KCOM vs RVU

[kinzav]

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I saw the other thread from last year, but it didn't touch on everything I was debating (though there was unanimous support towards one side). I've been accepted to RVU and KCOM, and am expecting to hear back from GWU and USUHS post interview soon (I'm interested in military programs, but have recently waned a bit...).

What I like about RVU is it's almost desperate motivation towards being a great school. The interview process was really fun, and I felt really comfortable with how hard the faculty and staff were working to make the school a great institution. Students seemed very personable and friendly, and people I would typically want to be around (not always the case at my other interviews). But RVU is a new school, and I am concerned about whether that is a serious issue or not.

So RVU draws me because of the Denver area, the unique motivation, and the great new facilities.

But, KCOM is the oldest DO school. Highly recognizable and very friendly community. The Kirksville area is not very appealing to me, especially as a single male looking to meet someone (I understand I will be going to school to study, not date, but I don't want to be alone all my life, heh). Yet, I really, really liked how friendly the faculty and staff were, and it seems like the community there is very, very friendly in general. I'm not nervous about living in Kirksville if the reputation is something that I should really put a lot of weight into, but Parker seems like a place with more variety for recreation. Also, I wasn't very impressed by their board scores and pass rates presentation at KCOM (while I was with RVU), not sure if last year was an outlier, but 85% was below the average, and being that there's a transition in the curriculum correlating with the decline, it concerns me (but should it?).

So KCOM draws me because of the old reputation, the friendly people, and the established track record.

What I'd really like to hear about is what I'm not sure of. Is RVU's reputation very effectual? Will it take significantly more work to get good career prospects out of RVU as compared to KCOM? Are there important differences about clinical rotation sites that I'm not aware of (KCOM seems to have a robust collection of rotation sites, whereas I am not familiar with RVU's)? Are clinical rotation sites something I should even be worried about? Are there faculty influences I should be considering between the two schools? Are residencies a serious problem for RVU as compared to KCOM, though board scores seem to typically be the largest factor (which would lean me towards RVU, but is that right?)?

Thanks for any help, and explanations are heavily encouraged.

 

[Roxas]

I vote KCOM. The benefits of being well established outweigh the downside of living in Kirksville for 2 years. RVU lacks those kinds of connections, and while I don't personally think the for-profit status is a big deal, program directors might. To me this is a very easy decision.

 

[ilMaestro]

I feel that I benefited a lot from spending my preclinical years in Kirksville. Having minimal distractions was good for me; although, if I hadn't been married the Truman State girls would have been an issue.

Do not go to a school based on their boards scores. The school doesn't take the test for you. Boards are essentially a measure of how motivated YOU are.

I don't know much of anything about RVU, but I think the match lists at KCOM are much more impressive; that is, if you're into that kind of thing.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[stlrams22]

Go with the school you like best. I think KCOM would be a better choice, but you may have valid reasons to think the opposite. If you're split between them, consider tuition and living expenses.

 

[Haxx]

I will be attending RVU and didn't even apply to KCOM, because the wiff and I didn't want to live in Missouri for the next 4-8 years. Where we lived was a BIG factor for us, but you need to weigh how important that is to you on your own.

Do not go to a school based on their boards scores. The school doesn't take the test for you. Boards are essentially a measure of how motivated YOU are.

I agree with this statement to some extent, although I do feel that averaging board scores can be an indicator of curriculum and how well your school prepares you to take the test throughout your preclinical years. In the end, @kinzav , you should choose whatever you think has the best fit, as I'm sure you will. Good luck with the decision, and congrats on having choices in the first place! 🙂

 

[kinzav]

Thanks guys. I got accepted to RVu first and wasn't expecting to hear anything more from other schools, so kcom has really thrown me for a loop. Seems like I can't make a bad choice here but I really appreciate the feedback. Guess I'll do some more soul searching.