AZCOM vs Touro-Harlem

[idkwhatimdoing]

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Hi guys!!

I'm struggling to make a decision here. These are my current pros and cons list:

AZCOM
Pros:

• More established
• Higher avg COMLEX 1 (by 10pts)
• Consistently high COMLEX pass rates
• Research seems available to anyone who wants it
• Rotations seem good. I like you have an option for Chicago, even if it's not a certainty.

Cons:

• For the school's reputation, historically there are is a lower ratio of students in "competative" specialties : total students (competitive meaning derm, ortho, radiology, etc.)
• If I get my choice of Chicago rotations, I'd have to move in 2 years
• According to staff I spoke at interviews, no AZCOM student does away rotations
• No clinical exposure in first two years - there are no opportunities and it's advised against
• Minimum 1 exam per week, though students say it's common to have multiple tests a week
• Only 16 weeks of elective rotations

TOURO-Harlem
Pros

• I'm a city person.
• Apparently avg level 1 score is 3rd highest in the nation? Though I know they prevent some people from taking the exam each year.
• Every year there are students who match into highly competitive specialties.
• NYC has so many institutions / opportunities for research, volunteering, mentoring / shadowing, etc. Even if Touro doesn't offer something, there may be an institution / clinic in Manhattan that does.
• NYC area must have more residencies than Phoenix. I could make more valuable connections here.
• Jewish holidays allow for catch up time
• 1 month for an elective 3rd year, 6 months for electives 4th year

Cons

• Flipped classroom - doesn't this mean you get fewer hours to study per week?
• Little prep for clinical rotations
• 2 hrs of OMM per week (which is a pro, bc other schools have more), but students said there is a huge OMM focus at the school. As in they learn wayyy more than necessary for Comlex.
• SHADINESS?? Like the low COMLEX 2 pass rate, the administration's apparent disorganization, quality of rotations, SDN's dislike for the school, etc., is putting me off. Why isn't there anything bad said about AZCOM, and few positive things said about Touro?

tl;dr I'm confused because Touro seems like the obvious bad choice based on what SND says. However, people still manage to match into competitive residencies each year. So it's odd that such a bad, shady school with horrible pass stats still is fairly successful in matching their students. Does that mean Touro isn't great at providing support to those who need structure, but individual students who are good with self-study, finding opportunities, etc. can still succeed?

Any input would be appreciated, thanks![/QUOTE]

 

[Ehwic]

Choosing a school based on past match history isn't the best rationale to choose one school over the other. At the end of the day, it's based on how you perform. Just because someone went to harvard doesnt mean they automatically get whatever residency they want.

 

[idkwhatimdoing]

Choosing a school based on past match history isn't the best rationale to choose one school over the other. At the end of the day, it's based on how you perform. Just because someone went to harvard doesnt mean they automatically get whatever residency they want.

True!! I understand it's my work that will determine my outcome at the end of the day. However, factors such as more elective / away rotations / audition rotations, better affiliate connections, better match advising, etc., may allow me to have a better chance at a more selective residency at one school over another, despite putting in the same amount of hard work at both schools.

For example, faculty at AZCOM said they've never had students do away rotations. So this may influence how easy it is for me to match into a residency I really like.

Basically I'm wondering - if I give med school my absolute 100%, which school will have the opportunities / connections / whatever to allow me the best chance at the best residencies? The fact that AZCOM doesn't have many highly competitive specialty matches despite good boards avgs makes me wonder if it's possible to do academically well there but still be limited in residency options.

(I hope that made sense)

 

[Ehwic]

Yeah setting up away rotations at AZCOM I've heard was a pain. But the rest of the things you stated seems like it's a personal preference. I don't know too much about the resources they provide at both of these schools though so I cant be much more of a help. But maybe this would help: AZCOM vs TOURO NY-harlem

 

[idkwhatimdoing]

Yeah setting up away rotations at AZCOM I've heard was a pain. But the rest of the things you stated seems like it's a personal preference. I don't know too much about the resources they provide at both of these schools though so I cant be much more of a help. But maybe this would help: AZCOM vs TOURO NY-harlem

Huh, I never thought about the other things as a personal preference, I assumed most of them were generic factors in determining how good a med school is haha.

And yeah, I've viewed this thread! It was the source of most of my hesitations with Touro's "shadiness."