DMU-COM vs. VCOM

[JulieABC]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

I was accepted into VCOM back in February, but was waitlisted for DMU-COM. Today, I just received notice that I am accepted into DMU as well. Now I have to make the choice between the two schools: DMU is established, has a good campus layout, and the tution is comparable to VCOM, but it's in Iowa. VCOM on the other hand, is a warmer and has a nice surrounding campus at VTech (except for recent events), but is a much newer school making it more difficult to judge. I'm from Seattle, so I won't be near family in either location. Does anyone have good or bad opinions toward either school that I can take into consideration? Does anyone know the percent of 1st choice matches for students for each school?

 

[It'sElectric]

I was accepted into VCOM back in February, but was waitlisted for DMU-COM. Today, I just received notice that I am accepted into DMU as well. Now I have to make the choice between the two schools: DMU is established, has a good campus layout, and the tution is comparable to VCOM, but it's in Iowa. VCOM on the other hand, is a warmer and has a nice surrounding campus at VTech (except for recent events), but is a much newer school making it more difficult to judge. I'm from Seattle, so I won't be near family in either location. Does anyone have good or bad opinions toward either school that I can take into consideration? Does anyone know the percent of 1st choice matches for students for each school?

I definitely would NOT base my entire decision off of this, but here is some of the info you requested:
http://www.dmu.edu/com/residencies/

Students in the College of Osteopathic Medicine at DMU are highly recruited into a wide variety of graduate medical programs throughout the country. A testament to the strength of our curriculum and faculty is that nearly 90 percent of each graduating class matches with their first or second choice residency.

 

[Trevelyan]

I have read some negative things in the past from people currently attending VCOM, so I would say DMU based on that.

 

[Dr JPH]

DMUCOM with 100 plus years
VCOM with less than 5

DMUCOM all the way

Congratulations and good luck

 

[Doctor Bagel]

Well, I'd pick DMU just because it's so much older, has less of an emphasis on rural primary care and probably has a more geographically diverse student body. Also, VCOM has a reputation as being a really conservative school -- for example, they wouldn't allow students to form a medical students for choice group, which DMU does have.

 

[Trevelyan]

and probably has a more geographically diverse student body.

I read one time that 80% are individuals from out of state.

Also, VCOM has a reputation as being a really conservative school -- for example, they wouldn't allow students to form a medical students for choice group, which DMU does have.

Wow....... This has nothing to do with my personal beliefs on the subject; I just do not see why there could not be a pro-life and a pro-choice group if students wanted them.

 

[FS-Pro]

Well, I'd pick DMU just because it's so much older, has less of an emphasis on rural primary care and probably has a more geographically diverse student body. Also, VCOM has a reputation as being a really conservative school -- for example, they wouldn't allow students to form a medical students for choice group, which DMU does have.

I'm a little biased because I go here, but DMU all way. The bolded line is the only thing VCOM has over DMU.

 

[HarveyCushing]

DMU without a hesitation. 100+yrs, great facilities, great reputation, nice city... yadayadayada. Don't be crazy, pick DMU.

 

[Boner]

If you're basing your decision on location, I would choose DMU; decent sized city with a small town feel. Blacksburg is a small town that smells like chicken poo. It also gets its fair share of cold weather.

 

[Doctor Bagel]

I'm a little biased because I go here, but DMU all way. The bolded line is the only thing VCOM has over DMU.

So it's good to force your ideology on the student body by not allowing them to form an interest group? How would you feel if a school didn't allow a medical students for life group to form?

 

[FS-Pro]

So it's good to force your ideology on the student body by not allowing them to form an interest group? How would you feel if a school didn't allow a medical students for life group to form?

An interest group for killing innocent babies? hmmmm...

 

[froggiepremed]

I'm a little biased because I go here, but DMU all way. The bolded line is the only thing VCOM has over DMU.

Haha, I thought it would be the other way around, but I completely agree!

Someone on SDN has the following (loosely) in their sig:

T-shirt : "Future Abortion Provider"

If you can't wear a t-shirt advertising your job, perhaps you shouldn't be doing it.

/hijack

 

[cyclegirl]

I am a VCOM student (2010) and after being here for a year, without hesitation I would choose VCOM again. VCOM does not have a pro-choice group but we also do not have a pro-life group. There are some students here that are involved with the national pro-choice student organization but it is not school sponsored. Also, Blacksburg does not smell like chicken poo. If you drive by one of the farms you will smell something but it is not everywhere. The winters here are very moderate. I moved out here from the Seattle area and went to undergrad in Bellingham and really the winters here are no different. I also do not have any family around here but I can get a plane ticket to Seattle for about $400. Check the VCOM match list and you will see that even though we are a new school our students have done very well. Good Luck with your decision and PM me if you have any questions.

 

[Doctor Bagel]

An interest group for killing innocent babies? hmmmm...

Well go tell that to your classmates who are in it. It's easy to talk smack about "baby killers" on a message board. It's nice to know that the prolife movement has embraced such mature dialogue about the issue. 🙄

 

[Doctor Bagel]

Haha, I thought it would be the other way around, but I completely agree!

