AZpod vs. Western

[soccerfeet]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Trying to decide between AZpod or Western? Why did you pick the school you picked? What are the good, bad, ugly of each?

Thanks

 

[MTJ Guy]

Well, I am currently a first year is AZPod and was in a similar situation except with DMU thrown in the mix as well. Obviously I chose Midwestern. I actually found I clicked really well with the campus. It just felt right when I visited. I love the weather, though that is not a good comparison with CA. One thing in particular that persuaded me was the area. It is surprisingly safe for being a large city. Yes the highway sucks and no one follows the speed limit (hello 90 mph all the time), but the area is great.

I was also impressed with the students that I visited with. It seemed that they were pretty close to each other and happy people. The small class size probably helps with this though. Honestly, the curriculum is challenging as we take most first and second year classes with the D.O.'s, but it is a great experience.

Heck I didn't know it then, but a majority if the faculty here are really great professors. I cannot speak as to the faculty at Western, so I hope someone chimes in, but I love Midwestern. Plus there is quite a few chances to get involved with some interesting research in the basic sciences or podiatry related if that is what you might want to consider.

When I was interviewing, I literally hit all my interviews in a week from all around the country. It was by chance that I hit Western then right after that hit Midwestern so I could easily compare one school vs the other. I liked Western when I visited, but after I visited Midwestern I noticed things that Western didn't have. I wish I could be more specific, but it was quite a while ago and I don't recall exactly what it was.

The podiatry faculty are wonderful, and there are weekly volunteering opportunities to assist the homeless and practice the things that were learned. We do have summer classes, which are completely podiatry related, which is nice. Plus, if you don't exactly have a savings, it is nice to still get a refund for rent, food, etc without having to find a real job during the summer. It was not something I thought about as I had no savings at all because I came directly from undergrad. So the fact that I still get to focus directly on school is a huge plus.

I am sure most of the places give very similar experiences, but this is what I can talk about. If you have any question, feel free to ask.

 

[soccerfeet]

Well, I am currently a first year is AZPod and was in a similar situation except with DMU thrown in the mix as well. Obviously I chose Midwestern. I actually found I clicked really well with the campus. It just felt right when I visited. I love the weather, though that is not a good comparison with CA. One thing in particular that persuaded me was the area. It is surprisingly safe for being a large city. Yes the highway sucks and no one follows the speed limit (hello 90 mph all the time), but the area is great.

I was also impressed with the students that I visited with. It seemed that they were pretty close to each other and happy people. The small class size probably helps with this though. Honestly, the curriculum is challenging as we take most first and second year classes with the D.O.'s, but it is a great experience.

Heck I didn't know it then, but a majority if the faculty here are really great professors. I cannot speak as to the faculty at Western, so I hope someone chimes in, but I love Midwestern. Plus there is quite a few chances to get involved with some interesting research in the basic sciences or podiatry related if that is what you might want to consider.

When I was interviewing, I literally hit all my interviews in a week from all around the country. It was by chance that I hit Western then right after that hit Midwestern so I could easily compare one school vs the other. I liked Western when I visited, but after I visited Midwestern I noticed things that Western didn't have. I wish I could be more specific, but it was quite a while ago and I don't recall exactly what it was.

The podiatry faculty are wonderful, and there are weekly volunteering opportunities to assist the homeless and practice the things that were learned. We do have summer classes, which are completely podiatry related, which is nice. Plus, if you don't exactly have a savings, it is nice to still get a refund for rent, food, etc without having to find a real job during the summer. It was not something I thought about as I had no savings at all because I came directly from undergrad. So the fact that I still get to focus directly on school is a huge plus.

I am sure most of the places give very similar experiences, but this is what I can talk about. If you have any question, feel free to ask.

Thanks. Do you feel like either school is better at getting the good residencies? Obviously you haven't gone through that yet, but have you heard anything?

 

[AttackNME]

Temple alumni here in west coast residency. Ive seen a lot of excellent students and residents from both places, can't go wrong with either one.

 

[MTJ Guy]

I completely agree! Either are excellent choices. Choose the one you really click with and run with it.

