KCU-KC vs LECOM vs AZCOM

[kenji8521]

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Hello, I was fortunate enough to receive acceptances from KCU, LECOM, and AZCOM. However, I am having a hard time deciding between them. What are your thoughts?

KCU

Pros:

1. In the midwest. I'm from the midwest.
2. Cheaper tuition (Although I am strongly considering HPSP)
3. P/F/Honors system
4. System based curriculum
5. good primary care vs specialty ratio almost every year(not sure what I want to pursue at the moment)
6. Students seemed happy so far (is this true in your experience?)
7. OMM is kept at a minimum.

Cons:

1. Rumors of tough curriculum
2. Not used to an urban setting
3. Limited research opportunity?
4. The campus is not in the nicest neighborhood.

AZCOM:

Pros:

1. Consistently good match list
2. Beautiful campus
3. Students seemed happy so far (is this true in your experience?)
4. Great weather (except summer)
5. suburban setting
6. Great interview experience..left an overall positive impression about the school.
7. OMM is kept at a minimum.
8. Great research opportunities.

Cons:

1. Weekly exams
2. Traditional grading system (some say this is good since it is a DO school..is this true?)
3. Traditional subject-wise curriculum
4. The tuition is absurdly high. (Although I am strongly considering HPSP)
5. The dean seems a bit against students taking both Steps and COMLEX (not sure if this is entirely true)

LECOM Erie

Pros:

1. Consistently good match list
2. Cheapest tuition
3. PBL sounds awesome!
4. Option to take either NBME or NBOME shelf exams (is this true and does it make a difference when it comes to applying for residencies?)
5. OMM kept at a minimum

Cons:

1. Admin drama rumored
2. Far away from home
3. Limited research opportunity

 

[chilly_md]

KCU. The tuition of AZCOM is not worth it and KCU is typically one of the most praised DO schools alongside PCOM and the state-funded ones.

 

[doctorize.me]

AZCOM:

Pros:

1. Consistently good match list - sure
2. Beautiful campus - sure
3. Students seemed happy so far (is this true in your experience?) - I guess. Not too chipper about tuition. Classmates are good and most faculty
4. Great weather (except summer) - Summer is hot. Very hot. We swim.
5. suburban setting - sure
6. Great interview experience..left an overall positive impression about the school. - They put their best foot forward.
7. OMM is kept at a minimum. - Typically 1x/wk lecture (sometimes a couple) + 2hr lab
8. Great research opportunities. - Depends on what research you want to do. Not so much from the clinical side I think. Bench work yes.

Cons:

1. Weekly exams - Try 2-3/wk with some scattered 1 weekers. You get used to it but it's a lot.
2. Traditional grading system (some say this is good since it is a DO school..is this true?) - Maybe. If you score poorly. People say every class has to rank in some form.
3. Traditional subject-wise curriculum - This is bad?
4. The tuition is absurdly high. (Although I am strongly considering HPSP) - Yes. Yes. Yes. It's gross how much they charge. HPSP negates.
5. The dean seems a bit against students taking both Steps and COMLEX (not sure if this is entirely true) - Yeah, they don't want you to take Step and fail because then it looks bad on them if the failure becomes an impediment to matching/statistics. They do strongly encourage only taking comlex. You do you though.