KCU vs. MSUCOM

[I-said-doctor]

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I have been accepted at KCU and have interviewed at MSUCOM..hoping to get a decision sometime next week. If I get waitlisted/rejected at MSU then, I am definitely going to KCU but if by chance I get accepted at MSU, I need some advice to decide between the two. I am asking this now because I have to make a decision by next week (bank loan issues..file's about to be closed and I don't want to go through the whole review process again).

So here are my pro's and con's for both schools:

KCU
Pros:
- Loved it during the interview: the staff, the students, the campus...basically everything!
- Cheaper tuition (~$43,000/year, ~$58,000 CAD/year) as a Canadian this is a big plus for me especially with the current exchange rate!
- Good rotations (though I have read some posts about some sites being not-so-good...any opinions/comments on this?
- Curriculum prepares you for boards really well...big plus since I would need higher than usual scores as a Canadian from what I understand
- Has a good population of Canadians/Internationals so I wouldn't feel completely lonely haha
- Has matched students into some great programs recently...though the credit prob goes to the individual students in this case
- Great reputation and alumni base!

Cons:
- Sketchy neighbourhood around campus. Current students have said they don't mind it as much but I like to feel safe and be able to walk/run around where I live (I can live with this for 2-4years though...also heard/read rest of KC is awesome! 🙂
- Curriculum doesn't allow for much research in the first two years.. This is a big con for me as I really would like to do some research while in school. Have students found ways around this? Is it possible to do research in 3rd/4th years?


MSUCOM
Pros:
- Very very supportive of Canadians, even have rotations in Canada or so I have read..can someone confirm this?
- Loved the campus and the town!
- Lots of research opps..big plus!
- Lots of scholarships available as well though how attainable/competitive they are, I am not sure...could someone expand on this??
- Its close to home so my family or I could travel back and forth when the time permits but this is not a huge concern/factor for me. I am aware that medschool's a huge time/energy commitment and do not expect to see my family every weekend/month.
- Don't have to move out of state for rotations. I have gathered from SDN posts that MSU rotations are great. Is this true for all of the sites or some of them or most them? Are they generally comparable to KCU's (better or worse)??
- Their curriculum seems to be chilled out and not as rigorous as KCU's but they seem to perform well on their boards so in a way, it seems to be a good thing? Or not?
- Great reputation as well and seems to #1 choice for a lot of the Canadian...goodness know why, given their tuition!!

Cons:
- It's expensive!!! Even for Canadians! It's roughly ~$88,000 CAD per year with the current exchange rate...please correct me if I am wrong here!
- The interview day was too short (~3hrs) to get a decent understanding of anything. The students were evasive in their answers or didn't seem to know any of the answers (about research/scholarship/rotations, etc) which left me feeling a bit weird about the school.
- Also compared to KCU, the students didn't seem to love their school as much. That doesn't mean they didn't like it, I am just mentioning it because I noticed a difference at my interview day.


So that's what I have focused on so far for these schools. I would love to get some of the answers for the questions I have asked and any other information I should consider in choosing between the two.

Main question: is it worth it to spend so much extra on MSUCOM?

 

[cliquesh]

Msu is too expensive to even consider.

 

[I-said-doctor]

Msu is too expensive to even consider.

I agree but luckily for me I have managed to secure enough funds to pay for it. At this point, I just need to decide if it's worth it.

 

[apr27]

- Curriculum doesn't allow for much research in the first two years.. This is a big con for me as I really would like to do some research while in school. Have students found ways around this? Is it possible to do research in 3rd/4th years?

Not me personally, but several students do on-campus research. There is a GPA requirement thought (3.5 i believe). Yes, you can do research 3rd and 4th year. I spoke to a a current resident that did it. I feel like productive lab research would be pretty difficult especially at a DO school. If anything and if you come here, I would find some clinical research at KU or something and see if you can get your name on something that way.

 

[AlteredScale]

MSU, being able to stay in one spot is gold. Also the research opps.

 

[I-said-doctor]

MSU, being able to stay in one spot is gold. Also the research opps.

Can you not stay in one spot for all of 3rd year at KCU? Also, MSU has a state wide program so you don't have to leave the state but I might still have to move to different cities, no? Lol, doesn't that also require moving?

Agreed about the research opps, that's what is really keeping me interested in MSU!

Would you say these things are worth the extra tuition?

