Lake Erie (LECOM) Discussion Thread 2012 - 2013

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No worries, that's normal. Obviously all of your paperwork has been submitted and they're sending out your letter. You should have gotten it by now!

I haven't received anything yet, and haven't seen a change in my portal (no letter changes like some have seen 🙁

anyone else from January 24th receive anything yet?
 
As I currently understand, yes they do share the same room. I think someone made fun of dress code professionalism only to strip down in front of the peers. I gather one could wear something for the lab under the right sort of professional wear... but at the same time it isn't that big of deal to be in underwear in front of your pears? Dead cats for pre-meds, no problem; cut the thing open. All nighters causing migraines- more the merrier. High def photos of STD's in pre-med classes; bring it on. Seeing a human being in underwear! GASP! I question my trust in my peers that don't count on me enough to not perv on them when I'm in just as a hurry they are to get to the next class. If I wanted to be really vain, I could always say I don't get the fair shake with my looks versus what I see 😛

I understand your point but it is still very unconventional. I don't think there is anything wrong or right about having one locker room but I wonder why LECOM decided to go this unorthodox route. I am sure there are current students that would prefer to have separate locker rooms.
 
You are aware of the locker rooms right? The changing in front of your peers? I don't mean to be rude, but what exactly are you worried about? All the athletic training majors in my undergrad had to do an EMT course (which I happened to pick up out of interest) and no one was a perv about it. Pelvic palpation, the line down the bra, a long the ribs etc. It isn't prom night with sweaty palms, its supposed to be didactic and as asexual as one could imagine. Not trying to take your head off, but people really need to get into the medical mindset when it comes to feeling the body.


Is the locker situation the same in Seton Hill? The reason I am worried is because I am a shy individual. See everyone has varying levels of comfort in this matter, and changing in privacy or being allowed to wear a tank top as opposed to a sports bra are some of my preferences. I have every intention of being professional and I believe my future classmates will be of the same mindset. Honestly, when I go to the doctor, I don't really care too much about being examined, but that is because I don't know the doctor closely and there is some sort of distance there. With my classmates, I would feel much more self conscious (I have issues with my body image). I understand it is necessary to practice on others in order to be able to learn. My biggest thing is that I wish we could wear a tank top or a sleeveless top instead of standing around in a sports bra.
 
Status changed to decision made (interviewed on friday). For those of you who have been accepted the accept and reject letter are both small letters correct? So I don't need to have a heart attack as soon as I see the letter?
 
Is the locker situation the same in Seton Hill? The reason I am worried is because I am a shy individual. See everyone has varying levels of comfort in this matter, and changing in privacy or being allowed to wear a tank top as opposed to a sports bra are some of my preferences. I have every intention of being professional and I believe my future classmates will be of the same mindset. Honestly, when I go to the doctor, I don't really care too much about being examined, but that is because I don't know the doctor closely and there is some sort of distance there. With my classmates, I would feel much more self conscious (I have issues with my body image). I understand it is necessary to practice on others in order to be able to learn. My biggest thing is that I wish we could wear a tank top or a sleeveless top instead of standing around in a sports bra.
Also, try to think of it like this. It seems like everything LECOM does is to get you ready for being a practicing physician. That will most definitely include being uncomfortable. The first woman you do a pelvic exam on will be a lot more uncomfortable than you are going to be in a sports bra. Use it as a learning experience to understand how medicine can make people feel less human and use your experiences as a way to help them through it.
 
Perhaps you should evaluate the root cause of your issue and overcome it since I'm sure you do not see it as a desirable quality of your character. There is no perfect body, there is no perfect person. I'm sure you're intelligent enough to logically justify reasons to overcome and reasons to feign from the challenge. I gather you've never lived around my area or been to to a nude beach. Then you will see people very happy with their bodies that, by societal terms, deem... very lacking in an aesthetically pleasing manner.

girl I feel you as this "being a sports bra around my classmates" thing is news to me too and I'm not particularly thrilled about having to be "undressed" in front of my classmates as my body isn't my ideal either. I think at this point you should be thrilled you've been accepted (something I'm dying for...but no mail yet!) and just take it one step at a time. I'm sure most of your classmates won't be 100% comfortable with their bodies either but everyone focuses on themselves more than they focus on you, ya know what I mean?
 
