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[medhacker]

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So we all agree PCOM is a better school?

 

[EEL08]

So we all agree PCOM is a better school?

nice.

 

[Dr JPH]

So we all agree PCOM is a better school?

You ask that like there were any doubt. 😉

Am I biased towards PCOM? Sure.

But being the only person in this entire thread who has worked with students, interns, residents and students from both schools...perhaps my opinion is a valid one.

But some of you, like Annie, appear to be comfortable with pre-meds fielding other pre-meds questions. Thats fine...doesnt make sense, but ok.

The last time I saw two blind people walking down the street together one of them got hit by a car and the other fell down a manhole. Ugly situation.

Listen...am I saying LECOM is a bad school? Not at all. The people I have worked with from LECOM have been great (except two). Other than that, the medical students on my service were very good. Academically strong and hard workers. In fact, the best medical student I have ever worked with was a LECOM student...currently a 4th year LECOMer.

What I am trying to convey to all of you is the importance of opportunity and location.

Now, as a premed your perspective can be a bit skewed. One tends to think the best medical school is the one that accepts them...trust me, I know that feeling. But you need to look at ALL of the factors.

Now, if after weighing all of the factors you feel that X school is better than Y school, then by all means go to X. But dont let your decision haunt you. Be sure to have all of the information about a place before committing.

You can look at things like board scores and match lists, but be very careful about how you interpret those things. Just like all DO schools are not created equal, not all residency programs are created equal. So just because one school tends to send a higher % of people into ____ surgery that year, doesnt mean those graduates are better off. Also keep in mind the individual dynamic from class to class. I have seen people quote a match list from the previous year about a school "4 people went into Radiology" when the next year it was none. Tides change and different classes have different interests. Peculiar, but that seems to be how it works.

So again, YES I am biased towards PCOM. But my bias isnt solely based on the letters on my hoodie. Its also based on personal experience...something no one in this thread (to date) has besides me.

 

[BCLumas]

Is PCOM a better school than LECOM? No. Is PCOM a school that has more opportunities for their students? Yes. Opportunities =/= quality of a school. As JPH said "if after weighing all of the factors you feel that X school is better than Y school, then by all means go to X." LECOM is "better" for myself and for others than PCOM is. However, PCOM is "better" to other students than LECOM. The term "better" is purely objective and should not be thrown around so freely.

 

[Dr JPH]

Is PCOM a better school than LECOM? No. Is PCOM a school that has more opportunities for their students? Yes. Opportunities =/= quality of a school. As JPH said "if after weighing all of the factors you feel that X school is better than Y school, then by all means go to X." LECOM is "better" for myself and for others than PCOM is. However, PCOM is "better" to other students than LECOM. The term "better" is purely objective and should not be thrown around so freely.

We agree. Well said. 👍

 

[BCLumas]

^.^ Thanks!

 

[MaximusD]

^.^ Thanks!

You're lucky that I can't hate on you by the sheer virtue that you are a penn stater.

If you're still up there you better be enjoying your last 6 months of bliss. Penn State is an experience that never comes back... ENJOY IT AND PARTY OFTEN! Keep the second semester grades above Cs and you'll be golden, but don't try to set any records.

Oh and if you see him, kick Morelli in the chin for me. His performance in that final set of downs against MSU was atrocious. Four incomplete passes in a row!? Why would you use your RB to get you 60-70 yds and then shoot for the endzone four times in a row? I am so disspointed...even now. Missed out on a New Years Day bowl... now I have no incentive to be able to get out of bed on New Years Day 😀 Mixed blessing, I suppose

 

[BCLumas]

Yah. I cannot wait to get out of here. Weather today really sucks and Morelli.. he just pisses me off. If I see him I'll kick him in the chin twice: once for you and another for me.

