Help me decide! LECOM-E vs Tourocom

[mike10980]

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Hey fellow SDNers...I have recently gotten off the waitlist at one of the DO schools that I had applied to...and therefore, I am in the position to decide between two schools: Tourocom-NYC and LECOM-Erie. There are things I love about both schools, and things that concern me. The following is my thought process thus far:

LECOM Erie: Established, large school with plenty of resources. Proven track record. However, there seems to be certain aspects of negativity on SDN. I don't care at all about dress code and whatnot, but I am concerned about administration support. Also I am not sure if I will be able to rotate near home.

Tourocom-NYC: I know people at this school, and they told me things are changing up quickly (with faculty) and this can be good and bad. I like the idea of living in a big city, and I will be a bit closer to family.

Any advice or insights would be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks in advance

 

[punkiedad]

Hey fellow SDNers...I have recently gotten off the waitlist at one of the DO schools that I had applied to...and therefore, I am in the position to decide between two schools: Tourocom-NYC and LECOM-Erie. There are things I love about both schools, and things that concern me. The following is my thought process thus far:

LECOM Erie: Established, large school with plenty of resources. Proven track record. However, there seems to be certain aspects of negativity on SDN. I don't care at all about dress code and whatnot, but I am concerned about administration support. Also I am not sure if I will be able to rotate near home.

Tourocom-NYC: I know people at this school, and they told me things are changing up quickly (with faculty) and this can be good and bad. I like the idea of living in a big city, and I will be a bit closer to family.

Any advice or insights would be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks in advance

I cant speak to Tourocom but I live in Erie and have been around quite a few LECOM graduates and students as I have been a drug rep before starting at LECOM. I hear a lot of the big brother stuff as well. Honestly, it doesn't bother me. I have bene in corp america for 15 years and it is what it is. LECOM is no different, it is just more real world and probably a bit more 'big school' process oriented model approach. Obviously what they do works.........so, over all I reflect on what I have heard several times and that is that LECOM is 'hard' or will prepare you well. I am not looking to get through it. So, I have heard board scores are good for LECOMers and that should reflect on preparation. I guess in the end, it goes to the 90-10 rule. Life is 10% what happens to you, 90% how you react to it.

Bets of luck in your decision........if the owrst part of your day is having to decide between two schools you like, life could be worse.

 

[mike10980]

I cant speak to Tourocom but I live in Erie and have been around quite a few LECOM graduates and students as I have been a drug rep before starting at LECOM. I hear a lot of the big brother stuff as well. Honestly, it doesn't bother me. I have bene in corp america for 15 years and it is what it is. LECOM is no different, it is just more real world and probably a bit more 'big school' process oriented model approach. Obviously what they do works.........so, over all I reflect on what I have heard several times and that is that LECOM is 'hard' or will prepare you well. I am not looking to get through it. So, I have heard board scores are good for LECOMers and that should reflect on preparation. I guess in the end, it goes to the 90-10 rule. Life is 10% what happens to you, 90% how you react to it.

Bets of luck in your decision........if the owrst part of your day is having to decide between two schools you like, life could be worse.

Thank you for the well-written reply. I honestly have heard a lot about the big-brother feeling at the school, but I have heard that the education is good. Since you live in Erie, I thought I'd ask, how do you honestly feel about the area? I was wondering how it'd feel to live in Erie for the next four years.

Once again, thanks 👍

 

[JanikeyDoc]

LECOM is more established than Touro NY. From a cost perspective LECOM will be a lot less expensive. Touro is in Manhattan which is one of the most expensive places in the world, the NYC area is exciting but super expensive and not so kind to people who are going to be on a budget such as med students. If I had your choice I would go for LECOM, its going to be my first choice school because of its reputation and cost compared to other schools.

 

[supergumbo]

^ Agreed. LECOM-Erie is a very inexpensive medical school, the cost of living in the area is quite low, has a storied reputation in comparison to TOURO-NY, and imo a nicer area (not much of a city person 🙂). Also, I've heard quite a bit of negative stuff about TOURO's administration and classes too. Sure, the big-brother atmosphere of LECOM may be offsetting, but as long as you buy yourself into it, I'm sure you'll turn out fine. When I had my interview at TOURO-NY, it seemed they were still working on getting more hospitals for rotations (which they were "sure" they'll get).

Wow, I was a bit harsh on touro. Sorry if I offended any touro students..

 

[JanikeyDoc]

I think Touro is fine but LECOM Erie has been around a lot longer, and if I am not mistaken you can do your rotational electives in a lot of places. I personally like LECOM's tuition and city which is in my budget. I currently am in one of the most expensive places in the world and would like to live somewhere that won't bankrupt me. I was looking at rents in the Erie area and a decent one bedroom can be found for about $400 to $500 a month, you can't get a cardboard box even in a one hour radius from Tourocom for that much.

 

[WishingStar]

If being close to home is really important to you, then attend Touro. I would pick the more established school....tuition for LECOM is a plus as well. I'm sure both educations are fine. You are what you make of it.

I actually had bad experiences with the admissions staff/director of admissions from Touro-NY and Touro-NV so I ended up pulling out all my applications to all three Touro schools. Yes, some people think I'm crazy but professionalism is important to me and I just couldn't shake off the bad vibes.

 

[engineeredout]

Aside from insane expenses of being in Manhattan, Touro-NY is brand new. C/o 2013 is only their second class right? I personally wouldn't want to go to a brand new school, I'd be much happier with something more well established like LECOM.

