Choosing a DO School: Location or Reputation/Quality?

[Stiefelinks234]

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I’m a FL resident, and I was accepted to KCU-KC and LECOM-Bradenton. I want to ultimately do residency and practice medicine in Florida, as this is where my entire family lives.

KCU seems to have a better reputation and higher quality education, and LECOM has mandatory attendance and issues with rotations. At the same time, people say that a DO is a DO and to go to school where you wanna practice...

Should I choose a DO school based on location (where I wanna practice, where my family is, etc.), or reputation/quality? Thanks.

 

[Rogue42]

Go to residency where you want to practice - go to school where you'll be happy.

 

[Stiefelinks234]

But isn't it easier to get into a residency program when you go to med school in the same state?

 

[Rogue42]

But isn't it easier to get into a residency program when you go to med school in the same state?

It is easier to go where you want with residency with a high Step 1 / COMLEX 1 score. But honestly, residency has a lot to do with schools affiliations, Step scores, and connections that YOU make. You have to decide if the school you will attend will:
1. Make you happy because everything else is dependent on that - if you are not happy, then you will not do well.
2. Provide you with the tools you need to make a good score for the specialty you want at the residency you want.
3. Allow you to make those connections.

 

[Deecee2DO]

KCU. much better rep and better match. mandatory attendance is a GIGANTIC con. I don't know how these kids find time to study. Ultimately, in the end either school will give you a medical education so if you think you need that comfort of being home then go to LECOM. Either way your success in the match and where you go is really on you and not the school. However, KCU is a very good school with an outstanding rep (their match this year was insane for DO). Congrats on your acceptances

 

[Goro]

I’m a FL resident, and I was accepted to KCU-KC and LECOM-Bradenton. I want to ultimately do residency and practice medicine in Florida, as this is where my entire family lives.

KCU seems to have a better reputation and higher quality education, and LECOM has mandatory attendance and issues with rotations. At the same time, people say that a DO is a DO and to go to school where you wanna practice...

Should I choose a DO school based on location (where I wanna practice, where my family is, etc.), or reputation/quality? Thanks.

I recommend KCU

 

[DameJulie]

I would go with reputation/quality. Because a school with high reputation can open you more doors for the future (e.g. residency). If a DO school has good location, you're likely only there for a max of 4 years. Maybe even only 2 because your rotation will likely scattered in the region.

 

[Magus5454]

Mandatory attendance is awful. I hate when a lecture or other something is "required" I will still go to some lectures because when I preview the material I have questions I want answered.

 

[Stiefelinks234]

Thanks for the responses, guys.

Is it usually hard to do away rotations in a state that’s far away from where you go to med school? Would going to a Midwest school lower my odds of ultimately matching in FL?

 

[BellaWriterChic]

If it helps in your decision, KCU has third year rotation sites in Florida. I am not sure where in Florida but if you are concerned in that respect, many students go there third year.

 

[DO2015CA]

What are the tuition differences? Is your family in Tampa? My major problem with Bradenton has been the rotation crunch they’re in. They do PBL so the mandatory attendance isn’t as crazy as people make it out to be. (Full disclosure: I had mandatory attendance and it was the worst thing possible).

After going through the match, it is easier to match where your school is regionally. That being said, your school will not hinder you matching in FL. You will want a school that is the most flexible 4th year so you can do auditions in FL in order to raise your chances to matching back home.

I would go with reputation/quality. Because a school with high reputation can open you more doors for the future (e.g. residency). If a DO school has good location, you're likely only there for a max of 4 years. Maybe even only 2 because your rotation will likely scattered in the region.

Not DO schools. No DO school will open doors to residencies except maybe regionally (KCU sends a decent number of students to KC MD residencies) but they don’t want to match in MO.

 

[Magus5454]

If it helps in your decision, KCU has third year rotation sites in Florida. I am not sure where in Florida but if you are concerned in that respect, many students go there third year.

WPB, Orlando, Fort Myers

 

[0dee]

Go to the cheapest school with no mandatory attendance. Prestige and reputation in DO schools is a myth that people try to convince themselves with.

 

[Schwifty]

Reputation, I recommend KCU

 

[Stiefelinks234]

So much conflicting advice... :\

What’s really bad about mandatory attendance?

