yeah huh!
SOMA is even more unique than even saying they teach systems based. They take an extra long first year to lay a solid basic sciences foundation. They utilize the "clinical presentation" model to give it all clinical context from the get go, and from the second year on, you are out at CHCs which are more analogous to clerkship years.
Like SLC explains below, 1st year is intense science year (though you also have early clinical integration, sim labs, standardized patients, etc).
But, that doesn't mean the basic sciences are then abandoned afterwards.
You don't sit on the grass for long (found out the hard way on the 4th of July fireworks show with my kids), or the ants will sting you.
You get a blacklight to check for Scorpions, I advise pairing that with a tack hammer. Every night I went out and checked around the outside of the house, and smashed any I found. Once I started doing that, I stopped seeing them inside.
You spray (or have your landlord spray) for crickets and cockroaches, which are everywhere at night, to help cut them down at your house (they're little more than scorpion food, which means more scorpions).
Other than that, the critters pretty much leave you alone unless you bother them.
I should say that I thought Gilbert was AWESOME! And I will probably move back there when all is said and done. Can't beat the combo of weather, quiet/safe city, proximity to major metro area.
I def want to leave NY. But from what I've been reading Hawaii isnt all amazing sunshine. Apparently its expensive (still cheaper than NY I think but idk). It has huuuuuuge centipedes, cockroaches and spiders (yikesss!) and apparently the locals dont like white people that much. Plus Waianae is not really a nice wealthy part of Hawaii, its actually in a poorer part. But who knows? Forums usually exaggerate (just like SDN)
me three. I think SOMA is great. I picked SOMA over a handful of schools (inc NOVA, OSU, TCOM).
I ended up choosing MU-COM in the end, but for similar reasons why I would have chosen SOMA had it not been for the diamond in the rough that is MU-COM
I would do it in a heartbeat if they gave a tuition break for the first class. I thought UCF set a great precedent with their scholarship...but, alas.
Their tuition is average...but again, it seems like you might have missed that I am going for the HPSP, so tuition isn't a consideration anyway.
its still part of TMDSAS...but its really cheap to apply to.
And, for the comments about it being cheap...it is. But the HPSP pays for my tuition so thats not really a consideration.
In almost every case I fully agree that a sig cheaper school is the best route for anyone.
Nice try other school adcom.
This has always been a weak gen argument to shy away from a program. Whether its a new or an "established" school, they are all in flux. Curriculum and staffing change...especially right now. There is a certain established school right now that is having trouble keeping teachers around because they are wanting to slowly convert to systems based curriculum. PS change is usually a good thing.
To be specific, a curriculum can be tried and true...but old. You cant stand still in medicine or education. In fact, practically every school right now is overhauling their curriculum to answer the Carnegie report (go systems based). The faculty at MU-COM have more combined experience than any DO school I know currently. Last I checked they had more NBOME faculty than any other school. (MSU was up there too). Those are the people who write and review the Boards. So, I feel like the academics will be pretty top notch. Just because a school or program is new, doesn't mean the faculty just got their PhDs, lol.
Clinical years are the ones you have to make sure are lined up. The third and fourth year at MU-COM will be at places who have trained medical students for decades. So, again, the generic argument doesn't fit here either. Im not sure if any DO school has a better network of training hospitals. Not sure what else to say except, look at all the schools you'd like and if you find something better than what MU-COM has let me know. If you find yourself thinking, I dont know what MU-COM, or other schools, have 3rd and 4th year...then maybe you aren't ready for this conversation
I have found that people dont like to really research their schools, so they rely on a name. That works sometimes. Sometimes not. If you think about the schools with recent rotation problems they have been in newer and more established schools.(ie PNWU & Midwestern) If you look at board scores/matching for schools they have been good at newer and established schools. )i.e. RVU, TouroNV & DMU).
I dont think I feel the same entitlement to scholarship as you express. It'd be nice, but it doesn't really happen at DO schools.
This isnt law school where your school is your ceiling. SDN likes to rank and worry and pontificate...but in the real world, if you get into med school and you work hard, you become a doctor. And you usually become the kind of doc you have (self) selected to become. You get what you put in.
So, for those reading, find a school you like. Forget names (though alumni networks can be great, and should be considered). Make sure you get good info on what the school is like (talk to students) and, if you have a choice, go where you feel inspired.
Thats my thought at least.
(edti: I dont want to come across like there wont be any bumps along the road at a new school. There will be. But, there will be bumps at any school so I cant seem to justify that as a general argument)
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Well, to be vague, I have family (in law) there. TCOM, and OSU, have more than 90% of each class from their state. So, you really have to express your connection to that state in your essays. And I even wrote letters of interest for those two schools. I may have been helped by going to BYU for undergrad, as they seem to like its students.
And yes, I think it's worth applying to. It's a great school. It's always tough to explain why you didn't choose a school without sounding like you didn't like it. TCOM was a great school, IMO.
Something to consider, they don't do grade replacement and they do like higher stats. You can make up for lower GPA with higher MCAT (as was my case) and vice versa, but especially being out of state, you won't get in with average stats.
I have a couple friends who go there now and they are generally pleased with the normal complaints if this or that. But the facilities and area are nice and they have a good no nonsense attitude that I think would resonate with you (or at least my online impression of you
Feel free to PM me if you'd like more info later
