Blunt Truth about AZCOM

[azcomdiddy]

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Okay for those who are still debating whether to attend the school. Here is the brutal description of the school.

Strengths

1. Teaching
2. Facilities/Campus
3. Weather
4. Basic Science years are a plus
5. High COMLEX scores

Weaknesses

1. Clinical Setup particularly 3rd year
2. School lacks diversity
3. Expensive ( more expensive than many private schools)
4. Lacks alumni and networking opportunities because school is new
5. Low USMLE Step 1 scores

Thats it! Any questions, look above. Thanks for your time

 

[VentdependenT]

What DO school is landing mostly high USMLE scores?

 

[azcomdiddy]

What DO school is landing mostly high USMLE scores?

I don't know of many DO schools that are landing mostly high USMLE scores. I don't know of many MD schools that are landing mostly high USMLE scores outside of the most well known schools.

I do know of DO schools whose students score on average or higher for Step I. These schools are Michigant St. Oklahoma St., Kirksville, Texas and NYCOM.

 

[Aloha Kid]

Is there any website you're looking at to find every DO students USMLE score? Or is this just specualtation based on word of mouth?

 

[azcomdiddy]

Is there any website you're looking at to find every DO students USMLE score? Or is this just specualtation based on word of mouth?

You probably haven't even taken Step I? Am I right? There is a reason why many AZCOM students shy away from it. And don't give me that garbage about how we are not allopathic students. The majority of our school matches in allopathic programs so spare me the: "I never even considered taking Step I" excuse. Truth is most AZCOM students would rather avoid taking Step I because it is a more difficult test. And in the past, we haven't done well on it. I can't tell you how many of my classmates beg allo programs to accept their COMLEX score without even considering taking Step I.

As far as how do I know, I attend the damn school that's how I know. I go to class with these people. No, I don't have a spreadsheet that provides every USMLE Step I score. But I know several people who score in the 90th percentile on COMLEX only to score less than 220 on Step I.

 

[cdreed]

In his defense, Aloha Kid is a MSIV at AZCOM. He is definitely entitled to his opinion... just as you are azdiddy.

 

[VentdependenT]

How do you know the mean or average USMLE score for these other schools? What about the mean at AZCOM.

That information wasn't available when I was there, nor was it available for for other schools. I knew about 10 peoples' scores. Range from 200-250something. Range of residencies from urology to fp.

 

[jhug]

azdiddy, although suprisingly (and rarely) has something productive and sometimes remotely accurate to say, suffers from extreme SLOC...so much so that it is no longer sudden...
do DO schools prepare you for a test they don't fully intend you to take...probably not...even if you do match in an allopathic program...this shouldn't be a real novel, breakthrough idea
there is absolutely no way for someone to know how a class does on the usmle...if 50% take it out of 140..."talking" to 5 or even 10 really doesn't mean much...and that is one school!!! and that doesn't take into account those who, for whatever reason, feel they need to inflate their scores in front of peers...

 

[azcomdiddy]

azdiddy, although suprisingly (and rarely) has something productive and sometimes remotely accurate to say, suffers from extreme SLOC...so much so that it is no longer sudden...
do DO schools prepare you for a test they don't fully intend you to take...probably not...even if you do match in an allopathic program...this shouldn't be a real novel, breakthrough idea
there is absolutely no way for someone to know how a class does on the usmle...if 50% take it out of 140..."talking" to 5 or even 10 really doesn't mean much...and that is one school!!! and that doesn't take into account those who, for whatever reason, feel they need to inflate their scores in front of peers...

jhug

Our faculty doesn't fully intend for us to take Step 1 despite knowing that most of our class matches in allopathic programs. Yes, I'm sure that statistic is just a coincidence the administration is completely unaware of that repeats itself on annual basis. Whether you are an MD or DO, we both take the same basic sciences. So what does that have to do with us being less prepared to take the USMLE Step 1? Oh sorry, the "AZCOM curriculum is designed to promote success on COMLEX but not the USMLE." That's why our assigned physiology textbook was BRS Costanzo board review book. There are some AZCOM students who nail Step I so what was their excuse? According to you, they probably drove down to Tuscon and took classes at U of A every other day. But it's the curriculum's fault despite all the first and second years who annotate from Step I books like First Aid and the BRS books. Yeah, they had no exposure to Step 1 material prior to taking the test because the "school didn't intend for them to take Step 1." Instead most of us only used their review books as textbooks for two straight years and were assigned them by most professors. Any other bright ideas.