 

[Deecee2DO]

So much conflicting advice... :\

What’s really bad about mandatory attendance?

There is nothing good about mandatory attendance in my opinion and I am pretty sure I can speak for most other med students when I say this. Med school has A LOT of information so having to sit in class is a waste of time when you could be studying that information and watching those same lectures on 1.5 to 2x the speed to save time since part of the lectures there are breaks and things that you may already know or not know and you can sift through it all and determine which is most important and less important. A lot of people are not auditory learners so sitting in class listening to a professor read you slides is a waste of gas money to get to campus and also a waste of time.

 

[BellaWriterChic]

So much conflicting advice... :\

What’s really bad about mandatory attendance?

For me it is the flexibility to build my study schedule. I go to class most days but there are a few where I need to watch on recording later because I am behind or need more time to understand the material. Also, I have had things come up where I have no choice but to miss class and I have been able to with no issues since it was not mandatory. Not sure about everyone else but for me it is that flexibility even though I am someone who goes to class. If I don't go, I usually am on campus to study during the block so I can be productive. I study better at school anyway.

 

[DO2015CA]

If you really want to know I can go on for hours. I went to a school with mando. I believe it affected my board score no doubt, which in this day and age matters. I felt like I couldn’t start actually learning until 4-5pm so most nights were midnight-1am study seshes. Only to have to report to class at 8am.

The fact is, we are medical students. We want to succeed. We don’t need administration that attended medical school 30 years ago telling us how we best learn. Especially with the ass teaching that goes on at most medical schools (md and do).

I have spoken on this subject before on sdn. I had the option between mando and non-mando. I thought the mando attendance was overblown on sdn so I went with the mando school that was cheaper. I regret it. It did not affect my specialty choice (but it could’ve) but I worked way harder than I needed to during the first 2 years in order to combat our school’s administration in order to succeed. I had classmates that weren’t so lucky

 

[Ho0v-man]

I’d go to lecom personally. Closer to home. Cheaper. Seems like a home run. Prestige does not exist in the DO world. Once you get outside of the region of the school, a DO is a DO.

I wish I chose a PBL school. There are some gems to be sure, but most med school lecturers are terrible. I wish that the last two years the only lecturers I listened to were from boards and beyond.

 

[ChiDO]

Cheapest school. You're 32 y/o self with thank you for paying $150k in loans vs $300k.

 

[4thtimeretaker]

If you really want to know I can go on for hours. I went to a school with mando. I believe it affected my board score no doubt, which in this day and age matters. I felt like I couldn’t start actually learning until 4-5pm so most nights were midnight-1am study seshes. Only to have to report to class at 8am.

The fact is, we are medical students. We want to succeed. We don’t need administration that attended medical school 30 years ago telling us how we best learn. Especially with the ass teaching that goes on at most medical schools (md and do).

I have spoken on this subject before on sdn. I had the option between mando and non-mando. I thought the mando attendance was overblown on sdn so I went with the mando school that was cheaper. I regret it. It did not affect my specialty choice (but it could’ve) but I worked way harder than I needed to during the first 2 years in order to combat our school’s administration in order to succeed. I had classmates that weren’t so lucky

I currently plan on attending a school with mandatory attendance, however, they do still have recorded lectures. How do you think I should go about managing this? I've heard from current students that they just attend class to attend class, but they'll put headphones in and do their on thing while in class (whether that be watch previous days lecture, catch up on board studying, etc.). Was your school set up like this and did you end up doing this? Thanks in advance!

 

[fldoctorgirl]

Hey OP. Just wanted to chime in and say I'm from FL and I ultimately want to practice in FL, and I turned down acceptances to both LECOM-B and Nova for KCU-KC. Let me know if I can help in any way 🙂

 

[Magus5454]

I currently plan on attending a school with mandatory attendance, however, they do still have recorded lectures. How do you think I should go about managing this? I've heard from current students that they just attend class to attend class, but they'll put headphones in and do their on thing while in class (whether that be watch previous days lecture, catch up on board studying, etc.). Was your school set up like this and did you end up doing this? Thanks in advance!

If I'm going to lecture, I'm going to put forth the effort to watch it in person. I get that some people go and just study but that seems counter productive. We still have required and unrecorded/record for faculty only lectures so I'm not going to develop bad habits.

