Help deciding which schools to interview at

[fourandtwo]

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Okay, so I am currently blessed with 11 interviews, but I cannot go on all of them. How many do you SDNers think I should eliminate? I'm thinking I should really just attend 6 at most? Will you guys help me out? I'm a CA resident and would like to stay in CA. Other than that, location (want to stay in the west coast), tuition, and quality of curriculum are important to me. Thanks!

Here's my list of interviews so far:

LECOM
ATSU SOMA
CUSOM
NSUCOM
AZCOM
Western U COMP
KCUCOM
Touro-CA
RVUCOM-UT
PNWU
Tulane (MD school)

 

[harkas]

If you want to stay on the west coast, definitely include Western, Touro-CA, PNWU. Include the MD school of course. Add RVU and ATSU SOMA since they're close to the west coast.

Edit: Also, do NOT decline any interviews until you've been accepted to ATLEAST one school you want to go to. Schedule those west coast interviews early so you have an acceptance to hang on to.

 

[mfrey28]

Remove due to location - LECOM, CUSOM, NSUCOM

Remove due to tuition - AZCOM

How do you feel about the 1+3 curriculum of SOMA?

 

[fourandtwo]

If you want to stay on the west coast, definitely include Western, Touro-CA, PNWU. Include the MD school of course. Add RVU and ATSU SOMA since they're close to the west coast.

I was going to delete RVU-UT since it's such a new school. Maybe someone can convince me out of it though 🙂

 

[harkas]

I was going to delete RVU-UT since it's such a new school. Maybe someone can convince me out of it though 🙂

I wouldn't not include a school just because they're new. I don't know much about it but everyone on SDN is saying it's an up and comer given their excellent board scores. I think the match results were excellent too. If you go to the interview, you can learn more about the school and you might realize its got everything you want.

Attend the interviews at schools you know you like and you can turn it down once you receive an acceptance to a school you like better.

 

[Cath Up]

My understanding is that RVU-CO (private, for-profit) has had good board scores and excellent match lists for any osteopathic institution- and it is relatively new. RVU-UT has not had any students go through the match yet, so whether or not the results are repeated at this second campus remains to be seen. But it does not seem risky to speculate that RVU-UT will produce physicians on par with those at their Colorado campus. If you like the outdoors, Utah seems to be a significant draw as well.

 

[DO2015CA]

My understanding is that RVU-CO (private, for-profit) has had good board scores and excellent match lists for any osteopathic institution- and it is relatively new. RVU-UT has not had any students go through the match yet, so whether or not the results are repeated at this second campus remains to be seen. But it does not seem risky to speculate that RVU-UT will produce physicians on par with those at their Colorado campus. If you like the outdoors, Utah seems to be a significant draw as well.

As long as RVU-UT keeps the curriculum the same as CO then it doesn't matter whos teaching it. It's a rockstar curriculum and that's the reason why they have had the great board scores . Other schools, like my own 'teach you what they deem important not teach to the boards' like it's below them. RVU understands board scores is what matter at this stage in the game.

 

[fourandtwo]

My understanding is that RVU-CO (private, for-profit) has had good board scores and excellent match lists for any osteopathic institution- and it is relatively new. RVU-UT has not had any students go through the match yet, so whether or not the results are repeated at this second campus remains to be seen. But it does not seem risky to speculate that RVU-UT will produce physicians on par with those at their Colorado campus. If you like the outdoors, Utah seems to be a significant draw as well.

As long as RVU-UT keeps the curriculum the same as CO then it doesn't matter whos teaching it. It's a rockstar curriculum and that's the reason why they have had the great board scores . Other schools, like my own 'teach you what they deem important not teach to the boards' like it's below them. RVU understands board scores is what matter at this stage in the game.

Thank you for your responses and your 2 cents on RVU UT 🙂

 

[fourandtwo]

Remove due to location - LECOM, CUSOM, NSUCOM

Remove due to tuition - AZCOM

How do you feel about the 1+3 curriculum of SOMA?

