Decision Time

[melast]

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Hey guys,
I'm trying to pick between KCUMB, Touro-MI, and AZCOM - I only want to put a deposit down at one. I have already sorted out my thoughts on location, student body, and facilities - but have one nagging question: at KCUMB they pointed out to us that more than half of their graduates go into specialty medicine. I'm not sure if I want to do primary care or not (though if I had to choose today I would pick OB/GYN), so I have some worries about the extremely high number of Touro-MI and AZCOM doing primary care - is it because that is what they WANT to do? Or all they can get into? Is KCUMB really going to open up more options to me in the future? What if I don't want to live in the midwest? Ack - I know its a silly thing to complain about, but I've spent so much time focused on getting in *somewhere* that I'm unprepared to decide Can anyone help me sort this out?

 

[Packamylase]

Hey guys,
I'm trying to pick between KCUMB, Touro-MI, and AZCOM - I only want to put a deposit down at one. I have already sorted out my thoughts on location, student body, and facilities - but have one nagging question: at KCUMB they pointed out to us that more than half of their graduates go into specialty medicine. I'm not sure if I want to do primary care or not (though if I had to choose today I would pick OB/GYN), so I have some worries about the extremely high number of Touro-MI and AZCOM doing primary care - is it because that is what they WANT to do? Or all they can get into? Is KCUMB really going to open up more options to me in the future? What if I don't want to live in the midwest? Ack - I know its a silly thing to complain about, but I've spent so much time focused on getting in *somewhere* that I'm unprepared to decide Can anyone help me sort this out?

So, I had to decide between KCUMB, KCOM, and UMDNJ-SOM. However, I knew that the midwest was where I needed to be and where I belonged. I think Location should be a big factor when deciding which school you want to attend. I want to study beside other successful students, too, but your own success will depend almost entirely on your own work and effort, so IOW, you can become an orthopedic surgeon from Touro, AZCOM, or KCUMB if you are a qualified applicant.

What factors are most important to you?

I will be attending KCUMB in the Fall. That was my decision.

 

[Packamylase]

*deleted*

 

[ramona223]

Hey guys,
I'm trying to pick between KCUMB, Touro-MI, and AZCOM - I only want to put a deposit down at one. I have already sorted out my thoughts on location, student body, and facilities - but have one nagging question: at KCUMB they pointed out to us that more than half of their graduates go into specialty medicine. I'm not sure if I want to do primary care or not (though if I had to choose today I would pick OB/GYN), so I have some worries about the extremely high number of Touro-MI and AZCOM doing primary care - is it because that is what they WANT to do? Or all they can get into? Is KCUMB really going to open up more options to me in the future? What if I don't want to live in the midwest? Ack - I know its a silly thing to complain about, but I've spent so much time focused on getting in *somewhere* that I'm unprepared to decide Can anyone help me sort this out?

I'm in a similar boat as you, although my situation is somewhat distinct. I recently made the jump from "interviewee" to "accepted candidate"...With the addition of Touro-Harlem (which is really enticing for me due to location and it's mission), I could be faced with a potentially VERY EXPENSIVE choice, as I will likely put down $2K for MI (and from what I hear, Harlem will request $3K). I really loved MI too...
Not to say that I'm a shoe-in at Harlem or anything, but spending $5K is kinda yikes!
Most people would like to know what the heck is wrong me!? I really want to give Harlem a chance before deciding and it's crushing me!!!!
Good luck to everyone out there applying and interviewing!

 

[Testy McAterson]

for me, it came down to location. i'm from the phx area so aside from working first hand with alumni and such--it just makes the most sense for me. if you want to be in california for school (and clinicals/residency), MI may be the best choice (second only to comp). if you want to be on the east coast/midwest--it might be easiest in kcumb. i know a DO here in phx who's a kcumb grad and he loved the school. i personally wanted to stay on the west coast (and warmer climate) so i cancelled that interview, though i know a lot of people are happy there. The cost of living in phx is much lower than the bay area (although my boyfriend would have loved for us to move there), it is far from my family, and it seemed more likely that the third and fourth year clinical rotations can require a lot of moving around so i dropped that interview as well. i am a touro fan, however, and a friend of mine is at touro (nv) and loves it. deciding between touro-nv, comp, and azcom was not easy for me. as far as schools having a large percentage going into primary care--it may be because the traditional emphasis of DO is/was primary care so a lot of students interested in fam practice, etc. are drawn to DO, some students choose internal med or peds and then plan to specialize from there, and (undoubtably) some may find they don't have the scores to be a brain surgeon but they can still find satisfaction in primary care. whereas i wouldn't suggest kcom-mesa if you wanted to go into ortho--i think most of the schools can provide the foundation we want and need for any specialty if we're willing to put in the effort 🙂

 

[melast]

Thanks everyone!! I probably do want to do primary care, but I don't want to *have* to do primary care (if that makes sense). I think I'm leaning towards AZCOM even though I dislike Phoenix weather and sprawl. 😕

 

[melast]

It kind of comes down to: location (touro-mi) vs. rotation system (azcom) vs. facilities (kcumb). That and I think AZCOM might have brainwashed me a bit when I interviewed about how good their board scores are