 

[Laito]

One of the student ambassador during my interview at KCU told me that she did research during first year, so it is possible but difficult.

 

[Dr. Death]

KCU. Is MSU's education great? Yeah almost certainly it will be awesome, you can stay in one spot for your rotations, and have better research opportunities. However is it worth 200,000$ more? Unquestionably no. It is easy to throw these things around now because payback is so far down the road but that is an insane amount of money for very little difference in education. By the way according to current exchange rate MSU is 106,600$ CAD per year tuition. 80,000 USD last time I checked but correct me if I'm misinformed.

 

[I-said-doctor]

KCU. Is MSU's education great? Yeah almost certainly it will be awesome, you can stay in one spot for your rotations, and have better research opportunities. However is it worth 200,000$ more? Unquestionably no. It is easy to throw these things around now because payback is so far down the road but that is an insane amount of money for very little difference in education. By the way according to current exchange rate MSU is 106,600$ CAD per year tuition. 80,000 USD last time I checked but correct me if I'm misinformed.

I am a Canadian so I would be eligible for the 20K scholarship.. the tuition comes down to ~66K/year (I think) from 86K USD for OOS.

 

[mathnerd88]

I am a Canadian so I would be eligible for the 20K scholarship.. the tuition comes down to ~66K/year (I think) from 86K USD for OOS.

Even so, that's $80k plus interest if you take loans out, which is still a significant amount of money.

Are you sure you can secure that scholarship?

 

[I-said-doctor]

Even so, that's $80k plus interest if you take loans out, which is still a significant amount of money.

Are you sure you can secure that scholarship?

20K scholarship is guaranteed for Canadians which is great but still quite expensive!

 

[mathnerd88]

20K scholarship is guaranteed for Canadians which is great but still quite expensive!

If I were you, I would go to the cheaper school. Both are highly regarded in the DO world, and both are fantastic schools. Are you interested in research? If you are, then I would suggest MSUCOM. If you aren't, then go to the cheaper school.

 

[AlteredScale]

Can you not stay in one spot for all of 3rd year at KCU? Also, MSU has a state wide program so you don't have to leave the state but I might still have to move to different cities, no? Lol, doesn't that also require moving?

Agreed about the research opps, that's what is really keeping me interested in MSU!

Would you say these things are worth the extra tuition?

ah that's true. Well its not guaranteed that you'll get to stay in KC, you may have to go across state. Nice thing is mang of those places have wat more inpatient exposure than what you'd get in KC. Seeing how small of a ding the scholarship is going to help you at msu, I'm going to retract my statement and suggest instead!

 

[Goro]

Here's the really important things to consider: barbecue vs casseroles.

I have been accepted at KCU and have interviewed at MSUCOM..hoping to get a decision sometime next week. If I get waitlisted/rejected at MSU then, I am definitely going to KCU but if by chance I get accepted at MSU, I need some advice to decide between the two. I am asking this now because I have to make a decision by next week (bank loan issues..file's about to be closed and I don't want to go through the whole review process again).

So here are my pro's and con's for both schools:

KCU
Pros:
- Loved it during the interview: the staff, the students, the campus...basically everything!
- Cheaper tuition (~$43,000/year, ~$58,000 CAD/year) as a Canadian this is a big plus for me especially with the current exchange rate!
- Good rotations (though I have read some posts about some sites being not-so-good...any opinions/comments on this?
- Curriculum prepares you for boards really well...big plus since I would need higher than usual scores as a Canadian from what I understand
- Has a good population of Canadians/Internationals so I wouldn't feel completely lonely haha
- Has matched students into some great programs recently...though the credit prob goes to the individual students in this case
- Great reputation and alumni base!

Cons:
- Sketchy neighbourhood around campus. Current students have said they don't mind it as much but I like to feel safe and be able to walk/run around where I live (I can live with this for 2-4years though...also heard/read rest of KC is awesome! 🙂
- Curriculum doesn't allow for much research in the first two years.. This is a big con for me as I really would like to do some research while in school. Have students found ways around this? Is it possible to do research in 3rd/4th years?


