Dilemma: LECOM vs UB

[310771]

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So, I got accepted into both LECOM and SUNY Buffalo and I keep flip-flopping between which school I should attend. I'm just looking for some advice on both schools and I was wondering which school you would attend and why? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks in advance!

 

[apteryx]

UB.

Because I'm an undergrad there and would love to go to pharm school there. Can't speak for LECOM, but I love UB. And to be frank, I'm not worried about you taking "my" spot there, because my GPA is abysmal and I have a .01% chance of getting in. If that.

Go for UB.

 

[boltdude]

Is LECOM a three yr school? If so, I would choose LECOM but that's just me.

 

[desmoulins45179]

I think you should decline your spot at UB that way they can call me off the wait list

You should go where you will be happier. Make a list of pros/cons. Which school gave you a better impression during the interview?

 

[IrishHammer]

So, I got accepted into both LECOM and SUNY Buffalo and I keep flip-flopping between which school I should attend. I'm just looking for some advice on both schools and I was wondering which school you would attend and why? Any advice would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks in advance!

LECOM is a diploma mill. A standalone school with overly ridiculous rules that gets students in and out as fast as legally possible. But don't take my word for it.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=680709

While everyone knows that I'm not the biggest backer of the concrete jungle known as UB...go there anyway.

 

[boltdude]

LECOM is a diploma mill. A standalone school with overly ridiculous rules that gets students in and out as fast as legally possible. But don't take my word for it.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=680709

While everyone knows that I'm not the biggest backer of the concrete jungle known as UB...go there anyway.

I wouldn't consider LECOM a diploma mill.

 

[apteryx]

Well, if not UB, I'm hoping for St. John Fisher. The only crappy part would be having to move, and it's only an hour away. It's just outside of my financial feasibility to commute, grrr.

...yeah, again, go to UB. Unless you want to take pity on Des, who deserves it.

 

[IrishHammer]

I wouldn't consider LECOM a diploma mill.

Having visited the school several times, the prevalent mindset is "I just wanna get my degree and get the **** out and make some money." A school whose most enticing asset is the fact that you can be done a whole year earlier (and let's face it, that's the number one selling point for LECOM or any 3-year program, you even alluded to it yourself) is a diploma mill. But again, if you don't believe me, read that thread that I put up the link to.

 

[boltdude]

Having visited the school several times, the prevalent mindset is "I just wanna get my degree and get the **** out and make some money." A school whose most enticing asset is the fact that you can be done a whole year earlier (and let's face it, that's the number one selling point for LECOM or any 3-year program, you even alluded to it yourself) is a diploma mill. But again, if you don't believe me, read that thread that I put up the link to.

The thing going for them is they are semi-established and their tuition is incredibly low for a privately owned school. Diploma mills are the schools that have insane tuitions and are stand alone. At least LECOM has a DO med school.

 

[IrishHammer]

The thing going for them is they are semi-established and their tuition is incredibly low for a privately owned school. Diploma mills are the schools that have insane tuitions and are stand alone. At least LECOM has a DO med school.

Yes, they're semi-established, but that's not necessarily a good thing. Multiple preceptors have said that they greatly prefer UB students over LECOM. What good is being established if your school isn't respected?

http://www.lecom.edu/pros_financialaid.php/your-cost-of-attending-the-lecom-erie-school-of-pharmacy/76/0/1956/7476

You have to pay for one less year. That doesn't make your yearly costs incredibly low.

 

[boltdude]

Yes, they're semi-established, but that's not necessarily a good thing. Multiple preceptors have said that they greatly prefer UB students over LECOM. What good is being established if your school isn't respected?

http://www.lecom.edu/pros_financialaid.php/your-cost-of-attending-the-lecom-erie-school-of-pharmacy/76/0/1956/7476

You have to pay for one less year. That doesn't make your yearly costs incredibly low.

Eh, to many people 3 years vs 4 years is a big deal (like myself). It's personal preference. Costs are incredibly low relative to other private schools b/c I believe LECOM is 22,000/yr for three years (?). Usually private schools are 30,000/yr for four years. So you're looking at almost half the price. I'm not 100% sure because I didn't look it up.

 

[bwsalvas]

You went to both schools, have seen what each has to offer and are still having a problem choosing one?

Its time to articulate your priorities. Are you looking for a bunch of pre-pharmers to vote for schools they don't attend? This thread would be better placed in the pharmacy forums.

IrishHammer has the right idea. I was on rotation in Buffalo with a student from LECOM last semester. Our experiences were incomparable.

I refuse to put down other schools, with the only exception D'Youville.

I can promise you one thing: your experiences will be very different depending on which school you choose.

 

[Taurus1971]

You went to both schools, have seen what each has to offer and are still having a problem choosing one?

Its time to articulate your priorities. Are you looking for a bunch of pre-pharmers to vote for schools they don't attend? This thread would be better placed in the pharmacy forums.

IrishHammer has the right idea. I was on rotation in Buffalo with a student from LECOM last semester. Our experiences were incomparable.