 

[Bacchus]

LECOM. The school wasn't the "one" for me but I loved the Erie area. The money should talk in this discussion: $65,000 for Touro or $35-40,000 for LECOM. Not to mention, LECOM's reputation is much better/established than Touro.

 

[rc4ch]

I wouldn't want to live in Harlem. It's not only expensive, but its in the middle of Harlem.

I grew up in in a small town in PA next to a corn field. So take my opinion lightly.

 

[Gold 5]

Hey fellow SDNers...I have recently gotten off the waitlist at one of the DO schools that I had applied to...and therefore, I am in the position to decide between two schools: Tourocom-NYC and LECOM-Erie. There are things I love about both schools, and things that concern me. The following is my thought process thus far:

LECOM Erie: Established, large school with plenty of resources. Proven track record. However, there seems to be certain aspects of negativity on SDN. I don't care at all about dress code and whatnot, but I am concerned about administration support. Also I am not sure if I will be able to rotate near home.

Tourocom-NYC: I know people at this school, and they told me things are changing up quickly (with faculty) and this can be good and bad. I like the idea of living in a big city, and I will be a bit closer to family.

Any advice or insights would be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks in advance

Really depends on where you want to live for the first two years of school. I am sure the books are the same. Family is important. Money is also important. Picture which environment you would like to be in and go from there.

Another important thought is that you will either make youself a great doctor or not. Whatever school you choose can provide you the oppertunity that you desire but you nedd to sit down and study.

 

[Gold 5]

Aside from insane expenses of being in Manhattan, Touro-NY is brand new. C/o 2013 is only their second class right? I personally wouldn't want to go to a brand new school, I'd be much happier with something more well established like LECOM.

3rd class

 

[mike10980]

WOW thank you for all of the awesome and well-thought out replies! 👍

Some very valid points in this thread here, looks like I got a lot of thinking to do this weekend. I do like LECOM's reputation, and that it has graduated multiple classes already. Looks like by Sunday evening I'll have made my choice.

Any other further insights will be forever appreciated! 😳

Thanks again!!

 

[danimjo]

WOW thank you for all of the awesome and well-thought out replies! 👍

Some very valid points in this thread here, looks like I got a lot of thinking to do this weekend. I do like LECOM's reputation, and that it has graduated multiple classes already. Looks like by Sunday evening I'll have made my choice.

Any other further insights will be forever appreciated! 😳

Thanks again!!

Right after college I moved to New York and lived there and worked there for two years. Although I wouldn't trade those two years for anything in the world, it really is a difficult city to live in. Everything changes even the way you grocery shop. I lived in Manhattan and the only real grocers that were like grocery stores everywhere else were Whole Foods and they of course are outrageous! Furthermore there are always people everywhere, it doesn't matter if its 4:00 AM there are always people up and out and about. While that is part of the appeal of "the city", it's also very tiring b/c it's never really quiet or restful. The air in the city is dense and thick and there is always some sort of smell whether it's food from restaurants or garbage or car exhaust you just never get fresh air. Most people our age in the city have limited kitchens (lots of people don't even have a proper stove) and that combined with the lack of grocery stores means people eat out all the time, that gets expensive and unhealthy for you. Also keep in mind that New York is a walking city, while that is nice when the whether is nice, for much of the year the weather in new york hovers between zero and 20 degrees with bitter winds. It stops being fun to walk the ten blocks from the subway to your apartment or office, when the whether is that cold! Not that Erie doesn't get cold, but most people in Erie drive so you're not looking going to have to do as much walking in the bitter cold.
Ultimately, there is nothing like living and working in New York, but it is a huge adjustment and it changes even the most basic things about the way most Americans live. I think medical school will have enough challenges on its own, I can't imagine trying to adapt to all those challenges on top of having to adapt to living in New York.
Like I said I loved living in New York, but of all the places I lived it was the hardest to adjust to and I've lived in rural Wyoming, in Arkansas, in Orlando Florida, in Austin Texas, in LA, and in DC.

 

[Mohammed1989]

I say touro because the school might be new but it is good from what I heard. The faculty are very friendly I know because I went for a open house and the dean ended up dropping me home and I live in nj. So it was a nice car ride. The class size is too big so it means you'll make great friends comapred to med schools with a huge population of stydents walking around. They are still adding to the school I did receive a email saying they are adding a gym or something working on their 4th and 5th floors. The thing I have to say I love the best is on friday no classes after 12 because remember they are a private jewish school. Well I don't know too much aboue lecom so I can't say much. Just heard its cold down there lol. Good luck

 

[Mohammed1989]

I say touro because the school might be new but it is good from what I heard. The faculty are very friendly I know because I went for a open house and the dean ended up dropping me home and I live in nj. So it was a nice car ride. The class size is too big so it means you'll make great friends comapred to med schools with a huge population of stydents walking around. They are still adding to the school I did receive a email saying they are adding a gym or something working on their 4th and 5th floors. The thing I have to say I love the best is on friday no classes after 12 because remember they are a private jewish school. Well I don't know too much aboue lecom so I can't say much. Just heard its cold down there lol. Good luck

I meant not too big, my blackberry isn't letting me edit it

 

[TeamZissou]

Looks like by Sunday evening I'll have made my choice.

So out of curiosity, which did you choose?