MSUCOM
Pros:
- Very very supportive of Canadians, even have rotations in Canada or so I have read..can someone confirm this?
- Loved the campus and the town!
- Lots of research opps..big plus!
- Lots of scholarships available as well though how attainable/competitive they are, I am not sure...could someone expand on this??
- Its close to home so my family or I could travel back and forth when the time permits but this is not a huge concern/factor for me. I am aware that medschool's a huge time/energy commitment and do not expect to see my family every weekend/month.
- Don't have to move out of state for rotations. I have gathered from SDN posts that MSU rotations are great. Is this true for all of the sites or some of them or most them? Are they generally comparable to KCU's (better or worse)??
- Their curriculum seems to be chilled out and not as rigorous as KCU's but they seem to perform well on their boards so in a way, it seems to be a good thing? Or not?
- Great reputation as well and seems to #1 choice for a lot of the Canadian...goodness know why, given their tuition!!

Cons:
- It's expensive!!! Even for Canadians! It's roughly ~$88,000 CAD per year with the current exchange rate...please correct me if I am wrong here!
- The interview day was too short (~3hrs) to get a decent understanding of anything. The students were evasive in their answers or didn't seem to know any of the answers (about research/scholarship/rotations, etc) which left me feeling a bit weird about the school.
- Also compared to KCU, the students didn't seem to love their school as much. That doesn't mean they didn't like it, I am just mentioning it because I noticed a difference at my interview day.


So that's what I have focused on so far for these schools. I would love to get some of the answers for the questions I have asked and any other information I should consider in choosing between the two.

Main question: is it worth it to spend so much extra on MSUCOM?

 

[SpartanWolverine]

Here's the really important things to consider: barbecue vs casseroles.

... casseroles? 😛

OP:
Sorry you didn't get all the answers you wanted on MSUCOM's interview day. Did you have only first-year student panelists/tour guides?

To try and answer some of your questions:
1) Scholarships are somewhat attainable, though mostly prioritized for students with academic need. Many of them are also specific to certain specialties or regions. So, I wouldn't count on anything beyond the Canadian scholarship.
2) All the MSU 3rd year rotation sites are good but vary in the kinds of things they offer. I personally visited ten when looking for a place to go, and my one take-away was that I would get a great education at any of them -- so I prioritized my choices based on location and residencies/fellowships offered. People tend to poo-poo some of the ones in more rural locations, but they're great for people looking for that kind of environment. If you want to be in Detroit, Lansing, Ann Arbor, Traverse City, etc., you have all those options. If you want a Level-I trauma center, a hospital with competitive residences, or a hospital with lots of research, you have plenty of options. Sorry, can't compare them to KCU's, though.

Did you have a specific question about research? There are a ton of opportunities.

Whether the price is worth it is up to you. I know very little about KCU other than the fact that it has an excellent reputation. I think fit plays a huge role in how well you do/how much you enjoy medical school, and it seems like your gut is telling you KCU. 🙂

 

[cafeverona]

OP, I may eventually have to make this decision if I get off the WL for MSUCOM, so I'm glad this thread exists! I'm IS, so the tuition at MSU is lower for me, though it is still way more expensive than KCU. Also, I just got a better feeling when I was at KCU than MSU--the EL buildings are kind of old and dingy haha. But regardless, if I do get off the WL, it will definitely be a tough decision, as both schools are really amazing!

 

[ortnakas]

KCU-- I'm sure MSUCOM is awesome, but you can't ignore saving $80K. That's a good chunk of a house. Or multiple luxury cars. Or 4 Kia Fortes.

Here's the really important things to consider: barbecue vs casseroles.

I have a good friend from Michigan and their pasties are also awesome. I'm loving your food-related advice lately though.

 

[ChrisMack390]

KCU is every bit as good without the obnoxious tuition. Please do not pay that tuition, even if just on principal.

 

[TheBoneDoctah]

KCU-- I'm sure MSUCOM is awesome, but you can't ignore saving $80K. That's a good chunk of a house. Or multiple luxury cars. Or 4 Kia Fortes.



I have a good friend from Michigan and their pasties are also awesome. I'm loving your food-related advice lately though.

Pasties huh? Too bad it's winter right now.

 

[kingston77]

I have been accepted at KCU and have interviewed at MSUCOM..hoping to get a decision sometime next week. If I get waitlisted/rejected at MSU then, I am definitely going to KCU but if by chance I get accepted at MSU, I need some advice to decide between the two. I am asking this now because I have to make a decision by next week (bank loan issues..file's about to be closed and I don't want to go through the whole review process again).

