DMU vs WesternU COMP (Pomona)?

[phys_enthusiast]

Hi y'all, I was hoping to get a little help deciding which school to attend. I was fortunate enough to receive As at both these schools and am looking on any extra perspective that might not be readily available via Reddit/SDN/Google searches.
Personal considerations include moving with pets, affordability/QoL, and opportunity to land a competitive specialty if I decide to go that route (obviously with hard work being the most important, etc.)

DMU

Pros:

• One of the OGs, very good reputation - makes me think better chance at competitive specialties? It seems like the more generally respected school but correct me if I'm wrong.
• 2hrs/wk on OMM - lower than at Western.
• Low COL - would be easily able to afford rent on just my husband's income. Housing seems really pet friendly and we have 3 pets. Most things said to be within a 20 minute drive of most of the city.
• Flex weeks after exams give a good opportunity for traveling home.
• Shiny new campus with good fitness facilities (gym is my main hobby).

Cons:

• Possibility of being stuck with non-local rotation slots and having to travel/secure housing on my own.
• Far from family -- would be $600+ for a flight home and about 6 hr flights.
• Have heard that a change in leadership has kind of brought the quality of the experience down.
• Iowa has a conservative political climate. I'm extremely pro-choice and definitely want that option open to me beyond 6 weeks... but I can also travel out of state.
• Not my preferred region (west coast/CA). That being said, we've lived in ND, OK, and VA so we have experience living out of state and can make/have made it work temporarily.

WesternU

Pros:

• High CA match rate, well respected in state. I love and miss CA and want to end up there/somewhere on the west coast eventually (the ocean is my happy place).
• The sun -- live in Seattle currently and I definitely get seasonal depression up here. Des Moines weather isn't as gray/constantly rainy as Seattle either though, so I think this would be better in either location. I'm fine with snow, etc.
• Easy/quick/cheap to get home to family in NorCal -- like $160 and 2hr flights.
• Many friends living in the greater LA area
• Rotations seem generally closer, plus a bunch more 1yr rotation slots opening up starting this year. Have heard most students get one of their top 3 choices.

Cons:

• High COL - rent is almost twice the cost as in Des Moines. I'm willing to pay the "California premium" but need a sanity check on whether that's the best idea
• 4hrs/wk on OMM
• Lots of traffic means higher travel times which could add up when commuting/taking advantage of free time.
• The Osteopathic School Guide spreadsheet floating around highlights Western for "exceptional outcome" and not DMU. I'm not really sure what that means practically though.

Other factors I am not sure how to categorize:

• Both seem to have meh research opportunities-- not sure if one is better than the other.
• Neither have affiliated residencies but both have access to teaching hospitals and local affiliated rotations.
• Western is in SoCal and there are a lot of other medical schools around there. On one hand, more options to make connections-- on the other hand I imagine more competition.
• Both have great simulation technology/programs.
• Tuition cost is about the same for both schools. Both have similar average indebtedness of graduating students.
• Both have great match lists and seem like great schools. DMU is more established but WesternU is pretty established too.
• Both basically have a Honors/HP/P/F grading system.
• While Iowa seems like a much lower COL, my husband's (remote) job is in climate science and grant funded. There's still a lot of uncertainty re: grants-- if he were to lose his job, he'd have a much easier time finding a new one in CA.

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[hellosnd]

DO programs are all (except new and for-profit) pretty much the same, esp in the views on program directors. Pick whichever is cheaper or whichever you think you will be happiest. Some consideration for P/F (arguable this hurts DOs more than it helps) and access to quality rotations

 

[Sosayitditto]

Hi. Received interviews and also have friends from both places. If your long-term goal is CA, I would definitely choose Western over DMU. Western matches really well into CA and have good reputations in the area. Even if you are considering competitive specialties, Western also has good match list for them. Additionally, Iowa would be much more foreign (in terms of weather, diversity, and infrastructure) if you are used to living in CA. I personally do think that the infrastructure around Socal & proximity to family makes up for the COL differences!

 

[anonymousiguess]

Agree with @Sosayitditto. You have the opportunity to do medical school close to your support network, and likely residency too. I would jump at that. And don't underestimate the dreariness of the Midwest lol. There is no difference in prestige and opportunities available to you between these two institutions. Both are highly regarded. I would take the past of least resistance, and Western seems to offer that.