AZCOM vs. Roseman vs. Rowan-Virtua vs. Western-CA

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Hi everyone!

I have a deposit down at AZCOM, but I really like the schools I'm on the WL at.

If there is a consensus to wait for the WL, which school should I send a letter of intent to and how would you rank these 3 schools together in case I get off their waitlists?

In no particular order, I'm interested in FM, Academic IM, Neurology, PM&R, and Radiology. I am not geographically limited for matching, and I'm willing to practice almost anywhere (would ideally try to work near wherever I attend med school).

AZCOM Details

• Large Class
• Recorded Lectures
• No Mandatory Attendance
• Graded
• Test Heavy Curriculum (Tests frequently)
• Clinical rotations in CA, AZ, and IL
• 80+ K a year

Roseman (WL is not ranked)

Pro

• Really disappointed I got waitlisted 🙁 I really liked the interview and the people at Roseman.
• The Household-Centered Curriculum really interests me and is something I wish more medical schools offered.
• Only need USMLE
• P/F Preclinical
• It sounded like there was no internal rank?
• NBME Exams (Huge Plus!)
• Have Vegas as one of the areas I would love to practice medicine in
• Within driving distance to several members of my family
• Smaller class size (Huge Plus!)

Con

• Seems Step 1 is taken very late (Spring of 3rd year)... and then I'd need to take Step 2 (Summer between 3rd and 4th year)
• No historical match data to reference
• No idea what USMLE Pass rates will look like
• Clinical rotations aren't the best. No home hospital or in house residencies.
• Hot Summer
• Uncertain research opportunities
• No upperclassmen to talk to for advice

Rowan-Virtua (WL is probably not ranked. Based on what I heard from admissions, it's dependent on the seat that's given up)

Pro

• Enjoyed interacting with Rowan's faculty, staff, and students during my interview week
• Tons of interesting clubs, community engagement, and clinical opportunities for students
• P/F Preclinical
• Not OMM heavy
• Close to my Philadelphia friends!
• Probably has the best research opportunities out of all 3 schools. I've done research similar to the projects they currently run.
• No Mandatory Attendance
• Student Body seems very happy and positively review faculty. Has a strong mentorship program between incoming students and current ones.
• Has relationships with Inspira which has an in-house PM&R residency; they also have a neurology residency.
• Clinical rotations are probably the best out of the 3. Has rotations at Christiana which has a radiology residency program.
• NJ is a more DO-friendly state than California (at least from what I've seen)
• Possible Pro? Since I was born and raised in CA, it might be less important for me to build CA connections than let's say someone OOS to CA. If I go to Rowan, I can potentially strengthen my East Coast ties for residency programs there to give me more options (would have connections to both West and East Coast).
• Have Philadelphia/Camden metro area as one of the areas I'd consider practicing in

Con

• Your curriculum group and campus location are determined by which spot is open when you get off the waitlist. So, I don't know if I'd have traditional lecture or PBL.
• Correct me if I'm wrong, but it looks like most of the electives happen in the 4th year. I'm worried this is very late for residency applications and that it might put me under a lot of pressure when applying for aways..
• Have to take both COMLEX and USMLE. Even if I do decide on FM or IM, I'm definitely taking both because I'm afraid of not matching.
• Harder to secure housing at the last minute. Hardest to move to if I get off the WL close to orientation.
• Huge class (200+, although mitigated by the different learning pathways)
• Higher tuition than Roseman and Western (about 40-50 K more in total for the 4 years)
• Furthest from family (Small con because I already was away from family during undergrad)
• Earliest starting date (Small con)
• Coldest Winter of the 3 (Small con, already have experience with this weather)
• Have to quit my gap year job earlier (Small con)

Western-CA (Waitlisted. Higher priority than the alternate list)


Pro

• Very impressive match list this year for a DO school. Several radiology, neurology, and PM&R matches. Also was impressed by their IM matches.
• Closest to family
• At Western, it'd probably be the easiest for me to meet and build connections with other physicians and residency programs because of my gap-year job.
• Easiest to move to at the last minute. May even be able to live with family
• Has an OMM fellowship I could consider. Gives free tuition for the last 2 years if I'm understanding correctly? However, you'd need to take an extra 5th year.
• Curriculum is established and seems to have a nice pace.
• Has electives in the 3rd year during clinical rotations. Liked the spacing and timing over Rowan.
• Would consider practicing in California

Con

• H/HP/P/F and ranked
• OMM Heavy (Especially if I decide not to pursue the previously mentioned OMM fellowship)
• Research isn't as strong as Rowan
• Lots of extraneous talks, events, etc.
• Large class size (200+)
• Have to take both COMLEX and USMLE. Even if I do decide on FM or IM, I'm definitely taking both because I'm afraid of not matching.

Sorry for the long post. What are your thoughts on attending a New MD vs. Established DO school? I already have a sense of where I want to send my LOI to, but I really do value hearing different perspectives. If you have strong thoughts, can you also provide me with a ranking list and explain why?

Thanks so much for helping me! 🙂

 

[chronicstress1]

Unfortunately who knows with waitlists :/ I would just settle on AZCOM for now, however write LOI's for all 3 it cannot hurt (unless they specifically have have told you no LOI's). If you get off Western thats pretty good because they're one of the best DO schools for sure. I've heard amazing things about Rowan too. Roseman is new so may be a blessing in disguise to not have to be one of the first students while they figure out admin tasks. My personal ranking
1. Western 2. Rowan 3. Roseman
Best of luck 🙂

 

[Sosayitditto]

I would say Roseman > Western CA = Rowan > AZCOM.

I think new MD > DO due to stress of taking additional boards and OMM. I also heard P/F curriculum is much better for your sanity and NBME exams will prepare you well for the boards as well. OMM. In terms of matching, I am assuming that new MD schools will likely have similar outcome in match list in comparison to established DO schools. As this will be Roseman’s inaugural class, I think they will pay a lot of attention on student performances and help them match into their desired specialties.

Regarding Western and Rowan, I ranked them at the same level as they are both well established DO schools. It will come down to your preferences with location, curriculum, and how much you like OMM.

 

[pigsinacloth]

Be careful about ranking places based on OMM fellowship stuff. if you do it then residency programs are going to ask you why you did it and if that reason is money its going to look bad. Also those things are actually fairly competitive because people want the money and also they think OMM is real. Overall I would say rowan and western are the same and both way better than azcom.

 

[ecobio]

MD >>>. hopefully with it being a new school, they’ll have a lot of WL movement