Context: ORM TX resident, prefer to stay in urban TX close to family but ultimately must choose my best fit.
UIWSOM
Pros
Pros
My two options are
1) School is P/F and live in an urban area with family 30 min away, but deal with flip classroom and mandatory lecture/group sessions.
2) Attend a school with non-mandatory lecture (much more my style) but there's letter grading and I'll be farther from family/support system in a rural area.
UIWSOM
Pros
- P/F grading
- urban location, more progressive/queer friendly
- closer to family in San Antonio/Houston
- rotation sites throughout Texas
- flip classroom
- mandatory lecture/ group sessions
- newer school, making progress (new dean) but still working out the kinks
- open ended exam qs (reportedly being phased out)
Pros
- non-mandatory lecture
- established, first DO school, name recognition
- rural setting means no distractions from school
- cool ultrasound program
- rotation sites across various states so don't have to stay in Kirksville for 3rd/4th year
- letter grading
- rural setting makes seeing family difficult (3+ from any major city/larger airports), nonexistent dating prospects
- cold (for a Texan, but will be tolerable with layering and good coat)
My two options are
1) School is P/F and live in an urban area with family 30 min away, but deal with flip classroom and mandatory lecture/group sessions.
- This style of learning is not my forte, but hopefully P/F will offset the struggles I'll have. I do not like being forced to go to class when I could learn/study better on my own; I fear mandatory classes will cause me to study inefficiently and waste my time.
- Better food, activities, and dating life (as a queer person)
2) Attend a school with non-mandatory lecture (much more my style) but there's letter grading and I'll be farther from family/support system in a rural area.
- I like learning on my own and attending class as needed to make the best use of my time.
- I do not present as "visibly" queer/alternative and won't necessarily feel stifled, but will take into consideration the conservative undertones of Kirksville and the surrounding area. However, I know I will have no trouble finding community through my various hobbies and interests.
