DMU vs CCOM

[frostychipmunk]

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Hi everyone, I currently have acceptances to both of these schools, and I would appreciate any insights! I’m extremely interested in orthopedic surgery, and possibly ob-gyn or general surgery.

DMU
Pros

• Cheaper, tuition $64k and lower COL
• Great match rates
• Faculty and current students seem to love it
• Closer to home and extended family in the area, so I would have good support network

Cons

• Extremely worried about rotations with the lottery system. some people can do year-long rotations at a preferred site, but it seems more difficult to arrange that
• Research is important to me, and there aren't a lot of research options, especially for ortho
• One building for the entire campus (without a library), and not in the city
• Toured the school and left with a feeling that I would not be happy in that environment

Midwestern CCOM
Pros

• Location, my goal was to move to a larger city for med school
• Rotations within the Chicago area
• Larger campus- touring next month but I like the campus feel based on pictures at least
• Strong research options
• Dual degree in precision medicine option that I'm pretty interested in if I go there

Cons

• Considerably larger cost of attendance, tuition $82k and significantly higher COL
• Current students have said that there’s not much for mentorship, specifically in the context of preparing for matching
• Not a lot of students have matched ortho in the past few years but unclear if that’s also just preference by class
• Quarter system seems to have more often exams

Both schools are graded and don’t have mandatory attendance or a dress code.

I know I can go to DMU and leave ready to be a doctor, but I genuinely don’t think that I would enjoy my time there, but I'm not sure if the increased price tag is worth it. I feel like I would have a somewhat equal shot at matching ortho/surgery from either, although it seems like CCOM has more opportunities, which I think will help more.

 

[Wandering Waffle]

Similar situation here. What did you end up doing?

 

[anonymousiguess]

Similar situation here. What did you end up doing?

Option 3: Creighton

 

[DoneDone3451]

CCOM if you want todo Ortho, the cost wont be as big of a factor if you go into ortho and CCOM has great connections for ortho and rotations in Chicago area.

 

[pigsinacloth]

Current CCOM 4th year

The lack of ortho matches at CCOM is not due to lack of interest by students. We have had a few years where half of our ortho people went to anesthesia due to not matching ortho, but I also think that we have a very normal number of ortho matches for a DO school. This year we have a ton of people applying ortho so we will see what happens. Also our ortho connections are one of the big reasons we have so few people apply ortho. Many students walk away from those rotations in literal tears, but if you go to DMU you will probs end up rotating there anyway since they are super DO friendly.

Also don't do the precision medicine thing. Legit no one will care that you have it and it will cost you an extra 50K or something to do extra work.

We legit get no mentorship. I am applying peds and I had to tell my advisor that peds has a universal interview release date.

Research is 50/50. Lots of bench research projects and you can try and find some random clinical research projects if you try hard, but it is difficult.

CCOM sets you up for residency and I am in a good position for my intended career path, but it is essentially just because they are old and near Chicago. So it gives you access to things that are present in the city, but you have to be the one to take advantage of the opportunities. Their only goal is that you match into something and they don't care what it is. So they will set you up well to pass boards and fill all the boxes at the most basic level, but if you really want to excel you just need to leverage the location and contact alumni.