LECOM-B and LECOM

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Drrrrrr. Celty

Drrrrrr. Celty

Osteo Dullahan
15+ Year Member
alright i just looked them up..
and they seem slightly too good to be true..
so whats the deal lol..
both are probably the cheapest D.O schools i can think off
one of them is in the sunny lands..
and the other is supposed to be one of the more respected schools
so..
anyone want to talk about LECOM and its pro's and con's
 
serenade said:
alright i just looked them up..
and they seem slightly too good to be true..
so whats the deal lol..
both are probably the cheapest D.O schools i can think off
one of them is in the sunny lands..
and the other is supposed to be one of the more respected schools
so..
anyone want to talk about LECOM and its pro's and con's
Click to expand...


They are empty sterile places that have no character. You go there, get your degree and thats it.
 
It depends on what you want out of a school, I think. They are less expensive - but you don't get all the amenities you would at a school that's part of a university or that has a campus bigger than a building. Is the collegiate (and collegial) atmosphere important to you? Then you might be disappointed with LECOM; it has a sort of parochial autocratic corporate culture, and the PA campuses, anyway, are not very student-centered. Do you want a decent education at half the price of a fancier school? LECOM may be right up your alley. Every school has its pros and cons, certainly, and those are different for each person. Some people dislike the dress code, some like it. For a lot of people at Erie and Seton Hill, the location is close to home - for someone from CA, it might be a turn-off. I counted FL as a con, myself, but other people love it there... Do you want to do PBL? Bradenton enjoys a lot of success. Would you rather have lectures? Then you're limited to Erie...
 
clarify whats a pbl?
and hmm good points
i more or less liked lecom-b because it seems warm and nice
im also look at other medical schools in warmer climates..
but not too warm if you catch my drift =p
 
serenade said:
clarify whats a pbl?
and hmm good points
i more or less liked lecom-b because it seems warm and nice
im also look at other medical schools in warmer climates..
but not too warm if you catch my drift =p
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PBL=Problem Base Learning. Basically you learn all of your basic sciences through clincial cases for your two years instead of lectures. LECOM-B's curriculum is entirely PBL, so if your interested in this school I would suggest researching PBL.

You can start here.
 
Biology101 said:
They are empty sterile places that have no character. You go there, get your degree and thats it.
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What a horrible place, getting a medical education at a school that routinely churns out competitive match applicants and above average board scores for tuition comperable to state schools.

Why would anyone want to go there?
 
engineeredout said:
What a horrible place, getting a medical education at a school that routinely churns out competitive match applicants and above average board scores for tuition comperable to state schools.

Why would anyone want to go there?
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I'm staying far away from that place.😎
 
engineeredout said:
What a horrible place, getting a medical education at a school that routinely churns out competitive match applicants and above average board scores for tuition comperable to state schools.

Why would anyone want to go there?
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He/she is not bashing your schools education, just the facilities ... which I happen to agree with. I have interviewed at both and got accepted to both, and honestly the schools feel exactly like what the above poster mentioned - sterile and cold. There is no character to the school, it doesn't feel "comfortable," it feels like a big office building not a school. Me personally would like a more collegiate environment and something with more ...substance. I can't really put a word on it, but if I had to study in LECOM-B's library or PBL rooms for hours on end for the next 4 years I'd go insane. With that said, I am sure the education is fine it really depends on what you want.
 
OP, you can also look under the osteopathic section and there is a thread titles pros and cons of your DO school...I'm sure both have reviews, you just have to scroll through the thread. Also, you can get a good idea about other schools you could be interested in researching more.
 
There comes a point though where people must realize that you get what you pay for. Luckily, the education doesn't suffer, it's just the facility like others have mentioned. Going to LECOM saves someone probably 10K in tuition per yr, so around 40K prior to interest being added on over their education. Whether or not you can deal with the sterile environment is an individual thing, but I could put up with a lot for 40K.