Are they still sending out ii? Anyone know?

Yes. They interview through April at least. There's still time! A friend of mine received an II last April, interviewed and was accepted so it's not like you'd automatically be interviewing for the WL either.
 
girl I feel you as this "being a sports bra around my classmates" thing is news to me too and I'm not particularly thrilled about having to be "undressed" in front of my classmates as my body isn't my ideal either. I think at this point you should be thrilled you've been accepted (something I'm dying for...but no mail yet!) and just take it one step at a time. I'm sure most of your classmates won't be 100% comfortable with their bodies either but everyone focuses on themselves more than they focus on you, ya know what I mean?

I've got to say, you speak the truth. I am extremely thrilled, I hope I don't come across as whiny. I wish you all the best 🙂
 
I started jogging on the treadmill....I guess this is an added incentive to lose the concentration of adipose around my midriff
 
I got an II for Seton Hill last week so I would presume they are still sending out the invites. Good Luck!
 
Status changed to decision made (interviewed on friday). For those of you who have been accepted the accept and reject letter are both small letters correct? So I don't need to have a heart attack as soon as I see the letter?

I interviewed 1/18 and received my acceptance letter (in Southern California) on the 30th. it was a standard sized letter envelope with 6 pieces of paper tri-folded inside. One letter from Sylvia ferreti, one from Amy Rowe telling me into which pathway I had been placed, a 3(?) page contract of requirements for matriculation, and the last page was the letter to be mailed back with the $1500 deposit.
 
I interviewed 1/18 and received my acceptance letter (in Southern California) on the 30th. it was a standard sized letter envelope with 6 pieces of paper tri-folded inside. One letter from Sylvia ferreti, one from Amy Rowe telling me into which pathway I had been placed, a 3(?) page contract of requirements for matriculation, and the last page was the letter to be mailed back with the $1500 deposit.
Thanks for the info. So I can hope for a $1500 bill in the mail.
 
YES.. THE WAIT IS OVER!! I just got my acceptance letter. Soooooo excited and can't wait to get started. Interviewed on 01/24/2013 and got the letter today. Good luck to the rest of you. Any questions are invited.
 
yes.. The wait is over!! I just got my acceptance letter. Soooooo excited and can't wait to get started. Interviewed on 01/24/2013 and got the letter today. Good luck to the rest of you. Any questions are invited.

me too!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙂
 
Does anyone know if the PCSP track is easier to get into/less competitive than the LDP track? I want to go into primary care and being done in 3 years sounds pretty good.

They pick your pathway after they admit you based on the preferences you make the day of the interview, so no pathway is easier than any other
 
In case someone who is interviewing in the future reads this, don't freak out if you don't see a change in your "letters needed" portal before receiving your official letter in the mail. I didn't (and still haven't) see a change even though I received my acceptance letter yesterday.

Also, is there somewhere on the internet where roommate situations are being discussed? I haven't really found anything. I'm looking to rent a house as I have 2 small dogs so I'd prefer a back yard, but renting a house by yourself is super expensive so if there is a place to look for that (I've tried the fb page and looking at the forum on the portal) I'd really appreciate some help!
 
hey i see you guys are freaking out a little about the unisex locker rooms. this goes away very very quickly but i completely understand your concern. but as was stated, you all get really comfortable with each other and you get used to it. a lot of people go into the bathrooms to change as well, but less and less are because you end up seeing each other in lab with your shirts off etc. so after a while its more of a "wth" but some people still do go and change in the bathroom which is completely fine.

as for opp, get ready to get real comfortable with each other, but this is eventually a good thing as it gets you experience in dealing with these kinds of situations, and soon you will have no problem touching people and your inevitable future patients

any more questions let me know
 
This is a bit random, but does anyone from the Erie area know when is too early or too late to find housing?
 
