CCOM vs Wester U/COMP

[zoner]

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I know there has been a lot of threads about this topic in the past. But I haven't been able to find anything recent with updates. For instance I read from several years ago that people thought CCOM had bad facility with low tech which is completely not true anymore. Here I came up with pros and cons of each school and any advice and/or comments will be highly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Western

Pro
- I will be living somewhat close to my significant other (West LA). We have not lived together for the past four years, but have lived together one summer. The relationship is going pretty well. I am not really expecting anything big to come out between us, but it's still a nice relationship. There is a chance that we could live together during my clinical years if I decide to live in Koreatown or downtown LA. So obviously this is a big big plus.
- close to the mountains and sierras for backpacking
- nice weather though kinda getting sick of the winter here
- asian food (so many many many many great places to eat and very very very authentic and relatively cheap. This is actually a big plus for me)
- this one is really dumb, but it seems like everyone wants to come to school in CA so I feel pressured to stay in CA at all cost!
- no cafeteria
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- thinking about practicing in CA as a doc
- ortho affiliation at Colton- I have been living all over California for the past 15 years know socal very well. I know exactly where to go to do what and how, so I can really focus on studying without getting curious about my surrounding area or getting distracted by the unknowns. I have many friends here and in northern California so will have some kind of support system. Although my parents are not here, I am not looking to be near my family.
- supposedly good clinical rotation sites (?)
- great audio/visual recording of lectures.
- solid first two years program
- usmle study material
- supposedly good reputation among residencies in socal although i doubt that with any of the competitive ROADS residencies.
- relatively close to LA, but really even though it's only about 30 miles away from LA, legistically speaking this city might as well be in Arizona.

Con
- I am kinda sick of socal. LA over the past decade has become too sophisticated. It is far from being the kinda trashy relaxing place that it used to be. LA clubs scenes are also very annoying.
- The campus and the city it's in. I never really liked anything east of Monterey Park area of socal. Gets way too hot (over 100) in the summer and gets really cold in the winter. And it's very very dry. It's a desert!
- The shopping mall like look of the school. It's kinda like socal version of Touru NY.
- Lack of gym / still having to pay a lot for a gym membership even though they discount it for their students.
- If I were to live in LA or Monterey Park area, I would have to drive to school and get stuck in traffic. I hate LA traffic more than I hate anything.
- Traffic and driving during the clinical years between rotation sites and having to drive out to the Riverside hospital for one of the core rotation.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Very expensive tuition and somehow thinking that the DO tuition money is getting spent to build and prop up other college and department within Western U.
- I think there was no library. Kinda ridiculous if this really was the case even though I don't really like going to the library.
- Kinda expensive parking permit. I would think with their tuition, parking would at least be free.
- Pollution
- rumors about their clinical rotation sites being not so great except for Arrowhead and Downey.
- Having to share faculty between Lebanon and Pomona campus.
- No fancy tech equipment such as simulation lab (Harvey) or surgical lab.
- Uneven reviews on SDN on the quality of the professors.
- Just ok anatomy lab. Kinda grungy from from memory. I still have kinda of eek factor with cadavers so trying to find the best environment where I can get used to dealing with that.
- questionable research opportunity.
- Wallpaper that is designed out of the school dean's wife DNA sequence. Yeah, I know this is strange one but felt even stranger to hear the story about the dean's wife's DNA sequence. My question is why? Felt kinda um... unprofessional.


CCOM

Pro
- Great city with great culture and great public transportation. Never lived in Chicago so great chance to explore new region of the country.
- Has my favorite club/bar of all time, the SmartBar.
- People in Chicago seem very chill and nice.
- Getting to live in the city during the clinical years.
- great school cafeteria
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- great reputable school and probably one of the best DO school and med school in the region.
- chance to work with?/rotate with/share information with MD school students in the region.
- Amazing anatomy lab
- pretty good gym that has everything I need.
- brand new building going up due to open next year which I think will contain all the new technology stuff such as simulation lab and etc...
- heard that in class notes are pretty good
- open door policy with professor. They kept stating that the reason for their high tuition is to make sure the professors are around to help the students. Everyone I met when I was there agreed with that notion.
- friendly, excited and eagerly nice student body.
- Great library and computer lab just in case I had to study in it and my computer broke down.

