Applying to new schools

[Melomare17]

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What is your take on applying to new schools/fairly new schools where the first incoming class still has not graduated/just recently graduated??

 

[fiznat]

I applied to LMU-DCOM this year, which happened to be just graduating their first class (and getting accredited) in the same year. I think the school is great, but to be honest I would have been a lot more worried about applying there if accreditation was much farther away. I think it is a pretty big risk for a student to take, to commit their time and large sums of money to an institution which is at that time unable to give you a valid degree in return. I suppose you can pass judgement on a case-by-case basis, but I'm not sure any applicant will ever truly be able to understand the likelihood of a school earning their accreditation based on such limited information as the application, interview, and tour.

My advice is to apply to non accredited schools with extreme caution. That isn't to say that schools are failing all of the time and leaving students stranded, but the potential is there with a not-yet accredited school, and I think the consequences of that are too large to really ignore.

 

[sylvanthus]

As someone who is at a new school, my advice is to not do it unless you have no other choice (can't move or did not get in anywhere else). It is just too much of a frustration for the amount of benefit.

 

[FiremedicMike]

Does this advice hold true to extension campuses? OUCOM is opening up a second campus in Columbus in 2014, I would assume this to be a safe bet though?

 

[sylvanthus]

Does this advice hold true to extension campuses? OUCOM is opening up a second campus in Columbus in 2014, I would assume this to be a safe bet though?

I would think that'd be find. It is just an extension of an already established school, so I would imagine there would be less bumps along the way.

 

[Prncssbuttercup]

Are you aware that if the schools provisional accredidation is revoked they have to find slots for you in another medical school? You make it seem like a new school is a death sentence, I think you're overreacting, there will be growing pains certainly, but that is expected in a new school or anything else... Sylvanthus, where are you attending? You may PM if you'd like...

 

[fiznat]

Are you aware that if the schools provisional accredidation is revoked they have to find slots for you in another medical school? You make it seem like a new school is a death sentence, I think you're overreacting...

Actually I wasn't aware of that. I'm not sure how a failing institution can in any way guarantee you a spot in someone else's school, but if you say so...

I didn't say it was a death sentence. I just said use caution. I still think that is probably the prudent thing to do.

 

[sylvanthus]

Are you aware that if the schools provisional accredidation is revoked they have to find slots for you in another medical school? You make it seem like a new school is a death sentence, I think you're overreacting, there will be growing pains certainly, but that is expected in a new school or anything else... Sylvanthus, where are you attending? You may PM if you'd like...

Not saying it is a death sentence, just saying it is a pain in the ass. Which it is. Things change repeatedly and we are told to "be patient" and "be flexible." Essentially all of the responsibility is on the student to deal with the instability and confusion. If students voice concerns they are essentially ignored. If that sounds like a good time, by all means, go to a new school. Also, since my class is paying one of the highest tuition rates in the entire country, I find the frustration even more unbearable.

Granted, this could obviously just be my school. But, seems to me that is is a wiser idea to attend a more stable, established school than risk the chaos that can only compound an already stressful experience. Think of it this way. While you are trying to cram 100 pages of robbins into your brain,while other courses are piling up, do you really want to have to worry about things changing at the drop of a hat? Shouldn't you be more focused on your studies? Do you want to worry that because of disorganization, a bunch of stuff got added to your schedule right before step 1? Do you want to find out weeks before step 1 that your school COMPLETELY changed grading for 3rd year? A new school is much more likely to have these frustrations than a more established school.

 

[DocEspana]

I just want to counter Slyvanthus slightly. Not to say their wrong (clearly they're talking about a school I've never been to) but simply echoing the same statement they made but from someone who's new school was a much more enjoyable time.

TouroCOM just got its full accreditation late last week when we graduated our first class. I'd tell you that applying to new schools should give you some slight pause. And I say slight for a reason. Established schools can tell you more concretely what to expect and dont change things as frequently. Because of this they can guarantee you a product exactly the way they describe it. New schools are inherently trying to figure out what works best for them to create the strongest students possible. If choosing between them you shouldnt view a school being new as a negative, but be fully aware that another school being established is a positive.

Some schools really do sort of benefit from being new. My school is a decent example. The 1st class ever was sort of left to their own devices. The second class was put through academic military discipline to try to get the most out of them. After both of those classes ended up being successful but not as much as the school wanted, they came to my class (The 3rd entering class) and worked with us. The class of 2013, along with a huge amount of our (then-new) pre-clinical dean's influence, crafted much of the education to reflect what we wanted to receive. And we're still shaping our own education because our class identified what didnt work for us and they eliminated that teacher from the staff for thr 2014 class. When the improvement was only minor, they changed the way the class will work for 2015 (so this specific subject is more of a PBL class, and less of a boring as hell lecture).

We have found that while we cant tell the administration what to do (honestly who can) our administration consistently listens to us, gives our thoughts honest consideration, and asks us how they can improve the final product they put out. And sure, we have growing pains: our 2011 and 2012 class are proof of that. They had it rough. But these new schools are not set in their ways and, in my specific example, very receptive to the thoughts and ideas of the students.