So here are my pro's and con's for both schools:

KCU
Pros:
- Loved it during the interview: the staff, the students, the campus...basically everything!
- Cheaper tuition (~$43,000/year, ~$58,000 CAD/year) as a Canadian this is a big plus for me especially with the current exchange rate!
- Good rotations (though I have read some posts about some sites being not-so-good...any opinions/comments on this?
- Curriculum prepares you for boards really well...big plus since I would need higher than usual scores as a Canadian from what I understand
- Has a good population of Canadians/Internationals so I wouldn't feel completely lonely haha
- Has matched students into some great programs recently...though the credit prob goes to the individual students in this case
- Great reputation and alumni base!

Cons:
- Sketchy neighbourhood around campus. Current students have said they don't mind it as much but I like to feel safe and be able to walk/run around where I live (I can live with this for 2-4years though...also heard/read rest of KC is awesome! 🙂
- Curriculum doesn't allow for much research in the first two years.. This is a big con for me as I really would like to do some research while in school. Have students found ways around this? Is it possible to do research in 3rd/4th years?


MSUCOM
Pros:
- Very very supportive of Canadians, even have rotations in Canada or so I have read..can someone confirm this?
- Loved the campus and the town!
- Lots of research opps..big plus!
- Lots of scholarships available as well though how attainable/competitive they are, I am not sure...could someone expand on this??
- Its close to home so my family or I could travel back and forth when the time permits but this is not a huge concern/factor for me. I am aware that medschool's a huge time/energy commitment and do not expect to see my family every weekend/month.
- Don't have to move out of state for rotations. I have gathered from SDN posts that MSU rotations are great. Is this true for all of the sites or some of them or most them? Are they generally comparable to KCU's (better or worse)??
- Their curriculum seems to be chilled out and not as rigorous as KCU's but they seem to perform well on their boards so in a way, it seems to be a good thing? Or not?
- Great reputation as well and seems to #1 choice for a lot of the Canadian...goodness know why, given their tuition!!

Cons:
- It's expensive!!! Even for Canadians! It's roughly ~$88,000 CAD per year with the current exchange rate...please correct me if I am wrong here!
- The interview day was too short (~3hrs) to get a decent understanding of anything. The students were evasive in their answers or didn't seem to know any of the answers (about research/scholarship/rotations, etc) which left me feeling a bit weird about the school.
- Also compared to KCU, the students didn't seem to love their school as much. That doesn't mean they didn't like it, I am just mentioning it because I noticed a difference at my interview day.


So that's what I have focused on so far for these schools. I would love to get some of the answers for the questions I have asked and any other information I should consider in choosing between the two.

Main question: is it worth it to spend so much extra on MSUCOM?

I'm in the same exact situation as you. Canadian student, accepted into KCU, but waitlisted at MSUCOM. The pros and cons you stated apply for me as well. I would like the ability to do research , I would also like to live in a safe neighbourhood( Yes, the area around KCU campus seemed sketchy), and MSU is relatively close to Canada (thats very important for me since it would probably allow me to see my family much more often) But, for me as well, the tuition at MSUCOM is ridiculous. Even with the scholarship, it would come around >85k Canadian per year. Plus living expense, I think it would be safe to assume the total price to attend MSUCOM for Canadians would be about 100k a year. The exchange rate is extremely low right now , and that has a significant effect. So I too am contemplating if the price tag for MSUCOM is worth it....

 

[JoeUSA]

KCU is an excellent choice. The campus has improved significantly in the past few years. The plans for the future are amazing. The distances between the parking lots and the classrooms are short. Students can live across the street or in other areas of KC. Overland Park is nice.

 

[TheBoneDoctah]

I have been accepted at KCU and have interviewed at MSUCOM..hoping to get a decision sometime next week. If I get waitlisted/rejected at MSU then, I am definitely going to KCU but if by chance I get accepted at MSU, I need some advice to decide between the two. I am asking this now because I have to make a decision by next week (bank loan issues..file's about to be closed and I don't want to go through the whole review process again).

So here are my pro's and con's for both schools:

KCU
Pros:
- Loved it during the interview: the staff, the students, the campus...basically everything!
- Cheaper tuition (~$43,000/year, ~$58,000 CAD/year) as a Canadian this is a big plus for me especially with the current exchange rate!
- Good rotations (though I have read some posts about some sites being not-so-good...any opinions/comments on this?
- Curriculum prepares you for boards really well...big plus since I would need higher than usual scores as a Canadian from what I understand
- Has a good population of Canadians/Internationals so I wouldn't feel completely lonely haha
- Has matched students into some great programs recently...though the credit prob goes to the individual students in this case
- Great reputation and alumni base!