Con
- I use to live in the East coast and I remember really hating the winter there. I don't mind backpacking in a mountain and being cold for a few days, but I don't know how I am going to manage the winter in Chicago land. I really don't like being cold. .
- Spring and fall allergy.
- Far away from sig other although this might be just what we need to see if we are really meant for each other.
- Not much asian stuff and it will be kinda shocking to me.
- No nature stuff that I can enjoy as a day trip unless you consider the great lakes that which i kinda don't want to.
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- hmm... not much con about the school itself. I've heard only good things about this school.
- one of the core rotation site is supposedly 1.5 hrs south of Chicago and not sure how I feel about that drive.
- I actually loved this school the moment I set my foot on it.
- maybe i won't concentrate as hard on my studies because of the new environment so I might get distracted

 

[ModernAlchemist]

Reading this, it sounds like you should go to CCOM. That's where your heart's at, my friend. Good luck deciding!

 

[zoner]

Reading this, it sounds like you should go to CCOM. That's where your heart's at, my friend. Good luck deciding! I had to do this same thing with Western and DMU!

what did you decide on?

 

[Mosonik]

Based only upon what you stated above it seems you CCOM is the place for you.

As a side note, I grew up in the Midwest and it's a great place to be. You won't be disappointed
but it is night and day compared to Socal so at least be ready for a 180 degree change (and by that I'm not just referring to the temperature in winter🙂

 

[zoner]

DMU. It's just more solid, overall. Also, it's the environment I want for med school.

wow, nice choice.. i think you are from socal right? i guess not every californians want to stay in cali.

Based only upon what you stated above it seems you CCOM is the place for you.

As a side note, I grew up in the Midwest and it's a great place to be. You won't be disappointed
but it is night and day compared to Socal so at least be ready for a 180 degree change (and by that I'm not just referring to the temperature in winter🙂

that is actually my biggest fear and also my sig other. i might be making a big big mistake

 

[Ravizzle]

If I were in your situation I would choose western. Med school is hard, and so being by your family/friends and support system is very important. But ultimately it comes down to what is more important to you. Do you feel that the school you choose will make you successful and happy.

Sent from my Galaxy S2

 

[n3xa]

I was in your shoes about this time last year. Congrats!

Had I not just spent the past 6 years in the Midwest, I think I would've gone with CCOM. The students are really happy there and there's quite a few CA people who ended up choosing it over WesternU.

As far as transportation goes, it's great... in Chicago. CCOM is in the burbs, and I'm not sure how public trans fares outside of the city. I do miss the el.

Best of luck to you. If you have any questions about Chicago, don't hesitate to ask. The Asian food out there is not as abundant as CA, but there are some good gems.

It's like 45 bucks for an annual membership at LA Fitness, IIRC.

 

[zoner]

Yep, San Diego, born and raised. I just seriously thought about my goals and what kind of school/environment would lead to that. I decided that, for me, DMU is perfect in that regard. Granted I still have one more interview scheduled... Either way, I probably will not be in California next year and I'm totally okay with that, even excited.

i wish i could be like that,,, i am just bit paranoid about having to leave CA if i didn't attend Western. Say if I get into UCI, it's a different story.

If I were in your situation I would choose western. Med school is hard, and so being by your family/friends and support system is very important. But ultimately it comes down to what is more important to you. Do you feel that the school you choose will make you successful and happy.

Sent from my Galaxy S2

well, I think both of these schools are fine and will help me achieve my career goal at the end. But I still want the best option and be very happy at where I am and think that I didn't blow something good by leaving Cali. BTW, do you go to Western?

 

[zoner]

I was in your shoes about this time last year. Congrats!

Had I not just spent the past 6 years in the Midwest, I think I would've gone with CCOM. The students are really happy there and there's quite a few CA people who ended up choosing it over WesternU.

