Help me choose! WesternU Pomona vs KCU (Joplin)

[hydroflask128]

Hi everyone,

I am really fortunate to have been accepted to these two awesome DO programs and have been making a pros/cons list for both schools. I was hoping to get some insight before making a decision on where to put down my initial deposit come December.

Background: I'm from Northern California and ideally would prefer to be closer to family and friends. Considering EM, FM, or Anesthesia. I also want to end up doing residency/practicing here in the future so WesternU does seem like a better option in that resort. However, I am very open to moving out of state if it would provide better opportunities and education.

On interview day, I felt much more comfortable and impressed with KCU ~ although i did interview at the KC campus. I think if I was offered a seat at the KC campus, I would be leaning towards going to KCU. I know Joplin has everything that KC has to offer but given that I haven't visited before, I feel very conflicted on what to do...

KCU (Joplin) Pros
- roughly 10K cheaper tuition/year
- cheaper cost of living
- strong national reputation (KCU name)
- solid curriculum with proven track record of success on Boards
- less emphasis on OMM
- Affiliated hospitals for rotations (Freeman and Mercy)
- Impressive match list into competitive specialties and programs in Midwest
- community campus with greater potential to make an impact

KCU (Joplin) Cons
- Never seen the campus before, (unable to be given campus tour until April)
- living in smaller town may be huge shock for me (moving from CA suburbs)

WesternU (Pomona) Pros
- recent improvement/changes to curriculum
- less focus on OMM than previous years
- strong ties in state (better options for CA residencies)
- Focus on Inter-professional Education
- close to support system (family/friends)
- impressive match lists with competitive specialties
- Well recognized on West coast

WesternU (Pomona) Cons
- Tuition is 10K more expensive/year
- high cost of living but already used to this being CA native
- interview group seemed to have "cut throat" feel, don't see this with vibe of current students i spoke with though.

TLDR ~ which program would give me the best education and opportunities, and why? What is the trade-off of a better "fit" at KCU (Joplin) vs having the better opportunity of practicing in CA as a Western graduate.

I would really appreciate if any current students of the two programs could chime in with what they think are the strengths and weaknesses of the programs, and if they feel satisfied with their education/resources. I've read similar posts in the past and have done my research into both programs but i'm having difficulty deciding which one is the best for me. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much in advance!

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[scoopdaboop]

10 k is somewhat a big deal for tuition, but not enough for me to not live in cali over missouri.

 

[Ho0v-man]

If you’re from Cali go to the Cali school. Sucks to pay extra tuition, but I’d happily pay more to be able to spend time with family. And I’m usually in the “go to the cheaper school” camp.

 

[Goro]

Hi everyone,

I am really fortunate to have been accepted to these two awesome DO programs and have been making a pros/cons list for both schools. I was hoping to get some insight before making a decision on where to put down my initial deposit come December.

Background: I'm from Northern California and ideally would prefer to be closer to family and friends. Considering EM, FM, or Anesthesia. I also want to end up doing residency/practicing here in the future so WesternU does seem like a better option in that resort. However, I am very open to moving out of state if it would provide better opportunities and education.

On interview day, I felt much more comfortable and impressed with KCU ~ although i did interview at the KC campus. I think if I was offered a seat at the KC campus, I would be leaning towards going to KCU. I know Joplin has everything that KC has to offer but given that I haven't visited before, I feel very conflicted on what to do...

KCU (Joplin) Pros
- roughly 10K cheaper tuition/year
- cheaper cost of living
- strong national reputation (KCU name)
- solid curriculum with proven track record of success on Boards
- less emphasis on OMM
- Affiliated hospitals for rotations (Freeman and Mercy)
- Impressive match list into competitive specialties and programs in Midwest
- community campus with greater potential to make an impact

KCU (Joplin) Cons
- Never seen the campus before, (unable to be given campus tour until April)
- living in smaller town may be huge shock for me (moving from CA suburbs)

WesternU (Pomona) Pros
- recent improvement/changes to curriculum
- less focus on OMM than previous years
- strong ties in state (better options for CA residencies)
- Focus on Inter-professional Education
- close to support system (family/friends)
- impressive match lists with competitive specialties
- Well recognized on West coast

WesternU (Pomona) Cons
- Tuition is 10K more expensive/year
- high cost of living but already used to this being CA native
- interview group seemed to have "cut throat" feel, don't see this with vibe of current students i spoke with though.

