DUCOM Vs. GCSOM

[medschol12344321]

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Drexel University College of Medicine
Pros

• Closer to home, and really appreciate how close i would be to my support system
• Around since the 1800's? Drexel is drexel so in Philadelphia they have that reputation of being an old and renowned school
  
• No mandatory lectures (also a con) - I really noticed that I learn much better at my own pace with an audio recording versus in a lecture. I really appreciate Drexel being the pioneers for this type of cirriculum and believe that this will be the future of medical education
• rotations are all close and can keep my same apartment through the rotation years
• love that the medical school is seperated from the undergraduate and other graduate programs

Cons

• definetly not the "best" medical school in terms of step scores and reputation
• Large class size which may make it hard to make connections with faculty
• have to compete with the other philly schools

Geisinger Commonwealth School of medicine
Pros

• Geisinger is a major player in NEPA for healthcare so coming from a school attached to that name im sure will open up some opportunities
• Very small class which allows me to form better relationships with faculty
• seemed to have alot of research positions
• seemed open to student feedback

Cons

• scranton is further from my support system than drexel
• Newer school
• rotations are all over the place which means i would have to move during 3rd and 4th year
• MBS students share the building

Summary: Drexel is an older, more stablished school that has the city feel but is handicapped by the huge class size and competition between other philly schools. Geisinger is a newer and more close-knit school but is further away and am not a fan of how rotations work

 

[ciestar]

My class’s step one average was a 234 at DUCOM. Additionally, your step scores are more a reflection on you than your institution since everyone studies for boards the same way.

Additionally, I made great connections with many faculty members at DUCOM so i felt this was a non-issue.

But, to add to things to think about... drexel you could end up all over the place for rotations as well. This is temporary, as most people end up at a place like Easton for only one block rather than the entire year.

I chose Drexel for location as well. Go where you think you’ll be happiest and if your support system is there, I’d have a hard time arguing to ditch it in favor of Geisinger.

 

[medschol12344321]

My class’s step one average was a 234 at DUCOM. Additionally, your step scores are more a reflection on you than your institution since everyone studies for boards the same way.

Additionally, I made great connections with many faculty members at DUCOM so i felt this was a non-issue.

But, to add to things to think about... drexel you could end up all over the place for rotations as well. This is temporary, as most people end up at a place like Easton for only one block rather than the entire year.

I chose Drexel for location as well. Go where you think you’ll be happiest and if your support system is there, I’d have a hard time arguing to ditch it in favor of Geisinger.

I noticed one of their rotation spots are in sacramento, if i’m from the area could I be forced to go there for the year?

 

[ciestar]

I noticed one of their rotation spots are in sacramento, if i’m from the area could I be forced to go there for the year?

Nobody is forced into Kaiser. It is done via a lottery and it is the luck of the draw. Nobody that is there doesn’t want to be.

 

[medschol12344321]

Nobody is forced into Kaiser. It is done via a lottery and it is the luck of the draw. Nobody that is there doesn’t want to be.

Thanks so much for your help! can you expand on one more thing please? You say “nobody at kaiser doesn’t want to be there” but say it’s a lottery system. Does that mean I have no say in where I want to do my rotations? Sorry i’m just getting stuck on the lottery part of the rotation

 

[ciestar]

Thanks so much for your help! can you expand on one more thing please? You say “nobody at kaiser doesn’t want to be there” but say it’s a lottery system. Does that mean I have no say in where I want to do my rotations? Sorry i’m just getting stuck on the lottery part of the rotation

Basically the people at Kaiser applied to be at Kaiser. About half my class is from CA.