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futurehealer117

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I know people often post asking for the "best" D.O. school, and that there are no offficial rankings. My question is (please forgive if this has already been done to death, I couldn't find it) are there any Osteopathic Programs that one should avoid? For instance my pre-health advisor (who is a huge supporter of Osteopathic Medicine) seemed to get rain clouds over his eyebrows when some schools were mentioned; particularly the Tennessee School and the Touro's. Of course we'll have to wait before making any judgments on Rocky Vista and the North Western school until their first classes match. But do you have any thoughts on what schools might be better than others?
 
When people around here talk about "the best" DO schools, the names that come up most frequently seem to be CCOM, PCOM, Western, UNTHSC, and perhaps NYCOM and MSUCOM. Applicants put a lot of stock in the first three because of their exceptionally strong match lists.
 
I can see this thread getting out of control very soon!
 
dozitgetchahi you are very brave, here come the battle cries! Look out!
 
The only school you need to look into is NYCOM because it is without a doubt the number 1 school in the country. People often say it is the Harvard of the D.O.
 
futurehealer117 said:
.... (please forgive if this has already been done to death, I couldn't find it)....
Click to expand...

I hate to say it, but the only way you couldn't find it was if you didn't look very hard....so I found you some threads from over the years-- some going all the way back to 1998:

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=440793
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=370996
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=65752
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=333459
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=60005
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=26939
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=27110
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=280107
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=19848

As you can see, this question is asked pretty often. Please enjoy! 🙂
 
I've been accepted to multiple MD and DO schools, but im turning down them all just for the CHANCE to attend CB-COM.

I've written six letters of intent already, hopefully they will interview me.
 
I heard CB-COM is the Yale of DO schools.
 
DoktorB said:
rats!
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Don't worry, there's an Impressive Avatar fund, as well. 😉

linkDO said:
I've been accepted to multiple MD and DO schools, but im turning down them all just for the CHANCE to attend CB-COM.

I've written six letters of intent already, hopefully they will interview me.
Click to expand...

I regret to inform you that your application materials have been misplaced by the USPS. However, your commitment in this post rises above any governmental error. Please resend your materials, and rest assured they will be given the highest priority in consideration.
 
Check out ATSU-SOMA if you're not a fan of traditional lecture-style (or even PBL) curriculum
 
I didn't like my interview at CB-COM. I actually sat down and was interviewed by the dean, but it turned out that the dean wasn't an actual person ... just an Osteopathic FAQ robot. He told me I had to stump him with DO trivia in order to gain an acceptance, I failed ... and was rejected. Damn him and his all knowing signature!!!!!!!!!!
 
I think OSU-CHS has been nationally ranked by usa today for several years now so they need to be considered one of the top D.O. schools.
 
Why hasn't anyone established a ranking for the osteopathic schools...you'd think someone would have gotten on top of this by now...
 
futurehealer117 said:
I know people often post asking for the "best" D.O. school, and that there are no offficial rankings. My question is (please forgive if this has already been done to death, I couldn't find it) are there any Osteopathic Programs that one should avoid? For instance my pre-health advisor (who is a huge supporter of Osteopathic Medicine) seemed to get rain clouds over his eyebrows when some schools were mentioned; particularly the Tennessee School and the Touro's. Of course we'll have to wait before making any judgments on Rocky Vista and the North Western school until their first classes match. But do you have any thoughts on what schools might be better than others?
Click to expand...

They're all good (this isn't a joke). Just find the one that you feel is the best fit for you.
 
Phenol312 said:
Why hasn't anyone established a ranking for the osteopathic schools...you'd think someone would have gotten on top of this by now...
Click to expand...

They have:

#1. The one you get into.
#2-28 (?) The others


... a ha ha ha
 
I was really impressed when I interviewed at "the Tennessee school". I think it is new and waiting to see what it accomplishes isn't a bad thing, but all the established schools were new at some point so keep the perspective. I think the Touro's are fine schools too. In the end, it is all about what you are willing to put into it....and thats what you will get out of it.


I am so upset I already sent a deposit to NSU or I would totally apply to CB-COM!! Could I get an expedited considerations for faithful Scrubs appreciation??
 
Best school in the nation... the school where you can be your best at.
 
Phenol312 said:
Why hasn't anyone established a ranking for the osteopathic schools...you'd think someone would have gotten on top of this by now...
Click to expand...

they are included in the USA today med-school rankings, so they really don't have to warrant a separate category. Besides, who else would rank them? the BCS?
 
Ah well i know some schools don't report their GPA averages and whatnot. So I guess I was just thinking it would be nice to have clear objective measures of how DO schools stack up in terms of their student body composition as well as board scores, residency placements, etc. Seems like all this information is available but piecemeal. Idk...its been a long day don't mind me.
 
aterry said:
I am so upset I already sent a deposit to NSU or I would totally apply to CB-COM!! Could I get an expedited considerations for faithful Scrubs appreciation??
Click to expand...

Fo shizzle!! 😀😀😀

RySerr21 said:
Yea, ive heard cb-com gives Ross and St George a run for their money....
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Everyone in Admissions is glad you selected yourself out. We'd feel bad cashing your check, since you had no chance. None. :meanie:
 
Phenol312 said:
Ah well i know some schools don't report their GPA averages and whatnot. So I guess I was just thinking it would be nice to have clear objective measures of how DO schools stack up in terms of their student body composition as well as board scores, residency placements, etc. Seems like all this information is available but piecemeal. Idk...its been a long day don't mind me.
Click to expand...

