Class of 2007: How do you rank the schools you interviewed at so far?

[Kuba]

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I thought this would be interesting/useful. I know we don't have too many people that have interviewed at multiple schools yet, but for those who have: could you please tell us how the schools compare on your list? I will bump it later once a lot more people have been to a few interviews.

 

[Kuba]

Since noone has posted yet, I thought I would further explain my reasoning. Some may wonder why start a thread like this if there are already "pros vs cons" threads and a million "which school is best" threads. However, most of those threads end up with posts from either people who have matriculated (in which case of course their school is best) or people that have never visited the school and don't know much about it. I figure the people that have interviewed at these schools will have the most objective evaluations.

 

[snowkhat]

1. Texas A&M and TCOM (tie)--tuition, in-state, and both fabulous! Interviewed
2. Touro, Nevada--interviewed. Loved location, good-seasoned administrators. Cons: New school and fewer connections.
3. KCUMB--interview in Oct. (KC is a great town, good for my family)
4. Western University-Interview/accepted--not so keen on neighborhood, Cali is expensive, &, tution high.

5. Touro, Mare Island-interview. Haven't been to that part of the Bay, yet. Heard really good things about quality of education.

------------------------------------------------
Schools I'd like to hear from:
1. UT-San Antonio
2. Loyola Pritzker
3. OSU-Tulsa 😍

 

[FizbanZymogen]

Hey Kuba,

I will only be abe to tell you about three schools after monday: KCUMB, NSU, WVSOM but I will rank those three for you after monday with explanations.

 

[czanetti]

I will get back to you in early Oct.
Interviewed at TCOM, NSU sep 29th, LECOM-Bran Oct 13, VCOM Oct 30

 

[Kuba]

bizzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzump

 

[FizbanZymogen]

Ok here goes. First I have to state that while I could write pages on my thoughts about the three schools I have attended so far I will make only a few points about each that I feel are important to me. So here are the three I have attended so far KCUMB, NSU-COM & WVSOM. I have two more interviews coming up at TOURO-NV and DMU but I cannot include them in this post. So if I had to make a decision today to attend one of these three schools I would break it down in this order.......

#1: NSU
There are a few reasons why NSU lands at the top of my list thus far.

-Great location for myself and family. NSU's campus is wonderful and you can tell the school puts a lot of money back into the campus and the program which is important to me. The library rocks and would be a great place for my wife and kids to spend time as they love reading. The students were are very friendly and excited to be at NSU. South Florida is beautiful.

here are some of the downsides of NSU

-It is a very expensive area to live in (especially with a wife and 2 kids). The attendance policy still gets to me. Lottery system for 3rd year clinicals and their match list while ok isn't fantastic.

#2: KCUMB
positives

-Tried and true education with excellent pass rates. I also want a systems based education and KCUMB does this well. They have great sites for 3rd year rotations with a good amout of time for electives (very important to me). Kansas City can be affordable if you live in the right area and has enough to do to keep my wife and kids happy. Nice match list (losts of Rads which is my current interest). Sweet patient simulator lab with OB/GYN sim that can deliver a freakin baby. Really nice students. Proud of the fact that they consider spirituallity important in conjunction with modern medical science and principles.

Negatives

- Huge class size (around 260 I think). Located in the slums. Lottery system for 3rd year rotations (not my favorite method but a lot of schools use it I know).

#3: WVSOM
Positives

- Despite what some may think I really liked the Lewisburg area and found WV to be a beautiful state. The program is well known and well established which is important to me (medicine has as much to do with reputation and connections as it does with board scores and grades). The campus is beautiful and well built. The Anatomy lab if freakin fantastic!!!! While I wouldn't base my decision to attand a school based on its anatomy lab WVSOM sure makes you think about it. Those who are going interview at WVSOM soon will see what I mean. They allow you do do the dissections yourself. Again very important to me (no prosections). Would be a fun and affordable area for a family.

negatives

- The crazy out of state tuition!!! I asked during my interview why they had doubled there class size and was told funding had dropped from the state from 6 million a year to like 5 million. This isn't just WVSOM but the other state MD schools as well had funds cut. No costco or sams club within 30 mins.

This list is by no means comprehensive and is based soley on my own opinions and perceptions. Everyone reading this please understand that last sentence. Haters don't reply.

