choosing a DO school (3 way split)

[feelinhoppy]

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So, I've managed to get into 3 wonderful DO schools, and unfortunately, I'm bad (REALLY bad) at deciding between them. I don't think it's about the name at this point.

Option 1: one of the oldest, most established DO schools. When people talk about imaginary rankings, it's usually in the top 5. Midwest location, I loved my interview and the people I met, totally NOT stoked on living in a city, or the idea of snow.

Option 2: West Coast, close to all of my family, (I'm originally from Cali), and clearly would provide me witha good education. DId NOT enjoy my interview, wen't back for a second look, and liked it much better. However, most students I talk to are not incredibly enthusiastic, specifically regarding things like administration, how things are run, and rotations.

Option 3. East coast/southern, relatively new school that seems to have established itself well. LOVED the interview-everyone was incredibly friendly and nice. Doesn't appear to have to fight very hard with MD schools for it's rotation sites, and has a clear mission towards producing physicians who want to practice with rural underserved populations (which I am pretty sure is what I want to do).


I keep asking people, and I get the most convoluted results. Most MDs I talk to say go to the best DO school, and that there is not a very good acceptance (at least on the coasts) of what a DO is. Many DOs have told me just to pick the one I like most because no one cares where you went once you apply to residency because they don't know anything about DO schools. Others say don't go anywhere you don't intend to go do residency, making a choice to live in the midwest frightening.

Anyone face anything similar??? I'm sadly losing my mind a bit. Basically, it's a decision between what I should do, what I should want, and what I currently want.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Do you want to travel outside your comfort zone and live in a new non-California location?

 

[feelinhoppy]

Do you want to travel outside your comfort zone and live in a new non-California location?

I'm actually already doing that - I've been living in VA for the past 2 years. I absolutely love it here, but I realize that part of that is the people I've met, and I won't be in the same place next year. So yes, I like trying new places.

 

[FrkyBgStok]

Any reason you aren't giving us school names? Without knowing the schools, we can't provide you with good information.

 

[cliquesh]

I bored. I think option 1 is DMU, 2 is touro, and 3 is vcom's school in south Carolina.

 

[hallowmann]

I bored. I think option 1 is DMU, 2 is touro, and 3 is vcom's school in south Carolina.

Hmm, I'm onboard with 2. 3 could be a LMU, unless its not quite east coast enough (I guess its not). DMU sounds right, but I guess it could be KCOM.

 

[wooki]

Any reason you aren't giving us school names? Without knowing the schools, we can't provide you with good information.

I bored. I think option 1 is DMU, 2 is touro, and 3 is vcom's school in south Carolina.

i am going to go with 1. DMU/CCOM, 2. western over touro-CA, and 3. i have no idea.

i say you go back to california if it's western over touro. we actually come from very similar backgrounds. if you want to discuss more shoot me a PM.

 

[Orchid723]

OP, if you want honest opinions, you'll need to give us more info on what you did/did not like about the schools, other than just location and your interview day.

 

[babdoc]

Since the OP is not giving school names, I would ask if he/she has thought about value. Tuition cost? Cost of living? If you're in California, would you live with your family? That could save you some serious $$$. Midwest can also be much more reasonable.

Something else to think about since it sounds like the first two years are roughly equivalent between the three: rotations. Make sure you'll get a good exposure during the second half of school. You want to do and see a lot. I would make sure you're not going to spend all of your time at a small rotation site, even if that is what you eventually want to do. You want some of that rural/underserved exposure, but you also need exposure in larger hospitals.

But I agree, without more info any advice is probably a shot in the dark.

 

[abolt18]

Pretty sure they're

1. KCUMB
2. Western
3. ACOM

Just my opinion but KCUMB was the bomb if that's the school. Plus you'll end up with a lot less debt living in the midwest instead of the west coast. Personally I'd go for midwest (I hate snow too but I'm going to Kirksville, MO---Yes I'm from Utah and I hate snow). You'll be indoors most of the time anyway so snow and cold is a minimal concern. Save yourself some $$ and pick your school in the midwest (it's got to be DMU or KCUMB).

 

[abolt18]

What's crazy to me about this is that you are holding onto 3 acceptances still. That is a LOT of money! (like 6K by the end of this month isn't it?)

 

[survivordo]

Three things I would consider

1) Cost
2) Will you be happy there
3) Flexibility of rotations- some schools really hinder your ability to go out and do auditions during your fourth year because they want to keep you in their system.

Survivor DO

 

[hallowmann]

What's crazy to me about this is that you are holding onto 3 acceptances still. That is a LOT of money! (like 6K by the end of this month isn't it?)

Yeah, thats what I was thinking. You'd think by the time the 3rd one came, OP would have picked his/her favorite 2.

