AZCOM Discussion Thread 2010-2011

[dhotsauce]

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Well since it's not based on the method or when you requested, maybe it's by interview date? Did everyone who heard interview on the first or second interview date?

I interviewed on the 5th of November and heard back about rotations yesterday night.

 

[seap3]

I withdrew 2 weeks ago and still got an email yesterday with my top choice (west valley).

Today I've been wondering if I made the wrong choice withdrawing. It was really hard to decide, and now I'm second guessing myself. 🙁

 

[lftbndlbrnchblk]

I withdrew 2 weeks ago and still got an email yesterday with my top choice (west valley).

Today I've been wondering if I made the wrong choice withdrawing. It was really hard to decide, and now I'm second guessing myself. 🙁

Don't feel bad, DMU is one of the top schools. I could have gone there but Midwestern made so much sense since I'm more familiar with the Southwest region than middle America. We know our rotation sites. Whoopee. We still have to go through medical school, right? Getting to know my rotation sites this early on was a huge selling point for me because this is where I want to practice medicine but I know better than to think med school's going to be any easier because of it. Watch, you'll probably get your top choice when you attend DMU. It'll probably just be assigned toward the end of your second year and not prior to matriculation as in our case.

 

[thewall]

Well since it's not based on the method or when you requested, maybe it's by interview date? Did everyone who heard interview on the first or second interview date?

I interviewed October 19...

 

[DbDan]

Haha yes we are facenook friends, you have discovered my secret identity. 😉 and thanks, I'd love to hear what he says when you talk.

E-mail him again!!! From your AZCOM e-mail this time. I sent him a very polite e-mail on late Friday night telling him that I had heard from future classmates that they had received their assignments. I re-listed my preferences and cited the day that I had originally e-mailed him. I received an e-mail back at 6:30 Saturday morning.

"I am sorry, DbDan, I didn't have your previous e-mail in the file to make assignments; if I received it and failed to file it properly, I apologize. I know that there are LA spots available and I will assign you to LA on Monday, and send you a confirmatory e-mail at that time. I look forward to meeting you, and to having you at AZCOM in the fall!"

If you haven't heard, e-mail him again or call. It is possible that early e-mails were misplaced or incorrectly filed!

 

[Flushot]

Congrats on everyone getting their rotation locations.

While I was gone from SDN, my PM box filled up with questions, so I hope I didn't miss anyone's question. I cleared out a few so if people have more questions, I'm free up again.

Here's a few Q&As from my PMs:

1. On campus housing is available in 9 and 10 month contracts so you don't have to pay for summer if you don't want to.

2. AZCOM is a quarter based school, thus save for first two weeks, you will have at least 1 test or practical per week. I've already talked about times when we had 4 tests in a week, so if you like your curriculum non-stop, this is the place for you.

3. AZCOM teaches by subjects, not systems. 1st tends to integrate things well, but so far, 2nd year hasn't really done this too much.

4. We recently had to lottery for preceptors and will participate in a Q&A with Speicher tomorrow. I can let you all know about it when I get more details.

5. I use my parents health insurance so I don't really know much about the school health insurance plan. There have been some good discussions on here about it, but I'm sure you can ask again and someone can help you.

 

[uniquerabbit]

E-mail him again!!! From your AZCOM e-mail this time. I sent him a very polite e-mail on late Friday night telling him that I had heard from future classmates that they had received their assignments. I re-listed my preferences and cited the day that I had originally e-mailed him. I received an e-mail back at 6:30 Saturday morning.

"I am sorry, DbDan, I didn't have your previous e-mail in the file to make assignments; if I received it and failed to file it properly, I apologize. I know that there are LA spots available and I will assign you to LA on Monday, and send you a confirmatory e-mail at that time. I look forward to meeting you, and to having you at AZCOM in the fall!"

If you haven't heard, e-mail him again or call. It is possible that early e-mails were misplaced or incorrectly filed!

What is Dr. Speicher's email address?