Now I must say that while WVSOM is my current #3 and NSU is my #1 it is only by the smallest of margins that these schools are ranked in that order in my mind. I would be honored to attend WVSOM. All three of these schools are amazing and It would be very difficult once it comes down to it to decide between these schools. Again the difference in my mind between my #1 and #3 is very small. I should have ranked them #1 #1.2 and #1.3 because they are all #1 but just vary in the smallest degree. I am anxious to know what others think. Lets keep this thread alive. Good luck everyone

 

[Kuba]

thanks!

 

[FizbanZymogen]

bumpity......bump....bump

 

[Neuro27]

what does lottery system mean for clinicals? people are just randomly assigned to different hospitals?

 

[Depakote]

I can only talk about DMU so far, but I've got CCOM coming up and I'm just getting complete at a few more schools:

DMU:

Pros- Everyone I saw seemed really happy to be there. The professors seemed really accessible and the overall feel of the school was great. The facilities were very new and comfortable. They have a great OMM program. The technology is great too. All students get tablet PCs and PDAs (the PDAs are updated at the start of yr 3) that are supported by the school so you can take notes on the tablet for lecture. The school just feels great.

Cons- The lectures can get huge. (some are shared with podiatry students so we're talking 300+ students) Year 3-4, you're going to be travelling for rotations, since the school has no teaching hospital of it's own.

 

[FizbanZymogen]

what does lottery system mean for clinicals? people are just randomly assigned to different hospitals?

Well lottery at KCUMB and NSU work in such a way that you fill out a list of predetermined core clinical sights that the schools offers. Each student ranks the locations he or she would like to attend and then almost like match for residency everybodies choices are placed in a computer which tries to create the best match for the most people (residency obviously works a little differently becuase you have students and PD each making there own lists). Then you find out where you will be doing your third year rotations. 4th year is usually wide open at these schools though.

 

[hamiltong]

I've finished my DO interviews. Here's my ranking:

1. KCUMB: Fantastic facilities, impressive board passage rates. The non-traditional currculum.

2. TUCOM-NV: I like the small class size. Super friendly, incredible rotation/perceptorship opportunity in great Vegas metropol.

3. DMU: Small-town feeling, nicest neighborhood, good community reputation.

4. WU-COMP: Very laid-back, Northwest Track.

I think at this time, I will make a deposit at KCUMB (if offered admission) and wait for my in state school OHSU. I will say I felt comfortable and could potentially see myself going to any of the schools. Picking one is the hardest part of this process (so far)...

 

[Krazykritter]

I can only talk about DMU so far, but I've got CCOM coming up and I'm just getting complete at a few more schools:

DMU:

Pros- Everyone I saw seemed really happy to be there. The professors seemed really accessible and the overall feel of the school was great. The facilities were very new and comfortable. They have a great OMM program. The technology is great too. All students get tablet PCs and PDAs (the PDAs are updated at the start of yr 3) that are supported by the school so you can take notes on the tablet for lecture. The school just feels great.

Cons- The lectures can get huge. (some are shared with podiatry students so we're talking 300+ students) Year 3-4, you're going to be travelling for rotations, since the school has no teaching hospital of it's own.

This is not true at all. DMU has 3 affiliated 'Core' Hospitals in Des Moines. Not to mention that by the time all you guys get to years 3-4, most students will be able to stay in state should they choose.

Just wanted to set this straight...

 

[It'sElectric]

This is not true at all. DMU has 3 affiliated 'Core' Hospitals in Des Moines. Not to mention that by the time all you guys get to years 3-4, most students will be able to stay in state should they choose.

Just wanted to set this straight...

KrazyKritter is right. It's all currently in the works, but right now the goal is to enable all Class of 2010 students to stay in Iowa at core sites during their 3rd year if they so please. To be honest, I doubt they will entirely meet that goal, but the fact that they're working towards it and really trying to improve rotations is awesome. Plus, it's likely there will be people who want to move around or simply stay in Ohio or Michigan for their entire 3rd year, so if you want Iowa, then you'll likely get it.

4th year you'll inevitably move around at least a little doing audition rotations at various hospitals.

 

[czanetti]

Does anyone know where NSU stands Nationally in regards to Ranking?