 

[brittany24]

Hello! Incoming Western student here. I interviewed at 5 pod schools (though I turned down my interview at AZPOD since they were interviewing for a waitlisted spot). I'm not sure how helpful this will be for you, but I like to write down pro/con lists to help me make decisions. Here is my list for Western.

Pros:

• Small class (50 students) - some larger pod schools have as many as 120 students
• Pod students take classes with DO students - this will help DO students learn what podiatrists can do, and helps eliminate the idea that podiatrists aren't physicians
• At Western, there is a higher emphasis on "whole body" understanding first - then - a more focused take on lower extremity. In a sense, they train you as a "general" doctor first, and a podiatrist "second." I believe that this will make me a better health care provider to my patients.
• On campus housing at western is new and beautiful! It is about a 50 foot walk to the main building where classes are held. I cherish my sleep and this option lets me get a bit more
• Study rooms - this is actually a problem at some of the other schools. I personally have a hard time studying in my apartment, so this is important to me to have places to go and focus
• Collaborative/community feel. Western has programs for PharmD, dentistry, DO, PA, veterinarians, optometry, and perhaps a few others. It seemed like the students on campus were very friendly and helped one another.
• 100 % residency placement rate, and 100% 1st and 2nd time pass rate on boards in the most recent class. Western was established in only 2009 but they are fully accredited. They seem like one of the more challenging schools of all the pod schools, since they expect pod students to know so much. The first year 1st semester pod students have 32.5 units, 2nd semester is a whopping 42 units.
• Global health opportunities to serve overseas

Cons:

• The only con I could think of was that I am not thrilled to be in Pomona. (I really wanted to explore Manhattan). Pomona is a lower income city that is about an hour drive to the mountains or the beach. This helps minimize distractions I suppose. BUT being in a lower-income area gives a greater exposure to a variety of pathologies. And I know there are lots of opportunities to serve homeless and uninsured patients in the area.

Good luck with your decision!

 

[CoffeeMonster]

Had acceptances to both and actually a pretty good scholarship to Western. I still went with AZPOD though. The most important things to me were integration with the DO program and recorded lectures, which both schools have. On paper, the schools are pretty similar, but you need to go with what felt more natural and a better fit for you during interview day. I'll echo what others have said about how bad Pomona is. Glendale on the other hand is mostly suburbs and is minutes away from all the big city stuff you could want in Phoenix.

Some stuff I didn't like about Western: the constant police presence on campus. I realize this is probably a necessary precaution but it rubbed me the wrong way. The library is far away and sort of off campus. Their only patient encounter experience during pre-clinical years is through hired actors, so I'm not sure if that's enough exposure. No gym, although they get a discount at a nearby LA Fitness I heard.

Some good stuff about Midwestern: they have a state of the art simulation lab with Sim Man, Woman, Baby, etc., as well as surgery simulation rooms. I think simulation is the future of medical education so I was stoked about this. Your interactions in the sim labs are recorded and then you are graded and critiqued in order to become better at doctoring. The campus is beautiful and feels very conducive as a learning environment. Really nice gym facilities right on campus. No shortage of study areas, large library.

In the end, I hear both schools are very academically sound, but Western just came off as more intense and do or die, whereas Midwestern made me feel like I was joining their family and made it very clear that even though the curriculum is very challenging, there is a lot of support for students here.

 

[Shireiqiang]

Did you interview at both, and have you already received acceptances? I interviewed at both, the campuses are very different. Western has a small sample size when looking at matching, but to be honest your school won't get you a program. You will have equal opportunity to succeed at either school. Good luck!

 

[heybrother]

I like sim labs, but I think they should be pretty low on the list of things you use to pick schools. They are, however, a brilliant marketing tool. Wait till you try and perform a physical exam on one.

 

[soccerfeet]

Did you interview at both, and have you already received acceptances? I interviewed at both, the campuses are very different. Western has a small sample size when looking at matching, but to be honest your school won't get you a program. You will have equal opportunity to succeed at either school. Good luck!

I was accepted into both. I just put down a deposit and Midwestern. Thanks for all the input everyone

 

[Pod Zilla]

Wow, AZpod still has spots left this late in the cycle?

 

[CoffeeMonster]

I don't think so. Maybe he got pulled off the wait list.