L
Leotigers
This is an email I got today that asked some common questions about TUCOM. I don't mind answering emails but I thought I would post some of the replies I've made just to save time.
AB wrote:
Hello,
I have some questions about TUCOM. This was the first place that I interviewed at, so I wasn't quite in the swing of things that day. Hoping you can answer these questions, that I wished I had asked at the time.
1) Pass rate for past boards, when are the 4th years going to hear their results?
2) Status of school accreditation by AOA, is it going to happen, reasonable assurance?
3) Do you have a break between years 1 & 2?
4) OMT, how many times a week do you have
classes/lab? Is this a strong program? Is cranial an elective?
5) Osteopathic rotations for 3 & 4, do they exist, or are they only at md sites?
6) Residency matches? Have the 4th years been able to get on board? Troubles encountered, etc.? I realize that they are
breaking new ground.
7) Do you think you are getting your money's worth?
-A B
AB,
I knew this would happen if I listed my email.
I've gotten about fifty emails since I gave out my email. Some of the answers to your questions and more can be found if you do a search under my name on SDN. I'm happy to answer questions though.
1) COMLEX Pass rate 93%. Our school did not get statistics for USMLE because it is a DO school but everyone who I talked to passed it. The results of the NRMP (MD) match are released on 03/22/2000. The same for everyone. The DO match already occured and 30% of our students matched for Orthopedic Surgery, 10% General Surgery, 20% Emeregency Medicine, the rest just matched for a transitional internship or Family Practice.
2) All AOA accreditation requirements have been met. The only one left is graduating the first class which will happen on 06/10/2001. I guarantee this will happen. If Harvard and Columbia are not concerned then you shouldn't be either. Many of the 4th years have interviewed and accepted out-of-match positions in specialties at IVY league institutions. Interviews and hopefully acceptances (on 03/22) at UCSF, UC Davis, Stanford, etc...
3) Yes, we do have a break between 1st and 2nd year.
4) I'm not sure what the current OMT schedule is but we used to have labs three times a week and lecture three times a week as well. There were also student lab times to practice. The program used to be mediocre but since I left they have hired four new faculty members. One of which is a cranial specialists. The Bay Area also houses some of the top DOs in the world (Dr. Blackman, I can't think of the others). Anyway, there is ample exposure and opportunities.
5) In all honesty, we have very few DO rotations. Most of the OMM you will learn will be during the first two years. There are ample opportunities to do excellent cranial or general OMM electives with awesome DOs. The way I view OMM is:
During the first two years, you take many classes such as Histology. Is this essential to a future practice in Anesthesia or Emergency Medicine? No. What it does is provide you with the foundation to learn in case you choose to go into Pathology or Dermatology. OMM classes provides you with a foundation that will help you in a OMM, Orthopedic Surgery, or Family Practice Residency. I think that some DO rotations are essential but you don't need to spend every single rotation with a DO. I did Radiology at UCSF. Did I learn less Radiology? No, in fact I learned a lot more.
6) See above for answer. We've had no problems. In fact, most medical students gripe about their school. Believe me, I have friends at UCSF and Stanford med and you would think everything is fine and dandy, but it's not. After speaking with other US MD and DO students, many of us have realized that we had it good. Would I have gone to UCSF or Stanford if I had gotten in? In a second. Many of us realized that we did have it good during our clinical years in terms of learning, opportunities, connections, and Letters of Recommendation.
7) We aren't the cheapest medical school but certainly not the most expensive either. Tuition is and has been $25,000 since I started. Did you guys know that Colorado is $55,000 a year. Yikes !!! I definitely feel I got my money's worth and am glad I went to TUCOM.
My only regret was that there were no upperclassmen to guide us. We faced a lot of self-esteem issues due to buying into the idea that DOs weren't competitive for certain surgical specialties. Those who didn't buy into that perception all matched into surgery (DO match) or have interviewed at prestigious universities (MD match). I didn't realize how competitive we were with our grades, board scores, etc... You can get some good info on the web or on SDN but you always have to take it with a grain of salt. Some of us would have found it beneficial to have some guidance from 'real' upperclassmen. None of you will face that problem since there are three classes above you. This is also why I am writing all these posts in the hope that I can tell you what is reality and what is a pipe dream.