 

[jpgoodie]

I interviewed on 24 Sep, accepted (on the Midwestern website) on 28 Sep, emailed in my rotational sites on 10 Oct, spoke with Dr. Speicher around end of Oct/beginning of Nov and he said I'd receive my rotational site within a week or two, still haven't received any news. My deposit is already paid, and still no word through regular or MWU email. Oh, and after reading what DbDan had said, I just emailed him again tonight as a friendly reminder 🙂

Congrats to all those who have received their preferred rotational sites! But still...what da problem is!?! Gettin kinda antsy...

 

[DbDan]

What is Dr. Speicher's email address?

it is in the staff directory on the website. I don't remember offhand.

 

[mauve]

how exactly do you guys choose a rotation site ? did you they give you info on the method at the interview day?

 

[DbDan]

how exactly do you guys choose a rotation site ? did you they give you info on the method at the interview day?

When accepted they gave us a list of the hospitals for each reason. I based mine on the fact that I'm from Socal and I love Los Angeles. After acceptance, you just had to e-mail Dr. Speicher to make a list of your top 3. They assigned based on the space available.

 

[jpgoodie]

just for the sake of closure, i received a reply for Dr. Speicher an hour or two after I emailed him tonight. He said sorry for the confusion/delay and gave me my preferred rotational site: East valey. Sweet!

 

[DbDan]

just for the sake of closure, i received a reply for Dr. Speicher an hour or two after I emailed him tonight. He said sorry for the confusion/delay and gave me my preferred rotational site: East valey. Sweet!

👍 Awesome. Seems like Dr. Speicher is really on top of it now that the class of 2014 seems to be set on their rotation sites. I'd expect those who are accepted after the break to hear back pretty quickly about their rotations.

 

[sradoctora]

I'm jealous! I emailed first thing this morning and I still haven't heard back. 🙁 Very disappointed. I'm hoping for news tomorrow.

 

[DbDan]

I'm jealous! I emailed first thing this morning and I still haven't heard back. 🙁 Very disappointed. I'm hoping for news tomorrow.

Don't worry, you'll hear back I'm sure. He said he wasn't going to send me anything official until tomorrow anyway.

 

[EEL08]

What is Dr. Speicher's email address?

[email protected]

 

[noshie]

I called the admissions office this morning, they sent me over to Dr. Speicher's admin and I asked them why I haven't received my rotation site yet... They took my name and a few hours later I got a call AND an email. Nice. 🙂 I got my first choice!!! West Valley! Super excited!!! Now I just have to pay my deposit next week... Still not sure where that money is coming from! Daddy...? 😀 Please?

 

[Compwarrior]

I e-mailed him last week, then yesterday from my mid-western account. Haven't heard anything yet. Would it be impatient of me to call? Any Suggestions?

 

[sradoctora]

I e-mailed him last week, then yesterday from my mid-western account. Haven't heard anything yet. Would it be impatient of me to call? Any Suggestions?

I was impatient and called just now. I figured since I had put my deposit down and committed to the school, I should at least know where I'm rotating. So I would suggest calling, but I'll let you know when he gets back to me how it goes if you want. 🙂

 

[milkycow]

I called and got a reply in 2 minutes. Apparently they had got my personal email wrong and that they sent it to that other email on Friday. Corrected the issue of the email misspelling and found out I got East Valley!

It doesn't hurt to call. East Valley and West Valley intervene in a lot of places so I don't think it would be to difficult to get a rotation in West Valley even if you are given East Valley if you show a lot of interest for that specific rotation. Someone correct me if I am wrong.

 

[jpgoodie]

wow, this is so nutty. i can't believe we're all going to become doctors one day. last night i dreamed i was in the middle of an ER trauma center, patients coding, crazy patients running out of the hospital with their IV's, doctors diagnosing left and right. man.

I am super stoked, but has anyone else found themself thinking "What have I gotten myself into?" haha

 

[randomusername]

I am super stoked, but has anyone else found themself thinking "What have I gotten myself into?" haha

That will come and go (more so once you've started classes). When the excited part comes is what actually ends up helping out a lot of people who are hitting walls towards the middle/end of a quarter. 👍

 

[fakeyellowlight]

I sent my rotation preferences to Dean Speicher just over a month ago and then after reading through this thread decided to send them to him again yesterday. Unfortunately, still no word from AZCOM. I'm nervous that with a class size of 250 that I'll experience this kind of shuffle all too often over my 4 years. Can any of the current students speak to this topic?