 

[TheFuture_22]

I bored. I think option 1 is DMU, 2 is touro, and 3 is vcom's school in south Carolina.

I think you nailed it! This is exactly what I was thinking while reading it.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Pretty sure it's Western, CCOM, and VCOM.

 

[feelinhoppy]

Ok ok ok. Ccom, tucom, vcom. Thanks for all of the feed back so far too, I was just trying to avoid some of the politics by leaving out names. But I guess they come with the territory.

 

[feelinhoppy]

I have until may 14 to REALLY choose. So yes, it's a lot of potential money. Could potentially stay with some family for rotations in CA, but not really helpful. They are all really expensive, so that's kind of irrelevant.

 

[DrEnderW]

If it was me, I'd pick the school based off how you liked the program and the location.

There's a greater chance of ending up with a residency in the general area where you went to school - it's more convenient to rotate in that area and you don't have to do expensive aways. Obviously, this is an oversimplification and you can end up wherever you want though.

I truly don't think picking one DO school or another over a perceived name or prestige difference is important. If you're applying for a competitive residency, no one will care if you went to one DO school that's not academically known versus another school they also don't know well.

 

[TheFuture_22]

All three of these schools are solid DO options, so just choose based on location/program as others have said. If I was in your situation, I would choose VCOM (but just personal preference). However, being that you will be close to family in Cali, you have to ask yourself if you can stand being far away from them for 4+ years. Good luck on your decision!

 

[DrMeows]

Factors I would consider:

1. Is money important to you? You've got schools that are all over the board (I'd factor in flights and travel to that too if that's important)
2. Do you want to live far from home? I personally would prefer to be closer to home than halfway across the country, but I know many people feel the opposite lol
3. Curriculum - systems or basic science based? I'd base a decision more on this than board scores/reputation because at the end of the day it's how you perform and the school that gives you the best opportunity to do that
4. Actual location - big town? Small town? Middle of nowhere? I know people say it doesn't matter because you're studying anyways, but there were schools I interviewed at that didn't have so much as a Starbucks....I couldn't do it!
5. Overall feel. This might be a lame factor but it really is how you felt at the school. I had a couple schools that I LOVED and another couple I just couldn't imagine myself actually going to. Clearly only you can answer this.

Good luck with your decision! 👍

 

[cliquesh]

Go to ccom. Probably has the best clinical sites and has the biggest residency program.

It doesn't matter that much, though. Board scores are really all that matter.

 

[hallowmann]

Go to ccom. Probably has the best clinical sites and has the biggest residency program.

It doesn't matter that much, though. Board scores are really all that matter.

CCOM is also crazy expensive though, right (maybe not OOS MSU-COM crazy, but still)? Would that price difference be worth the rotation difference? All 3 of their choices look pretty nice.

 

[DrEnderW]

CCOM is also crazy expensive though, right (maybe not OOS MSU-COM crazy, but still)? Would that price difference be worth the rotation difference? All 3 of their choices look pretty nice.

They recommend taking $85k a year and tuition is around $55k. Passed up the offer for that reason alone.

 

[feelinhoppy]

Both tucom and ccom have estimated costs of attendance per year at roughly 85,000. Vcom is about 70,000. So there's that in its favor too.

 

[GypsyHummus]

Both tucom and ccom have estimated costs of attendance per year at roughly 85,000. Vcom is about 70,000. So there's that in its favor too.

I would go to VCOM. 15X4=60K after its all said and done. plus 3 years of interest minimum, you are saving 100K.

 

[abolt18]

I would go to VCOM. 15X4=60K after its all said and done. plus 3 years of interest minimum, you are saving 100K.

Going to agree here.

 

[cliquesh]

CCOM is also crazy expensive though, right (maybe not OOS MSU-COM crazy, but still)? Would that price difference be worth the rotation difference? All 3 of their choices look pretty nice.

I'm not sure. Probably not. Even if your last 2 years are terrible how much does that really matter? You might be slow during your intern year, but you'll catch up quickly.

 

[drshark]

Ccom is a great school! I'd rule out tucom, and just decide between vcom and ccom.

 

[wooki]

- both places get snow, have cold winters

- ccom is more reputable than vcom

- ccom is more expensive

- i believe there are more hospitals in chicagoland than there is around blacksberg.

i vote ccom > vcom >> tucom-ca.

 

[hallowmann]

I'm not sure. Probably not. Even if your last 2 years are terrible how much does that really matter? You might be slow during your intern year, but you'll catch up quickly.

How would it affect you on audition/away rotations? Did you see anyone who had issues coming from a weaker 3rd year background?

 

[DrMeows]

- both places get snow, have cold winters

- ccom is more reputable than vcom

- ccom is more expensive

- i believe there are more hospitals in chicagoland than there is around blacksberg.

i vote ccom > vcom >> tucom-ca.

