pvt27 said:
Those of you that have considered GA-PCOM:
I have been excepted and would love to attend a school in Atlanta, but was concerned about being the first class at GAPCOM. Do you guys see any disadvantages to that or do you think its okay? Also, the school is not yet accredited. What do you guys think about this? I just don't feel too secure and am very confused because I'd love to stay in Atlanta.
Any help and clarification is welcomed. Thanks.
The disadvantage of being the first class is BEING THE FIRST CLASS. I look at that as being an advantage though. I was also accepted and am attending in the fall and could not be more excited. Since we are the first class, much of the accreditation depends on our success and performance on the boards. They are going to make sure at all costs that we have high marks on the boards. Full accreditation cannot be awarded until they graduate the first class. Really and truly, unless something goes terribly wrong, they should be awarded accreditation upon our graduation.
Also, as the first class we are going to provide a great deal of input for the future of the school i.e., curriculum, clinicals, standardized patients, clubs, etc. It's a great opportunity to be a trailblazer. Personally, as a Georgia resident, it's a once in a lifetime opportunity to be a charter member of the first osteopathic medical school in Georgia.
Having said that, if you don't feel as though you can reconcile any insecurity or fear that you have about the school, you probably shouldn't attend. That is to say that, medical school is going to be stressful enough; you wouldn't want to spend the next four years worrying about issues like accreditation when you should be focusing on school.
Again, I don't think we'll have to worry about things like accreditation and the like. Mama PCOM in Philly has a prestigious reputation in the field of medicine and the type of graduates she produces, they aren't going to let anything happen to us.