As far as transportation goes, it's great... in Chicago. CCOM is in the burbs, and I'm not sure how public trans fares outside of the city. I do miss the el.

Best of luck to you. If you have any questions about Chicago, don't hesitate to ask. The Asian food out there is not as abundant as CA, but there are some good gems.

It's like 45 bucks for an annual membership at LA Fitness, IIRC.

So what happened during those 6 years that made you want to not stay in Chicago?

 

[drshark]

it seems to me you are looking for a change and leaning more towards ccom, also it doesn't seem like you are really interested in your relationship? IDK that is just the vibe i'm getting. I hear chicago is a great city and if I had to chose one other city to live in on the other side of the US I definitely would chose chicago. Goodluck 🙂 I think they are both great choices, just depends what YOU yourself are looking to gain 🙂

 

[zoner]

it seems to me you are looking for a change and leaning more towards ccom, also it doesn't seem like you are really interested in your relationship? IDK that is just the vibe i'm getting. I hear chicago is a great city and if I had to chose one other city to live in on the other side of the US I definitely would chose chicago. Goodluck 🙂 I think they are both great choices, just depends what YOU yourself are looking to gain 🙂

i am always looking for change and stir **** up, just that i am not so sure if i should be using medical school as a excuse to do so

 

[drshark]

At the end of the day, make a decision that you can be proud of, not one where you will look back wondering "what if" 🙂 I think you seem to be a very adaptable person and can adapt to moving very well. #yolo lol

 

[NekoBeats]

Going to +1 some of the other posters that it kind of just sounds like you want to go to CCOM.

My response is going to be biased because I interviewed at WesternU, but if I had to choose between one or the other I'd probably pick Western, pretty much because it's in California and it means I can stay here for another 4 years. But hear me out. I've been told by my family that I'm somewhat narrow minded and not too open or keen on change. I completely agree with this criticism. I think I am kind of stuck in this "Southern California fantasy" on which I've been raised for many years, and because of that, it's really hard for me to picture myself at places outside of socal, especially cold places. But at the same time, I've heard that CCOM is awesome (great facilities, more established, friendly people, good location), and I think the general consensus is that it's a "better" school than Western. So if I were in your position, I'd probably want to stay in California and try to find every excuse to do so, but logically, CCOM might be the way to go.

They're both great schools though, and you'll be a physician regardless!

 

[Ravizzle]

BTW, do you go to Western?

Nope, I'm applying this cycle. Been living in (northern) California for the last 12 years so I know the staying in California pull.

Sent from my Galaxy S2

 

[n3xa]

So what happened during those 6 years that made you want to not stay in Chicago?

My brake calipers almost seized from the salt exposure and my parents aren't getting any younger.

I have no regrets about living in the Midwest. I was sick of the Bay Area bubble in my early 20s and needed to get out.

Pick one and never look back.

 

[WildEMDoc]

I would just like to point out that there is a huge Asian american population in ChiTown. You should have no problem finding Asian food if you should desire it. There is also a size-able Chinatown and Koreatown in Chicago.

 

[zoner]

My brake calipers almost seized from the salt exposure and my parents aren't getting any younger.

I have no regrets about living in the Midwest. I was sick of the Bay Area bubble in my early 20s and needed to get out.

Pick one and never look back.

so let me ask you,, how are you liking Western so far? Where do you live and what do you think about all the negative threads about Western that have been posted in Osteo forum? What do you think about the rotation sites for real? Someone who just graduated form western said that he lived in k-town during the clinical years and it was very drive-able to the rotation sites except when he had to go to the riverside hospital. Do you think it's true? Basically do you feel that you are getting your money's worth?

I would just like to point out that there is a huge Asian american population in ChiTown. You should have no problem finding Asian food if you should desire it. There is also a size-able Chinatown and Koreatown in Chicago.

that's good. i am glad to hear that but with that said when I went to visit Chicago, i felt like i was in a different country. everyone was pretty much white!

