KCUMB vs. NYITCOM (@ Arkansas State)

[Scribbler17]

Hello everyone! Longtime lurker, first-time poster.

I was committed to attending New York Institute of Technology at the Jonesboro, Arkansas campus, even going so far as paying the first tuition bill, but I was just taken off the waitlist at Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences's Kansas City campus. I have about four days to accept the offer at KCUMB.

I was disappointed with the waitlist decision at KCUMB initially because before that, all my interviews had been at rural campuses and I admit to a bias in favor of urban schools, coming from Chicago and all and having attended undergrad in a college town which I didn't want to repeat. However, a professor managed to change my perspective about the value of a medical education in an underserved/rural area. The curriculum at NYITCOM at Arkansas also features really practical advantages such as a certificate in population health and telemedicine training. I think we can all agree that the latter is a pretty useful asset right now. That being said, I know that KCUMB's curriculum has a reputation for being quite unique and innovative.

As far as reputation, KCUMB is more established being one of the first five osteopathic schools, with the match rates and board scores to back that up. Although NYITCOM was founded around 1977, the Jonesboro campus is graduating its very first class in about two weeks. They emphasize that the programs are pretty much the same, but that is something to keep in mind. They do boast promising board scores and residency matches as well and the first class performed well in both.

Four months ago, I wouldn't have hesitated to choose KCUMB, but after attending a virtual accepted student day for NYITCOM, I really am convinced that they take very good care of their students and look out for you with learning specialists, residency advising as early as first and second year, and counseling services. I'm sure every school boasts this to some extent, but as an example, the Academic Dean (who went to KCUMB funnily enough) recommended two books for us to read over the summer to mentally brace ourselves for the journey of medical school and they promised that they'd be sending us more content to read in the weeks leading up to classes as further preparation. I hope I don't sound naive if all schools do something like that, but recommendations like that are gestures I appreciate because it shows me they are committed to preparing us as early as now. I'd like the assurance that KCUMB has the same level of regard for its students and their success, especially because their curriculum is very rigorous. NYITCOM persuaded me that the community truly feels like a family and that everyone has each other's backs, with a current student even citing that he felt comfortable texting his advisors in the middle of the night at times.

KCUMB is the cheaper school, despite being in a larger and more urban city. Like I reiterated before, I have this bias for cities as someone who was lucky to have everything through Chicago most of my life, and although Kansas City is much smaller than Chicago, it still fulfills what I need like opportunities, diversity, culture, food, etc. However it's worth noting that at NYITCOM, we have access to all the facilities and resources of a large public university like Arkansas State, whereas KCUMB's campus and facilities aren't as impressive by comparison.

Sorry to add another one of these threads to the mix, but I thought I'd hear some thoughts from others, perhaps current or prospective students of either school? As of now, I'm interested in psychiatry, pathology, or pediatrics if that helps.

Thanks and I hope everyone is staying safe!

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[AlteredScale]

Hello everyone! Longtime lurker, first-time poster.

I was committed to attending New York Institute of Technology at the Jonesboro, Arkansas campus, even going so far as paying the first tuition bill, but I was just taken off the waitlist at Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences's Kansas City campus. I have about four days to accept the offer at KCUMB.

I was disappointed with the waitlist decision at KCUMB initially because before that, all my interviews had been at rural campuses and I admit to a bias in favor of urban schools, coming from Chicago and all and having attended undergrad in a college town which I didn't want to repeat. However, a professor managed to change my perspective about the value of a medical education in an underserved/rural area. The curriculum at NYITCOM at Arkansas also features really practical advantages such as a certificate in population health and telemedicine training. I think we can all agree that the latter is a pretty useful asset right now. That being said, I know that KCUMB's curriculum has a reputation for being quite unique and innovative.

As far as reputation, KCUMB is more established being one of the first five osteopathic schools, with the match rates and board scores to back that up. Although NYITCOM was founded around 1977, the Jonesboro campus is graduating its very first class in about two weeks. They emphasize that the programs are pretty much the same, but that is something to keep in mind. They do boast promising board scores and residency matches as well and the first class performed well in both.