<3 to MaximusD ^.^

 

[Bacchus]

I agree with you medschool 08. I decided to go to LECOM over PCOM as well. I think it's a personal decision. I'm sorry but I don't feel like paying $1000 a month for an efficiency in Philly when I can pay $600 for a two bedroom apartment with a two car garage. So what if it's cold and snowy, that's why they make coats! While PCOMers are enjoying the beautiful view of dingy, dirty skyscrapers, LECOMers can enjoy wonderful Lake Erie 😀. It just depends on where you feel most comfortable. No matter what at the end of the day we're all going to be doctors. Med school is what you make of it and you need to choose a place that will allow you to perform at your best. See you in class medschool 08.

No one said you have to live in center city. University city 1BRs go for about 750 or less. Bad excuse. And Philly's city scape is beautiful. Its the selling point I drive home when I transport patients to double rooms. Guess what, you have the window and a great view! Don't bash on Philly. Plus, Philly doesn't get lake effect snow.

 

[Bacchus]

Now here is an interesting question, what if the decision was between PCOM-GA and LECOM-B (as I someday might) , would opinions stay the same? or is much of the PCOM advantage disappear when you go to the sister campus?

PCOM-GA. You're in Atlanta. I'm sure there is a lot more opportunity in Atlanta opposed to Erie. Atlanta has Grady after all.

 

[Bacchus]

Yeah PCOM is right on the outskirts of town (literally, you cross the road and you're in Bala Cynwyd, a "suburb"). Life here is vastly different than in Centre/Old City. It's much more suburban and sprawled-out, and the neighborhood, while not disneyland, is fairly safe. Drive a mile or two down Lancaster Ave and the situation changes But all-in-all, I came from a small town in south-central PA (There is a corn field in my backyard..) and then went to rural State College for four years. I live right down the street from PCOM and the transition has not been dramatic by any stretch.

I only drive down Lancaster Ave in the daytime.

 

[Lokhtar]

I only drive down Lancaster Ave in the daytime.

It's not that bad. I've lived in Philly for the past 12 years. The crime problem is way overstated.

 

[Bacchus]

I've only been up there a few times. I take the Belmont exit down to Lancaster and 42nd. Not even on it very long. I am in Univ City and feel very safe (for the most part).

 

[JellyJelly]

oooh, i can't wait to hear what the final decision is...the suspense is killing me

 

[BCLumas]

PCOM-GA. You're in Atlanta. I'm sure there is a lot more opportunity in Atlanta opposed to Erie. Atlanta has Grady after all.

Try again. The question was LECOM-Bradenton or GA-PCOM. LECOM-B is in Florida just south of Tampa.

I DEMAND NEW ANSZORZ!

 

[Bacchus]

Try again. The question was LECOM-Bradenton or GA-PCOM. LECOM-B is in Florida just south of Tampa.

I DEMAND NEW ANSZORZ!

PCOM.

 

[Dr JPH]

It's not that bad. I've lived in Philly for the past 12 years. The crime problem is way overstated.

Me too. And I disagree! 🙂

 

[Bacchus]

Me too. And I disagree! 🙂

About crime being a problem or not being a problem? In the PCOM area, no. In UC, a little. In the Temple area, wear a flack vest.

And I'm guessing this is a day off for you? How's G-surg?

 

[Dr JPH]

About crime being a problem or not being a problem? In the PCOM area, no. In UC, a little. In the Temple area, wear a flack vest.

And I'm guessing this is a day off for you? How's G-surg?

Crime is a problem in Philly. PCOM area is nice. I live in the city and its nice there.

Not a day off, on call right now.

G-surg is hard.

 

[Bacchus]

As hard as Mr. Smith's infamous micro exams? 😛

 

[Lokhtar]

Crime is a problem in Philly. PCOM area is nice. I live in the city and its nice there.

Not a day off, on call right now.

G-surg is hard.

Yes, crime is a problem in Philly. But if you aren't a drug dealer, and don't wander into west philly at 2AM, you'll be fine. Medical students aren't getting popped left and right, as some are afraid of.

 

[TexasTriathlete]

I thought that was why PCOM takes such a big class. They expect a certain percentage of them to be killed in episodes of gang violence.