Cons:
- Sketchy neighbourhood around campus. Current students have said they don't mind it as much but I like to feel safe and be able to walk/run around where I live (I can live with this for 2-4years though...also heard/read rest of KC is awesome! 🙂
- Curriculum doesn't allow for much research in the first two years.. This is a big con for me as I really would like to do some research while in school. Have students found ways around this? Is it possible to do research in 3rd/4th years?


MSUCOM
Pros:
- Very very supportive of Canadians, even have rotations in Canada or so I have read..can someone confirm this?
- Loved the campus and the town!
- Lots of research opps..big plus!
- Lots of scholarships available as well though how attainable/competitive they are, I am not sure...could someone expand on this??
- Its close to home so my family or I could travel back and forth when the time permits but this is not a huge concern/factor for me. I am aware that medschool's a huge time/energy commitment and do not expect to see my family every weekend/month.
- Don't have to move out of state for rotations. I have gathered from SDN posts that MSU rotations are great. Is this true for all of the sites or some of them or most them? Are they generally comparable to KCU's (better or worse)??
- Their curriculum seems to be chilled out and not as rigorous as KCU's but they seem to perform well on their boards so in a way, it seems to be a good thing? Or not?
- Great reputation as well and seems to #1 choice for a lot of the Canadian...goodness know why, given their tuition!!

Cons:
- It's expensive!!! Even for Canadians! It's roughly ~$88,000 CAD per year with the current exchange rate...please correct me if I am wrong here!
- The interview day was too short (~3hrs) to get a decent understanding of anything. The students were evasive in their answers or didn't seem to know any of the answers (about research/scholarship/rotations, etc) which left me feeling a bit weird about the school.
- Also compared to KCU, the students didn't seem to love their school as much. That doesn't mean they didn't like it, I am just mentioning it because I noticed a difference at my interview day.


So that's what I have focused on so far for these schools. I would love to get some of the answers for the questions I have asked and any other information I should consider in choosing between the two.

Main question: is it worth it to spend so much extra on MSUCOM?

The campus itself is extremely safe. Security is there 24/7 and will walk you to your car/CT whenever you need them too. I too was skeptical when I chose KCU for these same reasons, but quickly realized it isn't a problem. I'm not saying it's a smart idea to go walking down the street wearing $500 shoes and tossing 100's like you're at a strip club...cause that could get you into some trouble...but since you're a med student, I assume you have some common sense and know what to do/not to do that will keep you alive.

If you don't want to live next to campus (CT or close apartments, don't). KC is CHEAP for living expenses. I live in Overland Park (about 25 minute commute to campus) and LOVE it. It's a super nice area with grocery stores, banks, everything you need. Housing in OP is more expensive that other areas around KC, but it is very safe (I walk around throwing hundreds and don't die).

 

[FranticDoc]

The campus itself is extremely safe. Security is there 24/7 and will walk you to your car/CT whenever you need them too. I too was skeptical when I chose KCU for these same reasons, but quickly realized it isn't a problem. I'm not saying it's a smart idea to go walking down the street wearing $500 shoes and tossing 100's like you're at a strip club...cause that could get you into some trouble...but since you're a med student, I assume you have some common sense and know what to do/not to do that will keep you alive.

If you don't want to live next to campus (CT or close apartments, don't). KC is CHEAP for living expenses. I live in Overland Park (about 25 minute commute to campus) and LOVE it. It's a super nice area with grocery stores, banks, everything you need. Housing in OP is more expensive that other areas around KC, but it is very safe (I walk around throwing hundreds and don't die).

Where would you say the cheapest, yet acceptable and decent, area is to live in KC as a KCU student, other than Century Towers?

Is there a list of apartments somewhere on their website, or compiled here by students?

 

[cafeverona]

Where would you say the cheapest, yet acceptable and decent, area is to live in KC as a KCU student, other than Century Towers?

Is there a list of apartments somewhere on their website, or compiled here by students?

I asked this same thing in the KCU C/O 2020 group--I think you'd get more info there without detracting from the OP's topic.

 

[I-said-doctor]

OP:
Did you have only first-year student panelists/tour guides?