 

[sunnysand]

I sent my rotation preferences to Dean Speicher just over a month ago and then after reading through this thread decided to send them to him again yesterday. Unfortunately, still no word from AZCOM. I'm nervous that with a class size of 250 that I'll experience this kind of shuffle all too often over my 4 years. Can any of the current students speak to this topic?

I received an email back with my first choice within an hour of emailing Speicher.....hmmm, you should try calling, maybe your emails aren't making it to his inbox? Either way they seem like they have been really receptive to students over the past couple of days inquiring about their rotation sites.

 

[CMo048]

I sent my rotation preferences to Dean Speicher just over a month ago and then after reading through this thread decided to send them to him again yesterday. Unfortunately, still no word from AZCOM. I'm nervous that with a class size of 250 that I'll experience this kind of shuffle all too often over my 4 years. Can any of the current students speak to this topic?

I called yesterday after I sent two emails, they gave me my first choice on the spot. Try giving them a call.

 

[Compwarrior]

I just called and was transferred to Terry (said he was Dr. Speicher's assistant), he told me my rotation site on the spot. First choice! Woo!

He also said that he will be sending out more e-mails today and tomorrow. Hope that helps.

 

[DbDan]

Ya, despite Dr. Speicher telling me he'd e-mail me my confirmation e-mail on Monday, I never got it either yesterday or today. I'm off work tomorrow so I'm gonna try to give them a call then. He told me I've got LA through e-mail, just no official confirmation so I'm not too worried.

 

[sunnysand]

Ya, despite Dr. Speicher telling me he'd e-mail me my confirmation e-mail on Monday, I never got it either yesterday or today. I'm off work tomorrow so I'm gonna try to give them a call then. He told me I've got LA through e-mail, just no official confirmation so I'm not too worried.

I received confirmation from Terrence Kaleta through email even though I had emailed Dr. Speicher. I would def give them a call in the morning! I was thinking about picking LA since I'm from socal but decided to go with west valley, so I'll be spending 3 years in Arizona!! I figure I can come back to LA during my 4th year when we have flexibility with setting up our own rotaions.

 

[DbDan]

I received confirmation from Terrence Kaleta through email even though I had emailed Dr. Speicher. I would def give them a call in the morning! I was thinking about picking LA since I'm from socal but decided to go with west valley, so I'll be spending 3 years in Arizona!! I figure I can come back to LA during my 4th year when we have flexibility with setting up our own rotaions.

Ya, I thought about that as well. I also figured that if I was going to be living in LA my 3rd year, it would give me the opportunity to try to set up some of those 4th year rotations in person in So. Cal... who knows.

Realistically all of my friends and family are out here and I'm super close with alot of them so I really wanted to be around it as much as possible, even though I'm not really going to have much free time.

 

[Asianboy]

Same to me. I will have 3rd year in LA too. As I read the listing of hospitals in LA for our 3rd yr, I think it's pretty solid. Hope they won't change it when we rotate.

BTW, has anyone thinking about Army National Guard reserve while in medical school?

Ya, I thought about that as well. I also figured that if I was going to be living in LA my 3rd year, it would give me the opportunity to try to set up some of those 4th year rotations in person in So. Cal... who knows.

Realistically all of my friends and family are out here and I'm super close with alot of them so I really wanted to be around it as much as possible, even though I'm not really going to have much free time.

 

[ND10]

As much as I'd love to avoid the snow, I just withdrew my acceptance. GOOD LUCK everyone!

 

[Compwarrior]

BTW, has anyone thinking about Army National Guard reserve while in medical school?

I have been looking into the Air Force. I've been debating for the last few months if it is the right choice. I will probably do it, but I don't want to make such a big decision without thoroughly considering it.

 

[Salad1n]

Does anyone know how long it takes them to review your file after being completed?

 

[uniquerabbit]

Anybody know if the rotation sides are all equal in terms of quality?
Other than geographic location, are they all considered GOOD sites?
What is the best (loaded and possibly stupid question)?

 

[barnold]

Hey everyone! It was a really hard decision, but I just withdrew my acceptance and subsequently freed-up a spot in LA for rotations. If you didn't get LA for your first choice I hope you can call and take my place on the list.

