KCOM Class of 2008

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Well, Kirksville is in the middle of nowhere. Actually Kirksville is the center of middle of nowhere North Missouri😀 But honestly, it isn't bad. Kirksville has a population of about 17,000 (without including students), and it has a Wal-Mart. :laugh:

The town itself is a great place to have a med school. There are no distractions. Med school is a very busy time, and the fewer the distractions, the better will be your grades. (But this is all just in theory). There are some awesome places around town to study, e.g., Truman State, KCOM, the local coffee shop, etc.

I find Kirskville a very nice place. I know some would rather have the city life, but I am always wondering what would they do in the city? Sit in traffic to and from school?
 
Kirksville isn't everyone's cup of tea, for sure. I mean, follow your heart in choosing where to go...find the place that is best for you.

I've lived in a big city and I HATED it. Too much traffic, stress, isolation due to friends living across town (it took 1+ hour to get to their house for dinner, etc). Bad attitudes, crappy service at stores, and crime.

Kirksville isn't perfect. There is a little crime- meth labs are busted every other week, it seems. But I don't have to lock my house up to run to the store or even bother locking my car. My kids can play in my neighborhood without fear of a drive-by shooting. I know my son is getting a good education. Every time I go to the store, I see a friend. If I need something, a babysitter, a ride, whatever, there are plenty of good people who I can rely upon. There is a real sense of community here.

Truman State is a great resource- their library and cultural events aren't touted enough by KCOM Admissions, I think. KCOM's Student Services does a great job of organizing events, too. And if I want a taste of a bigger city, Columbia, KC, and STL aren't too far to go.

For anyone considering KCOM but worrying about being so rural, I'd advise you to think about spending TWO years in KV. TWO years isn't so long IF the school attracts you. Then you can go off on rotations and experience bigger places. If spending TWO years here would bother you, then KCOM probably isn't the place for you.

For committed folks: We just got 4 inches of snow overnight, so it is a winter wonderland here. Not enough snow to sled, though...and it's a dry snow, so not the best for building snow forts! 😉 And it's 8 degrees with a wind chill of -10! FUN, FUN, FUN! 😉
 
Well, I guess yesterday was a warm day compared to today!!!! 🙂
 
Hee...yep...my husband's hair froze on the way out to the car last night!
 
Hey! it seems like I'll be right at home in KV! In omaha NE, we just got 14" of snow .

Oh yeah, I better not get too ahead of myself--I still need to interview on February 6th.

Man, I am so excited--Hopefully I'll be joining up with the KCOM class of 2008!
 
Great monkeyguts! one more spot for me to fill! Kidding.

Do you know if kcom has any spots open? Have they filled the class already and are just putting people on the alternate list because its kind of getting late in the app cycle.

anyone know?

YF
 
YF, I do tours for the admissions dept and they said last week that the class isn't full yet - they said it usually gets full by mid March. Good luck!
 
Hey all, I found out yesterday I've been accepted to the class of 2008 as well! Now it's time to relax and enjoy what little free time is left.
 
Welcome, jrmason21_!!!

We're a small group but a nice one! 😉
 
Welcome, and check out Runtita's link for a lot of great info about Kirksville! :clap:
 
i interviewed on 2/9! Found out yesterday that i've been accepted to the class of 2008! :clap: Yay me!
 
Originally posted by kiwi26
i interviewed on 2/9! Found out yesterday that i've been accepted to the class of 2008! :clap: Yay me!
Click to expand...

Hey kiwi26-
I interviewed on the same day and was accepted as well. What is your name, if you don't mind revealing, and what were you wearing and look like? Just curious....wanted to put a face on a potential classmate...yeay for us and all the other KCOM acceptees! I'm Chris from TX. and was wearing the black suit (wow, that helps heh?) with the dark yellow shirt.
 
hey snack!
I didnt think i'd hear from any of the ppl that interviewed with me on SDN! CONGRATULATIONS!!!! :clap: :clap: :clap:
Yeah I remember you Chris--this is Jenny from Houston! We were on the same plane flying from St Louis to Dallas 😀
So I guess you'll be attending KCOM? or do you have other interviews lined up? Anyhoo! Congrats again! I'm so happy for you!
 
Originally posted by kiwi26
hey snack!
I didnt think i'd hear from any of the ppl that interviewed with me on SDN! CONGRATULATIONS!!!! :clap: :clap: :clap:
Yeah I remember you Chris--this is Jenny from Houston! We were on the same plane flying from St Louis to Dallas 😀
So I guess you'll be attending KCOM? or do you have other interviews lined up? Anyhoo! Congrats again! I'm so happy for you!
Click to expand...