Hell to be accepted anywhere next cycle, I can adjust to a lot, including sterile environments! 😀
 
doxycycline said:
He/she is not bashing your schools education, just the facilities ... which I happen to agree with. I have interviewed at both and got accepted to both, and honestly the schools feel exactly like what the above poster mentioned - sterile and cold. There is no character to the school, it doesn't feel "comfortable," it feels like a big office building not a school. Me personally would like a more collegiate environment and something with more ...substance. I can't really put a word on it, but if I had to study in LECOM-B's library or PBL rooms for hours on end for the next 4 years I'd go insane. With that said, I am sure the education is fine it really depends on what you want.
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What are you looking for in a study area? I don't study in the library but instead study in the cafeteria. I like to spread out and I study better by sitting in an upright comfortable chair which I get in the cafeteria. Most people don't even study on campus. They prefer to come to class and study elsewhere (Barnes, Wegman's, Tim Horton's, etc). This is different than undergrad and I'm fine with that. I come here to get my medical education and I feel like I am getting a great education. What exactly do you want here to be more collegiate and have more substance? I'm not saying you are wrong in your perceptions but if you clarify than maybe the rest of us can understand.
 
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Listen..every institution is different. All of them have pros and cons which may be different for different people. My top choices may differ from yours for different reasons. Make a list of what is important to you in a Medical Institution and when you go to visit these places, ask those questions. If you have already been there...make the list and ask them here. If you want to know about reputation, maybe ask an MD that works with residents who doesn't have the bias towards their alma mater.

What I have realized in my interviews is that each school I have visited has great sales people. In the moment I am like "wow...this is awesome!" But then I go home and really think about it. If you wanted to know my opinion on LECOM-Erie (I have not been to the other), it has a lot lower of a price tag than the others I am applying to, it has an amazing new Wellness center, the area is cheaper to live in than the others schools I am applying to. I also felt that the buildings were very corporate (which is great from a professional standpoint), but I want a place that feels like home. I also didn't like the dress code, the no food or drinks in the buildings. Would I be happy to attend? Yes. Do they have everything I am looking for? No. It will be hard to find that school that has EVERYTHING.

Don't let others sell you on your school. It's way too important to let them decide for you. Be your own salesman.

Goodluck on the decision!
 
I interviewed at both and was accepted to both, and am choosing my state school over them. So here is my opinion.

They are both cheap. The main differences would be more learning pathway choices at Erie (lecture only, problem based learning (PBL), and independent study) and only PBL at Bradenton; the location - PA vs. FL. Both are just buildings without the college environment.

If you feel that you are a good fit for PBL - small group discussions and case studies, meet three days a week for two hours but the rest of your time is spent studying - and you like hot, sunny, humid weather and white sand beaches - then Bradenton may be for you. The cost of living in Bradenton, I believe, is not as cheap as Erie, though it may be relatively cheap depending on where you are from. They do not have a fancy wellness center, but many of the apartment complexes have gyms and there is a gym down the street that many students go to. The area the school is in is pretty empty, lots of trees. But, in my opinion, it was nice. Bradenton also has prosected cadavers (already dissected) so you spend your time studying them instead of "picking off the fat" in a normal dissection. Everyone had different interviews here and the interviewers had the choice to read or not read your file before your interview.

If you like PBL, or lecture, or independent study, you should try Erie. They also have a campus (still part of LECOM Erie) at Seton Hill that is PBL only. There are more PBL seats at Seton Hill than at the Erie campus, so if you want PBL, you might get sent to Seton Hill. They only have a certain amount of spots for each learning pathway. Erie is more dense than Bradenton (not as spread out) but it is cold and they get the lake effect. They get up to two feet of snow. Cost of living is cheap and LECOM is well-respected in Erie. They also have a brand new wellness center that has everything - fitness classes, cardio machines, indoor track, heated pools and lap pools, fully equipped locker rooms, gym, racquetball, etc, etc. PBL does not do dissections, I believe the remaining pathways do. (Correct me if I'm wrong, I can't remember...) LECOM Erie's interview was read off a paper and everyone got the same questions. They do not tell you what time you are interviewing nor who your interviewers are, and they also do not tell you if it is a individual or group interview.