 

[coolingglasses]

I will go ahead and say that winters in Chicago are MISERABLE.

But I hate winter, so I'm biased. CCOM is a great school though.

 

[zoner]

So things have changed a little since I posted this. Now I have to decided between Western, CCOM and NSU. I decided that they are all equal in terms of basically everything. First two years are all about the same and the strength of their clinical years are also all pretty good with maybe CCOM being tiny, TINY bit better but you pay for it with their hefty tuition, so they cancel each other out.

I am thinking that now, it's basically about where I want to spend the next three or maybe four years and I reasoned out that I should go to school where I can be very close to where I am going to be having fun when I am not studying.

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Pros of Western : Close to my friends and my familiarity with SoCal. I know where all the good food is and where to go to do what in basically most of California.

Cons of Western : Although I will be in SoCal, my friends will be very very far away from Pomona. I currently live about 30 minutes south of downtown LA, and I don't go up to LA unless I am staying at my friend's place for the whole weekend. Basically, I hate driving long distances like that just to have fun and hang out. This can all change if I move to somewhere near downtown area but that means I will have to do that crazy drive to Arrowhead or Riverside and that will be a killer.
----------------------------------------------------
Pros of CCOM : I can move to the city during the clinical years and enjoy the city life, public transportation, good music scene and awesome culture.

Cons of CCOM : I have no friends there right now and I don't know if I will have time to make friends during the first two years. Also it's very very cold so I might get seasonal depression making my experience less enjoyable.
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Pros of NSU : I really really love the beach and the ocean (especially if I live right by it) and I love the warmth. It's close to the Caribbean, the keys and great electronic music scene of Miami (Ultra & WMF). Also, I am in or next to a pretty interesting city.

Cons of NSU : I have no friends there neither and I also don't know if I will have the time to make friends during the first two years. Smaller than LA or Chicago, so less um.... "high" cultural stuff and no Asian food.
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I'd appreciate any feedback you guys can share

 

[Kvothe]

Don't be afraid of moving to a place where you don't know anyone within 5 states. I went across the country for undergrad and would do it again. You learn a lot about people and more importantly, yourself

 

[zoner]

Don't be afraid of moving to a place where you don't know anyone within 5 states. I went across the country for undergrad and would do it again. You learn a lot about people and more importantly, yourself

Well I am a nontraditional. So i did do just that for undergrad and also after undergrad. I have gotten little more seasoned/jaded so it gets bit more pain in the ass to mingle, make friends and etc... and also, the time issue too. I just hear the first two years are really really hard.

 

[488677]

Well I am a nontraditional. So i did do just that for undergrad and also after undergrad. I have gotten little more seasoned/jaded so it gets bit more pain in the ass to mingle, make friends and etc...

Have you looked into Hopkins? I think you would really like their program.

 

[cliquesh]

Well I am a nontraditional. So i did do just that for undergrad and also after undergrad. I have gotten little more seasoned/jaded so it gets bit more pain in the ass to mingle, make friends and etc...

You'll make friends with your classmates pretty quickly, especially if you drink. I wouldn't worry about it.

 

[zoner]

You'll make friends with your classmates pretty quickly, especially if you drink. I wouldn't worry about it.

oh, i do that very well.... 😀

 

[simsjackop]

Med school is hard, and so being by your family/friends and support system is very important.

 

[angldrps]

I don't have anything valuable to add to this discussion but I thought it was funny how some of you guys were factoring in the availability of asian food near a school in your decision making.

 

[zoner]

I don't have anything valuable to this discussion but I thought it was funny how some of you guys were factoring in the availability of asian food near a school in your decision making.

cheap way to eat healthy and good.

hey Ang, are you from Cali?

 

[angldrps]

cheap way to eat healthy and good.

hey Ang, are you from Cali?

yup!

 

[drshark]

omg miami is amazing! too humid though in my opinion :-/ I hear NSU looks like a resort lol 🙂 goodluck in w.e you decide!

 

[ValentineLissar]

Hmmm.... I think I'll post my thoughts on Western after I hear a decision from the school.