 

[Lokhtar]

I thought that was why PCOM takes such a big class. They expect a certain percentage of them to be killed in episodes of gang violence.

Well, some are sacrificed before the match. If their blood makes it to the sidewalk, it's supposed to be a good omen.

 

[Dr JPH]

As hard as Mr. Smith's infamous micro exams? 😛

Yes...harder

 

[Dr JPH]

Yes, crime is a problem in Philly. But if you aren't a drug dealer, and don't wander into west philly at 2AM, you'll be fine. Medical students aren't getting popped left and right, as some are afraid of.

Careful what you say. It wasnt too long ago that a PCOM student was murdered while jogging not too far from school. Its still a sore spot for some of us...perhaps using discretion in the way you state things would be a good idea in the future.

 

[BCLumas]

JPH, for some reason you rub me the wrong way sometimes. Why not chide TT on his comment as well? "I thought that was why PCOM takes such a big class. They expect a certain percentage of them to be killed in episodes of gang violence." That is just as bad. It honestly started out as a joke, so telling him to use discretion when he probably had no idea of the incident is just silly. It was a joke.. no need to be rude.\

EDIT: I am saying that neither of them should have been scolded. Not TT. Not Lokhtar. They should just be reminded of the incident and asked not to discuss the issue for it is sensitive atm.

 

[Lokhtar]

Careful what you say. It wasnt too long ago that a PCOM student was murdered while jogging not too far from school. Its still a sore spot for some of us...perhaps using discretion in the way you state things would be a good idea in the future.

Sorry, I knew about the incident, but it slipped my mind.

 

[Bacchus]

JPH, for some reason you rub me the wrong way sometimes. Why not chide TT on his comment as well? "I thought that was why PCOM takes such a big class. They expect a certain percentage of them to be killed in episodes of gang violence." That is just as bad. It honestly started out as a joke, so telling him to use discretion when he probably had no idea of the incident is just silly. It was a joke.. no need to be rude.\

EDIT: I am saying that neither of them should have been scolded. Not TT. Not Lokhtar. They should just be reminded of the incident and asked not to discuss the issue for it is sensitive atm.

I assume he was reading the posts from top to bottom of his screen. That being said, not to seem like a groupie, but you'll learn a lot from JPH. Stick around.

 

[BCLumas]

I assume he was reading the posts from top to bottom of his screen. That being said, not to seem like a groupie, but you'll learn a lot from JPH. Stick around.

...?

I can only hope to learn a lot from anyone who is currently in or has gone through Medical school. It would be ignorant of me to think I knew all of the answers. As everyone should, looking towards your elders (in this case, those who are ahead of you in learning) is a great way to find out what to do and what not to do. Thus we have this great site named "SDN" and a board dedicated to pre-osteo for others to help us, the misguided pre-meds, get answers to our questions.

With that being said, I have no problem informing someone when they are being rude to another individual. As all of us have learned from our parents, there are many ways to say the same thing. While Lokhtar might have decided to use a bit more tact in his statement, snipping at him is definitely not a good response. While I respect JPH for everything he has accomplished and is going to accomplish, being rude is not the right way to address a situation.

 

[Playmakur42]

.

 

[BCLumas]

Careful what you say. It wasnt too long ago that a PCOM student was murdered while jogging not too far from school. Its still a sore spot for some of us...perhaps using discretion in the way you state things would be a good idea in the future.

That can definitely be construed as rude or a bit scolding in nature. Maybe it is just me, but I think a bit more discretion in the way that things are stated would be a good idea in the future.

 

[Dr JPH]

I dont think I was being rude at all.

Lokhtar lives in Philly and was aware of the incident.

The other guy lives in Texas and was only responding to the initial statement.

BTW I rub lots of people the wrong way. Oddly enough I dont do it intentionally. 👍

 

[MaximusD]

That can definitely be construed as rude or a bit scolding in nature. Maybe it is just me, but I think a bit more discretion in the way that things are stated would be a good idea in the future.

He's right though... and unfortunately the person is thought to be at large, last I checked. 😳

I wasn't here but everyone on campus knows about what happened... even those of us who hadn't come to PCOM yet.