Now what was said by sylvanthus isn't wrong. It's just the more negative side of the same situation. It can go either way, and thats part of why I said being a new school is not a negative, but being established is a positive. New schools can be a gamble of great responsiveness, or tumultousness. Old schools will not be as responsive to your ideas, but they likely dont have to be since they know what works for them already.

 

[sylvanthus]

I just want to counter Slyvanthus slightly. Not to say their wrong (clearly they're talking about a school I've never been to) but simply echoing the same statement they made but from someone who's new school was a much more enjoyable time.

TouroCOM just got its full accreditation late last week when we graduated our first class. I'd tell you that applying to new schools should give you some slight pause. And I say slight for a reason. Established schools can tell you more concretely what to expect and dont change things as frequently. Because of this they can guarantee you a product exactly the way they describe it. New schools are inherently trying to figure out what works best for them to create the strongest students possible. If choosing between them you shouldnt view a school being new as a negative, but be fully aware that another school being established is a positive.

Some schools really do sort of benefit from being new. My school is a decent example. The 1st class ever was sort of left to their own devices. The second class was put through academic military discipline to try to get the most out of them. After both of those classes ended up being successful but not as much as the school wanted, they came to my class (The 3rd entering class) and worked with us. The class of 2013, along with a huge amount of our (then-new) pre-clinical dean's influence, crafted much of the education to reflect what we wanted to receive. And we're still shaping our own education because our class identified what didnt work for us and they eliminated that teacher from the staff for thr 2014 class. When the improvement was only minor, they changed the way the class will work for 2015 (so this specific subject is more of a PBL class, and less of a boring as hell lecture).

We have found that while we cant tell the administration what to do (honestly who can) our administration consistently listens to us, gives our thoughts honest consideration, and asks us how they can improve the final product they put out. And sure, we have growing pains: our 2011 and 2012 class are proof of that. They had it rough. But these new schools are not set in their ways and, in my specific example, very receptive to the thoughts and ideas of the students.

Now what was said by sylvanthus isn't wrong. It's just the more negative side of the same situation. It can go either way, and thats part of why I said being a new school is not a negative, but being established is a positive. New schools can be a gamble of great responsiveness, or tumultousness. Old schools will not be as responsive to your ideas, but they likely dont have to be since they know what works for them already.

Sooo basically you agreed with me. But, instead of being frank/blunt, just gave a politician's answer. Look at the bold above.

 

[WDeagle]

No harm in applying to them. If you get into a more established school then go there. If you can only get into a new school then go to a new school.

 

[BairN]

From what I've been told.......by several newer schools, NO school has ever failed becoming officially accredited.

Take it for what it's worth (Not much) 😀

 

[DocEspana]

From what I've been told.......by several newer schools, NO school has ever failed becoming officially accredited.

Take it for what it's worth (Not much) 😀

yea, never heard of medical school not getting accredited, only ever heard of chiropractic schools not getting/losing accreditation.

 

[DocEspana]

Sooo basically you agreed with me. But, instead of being frank/blunt, just gave a politician's answer. Look at the bold above.

perhaps you misread what i wrote? I dont think what I said was that subtle either. Definitely was wordy, but thats how I roll on all my posts. I was just saying that you presented new schools as only a bad situation because of growing pains and such. I showed that the exact opposite situation is possible too, that the new schools could be even more receptive than older schools for the same reasons yours is less receptive/more chaotic. It just takes a different response to the same "new school" issues. So my point was 'established' is almost inherently a positive; but not being established can go either way depending on what the school's personal track record is in those first few years. Things can be good and the opposite doesnt have to be bad. It can simply just be, or be variable. Which was different from you saying that was so bad that you shoudlnt do it unless there was no other choice. Knowing how my school turned out (and I chose it for geographic reasons alone) I'd now pick it over 2/3 to 3/4 of the DO schools out there regardless of where it was geographically because of how responsive they were. I acknowledge what the "new school effect" is varies massively school to school, and that admission includes that you feel yours didnt turn out well. But my point was massively different point than what you said.

Having pneumonia is categorically bad. Not having pneumonia is not "good" its simply a "it is what it is" situation. Being established is good. There are no questions as to what you'll get. Not being established is not a overruling negative though, even though you suggested as such. It's whatever the school makes of it. Its not a politician answer; its one that sees the world without a subacute case of psychological splitting.

 

[sylvanthus]

Hah, so basically its like this. There are two cars to choose from. One is pretty much guaranteed to be good, the other may be good or bad (it is an unknown). I see it as bad because it is a gamble and I bought a bad car, you see it as "different" and not necessarily bad because you got a good car previously. Guess it is just looking at it differently.

I personally think the gamble is a bad idea when it is a gamble with potentially 200,000 dollars.

Guess we can just agree to seeing it differently.

 

[Melomare17]

thanks for the input!

 

[Prncssbuttercup]

Sylvanthus, you never answered my question. As I said, I am interested in what school you're attending because I am applying to a new school and it is my top choice.

However, I'd like to say that maybe this is a situation where some people roll-along better than others. I try not to let that which I cannot control get under my skin. I do not worry so much about things that may come to pass, especially if there is nothing I can do about it. Either way, maybe you're that way, or maybe you aren't, but I deal fairly well with change....