Thank you for answering my questions! 🙂 It was a mix of 1st and 2nd year students.

OP, I may eventually have to make this decision if I get off the WL for MSUCOM, so I'm glad this thread exists! I'm IS, so the tuition at MSU is lower for me, though it is still way more expensive than KCU. Also, I just got a better feeling when I was at KCU than MSU--the EL buildings are kind of old and dingy haha. But regardless, if I do get off the WL, it will definitely be a tough decision, as both schools are really amazing!

I thought MSU's IS tuition was comparable to KCU's!? In any case, I hope you have less trouble deciding than I am having.

I'm in the same exact situation as you. Canadian student, accepted into KCU, but waitlisted at MSUCOM. The pros and cons you stated apply for me as well. I would like the ability to do research , I would also like to live in a safe neighbourhood( Yes, the area around KCU campus seemed sketchy), and MSU is relatively close to Canada (thats very important for me since it would probably allow me to see my family much more often) But, for me as well, the tuition at MSUCOM is ridiculous. Even with the scholarship, it would come around >85k Canadian per year. Plus living expense, I think it would be safe to assume the total price to attend MSUCOM for Canadians would be about 100k a year. The exchange rate is extremely low right now , and that has a significant effect. So I too am contemplating if the price tag for MSUCOM is worth it....

Yep, exact same concerns for me! Glad to know someone else is going through the same dilemma haha 😛

Thank you everyone for answering my questions and giving your opinions. I am leaning heavily towards KCU at this point but there's 9.3946% chance that if I get accepted to MSUCOM, I might just go there. I will update on whatever decision I end up making (..finishing the story and all that!)
Here's to hoping I get waitlisted/rejected so I won't have to make a decision.

If anyone has anymore opinions please continue to post, I would be interested to read it and it might help other (future) applicants to make a decision as well!

 

[cafeverona]

Thank you for answering my questions! 🙂 It was a mix of 1st and 2nd year students.



I thought MSU's IS tuition was comparable to KCU's!? In any case, I hope you have less trouble deciding than I am having.


Yep, exact same concerns for me! Glad to know someone else is going through the same dilemma haha 😛

Thank you everyone for answering my questions and giving your opinions. I am leaning heavily towards KCU at this point but there's 9.3946% chance that if I get accepted to MSUCOM, I might just go there. I will update on whatever decision I end up making (..finishing the story and all that!)
Here's to hoping I get waitlisted/rejected so I won't have to make a decision.

If anyone has anymore opinions please continue to post, I would be interested to read it and it might help other (future) applicants to make a decision as well!

The tuition is, but the overall cost is not--I think the summer terms really add up at MSUCOM.

 

[Army guy]

Hey! Here's what I posted on the Canadian osteopathic facebook group in response to a similar question recently (maybe by you?) if you're not part of that group.

I was in your position last year as well, and narrowed my choices down to KCUMB and MSUCOM.

"Whatever choice you make, congrats on getting into medical school. The only thing I would add to MSU, are research and international opportunities that I am not sure you would get in equal measures at KCUMB or NSU. Granted I don't go to those schools, but MSU has an enormous amount of research with renowned professors that you could get involved with if you did a little sleuthing; it took me one email and one day to work with a leading researcher in DR. Not sure if that could be replicated at the other schools. Is this worth an extra 30k/year? Probably not, but it’s all in perspective and dependent on your outlook/priorities in life.

Additionally, with the acgme/aoa merger, I'm not sure how that's going to affect DO residency spots for other schools, but Msu has its statewide campus system. Also not trying to hard sell Msu, but we do have access to some of the best teaching faculties at the forefront of research; I’ve only interacted with a few profs thus far, but our genetics prof developed one of the therapies for pompes disease, our physiology profs grad student discovered the PI3K pathway, our micro prof in Malawi identified a new malaria tool that can determine which children with malaria are likely to develop cerebral malaria etc This is a small sampling of the varied faculty at MSU; does this translate to an effective teaching pedagogy? Maybe not, but the point is that Msu is a big school. Our faculty is derived not just from within COM, but other departments within the greater Msu. They are full time faculty that are invested in what they teach. Are they worth the extra 30k per year? Up to you and your financial status to decide.