Oh yeah I remember you Jenny. We also had lunch together and enjoyed the bumpy ride on the puddle jumper plane in and out of K'ville...cool! I'm still undecided. I'm waitlisted at TCOM, accepted at WVSOM and KCOM, interviewed at DMUSOM last week, and have interviews at LECOM, VCOM, and OSUCOM coming up. It's tough trying to decide my fate for the next four years. But, I'm certainly glad and fortunate that I have this opportunity. I'm currently leaning towards KCOM, but who know what could happen. Well, keep in touch and let us know what you decide. I'll do the same....gotta decide something soon....August will be here before we all know it!
 
hehe yeah that plane ride was the most interesting experience ever! 😱 I'm still undecided about KCOM since its the first school I interviewed at. I have interviews at UHS-COM, NSU-COM coming up so hopefully these will give me a couple more choices to pick from. Surprisingly, I like KCOM...the plane ride was a shocker and so's the size of the town itself but the school's decent 🙂 Anyhoo, good luck on your upcoming interviews! I'll remember to keep you up to date on my decision(s)...let me know where you decide to go as well.
 
I just updated the unofficial class blog with the curriculum calendar that came out last week. Contact hours and classes are listed by quarters for the first 2 years!

Click on the link in my sig to check it out!

And if you think the plane ride is fun now, 4 years ago, KV didn't have American Connection- it was a one-person show called Redwing and you got weighed along with your luggage before you got on the plane! 😉
 
Well I just came back from my interview, it went relatively well. Everyone was really nice, and it is THE DO school to go to. I will hear a decision on Thursday morning.

The city seemed a little run down, but I thought the school was top notch. Truman also has a nice library.
 
Yes, KV is a "little rundown", unfortunately. And the area around Truman/KCOM is the worst in terms of looks. I wish we could raze the whole student ghetto and that someone would build more nice apartment complexes. (Many landlords just don't keep up their properties.)

Other parts of town are nicer. If you do choose KCOM, there ARE nice places to live, you just have to look.

Downtown is perking up...it's gotten much better in the past 4 years. New movie theater, new restaurants, etc. And there's a really cool Farmer's Market on the Square on Saturdays in warm months- organic produce, local honey, fresh eggs, etc. And Amish baked goods...mmm! (I can't wait for spring!)

Keep in mind that KV IS RURAL and therefore poor compared to other areas. People just don't have much money here. Many farm and make NO money some years.

I find that the smallness of the town makes for closer relationships with people. There's a real sense of community in KV. But we all like to joke about KV's size/lack of culture/etc too. We know what we're missing...

😉
 
Congrats! 👍 :clap:
 
I have been in Kirksville for about 8 months. It really is a great place to go to school. The community (businesses, churches, etc) really understands the demands placed on the students, which really helps. There are some great places to study, and as you all have probably heard, there are no distractions, unless want them 🙂. (Not having any distractions is really nice esp. at times like now when finals are approaching!!!)

Also, did you all check out A.T. Still's grave when you interviewed? It is pretty cool having the osteopathic founder next to the school (and with his old school etc in the new school).

Best of luck this interviewing season.
 
Hey guys,

Congradulations getting in to KCOM. I just got an e-mail today to schedule an interview (I applied pretty late in the process this year). I was wondering how long it took them to accept you after your interview and how much time you have to decide. I was also curious what the deposit was.

I read a little about the Still-Bright scholarship. Anyone have any info on that? I noticed there is a GPA requirement.

Sorry for all the questions, I've been accepted to a few schools and I wasn't considering interviewing for KCOM until I read all of the positive feedback. Any resources are appreciated. Thanks a lot.
 
Well lets see. I interviewed on Monday and was accepted on Wednesday. The still-bright scholarship i think is for those with 3.5 gpa and 27 mcat. The deposit is $1000 and has to be in 2 weeks after acceptance...non refundable.

Good luck!
 
Dude, who cares? Why are you posting in this forum now? Oh, and I bet your attitude will change again when you get some experience in the medical field. Is this "twaspatz" you or some other person? Sorry to say, but a lot of medicine is intertwined and you won't be able to get away from whatever it is that you are writing about. I'm sure your attitude will be far off from anything relevant in medicine.
 
Originally posted by Tbonez
I decided I didn't want to pursue a profession (osteopathic medicine) that was ran by an association which seemed hellbent on keeping DO's separate.
Click to expand...

I don't think you understand the concept of a "profession" being a distinct field of practice. When two professions become too similar (such as osteopathic and allopathic medicine) without any distinguishing characteristics there are no reasons for both of them to exist. One profession is good enough (this problem is found everywhere as the boundaries of one profession extend in to another, ie. opticianry vs. optometry vs ophthalmology). That is the reason the osteopathic profession is "hellbent on keeping DO's separate" because if they didn't they would cease to exist.
 
