KCUMB-Joplin vs. ARCOM

[EmilKraepelin55]

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Hello my fellow SDNr's!

I am in a predicament right now. Currently, I have received acceptances to both ARCOM and KCUMB-Joplin. At first, the clear cut choice seemed to be KCUMB-Joplin because of how well established KCUMB is at large and how connected it is to great residency programs. However, I just don't like Joplin as a town that much (personally). It just doesn't feel like home, and this was especially apparent to my fiancée whenever we visited after receiving an acceptance. We absolutely love Fort Smith though, because the town really represents where we come from (Oklahoma) much better. Of course, the elephant in the room is that ARCOM is a new school without any clout within residency circles yet. To me, I am neutral about living in Joplin. My fiancée has more reservations about that move more so. If this is the case, then a move to Joplin may mean a less happy wife and, thus, I think our collective mental health may be challenged more so than in Fort Smith given the difficulty of both medical school and the added difficulty of the KCUMB curriculum (from what I hear). It is also important that my fiancée find a job, of course, and is looking to teach high school art. A job opening in Fort Smith as just opened and she has applied in anticipation that we may move to Arkansas.

Are there any students from both ARCOM and KCUMB-Joplin who can explain to me, from their perspective, some pro's and con's about their respective schools? Or really anyone who has been in our position that can give us some guidance? We would absolutely appreciate any advice you could provide to us.

Thank you!
@AlteredScale I would love to hear your thoughts since you attend KCU.

 

[de Ribas]

Hello my fellow SDNr's!

I am in a predicament right now. Currently, I have received acceptances to both ARCOM and KCUMB-Joplin. At first, the clear cut choice seemed to be KCUMB-Joplin because of how well established KCUMB is at large and how connected it is to great residency programs. However, I just don't like Joplin as a town that much (personally). It just doesn't feel like home, and this was especially apparent to my fiancée whenever we visited after receiving an acceptance. We absolutely love Fort Smith though, because the town really represents where we come from (Oklahoma) much better. Of course, the elephant in the room is that ARCOM is a new school without any clout within residency circles yet. To me, I am neutral about living in Joplin. My fiancée has more reservations about that move more so. If this is the case, then a move to Joplin may mean a less happy wife and, thus, I think our collective mental health may be challenged more so than in Fort Smith given the difficulty of both medical school and the added difficulty of the KCUMB curriculum (from what I hear). It is also important that my fiancée find a job, of course, and is looking to teach high school art. A job opening in Fort Smith as just opened and she has applied in anticipation that we may move to Arkansas.

Are there any students from both ARCOM and KCUMB-Joplin who can explain to me, from their perspective, some pro's and con's about their respective schools? Or really anyone who has been in our position that can give us some guidance? We would absolutely appreciate any advice you could provide to us.

Thank you!
@AlteredScale I would love to hear your thoughts since you attend KCU.

I am not med student, but since you have no replied yet, I would give my 0.02.
If I would be in your shoes, I would for to KCU. It's only 3-4 years after all, but quality of the med school education might outweigh personal prefereces regarding of living place. I think these 2 towns are both great towns. I would choose well established school. It will be less stress down the road.

 

[humble_nous]

Current student of ARCOM here. I will add that the biggest stress factors for some students here seems to be adjusting to the TBL environment here and mandatory 8a-3p(or 5 depending on the schedule) attendance in business casual attire (no scrubs). If none of those things dissuade you, go ARCOM. The faculty are some of the best in the nation (the majority of department chairs write questions for the COMLEX) and the facilities are brand-spanking new. Based on how early relative to other schools we are doing clinical training (we've been tested with standardized patient exams since a few weeks into the semester) and the overwhelming community responses we've received anticipating our rotations/residencies (State Rep. McGill spoke to our class, representatives from the two biggest clinics in the state Sparks and Mercy gave a talk about how they can't wait for us to start rotations) I am not the least concerned about my future rotations and residencies. Feel free to ask me any questions or to elaborate on anything I may have missed.

 

[Betabet]

Hello my fellow SDNr's!