Both schools don't allow food/drink and require professional attire. If you are at Erie, they have assigned seats in class. You share with pharmacy students at both schools.

If I had to choose, I would've gone with Bradenton simply because I loved PBL and I love warm weather and beaches.

Good luck deciding.
 
bleeker10 said:
What are you looking for in a study area? I don't study in the library but instead study in the cafeteria. I like to spread out and I study better by sitting in an upright comfortable chair which I get in the cafeteria. Most people don't even study on campus. They prefer to come to class and study elsewhere (Barnes, Wegman's, Tim Horton's, etc). This is different than undergrad and I'm fine with that. I come here to get my medical education and I feel like I am getting a great education. What exactly do you want here to be more collegiate and have more substance? I'm not saying you are wrong in your perceptions but if you clarify than maybe the rest of us can understand.
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Yeah there you go, things are different for everyone. I usually study in the library (I'm a senior undergrad right now). I like 24 hour libraries (which are not applicable to a lot of schools I know, thankfully the school I am going to has one), and a more college feel. I don't like the office feel to LECOM and the food/drink/dress policy. I like 'coziness' - feel at home. I can't really put it in to words but I figure I'll try and use this analogy. The school I'm looking for is like a barnes noble/starbucks/panera bread type of atmosphere and LECOM is like my accountants office/cubicle or a parking garage - very plain. Not really the best analogy, but yeah. Hmmm.. I'll come back to this thread I can do better. And again, I'm not bashing LECOM at all I'm just saying my opinion on the facilities.
 
honestly
what im seeing as the main con is the non college style campus..
i can manage with that lol
a few ppl from class at a coffee shop is just as good as a library

what im kinda worried about is the pbl i've never really had much experience with such a teaching style

also.. lecom-b having a dress code which is very formal and in a hot climate = major sticky pain lol..
at lecom-erie it seems like that place would be alright in the formal attire since its cold there..
like all the time..
so yah.. basically
it sounds like a pretty good school
 
I believe if you get invited for an interview at either you do get to sit in on a pbl session. Obviously, people who choose pbl have to be self-motivated since you won't have the structure of going to class during the day and then studying...you cut right to the studying for the most part (you do have the sessions to go over the objectives). Also, I think someone mentioned that they have less tests, so you have to be prepared for each test being a large component of your grade. Some people are more motivated by having a test every week--like some other schools.

I don't know if you are applying this cycle or next, but I think it is a smart move to apply to a variety of schools. Then when you get interviews you can get a feel for the campus and the life you would have their for the next few years. It's hard to make a complete decision based on other's opinions, the schools website, and SDN. What you may love, others could despise.
 
beckhunter116 said:
I don't know if you are applying this cycle or next, but I think it is a smart move to apply to a variety of schools. Then when you get interviews you can get a feel for the campus and the life you would have their for the next few years. It's hard to make a complete decision based on other's opinions, the schools website, and SDN. What you may love, others could despise.
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This is exactly what I did. I applied to a large number of schools. My first interview was at LECOM-Erie and I didn't think much of it because I wasn't interested in LECOM at all but I went to the interview. After going I fell in love with the school and each interview I attended after my LECOM interview reaffirmed that it was a good fit for me. Like every school there are drawbacks but if the school fits you and you can get out of your 4 years with a lot less debt and still get a high quality education then LECOM is the way to go.
 
