Branch campuses

[dweji16]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

So I have a question regarding branch campuses.

One of the DOs I shadowed advised that I try to go to an older more established DO school. He wasnt implying that the newer ones were bad, just that the older ones are obviously established and have graduated many people so there would be more stats available to measure their success. The newer ones havent graduated as many classes so it's a little hard to determine if they are educating their students well just based off data from 2 or 3 years.

I know that many DO schools have branch campuses. Is it safe to treat the branch campuses as part of the established institution where you could expect the same thing as being on a main campus, or think of it as almost a different school altogether?

 

[jslo85]

So I have a question regarding branch campuses.

One of the DOs I shadowed advised that I try to go to an older more established DO school. He wasnt implying that the newer ones were bad, just that the older ones are obviously established and have graduated many people so there would be more stats available to measure their success. The newer ones havent graduated as many classes so it's a little hard to determine if they are educating their students well just based off data from 2 or 3 years.

I know that many DO schools have branch campuses. Is it safe to treat the branch campuses as part of the established institution where you could expect the same thing as being on a main campus, or think of it as almost a different school altogether?

I am also going through applying but from interviews and talks with the medical school faculty that do have branch campuses, it is a completely different school. Different medical school faculty, different clinical rotations 3-4th year, different education system (PBL vs. lecture based), dissection vs. prosection, etc. The list goes on.

An example I can personally relate to is ATSU. ATSU-KCOM is the main campus and the oldest osteopathic school in the world and has a great reputation. ATSU-SOMA is the relatively new branch campus opened up in AZ. KCOM education is lecture based though looking to modify slightly in the future whereas SOMA is PBL. KCOM also has very different clinical rotations and dare i say it, more established ones. The accreditation for the opening of the branch campus is based off the reputation of the main school. You can even read the accreditation statement.

That is not to say that branch campuses are less in any way in general. The location/teaching style may suit certain students more, I would just take care in perhaps applying to schools who have just opened and are yet to be fully accredited. They usually are still disorganized and are hammering things out as they go. Their clinical rotations are also probably more hastily put together and not as extensive or solid (this is a generalization from my own opinion, not looking to argue).

That said, I have heard only good things from branch campuses like LECOM-B, PCOM-GA, ATSU-SOMA etc. I have heard iffy things from RVU and PNWU but I don't doubt that they will be smoothed out with time. Do some research and find the place that suits you best (tuition, environment, curriculum, lifestyle, faculty, support structure, etc).

 

[JaggerPlate]

I interviewed at 3 branch campuses ... each one essentially said they operate completely separately from the original campus, and should be judged on their own merit.

 

[fitz0809]

I interviewed at 3 branch campuses ... each one essentially said they operate completely separately from the original campus, and should be judged on their own merit.

This.


At least for the first 2 years. Then during 3rd and 4th years the connections can open up new rotations/ opportunities.

 

[ForeverOrange]

I interviewed at 3 branch campuses ... each one essentially said they operate completely separately from the original campus, and should be judged on their own merit.

i also heard this from a friend who goes to Touro NY and said that Touro CA and NV operate differently.