 

[zoner]

Hmmm.... I think I'll post my thoughts on Western after I hear a decision from the school.

Why only then?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using SDN Mobile

 

[coolingglasses]

Why only then?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using SDN Mobile

... I'll go ahead and guess it's because AdComs are known to frequent the boards and it would be against their best interests to give an unbiased opinion that shows any reservations they may harbor if his account is linked to his real name anywhere.

 

[panioloDO]

Zoner,

Pick the school where you feel you fit. I also had to choose between three schools and was told that how well you fit at a school directly correlates to how likely you are to succeed there. It sounds stupid and I am sure someone along the way has told you the same thing but it is true. How did you feel when you interviewed there? How did you like the surrounding area on interview day?

The friends argument for COMP is null because you will make friends in your class and as you said they are far away-you probably won't see them much. The "high cultural" stuff argument is a wash: LA, CHI, MIA all are large enough city centers to support the arts (albeit different genres and cultural influences). Not to mention, I don't know how much time you will have to picnic and listen to the symphony play in Jay Pritsker Park on Saturdays in CHI.

Coming from Michigan not far from Chicago, yes, half of the year sucks, and this is a real issue. It was a real deciding factor in my choice between NSU, KCUMB, and LECOM. I use exercise to get rid of stress and NSU has a lap pool outdoors for me which is all I need. How important the climate is to you is the real question here in my opinion.

As far as the food, I am sure you would call me a philistine or something because I can find what I call good Asian food in every city. If push comes to shove, I make a mean stir-fry, you can learn too if you do not already know how.

I hope something in there helps.

 

[zoner]

Zoner,

Pick the school where you feel you fit. I also had to choose between three schools and was told that how well you fit at a school directly correlates to how likely you are to succeed there. It sounds stupid and I am sure someone along the way has told you the same thing but it is true. How did you feel when you interviewed there? How did you like the surrounding area on interview day?

The friends argument for COMP is null because you will make friends in your class and as you said they are far away-you probably won't see them much. The "high cultural" stuff argument is a wash: LA, CHI, MIA all are large enough city centers to support the arts (albeit different genres and cultural influences). Not to mention, I don't know how much time you will have to picnic and listen to the symphony play in Jay Pritsker Park on Saturdays in CHI.

Coming from Michigan not far from Chicago, yes, half of the year sucks, and this is a real issue. It was a real deciding factor in my choice between NSU, KCUMB, and LECOM. I use exercise to get rid of stress and NSU has a lap pool outdoors for me which is all I need. How important the climate is to you is the real question here in my opinion.

As far as the food, I am sure you would call me a philistine or something because I can find what I call good Asian food in every city. If push comes to shove, I make a mean stir-fry, you can learn too if you do not already know how.

I hope something in there helps.

Yes yes it did help. I just needed to have someone point out to me that it is ok to make decision based on what seems like superfluous reasons such as the climate and etc..

and stir-fry 🙂

 

[ValentineLissar]

I'd feel more confident posting my response after I hear back from them. I also did interview there too.

 

[NekoBeats]

I'd feel more confident posting my response after I hear back from them. I also did interview there too.

When did you interview?

 

[ValentineLissar]

pm'ed

 

[munchymanRX]

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- thinking about practicing in CA as a doc
- ortho affiliation at Colton- I have been living all over California for the past 15 years know socal very well. I know exactly where to go to do what and how, so I can really focus on studying without getting curious about my surrounding area or getting distracted by the unknowns. I have many friends here and in northern California so will have some kind of support system. Although my parents are not here, I am not looking to be near my family.
- supposedly good clinical rotation sites (?)
- great audio/visual recording of lectures.
- solid first two years program
- usmle study material
- supposedly good reputation among residencies in socal although i doubt that with any of the competitive ROADS residencies.
- relatively close to LA, but really even though it’s only about 30 miles away from LA, legistically speaking this city might as well be in Arizona.

