AZCOM (Midwestern U) or DMU (Des Moines U)??

[mrdarthvader]

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I have narrowed down my decision to these two schools. I have done searches and read a lot on both AZCOM and DMU, but I would like to hear what you guys/gals think if just comparing these schools....I think they are both great, but I am trying to get more information to decide. The most important thing for me will be getting into a surgical residency after graduation. I am very interested in (Ortho, Plastics, CardioThoracic, and General)

Thanks for your help... 🙂

 

[mkmgal]

I'm a 4th year at AZCOM and have really enjoyed my experience here...for the most part. Not a perfect school, but a great education and a great learning atmosphere. As for matching in to surgery, AZCOM does very well in the boards and the match. I don't know what DMU's stats are. I'm sure their education and match list is good as well. However, the big draw back to AZCOM for most is the high cost of tuition - $$$$$. Best of luck in your decision, and I hope you can go where you feel it's a better fit for you.

 

[rahulazcom]

I don't think either school will give you an edge over the other in terms of securing a residency. Medical school is what you make of it. You should attend the school you will be most happiest and comfortable at. I highly recommend AZCOM but I will try and give you strengths and weaknesses of the school to offer a balanced opinion.

Strengths

(1) Campus, facilities and weather (300 days of sunshine and 70 degree weather in February can't be bad)

(2) Friendly, bright and laid back class - I can genuinely say I love my class. It's rare that you will interact with so many bright yet laid back people in one setting. Upper classmen are supportive as well and will go out of their way to help you.

(3) Board relevant curriculum- From day one, the curriculum is designed to help you excell on the boards. Exam questions are written like board questions. Material is taught in a concise pattern. Textbooks are often board books. Extensive COMLEX and USMLE preparation is integrated into the second year curriculum more than I have heard at any other school.

(4) Location: Arrowhead is a very wealthy suburb. Median home prices approach 500K in the area. Any restaurant you can think of is within 15 minutes from school on Bell Rd. It has everything you need. If you want to go out, there is great night life in Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tempe. Las Vegas, Los Angelas and San Diego are 4-5 hours away by car. Several luxury apartments are accross from school. Campus housing is pretty nice. Homes in the area are affordable if willing to drive 15-30 minutes away.

(5) Matchlists - the results speak for themselves. Check out our matchlists.

http://mwunet.midwestern.edu/academic/AZCOM/azcomDean.htm


Weaknesses

(1) Class heavy schedule - We have an 8-4 schedule for the most part. Some classes are extraneous such as the workshops

(2) Exam schedule - can be brutal with exams every other week. During second year, you have exams twice a week.

(3) Tuition - tuition is increasing and is rather high

(4) Weather: It's pretty hot in the summer as you obviously know.

(5) Location: Although Scottsdale, Tempe and Phoenix have fun things to do, it is pretty far from campus (30-40 minute drive) so most people don't go out that often. We tend to stick to house parties and bars close to campus

In the end, I would do it over again and choose AZCOM. It's an excellent school and I don't regret my decision to attend it. I was just trying to be fair by offerring 5 weaknesses. Keep in mind that every medical school has its flaws,it's just that not everyone is willing to admit those flaws. DMU has its own strengths and weaknesses too. I have heard great things about DMU but I'm more comfortable attending a school in a large metropolitan city.

 

[misparas]

Can't go wrong with DMU. They have the surgical skills lab, and place many in surgery. I'm pretty excited to get out there. See you this fall!

 

[robo77]

I am first year at DMU, and I think this is a pretty nice to be. Education is good for most part and facilities are great. City is small and somewhat limited if you come from a bigger place, but it does have a certain appeal, it provides just a right dose of fun that you can totally concentrate on school and not feel like you are missing out.
As far as your interest in surgical residencies, you will probably have to work really really hard to match into any one of the listed, maybe not so much for general surgery. Also, if you are really set on these, maybe trying to go MD route would not be a bad thing. It will take some obstacles out of your way. If anyone tells you that you have as much of a chance to match these as an MD, disregard it, it is simply not the case. DOs are disadvantaged overall when it comes to matching into very competitive specialties. DMU does have a surgery lab class, although I am not sure what good it will do for matching into a surgery residency.
Bottom line is, if you decide to attend either school, you will have to get good grades, have a good board score, good recommendations,probably will have to kiss some ass during your rotations, and at the end you should be fine.

I have narrowed down my decision to these two schools. I have done searches and read a lot on both AZCOM and DMU, but I would like to hear what you guys/gals think if just comparing these schools....I think they are both great, but I am trying to get more information to decide. The most important thing for me will be getting into a surgical residency after graduation. I am very interested in (Ortho, Plastics, CardioThoracic, and General)

Thanks for your help... 🙂

 

[rahulazcom]

If I was 100% sure I wanted to do surgery, I would choose to go the Allopathic route. Surgery is still very old school about accepting DO's. Surgery has a culture of its own. You can match into surgery as a DO but you have to be an exceptional student. However I personally know average M.D. student that matched into surgery and they wouldn't have gotten into their programs had they been DO's which they are not afraid to admit.

 

[vmgopal]

Guaranteed that it does require good grades...but there is hope.

There are a lot of Orthopedic Surgery D.O. programs...and I think its pretty obvious why it fits in well with Osteopathy.

to rahulazcom: Also thanks for the good advice rahulazcom about AZCOM...I am planning to apply there this year for the 2007 Aug enrollment. I did'nt realize how close places in So. California were to Phoenix-thats really nice. But from the sound of it weekly exams and all is there really ever an opportunity to travel much in med school on weekends???