OK guys! First post on here. I'm kind of nervous. I have my first interview at LECOM in a few weeks, and I'm freakin out a bit. I know its a group interview and there are the standard questions, why DO, why medicine, why lecom, etc., but what else should I really be expecting? I have this crazy fear of being asked a question then just freezing. My stats are not really competitive and its very possible this will be my only interview (especially at this point), so I need to make this count. I'd really appreciate an advice you guys could give me. Thanks in advance!
 
If I get into my dream school then I'm gonna give up my spot here! But I'm so relieved that I will be studying medicine this time around next year! Woohoooooo!!!!
 
OK guys! First post on here. I'm kind of nervous. I have my first interview at LECOM in a few weeks, and I'm freakin out a bit. I know its a group interview and there are the standard questions, why DO, why medicine, why lecom, etc., but what else should I really be expecting? I have this crazy fear of being asked a question then just freezing. My stats are not really competitive and its very possible this will be my only interview (especially at this point), so I need to make this count. I'd really appreciate an advice you guys could give me. Thanks in advance!

In my interview we weren't each given a question to answer. The only real answer we had to ask where we went around the room was introducing ourselves, saying where we were from and how we ended up deciding to pursue medicine. After that, our interviewers would just throw a question out into the room and then anyone could answer it. I actually really liked that format because if you had something to say you could, but if you didn't have a concrete answer, you didn't have to say anything that for question. Just be courteous of your fellow interviewees, look everyone in the eye and be friendly. I missed up one of the first questions (derp) but I still got in and my stats weren't the greatest in the world either. That was my interview group anyway, some may have been different.
 
OK guys! First post on here. I'm kind of nervous. I have my first interview at LECOM in a few weeks, and I'm freakin out a bit. I know its a group interview and there are the standard questions, why DO, why medicine, why lecom, etc., but what else should I really be expecting? I have this crazy fear of being asked a question then just freezing. My stats are not really competitive and its very possible this will be my only interview (especially at this point), so I need to make this count. I'd really appreciate an advice you guys could give me. Thanks in advance!

Def check out Interview Feedback (under the Articles & Interviews tab). And don't stress, the interview is very conversational. Good luck!
 
You letters were all in by the time you interviewed though right? Or at least before it said anything about " A decision as been made..."?

I still haven't heard a peep from admins in terms of my question. Going on almost two weeks now with emails, voice mails, and attempts to reach someone every couple of days to just spend 1 minute sorting out my question for the definitive word. I think I'll just have to haul myself there in person just so I can speak to someone. Quite frustrating.

I'll toss it out there again though to anyone out here.

On 1/17/13 I interviewed; went extremely well and was told so very much so straight in the eye.
On 1/31/13 My D.O letter was processed as it was lost in piles of paperwork and had to be resubmitted by the D.O office via fax, email or what not. They sent it.

On Jan 23 a rejection letter was generated and sent to me, before the D.O letter was in the system, before my file was "complete", and the portal status never changed from: "Your application is under review".

I gathered they typically wait listed qualified candidates rather than outright rejecting them anyway, but regardless somewhere along the lines some one told me something incorrect about the way admissions works. I was told that until your file was "complete" you will be passed over and put into the pile to be looked at the following week if then it is "complete". That was the reason I kind of rode my D.O a little hard to get it done.

I'm not going to cry or get mad about the decision if it is the correct, one, but no one has been able to confirm it. The expense involved with the whole process is enormous, and the school isn't broke financially. If they need more admissions people, they should hire them. We shouldn't have to pressure the few people there to fit us in, nor wait over 2 weeks to still receive no form of reply. I shouldn't have to consider driving multiple hours for a one minute question, only to turn around and go to work the same day because Email/phone calls have failed.

If it is a flat rejection, I won't quite understand it rather than a waitlist spot...however it would save the hassle of trying to contact anyone for awhile.

That sucks. I'm very puzzled by that. You should definitely contact Jaime or Amy Rowe...they'll be happy to explain I'm sure.
 
