggle some like I did at the beginning, or anytime you feel you need it, you can make 1 on 1 appointments with them so that they can help you out. They never turned me away and were able to help me pick up my grades quite a bit. And most important, they never made me feel bad or awkward for needing their help. They genuinely wanted to help me improve and succeed.

They also do a great job assigning all incoming students 2nd year students as mentors (each mentor had like 8 1st years they worked with) who can also assist you by sharing their own advice and experience. My mentor was very knowledgeable and friendly, and really helped me ace the hands on OSCE practical's by doing dry runs with us and giving us tips.

 

[toutou]

Sorry if this has already been discussed. But can any current student comment on the third and fourth year rotations at ACOM. Will majority of the core clerkship third year done at SAMC?

 

[Coprolaliarrhea]

Sorry if this has already been discussed. But can any current student comment on the third and fourth year rotations at ACOM. Will majority of the core clerkship third year done at SAMC?

It would depend on where your "Core Site" is. Not all the students will do their clinical rotations in Dothan, we are spread out all over the state. The people that are in Dothan had almost all of their core clerkships at SAMC or Flowers Hospital (hospital of similar size across town). Most people had to do family medicine as their rural medicine rotation which was within an hour of Dothan, some people had to travel for pediatrics 20-30 min. If you want you can do all of your electives in Dothan.

 

[toutou]

It would depend on where your "Core Site" is. Not all the students will do their clinical rotations in Dothan, we are spread out all over the state. The people that are in Dothan had almost all of their core clerkships at SAMC or Flowers Hospital (hospital of similar size across town). Most people had to do family medicine as their rural medicine rotation which was within an hour of Dothan, some people had to travel for pediatrics 20-30 min. If you want you can do all of your electives in Dothan.

Thanks! When I was reading the site I was under the impression that SAMC was completely with ACOM and that ACOM had access to it as if it's own flagship hospital etc. Do you know how the core rotation sites are assigned?

 

[Coprolaliarrhea]

I spoke with him today and it looks like everything is full and some people might drop before the class starts up, but that might not even happen. For those who have been accepted, I wish you all the best of luck as you embark on an amazing chapter in your life. For those who were wait listed or rejected, we'll have better luck next time, just need to keep pushing forward.

I would say your best bet is to be working on reapplications at this point. Yes, people will drop and a few more spots may trickle in, we even had some people start during the first week of the semester due to people dropping, but I wouldn't count on it. I will say that anyone who receives an offer anywhere should take it. They are building DO schools like crazy and with the combined match everything will be more competitive in the future. Each year they add a couple of hundred people looking for spots to match and eventually a tipping point will be reached, and it doesn't look like medicare will be anymore solvent or congress anymore reasonable in the future (they control the residency spots).

 

[Coprolaliarrhea]

Thanks! When I was reading the site I was under the impression that SAMC was completely with ACOM and that ACOM had access to it as if it's own flagship hospital etc. Do you know how the core rotation sites are assigned?

That is a list of the sites, if there is a number next to the city they have 2 sites there. The rotation sites are assigned by a type of match system, each students ranks 10-15 sites and then a computer algorithm runs the numbers and people assigned to their highest ranked location. Unlike the match ACOM doesn't have a rank list it pulls people at random and they get the highest ranked location on their list, so if your name is pulled and you have: 1 Dothan, 2 Brewton, 3 Foley, ect, and Dothan and Brewton are already full you would get Foley.

 

[toutou]

View attachment 206057
That is a list of the sites, if there is a number next to the city they have 2 sites there. The rotation sites are assigned by a type of match system, each students ranks 10-15 sites and then a computer algorithm runs the numbers and people assigned to their highest ranked location. Unlike the match ACOM doesn't have a rank list it pulls people at random and they get the highest ranked location on their list, so if your name is pulled and you have: 1 Dothan, 2 Brewton, 3 Foley, ect, and Dothan and Brewton are already full you would get Foley.

Thanks! In your opinion and others, what would you consider to be a good site or best rated ones in terms of preceptors, and the availability of things to learn etc? I guess what I'm trying to do is get an idea of what ACOM has to offer in terms of 3-4th years and whether the sites greatly differs than one another or not.