doxycycline said:
Yeah there you go, things are different for everyone. I usually study in the library (I'm a senior undergrad right now). I like 24 hour libraries (which are not applicable to a lot of schools I know, thankfully the school I am going to has one), and a more college feel. I don't like the office feel to LECOM and the food/drink/dress policy. I like 'coziness' - feel at home. I can't really put it in to words but I figure I'll try and use this analogy. The school I'm looking for is like a barnes noble/starbucks/panera bread type of atmosphere and LECOM is like my accountants office/cubicle or a parking garage - very plain. Not really the best analogy, but yeah. Hmmm.. I'll come back to this thread I can do better. And again, I'm not bashing LECOM at all I'm just saying my opinion on the facilities.
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I figured you wanted the Barnes and Noble feel which is fine. I will say that a lot of the stuff we have to read/study is boring so a cozy place may make you more inclined to fall asleep. That's why I like the upright uncomfortable chair in the cafeteria because it forces me to stay awake and pay attention. I like the fact that LECOM is very business like and not cozy like undergrad. I look at my medical education as a job. I go to school ~30-40 hours a week and study on top of that. I don't want the people to hold my hand and coddle me the whole way through. I feel like I will be prepared for rotations and residency due to the way LECOM is run. Dressing up for class isn't bad at all and I was never one to eat/drink in class anyways so that policy doesn't bother me either. We get a 10 minute break every hour so if you are thirsty/hungry you can get water or go to the cafeteria. I didn't feel like you were bashing LECOM at all. In fact you were one of the more civil people to state their objections to LECOM on this board.
 
Everyone has their preferences and someone would be disappointed if they were expecting a large university type of experience when coming to LECOM-Br.

That said, this is med school and the point is not to go explore yourself with fraternities and 100's of clubs. There's nothing wrong with wanting a larger university setting and there are definitely some resources there that you may not get at a smaller private school.

All in all you'll get a good education and while the building may feel sterile it's the other students that can make a huge difference and I've made some great friends and think we have a lot of great people here.

Most importantly though, if you are considering Bradenton then you really need to do some research on PBL as a learning style as that's our only curriculum.
 
I'm totally comfortable with PBL. Undergraduate in telecommunications did not teach me as much as I learned on my own dealing with complex technical problems I am more of a self-learner so I guess I'd do just well with PBL at LECOM-B.

Only problem is that I'm being super impatient and want to start medical school ASAP. I'd only be applying to LECOM so hopefully I'd get in. Any tips or advices, LECOMERs before I apply?
 
beckhunter116 said:
OP, you can also look under the osteopathic section and there is a thread titles pros and cons of your DO school...I'm sure both have reviews, you just have to scroll through the thread. Also, you can get a good idea about other schools you could be interested in researching more.
Click to expand...

Great thread. Link in my sig.

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doxycycline said:
the schools feel exactly like what the above poster mentioned - sterile and cold. There is no character to the school, it doesn't feel "comfortable," it feels like a big office building not a school.
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doxycycline said:
I don't like the office feel to LECOM and the food/drink/dress policy. I like 'coziness' - feel at home. I can't really put it in to words but I figure I'll try and use this analogy. The school I'm looking for is like a barnes noble/starbucks/panera bread type of atmosphere and LECOM is like my accountants office/cubicle or a parking garage - very plain.
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How are you going to survive working in a hospital?
 
i dont even know how people would manage in full formal attire at lecom-b
its super hot and humid in florida
it'd be a major murder scene really..
in erie it would be alright
 
csmittyB said:
How are you going to survive working in a hospital?
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It's not that I personally couldn't survive in LECOM's environment, I just do not prefer it. And it was more than the buildings that made it feel cold. I felt like the environment overall felt that way, which is not analogous to every hospital (from my personal experience).

On a more positive note, LECOM definitely would have prepared me well I'm sure considering they have a great curriculum, great resources, and top notch COMPLEX scores. Don't let others' opinions on the environment persuade you...you really need to visit any school before you can make a decision. Just because I personally did not like the environment does not mean it wouldn't be perfect for anyone else!
 
nlax30 said:
Have you ever lived in Florida?

We manage like any other person who dresses professionally. Besides, during the summer you are pretty much walking from air conditioned to air conditioned car, back and forth.
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This sentiment totally perplexes me having spent the vast majority of my life in southern California and Texas before moving to the tundra.