 

[jillibean]

KrazyKritter is right. It's all currently in the works, but right now the goal is to enable all Class of 2010 students to stay in Iowa at core sites during their 3rd year if they so please. To be honest, I doubt they will entirely meet that goal, but the fact that they're working towards it and really trying to improve rotations is awesome. Plus, it's likely there will be people who want to move around or simply stay in Ohio or Michigan for their entire 3rd year, so if you want Iowa, then you'll likely get it.

4th year you'll inevitably move around at least a little doing audition rotations at various hospitals.

This may be true, but the majority of the class will be moving at the end of second year, even if it is just to another part of Iowa.

As for my rankings (I interviewed at TCOM, DMU and Western)..... If I am accepted to all, I'd probably pick TCOM unless DMU came through with a scholarship then I'd probably go there. I liked the two about the same, except the unpredictablity of DMUs clinical rotations.

 

[Krazykritter]

Everyone may complain a little about the moving around that you MAY have to do at DMU, but let me put a little different perspective into it: Your clinical years are the time when you have a chance to work w/ a lot of different people. DMU gives you the opportunity to travel to different areas to work w/ other physicians who may be more well known in certain specialties. Getting LOR's from big name physicians in the specialty you are applying to is a big thing, but if you have to stay in one spot all of third year, you are somewhat limited in the people you get to work with.

I am married & I know that it might be tough at times. Well, if you choose medicine as an easy path to money, you are dead wrong. You will have to make sacrifices no matter where you are. So if you are away from your family working in a field you are interested in, show you are a hard worker & take extra call that you might not if you were around your family. If you can't turn an adverse situation into a positive one somehow, med school is going to be a tough road.

 

[Kuba]

Well, sitting in the Fort Lauderdale airport waiting for my flight back home, I thought I would compare Nova and Pcom, having just interviews at nova and having gone to the PCOM open house. I was definitely much more impressed with NOVA than PCOM. For starters, NOVAs location in Florida is much better than PCOM location in a not-so-fun part of Philly. Also, NSU has amazing opportunities you can pursue such as the antomy, OMM, and research fellowships which pay for your 3rd and 4th year or the optional MPH you can get within the 4 years of med school for no extra cost. PCOM simply does not offer those programs. Also, the campus is outstanding(bigger gym/library) and the students seem happier than in PCOM. Furthermore, the curriculum in NOVA incorporates PBL in the second year, offers early clinical exposure, offers break for board review (through Kaplan), and jsut seems to cater to the needs of its students. Suffice it to say, if I get accepted I will most likely be sporting a tan next year😎 .

 

[NjD00]

I have 4 interviews down and two(maybe more) to go.

#1: DMU - Interviewed, waiting on acceptance
Pros: Great facilities, everyone there said it was the best decision in their lives and were happy, good board pass rate, great residency match, low cost of living, great big city/small town feeling to the area, technology, and provided PDA's and Computers, which I actually view as similar to a $2000 tuition cut, since I would buy a computer anyways
Cons: sometimes large classes, might have to travel for 4th year (but that isn't necessarily a con)

#2t. LECOM-Erie - Interviewed, accepted
Pros: cheapest of schools I applied to, professional and studious feeling, good pass rates, cheap cost of living, very good and intriguing PBL program, good feeling overall
Cons: Sometimes being in Erie might be a con(on those nights when you feel like gettin crazy), dress code (not that bad)

#2t. TUCOM-NV - Interviewd, accepted
Pros: GREAT climate, probably the warmest faculty of any school, fantastic preceptorship/rotations/residencies in the up-and-coming Las Vegas medical scene, MERIN teaching lab, good facilities, nice students
Cons: no history of pass rates or residency match, getting-up-there overal cost (about $65,000), no on campus cafeteria!!! (not a biggie, but still I noticed!)