You letters were all in by the time you interviewed though right? Or at least before it said anything about " A decision as been made..."?

I still haven't heard a peep from admins in terms of my question. Going on almost two weeks now with emails, voice mails, and attempts to reach someone every couple of days to just spend 1 minute sorting out my question for the definitive word. I think I'll just have to haul myself there in person just so I can speak to someone. Quite frustrating.

I'll toss it out there again though to anyone out here.

On 1/17/13 I interviewed; went extremely well and was told so very much so straight in the eye.
On 1/31/13 My D.O letter was processed as it was lost in piles of paperwork and had to be resubmitted by the D.O office via fax, email or what not. They sent it.

On Jan 23 a rejection letter was generated and sent to me, before the D.O letter was in the system, before my file was "complete", and the portal status never changed from: "Your application is under review".

I gathered they typically wait listed qualified candidates rather than outright rejecting them anyway, but regardless somewhere along the lines some one told me something incorrect about the way admissions works. I was told that until your file was "complete" you will be passed over and put into the pile to be looked at the following week if then it is "complete". That was the reason I kind of rode my D.O a little hard to get it done.

I'm not going to cry or get mad about the decision if it is the correct, one, but no one has been able to confirm it. The expense involved with the whole process is enormous, and the school isn't broke financially. If they need more admissions people, they should hire them. We shouldn't have to pressure the few people there to fit us in, nor wait over 2 weeks to still receive no form of reply. I shouldn't have to consider driving multiple hours for a one minute question, only to turn around and go to work the same day because Email/phone calls have failed.

If it is a flat rejection, I won't quite understand it rather than a waitlist spot...however it would save the hassle of trying to contact anyone for awhile.

I didn't have my DO letter in when I interviewed, but I made sure it was in by the next Monday. I also tried calling the office about 8 times to make sure my application was complete, but no one answered. I emailed Jaime just to make sure and he emailed back within 24 hours. Are you emailing him or a general admissions inbox? I can't even understand how frustrating this must be for you.
 
What exactly are the interviewers looking for? I thought it was kind of weird that none of these questions were asked:

Why physician?
Why Osteopathic Medicine?
Why LECOM?
What experiences have you had in medical field...?

We mostly introduced ourselves, talked about universal healthcare, greatest achievements, medication error scenario, then asked the interviewers questions about LECOM.

I feel like nobody got to present why they want to be an osteopathic physician. Couple this with no secondary application essays, all they have is a personal statement on our AACOMAS app to judge our character. How do they no anything about our motivation for medicine?
 
What exactly are the interviewers looking for? I thought it was kind of weird that none of these questions were asked:

Why physician?
Why Osteopathic Medicine?
Why LECOM?
What experiences have you had in medical field...?

We mostly introduced ourselves, talked about universal healthcare, greatest achievements, medication error scenario, then asked the interviewers questions about LECOM.

I feel like nobody got to present why they want to be an osteopathic physician. Couple this with no secondary application essays, all they have is a personal statement on our AACOMAS app to judge our character. How do they no anything about our motivation for medicine?

*know
 
I'm extremely late with this but I was also accepted into LECOM-E C/O of 2017!!!!!!

I interviewed on 1/17 and received my letter exactly 2 weeks from then on the 31st.

My first choice on the pathway was PBL but I didnt think i would get in and i was right. I got into my second choice instead of LDP. Either way im super excited and cant wait to start!

BTW im starting to look for apartments so if anyone else knows about some that are available, or even prior students old houses, please private message me! Thanks and hope to see you guys/girls soon!
 
What exactly are the interviewers looking for? I thought it was kind of weird that none of these questions were asked:

Why physician?
Why Osteopathic Medicine?
Why LECOM?
What experiences have you had in medical field...?

We mostly introduced ourselves, talked about universal healthcare, greatest achievements, medication error scenario, then asked the interviewers questions about LECOM.

I feel like nobody got to present why they want to be an osteopathic physician. Couple this with no secondary application essays, all they have is a personal statement on our AACOMAS app to judge our character. How do they no anything about our motivation for medicine?