I think I feel good about the 1+3 curriculum of SOMA. I actually already attended the interview last week and the school really won me over!

 

[Coltuna]

Okay, so I am currently blessed with 11 interviews

What's your secret? lol

 

[fourandtwo]

What's your secret? lol

I've been thinking about that too! I think it's a combination of being a little older (so I've got a bit wiser things to say on my secondaries), heavily focusing on the secondaries and experiences section rather than the personal statement, and submitting everything on day 1!!!!


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[DO2015CA]

I've been thinking about that too! I think it's a combination of being a little older (so I've got a bit wiser things to say on my secondaries), heavily focusing on the secondaries and experiences section rather than the personal statement, and submitting everything on day 1!!!!


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Not to mention from California so your stats are most likely competitive MD stats for every other state

 

[DecisionTime2017]

Okay, so I am currently blessed with 11 interviews, but I cannot go on all of them. How many do you SDNers think I should eliminate? I'm thinking I should really just attend 6 at most? Will you guys help me out? I'm a CA resident and would like to stay in CA. Other than that, location (want to stay in the west coast), tuition, and quality of curriculum are important to me. Thanks!

Here's my list of interviews so far:

LECOM
ATSU SOMA
CUSOM
NSUCOM
AZCOM
Western U COMP
KCUCOM
Touro-CA
RVUCOM-UT
PNWU
Tulane (MD school)

As has already been mentioned, don't turn any down immediately. Just schedule the ones you like less further ahead so that you're not closing any doors. Once you get an acceptance from an earlier interview, you can always cancel a later one.

I'd say you should schedule Tulane (because MD), LECOM (because cost), as well as WesternU and Touro (because CA) as soon as possible. Then, the other 7 should be scheduled based on your priorities later down the road.

 

[workaholic181]

Okay, so I am currently blessed with 11 interviews, but I cannot go on all of them. How many do you SDNers think I should eliminate? I'm thinking I should really just attend 6 at most? Will you guys help me out? I'm a CA resident and would like to stay in CA. Other than that, location (want to stay in the west coast), tuition, and quality of curriculum are important to me. Thanks!

Here's my list of interviews so far:

LECOM
ATSU SOMA
CUSOM
NSUCOM
AZCOM
Western U COMP
KCUCOM
Touro-CA
RVUCOM-UT
PNWU
Tulane (MD school)

If it were me, I'd do:
NSUCOM
AZCOM
Western U
Touro CA
Tulane

 

[fourandtwo]

As has already been mentioned, don't turn any down immediately. Just schedule the ones you like less further ahead so that you're not closing any doors. Once you get an acceptance from an earlier interview, you can always cancel a later one.

I'd say you should schedule Tulane (because MD), LECOM (because cost), as well as WesternU and Touro (because CA) as soon as possible. Then, the other 7 should be scheduled based on your priorities later down the road.

Thanks! That's a good tactic to go with!

If it were me, I'd do:
NSUCOM
AZCOM
Western U
Touro CA
Tulane

How come? Specifically, why did you keep NSUCOM and AZCOM on the list?

 

[workaholic181]

Thanks! That's a good tactic to go with!



How come? Specifically, why did you keep NSUCOM and AZCOM on the list?

Not crazy about LECOM; I shadowed a surgeon who graduated there a few years ago and he had some serious gripes about their clinical rotations. Also they get away with cheap tuition by having huge classes.

NSUCOM and AZCOM are both in reasonably nice areas of the country and have really solid match lists. Nice facilities, good faculty. The price tag on AZCOM is high but the fact of the matter is a degree from either school will allow you to do any residency.

 

[fourandtwo]

Not to mention from California so your stats are most likely competitive MD stats for every other state

Oh, believe me...my stats are SUPER average (LizzyM ~64). I really REALLY believe in the power of a strategic application!