TLDR ~ which program would give me the best education and opportunities, and why? What is the trade-off of a better "fit" at KCU (Joplin) vs having the better opportunity of practicing in CA as a Western graduate.

I would really appreciate if any current students of the two programs could chime in with what they think are the strengths and weaknesses of the programs, and if they feel satisfied with their education/resources. I've read similar posts in the past and have done my research into both programs but i'm having difficulty deciding which one is the best for me. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much in advance!

Both good schools.
Here's what's really important:
What do you like more: KC barbecue or Mexican good?

 

[deleted936470]

You got into a medical school that's both near LA and your family? I know what choice I'd make. Congrats!

 

[deleted994889]

Congrats on getting in! IMO $40K (plus compounding interest) is a lot and would be enough to make me choose KCU (I live ~1 hour from Pomona). On the flipside, being close to family and liking the location are super important too.

If I were you, I'd put down both deposits and decide which after seeing both. The deposit money isn't a lot in the grand scheme of things and totally worth it for allowing you to make the best decision possible. Only then can you really decide what's more worth to you.

 

[hydroflask128]

Congrats on getting in! IMO $40K (plus compounding interest) is a lot and would be enough to make me choose KCU (I live ~1 hour from Pomona). On the flipside, being close to family and liking the location are super important too.

If I were you, I'd put down both deposits and decide which after seeing both. The deposit money isn't a lot in the grand scheme of things and totally worth it for allowing you to make the best decision possible. Only then can you really decide what's more worth to you.

Thanks for your input! that's a good point. i think i would have to visit KCU Joplin for reassurance and be comfortable with making a more informed decision later on in the cycle, even if that means putting down two deposits in December.

 

[scoopdaboop]

kcu joplin campus is sexy (i go there). Joplin as a city is not that sexy, and 90 percent of the time you're studying, but the 10 percent of time you might wish you're in a big city, but if you don't wish or care for that, then it's not a big deal.

 

[ghusky9616]

I think it really matters how much you value seeing your friends and family. How often do you see them now? I'm not sure what your financial situation is like, but if I were you I'd also consider how expensive/how often you'd be able to visit home if you moved to KC? At the end of the day, I think the school's reputation isn't as important as how well you will be able to succeed as a student at a given school. So if you think that KC has better opportunities and believe that you can succeed just as well with family further away then I would strongly consider KC especially because of the tuition. However, if you think that you will be a stronger student will family support nearby, then being a stronger student could also mean more opportunities in an area that you would like to practice in the future.

 

[hydroflask128]

I think it really matters how much you value seeing your friends and family. How often do you see them now? I'm not sure what your financial situation is like, but if I were you I'd also consider how expensive/how often you'd be able to visit home if you moved to KC? At the end of the day, I think the school's reputation isn't as important as how well you will be able to succeed as a student at a given school. So if you think that KC has better opportunities and believe that you can succeed just as well with family further away then I would strongly consider KC especially because of the tuition. However, if you think that you will be a stronger student will family support nearby, then being a stronger student could also mean more opportunities in an area that you would like to practice in the future.

Thanks for your input, definitely valuable points to consider! I think both programs would provide similar resources/opportunities for me as a med student. I'm leaning towards WesternU despite the higher tuition since it would mean being closer to family and providing more opportunities to practice here in the future.

I guess the only thing that really is making me consider KCU is the fact that I really loved the program/environment after interview day more-so than my experience at WesternU.