Good luck to you all at AZCOM! Hopefully I will run into some of you someday.

 

[randomusername]

Does anyone know how long it takes them to review your file after being completed?

It varies. Sometimes just a couple of days, sometimes way more. December kind of throws everything off a bit though due to Christmas break and whatnot. If you're already complete and haven't heard anything by the 20th, you can always call and check to see if there is any word, otherwise you likely won't be able to get in touch with anybody until January.

 

[sunnysand]

Ya, I thought about that as well. I also figured that if I was going to be living in LA my 3rd year, it would give me the opportunity to try to set up some of those 4th year rotations in person in So. Cal... who knows.

Realistically all of my friends and family are out here and I'm super close with alot of them so I really wanted to be around it as much as possible, even though I'm not really going to have much free time.

Yeah, I know what you mean! I still wanna be close to friends and family, that's why I'm leaning towards AZCOM! Good thing it's about a 5 hour drive/45 min flight home 🙂

 

[rayonrojo]

I just declined my offer of admission (accepted to in-state school) so there's one more out there for ya! Good luck!

 

[nfsonpowday]

I was wondering if any of the current students (or anyone else) knows how late is too late to put in an on-campus housing app. and deposit?

 

[randomusername]

I was wondering if any of the current students (or anyone else) knows how late is too late to put in an on-campus housing app. and deposit?

Purely anecdotal, but, I know of people that were accepted off of the wait-list in the summer that live on-campus. However, it's probably best to do it asap once you've got your mind made up on if you want to live on-campus or not.

 

[noshie]

I just declined my offer of admission (accepted to in-state school) so there's one more out there for ya! Good luck!

Did you decine your Tech acceptance too? Hehehe, Ill 😍 you forever...

 

[Trent152]

Just declined my acceptance offer so I hope this helps a few people get into AZCOM. Good luck to all future interviewees!!

 

[Kalu123]

Just declined my acceptance offer so I hope this helps a few people get into AZCOM. Good luck to all future interviewees!!

I also just declined my acceptance from AZCOM. It was a really tough decision, but I was accepted to another school that is a better fit for me. I was holding a rotation spot in LA, so now there's one more spot available. Good luck to everyone interviewing and waiting to hear back! Things should start moving now that the 15th is approaching!

 

[Lukat]

I have just withdrawn my acceptance as well. I hope that my open spot will help someone 🙂. Good luck everybody!!!

 

[noshie]

I'm officially an AZCOM student! I just paid my deposit... Ouch. So for now, It looks like I am going to AZCOM! I’m actually very excited and I feel a little relieved...

 

[nfsonpowday]

I'm officially an AZCOM student! I just paid my deposit... Ouch. So for now, It looks like I am going to AZCOM! I’m actually very excited and I feel a little relieved...

Nice-congratulations!! What about the Texas schools, are you still waiting on them?

 

[noshie]

Nice-congratulations!! What about the Texas schools, are you still waiting on them?

Thanks! Yeah, I am waiting for them to tell me my fate... 🙄 I probably wont know until February 1st when the match comes out (where all the schools just tell us our status).

 

[RGMass03]

Just withdrew my acceptance to AZCOM for my number one choice. I hope my spot goes to one of you guys! Good luck everyone!!

 

[VillarazaM]

Hello all, I am an undergrad interested in applying to medical school.

Applications for SOMA and AZCOM open around May-Early June, and I am not planning on graduating/getting my Bachelors til December of next year (I'm just retaking science classes to raise cum/science GPA, all my required classes for Biology are done, I could graduate right now but I choose not to), can I still apply to DO schools early? Or do they want applicants that already have their Bachelors certificate?

Would appreciate any feedback...

 

[sradoctora]

Hello all, I am an undergrad interested in applying to medical school.

Applications for SOMA and AZCOM open around May-Early June, and I am not planning on graduating/getting my Bachelors til December of next year (I'm just retaking science classes to raise cum/science GPA, all my required classes for Biology are done, I could graduate right now but I choose not to), can I still apply to DO schools early? Or do they want applicants that already have their Bachelors certificate?

Would appreciate any feedback...

You just need your bachelors completed before you matriculate.