BCOM vs ACOM vs AT Still

[hopefullyafutureDOstudent]

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hi everyone, so far i've been accepted to ACOM and waitlisted at both BCOM and AT Still Az. I was also waitlisted to LUCOM but I really didn't think the school fit me well and I've heard pretty bad things about it too, so I'm narrowing it down to the first 3.

i was just wondering if anyone else could weigh in/give me advice? i'm extremely grateful to have gotten accepted to ACOM, but i liked the other 2 schools too. I'm from southern california so the location of BCOM and ATSUSOMA were much better for me, and alabama was kind of a shock/rural/far flight/super different from what I'm used to.

i know BCOM is brand new but it seemed super promising and i got overall amazing vibes when i went for my interview. I've been talking to a few students who go there and they love it, and i feel like every great school has had to start somewhere. i also liked the college town feel and how they were linked to NMSU. i personally am used to living in the city, so being here was much more comfortable than the rural, extremely spread-out feel that dothan had. the admin director is extremely nice and made it seem like he accepts quite a few students off the waitlist, so i've been super hopeful about this school.

however, i know that ACOM has amazing clinical rotations, and i would only be in dothan for 2 years before moving somewhere like panama city beach, birmingham, or another big city for rotations. i also feel guilty letting location play a big role in my med school decision since it'll only be 2 years of living somewhere less favorable.

ATSUSOMA was great too, but i was reallyyyyy iffy about the online lectures starting second year and how they split the entire class after 1st year into CHC groups of 10 spread out across the US. and i feel like since i was waitlisted i would end up with a really crappy CHC location if i WAS accepted. i was also told I'm in the middle of the waitlist, so i feel like it probably won't even happen for me.

i just thought it would be helpful to talk it out with people who are familiar with the schools and who could offer different perspectives 🙂 any thoughts would be appreciated thanks so much! 🙂

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

Well seeing as it is your only acceptance, ACOM. If you are accepted to BCOM I still say ACOM.

 

[Marrowist]

ACOM

 

[Wiggly Tuff Da Ruff]

Well seeing as it is your only acceptance, ACOM. If you are accepted to BCOM I still say ACOM.

lol I like your semantics fam. Since I am planning to matriculate acom, I also vote acom because that samc hospital home site is too good.

 

[popopopop]

I interviewed at ACOM and ATSUSOMA. The online 2nd year is not for everyone for sure. I'm ok with the online lectures, but being in a group of 10 students at a CHC AND having no real support from your class is a bit off-putting to me. I'm sure there are ways electronically that I can get help, but not having a centralize facility to study or interact is very off putting to me. I also was more shocked of the desert and lack of grass vs rural Alabama haha.

Last but not least, ATSUSOMA has higher tuition and much higher cost of living. That's just something to considered.

 

[moyamoya6]

I was accepted into ACOM first, and then I turned down my interview to ATSU-SOMA because their program didn't fit me. I didn't like the idea of the CHC groups and how their first two years were not all at the same campus.

 

[luckyely91]

ATSU-SOMA is a good school, but yes, I agree - you definitely have to see whether or not you like the curriculum or not. From what I heard and researched, Mesa isn't too expensive to live, and it really depends on where you go for your CHC as to how much in debt you'll be (i.e. Washington D.C. versus Tucson/Mesa) in terms of housing and food.

Also, for me, class size was very important to me. ATSU-SOMA consistently has smaller class sizes compared to other medical schools. I've heard some medical schools where the class size is over 150+, and students felt like that they did not get as much as they would have had they attended a school with a smaller class size. Food for thought.

 

[Grey Storm]

I say BCOM. I interviewed at both ACOM and BCOM, and even though ACOM is a few years older, I'm choosing BCOM. I'm following my gut on this one. BCOM said all of the right things in terms of their curriculum, and I've spoken to a residency coordinator and he was very impressed with the school and said he had no doubt that BCOM would succeed. Go to the school you feel at home at. Would really suck to go to a "better" school only to do worse in your courses because you're unhappy.