ARCOM vs. VCOM-Louisiana vs. NOVA

[DOstudent20]

Hey all, I just got accepted to these 3 schools and got a zoom session invite for LECOM-Erie as well (If i get accepted there then will most likely attend due to its cost). Wanted to some advice on which would be the best option.

ARCOM
Pros:
cheap tuition (43k)
close to home (4 hour drive from my hometown Dallas)
loved the community feel and campus (did the on-campus interview)

Cons:
still a fairly new school
in the middle of nowhere

VCOM- Louisiana
Pros:
tuition is also cheap (46k)
also about a 4 hour drive from my hometown
has the backing of VCOM: talked about including a sport medicine fellowship which I am interested in

Cons:
still very brand new (2019)
No residency or complaex data to look at
tests about every 2 weeks
only did zoom interview so no idea about the surrounding area (will most likely do a campus visit soon)

NOVA
Pros:
most tenured of the 3
school is expanding to another campus in Tampa
Living in Florida
Has an MPH program I am interested in

Cons:
Cost (COL estimated close to 100k!)
lower complex scores for a tenured school
only did zoom interview

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[Hematochezia666]

vcom. Always go with established and close to home.

 

[drstranger]

VCOM-L is not the same as VCOM-Virginia because of that I would say Nova is the best bet it is more established! Just because branch campuses share some resources does not mean they share the same weight from PDs when it comes to residency.

 

[DrStephenStrange]

vcom. Always go with established and close to home.

VCOM-lousiana is the brand new campus. I would go with NOVA.

 

[Hematochezia666]

VCOM-lousiana is the brand new campus. I would go with NOVA.

Oh really? Well then that makes it harder. Nova might be the better option then. NYIT-AR isn’t doing so hot from what I hear. Don’t know if it’s true or not,

 

[DOstudent20]

VCOM-lousiana is the brand new campus. I would go with NOVA.

The only problem with Nova is the tuition for me, not sure if it is worth the extra 30k a year of debt plus higher cost of living in Florida.

 

[Real McCoy]

Oh really? Well then that makes it harder. Nova might be the better option then. NYIT-AR isn’t doing so hot from what I hear. Don’t know if it’s true or not,

NYIT-AR is not the same as ARCOM. Each school has its positives and negatives. Only one of these has graduated a class though.

 

[Hematochezia666]

NYIT-AR is not the same as ARCOM. Each school has its positives and negatives. Only one of these has graduated a class though.

I go to ARCOM. I’m aware. We have our flaws forrrrrr sure.

 

[Hematochezia666]

The only problem with Nova is the tuition for me, not sure if it is worth the extra 30k a year of debt plus higher cost of living in Florida.

Med school is med school is med school. Medicine doesn’t change if you go somewhere else.

the problem is distribution of resources with a daughter campus, especially if it’s far from the main campus. Most will say opportunity is the same at the satellite campus as the home campus but often that’s a straight up lie.

any thoughts @Goro?

 

[Real McCoy]

Branch campuses should be treated as though they are a completely separate school unless and until they can prove themselves to be on par with the main campus in every way.

 

[DOstudent20]

Med school is med school is med school. Medicine doesn’t change if you go somewhere else.

the problem is distribution of resources with a daughter campus, especially if it’s far from the main campus. Most will say opportunity is the same at the satellite campus as the home campus but often that’s a straight up lie.

any thoughts @Goro?

As far as the VCOM-La curriculum goes, and this is just based off my interview day and info on their website, they follow the same structure as the other branches. Now, the quality of teaching, resources, access, rotations, etc is something I am not sure of. They are having an "accepted student" meet and greet that will also have some current first year students attending so that it something I will ask them about.

They also mentioned having a strong partnership with University of Louisiana-Monroe campus which is something that I think is good to have for a new school (this is in addition to having the backing of VCOM as well). Also, in their 2020 annual report it mentioned having 28 clinical training sites available in the Louisiana area and a sports medicine program starting at the school.

It would be great if any current students on here can speak to the quality of the school now that the first class is settled in.

 

[Drsecondchance]

I go to ARCOM. I’m aware. We have our flaws forrrrrr sure.

I've been accepted at ARCOM and even though I've been accepted to schools I prefer, I would very much like to know what flaws you are referring to because I was highly impressed with them when I interviewed and have been recommending them to people. Could you share a little bit?

 

[Hematochezia666]

I've been accepted at ARCOM and even though I've been accepted to schools I prefer, I would very much like to know what flaws you are referring to because I was highly impressed with them when I interviewed and have been recommending them to people. Could you share a little bit?

An interview does not reveal anything about a school. I will not post for fear of retaliation from the school. A quick search should clear things up for you. Go somewhere else.