Pretty much if you're in Philly, use your head. I'm comfortable at night but I walk in lit areas, because I'm not stupid. If I had girly parts, I am not sure whether I'd walk around at night period...

Keep in mind that even State College had a major problem with rapes yearly and that was a "safe" town...

And finally, keep in mind that PCOM has a constant police presence AND an active security force.

That is all.

 

[MossPoh]

I dont think I was being rude at all.

Lokhtar lives in Philly and was aware of the incident.

The other guy lives in Texas and was only responding to the initial statement.

BTW I rub lots of people the wrong way. Oddly enough I dont do it intentionally. 👍

Its cool...I'm slowly becoming the next JPH I think. I just don't give a damn anymore.

To put my input in way too late, I go with pcom. Nothing wrong with lecom in the least. I enjoy the fact I would be near a major airport, have tons of friends from undergrad, tons and tons of opportunities, a solid/reputable education, etc. I am from a small town...just like Max, I had a cornfield in my yard and had to battle with the yearly issues of fertilizer getting into my hs's AC unit, but I still pick the city environment. Even if you hate cities, you can suck it up for a couple of years for a better chance...and you'll probably find out you'll miss some aspects of it.

Life is dangerous. All you can do is minimize your dangers. Just recently we had a woman who is a nurse at the current uni I am at in florida. Her car broke down, and some guys went to "help". A week later, her headless (yes headless) body was found about 8 miles from my house. The guys drained her checking account and still haven't been found. That is in a county with 4 stoplights and 4 caution lights I can think of..in the county. Bad stuff happens everywhere. I've been in some BAD neighborhoods at 3 in the morning and had nothing happen...and I was drunk and stupid. Its not like you get shot as soon as you cross a little yellow line or something.

 

[BCLumas]

... Even if you hate cities, you can suck it up for a couple of years for a better chance...

I actually tend to disagree. I am a Resident Assistant at a very large University and have had the opportunity to be the head-of-house for more than 100 freshman and another 75 upperclassmen over my 3 year tenure. Several times I have seen that people have gone away from their environment for what they felt was "opportunities" but was, in fact, a bad idea for them. Most recently, two of my current residents do not feel this University is for them. One of them is from Wisconsin and wishes to be closer to his hometown: he is transferring back today. The other has no motivation for classes and really dreams of going to school in Alaska. He will probably stay one more semester (because he loves the people on my floor). The point is, you should not go to a school simply because of things. You should go to a school that is best for you and give you the best opportunity to learn. If you go somewhere for any other reason than that, you run the risk (not guaranteed, but it could happen) of not having the best medical school experience.

 

[Dr JPH]

I actually tend to disagree. I am a Resident Assistant at a very large University and have had the opportunity to be the head-of-house for more than 100 freshman and another 75 upperclassmen over my 3 year tenure. Several times I have seen that people have gone away from their environment for what they felt was "opportunities" but was, in fact, a bad idea for them. Most recently, two of my current residents do not feel this University is for them. One of them is from Wisconsin and wishes to be closer to his hometown: he is transferring back today. The other has no motivation for classes and really dreams of going to school in Alaska. He will probably stay one more semester (because he loves the people on my floor). The point is, you should not go to a school simply because of things. You should go to a school that is best for you and give you the best opportunity to learn. If you go somewhere for any other reason than that, you run the risk (not guaranteed, but it could happen) of not having the best medical school experience.

Wake up call: Medical school is different than college.

In college it really doesnt matter WHERE you are. Your opportunities are what they are. Youre applying for a job, sure, but lets look at the reality for a moment.

In MEDICAL school you spend 2 years of rotations interviewing for a job (residency). If you cant interview where you want to be for residency then what is the point?

Philadelphia and the surrounding area has far more opportunity for residency programs than Erie.

I dont know how much elective time you get at LECOM or what the rules are regarding the elective time are, but PCOM gives you close to 30 weeks of pure elective (do whatever/wherever) time. Thats huge.