Con
- I am kinda sick of socal. LA over the past decade has become too sophisticated. It is far from being the kinda trashy relaxing place that it used to be. LA clubs scenes are also very annoying.
- The campus and the city it’s in. I never really liked anything east of Monterey Park area of socal. Gets way too hot (over 100) in the summer and gets really cold in the winter. And it’s very very dry. It’s a desert!
- The shopping mall like look of the school. It’s kinda like socal version of Touru NY.
- Lack of gym / still having to pay a lot for a gym membership even though they discount it for their students.
- If I were to live in LA or Monterey Park area, I would have to drive to school and get stuck in traffic. I hate LA traffic more than I hate anything.
- Traffic and driving during the clinical years between rotation sites and having to drive out to the Riverside hospital for one of the core rotation.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Very expensive tuition and somehow thinking that the DO tuition money is getting spent to build and prop up other college and department within Western U.
- I think there was no library. Kinda ridiculous if this really was the case even though I don’t really like going to the library.
- Kinda expensive parking permit. I would think with their tuition, parking would at least be free.
- Pollution
- rumors about their clinical rotation sites being not so great except for Arrowhead and Downey.
- Having to share faculty between Lebanon and Pomona campus.
- No fancy tech equipment such as simulation lab (Harvey) or surgical lab.
- Uneven reviews on SDN on the quality of the professors.
- Just ok anatomy lab. Kinda grungy from from memory. I still have kinda of eek factor with cadavers so trying to find the best environment where I can get used to dealing with that.
- questionable research opportunity.
- Wallpaper that is designed out of the school dean’s wife DNA sequence. Yeah, I know this is strange one but felt even stranger to hear the story about the dean’s wife’s DNA sequence. My question is why? Felt kinda um... unprofessional.


CCOM

Pro
- Great city with great culture and great public transportation. Never lived in Chicago so great chance to explore new region of the country.
- Has my favorite club/bar of all time, the SmartBar.
- People in Chicago seem very chill and nice.
- Getting to live in the city during the clinical years.
- great school cafeteria
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- great reputable school and probably one of the best DO school and med school in the region.
- chance to work with?/rotate with/share information with MD school students in the region.
- Amazing anatomy lab
- pretty good gym that has everything I need.
- brand new building going up due to open next year which I think will contain all the new technology stuff such as simulation lab and etc...
- heard that in class notes are pretty good
- open door policy with professor. They kept stating that the reason for their high tuition is to make sure the professors are around to help the students. Everyone I met when I was there agreed with that notion.
- friendly, excited and eagerly nice student body.
- Great library and computer lab just in case I had to study in it and my computer broke down.

Con
- I use to live in the East coast and I remember really hating the winter there. I don’t mind backpacking in a mountain and being cold for a few days, but I don’t know how I am going to manage the winter in Chicago land. I really don’t like being cold. .
- Spring and fall allergy.
- Far away from sig other although this might be just what we need to see if we are really meant for each other.
- Not much asian stuff and it will be kinda shocking to me.
- No nature stuff that I can enjoy as a day trip unless you consider the great lakes that which i kinda don’t want to.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- hmm... not much con about the school itself. I’ve heard only good things about this school.
- one of the core rotation site is supposedly 1.5 hrs south of Chicago and not sure how I feel about that drive.
- I actually loved this school the moment I set my foot on it.
- maybe i won't concentrate as hard on my studies because of the new environment so I might get distracted[/QUOTE]


The first bolded point is a good enough reason to go to Western, if that is really your aim. Ultimately it's up to you where you want to practice, but doing a residency in CA is much easier if you go to a CA school.

The second bolded point would be enough to kill CCOM for me. I hate ice and snow and salt on the roads. Winter is awesome until you have to shovel a driveway.

