KCOM vs UNECOM

[hanover06]

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I am stuck. I have to decide between KCOM and UNECOM in the next few days and am having lots of trouble doing so. I have made the pro and con lists but each school has their own attractive qualities leaving me more confused then when I started. Both schools seem to have a great student body, supportive faculty, small community, etc. Does anyone have any insights about these schools? Please...

 

[theraball]

I am stuck. I have to decide between KCOM and UNECOM in the next few days and am having lots of trouble doing so. I have made the pro and con lists but each school has their own attractive qualities leaving me more confused then when I started. Both schools seem to have a great student body, supportive faculty, small community, etc. Does anyone have any insights about these schools? Please...

Well, it's nice to have a choice. Kirksville is the oldest osteopathic school, if that makes a difference to you, but UNECOM is a couple of hours from Boston, a great metropolitan area that has a huge medical district with lots of teaching hospitals and other medical schools, plus many cultural attractions.

UNECOM is pretty close to Portland, smaller than Boston but still a city. Whereas, Kirksville is a couple hundred miles from St. Louis and Kansas City.

My guess is that UNECOM would have a slightly higher cost of living, though it's certainly better than Boston. I suspect you could live for dirt cheap in Kirksville or nearby.

Just some off the cuff ideas to consider. Good luck!

 

[guv_garfunkel]

One thing to remember about KCOM is that even though it's in a small town, you do have a lot of options during your clinical years. If you look up on their website the places possible to do years 3-4 you'll see they have a very big selection of diverse areas in both rural and urban settings. In fact, I've read they have the biggest list of hospital affiliations compared to all other DO schools (I can't remember the reference though, I think it was on the AACOM.org). Also, their clinical years are very well organized and set up for you, which is nice. I've never been to UNECOM so I can't say where I would go, but out of the other DO schools I've interviewed at (DMU, AZCOM) I liked KCOM the best.

 

[silas2642]

I am stuck. I have to decide between KCOM and UNECOM in the next few days and am having lots of trouble doing so. I have made the pro and con lists but each school has their own attractive qualities leaving me more confused then when I started. Both schools seem to have a great student body, supportive faculty, small community, etc. Does anyone have any insights about these schools? Please...

Wasn't there a rumor going on around here that UNECOM students were having trouble passing their boards? Does anyone know about this?

 

[wook]

Wasn't there a rumor going on around here that UNECOM students were having trouble passing their boards? Does anyone know about this?

As far as I know, the vast majority of people pass their boards. I'm sure there are a few that don't. Below is a quote from their website...

14. How do UNECOM students do on boards?
UNECOM students are required to pass COMLEX-USA Level 1 before continuing their core rotations, and required to pass COMLEX-USA Level 2 CE and PE prior to graduation. An average of 89 percent (89%) of UNECOM students pass the boards the first time, although the pass rate can vary from year to year and between the different exam levels. Although not required to take the USMLE, students who choose to take both exams score similarly.

Wook

 

[illiniindc]

I suspect you could live for dirt cheap in Kirksville or nearby.

Congratulations on your acceptance into UNECOM and KCOM. The cost of living in Kirksville is dirt cheap. You can generally find comfortable living for less than $350/month - even less if you are thinking about roommates. That does certainly come with the trade-off of being a small, near-rural community. There is enough to do around town that you can generally stay entertained, but if you are a big-city person, I would strongly recommend you come back to the Kirksville area and stay a day or two to make sure you will be comfortable in this community. I moved here after attending graduate school in DC, so there are moments when I miss going to concerts and ethnic foods (besides Chinese and Mexican). However, when those times come around, I can usually find a group to caravan down to Columbia (about 90 minutes away) for food and music.

In truth, even if the small town life isn't for you, the majority of the students at KCOM move out of town for 3rd and 4th year clerkships. I'm headed out to the Mesa, Arizona next year with about thirty of my classmates. There are also rotations in major metropolitan areas of Missouri, Michigan, Utah, Colorado, New Jersey, Ohio, and Florida. The best part is that these rotations are completely organized by the school and the regional deans. The only planning you will have to do for yourself is 4th-year electives.