Let's try to keep this thread on target here as a welcome/communication tool for the incoming class of 2008 at KCOM...

I am so excited and can't wait for August!
 
will be sending my check for $1K in the next few days. Just a hunch, but I think I might be the senior member of the class of 2008 in terms of age. That's another thing I loved about KCOM, they are such a diverse university in terms of student's age, background, etc. They look at the whole picture and take a very active interest in their applicants and students.

I'm very excited to commit, now I just have to bid adieu to my thousand bucks! Parting is such sweet sorrow, indeed!
 
Originally posted by slpsms
will be sending my check for $1K in the next few days. Just a hunch, but I think I might be the senior member of the class of 2008 in terms of age. That's another thing I loved about KCOM, they are such a diverse university in terms of student's age, background, etc. They look at the whole picture and take a very active interest in their applicants and students.
Click to expand...

slpsms-
Welcome and congrats! Now you've got my curiosity running. You mind giving us an idea as to how senior you are? Doesn't have to be anything specific...maybe just tell us what was popular when you graduated highschool or give us a decade for birth. I'll be straight up. I'm 33, married, with ankle biters...well...they're no longer ankle biters...more like shin busters! Glad to have you join us and look forward to a meet and greet when August rolls around.

P.S. My $1K is on the way to A.T. Still Univ (KCOM)...spend it wisely Dr. Still!! 😀
 
I'll be 33 in a couple of weeks and I have 2 kids...


🙂
 
I am thrilled to be accepted to KCOM, and am serious about attending this August. I was just wondering, for those of you who are sure you will be at orientation, what one thing made your decision?

Why did you choose KCOM? StillWell program? Town? Reputation?
 
To be honest, there wasn't just one thing that made me choose KCOM. But the reputation of the school was a major determining factor. (I am in the DO/MS program at KCOM and will be starting the DO portion this Fall. The MS program really was the most important determining factor).
 
not much, anyway! So a few of you are 33, eh? Ah, to be young again! I am actually an even 40 years of age, married, no kids yet, although we are planning to work on an addition soon, just to add as many variables to the medical school, relocation, and impoverished student equation as we possibly can!

Anyway, I am excited for the opportunity and excited to meet everyone and get started. I believe it will be an outstanding education and hopefully the class of 2008 can set some new benchmarks at KCOM!
 
I'm really interested in the dual degree program too. I'm thinking health admin. Not sure yet, what are you experiences with the program slp? I'm a little weary of taking a year off from DO to just do other degree. Not sure yet.

Another question: Has anone seen the KCOM student apartments? Are they nice? Spatious? Quiet? I know there is a waiting list, I wonder if I have a chance of gettin in there...
 
Originally posted by YoungFaithful
Another question: Has anone seen the KCOM student apartments? Are they nice? Spatious? Quiet? I know there is a waiting list, I wonder if I have a chance of gettin in there...
Click to expand...

Hi. I'm a first year year at KCOM and live in the student apartments so I thought I'd chime in here...

Anyway... the apartments are okay. They're nothing special and are certainly NOT the nicest places to live in town... For the price of the apartment you can rent a really nice new apartment or a house. The apartments are painted a strange beige-yellow color on the concrete walls. The "furnished" furniture is antiquated so say the least (imagine the paneling that your parents had on their walls in the 70s was put onto furniture). The kitchen is pathetic is that's important to you. HOWEVER!!! The heat is free in the winter (jack it up as high as you want!!), the apartment comes with T1 internet access through the school's network and there's a great sense of community here. The living situation is actually a lot more like a dorm than an apartment complex.

Actually, I have a small webpage that I made for my friends back home so that they could see my apartment (and a picture of me at the white coat ceremony to give them something to laugh at!!). I'll put a link to it so that you can see my apartment (back in August when I moved in... It hasn't been that clean since!!) When you look at my apartment, keep in mind that I live in a corner apartment so mine is different from the others (a little bigger, but without a kitchen pantry and a sort of table/bar thing separating the kitchen and the living room)

With all the negative stuff, I still enjoy living here. Some of my best friends here at school live on my hall and I really enjoy being here with them. The sense of community is nice too. I'm staying here again next year. It's possibly cheaper to rent another place in town, but utilities are dirt cheap if you live here. I ran 2 window unit air conditioners in August and September and my power bill was never over $30. This winter I've averaged about $12/month. I have to pay electric and phone, but nothing else.