There is a huge swath of the country that is hot and often humid. A great number of major metro areas are in these areas. There are a great number of professionals in those metro areas. They have to wear formal attire everyday. It's not a problem.

It's not like you're going to go run a few miles in your suit to get to class. Get dressed in air conditioned apartment. Walk maybe a few dozen yards to air conditioned car. Park. Get out of air conditioned car and walk a few dozen more yards to air conditioned building. Stay in building all day. Leave air conditioned building, take off jacket, loosen tie. Walk a few yards to car. Go home, get into shorts and a t-shirt and go to air conditioned coffee shop to study. I mean this should be obvious right?

Erie is the same deal, but reversed. You go from one artificially heated environment to another. Climate should be the least of anyone's concerns. We live in the most industrialized and climate controlled country in the world.
 
RG73 said:
This sentiment totally perplexes me having spent the vast majority of my life in southern California and Texas before moving to the tundra.

There is a huge swath of the country that is hot and often humid. A great number of major metro areas are in these areas. There are a great number of professionals in those metro areas. They have to wear formal attire everyday. It's not a problem.

It's not like you're going to go run a few miles in your suit to get to class. Get dressed in air conditioned apartment. Walk maybe a few dozen yards to air conditioned car. Park. Get out of air conditioned car and walk a few dozen more yards to air conditioned building. Stay in building all day. Leave air conditioned building, take off jacket, loosen tie. Walk a few yards to car. Go home, get into shorts and a t-shirt and go to air conditioned coffee shop to study. I mean this should be obvious right?

Erie is the same deal, but reversed. You go from one artificially heated environment to another. Climate should be the least of anyone's concerns. We live in the most industrialized and climate controlled country in the world.
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This is true, but some people (like myself) rather be cold than hot even if it is for a brief period of time 😎
 
doxycycline said:
This is true, but some people (like myself) rather be cold than hot even if it is for a brief period of time 😎
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Not me. I'm the opposite. I never applied to any med schools in a cold climate. I didn't apply to any residencies in a cold climate. And, I will never work as an attending in a cold climate. I might go visit on vacation, though, as a last resort.
🙂
 
I agree with Biology101 as to the atmosphere at LECOM-B (I haven't been to LECOM-Erie). It was cold, unwelcoming, sterile.... and my interviewers were not in anyway kind, caring, or even interested.

I know several students that go there, and they've all told me the SAME thing. Apparently this school seems to approach education via the Socratic method, to be vague.

More specifically, they've told me they feel they are taught through "fear" and threatened with failure. Mostly, they are taught by being pointed out their short comings and what they do not know.

I wouldn't touch LECOM with a 10-foot pole. I want a school that wants to invest in me as a physician that will touch people's lives, not just as a med student that can report back good Board scores, and that's the impression I got at LECOM.

I'm looking for a program that will mentor my growth into an outstanding humanitarian and scientist that is devoted to service, and that is NOT the impression LECOM gave me. All I heard was boards-boards-boards-boards.

I'm so glad I found a school for me, and it happens to be allopathic (which kinda surprised me... I applied to more osteopathic programs than allos b/c of what I was looking for in a school).

Overall, I am completely UNIMPRESSED with LECOM. 👎


Future M.D. c/o 2014!!!
 
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youreokandimok said:
I wouldn't touch LECOM with a 10-foot pole. I want a school that wants to invest in me as a physician that will touch people's lives, not just as a med student that can report back good Board scores, and that's the impression I got at LECOM.