 

[fldoctorgirl]

Congrats on your interviews, that's awesome!!

I just thought I would chime in and say: I don't think it makes sense to keep NSUCOM if you truly want to stay on the west coast (or close to it). It's a good school, but you have interviews at schools that are equally good if not better and close to home. Although South FL is a nice place (I live here currently and am not such a fan, but out-of-towners always seem to love it), if you really don't want to be far from the west coast then don't bother. Or, at least, follow the other advice on here and schedule it far down the line. Then, you can always withdraw once you have an acceptance.

 

[deleted812153]

...I have got to know how on earth you have no less then ten (10!) interviews in August

also remove lecom because lecom

 

[fourandtwo]

Congrats on your interviews, that's awesome!!

I just thought I would chime in and say: I don't think it makes sense to keep NSUCOM if you truly want to stay on the west coast (or close to it). It's a good school, but you have interviews at schools that are equally good if not better and close to home. Although South FL is a nice place (I live here currently and am not such a fan, but out-of-towners always seem to love it), if you really don't want to be far from the west coast then don't bother. Or, at least, follow the other advice on here and schedule it far down the line. Then, you can always withdraw once you have an acceptance.

Ah interesting take. Thanks for your input! I am actually on my way to FLL at the moment, so I guess I'll have to see for myself. Why aren't you a fan?


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[DO2015CA]

...I have got to know how on earth you have no less then ten (10!) interviews in August

also remove lecom because lecom

There is nothing wrong with lecom PA. If I were to go back I wouldn't have listened to sdn about that. Yes strict rules, but it's worth it for 2 years in order to have that sweet tuition. 2 years to save 40k+ is worth it

 

[fldoctorgirl]

Ah interesting take. Thanks for your input! I am actually on my way to FLL at the moment, so I guess I'll have to see for myself. Why aren't you a fan?


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You're coming on a day with awful weather (or at least, that's what they say, you can never really know with the weather here), so grab an umbrella or jacket or something!!

Personally, I find it way too congested. Although it's nice being close to Miami, South Beach, etc., going anywhere takes forever because there is always traffic. Also, I am kind of bored of the weather haha, although I know most people like the weather here! It is unbearingly hot for 75% of the year, and we don't get to experience any seasons. I guess it's just me wanting to experience a different place, you know? I've lived here for a large majority of my life, and I kind of want to experience something different.

Either way, good luck with your interview! I live ~ 15 mins away from Nova...I had seen your posts looking for a place to stay, but I'm in the process of moving so I unfortunately could not offer. Let me know what you think of NSU and FLL!

 

[Goro]

Okay, so I am currently blessed with 11 interviews, but I cannot go on all of them. How many do you SDNers think I should eliminate? I'm thinking I should really just attend 6 at most? Will you guys help me out? I'm a CA resident and would like to stay in CA. Other than that, location (want to stay in the west coast), tuition, and quality of curriculum are important to me. Thanks!

Here's my list of interviews so far:

LECOM
CUSOM
NSUCOM
RVUCOM-UT

Tulane (MD school)

Lowest priority to schools that have required lecture attendance. Based upon geography, I'd surmise that your list might be:

Touro-CA
Western U COMP
PNWU
KCUCOM
AZCOM
ATSU SOMA

 

[Doc_Ock]

WesternU COMP curriculum is DRASTICALLY changing next year, and IMO for the better. I'd consider it.


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[Doc_Ock]

In what way is it changing?

Reducing their lecture hours/week from mid 30's to mid twenties, going from teaching anatomy in 10 weeks of first year to entire first year among other things.


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[Doc_Ock]

Thank you for this information!

There's a lot more to it than what I listed, it really is a top to bottom overhaul. Admissions could probably give you more info.


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[fourandtwo]

Reducing their lecture hours/week from mid 30's to mid twenties, going from teaching anatomy in 10 weeks of first year to entire first year among other things.


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Wow that's amazing to hear! Especially since it's my #1 choice


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