If you have any questions, email me at

JCantrell AT atsu DOT edu

my apartment (ATSU student housing)
 
Hey John-
Not a bad little bachelor pad you have there. I like your "mini-bake oven". Yikes, you would be better off with a Coleman camping stove I think. All in all it's not bad.
 
YoungFaithful

Yeah it is a big decision to take off a year to pursue the two degrees. But you can do the MHA and DO degree together (i.e., not having to take off a year). I know of several students who are doing this. They seem to be doing fine in school and all.

The DO/MS program will require you take off a year, but it sure is a good program. I am really enjoying it. Also, next year, I will have one less class to take per quarter so this is a perk.

Anyhow, if you are interested in the programs (SHM or MS), feel free to ask. I will try to check this thread frequently.
 
BiochemMan, Let me just get this straight, I can do a MHA and not loose anytime with DO? I have tried to look on the SHM webpage, but its a little confusing. Are the classes all internet based? I wonder if i can start taking them this summer...

Have you heard students complain about balancing both degrees?? I think I would have to take 3 classes every quarter.
 
My understanding is that you can do both at the same time. The students that are doing both are taking one or two classes per quarter depending on how stressful that quarter will be. Some quarters they don't take any SHM classes. It is all up to you and your dedication/desire. They are doing fine balancing both. One of them actually started the MHA program the summer before starting the DO program. All that is required really is to complete the classes, I think, within 7 years of starting the program. I believe this is true for most, if not, all masters programs.

Also, you can take just one class per quarter and finish within 3 years. (I believe each program is ~33 or so hours, which is ~11 classes). If you take one class per quarter than it will only take a few quarters to complete the degree. The program is very flexible. Beware that not all classes are offered every quarter so you do have to plan ahead.

The SHM classes are all online. Have you checked the SHM website? The link is: http://shm.atsu.edu/

The website has a lot of useful information about the various programs and such.

Well, I need to run to class and take a final. I hope this helps.
 
Hey guys,
was wondering about housing. if i am single and not wanting a roommate, is student housing the best bet as a first year or are there better deals renting off campus?
 
I am not too sure about what the best bet is for your case, but if it were me, I would probably do the student housing. It is close to campus, TCC, and most everything is provided in the cost.
 
Hello all KCOMers,

I have just interviewed at KCOM and I can say that I had a wonderful experience! Everyone is so friendly and I felt really comfortable! I liked the atmosphere with the students and town. I stayed with a student and saw my friend who attends KCOM also. We had a good time and I got great feedback from them! I am truly impressed! Overall, it was FANTASTIC!

Anyways, I hope to be a member of the KCOM Class of 2008...but I need to finish my interviews at VCOM and TUCOM...it will be a hard decision to choose but so far I have had a great experience and now I get to see how the other schools fair to the FIRST college of osteopathic medicine!

Box
 
Hi all,
First of all congratulations to all acceptees!
I interviewed at KCOM on 03/08 (mon) and absolutely loved it. I soooooooo want to attend KCOM this fall.I called up the admissions office on thur (the soonest they might have a decision for me) and they told me that they were not decided yet and I could call next thur. It kind of made me very anxious as I think my interviews went well...to the extent that the second interviewer even told me that "I had nothing to worry about and that he liked my background".SO my question to you guys is, how soon did you all find out about your acceptance after the interview? Especially also, if any of you were shown some sort of positivity about your application, how soon did you hear from them (either accept or reject)?
Thanks so much. Any feedback would help.
 
I would not worry too much about it empower, box29 just said that the office is really backed up right now. I do not think this means anything negative toward you. You probably will find out next week Wed/Thur or the week after Wed/Thur.

If your application is great and your interviews went great (it sounded like they did) you shouldn't stress yourself out. I know it's easier said than done.

I am pretty sure the commitee meets every Wed morning. I interviewed in Feb (when they weren't backed up) on a Monday and I got the call on the Wednesday afternoon.

I was taking a nap and the phone rang, I contemplated answering it, I hate getting woken up, but I am sooo glad I did.

It was the phone call of a lifetime.

Good luck! 👍

Hope to see you people in the fall!!!!!!!!!
 
Hi everyone! I just received my acceptance package in the mail this week...actually on my birthday! What a nice present that was! (I was also waitlisted to and rejected from two of my favorite schools, but so what? I'm in somewhere!)

I can't believe I'm gonna start med school in August! Wow!
 
what is the ages of those of you that have chosen to post on this thread, I'm just wondering...I am going to KCOM next year and I am 22 years old....I am probably the baby in the group
 
It?s sad that I?m already asking this but does anyone know approximately when our breaks will be and for how long? We don?t really get a summer do we? Is that typical for DO schools?
I?m excited to start at KCOM but I also want to start dreaming of what traveling I might do next year!
 
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