 

[Stiefelinks234]

Hey OP. Just wanted to chime in and say I'm from FL and I ultimately want to practice in FL, and I turned down acceptances to both LECOM-B and Nova for KCU-KC. Let me know if I can help in any way 🙂

Are you concerned that there are so few FL matches at KCU compared to LECOM-B? Do you think residency programs in FL will recognize KCU? Are you planning to do away rotations in FL, and is that easy to do? Thanks

 

[Stiefelinks234]

If I'm going to lecture, I'm going to put forth the effort to watch it in person. I get that some people go and just study but that seems counter productive. We still have required and unrecorded/record for faculty only lectures so I'm not going to develop bad habits.

Isn't it more efficient to study independently during lecture and then watch the lecture at 2x speed later?

 

[Magus5454]

Isn't it more efficient to study independently during lecture and then watch the lecture at 2x speed later?

Not for me.

 

[fldoctorgirl]

Are you concerned that there are so few FL matches at KCU compared to LECOM-B? Do you think residency programs in FL will recognize KCU? Are you planning to do away rotations in FL, and is that easy to do? Thanks

I'm not, because a lot of that has to do with self-selection. A lot of the students from KC are from the midwest, and so that's where they want to stay-- it makes sense that their match list would reflect more midwest-based residencies. Also, it is true that there is some regional bias; residencies from this area are more familiar with KCU students, and so may be more open to them than ones in Florida. However, I entirely believe that where you end up for residency is mostly on you, not what school you go to, and so I don't think going to KCU will hinder you from matching in Florida if that's what you want to do. Now, matching in FL is something that I would love, but I'm not 100% set on it...if I end up here or somewhere else for a couple more years, that's okay with me-- my goal is to practice in FL in the end of it all, and I think as a doctor you'll be able to get a job anywhere you'd like.

Also, as mentioned, KCU has some FL rotation sites. The Orlando site in particular is supposed to be pretty good, as they have in-house residencies that like DOs, so that can definitely be something that you look into if you pick KCU.

I am planning on doing aways/auditions in FL during my 4th year, for sure. In all honesty, I'm not that sure on how hard/easy it is to do. I'm sure it depends on what program you're applying to, etc. I'm not too concerned about it.

 

[eberge3]

I would look into cirriculum and which one you will perform best in. I would also take into consideration how much dedicated study time students get for boards. at the end of the day the DO school you go to does not matter what matters is pretty much your board score and your audition rotations. If you want to stay close to home I think that trumps anything else, you can sit in mandatory lecture and study on your own if you want to be in FL bad enough

 

[TheRealCookieMonster]

Prestige does not exist in the DO world

The thread only required this simple answer. $$$ and match rate are the only important measures left.

 

[Feelgood MD]

Go with LECOM-B. Cheaper tuition and more personalized study time since PBL only requires you to be on campus for 2-3 times a week for a 2.5 hour session.

 

[hallowmann]

Only you can make this decision. No matter what you decide, you will be disappointed with some aspect of your training. From a residency standpoint, if staying in FL is really what you want, LECOM-B will give you a marginal edge with that. That said, where you go for DO school doesn't really matter with regards to attaining residency, except in that you may personally succeed more at one environment than the other. Each school has a very different curriculum. Only you can decide if you are more likely to succeed with one curriculum than the other.

With regards to finances, to put it into perspective the price difference by the time you finish school is in the realm of $70k with compound interest and closer to $85k after a 3 yr residency. By the time you'll likely actually pay off your loans its more like $120k-$150k more. That's not an insignificant amount, and it doesn't really include potential cost savings associated with staying in state (how close to home is Bradenton?). That said, as a physician you'll still pay off both loans, one will just take longer.

Bottom line is that both are fine options, but you need to evaluate for yourself if the curriculum at one school will better suite you than the other and will ultimately mean that you will do better both in school and in boards. Prestige/reputation is virtually meaningless in DO school. No one that matters will really care whether you went to one or the other.

 

[chemdoctor]

Hmm tough decision for sure. Flip a coin... you'll feel a bit of regret in your heart if you get the one you don't want.

I think either way, you'd be happy with both. congratulations on your acceptances