Someone on SDN has the following (loosely) in their sig:

T-shirt : "Future Abortion Provider"

If you can't wear a t-shirt advertising your job, perhaps you shouldn't be doing it.

/hijack

Ah, isn't the Panda clever. Wowing gullible premeds every day.

 

[Lamborghini1315]

VCOM's a good school, they had an impressive match list and have nice facilities. However DMU is better, the reasons are quite obvious...just know that you will be happier at either of the schools. So you are in a good situation my friend.

 

[froggiepremed]

Ah, isn't the Panda clever. Wowing gullible premeds every day.

I wouldn't necessarily agree with this part😀

 

[Toohotinvegas33]

Look into cost of housing, I found that DMU had more choices and cheaper overall, my broke a$$ was able to buy a house! Also, was someone quoting the quote I ripped off Uncle Panda?

 

[It'sElectric]

"Dinosaurs" was an awesome TV show. Do they have it on DVD?? I think I'm going to look into that.

Edit: Sweet, they do.

 

[emaj1n]

Never underestimate the pull of a football weekend in Blacksburg.🙂 I would pick VCOM, but I also did my undergrad at Virginia Tech. Although VCOM is new, I don't think you'll find it hard to match with your first or second choice here either. VCOM's match statistics are already above the national averages of the other osteopathic schools. By the time your match day comes around, VCOM will be in full stride.

I wonder what the "better facilities at DMU" posts are referring to. The facilities at VCOM are great. The study rooms are amazing. The anatomy lab has the nation's best air filtration system (not to mention every station has a computer and the entire room overlooks the Blue Ridge mountains). Also, keep in mind VCOM is already erecting a second building, though mainly for research, adjacent to the main medical school building.

And if you are worried about "100 years of tradition," what to you think a medical school affiliated with a current top-50 (soon to be top-30) research institution does for tradition? Virginia Tech is also opening an allopathic school (first class to begin in 2009 or 2010) located in Roanoke, Va. That will be an osteopathic medical school, allopathic medical school, and top-30 research institution all under one roof. (I admit you won't immediately benefit from these partnerships.)

Both are great schools. You can't go wrong. Good luck with your choice, and congratulations on your acceptances.

 

[tennisgal018]

Another Seattlite here. I will be attending DMU this fall and would definitely recommend DMU. The community at the school is wonderful, strong match list, great clinical education (early, often, standardized patients, simulators), strong reputation (second oldest DO school, respected education), plenty of research opportunities, international opportunities during rotations & breaks, electives (PBLs and additional opportunities to learn subjects not normally taught during lectures/standard curriculum). Need I say more?

Not to mention the city of Des Moines. It has a great blend of the amenities found in a larger city with the small town feel. The people of Des Moines are very friendly and genuinely demonstrate the hospitality the Midwest is known for. I am looking forward to living there, even though moving away from the Pacific Northwest will be difficult (I guarantee I will have pictures of Mt. Rainier and the Cascade and Olympic mountain ranges in my living/bedroom - that's probably my biggest complaint... it is FLAT in the Midwest). And... the best part? Housing is CHEAP compared to Seattle! 😀 You can buy a house in Des Moines for what I am paying to rent a two bedroom apartment on Aurora Ave! (i.e. busy busy busy street = motorcycles at 2am next to my bedroom... fun) Also, I'm looking forward to seeing the sun all year long, even if it comes with some temperature extremes. (This is what central cooling & heating are for 😉 )

Feel free to PM me if you have any questions. Good luck with your decision!

 

[fitnessexpert]

Another Seattlite here. I will be attending DMU this fall and would definitely recommend DMU. The community at the school is wonderful, strong match list, great clinical education (early, often, standardized patients, simulators), strong reputation (second oldest DO school, respected education), plenty of research opportunities, international opportunities during rotations & breaks, electives (PBLs and additional opportunities to learn subjects not normally taught during lectures/standard curriculum). Need I say more?

Not to mention the city of Des Moines. It has a great blend of the amenities found in a larger city with the small town feel. The people of Des Moines are very friendly and genuinely demonstrate the hospitality the Midwest is known for. I am looking forward to living there, even though moving away from the Pacific Northwest will be difficult (I guarantee I will have pictures of Mt. Rainier and the Cascade and Olympic mountain ranges in my living/bedroom - that's probably my biggest complaint... it is FLAT in the Midwest). And... the best part? Housing is CHEAP compared to Seattle! 😀 You can buy a house in Des Moines for what I am paying to rent a two bedroom apartment on Aurora Ave! (i.e. busy busy busy street = motorcycles at 2am next to my bedroom... fun) Also, I'm looking forward to seeing the sun all year long, even if it comes with some temperature extremes. (This is what central cooling & heating are for 😉 )

Feel free to PM me if you have any questions. Good luck with your decision!

I agree with this. I live in the Des Moines area and I will be attending DMU. DMU does give you breaks and we do have an airport about 3 miles from DMU with super cheap flights to Vegas, Miami, Orlando etc if you miss super warm weather. I guarantee that the humidity here will have you wishing for winter. PM is anyone has questions about the area from someone that lives here and works around the DMU area.