So you can nitpick about the differences in curriculum, cost and convenience of one school over the other, but you cant deny that Philadelphia has opportunity where Erie has...I dont know...snow?

If you want to do your residency at LECOM or have a burning desire to be the next Ferretti, then by all means head to western PA and live the LECOM experience.

If you want to be in a city with 5 medical schools, close to 100 hospitals and more residency programs than some entire STATES, then be smart about where you decide to spend the 4 years of your life that will determine the REST of your life...come to Philadelphia.

 

[MossPoh]

I actually tend to disagree. I am a Resident Assistant at a very large University and have had the opportunity to be the head-of-house for more than 100 freshman and another 75 upperclassmen over my 3 year tenure. Several times I have seen that people have gone away from their environment for what they felt was "opportunities" but was, in fact, a bad idea for them. Most recently, two of my current residents do not feel this University is for them. One of them is from Wisconsin and wishes to be closer to his hometown: he is transferring back today. The other has no motivation for classes and really dreams of going to school in Alaska. He will probably stay one more semester (because he loves the people on my floor). The point is, you should not go to a school simply because of things. You should go to a school that is best for you and give you the best opportunity to learn. If you go somewhere for any other reason than that, you run the risk (not guaranteed, but it could happen) of not having the best medical school experience.

I went to penn state too. 😉 You'll encounter people that it happens no matter what. I was one of those people completely miserable at PSU, borderline suicidal. I sucked it up and all went well. You can always spot people on both sides, sorry but the majority of these people have other issues and thought it was going to be something it wasn't. I have known more than 2 or 3 people (about a dozen) that have transferred to OR away from a home environment. Out of those, about wound up dropping out or transferring again. I started out HATING cities. I lived in Berlin for a fair amount of time. I hated it...now that I'm away, all I can think of is going back. One of the dangers of undergrad, especially for those kids that go far from home is that they are encountering EVERYTHING completely new....at a state school like psu the large majority of people know a couple people that go there and they are fairly close to home. I had nobody and realistically, undergrad was exceedingly easy and left a lot of time to find faults in daily things. I tend to think that those people that transfer will encounter the same issues wherever they go, but they learn to handle it better. I am encountering the same issues from PSU here at FSU...but I've grown, learned and know how to handle them. I came to psu for opporunties as well, although for undergrad it really doesn't mean as much as med school...it really is comparing apples to oranges to me. 😉 As my favorite saying goes, "The grass is always greener, but just as hard to mow"

 

[Lfribble]

Maybe it's just me, but I feel that something has been missed in all these responses. The OP asked which was a better school to get him/her to Pittsburgh for rotations. So if what was said is correct (and I believe it is), that basically rotations are two years of interviews for residency and he wants to be in Pittsburgh, perhaps the best choice for this person is LECOM which sends tons of people to the Pittsburgh area.

PCOM has an amazing program and all of the opportunities associated with being in a big city with lots of other med schools, hospitals, etc. No one is going to say that that isn't true. However, just because PCOM is a great school doesn't mean it's the right school for everyone. There are personal factors- happiness, location, cost- that should all be taken into account. Also I think that the love for certain schools makes some people forget that everyone doesn't want the same thing out of medical school. (Obviously everyone wants to be a doctor and have good opportunities and such, but not everyone wants the most prestigious or competative of residencies, not everyone wants to be in big cities.)

Lastly- JPH- I respect your opinions and some of the most useful information I've found on this website has come from your posts. However- have you ever been to Erie? You offer your opinions of the area freely yet as you said, you didn't even interview there. Do your comments come from first hand knowledge? Is LECOM cold as hell- yep but it's not miserable. I don't sit and twiddle my thumbs because there is nothing to do. I don't think anyone has actually died of boredom in Erie. Amazingly enough some of us actually like it there, a lot. Even though we came from the amazing town of Philly and despite the fact that there are no Wawa's.... Imagine that...

 

[Dr JPH]

However- have you ever been to Erie?

Yes.