I refuse to put down other schools, with the only exception D'Youville.

I can promise you one thing: your experiences will be very different depending on which school you choose.

Why D'Youville? The apostrophe is a little weird.

I would say go to the school with better weather....haha

 

[310771]

You went to both schools, have seen what each has to offer and are still having a problem choosing one?

Its time to articulate your priorities. Are you looking for a bunch of pre-pharmers to vote for schools they don't attend? This thread would be better placed in the pharmacy forums.

IrishHammer has the right idea. I was on rotation in Buffalo with a student from LECOM last semester. Our experiences were incomparable.

I refuse to put down other schools, with the only exception D'Youville.

I can promise you one thing: your experiences will be very different depending on which school you choose.

I just joined this site 2 days ago and I'm have not fully explored the website. I didn't realize there was a pharmacy forum

 

[desmoulins45179]

I would say go to the school with better weather....haha

Erie, PA and Buffalo, NY. Between a rock and a hard place They're actually not far away from each other.

 

[alenadoma]

Well, if not UB, I'm hoping for St. John Fisher. The only crappy part would be having to move, and it's only an hour away. It's just outside of my financial feasibility to commute, grrr.

...yeah, again, go to UB. Unless you want to take pity on Des, who deserves it.

Commuting isn't THAT bad. I do it 🙂

 

[desmoulins45179]

Commuting isn't THAT bad. I do it 🙂

I drove the 1.5 hours (if I speed) to SJF from Niagara Falls (well, took a detour to UB to go to my one class)and I was exhausted after one day. I couldn't do it 5 days a week AND study. 3 hours of driving a day when there was no snow was too much for me.

 

[JTrue14]

I drove the 1.5 hours (if I speed) to SJF from Niagara Falls (well, took a detour to UB to go to my one class)and I was exhausted after one day. I couldn't do it 5 days a week AND study. 3 hours of driving a day when there was no snow was too much for me.

who said anything about needing studying in pharmacy school?

 

[IrishHammer]

who said anything about needing studying in pharmacy school?

That's the spirit!

 

[apteryx]

Commuting isn't THAT bad. I do it 🙂

It's not the commuting I would mind, it's the cost of doing so. I would be dumping (watch out, random math) ((60.7 mi/29 mpg) * $3.10) * 10 trips one way a week = $64.89 a week just in gas, not including thruway fees, wear and tear on the car, and potential working time being missed by spending time driving. Times 4 years...oof.

As opposed to a one time couple-hundred dollar fee for moving; the math doesn't lie.

 

[IrishHammer]

It's not the commuting I would mind, it's the cost of doing so. I would be dumping (watch out, random math) ((60.7 mi/29 mpg) * $3.10) * 10 trips one way a week = $64.89 a week just in gas, not including thruway fees, wear and tear on the car, and potential working time being missed by spending time driving. Times 4 years...oof.

As opposed to a one time couple-hundred dollar fee for moving; the math doesn't lie.

You'd also have to get a place out here. Are you paying rent in Buffalo? If not, you'd have to figure out if the cost of gas would exceed the cost of rent/utilities in Rochester. Then, if the gas cost is lower (which it should be, Rochester is fairly pricey), you then have to figure out if the savings are enough to offset the time invested in driving every day.

You can't get everything perfect in life. Life is all about making compromises. Style points to anyone who got that reference.

 

[desmoulins45179]

If I commuted I'd fail everything
I really would like to not rent a place in Rochester, but then I'd come home everyday and sleep for the rest of the day and do nothing.

But don't underestimate my ability to find a cheap place to rent. I will just live in the pharmacy building. No one will notice. I swear

Funny story about looking for a place to rent. I was on rentrochester.com and there was a place that was quiet and cheap (I think it was 350 a month for a one bedroom) and I was like this is perfect. Then I realized it was for senior citizens. Whoops

 

[IrishHammer]

If I commuted I'd fail everything
I really would like to not rent a place in Rochester, but then I'd come home everyday and sleep for the rest of the day and do nothing.

But don't underestimate my ability to find a cheap place to rent. I will live in a cardboard box

Funny story about looking for a place to rent. I was on rentrochester.com and there was a place that was quiet and cheap (I think it was 350 a month for a one bedroom) and I was like this is perfect. Then I realized it was for senior citizens. Whoops

Just bring Dean Swigart with you when you look at the place.

 

[desmoulins45179]

Just bring Dean Swigart with you when you look at the place.

I changed my post.
I decided, instead of living in a cardboard box, why not just live in the school of pharmacy itself?

I'll stay in Dean Swigart's office. No one will notice. Kind of like how in the book "From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler" the kids lived in a museum. Cept I'll be living in the school of pharmacy. I could set up a sleeping bag in the lounge. It will be grand.

 

[apteryx]

I pay $735 a month for rent for my apartment. Includes everything (heat, electric, cable tv, appliances) but Internet. I figure I'll be paying around the same there for rent, if not a little more. I'm 24 and married with a dog and a cat (and some chinchillas); I can't stay in on-campus housing. And I don't really want to, either.