KCU vs CCOM?

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I'm trying to decide between KCU and CCOM for next year. I enjoyed both interview days, and felt like both schools were a good fit for me. If any current students could help me out, let me know! I've included my comparison below.

I have until December to decide, but I really can't atm.

Both:
  • Great residency match rates, more ACGME than AOA residencies
  • Almost perfect COMLEX pass rates
KCU
  • Opportunity to get MBA degree in 4 years
  • Global Health track
  • Core sites all over nation
  • Basic science research opportunities
CCOM
  • Ability to do rotations in Chicago--diverse population
  • Chicago>KC
  • Family located here
  • Lots of clinical research opportunities
 
I got into CCOM and have KCUMB interview next month. Would love to hear from a student as well.
 
had a coworker accepted to both last year (and an MD school out of state), chose CCOM because she didn't have to move out of state
 
Shammyguy3 said:
had a coworker accepted to both last year (and an MD school out of state), chose CCOM because she didn't have to move out of state
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Wow, that's crazy. I'd be moving out of state for both, but I grew up around Chicago, so I'm more familiar with that area
 
cantcatchme said:
That says a lot coming from someone who attends KCU.

If you don't mind me asking, why do you say CCOM over KCU?
Click to expand...

Well the family is close, chicago deep dish, theres what, 5 medical schools so lots of research opps, and money isnt too much of an issue. It sounds like ccom is a better fit!


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I need help interpreting data between KCU and CCOM.

KCU boasts about their COMLEX Level 1 board scores attributed to their rigorous curriculum - School mean: 529. National Avg: 515. KCU's Passing Rate is 94.9% compared to the National Average 92.3%. (USMLE 98%, Nat. avg: 96%)

CCOM doesn't publicize their average COMLEX Level 1 Board Scores, just their passing rate which is pretty impressive: 97.9% compared to 92.3% National. (No data on USMLE)

From the given stats, can we assume that CCOM has just as good (possibly better?) average scores?
 
Mo'MedMules said:
I need help interpreting data between KCU and CCOM.

KCU boasts about their COMLEX Level 1 board scores attributed to their rigorous curriculum - School mean: 529. National Avg: 515. KCU's Passing Rate is 94.9% compared to the National Average 92.3%. (USMLE 98%, Nat. avg: 96%)

CCOM doesn't publicize their average COMLEX Level 1 Board Scores, just their passing rate which is pretty impressive: 97.9% compared to 92.3% National. (No data on USMLE)

From the given stats, can we assume that CCOM has just as good (possibly better?) average scores?
Click to expand...

No. Pass rate has nothing to do with average score. You can have a 100% pass rate but a really crappy average.
 
I know its old but this is data from CCOM website.

"The Class of 2010 of the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine achieved a 95% pass rate on the COMLEX Level 1 examination with an average score of 520, compared to the national pass rate of 89.7% with an average score of 497. Congratulations to the fourth-year students on this outstanding accomplishment!"

More current: Level 1 = 97.9% pass rate (92.3 national average)
2016 graduation rate= 94%
 
AnatomyGrey12 said:
No. Pass rate has nothing to do with average score. You can have a 100% pass rate but a really crappy average.
Click to expand...

You're right, AnatomyGrey. But also considering their match list and 4 year running 100% match rate they can't be TERRIBLY crappy... right?

It'd be helpful if the scores were publicized. 😵 It'd be interesting to see if CCOM was producing similar board scores without having a crazy rigorous curriculum like KCU. CCOM's pass rate being that high is relieving - especially since tuition is 65K.
 
KCU. Without a doubt.
CCOM is too too expensive and there's another tuition increase coming. It's the most expensive school in the country (DO or MD).
 
Ioannes Paulus said:
KCU. Without a doubt.
CCOM is too too expensive and there's another tuition increase coming. It's the most expensive school in the country (DO or MD).
Click to expand...

With the exception of MSUCOM OOS tuition.

I'd recommend KCU if you like to read and don't stress easily. Also @AlteredScale ive heard that CCOM is in the suburbs of Chicago so getting research from a neighboring medical school won't be so easy/convenient.

Edit: just checked and it's about 22 miles out of the city, so doable I guess but technically CCOM is in Downer's Grove, IL.
 
MADD!!! said:
With the exception of MSUCOM OOS tuition.

I'd recommend KCU if you like to read and don't stress easily. Also @AlteredScale ive heard that CCOM is in the suburbs of Chicago so getting research from a neighboring medical school won't be so easy/convenient.

Edit: just checked and it's about 22 miles out of the city, so doable I guess but technically CCOM is in Downer's Grove, IL.
Click to expand...


Outside of New York, Chicago is the most congested area for medical students. Finding research is really really hard but I know CCOM has a few on campus grants that are funded by the NIH
 
MADD!!! said:
With the exception of MSUCOM OOS tuition.

I'd recommend KCU if you like to read and don't stress easily. Also @AlteredScale ive heard that CCOM is in the suburbs of Chicago so getting research from a neighboring medical school won't be so easy/convenient.

Edit: just checked and it's about 22 miles out of the city, so doable I guess but technically CCOM is in Downer's Grove, IL.
Click to expand...

