COMP- worth it?

[nitemagi]

So I applied to many schools, and unfortunately screwed up on some of them- so never got a straight word. I did just get into Western, but I was a little taken aback at my interview. The students HATED it. 50k a year, all loans, a percentage based grading system, overly competitive, remodeled strip mall, and uncaring administration. This didn't exactly sell me on the school, but with only 4 schools left to hear back from, it might be my only option this year. Can anyone give me their perpective, from personal experience or otherwise?

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[drmoon]

I'm also applying to COMP for next year. Look for some COMP threads on this forum.

Where did you get 50k a year? All of the schools are about 25k in tuition. Cost of living isn't bad in Pomona

COMP isn't very highly rated overall compared wit the other schools.

I'll give you some free advice. I'm a podiatrist and I accepted an offer in 1994, but later found it to have been a mistake. I couldn't wait to be accepted to DO or MD school and took podiatry because it was all I was offered. Bottom line, don't go if you're not sure.

 

[trueblue2k1]

nitemagi,

I was in a similar situation last year and know just how you feel. I handed my secondaries in later then I would have liked last year and only got accepted to one Medical School, COMP. I felt the same way you did at the interview. The school looked run down and the students there seemed to hate it. I actually had one student that was giving my group a tour say that he didn't really believe in the whole osteopathic manipulation thing it was just something he HAD to do to get through med school. So basically I got a very bad vibe from the school and knew that I wouldn't be happy there. I had to decide if I wanted to go to COMP or if I wanted to wait a year and reapply. I made the very difficult decision to wait another year and hope that I got in somewhere else. Thankfully, I got a better response to my application this year and I will be attending LECOM in the fall. I was very impressed with the school and with the students when I visited. I am extremely happy with the decision I made a year ago. Going to medical school is a life changing event so make sure that you will be happy with it. Go to a school you will be proud of whether that is COMP or somewhere else.

 

[nitemagi]

the 50k numbers is actually from COMP themselves. 28k for tuition, 2k or so for fees, and 15-20k for living expenses, coming to 45-50k per year. Yikes.

 

[bla_3x]

Have any of you gone to one of the OMAC's at COMP? Because at the conference the school seemed very appealing. True the whole remodeled strip mall thing was a little "interesting" but the students seemed to like the school and facilities seemed OK. I am planing on going again this spring and give a more thorough look at the school as a whole.

 

[melancholy]

Hi folks,
I'm currently an MS-I at COMP and I wanted to hopefully provide my opinions on your experiences at the school. Personally, when I had my interview experience last year with COMP, I thought it was extremely laid-back, mostly positive, and just a comfortable atmosphere for me. From what I gather, it makes a big difference what students you happen to encounter on campus because often times, there are going to be students here and there that are not happy with the school or their situation for one reason or another, but sometimes that can set the tone for the entire interview experience.

I invite you to read some of the COMP message threads in the Osteopathic forum (this is the pre-osteopathic forum) as they may provide another perspective on the school for you to consider. Also, I should mention that from reading other message threads on SDN, other schools have their problems as well and where you will find a group of students who are content with where they are, there will be a few students who are not. In the end, however, I do feel I will have the education necessary to perform well on rotations and attain a residency that I'd like.. I'm sure many of my classmates would feel the same as well as the MS-II, MS-III, and MS-IV COMP students too.

I think whenever I had an interview experience, if I heard too much of an extreme opinion towards one side (whether it be negative or positive), I would always try to find a student or talk to someone else who had a slightly different opinion because that would help me get a wider range of opinions than taking the first few responses I got as the absolute truth of the matter about a school. (This is just how I went about my interview)

You're completely right though, if you truly don't feel comfortable in an environment, it is probably the best idea to not pursue an education there, but getting into medical school is a huge process as I'm sure you're aware.. and it will be a long and arduous task once you're in school no matter where you attend.

Wow, I don't know how someone came up with the exorbitant living expenses unless a single person decided to rent out a double bedroom for him/herself. Even an expensive single bedroom will cost around $900/month, which will amount to about 10k/year with money leftover for gas and food. Tution should be roughly the same as other private schools... tuition is usually going to be greater at a private school anyway.

Regarding trueblue2k1's experience with the tour guide student, every DO school will have students who entered but were unhappy for some reason.. and perhaps they don't ever intend on using OMM once they pass their boards. This is a reality among all the DO schools in the U.S. unfortunately. COMP may not be among the top DO schools mentioned whenever OMM is brought up, but I feel I am learning it adequately enough where if I put forth the effort to improve my skills and use them, I will be able to be treat patients and those around me much better.

As for the strip mall appearance, they are working on building dorms in the next few years I believe. Personally, I'd rather be in this "strip mall" where 9 out of 12 months of the year, it is basically sunny, breezy, and 60-80 degrees outside consistently without rain. Some of the best med schools in the U.S. are in much more dangerous areas so although location is something to consider, I haven't felt like my personal safety was in danger yet as long as I had some common sense. Plus, you don't have to live around here.. there are plenty of safe and wonderful areas within 10-15 minutes to live in.

On the subject of competitive students, what medical school doesn't have its share of those? By nature, medical students are relatively competitive.. I'm sure it can vary from school to school a little bit, but for the most part, that's just life as a professional student. Personally, I thought it was pretty laid-back although it does get stressful a lot.. and you will figure out which classmates tend to be more on the competitive side, but I know quite a few of my classmates would help me out if I ever needed anything.

Sorry this has been sort of long, but again, I hope that the opinions of certain students has not formed this absolutely negative vision of COMP.. that would be a shame. Please feel free to visit the message threads in the Osteopathic forums and ask more questions.. thanks alot!