My take on this when I interviewed was that they just wanted to get to know you outside of what you would put in your resume and personal statement (most often includes why you want to be a doctor). All of the questions they asked in my group were geared towards
getting to know what kind of a person you are, what you did outside of school and med school prep, and how you can interact and communicate with others. At the stage of having an interview, they already know you are motivated to pursue medicine, as the application process isn't something one takes lightly 🙂 Good luck!
 
I emailed Amy Rowe starting on the 31st.
Then tried again Febuary 6th
Then Tried again Today for hope on Monday.

I emailed James Murphy
Feb 1st
Then tried again Today for hopes of a Monday email.

I left a voice mail on his twice throughout this time, and multiple to Amy in case it was buried. The secretary placed two personal notes to contact me on her desk during this time, the last being Thursday.

Emails and voicemails are to their personal email, not a general one. Even if the email was wrong (which I assure it isn't) the voice mails and notes should be enough.

So far no contact, and again this started on Jan 31st as it was an alarmingly long time that my letter either wasn't processed or dealt with. I interviewed the 17th; and I'm about a week away from just going up in person despite it will be a 6 hour round trip (plus waiting) and a full day of work.

You hate to be rude, but I'm always told "she/he isn't at her/his desk", and you just wanna say- "well maybe if they were, (considering the last few times I heard the same thing), I'd have a reply." No though, I know their swamped... but I expect better if other people are not having the same issue.

OMG. Swamped or not this is ridiculous. LECOM hands down has the worst admissions communication. 👎
 
What exactly are the interviewers looking for? I thought it was kind of weird that none of these questions were asked:

Why physician?
Why Osteopathic Medicine?
Why LECOM?
What experiences have you had in medical field...?

We mostly introduced ourselves, talked about universal healthcare, greatest achievements, medication error scenario, then asked the interviewers questions about LECOM.

I feel like nobody got to present why they want to be an osteopathic physician. Couple this with no secondary application essays, all they have is a personal statement on our AACOMAS app to judge our character. How do they no anything about our motivation for medicine?

I'd imagine the group interview is more to see how you interact with your peers and to catch any social/interpersonal red flags. Also, probably to see how well you assert yourself. Or at least that's what I would think that sort of format is for. Obviously only the adcom would really know.
 
Congratulations for those who have recently received an acceptance! It's really great to see. I am probably going to end up applying to the post-bach program to start this fall. But I have a question:

I am interested in the PCSP (Primary Care Scholars Pathway). I know it combines 4 years of medical school into three calendar years. My question is, how much time off is incorporated in those three calendar years. I see on the "map" of the program on the LECOM website two tan areas labeled "vacation", but I don't know how long that is. If there are any current students who know the answer to this, please let me know. It seems like a great program for those of us who want to go into primary care, but I don't think I can just go, go, go, study, study study for three years straight without any significant time off (like two weeks or something). Thanks in advance for any insight on this.
 
Congratulations for those who have recently received an acceptance! It's really great to see. I am probably going to end up applying to the post-bach program to start this fall. But I have a question:

I am interested in the PCSP (Primary Care Scholars Pathway). I know it combines 4 years of medical school into three calendar years. My question is, how much time off is incorporated in those three calendar years. I see on the "map" of the program on the LECOM website two tan areas labeled "vacation", but I don't know how long that is. If there are any current students who know the answer to this, please let me know. It seems like a great program for those of us who want to go into primary care, but I don't think I can just go, go, go, study, study study for three years straight without any significant time off (like two weeks or something). Thanks in advance for any insight on this.

one of the 2nd years during the interview lunch made it seem that there is very little time off for the PCSP students. No summer in between 1st and 2nd year, very short Christmas breaks and so on.
 
one of the 2nd years during the interview lunch made it seem that there is very little time off for the PCSP students. No summer in between 1st and 2nd year, very short Christmas breaks and so on.

Thanks for the info. It seems like a great thing except for the lack of breaks. I don't need a whole summer, but two weeks would be nice.
 
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