I am in a predicament right now. Currently, I have received acceptances to both ARCOM and KCUMB-Joplin. At first, the clear cut choice seemed to be KCUMB-Joplin because of how well established KCUMB is at large and how connected it is to great residency programs. However, I just don't like Joplin as a town that much (personally). It just doesn't feel like home, and this was especially apparent to my fiancée whenever we visited after receiving an acceptance. We absolutely love Fort Smith though, because the town really represents where we come from (Oklahoma) much better. Of course, the elephant in the room is that ARCOM is a new school without any clout within residency circles yet. To me, I am neutral about living in Joplin. My fiancée has more reservations about that move more so. If this is the case, then a move to Joplin may mean a less happy wife and, thus, I think our collective mental health may be challenged more so than in Fort Smith given the difficulty of both medical school and the added difficulty of the KCUMB curriculum (from what I hear). It is also important that my fiancée find a job, of course, and is looking to teach high school art. A job opening in Fort Smith as just opened and she has applied in anticipation that we may move to Arkansas.

Are there any students from both ARCOM and KCUMB-Joplin who can explain to me, from their perspective, some pro's and con's about their respective schools? Or really anyone who has been in our position that can give us some guidance? We would absolutely appreciate any advice you could provide to us.

Thank you!
@AlteredScale I would love to hear your thoughts since you attend KCU.

All I saw was humble_nous comment about mandatory classes. If KCU doesn't have mandatory classes, go there. You hear it a lot on SDN, but mandatory classes really really really suck. Especially come second year when you're studying for boards. Plus, as you said before, KCU has a good track record. I know this doesn't mean the branch campus will automatically have a good track record. But I mean, when you want a coach for a team, do you go for the coach who has multiple championships or a brand new coach with no record?

 

[zurc2014]

I interviewed at ARCOM and can say I honestly LOVED it there! But yea that 8-3 class attendance would kill me. We have 9-12 class at my current school and I can barely make that. Im not a morning person tho and I study late. Also, Im lazy and wear scrubs or basketball shorts to class everyday. I cancelled my interview to KCU since I was accepted elsewhere before that date but I would have definitely chosen them over ARCOM (even tho I really liked the school). I just cant do those 8-3 classes. I have to stream :/ tldr: Go to KCU

 

[Trollest]

All the replies said Go to KCU whcih the OP said he would but are not addressing the gist of his question. That is his wife and her employement opportunities. Would his wife be able to find work in Joplin? That's pretty much what the OP is asking because he clearly stated that he prefers KCU over ARCOM.
@zurc2014 @Betabet @humble_nous @PashaOdesit @DrRedstone

 

[workaholic181]

Hello my fellow SDNr's!

I am in a predicament right now. Currently, I have received acceptances to both ARCOM and KCUMB-Joplin. At first, the clear cut choice seemed to be KCUMB-Joplin because of how well established KCUMB is at large and how connected it is to great residency programs. However, I just don't like Joplin as a town that much (personally). It just doesn't feel like home, and this was especially apparent to my fiancée whenever we visited after receiving an acceptance. We absolutely love Fort Smith though, because the town really represents where we come from (Oklahoma) much better. Of course, the elephant in the room is that ARCOM is a new school without any clout within residency circles yet. To me, I am neutral about living in Joplin. My fiancée has more reservations about that move more so. If this is the case, then a move to Joplin may mean a less happy wife and, thus, I think our collective mental health may be challenged more so than in Fort Smith given the difficulty of both medical school and the added difficulty of the KCUMB curriculum (from what I hear). It is also important that my fiancée find a job, of course, and is looking to teach high school art. A job opening in Fort Smith as just opened and she has applied in anticipation that we may move to Arkansas.

Are there any students from both ARCOM and KCUMB-Joplin who can explain to me, from their perspective, some pro's and con's about their respective schools? Or really anyone who has been in our position that can give us some guidance? We would absolutely appreciate any advice you could provide to us.

Thank you!
@AlteredScale I would love to hear your thoughts since you attend KCU.

Not a student yet, but I was told by the KCU students I spoke to when I was at the KC campus that the clinical rotations through Joplin are great in that they really give you hands on experience that you might not otherwise get, even at the KC campus. Plus KCU is so well established in the midwest in general, I would go with that.

Mandatory classes in business casual would really stink OP. Can you imagine doing that in april the year you take the COMLEX/USMLE?

Cant go wrong either way ultimately though, and congrats on your acceptances.

 

[Coltuna]

Joplin is a job center. The "population" is 50,000 but during the day Monday-Friday, there are over 200,000 people there. Their facilities are also brand-spanking-new. Go to KCU.