Kansas City University (KCU-COM) Discussion Thread 2016-2017

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kthals123 said:
So I've already been accepted to an MD program, which I am of course excited about, but I am really drawn to the program here. I had my interview here on 11/30 and haven't heard back yet, so I might be getting ahead of myself, but I have spent many hours mulling over the decision between MD and DO. Prior to being accepted to the MD school, all of the doctors I work with assured me that there is virtually no difference between MD and DO. Now that I have been accepted, they have changed their tune and have all told me that if I have the choice, I should choose MD. The less assertive ones tend to include the caveat that things may have improved, and definitely aren't as bad as they used to be, but are still insistent that it will make my life much easier when it comes time for residency if I am an MD.

I guess my question is, for current students, or applicants if you have a good answer, - what reasons do/did you have for going DO? Did you have people try to talk you out of it? Have you actually heard of people struggling to find a residency because they are a DO? I know KCU has a super match rate, including competitive specialties, but the MDs I work with still insist on saying it will be harder.

Thanks in advance and sorry for the novel!!!
Click to expand...

KCU is a great school that can keep up with a few MD schools in the way of class stats and matching to some great programs. HOWEVER, going MD always makes like easier come board exam time, third year time, and residency application time. So as much as I'd LOVE to say stay here with the fam, you should go MD. Congrats and best of luck!


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I got an II the other day.

I have an acceptance at VCOM auburn. Would any of you suggest this school over VCOM? I would need to know why.


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Doctor_anonymous said:
I got an II the other day.

I have an acceptance at VCOM auburn. Would any of you suggest this school over VCOM? I would need to know why.


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Click to expand...

Which campus did you put as your preference? If you put Joplin then no but if you put KC then absolutely KCU is better than VCOM Auburn!
 
AlteredScale said:
KCU is a great school that can keep up with a few MD schools in the way of class stats and matching to some great programs. HOWEVER, going MD always makes like easier come board exam time, third year time, and residency application time. So as much as I'd LOVE to say stay here with the fam, you should go MD. Congrats and best of luck!


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Click to expand...

I have to disagree. I chose D.O. over MD. The greater extent of training (learning the OMM) is a fabulous tool that MDs don't receive. As to jumping through hoops...that happens regardless of whether you go D.O. or MD. Medical school is challenging. I'm not interested in the easiest path with the least amount of hurdles or challenges, but the one that will best prepare me to practice as a top notch physician. DO is not second best in this regard and I am happy to take the potential hurdles (though they decrease yearly and will likely do so even more after the merger) and be pushed to be the best I can be.

The value of the training, not the letters of the degree or the extent of ease by which one travels the journey, should be of more importance in one's decision.

Just my opinion, for whatever that is worth.


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reunic said:
I have to disagree. I chose D.O. over MD. The greater extent of training (learning the OMM) is a fabulous tool that MDs don't receive. As to jumping through hoops...that happens regardless of whether you go D.O. or MD. Medical school is challenging. I'm not interested in the easiest path with the least amount of hurdles or challenges, but the one that will best prepare me to practice as a top notch physician. DO is not second best in this regard and I am happy to take the potential hurdles (though they decrease yearly and will likely do so even more after the merger) and be pushed to be the best I can be.

The value of the training, not the letters of the degree or the extent of ease by which one travels the journey, should be of more importance in one's decision.
Click to expand...

We can agree to disagree on this one! Without a doubt, there comes a reward for successfully going through the ringer and one should be proud of that especially when it comes to growing as a future physician. Now I wouldn't say going MD is "easier" in the sense that one can simply go where they want to go simply because of the letters after their last name. However it is really important to note that despite all the effort one puts in at a DO school (great board scores, great research, good letters) there will always be programs that simply do not give DO's the time of day no matter what and this can go far beyond just ivy league affiliated hospitals but even places like ENT, Neurosurgery, Vascular Surgery, RadOnc, Derm and there programs in and around Kansas City.

Choosing to go MD keeps all doors open and I think that goes beyond simply saying MD students have it easier because it is not the fact that the door is closed to DO's and a DO could open that door, it usually means that door is locked up and sealed tight with preference staying with US-MD gradautes.

One thing I will say is that KCU has done its students a service by cultivating a curriculum that helps students go wherever they see themselves and I think that is why many struggle when comparing us to many MD schools.
 
reunic said:
I have to disagree. I chose D.O. over MD. The greater extent of training (learning the OMM) is a fabulous tool that MDs don't receive. As to jumping through hoops...that happens regardless of whether you go D.O. or MD. Medical school is challenging. I'm not interested in the easiest path with the least amount of hurdles or challenges, but the one that will best prepare me to practice as a top notch physician. DO is not second best in this regard and I am happy to take the potential hurdles (though they decrease yearly and will likely do so even more after the merger) and be pushed to be the best I can be.

The value of the training, not the letters of the degree or the extent of ease by which one travels the journey, should be of more importance in one's decision.

Just my opinion, for whatever that is worth.


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Click to expand...