Despite the fact that I did not interview there, I have indeed been to the town AND even seen your campus.

If the arguments above were putting LECOM above PCOM simply because its a "better fit for my personality" then that would be fine.

But to make the argument that LECOM offers the same opportunity or exposure is silly.

 

[medschool08]

LECOM rocks!! i love that school!!

 

[Dr JPH]

LECOM rocks!! i love that school!!

I thought I loved this fat chick I was dating in high school. Then I realized that thin chicks make better girlfriends.

 

[BCLumas]

LFribble.. is JPH still being rude on these boards? Doesn't suprise me. Look. What it ultimately comes down to is what you alluded to: best place for the PERSON. Obviously, the OP has made their choice already so I do not see any reason for all of us to be fighting. People like certain areas for different reasons. Personally, I would never go to Erie because of its location.. similarly, I would never go to PCOM because of its location. All of that is mute, however, because this topic is for the OP to hear some biased views from PCOM lovers and biased views from LECOM lovers. Let us all hope that the OP made the best choice for them and get on with our lives.

 

[Lednerg]

I thought I loved this fat chick I was dating in high school. Then I realized that thin chicks make better girlfriends.

Hahahahahahaha!

Holy ****, I just laughed really hard!!!

Thanks.

 

[gasapple]

LFribble.. is JPH still being rude on these boards? Doesn't suprise me. Look. What it ultimately comes down to is what you alluded to: best place for the PERSON. Obviously, the OP has made their choice already so I do not see any reason for all of us to be fighting. People like certain areas for different reasons. Personally, I would never go to Erie because of its location.. similarly, I would never go to PCOM because of its location. All of that is mute, however, because this topic is for the OP to hear some biased views from PCOM lovers and biased views from LECOM lovers. Let us all hope that the OP made the best choice for them and get on with our lives.

I'm in full agreement. No, really.
No one really needs to worry about what others think around here, just make the decision that's best for you. It's funny how the same pissing contest **** in pre-allo carries over to the pre-osteo forum. I like watching people squabble over how their school "ranks" in the pre-allo forum and I find it humorous to watch the "tiered" school ranking appear here based solely on personal opinion and an admitted bias. I guess that's what this blog is all about - opinions, so no problem there. Bottom line is that there are different fits - and more often, different opportunities dependent on the individual perspective.
People take SDN way too seriously. Take it away TT!

 

[BCLumas]

Haha! I finally beat you to a good point 😛

 

[gasapple]

Haha! I finally beat you to a good point 😛

Son-of-a...

 

[Dr JPH]

LFribble.. is JPH still being rude on these boards? Doesn't suprise me. Look. What it ultimately comes down to is what you alluded to: best place for the PERSON. Obviously, the OP has made their choice already so I do not see any reason for all of us to be fighting. People like certain areas for different reasons. Personally, I would never go to Erie because of its location.. similarly, I would never go to PCOM because of its location. All of that is mute, however, because this topic is for the OP to hear some biased views from PCOM lovers and biased views from LECOM lovers. Let us all hope that the OP made the best choice for them and get on with our lives.

Shhhh...its mute.




(sorry, couldnt resist)

But nonetheless, its become a moot point.

 

[BCLumas]

Hahaha! I unblock JPH because I wanted to see these comments of his and I see that he is just a troll. Thank you, JPH, for correcting me. I will make sure that I run my posts through a grammar and spell check machine every time before I submit them. You really are a child that you need to laugh at something so stupid. Why not correct the thread that asks if the person is to stupid to be a doctor? Would it not have been better to use too instead of to? Just wondering. Back on the ignore list you go.

 

[Dr JPH]

Thank you, JPH, for correcting me.

You are welcome.

 

[JWE27]

Shhhh...its mute.




(sorry, couldnt resist)

But nonetheless, its become a moot point.

you mean "it's"?
perhaps "couldn't"?

Awww...c'mon. If you're going to toss those stones, you better be careful what your walls are made of (i.e., glass?)...

See, there are these things called contractions....ah nevermind...🙄