Is this person talking about VCOM in VA or SC? I think it's SC - in which case no cold winters.

 

[feelinhoppy]

It's VA. And yeah, it gets cold, but not close to Chicago cold 😛

 

[cliquesh]

How would it affect you on audition/away rotations? Did you see anyone who had issues coming from a weaker 3rd year background?

Having poor clinical skills will hurt you bad on audition rotations, but you really don't have to do auditions unless you want to do a competitive AOA residency, like surgery, anesthesia, radiology, etc. You may also want to an audition rotation if you have a clear #1 choice. However, acgme residencies, for the most part, do not expect you to rotate at their program. I didn't do any audition rotations and I got 40 something Acgme anesthesia interviews.

My school provides a decent clinical education, so I didn't see anyone who was drastically incompetent. On your rotations you get judge more about your knowledge than your actual skills. No one is going to care if you've never inserted a central line before, but they expect you to know the anatomical landmarks, the indications, and potential complications.

By the way, getting Honors on a rotation has very little with how much effort you put into the rotation or your knowledge base. It's mostly related to how likeable you are.

 

[Mosonik]

- both places get snow, have cold winters

- ccom is more reputable than vcom

- ccom is more expensive

- i believe there are more hospitals in chicagoland than there is around blacksberg.

i vote ccom > vcom >> tucom-ca.

This is just SDN speculation from what I've seen so I disagree. CCOM may be "reputable" to Chicago or mid-west programs and institutions, it really has no reputation, whether good bad or indifferent, in the east/southeast. VCOM, however, is pretty respected... it's almost all about exposure and let's face it, VCOM has more in this region.

If I were the OP I would consider cost but also where they may be happy/interested in being post-med school. You will likely fair better in making connections within the region you went to med school.

 

[hallowmann]

Having poor clinical skills will hurt you bad on audition rotations, but you really don't have to do auditions unless you want to do a competitive AOA residency, like surgery, anesthesia, radiology, etc. You may also want to an audition rotation if you have a clear #1 choice. However, acgme residencies, for the most part, do not expect you to rotate at their program. I didn't do any audition rotations and I got 40 something Acgme anesthesia interviews.

My school provides a decent clinical education, so I didn't see anyone who was drastically incompetent. On your rotations you get judge more about your knowledge than your actual skills. No one is going to care if you've never inserted a central line before, but they expect you to know the anatomical landmarks, the indications, and potential complications.

By the way, getting Honors on a rotation has very little with how much effort you put into the rotation or your knowledge base. It's mostly related to how likeable you are.

Thanks for the info, it really helps. You clearly had a successful match application to get so many interviews, so its good to hear that rotating at those locations isn't essential.

Also, that last bit is interesting. I expected it, but figured it would vary.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

This is just SDN speculation from what I've seen so I disagree. CCOM may be "reputable" to Chicago or mid-west programs and institutions, it really has no reputation, whether good bad or indifferent, in the east/southeast. VCOM, however, is pretty respected... it's almost all about exposure and let's face it, VCOM has more in this region.

If I were the OP I would consider cost but also where they may be happy/interested in being post-med school. You will likely fair better in making connections within the region you went to med school.

Er... you cannot be seriously comparing CCOM to VCOM in terms of reputability. I mean lets talk clinical rotations and outcomes....

 

[Mosonik]

Er... you cannot be seriously comparing CCOM to VCOM in terms of reputability. I mean lets talk clinical rotations and outcomes....

I wasn't comparing the quality of education, only that regional preference should be a consideration. Regardless of your feelings on the quality of CCOM vs VCOM, VCOM will have connections to programs in the east/southeast that CCOM won't.

Making a decision based on the supposed prestige of an institutional name is frivolous when it comes to any of these schools. CCOM is a strong program to those that know DO schools but that does not mean someone or anyone in Virginia or anywhere else outside of Chicago will recognize it.

 

[cliquesh]

I wasn't comparing the quality of education, only that regional preference should be a consideration. Regardless of your feelings on the quality of CCOM vs VCOM, VCOM will have connections to programs in the east/southeast that CCOM won't.

Making a decision based on the supposed prestige of an institutional name is frivolous when it comes to any of these schools. CCOM is a strong program to those that know DO schools but that does not mean someone or anyone in Virginia or anywhere else outside of Chicago will recognize it.

I don't think that's a great argument considering which programs take DOs in vcom's area. University of maryland, George Washington, Georgetown, VCU, west virgina university, eastern virgina university, South carolina university, Georgia college of medicine, and wake forest take DOs. john hopkins will take DOs for some things. Uva, UNC and Duke have taken DOs, but not routinely. Emory rarely takes DOs. I don't think any of those care which DO school you're from. It's all the same to them. Chicago, on the other hand, is a little different, and some programs there will only take DOs from Ccom.