Doesn't make it the best decision. You /will/ have a easier time matching MD. I've also never met a DO who uses OMM (in healthcare for 6+ years - i know some do but it's going to be specific cases and not the norm).



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FCMike11 said:
Doesn't make it the best decision. You /will/ have a easier time matching MD. I've also never met a DO who uses OMM (in healthcare for 6+ years - i know some do but it's going to be specific cases and not the norm).



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Click to expand...
It's the fact that the OMM knowledge is learned NOT that it is used extensively. Any physician should want to have as many tools as possible to help their patients regardless of it is used everyday or once in a great while. And matching is as easy as your work in school makes it. I know plenty of DOs who got exactly the match they want. That speaks against the Easier matching for MDs in my mind because I also know many MDs who did not match their first, or second, or even their third residency choice.

It is what you make of it. If one is so worried about the whole match process being so skewed then why bother applying DO at all? You've already decided it isn't to the same level.


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AlteredScale said:
We can agree to disagree on this one! Without a doubt, there comes a reward for successfully going through the ringer and one should be proud of that especially when it comes to growing as a future physician. Now I wouldn't say going MD is "easier" in the sense that one can simply go where they want to go simply because of the letters after their last name. However it is really important to note that despite all the effort one puts in at a DO school (great board scores, great research, good letters) there will always be programs that simply do not give DO's the time of day no matter what and this can go far beyond just ivy league affiliated hospitals but even places like ENT, Neurosurgery, Vascular Surgery, RadOnc, Derm and there programs in and around Kansas City.

Choosing to go MD keeps all doors open and I think that goes beyond simply saying MD students have it easier because it is not the fact that the door is closed to DO's and a DO could open that door, it usually means that door is locked up and sealed tight with preference staying with US-MD gradautes.

One thing I will say is that KCU has done its students a service by cultivating a curriculum that helps students go wherever they see themselves and I think that is why many struggle when comparing us to many MD schools.
Click to expand...

As always we are all entitled to our own opinions! 🙂


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reunic said:
It's the fact that the OMM knowledge is learned NOT that it is used extensively. Any physician should want to have as many tools as possible to help their patients regardless of it is used everyday or once in a great while. And matching is as easy as your work in school makes it. I know plenty of DOs who got exactly the match they want. That speaks against the Easier matching for MDs in my mind because I also know many MDs who did not match their first, or second, or even their third residency choice.

It is what you make of it. If one is so worried about the whole match process being so skewed then why bother applying DO at all? You've already decided it isn't to the same level.


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Click to expand...

Are you disputing that MDs have an easier time matching (especially more competitive specialties) despite the entire body of evidence available? Despite that, DOs do match and it is what you make of it. But to act like the stigma doesnt exist is naive.

This is from someone who has paid a deposit to a DO school and is quite happy to attend a DO school (still waiting to hear back from an allopathic school). I am also someone who is going into this with both eyes open.

Sorry to detract from a school thread. I'm done.

:/.

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FCMike11 said:
Are you disputing that MDs have an easier time matching (especially more competitive specialties) despite the entire body of evidence available? Despite that, DOs do match and it is what you make of it. But to act like the stigma doesnt exist is naive.

This is from someone who has paid a deposit to a DO school and is quite happy to attend a DO school (still waiting to hear back from an allopathic school). I am also someone who is going into this with both eyes open.

Sorry to detract from a school thread. I'm done.

:/.

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Click to expand...

I guess I'm just pointing out that the stigma will never go away if even those who attend D.O. Schools continue perpetuating it. And the fact that if somebody wants a specific specialty badly enough, regardless of if they are MD or D.O. they will work hard and they will achieve it. The letters after the name are nor what's going to determine that ultimately.

Stigma aside, if the 2 are essentially equal and we believe them to be, then I'm not about to continue suggesting to others that they're not. Even if it's something as simple as talking about matching ease or other related issues. I know when I get to the point of choosing a specialty that I'm going to get into the specialty I want. And I know that because I'm going to work hard so that I have the choice. I purposefully chose Osteopathic Medicine and believe it is every bit as good as Allopathic. If there is still work to do to convince the general public or even the residency programs of this it does nothing to further the cause if we don't push against the inaccuracies regarding value.


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reunic said:
I have to disagree. I chose D.O. over MD. The greater extent of training (learning the OMM) is a fabulous tool that MDs don't receive. As to jumping through hoops...that happens regardless of whether you go D.O. or MD. Medical school is challenging. I'm not interested in the easiest path with the least amount of hurdles or challenges, but the one that will best prepare me to practice as a top notch physician. DO is not second best in this regard and I am happy to take the potential hurdles (though they decrease yearly and will likely do so even more after the merger) and be pushed to be the best I can be.

The value of the training, not the letters of the degree or the extent of ease by which one travels the journey, should be of more importance in one's decision.

Just my opinion, for whatever that is worth.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile
Click to expand...

