KCOM General Information

[greymew]

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Hey all,

I'm a student here at KCOM. I'm alsp pretty involved with the admissions process - I give tours, coordinate interviewees staying with current students the night before, I give OTM demos, etc. If anyone has any questions, don't hesitate to shoot one by me. I'll tell you the real deal about things I know.

Also, since I started school here, I've journaled the experience every day on my website. I think it would be real useful for you if your considering coming to KCOM, or for any pemedical student. The site address is:

www.jasondreyer.com

Follow the journal link. Please don't hesitate to contact me. A lot of people did last year; they said it was helpful in deciding to come to KCOM, to pursue osteopathy, and to understand what medical school life is like.

Thanks and good luck,
-Jason

[email protected]

 

[Shinken]

Thanks for the offer! I'm very interested in KCOM and have an interview there later this month.

I do have a question. How are clinicals? I sometimes hear stories about how great KCOM is for pre-clinical studies but the last two years are bad. Any comments?

Thank you!

 

[cardiolog]

Jason,

Does one need a car at KCOM? I heard its useful during the summer between first and second year when you have your two week internship with a doc. But, other than that, does one need a car? Your thoughts, thanks.

 

[greymew]

Hey guys,

OK... clinicals: The clinical class during the first two years is great. There are many oppertunities (forced during class and voluntary) for students. We come out of here knowing how to do exams very well (the OTM helps with that too). Interestingly, our clinical tests are done in the school in real exam rooms and with actors as patients. These encounters are recorded for review later. It's a great tool, and they plan to put all these encounters on a DVD to show your progress. Technology here is great.

The 3rd and 4th year is done at a site of your choice out of a list of about 20. I can't say a lot about that experience because I haven't done it yet, but from what I can tell, it's whatever you put into it. Different sites have different pros and cons, so it depends on what you want. For example, I want to do surgery, so I'll choose a hospital that does a lot of cases. Some people like rural medicine, so they'll go to a smaller place.

A car: I don't have one. I live right across the street from school, so I save a bunch of money. You're right though, you'll probably have to borrow one at some point for rotations your first summer. Maybe not though, you could stay here in Kirksville. Lots of people bike to school too.

A word about cost of living: It's very cheap here. Last year my rent was $250/month. This year it's $300 because I moved. You have to fill up on gas rarely (if you drive).

I hope this helps.
-Jason

 

[Amy B]

Great job on your web site.

 

[Monkeyguts]

Jason gave my interview group a tour of the school when I was out there. He really knew what was going on.

 

[lytesnsyrens]

ok Jason,

I'm still an undergrad at UMKC and probably won't be taking the mcat till april. But anyway, i am interested in kcom. my question is, does kcom place more emphasis on gpa than life experiences? I mean, my grades aren't horrible, but they're not stellar either (i'm making a C in chem) but i've been an EMT for 4 years now, and worked in an ER for 2. so I have lots of experience and i'll have plenty of great LORs. its just my gpa that is killing me. i still have organic to take, and i'm sure i won't get much better in that. do you have any suggestions for me?
thanks

 

[greymew]

lytesnsyrens,

Don't sweat the grades too much. KCOM does look at life experiences at least as much as grades. Obviously if you can get good grades, a good MCAT score, and be an EMT and ER tech, that would be ideal. But if you continue to struggle with chemistry, address it in you application essay and say that you put more emphasis on helping people - that's what you're all about.

I'm not sure what year of college you're in, but do try to increase your overall GPA by getting As in other classes. That will help too.

To everyone: Life experience in some aspect of medicine is vitally important to medical schools. There are oppertunities out there. Sometimes you have to seek them out or make them yourselves, but they're there. Medical schools will take someone with worse grades, but medical experience over someone with a perfect GPA and no experience. As to the question of volunteering vs. paid employment... it doesn't matter, so you might as well get paid. As long as you can talk about your experience, money is not an issue. I was a surgical tech in the OR for six years prior to medical school. I know it helped. Just be able to talk about what you did.

Sorry so long... I hope this helps.
-Jason

 

[bustinbooty]

Shinken,
I'm a MSIII at KCOM so I will reply to your question about KCOM's clinical years, as Jason is covering everything else very well.

Clinical years are not as structured as your first 2 years, no matter what institution you attend. THerefore, the quality of your clinical years depends much more on yourself than your school. This has advantages and disadvantages, depending on your level of motivation. A KCOM student has the opportunity to give themselves a Harvard education if they wish to do so. They also have the opportunity to give themselves a community college education if they are lazy. I will give as an example my current anesthesiology rotation. I don't have anyone looking over my shoulder or babysitting me, no one making sure I'm at work early in the morning, no one watching when I am leaving or what I am learning that day. So, it is up to me to be there early, stay late, ask good questions, and do as many IV's and intubations as I can and sit in on as many surgeries as I can to learn the scope of anesthesia. So, as far as QUALITY of training, KCOM is on par with all the other schools, MD or DO. I work alongside MD students at my hospital and we (KCOM students) do as well as the rest (except at physical exam skillls...which we seem to excel at for obvious reasons)
Anyway...to add one more thing about our clinical years: WE have an advantage in that all of our rotations in the 3rd year (core rotations) are basically set up for us through our base hospital and regional coordinator. Students at some other schools have to individually arrange each and every one of their rotations beginning with the first one of their third year (LECOM is one of these schools, they have students rotation here in Michigan at Henry Ford as well) So that is a nice advantage.