#3. AZCOM - Interviewed, accepted
Pros: Unbelievable COMLEX pass rates (97-100%), great residencies, really warm weather, good facilities(especially the library and OMM room)
Cons: Almost too warm of weather for me, sometimes the hallways look and feel like a high school, seemed a little too competitive and uninviting...the students at lunch just kind of stare, and none really go talk to you(also didn't help that the student eating lunch with us seemed like a closet gunner and interrupted a lot)
---------------great school, but maybe just didn't have the "feel" for me


CCOM and UNECOM are up soon, i'll update

 

[WannaDoc]

~~~ #1 Tie ~~~

University of Texas Medical Branch-Galveston (interviewed) - Curriculum, in--state tuition, location close to family, GREAT usmle scores, nice people

Texas COM (interviewed) - Curriculum, in-state tuition, VERY student centered, nicest staff/faculty I've met, nice location, can eat in the library!, OMM

~~~ #2 ~~~

University of Texas San Antonio (interviewed) - Awesome students, nice city, in-state tuition, beautiful campus

~~~ #3 ~~~

AZCOM (accepted) - Pretty campus but too small for me, nice OMM lab, nice students, would've liked to see more presented about their clinical facilities

~~~ Coming soon ~~~

CCOM - Interview Nov. 2

 

[Kuba]

lets see if we can get any more posters😀

 

[Orthodoc40]

Geech - reading all of your observations is making me wish I had applied to some of these places!! 😳

 

[Kuba]

Geech - reading all of your observations is making me wish I had applied to some of these places!! 😳

I feel the same way about the all midwestern schools - KCOM, PSCOM, OSUCOM, etc

 

[Orthodoc40]

Well....there IS still time!

 

[Kuba]

Well, so I now interviewed at 2 schools and visited 1 for an open house. I would conclude the following.

UMDNJ>NSUCOM>>>PCOM

UMDNJ has an edge over NSUCOM because it is much cheaper.

 

[snowkhat]

OOS Schools

1. KCUMB---accepted😍
2. OSU-COM---interview
(accepted-withdrew from TU-MI, TU-Hend, and Western)
**************************************************
In-State
1. TCOM & A&M👍
2. Texas Tech

 

[Sarikate]

So far, I've done TUCOM-CA, TUCOM-NV, and AZCOM. Still have LECOM, UMDNJ, WVSOM, and VCOM left to go.

Touro-CA: Nope, not going there. The campus was creepy, the student tour guide seemed to just regurgitating fluff, and the dean was very vague with his answers to our questions. The panel interview was interesting and the faculty seemed nice but it just wasn't a good fit for me, overall.

Touro-NV: Loved the friendly, approachable attitude of the students and faculty. The "campus" (yes, a refurbished warehouse) doesn't have windows, or a cafeteria, or any personality whatsoever, but since everyone is together in one building it's easy to stay connected. They have block exams, a nice anatomy lab, lots of rotation sites. Roger Corbman is awesome. I just got accepted yesterday and could certainly see myself going there.

AZCOM: Nice campus, nice on- and off-campus housing, great board scores, clinical experience starts the first year with a preceptor, lots of rotation sites in Phoenix area, opportunities for rural and international rotations. They didn't seem to have as friendly/cheery student body as TUCOM-NV had, but they weren't UNfriendly.

I don't know, if I got accepted to AZCOM it'd be a close call between the two, and I haven't visited the East Coast yet so of course we'll have to see what happens. But there's my two cents.

 

[Orthodoc40]

Anyone want to change/update their previous lists?

For me, I've only been accepted to one place, so I like it the best! 😍
DMU, that is. I've had a great feeling for the school from the start, and my interview did nothing to dissuade me. Everyone has posted so much about the greatness of DMU on these boards, so I'd be repeating much of it to say it all again. My only issues (which were small) would be the whole 2 teams of 4 doing anatomy dissection, which still bugs me a little, and they claim (only) 88% of the class got their 1st or 2nd choice residency program - which seems low compared to other places. Plus its kind of far from home. But the school can't change that - LOL!! I pretty much LOVED everything else.

Interviewed at UNE, and I loved the comfortable feeling of the place. The cohesiveness between students was incredible (I don't think you can fake that for a day to impress people). They are more quiet about it, but I think they have just as much as any school in terms of latest technology supporting students there. It's much closer to home. I don't love the hospital affiliations, though, but in all fairness how much does any premed know about hospital rotations beforehand? I'm pretty sure one of my interviewers hated me, though - LOL!!!

NJ - coming up this week. So far I can only say I love the tuition compared to the others!!! It is farther from home than UNE, but driveable, and I have many friends around there.

All in all - it would be very hard for me to choose between these schools right now!!