Four months ago, I wouldn't have hesitated to choose KCUMB, but after attending a virtual accepted student day for NYITCOM, I really am convinced that they take very good care of their students and look out for you with learning specialists, residency advising as early as first and second year, and counseling services. I'm sure every school boasts this to some extent, but as an example, the Academic Dean (who went to KCUMB funnily enough) recommended two books for us to read over the summer to mentally brace ourselves for the journey of medical school and they promised that they'd be sending us more content to read in the weeks leading up to classes as further preparation. I hope I don't sound naive if all schools do something like that, but recommendations like that are gestures I appreciate because it shows me they are committed to preparing us as early as now. I'd like the assurance that KCUMB has the same level of regard for its students and their success, especially because their curriculum is very rigorous. NYITCOM persuaded me that the community truly feels like a family and that everyone has each other's backs, with a current student even citing that he felt comfortable texting his advisors in the middle of the night at times.

KCUMB is the cheaper school, despite being in a larger and more urban city. Like I reiterated before, I have this bias for cities as someone who was lucky to have everything through Chicago most of my life, and although Kansas City is much smaller than Chicago, it still fulfills what I need like opportunities, diversity, culture, food, etc. However it's worth noting that at NYITCOM, we have access to all the facilities and resources of a large public university like Arkansas State, whereas KCUMB's campus and facilities aren't as impressive by comparison.

Sorry to add another one of these threads to the mix, but I thought I'd hear some thoughts from others, perhaps current or prospective students of either school? As of now, I'm interested in psychiatry, pathology, or pediatrics if that helps.

Thanks and I hope everyone is staying safe!

You'll fair well at both but:

Go to the cheaper school. Consider the opportunities you can have outside of the school including distance to larger academic hospitals, research labs, other fun things to do.

ASU is a large university but it has no medical campus. KCU is nearby (literally 3-10 minutes driving distance) from two university hospitals (KU and UMKC/Truman/St Luke's) that are readily accepting of students for rotations and research and each having essentially all residencies and all fellowships. NYIT-Arkansas has a few community hospitals in the city but nothing really that close. The downside is obv there is a risk you may not be in KC for year 3 and 4 so you may lose that opportunity.

Bias: I went to KCU.

 

[Scribbler17]

You'll fair well at both but:

Go to the cheaper school. Consider the opportunities you can have outside of the school including distance to larger academic hospitals, research labs, other fun things to do.

ASU is a large university but it has no medical campus. KCU is nearby (literally 3-10 minutes driving distance) from two university hospitals (KU and UMKC/Truman/St Luke's) that are readily accepting of students for rotations and research and each having essentially all residencies and all fellowships. NYIT-Arkansas has a few community hospitals in the city but nothing really that close. The downside is obv there is a risk you may not be in KC for year 3 and 4 so you may lose that opportunity.

Bias: I went to KCU.

Thanks for the input! Can you speak to your experience at KCU in terms of the resources they offered students and the relationship you had with your professors and advisors?

 

[AlteredScale]

Thanks for the input! Can you speak to your experience at KCU in terms of the resources they offered students and the relationship you had with your professors and advisors?

Resources were definitely there in terms of academics and support for that. They have learning specialists and counselors to get your through if you need it and all I've only heard great things about them. In terms of research I would say it's there, but you'll have to go a bit out of your way to find it and sometimes it can be a hassle since there is a research track masters class. Even with this, being in a bigger city with two university hospital/med schools nearby and Stowers Medical Research Institution there are a plethora of research opportunities available.

The faculty at KCU have an open door policy and so you are able to really establish a relationship with them honestly in any situation whether that be moral support or honesty just to get to know them. The pathology department is great there and the faculty honestly love building strong relationships with their students (because they know how difficult and mean their topics and test questions can be lol jk).