couple of things...

[dpg2374]

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Hi everyone! I'm new to the forums so bear w/me. I had a few questions i'd like to get some insight on if possible, as i apply to DOs and probably to the carribeans.

1) I have heard/read some negative stuff about TUCOM, saying that it's not a "great" school w/sub par facilities etc etc. Is there any attending TUCOM student that could give an objective view on their experiences at TUCOM?

2) If I apply to DO schools w/in the next week, how fast does it usually take for the schools to get back to you regarding interviews, acceptance/denial etc? If i don't get in, i'd like to go ahead and start Carib ASAP.

Any help will be appreciated. Thanx!

 

[Dies Irae]

Hi everyone! I'm new to the forums so bear w/me. I had a few questions i'd like to get some insight on if possible, as i apply to DOs and probably to the carribeans.

1) I have heard/read some negative stuff about TUCOM, saying that it's not a "great" school w/sub par facilities etc etc. Is there any attending TUCOM student that could give an objective view on their experiences at TUCOM?

2) If I apply to DO schools w/in the next week, how fast does it usually take for the schools to get back to you regarding interviews, acceptance/denial etc? If i don't get in, i'd like to go ahead and start Carib ASAP.

Any help will be appreciated. Thanx!

I would apply to both Carrib. and DO schools at the same time. Some DO schools get back to you right away and other get back to you much later.

 

[dpg2374]

I would apply to both Carrib. and DO schools at the same time. Some DO schools get back to you right away and other get back to you much later.

I guess i would have to contact the schools i'm applyin to and ask them for dates eh? seems like the logical way to go. 😀

 

[rpkall]

What are your stats? If you're applying to Carribean schools, you might as well apply to MD programs in the US like Howard, Meharry, NYMC, Drexel, etc, etc (some state schools depending on where you live)--because honestly, you never know what could happen.

I'm not trying to steer you away from Osteopathy--if you love it, then do it--but really do it. If you're an osteopath in your heart, you won't enjoy allopathic medicine in the Caribbean. If you're like I was, last year, and you took an objective look at your stats and you said, "all I want is the opportunity to be a physician"--then you shouldn't really limit yourself to DO and Caribbean based only on stats, unless they're lower than 3.0 gpa /28 or 29 mcat or you feel there's nothing great in the application to bring you back from the land of the low stats.

I would have much rathered commit myself to osteopathy, its principles and practice and the career itself, than go to the Carribean to get an allopathic degree. At least osteopathy is teaching you more about anatomy, physical manipulation of the body in pathologic states, and how to look critically at the musculoskeletal and neuro systems to determine their role in pathology. You'll have excellent primary care skills and a firm grounding in patient examination skills--plus, you'll be closer to home (unless you're posting from the Florida Keys!). 😉

I'm not saying apply to Harvard and Yale, but I don't see a reason why you couldn't apply to the lower tier private/state allopathic schools. Many of these have good programs and better facilities than a lot of osteo schools, simply because they have more alumni, more research programs (grant money coming in) and more of a history/name to garner community support. That was my experience with the situation last application cycle, anyway.

Best of luck to you, whatever you choose.

 

[Lady Tokimi]

Hi everyone! I'm new to the forums so bear w/me. I had a few questions i'd like to get some insight on if possible, as i apply to DOs and probably to the carribeans.

1) I have heard/read some negative stuff about TUCOM, saying that it's not a "great" school w/sub par facilities etc etc. Is there any attending TUCOM student that could give an objective view on their experiences at TUCOM?

2) If I apply to DO schools w/in the next week, how fast does it usually take for the schools to get back to you regarding interviews, acceptance/denial etc? If i don't get in, i'd like to go ahead and start Carib ASAP.

Any help will be appreciated. Thanx!

I'm applyin to TUCOM this year.......i haven't heard anythin negative about it except for the fact that the deposit if 2000$. If you need more info about what students think of the school, go browse the interview section of this website. You might get an idea of what students thought durin their tour.

As for applyin to DO schools w/in the next week, it usually doesn't take a long time for the schools to get back to you with secondary applications but it takes AACOMAS about 4-5 weeks to actually get your application to the schools.

 

[newyorkcougar]

One of my best friends graduated from TUCOM and I visited the campus with him several times. Whoever told you that it isn't a great school is misled. It is a great school. They have great GREAT faculty, a good location if you are interested in California, and they have some of the highest acceptance standards among the DO schools. The higher averages are mostly due to the competition to stay in California (all CA schools have lots of competition). The higher acceptance standards make TUCOM look very good.

However, there is one critical drawback which really hurt my friend. TUCOM is so new that they don't have very long-standing relationships with hospitals and they have virtually NO name recognition with residency directors. When my friend was applying to residencies (especially the allo ones) this really hurt his chances. He ended up in an allo OB/GYN residency, but it was not his first choice.

TUCOM is a fine school with a growing reputation. You will just have to live with some growing pains if you go there.

 

[dpg2374]

What are your stats? If you're applying to Carribean schools, you might as well apply to MD programs in the US like Howard, Meharry, NYMC, Drexel, etc, etc (some state schools depending on where you live)--because honestly, you never know what could happen.

I'm not trying to steer you away from Osteopathy--if you love it, then do it--but really do it. If you're an osteopath in your heart, you won't enjoy allopathic medicine in the Caribbean. If you're like I was, last year, and you took an objective look at your stats and you said, "all I want is the opportunity to be a physician"--then you shouldn't really limit yourself to DO and Caribbean based only on stats, unless they're lower than 3.0 gpa /28 or 29 mcat or you feel there's nothing great in the application to bring you back from the land of the low stats.

I would have much rathered commit myself to osteopathy, its principles and practice and the career itself, than go to the Carribean to get an allopathic degree. At least osteopathy is teaching you more about anatomy, physical manipulation of the body in pathologic states, and how to look critically at the musculoskeletal and neuro systems to determine their role in pathology. You'll have excellent primary care skills and a firm grounding in patient examination skills--plus, you'll be closer to home (unless you're posting from the Florida Keys!). 😉

I'm not saying apply to Harvard and Yale, but I don't see a reason why you couldn't apply to the lower tier private/state allopathic schools. Many of these have good programs and better facilities than a lot of osteo schools, simply because they have more alumni, more research programs (grant money coming in) and more of a history/name to garner community support. That was my experience with the situation last application cycle, anyway.

Best of luck to you, whatever you choose.

My Stats are: 3.25 overall GPA (3.0 science), 28 MCAT (7v, 11P, 10B), and i have a good amount of ECs (includin an EMT cert! 🙂 ) I do like the DO approach to patient care, but in the end, I ust want to be a great physician. One thing that i'm weary about when it comes to DO is that they are NOT widely recognized internationally. I plan on doing a lot of international work, and I don't want my title to get in the way. Any suggestions?