I guess that wound up to be a lot of KCOM horn-tooting, but having survived a year and a half here, the school and area have really grown on me. If possible, I would encourage you to revisit both campuses and get a good feel for the areas and schools. I hope this helps. Congratulatinos again on your acceptance into two great programs!

Andy
KCOM 2008

 

[Mike2010]

I Dont know anything about KCOM, however I had to pick between UNECOM and NYCOM, I went with NYCOM for a few different reasons after comparing the two. I do have some advice about UNECOM that has nothing to do at all with the quality of the program there.... That is there seemed to be an above average amount of good looking girls at the school. So if you absolutely cannot decide between your two schools, depending on whether you are male or female this (shouldnt be, but) could be a factor to tip the scales one way or the other, haha.

 

[double elle]

First, I only know about KCOM because I went there. I am still here in Kville doing my internship. (internship sucks!)

Kirksville is small and overall-pretty boring. That being said.....Your life, when you start medical school, will change drastically. Your time is not your own and you will have to learn to become VERY creative with time management to fit in all the things a person typically likes to do...exercise, go out with friends, shower (haha)...etc... This is where Kirksville really does have a huge advantage over other places. I can be anywhere in under 10 minutes - and that is if traffic is bad. Seriously, you will spend longer in the line at wal-mart than you will in traffic.

Also, typically, housing can be found somewhat close to campus if you don't want to drive/don't want to spend money on gas/want to walk to anatomy lab each night/etc..... And, most housing is cheap.

Also, most major things are really under a few hours away. I can make it to KC for a concert in about 2.5 hours...as well as to the airport. I can get to Columbia in just under 1.5 hours if I need to go shopping. I can run over to LaGrange, by quincy, illinois, and pull the one-armmed-bandit if I feel the need to gamble (about 1.5 hours). There are also casinos by columbia and in KC.

I am speaking as a married chick with a kid....when you are pressed for time, Kirksville is really awesome. My time is taken 100% by one thing or another. It's nice to be able to run here or there quickly if something needs to be done. It's nice to be able to fit in a quick run, go to the park with my kid...whatever...and still be close to the hospital or to home in case I get called in.

THAT being said....please don't come here and then end up complaining about it the entire time. Kirksville is an acquired taste. Good for some things..not so good for other things. Put in some time and effort to investigate this place before you come here. I say this because nothing annoyed me more than to hear classmates complain about the town and the stupid things they KNEW they would not be able to find here before coming here....like sushi!!!

Best of luck on your decision!

 

[hanover06]

I really appreciate all the help your responses have given me. In the end I have decided to attend KCOM. While the location is less than optimal, I'm sure I won't have any problems keeping myself busy. The quality of the education seems to be top-notch and it will be amazing to have such structured rotations options all over the country during my 3rd and 4th years.

Thanks again and best of luck to everyone still making their way through this process!

 

[bellagrace]

I really appreciate all the help your responses have given me. In the end I have decided to attend KCOM. While the location is less than optimal, I'm sure I won't have any problems keeping myself busy. The quality of the education seems to be top-notch and it will be amazing to have such structured rotations options all over the country during my 3rd and 4th years.

Thanks again and best of luck to everyone still making their way through this process!

Hey Hanover,
I think i'm going to KCOM too!! Hope to see you next fall.

 

[jx2sx2]

I am stuck. I have to decide between KCOM and UNECOM in the next few days and am having lots of trouble doing so. I have made the pro and con lists but each school has their own attractive qualities leaving me more confused then when I started. Both schools seem to have a great student body, supportive faculty, small community, etc. Does anyone have any insights about these schools? Please...

Good choice!!! I was accepted at LECOM, LECOM-B, OSU, and KCOM. I chose KCOM. Great school, students, and faculty. Great education without a lot of distractions. Can't wait to meet you in the Fall. Anyone going to KCOM next year email me if you would like to get to know one another.