 

[Coprolaliarrhea]

Thanks! In your opinion and others, what would you consider to be a good site or best rated ones in terms of preceptors, and the availability of things to learn etc? I guess what I'm trying to do is get an idea of what ACOM has to offer in terms of 3-4th years and whether the sites greatly differs than one another or not.

I have heard good things about Dothan, Huntsville, Decatur, Tallahassee, Birmingham, Anniston, and Montgomery. Panama City wasn't a site available for the 2017 class so I don't know anything about it. From what I understand most of the cites are pretty good, but that the ones I mentioned were better about letting students make clinical decisions and actively participating in patient care. From what I have seen this can very widely by the preceptor that you get too. Many of the people that have had students for 5-10 years through AMEC (Alabama medical education consortium) are good about letting students be active participants in patient care.

 

[toutou]

I have heard good things about Dothan, Huntsville, Decatur, Tallahassee, Birmingham, Anniston, and Montgomery. Panama City wasn't a site available for the 2017 class so I don't know anything about it. From what I understand most of the cites are pretty good, but that the ones I mentioned were better about letting students make clinical decisions and actively participating in patient care. From what I have seen this can very widely by the preceptor that you get too. Many of the people that have had students for 5-10 years through AMEC (Alabama medical education consortium) are good about letting students be active participants in patient care.

Thank you! The reason I ask these things because I hear about certain school having PA/NP as preceptors, and as a nurse myself I think one can learn a lot from all discipline in health care. But I noticed that PA/NP don't pimp the students the way physician does. I'd hate for it to be a glorify shadowing.

 

[FutureD.O]

Hey everyone! I will be withdrawing within the next day or two. I loved ACOM but I was lucky enough to get into my state school. I pray it goes to one of you! Best of luck to anyone still waiting!

 

[velodork]

Unlike the match ACOM doesn't have a rank list it pulls people at random and they get the highest ranked location on their list, so if your name is pulled and you have: 1 Dothan, 2 Brewton, 3 Foley, ect, and Dothan and Brewton are already full you would get Foley.

Thanks for the insight! I'm a few years from having to worry about this, but how do students normally adjust their housing situations during rotations? Does ACOM require a lot of on campus time during OM3 and OM4? Ill have a small family in tow (wife + kids) but I also have a lot of extended family in Birmingham. I'm trying to assess how realistic it would be to relocate during that time!

 

[MADNEMO]

View attachment 206057
That is a list of the sites, if there is a number next to the city they have 2 sites there. The rotation sites are assigned by a type of match system, each students ranks 10-15 sites and then a computer algorithm runs the numbers and people assigned to their highest ranked location. Unlike the match ACOM doesn't have a rank list it pulls people at random and they get the highest ranked location on their list, so if your name is pulled and you have: 1 Dothan, 2 Brewton, 3 Foley, ect, and Dothan and Brewton are already full you would get Foley.

This isnt 100% accurate. There is no longer a Troy site or a Centreville site (Mostly because nobody was ranking them). Also, its not a straight lottery who goes to which site. The system is designed to give everybody the highest possible number. So it might take somebody from their site that they ranked 2 and put them at their 3rd site if it allows someone else to move up from their 5th site to their 3rd site. Thats how it managed to get 95% of the 2018 class into their top three sites and 68% into their number one.

Thanks for the insight! I'm a few years from having to worry about this, but how do students normally adjust their housing situations during rotations? Does ACOM require a lot of on campus time during OM3 and OM4? Ill have a small family in tow (wife + kids) but I also have a lot of extended family in Birmingham. I'm trying to assess how realistic it would be to relocate during that time!

Very little on campus unless you are in Dothan. We really never saw the third years from other cities on campus unless it was a special event (which was one time all last year).

 

[orgolover2]

I got the call at 4:30 PM yesterday (Monday), accepted! I had given up hope a month ago but hey it's never too late!

 

[DogLuvr2]

I got the call at 4:30 PM yesterday (Monday), accepted! I had given up hope a month ago but hey it's never too late!

Congrats! Do you live in Alabama?

 

[medschoolplease123]

Mind sharing stats?

 

[Amino123]

I received the call off the waitlist today, but I already accepted another school, good luck to those of you still waiting!