 

[docnotsopc]

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- thinking about practicing in CA as a doc
- ortho affiliation at Colton- I have been living all over California for the past 15 years know socal very well. I know exactly where to go to do what and how, so I can really focus on studying without getting curious about my surrounding area or getting distracted by the unknowns. I have many friends here and in northern California so will have some kind of support system. Although my parents are not here, I am not looking to be near my family.
- supposedly good clinical rotation sites (?)
- great audio/visual recording of lectures.
- solid first two years program
- usmle study material
- supposedly good reputation among residencies in socal although i doubt that with any of the competitive ROADS residencies.
- relatively close to LA, but really even though it's only about 30 miles away from LA, legistically speaking this city might as well be in Arizona.

Con
- I am kinda sick of socal. LA over the past decade has become too sophisticated. It is far from being the kinda trashy relaxing place that it used to be. LA clubs scenes are also very annoying.
- The campus and the city it's in. I never really liked anything east of Monterey Park area of socal. Gets way too hot (over 100) in the summer and gets really cold in the winter. And it's very very dry. It's a desert!
- The shopping mall like look of the school. It's kinda like socal version of Touru NY.
- Lack of gym / still having to pay a lot for a gym membership even though they discount it for their students.
- If I were to live in LA or Monterey Park area, I would have to drive to school and get stuck in traffic. I hate LA traffic more than I hate anything.
- Traffic and driving during the clinical years between rotation sites and having to drive out to the Riverside hospital for one of the core rotation.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- Very expensive tuition and somehow thinking that the DO tuition money is getting spent to build and prop up other college and department within Western U.
- I think there was no library. Kinda ridiculous if this really was the case even though I don't really like going to the library.
- Kinda expensive parking permit. I would think with their tuition, parking would at least be free.
- Pollution
- rumors about their clinical rotation sites being not so great except for Arrowhead and Downey.
- Having to share faculty between Lebanon and Pomona campus.
- No fancy tech equipment such as simulation lab (Harvey) or surgical lab.
- Uneven reviews on SDN on the quality of the professors.
- Just ok anatomy lab. Kinda grungy from from memory. I still have kinda of eek factor with cadavers so trying to find the best environment where I can get used to dealing with that.
- questionable research opportunity.
- Wallpaper that is designed out of the school dean's wife DNA sequence. Yeah, I know this is strange one but felt even stranger to hear the story about the dean's wife's DNA sequence. My question is why? Felt kinda um... unprofessional.
.

I agree with everything except "solid first two years of the program". Seems like a bit of a stretch. It does the job, but how well??? It certainly is by no means an efficient curriculum. We get taught non-board relevant tiny details, and a good chunk of our exams test us on these details. Its quite useless considering most students forget this right after the exam, and students waste time memorizing these details instead of getting a good solid foundation of board relevant material. We do learn board stuff, but its not repeated as often as it should be. For example right now our systems courses test us on management pathways that require memorizing lab values in order to decide what way to go on the management algorithms. This is a huge waste of time. Its not board relevant, and we just have to re learn this on rotations (since its forgotten as its tiny details).

I have compared our lectures directly with friends across the school (some at top MD schools) and I can tell you that having efficient instructors makes a huge huge difference when they teach almost all board relevant material. It allows students to focus on the good stuff.

Does it mean you cant do excellent on the boards? Of course not. I just feel like its more of an uphill battle than necessary since we waste time learning non board relevant details.

Also, our systems courses follow a less common order. I know many schools that save Neuro and "bugs and drugs" courses for second year, while doing cardio and resp in first year. I like that better, since I have forgotten most of the bugs by now, as have most of my class.

If you want to live in SoCal, plan on going into primary care....... Western is definitely the right choice though for many of the pros the person above touched on

edit: Tons of programs make students learn tiny non board relevant details. But it seems like the schools with highest board schools (average for the class, there is always exceptions) (for example USC), have an efficient curriculum.

 

[coolingglasses]

I don't have anything valuable to add to this discussion but I thought it was funny how some of you guys were factoring in the availability of asian food near a school in your decision making.