Yeah I'm not/wasn't aware of the distance so it's understandable. I think what I'm getting at is the fact that CCOM is in a city with very big academic medical centers that beyond distance, would probably have more opportunity for research than here in KC. And this comes from personal experience, it is a pain to find research here in KC. KU Med no longer accepts outside students for research and UMKC behaves similarly. There are no other academic medical centers to be involved with in research beyond those two health systems.


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AlteredScale said:
Yeah I'm not/wasn't aware of the distance so it's understandable. I think what I'm getting at is the fact that CCOM is in a city with very big academic medical centers that beyond distance, would probably have more opportunity for research than here in KC. And this comes from personal experience, it is a pain to find research here in KC. KU Med no longer accepts outside students for research and UMKC behaves similarly. There are no other academic medical centers to be involved with in research beyond those two health systems.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile
Click to expand...

Wow that's surprising, I would've assumed KU and UMKC would've been more receptive to KCU students doing research there. :/

How's the research on KCU campus itself?
 
MADD!!! said:
Wow that's surprising, I would've assumed KU and UMKC would've been more receptive to KCU students doing research there. :/

How's the research on KCU campus itself?
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UMKC has to take care of their Med students first so most research is being focused in on them.

KCU has two NIH funded researchers one in cardiovascular medicine and the other in neurosciences. The rest have intramural funding and still put out posters and pubs.


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RogerDOC said:
Lol someone should tell KCU that. https://www.kcumb.edu/research/research-resources/research-partners
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Ah yes, those are somewhat odd. These are simply research groups and collaborations. The professor at KCU is involved with Heartland ICTR and may faculty at KU are also a part of this institute. I have yet to hear much from either of these two programs that benefit students.

The elephant in the room is the curriculum load. You will constantly be working and so it is very very hard to find time to do bench work unless you are performing very well, are good with time management, and are willing to put in the extra hours. It's much different from balancing research in undergrad. You are taking a semesters amount of work in a few weeks and theres only 1-2 tests and failing is most def not something you want to do now.

There is a new dean and there is word they may change the curriclum a but and potential change the grading system to P/F for preclinical.
 
AlteredScale said:
Ah yes, those are somewhat odd. These are simply research groups and collaborations. The professor at KCU is involved with Heartland ICTR and may faculty at KU are also a part of this institute. I have yet to hear much from either of these two programs that benefit students.

The elephant in the room is the curriculum load. You will constantly be working and so it is very very hard to find time to do bench work unless you are performing very well, are good with time management, and are willing to put in the extra hours. It's much different from balancing research in undergrad. You are taking a semesters amount of work in a few weeks and theres only 1-2 tests and failing is most def not something you want to do now.

There is a new dean and there is word they may change the curriclum a but and potential change the grading system to P/F for preclinical.
Click to expand...

Any idea of how that would effect the incoming class?
 
Ioannes Paulus said:
Outside of New York, Chicago is the most congested area for medical students. Finding research is really really hard but I know CCOM has a few on campus grants that are funded by the NIH
Click to expand...

The strong majority of MS1s this year at CCOM that want to do research have found opportunities. We constantly get bombarded with emails about research options on and off campus. Clinical research is difficult to find regardless MD or DO, CCOM or KCU, but we do have students doing clinical research. There's also options to write review articles with guidance from a professor. There's no shortage of opportunities at CCOM.
 
CoomassieBlue57 said:
The strong majority of MS1s this year at CCOM that want to do research have found opportunities. We constantly get bombarded with emails about research options on and off campus. Clinical research is difficult to find regardless MD or DO, CCOM or KCU, but we do have students doing clinical research. There's also options to write review articles with guidance from a professor. There's no shortage of opportunities at CCOM.
Click to expand...

Do you know of any of your students that do research at UChicago or Northwestern?


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@AlteredScale I know some people who did research last summer at Rush and NU. Don't know about any UChicago. A lot of students choose to do research on campus (usually not clinical) because CCOM sponsors a stipend paid fellowship for summer research. I did the program last year, and my research has carried on into the M2 school year - so it's convenient for me that it's at school and not at another institution.
 
KCU's curriculum is sooooooooooooooooo rigorous and intense compared to CCOM's baby curriculum.
 
What is it about KCU's curriculum that is so difficult compared to other schools? I have heard this multiple times on SDN and am a little worried that I am going to be in over my head
 
Waillin said:
What is it about KCU's curriculum that is so difficult compared to other schools? I have heard this multiple times on SDN and am a little worried that I am going to be in over my head
Click to expand...
If the curriculum wasn't feasible for students to do and still have time to decompress they would've seen bad end results (boards and attrition) which to my knowledge they have not.
 
Waillin said:
What is it about KCU's curriculum that is so difficult compared to other schools? I have heard this multiple times on SDN and am a little worried that I am going to be in over my head
Click to expand...

I asked my interviewer this exact question. He said that SDN makes it sound way worse than it is. He said the only thing that's different is that the students must learn the information twice. First year you learn basic sciences and what a normal body is like. Second year you review all those systems but add in abnormalities and how to treat them. My interviewer said he thinks that it's probably not a crazy amount harder than any other program, you just have to read a little bit more and go through all the information twice.
 
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