Last thing, I share this id and email with a few classmates. It's hard answering so many emails so don't be surpised if you get a reply frome someone who doesn't remember who you are. Good luck.
- 'Original' leotigers
Other common questions and answers.
1) We have no joint programs at the moment although UC Berkeley is very closeby. A joint DO/MBA program would be feasible or you could do the MBA at night at an excellent insitution. Our law school will be moving over soon from NY. This year the PT, OT, PA schools will be moving and the following year MBA and Law. Personally, I'd go UC Berkeley MBA and Law and try to work out a joint program. Many Medical schools and law schools will let you step out or work with you on combined programs.
2) Our average GPA is 3.5 Science, 3.4 Overall, and 27 MCAT. I know that the dean personally is trying to keep the average around this number and I think it will get higher and higher every year. This year's entering class will probably be higher than it was in the past.
3) Housing is expensive in the Bay Area but only near SF. It is possible to communte from SF. It is more realistic to live around campus for the first two years and then live in SF the second two years. I would consider living in Benicia, Walnut Creek, Glen Cove, Fairfield, and Davis.
4) The classes are graded, including rotations.
5) 3rd/4th years are very flexible. Some schools force you to do many of the rotations at their own institutions because they need bodies to do work. If you tell them that you want to do 10 rotations at UCSF, Stanord, and UC Davis because you NEED to stay in the Bay Area for a Radiology or Surgical Residency, then you can. For those of you who interviewed at TUCOM, I'm sure you gathered that the adminstration is very compassionate and sympathetic to your needs and will try to work with you to achieve your goals. I know several students who were given time off to do Research projects at major academic institutions.
6) The class size was increased for the Class of 2005 to 125. If you are on the High Wailist you have an excellent chance of getting in. If you are on the Medium List, your chances are 50/50. Although with the increase in class size, you might have a better chance this year on Medium.
7) Anything else? I guess that covers most of it. If you have any other questions, feel free to email or post.
P.S. AB, I hope you don't mind me posting your email. I abbreviated your name and erased your email. Thanks.
[This message has been edited by Leotigers (edited 03-13-2001).]
AB wrote:
Hello,
I have some questions about TUCOM. This was the first place that I interviewed at, so I wasn't quite in the swing of things that day. Hoping you can answer these questions, that I wished I had asked at the time.
1) Pass rate for past boards, when are the 4th years going to hear their results?
2) Status of school accreditation by AOA, is it going to happen, reasonable assurance?
3) Do you have a break between years 1 & 2?
4) OMT, how many times a week do you have
classes/lab? Is this a strong program? Is cranial an elective?
5) Osteopathic rotations for 3 & 4, do they exist, or are they only at md sites?
6) Residency matches? Have the 4th years been able to get on board? Troubles encountered, etc.? I realize that they are
breaking new ground.
7) Do you think you are getting your money's worth?
-A B
AB,
I knew this would happen if I listed my email.
1) COMLEX Pass rate 93%. Our school did not get statistics for USMLE because it is a DO school but everyone who I talked to passed it. The results of the NRMP (MD) match are released on 03/22/2000. The same for everyone. The DO match already occured and 30% of our students matched for Orthopedic Surgery, 10% General Surgery, 20% Emeregency Medicine, the rest just matched for a transitional internship or Family Practice.
2) All AOA accreditation requirements have been met. The only one left is graduating the first class which will happen on 06/10/2001. I guarantee this will happen. If Harvard and Columbia are not concerned then you shouldn't be either. Many of the 4th years have interviewed and accepted out-of-match positions in specialties at IVY league institutions. Interviews and hopefully acceptances (on 03/22) at UCSF, UC Davis, Stanford, etc...
3) Yes, we do have a break between 1st and 2nd year.
4) I'm not sure what the current OMT schedule is but we used to have labs three times a week and lecture three times a week as well. There were also student lab times to practice. The program used to be mediocre but since I left they have hired four new faculty members. One of which is a cranial specialists. The Bay Area also houses some of the top DOs in the world (Dr. Blackman, I can't think of the others). Anyway, there is ample exposure and opportunities.