I get really salty if I don't have pho in driving distance

 

[zoner]

I agree with everything except "solid first two years of the program". Seems like a bit of a stretch. It does the job, but how well??? It certainly is by no means an efficient curriculum. We get taught non-board relevant tiny details, and a good chunk of our exams test us on these details. Its quite useless considering most students forget this right after the exam, and students waste time memorizing these details instead of getting a good solid foundation of board relevant material. We do learn board stuff, but its not repeated as often as it should be. For example right now our systems courses test us on management pathways that require memorizing lab values in order to decide what way to go on the management algorithms. This is a huge waste of time. Its not board relevant, and we just have to re learn this on rotations (since its forgotten as its tiny details).

I have compared our lectures directly with friends across the school (some at top MD schools) and I can tell you that having efficient instructors makes a huge huge difference when they teach almost all board relevant material. It allows students to focus on the good stuff.

Does it mean you cant do excellent on the boards? Of course not. I just feel like its more of an uphill battle than necessary since we waste time learning non board relevant details.

Also, our systems courses follow a less common order. I know many schools that save Neuro and "bugs and drugs" courses for second year, while doing cardio and resp in first year. I like that better, since I have forgotten most of the bugs by now, as have most of my class.

If you want to live in SoCal, plan on going into primary care....... Western is definitely the right choice though for many of the pros the person above touched on

edit: Tons of programs make students learn tiny non board relevant details. But it seems like the schools with highest board schools (average for the class, there is always exceptions) (for example USC), have an efficient curriculum.

Thanks for the very detailed and excellent post. Can anyone care to post reviews like this for CCOM or NSU? I don't know if I totally trust those reviews in "Pros and Cons" thread for they are mostly upbeat and not as detailed.

Also, regarding the part about Western being a good choice if I eventually want to do my residency in California, I still do that even if I go to schools in other states by doing a couple of rotations here during the fourth year?

 

[zoner]

I get really salty if I don't have pho in driving distance

and good banh mi with ice coffee

 

[DrWily]

Western
Con:
Dem bullet holes?

 

[mikeybeats]

This thread is giving me anxiety....the thought of myself potentially having to leave socal for cold, rain, and snow 6 months a year is

 

[DrWily]

I'll take cold, rain, and snow vs living in or near Pomona (armpit of California).

 

[mikeybeats]

I'll take cold, rain, and snow vs living in or near Pomona (armpit of California).

I live 4 blocks from the beach in San Diego...but yes, I do hear that Pomona is a dump.

 

[coolingglasses]

and good banh mi with ice coffee

Awww yisssssss

 

[zoner]

This thread is giving me anxiety....the thought of myself potentially having to leave socal for cold, rain, and snow 6 months a year is

where did you get into?

I'll take cold, rain, and snow vs living in or near Pomona (armpit of California).

even if that means you could be that much closer to your s/o? btw, DrWily, how often do you get to see your s/o? and when you guys meet, do you guys hang out the whole weekend or how does it work? I am curious because if I go to CCOM or NSU, I have to start thinking about that kinda stuff...

I live 4 blocks from the beach in San Diego...but yes, I do hear that Pomona is a dump.

i loved when i lived in s/d, smallest big city! ugh, i loved it.

 

[DrWily]

where did you get into?

even if that means you could be that much closer to your s/o? btw, DrWily, how often do you get to see your s/o? and when you guys meet, do you guys hang out the whole weekend or how does it work? I am curious because if I go to CCOM or NSU, I have to start thinking about that kinda stuff...

i loved when i lived in s/d, smallest big city! ugh, i loved it.

No, I would go to Western to be closer to wife. If I was single though, I'd give more consideration to other places.

We see each other pretty much every weekend. SoCal and Phoenix are very close, flights are short and cheap(er) and we spend Friday night -> Monday morning together. I still study a lot when she's here, but we do still spend time together.

 

[zoner]

No, I would go to Western to be closer to wife. If I was single though, I'd give more consideration to other places.

We see each other pretty much every weekend. SoCal and Phoenix are very close, flights are short and cheap(er) and we spend Friday night -> Monday morning together. I still study a lot when she's here, but we do still spend time together.

Does she go back to work on Monday when she gets back to LA? So when she is there on the weekend, what does she do while you are studying?