They don't post them ... but they aren't hiding them either. It's really not too hard to find. There is a thread floating around on this page called 'osteo stats' or something that is a pretty good list building up. Maybe CB can beef it up or add it to the faq err something.
 
Is CB-COM a real school? How come I don't see it on the list of American colleges of osteopathic medicine on the AACOM site? 😱
 
wongb18c said:
Is CB-COM a real school? How come I don't see it on the list of American colleges of osteopathic medicine on the AACOM site? 😱
Click to expand...

They are still working on filling their first class 😎
 
all these people asking about CB-COM are cracking me up. just too funny.
 
dozitgetchahi said:
When people around here talk about "the best" DO schools, the names that come up most frequently seem to be CCOM, PCOM, Western, UNTHSC, and perhaps NYCOM and MSUCOM. Applicants put a lot of stock in the first three because of their exceptionally strong match lists.
Click to expand...
No UMDNJ?
 
ModernChemistry said:
No UMDNJ?
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Yeah, that one should probably be up there and (though some would argue) I think DMU is 'one of the best.' I also think OSU-COM (the one in Oklahoma ... I always screw up on the Ohio vs Oklahoma abbrev.) has a great rep.
 
Phenol312 said:
Ah well i know some schools don't report their GPA averages and whatnot. So I guess I was just thinking it would be nice to have clear objective measures of how DO schools stack up in terms of their student body composition as well as board scores, residency placements, etc. Seems like all this information is available but piecemeal. Idk...its been a long day don't mind me.
Click to expand...

I think the problem is there really are no clear/objective measures that you could use to rank med schools, unless you just arbitrarily picked one stat like avg incoming GPA and compared schools based on that.... but then that really tells you nothing. Board scores I guess may be something to put a little thought into, but then again it's not going determine how well you do.

There are just sooooo many different factors and variations among entering students that I just think these sort of rankings or trying to find the "best" school is just an exercise in futility.

Look at each school more as an overall package and determine if that particular school is one where you think you'd excel at.
 
I don't think you could go wrong with MSUCOM, CCOM, PCOM, DMUCOM, KCUMB-COM, KCOM, UMDNJ-SOM, AZCOM, or Western.

Incidentally, those are all the schools I applied to.
 
Forget about rankings and such, at least the ones established by others. They tend to be heavily biased toward the evaluator's personal criteria, which may not match your own. Have your own set of criteria and see what schools make your list. I would include such features as location (including in-state status), quality and geographic distribution of rotation sites (very important), curriculum (including how 3rd and 4th year rotations are set up), COA, match list trends (look at a few, because match lists tend to be class-specific), availability of special features (such as combined DO/MBA, DO/PhD, DO/MS, undergraduate fellowships, research opportunities, and special clinical experiences, etc.), and just plain old, "how it feels to you," which you may not be able to appreciate until you interview (therefore, you may find yourself eliminating schools you thought were your top choices after your interview and you others may suddenly jump to the top of your list that weren't even on your radar).

Generally speaking, it's hard to go wrong with the older, better established schools, but there are also a number of very good newer ones, too. Do some research and don't rely on other's lists.

Good luck.
 
spicedmanna said:
Forget about rankings and such, at least the ones established by others. They tend to be heavily biased toward the evaluator's personal criteria, which may not match your own. Have your own set of criteria and see what schools make your list. I would include such features as location (including in-state status), quality and geographic distribution of rotation sites (very important), curriculum (including how 3rd and 4th year rotations are set up), COA, match list trends (look at a few, because match lists tend to be class-specific), availability of special features (such as combined DO/MBA, DO/PhD, DO/MS, undergraduate fellowships, research opportunities, and special clinical experiences, etc.), and just plain old, "how it feels to you," which you may not be able to appreciate until you interview (therefore, you may find yourself eliminating schools you thought were your top choices after your interview and you others may suddenly jump to the top of your list that weren't even on your radar).

Generally speaking, it's hard to go wrong with the older, better established schools, but there are also a number of very good newer ones, too. Do some research and don't rely on other's lists.

Good luck.
Click to expand...

Well said. Neurotic pre-meds soliciting advice from even more neurotic pre-meds is a recipe for misinformation. Once you're in residency (and after) 99% of people and patients you meet won't care where you went to school, your board scores, or your degree. They are just looking for a conscientious, thorough, and skilled doc. Med school is like many things in life: you get out what you put in. The school is there to guide you through, but you have to do the work (no matter the name of the school).
:beat:
 
jason3278 said:
I don't think you could go wrong with MSUCOM, CCOM, PCOM, DMUCOM, KCUMB-COM, KCOM, UMDNJ-SOM, AZCOM, or Western.

Incidentally, those are all the schools I applied to.
Click to expand...

:laugh:


But seriously..in a cage match between DMU and MSU, DMU would rip out MSU-COM's heart and eat it. It wouldn't even be fair 😉
 
DoktorB said:
:laugh:


But seriously..in a cage match between DMU and MSU, DMU would rip out MSU-COM's heart and eat it. It wouldn't even be fair 😉
Click to expand...


B***h please. 😎
 
Last edited:
One of the nice things about osteopathic schools is simply that there is no outwardly best school. There are schools that are better for certain people. We aren't ranking fanatics around here. Many of our allopathic counterparts are so obsessed with rankings that it can affect their decision, regardless of the fact that they don't mean anything. Outside of the inbreeding in the top schools, all schools are pretty equal. It is similar to daily life, every school will have its good, its bad, and a lot of things in the middle.
 
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