 

[azcomdiddy]

Isn't it funny how we are questioning the validity of his statement regarding low USMLE scores but we haven't done the same in regards to the high COMLEX scores? We have no published information on our average COMLEX scores. We have passing rates but those tell us nothing about the performance. When it comes to something positive, it's easy to accept speculation yet when it applies to something negative; speculation is suddenly a bad thing.

The truth is that speculation exists on both sides. If you can accept his speculation in regards to high COMLEX scores, you have to be fair and do the same in regards to low USMLE scores. Cherry picking isn't exactly fair.

My speculation extends to both exams. Yeah, I was amused by how people jumped on me for speculating about low Step I scores but ignored my speculation about high COMLEX scores. Hypocrisy at its finest.

 

[sl12]

I'll be a first year student next month and at the risk of sounding stupid, should I be planning on taking the USMLE as well as the COMLEX? I hadn't even really considered it until reading this thread. I'm also a military student so I will be applying for a military residency which I am assuming is an allopathic residency.

 

[UltimateDO]

I'll be a first year student next month and at the risk of sounding stupid, should I be planning on taking the USMLE as well as the COMLEX? I hadn't even really considered it until reading this thread. I'm also a military student so I will be applying for a military residency which I am assuming is an allopathic residency.

If you are planning on a military residency the all you need is the COMLEX.

 

[sl12]

I'm not guaranteed a military residency though. I have to apply and if I get it I have to take it, but if I don't get it????? Should I plan on taking the USMLE as a backup in case I need to apply for an allopathic residency, or do you think that would be an incredible waste of time?

 

[cdreed]

I'm not guaranteed a military residency though. I have to apply and if I get it I have to take it, but if I don't get it????? Should I plan on taking the USMLE as a backup in case I need to apply for an allopathic residency, or do you think that would be an incredible waste of time?

Which service are you in? I would have to say that if you really want to prepare for the worst case scenario, then you may consider taking the USMLE. But if you do poorly, it can do more harm than good. I would suggest waiting until you get to school to decide. The AMOPS chapter will be bringing people from the military who know a great deal about the Joint Service match. They may be able to give you a better perspective. I am not taking the USMLE. I am not afraid to take it, but I feel in my case that it is unnecessary. Ultimately, the decision is yours. And you will hear strong cases for both sides. But remember, each student is unique.

And there are plenty of people at AZCOM who can help you. The pres, vp, treas and sec of the AMOPS all have prior military experience. If they can't directly help you, they will at least set you up with someone who can.

Hope this helps some.

Cyndi

 

[Boomer]

I'm not guaranteed a military residency though. I have to apply and if I get it I have to take it, but if I don't get it????? Should I plan on taking the USMLE as a backup in case I need to apply for an allopathic residency, or do you think that would be an incredible waste of time?

Depends on what you want to do. If you want to do FP/Peds/Psych/IM then you don't need to take USMLE. If you're doing primary care (IM/FP) you almost definitely will be in a military residency.

If you want to be a pecker checker, ortho surgeon, etc.....then yes, take the USMLE, apply for deferrment of military obligations, and do an allo residency...

 

[irish79]

One glaring problem that I find with AZCOM's basic science curriculum is the lack of an integrative approach

While they are not directly integrated, I feel that most of our classes have done a good job at overlapping each other--integrating a topic in one class with the other. Just look at Anatomy/Histology/Embryo--those are definitely integrated. And Physio and Biochm also tried to integrate topics.

As far as integrating the body as a whole (as opposed to system based), I guess that has not been done, but I was kind of thinking that would be more of a 2nd year thing (b/c by that time we will have been through the whole body). Another thought would be that since I am a medical student, I should perhaps have the ability to integrate on my own?

 

[sl12]

Depends on what you want to do. If you want to do FP/Peds/Psych/IM then you don't need to take USMLE. If you're doing primary care (IM/FP) you almost definitely will be in a military residency.

If you want to be a pecker checker, ortho surgeon, etc.....then yes, take the USMLE, apply for deferrment of military obligations, and do an allo residency...

Right now I'm very interested in peds, but I'm also interested in possibly doing a fellowship (or another residency?) in pediatric cardiology or some other type of subspeciality, possibly after I'm done with my military obligation.

By the way, I'm an army student.