I'm looking for a program that will mentor my growth into an outstanding humanitarian and scientist that is devoted to service, and that is NOT the impression LECOM gave me. All I heard was boards-boards-boards-boards.
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Dude, you just got rainbow diarrhea all over my computer.
 
youreokandimok said:
Mostly, they are taught by being pointed out their short comings and what they do not know.
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How else do you learn? If they don't point out what you are doing wrong you will not learn where you need to improve.

youreokandimok said:
I want a school that wants to invest in me as a physician that will touch people's lives...I'm looking for a program that will mentor my growth into an outstanding humanitarian and scientist that is devoted to service...
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:wtf:

Do you really think a school is going to do that?
 
engineeredout said:
Dude, you just got rainbow diarrhea all over my computer.
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I'm sorry. I was hoping that posting an opinion on an open forum amongst medical students/pre-meds would evoke a much more mature and substantial response. I'm really open to hear any defense others might have on behalf of this institution, but my perception of this school becomes increasingly negative... especially with rebuttals containing phrases such as "rainbow diarrhea".

I realize people get into medicine for different reasons. Some people do it for money, respect, or because everyone else in their family does it. For me, it is about service... particularly for the underserved (as that happens to be my socioeconomic background). So, that's why I was looking for a school to provide me with said "rainbow diarrhea".

__________________________
Future M.D. c/o 2014!!!
 
Yes, I believe we are giving a service and I think a lot of the people on SDN agree that this is a service and that we hope to better our individual communities; however, this service that we will learn to give in med school is one of the hardest tasks anyone can set out to do. We will hold lives in our hands, we will have to break the hardest news to some of our patients and their families, we will lose lives, we will fail, we will make mistakes, and we will be blamed when a miracle doesn't happen. At some point in all of our careers this will be the truth. Not every moment, but there will be dark moments.

Part of school, in my opinion, is to tear us down and build us up stronger than when we started. So I want a school that is hard on me, but also fair to me. Is LECOM this school for me or anyone else...I don't know I'll base my opinion on my interview (if I receive one next cycle) and I won't try to taint it for others. One man's paradise is another man's hell. Simple as that.
 
beckhunter116 said:
Yes, I believe we are giving a service and I think a lot of the people on SDN agree that this is a service and that we hope to better our individual communities; however, this service that we will learn to give in med school is one of the hardest tasks anyone can set out to do. We will hold lives in our hands, we will have to break the hardest news to some of our patients and their families, we will lose lives, we will fail, we will make mistakes, and we will be blamed when a miracle doesn't happen. At some point in all of our careers this will be the truth. Not every moment, but there will be dark moments.

Part of school, in my opinion, is to tear us down and build us up stronger than when we started. So I want a school that is hard on me, but also fair to me. Is LECOM this school for me or anyone else...I don't know I'll base my opinion on my interview (if I receive one next cycle) and I won't try to taint it for others. One man's paradise is another man's hell. Simple as that.
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Thank you beckhunter! Now that is a much more viable response, and I respect your opinion. I agree with pretty much everything you've pointed out in your post 👍


________________________
Future M.D. c/o 2014!!!
 
serenade said:
alright i just looked them up..
and they seem slightly too good to be true..
so whats the deal lol..
both are probably the cheapest D.O schools i can think off
one of them is in the sunny lands..
and the other is supposed to be one of the more respected schools
so..
anyone want to talk about LECOM and its pro's and con's
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They are both pretty good schools but LECOM B is a PBL school, while at LECOM its an option.
 
csmittyB said:
Good luck finding that school.
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I think that it is the faculty and staff at an institution which may inspire you to become a doctor of that nature (and i'm not saying LECOM lacks these types of mentors). I think you're misconstruing what YOUREOK is saying. You don't think there are programs in the US that want to focus on offering sensitive instead of dehumanized physicians? You don't think an institution tries to focus on community and service projects in the health field? In fact, this is the philosophy many D.O. schools stand by. I do not think it this is what one should consider "hand-holding." I think hand-holding is telling your students how to dress and where to eat and drink, personally. Some see it as upholding professional standards, which is great. It all depends on your perspective. It doesn't make anyone more or less wrong.

And yes. I have found more than one school that focuses on what YOUREOK stated they are looking for...and they have a great reputation, so I doubt holding their students hands, if that is what you consider it, has left them incompetent during rotations and their careers. My mentors all came from two of the institutions that I have found to have these qualities.
 
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