I don't think it matters that much, I'm just bored.

 

[feelinhoppy]

Thank you to all of you, again. As of now, you have helped me rule out going west. 1 down! Really very helpful.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

I wasn't comparing the quality of education, only that regional preference should be a consideration. Regardless of your feelings on the quality of CCOM vs VCOM, VCOM will have connections to programs in the east/southeast that CCOM won't.

Making a decision based on the supposed prestige of an institutional name is frivolous when it comes to any of these schools. CCOM is a strong program to those that know DO schools but that does not mean someone or anyone in Virginia or anywhere else outside of Chicago will recognize it.

So what you're saying is a program that has been matching and training physicians for 100 years will only be producing them for the Midwest and the other parts of the country will be oblivious to its existence and quality of applicants, likewise that the alumni network and experience residency program directors have with those students will be less? Mmk.

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

CCOM is the only option if its VCOM vs CCOM in my opinion.

 

[wooki]

This is just SDN speculation from what I've seen so I disagree. CCOM may be "reputable" to Chicago or mid-west programs and institutions, it really has no reputation, whether good bad or indifferent, in the east/southeast. VCOM, however, is pretty respected... it's almost all about exposure and let's face it, VCOM has more in this region.

If I were the OP I would consider cost but also where they may be happy/interested in being post-med school. You will likely fair better in making connections within the region you went to med school.

when talking about reputation, time is an important factor. the fact that CCOM has been around from the 1900 versus VCOM in 2002 makes it more reputable. you have a point in that a hospital in blacksberg may be more aware of VCOM than CCOM, but in the most general sense, CCOM is still more reputable.

 

[hallowmann]

If it was just an issue of prestige/reputation, CCOM is clearly the better choice. But given that CCOM will result in about $100k more debt than VCOM, and OP has stated already that he wants to do rural medicine (a job that is easily attainable from either school and that quite frankly won't result in OP making tons outside of maybe locums), the real question is: is CCOM's rep worth that much more?

I'm not making a statement either way, because honestly I don't know. We need to hear from a CCOM graduate and VCOM graduate.

Also, since OP doesn't like the cold/winter, I will say Chicago winters are very different from Virginia winters. Anybody who has lived in Chicago can tell you that the cold bites you down to your bones. Ultimately though is weather that big of a deal?

 

[abolt18]

Save the money. Seriously.

 

[TriagePreMed]

Ccom is a great school! I'd rule out tucom, and just decide between vcom and ccom.

If it's TUCOM-CA, it offers a much better chances (than VCOM) at research institutions in CA for certain residencies.

 

[Didierdrogba]

Save the money. Seriously.

I agree on saving money. $50000 per year tuition (subject to increase) is a lot of money.

 

[user3]

sheesh, MSU OOS tuition is starting to be competitive with CCOM.

 

[TriagePreMed]

I agree on saving money. $50000 per year tuition (subject to increase) is a lot of money.

One of the physicians I shadowed went to CCOM because it was about a third the price of the OOS tuition of U of Colorado where he also got in. Nowadays it's close to the same. He was shocked when he learned this.

 

[wooki]

If it was just an issue of prestige/reputation, CCOM is clearly the better choice. But given that CCOM will result in about $100k more debt than VCOM, and OP has stated already that he wants to do rural medicine (a job that is easily attainable from either school and that quite frankly won't result in OP making tons outside of maybe locums), the real question is: is CCOM's rep worth that much more?

I'm not making a statement either way, because honestly I don't know. We need to hear from a CCOM graduate and VCOM graduate.

Also, since OP doesn't like the cold/winter, I will say Chicago winters are very different from Virginia winters. Anybody who has lived in Chicago can tell you that the cold bites you down to your bones. Ultimately though is weather that big of a deal?

that is true. as a native californian, all cold winters are a like, they all suck. lol. virginia winters don't bite per se, but it's just still cold and sad. maybe it's just me, but when it's cold, all cold are the same.

 

[DrEnderW]

Laughing out loud at "prestige and reputation" of DO schools discussion.

If you're trying to land a "competitive" residency or ACGME residency, your DO school has almost nothing to do with this. You can separate yourself with board scores, away rotations, LORs, and comparable research with MD candidates.

99% of the population outside of maybe Chicago has never heard of CCOM. You're going to be making it on your individual merit not what your school name and brand is doing for you. The perceived prestige of CCOM will only matter if you want to train/practice in that immediate area.

If you want a residency or job in areas far from either school - New England, NY, TX, West Coast, FL for example - no one will have heard of either school and it will be your personal accomplishments only.