5) In all honesty, we have very few DO rotations. Most of the OMM you will learn will be during the first two years. There are ample opportunities to do excellent cranial or general OMM electives with awesome DOs. The way I view OMM is:
During the first two years, you take many classes such as Histology. Is this essential to a future practice in Anesthesia or Emergency Medicine? No. What it does is provide you with the foundation to learn in case you choose to go into Pathology or Dermatology. OMM classes provides you with a foundation that will help you in a OMM, Orthopedic Surgery, or Family Practice Residency. I think that some DO rotations are essential but you don't need to spend every single rotation with a DO. I did Radiology at UCSF. Did I learn less Radiology? No, in fact I learned a lot more.
6) See above for answer. We've had no problems. In fact, most medical students gripe about their school. Believe me, I have friends at UCSF and Stanford med and you would think everything is fine and dandy, but it's not. After speaking with other US MD and DO students, many of us have realized that we had it good. Would I have gone to UCSF or Stanford if I had gotten in? In a second. Many of us realized that we did have it good during our clinical years in terms of learning, opportunities, connections, and Letters of Recommendation.
7) We aren't the cheapest medical school but certainly not the most expensive either. Tuition is and has been $25,000 since I started. Did you guys know that Colorado is $55,000 a year. Yikes !!! I definitely feel I got my money's worth and am glad I went to TUCOM.
My only regret was that there were no upperclassmen to guide us. We faced a lot of self-esteem issues due to buying into the idea that DOs weren't competitive for certain surgical specialties. Those who didn't buy into that perception all matched into surgery (DO match) or have interviewed at prestigious universities (MD match). I didn't realize how competitive we were with our grades, board scores, etc... You can get some good info on the web or on SDN but you always have to take it with a grain of salt. Some of us would have found it beneficial to have some guidance from 'real' upperclassmen. None of you will face that problem since there are three classes above you. This is also why I am writing all these posts in the hope that I can tell you what is reality and what is a pipe dream.
Last thing, I share this id and email with a few classmates. It's hard answering so many emails so don't be surpised if you get a reply frome someone who doesn't remember who you are. Good luck.
- 'Original' leotigers
Other common questions and answers.
1) We have no joint programs at the moment although UC Berkeley is very closeby. A joint DO/MBA program would be feasible or you could do the MBA at night at an excellent insitution. Our law school will be moving over soon from NY. This year the PT, OT, PA schools will be moving and the following year MBA and Law. Personally, I'd go UC Berkeley MBA and Law and try to work out a joint program. Many Medical schools and law schools will let you step out or work with you on combined programs.
2) Our average GPA is 3.5 Science, 3.4 Overall, and 27 MCAT. I know that the dean personally is trying to keep the average around this number and I think it will get higher and higher every year. This year's entering class will probably be higher than it was in the past.
3) Housing is expensive in the Bay Area but only near SF. It is possible to communte from SF. It is more realistic to live around campus for the first two years and then live in SF the second two years. I would consider living in Benicia, Walnut Creek, Glen Cove, Fairfield, and Davis.
4) The classes are graded, including rotations.
5) 3rd/4th years are very flexible. Some schools force you to do many of the rotations at their own institutions because they need bodies to do work. If you tell them that you want to do 10 rotations at UCSF, Stanord, and UC Davis because you NEED to stay in the Bay Area for a Radiology or Surgical Residency, then you can. For those of you who interviewed at TUCOM, I'm sure you gathered that the adminstration is very compassionate and sympathetic to your needs and will try to work with you to achieve your goals. I know several students who were given time off to do Research projects at major academic institutions.
6) The class size was increased for the Class of 2005 to 125. If you are on the High Wailist you have an excellent chance of getting in. If you are on the Medium List, your chances are 50/50. Although with the increase in class size, you might have a better chance this year on Medium.
7) Anything else? I guess that covers most of it. If you have any other questions, feel free to email or post.
P.S. AB, I hope you don't mind me posting your email. I abbreviated your name and erased your email. Thanks.
[This message has been edited by Leotigers (edited 03-13-2001).]