Another notable mention are blue water rotations in Sarnia, ON. Again, does this mean you are guaranteed a Canadian residency? Hell no. But it does exemplify that our dean actively seeks to support and openly communicates with their Canadian students. In spite of all this, money is an important and limiting factor for many. Albeit money should be a major priority, life choices shouldn't be weighed out on one pillar. The main reason I chose Msu, besides the aforementioned, was because of the other Canadians that I knew were going be attending the school; whether these people are worth 30k/year is again up to you. Just remember, we get to where we are not by ourselves, but through the people we surround ourselves with. Medical school is hard as it is, don't go through it alone.

I think the worst thing I can do is to sell you an idea. The decision has and will always ultimately be up to you; I just want to present all the positive attributes of MSUCOM belying the only reason of not attending being money. An institution can provide you with all the resources and opportunities that you want, but whether you actually make use of these resources is up to you. Come into MSU with goals in mind, and make that 60k/year worth it for you.

On lighter notes, you won’t be part of that ridiculous MSU/UM final play if you were in KCUMB..... Our class "Prime Ministers" have been Canadians for 3 years running. And with a student population of greater than 50k, the chances of finding an American spouse for the coveted green card is much higher here than KCUMB or even NSU."

 

[SpartanWolverine]

... Our class "Prime Ministers" have been Canadians for 3 years running...

Actually three of the last four years [2019, 2018, 2016] with a Mexican president for 2017 😀. Regardless, our international students are generally very active.

 

[I-said-doctor]

Hey! Here's what I posted on the Canadian osteopathic facebook group in response to a similar question recently (maybe by you?) if you're not part of that group.

I was in your position last year as well, and narrowed my choices down to KCUMB and MSUCOM.

"Whatever choice you make, congrats on getting into medical school. The only thing I would add to MSU, are research and international opportunities that I am not sure you would get in equal measures at KCUMB or NSU. Granted I don't go to those schools, but MSU has an enormous amount of research with renowned professors that you could get involved with if you did a little sleuthing; it took me one email and one day to work with a leading researcher in DR. Not sure if that could be replicated at the other schools. Is this worth an extra 30k/year? Probably not, but it’s all in perspective and dependent on your outlook/priorities in life.

Additionally, with the acgme/aoa merger, I'm not sure how that's going to affect DO residency spots for other schools, but Msu has its statewide campus system. Also not trying to hard sell Msu, but we do have access to some of the best teaching faculties at the forefront of research; I’ve only interacted with a few profs thus far, but our genetics prof developed one of the therapies for pompes disease, our physiology profs grad student discovered the PI3K pathway, our micro prof in Malawi identified a new malaria tool that can determine which children with malaria are likely to develop cerebral malaria etc This is a small sampling of the varied faculty at MSU; does this translate to an effective teaching pedagogy? Maybe not, but the point is that Msu is a big school. Our faculty is derived not just from within COM, but other departments within the greater Msu. They are full time faculty that are invested in what they teach. Are they worth the extra 30k per year? Up to you and your financial status to decide.

Another notable mention are blue water rotations in Sarnia, ON. Again, does this mean you are guaranteed a Canadian residency? Hell no. But it does exemplify that our dean actively seeks to support and openly communicates with their Canadian students. In spite of all this, money is an important and limiting factor for many. Albeit money should be a major priority, life choices shouldn't be weighed out on one pillar. The main reason I chose Msu, besides the aforementioned, was because of the other Canadians that I knew were going be attending the school; whether these people are worth 30k/year is again up to you. Just remember, we get to where we are not by ourselves, but through the people we surround ourselves with. Medical school is hard as it is, don't go through it alone.

I think the worst thing I can do is to sell you an idea. The decision has and will always ultimately be up to you; I just want to present all the positive attributes of MSUCOM belying the only reason of not attending being money. An institution can provide you with all the resources and opportunities that you want, but whether you actually make use of these resources is up to you. Come into MSU with goals in mind, and make that 60k/year worth it for you.

On lighter notes, you won’t be part of that ridiculous MSU/UM final play if you were in KCUMB..... Our class "Prime Ministers" have been Canadians for 3 years running. And with a student population of greater than 50k, the chances of finding an American spouse for the coveted green card is much higher here than KCUMB or even NSU."

Haha I did read that whole discussion on fb, though I wasn't the one who posted it! Quite a few Canadians I have met/talked to seemed to be stuck between these choices
Thank you for posting this here as well! I have already decided on KCU and paid my deposit but you did *almost* convince me otherwise 🙂