Is MSUCOM really that great?

[AdemTD]

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I am a Michigan resident and there's a good chance that I could end up at MSUCOM, and I've seen it ranked as high as #4 among the MD schools for primary care. Is this school really regarded as one of the top DO programs? When I took a tour of the school, I was relatively unimpressed by the facilities and my tour guides attitude toward the academics at the school. The OMM lab was very nice, however. What are your thoughts on this school? Thanks for any input.

 

[Bacchus]

As an out-of-stater, I wouldn't even consider the school. Not knowing a lot about the school, its attachment to MSU is probably very beneficial.

 

[scudrunner]

I am a Michigan resident and there's a good chance that I could end up at MSUCOM, and I've seen it ranked as high as #4 among the MD schools for primary care. Is this school really regarded as one of the top DO programs? When I took a tour of the school, I was relatively unimpressed at the facilities and my tour guides attitude toward the academics at the school. The OMM lab was very nice, however. What are your thoughts on this school? Thanks for any input.

The facilities used on campus for the preclinical years are of little importance to your overall medical education. More importantly, MSUCOM has a vast statewide hospital system that provides students with a great clinical education. Additionally, there are a ton of residency opportunities within the statewide campus system, and since you are already in the system during medical school, getting your desired residency will be considerably easier (provided that you don't screw up in a big way).

 

[AdemTD]

The facilities used on campus for the preclinical years are of little importance to your overall medical education. More importantly, MSUCOM has a vast statewide hospital system that provides students with a great clinical education. Additionally, there are a ton of residency opportunities within the statewide campus system, and since you are already in the system during medical school, getting your desired residency will be considerably easier (provided that you don't screw up in a big way)..

well I know that the facilities aren't that big of a deal during the pre-clinical years, but the student tour guides also rubbed me the wrong way when talking about the academics especially. They said that "oh, you'll fail an exam, at least once, i've failed two this year, but they came and held my hand to help me get back on track." Is that something you'd really want to tell a prospective student? But I do like the idea of the community campuses around the state, so we'll see what happens, thanks for the input.

 

[time2go]

i was under the impression that rankings dont mean much, just go where you think you will have the most success

 

[AdemTD]

i was under the impression that rankings dont mean much, just go where you think you will have the most success

I've been reading through a lot of match lists and have yet to come across a DO being accepted into a Radiation Oncology residency position. Are there just none of them out there for DOs? Or is this a Fellowship that is completed after some other residency program?

 

[Just Joshin]

well I know that the facilities aren't that big of a deal during the pre-clinical years, but the student tour guides also rubbed me the wrong way when talking about the academics especially. They said that "oh, you'll fail an exam, at least once, i've failed two this year, but they came and held my hand to help me get back on track." Is that something you'd really want to tell a prospective student? But I do like the idea of the community campuses around the state, so we'll see what happens, thanks for the input.

Most med students will tell you that you'll fail an exam or two along the way. I think the point they were making is that the faculty will "hold your hand to get you back on track". At some schools when you fail an exam, you're on your own. From what I hear about MSU, they tutor you, give you help outside of class, help you create a study schedule, and do whatever it takes to make sure you're passing. This is a good thing, not bad.

 

[Chocolate Bear]

Most med students will tell you that you'll fail an exam or two along the way. I think the point they were making is that the faculty will "hold your hand to get you back on track". At some schools when you fail an exam, you're on your own. From what I hear about MSU, they tutor you, give you help outside of class, help you create a study schedule, and do whatever it takes to make sure you're passing. This is a good thing, not bad.

Agreed. You just took the guide's words the wrong way. Holding hands to get you back on track is *A VERY GOOD THING*. Just ask some of the kids in the Caribe who get left to fend for themselves when this happens. Getting left by the wayside is doom.

MSUCOM has a solid rep and history, as well as tons of opportunities and ties to the state and great post-graduate medical education. Most applicants who get the chance at MSUCOM count their blessings, for good reason. If you dig deep enough, I bet you'll end up doing the same. Best of to you.

 

[jason3278]

well I know that the facilities aren't that big of a deal during the pre-clinical years, but the student tour guides also rubbed me the wrong way when talking about the academics especially. They said that "oh, you'll fail an exam, at least once, i've failed two this year, but they came and held my hand to help me get back on track." Is that something you'd really want to tell a prospective student? But I do like the idea of the community campuses around the state, so we'll see what happens, thanks for the input.

My tour guides were also not that great, but you can't judge the school on 2 tour guides. I know a lot of people from the school: 1st and 2nd year students, a general surgeon, and a hematologist oncologist. There are all different types: slackers, gunners, and everything in between.

 

[Styria]

I've been reading through a lot of match lists and have yet to come across a DO being accepted into a Radiation Oncology residency position. Are there just none of them out there for DOs? Or is this a Fellowship that is completed after some other residency program?

opportunities.osteopathic.org doesn't show any AOA radiation oncology residencies. However, all the diagnostic radiology residencies start OGME 2 and all the oncology residencies start OGME 5, so I assume radiation oncology occurs later too however you get into it.

 

[Chocolate Bear]

I don't know about getting into RadOnc, except I hear it's 😱 hard to get into, so this is kind of cool....

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=7901374&postcount=22

 

[AdemTD]

I don't know about getting into RadOnc, except I hear it's 😱 hard to get into, so this is kind of cool....

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=7901374&postcount=22

Are residency match results determined mainly by COMLEX scores since there are some programs out there that use the Pass/Fail system?

 

[Revilla]

Are residency match results determined mainly by COMLEX scores since there are some programs out there that use the Pass/Fail system?

COMLEX scores, third-year grades, and evaluations. First and second-year grades matter, but since some schools are pass/fail, as long as you pass everything, they'll scrutinize your board scores, clinical grades, and evaluations.

 

[ILikeFood]

It is not as great as NSUCOM, but if there was such a thing as the second greatest DO school, MSUCOM is it.

 

[MossPoh]

I've been reading through a lot of match lists and have yet to come across a DO being accepted into a Radiation Oncology residency position. Are there just none of them out there for DOs? Or is this a Fellowship that is completed after some other residency program?

I believe there was one from COMP this year. It is one of the toughest residencies for ANY medical student to get. Going to allopathic school doesn't guarantee you a spot by any means. Radiation Oncology is a normal residency program. There just aren't that many positions for it. The people that go for it TEND to have tons of research, very high board scores, and excellent networking. They know how to play the game and they play it well. Radiation oncology has about 129 pgy-2 positions (as of 2008 according to http://www.nrmp.org/data/resultsanddata2008.pdf). So, for ease of numbers lets say 17,000 medical students matriculated in the US (that is lower than the actual number). Even if only 1% of all the medical students in the united states applied, that is still more people that positions available. The math is simplistic but you get the idea.