AlteredScale said:
We can agree to disagree on this one! Without a doubt, there comes a reward for successfully going through the ringer and one should be proud of that especially when it comes to growing as a future physician. Now I wouldn't say going MD is "easier" in the sense that one can simply go where they want to go simply because of the letters after their last name. However it is really important to note that despite all the effort one puts in at a DO school (great board scores, great research, good letters) there will always be programs that simply do not give DO's the time of day no matter what and this can go far beyond just ivy league affiliated hospitals but even places like ENT, Neurosurgery, Vascular Surgery, RadOnc, Derm and there programs in and around Kansas City.

Choosing to go MD keeps all doors open and I think that goes beyond simply saying MD students have it easier because it is not the fact that the door is closed to DO's and a DO could open that door, it usually means that door is locked up and sealed tight with preference staying with US-MD gradautes.

One thing I will say is that KCU has done its students a service by cultivating a curriculum that helps students go wherever they see themselves and I think that is why many struggle when comparing us to many MD schools.
Click to expand...


Thank you guys so much for your input! This has been super helpful to see both sides from people who are actually going through the process. I love and admire the MDs I work with, but it seems nearly impossible to truly speak to the reality unless you've experienced it. If I do get accepted, I plan on having a discussion with the DO who wrote me a letter so that she can shed a little more light on it too.

As AlteredScale said, KCU seems to be nearly equivalent to MD schools as far as matching into competitive specialties, which is why my decision is so difficult! I also think I'm naturally hardheaded and like combating stigma where I can (one of the main reasons I want to enter healthcare), so that's probably a factor too😀

I think I've taken up enough space on this thread - I'll continue to lurk in the background now!
 
kthals123 said:
I'm naturally hardheaded and like combating stigma where I can (one of the main reasons I want to enter healthcare), so that's probably a factor too
Click to expand...

This type of what I like to call persistence instead of hard headedness 😉 will take you far no matter what! Best of luck with your decision!
 
Has anybody who has received a seat for one campus been able to switch to the other campus?


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MADD!!! said:
I called and ask... they won't let someone switch campuses once accepted into one.
Click to expand...
Dude/Dudete: . just saw your post on the interviews. You are slaying.... how many acceptances do you have if you don't mind me asking? KCU will be an excellent school in Joplin imo, I'm from Springfield and am quite jealous people will be doing rotations there
 
hawthorn9797 said:
Dude/Dudete: . just saw your post on the interviews. You are slaying.... how many acceptances do you have if you don't mind me asking? KCU will be an excellent school in Joplin imo, I'm from Springfield and am quite jealous people will be doing rotations there
Click to expand...

Haha thank you. I purposely highlighted all of my interviews because I have a low mcat score and last year I was panicking about it so much. Even this year if you look my mcat is lower than everyone else's, so hoping a future applicant sees it and feels more empowered with their scores to apply!

I have I believe 5 acceptances? 1 waitlist, 0 rejections post-interview, and rejected at ccom, RVU (both campuses), and LECOM-B.

I'm turning down my acceptance for Joplin... KCU's curriculum is very rigorous and I'm not down for the added stress that they bring. If I was going for a competitive specialty though I would've considered it more.
 
Does anyone know when accepted students will receive an academic calendar for 2017?
 
Hi, I'm new here. I just got an acceptance email for the Joplin campus. I'm extremely excited, but was hoping for the KC location. The website shows a primary care focus for the Joplin campus, should I be concerned if I would like to pursue a subspecialty?
Thanks everyone!
 
NSgy5 said:
Hi, I'm new here. I just got an acceptance email for the Joplin campus. I'm extremely excited, but was hoping for the KC location. The website shows a primary care focus for the Joplin campus, should I be concerned if I would like to pursue a subspecialty?
Thanks everyone!
Click to expand...

I'm wondering the same thing...I applied to KCU with the plan to pursue their DO/MBA dual degree, but it seems like Joplin doesn't offer one.


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^^Unfortunately, according to admissions, acceptances to either campus is final (no switching allowed essentially because 2 different deans picks students for each campus)
 
Got accepted to KCU Joplin. Wanted to go to the KC location as well. So I have DMU vs. KCU Joplin so far. I'm leaning toward DMU for sure. What do you guys think?
 
greenplant said:
I'm wondering the same thing...I applied to KCU with the plan to pursue their DO/MBA dual degree, but it seems like Joplin doesn't offer one.


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Click to expand...

The DO/MBA is almost entirely online. I can not guarantee, but I would think that the dual degree would still be an option. The only time (as of now) that you need to be in campus for the dual degree is during the summer break.


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Snoozer33 said:
The DO/MBA is almost entirely online. I can not guarantee, but I would think that the dual degree would still be an option. The only time (as of now) that you need to be in campus for the dual degree is during the summer break.


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Click to expand...

Gotcha. Thank you!


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jordansnfootbal said:
Got accepted to KCU Joplin. Wanted to go to the KC location as well. So I have DMU vs. KCU Joplin so far. I'm leaning toward DMU for sure. What do you guys think?
Click to expand...

Congrats on DMU!
I'm thinking about calling on Monday with a few question so that I can make an informed decision.
I'd love to hear what any of the current students thinks about the Joplin campus.
 
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