lecom-b vs touro ca

[Jinxgirl]

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Hey guys!

I'm sorry i know everyone hates these threads but i'm really just trying to figure out if its worth attending another interview. I already have an acceptance to Lecom b (interviewed in Nov), and cancelled my other interviews since then because i liked the school, location, pbl, etc, but today I got an interview invite for Touro-ca. Being this late in the season, i'm not even sure if its worth going, because i may just be interviewing for the waitlist, right? Its pretty expensive to fly (from oh) to ca, and having an acceptance already makes it harder to justify going to another interview at this point, but western and touro ca would be the only other schools i would even be interested in visiting after being accepted at lecom-b. If anyone can help point out any pros/cons to each it would be much appreciated! I know there is a pretty decent difference in tuition, pbl vs. lecture, and quality of rotations (this one i am a little uncertain on, because i have heard pros and cons about each). Keep in mind that this is only to attend an interview, and not the choice between 2 schools i have acceptances at.

Thank you so much, its always nice to hear other peoples opinions!!

Jinx 🙂

 

[munchymanRX]

Hey guys!

I'm sorry i know everyone hates these threads but i'm really just trying to figure out if its worth attending another interview. I already have an acceptance to Lecom b (interviewed in Nov), and cancelled my other interviews since then because i liked the school, location, pbl, etc, but today I got an interview invite for Touro-ca. Being this late in the season, i'm not even sure if its worth going, because i may just be interviewing for the waitlist, right? Its pretty expensive to fly (from oh) to ca, and having an acceptance already makes it harder to justify going to another interview at this point, but western and touro ca would be the only other schools i would even be interested in visiting after being accepted at lecom-b. If anyone can help point out any pros/cons to each it would be much appreciated! I know there is a pretty decent difference in tuition, pbl vs. lecture, and quality of rotations (this one i am a little uncertain on, because i have heard pros and cons about each). Keep in mind that this is only to attend an interview, and not the choice between 2 schools i have acceptances at.

Thank you so much, its always nice to hear other peoples opinions!!

Jinx 🙂

IMO interview at Touro if you're interested in
a) doing a residency in CA someday

b) living in the Bay Area for 3 years or so--your last year will probably be spent jetting all over cali.

 

[Rob C]

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[MLT2MT2DO]

Definitely interview in CA. Many people think LECOM-B is nice but regret attending.

Yay, for making your judgement call off of a single disgruntled poster on SDN. Keep up the awesome sleuth skills! I've found many more happy students on here than disgruntled (as mentioned n=1, so far).

To the OP: Touro-CA is more expensive to live and more expensive to attend...this alone is a big enough decision maker for me. Truthfully though, you should probably attend your Touro-CA interview if there is any question at all, that way you won't have regrets.

 

[MossPoh]

Definitely interview in CA. Many people think LECOM-B is nice but regret attending.

Many people? I know dozens of people who love the school with a passion. Perhaps you haven't been on SDN long enough to remember (it was a few years ago), but there was a member who had equally, if not more, desparaging remarks about things at Touro-CA.

I was accepted to Lecom-B and I interivewed at Touro-CA (Most likely would've been accepted but I expressed no interest and then removed myself from the high waitlist)

Really, the ONLY reason to go to Touro-CA, in my opinion, is if you're fixated on staying or going to California. I got there a day early and wandered around the campus, which if you go on the wrong day with crappy weather is REALLY depressing/creepy. I wandered around and talked to students for a bit. They were all tremendously nice, but when I asked what they loved about the school I always got a variation of the answer, "It is in the Bay area!".

I found that kind of concerning. I thought their facilities were subpar overall, although they did have big plans on the board. I also thought it was tremendously expensive, especially with cost of living on top of it. Even though it is Vallejo, stuff still seemed far more expensive than anything you'd find in Bradenton/Sarasota. I really wanted to love the school. I think that area is just awesome and I have tons of friends and networking possibilities out there, but I just couldn't bring myself to like it.

Depending on where you are coming from, it can also be an expensive interivew to attend. I had to fly from Florida to California, rent a car (my insurance gives me big discounts on that), hotel for 3 nights since I got there Friday evening and wanted to meet with an old professor and some friends. It just got way more expensive than I wanted it to be real fast. I remember my Bradenton interview was the same week actually, so I drove down to that a few days later. I thought the school was fantastic and it was making (mostly) all the right moves.

Either school will graduate a competent physicians. I just found it difficult to justify the extra 100k+ to go there over lecom-b. When I was accepted to bradenton, it was around 28,000 a year I think. I recall it being about 56,000 at Touro-CA. On top of that, if I wanted to visit family then it would be another grand or so a year.

 

[Sinfest]

Either school will graduate a competent physicians. I just found it difficult to justify the extra 100k+ to go there over lecom-b. When I was accepted to bradenton, it was around 28,000 a year I think. I recall it being about 56,000 at Touro-CA. On top of that, if I wanted to visit family then it would be another grand or so a year.

You're way off. It's $42,6xx for 2011-2012.

LECOM is still significantly cheaper though

 

[Jtun84]

Really, the ONLY reason to go to Touro-CA, in my opinion, is if you're fixated on staying or going to California. I got there a day early and wandered around the campus, which if you go on the wrong day with crappy weather is REALLY depressing/creepy. I wandered around and talked to students for a bit. They were all tremendously nice, but when I asked what they loved about the school I always got a variation of the answer, "It is in the Bay area!".

I found that kind of concerning. I thought their facilities were subpar overall


.

It's not like the weather in Florida is always awesome either. Plus, if you want creepy, go to the top floor of LECOM-B and check out the clown wall...... Although the exterior of Tucom is bland, the interior was really nice. The cadaver lab was large and well ventilated. Plus, no ties for the gentlemen everyday.

 

[Jinxgirl]

Thank you all for your input! I truly appreciate it. As of right now i'm leaning toward not going, just because it would cost me a lot to attend the interview (and the higher tuition, cost of living, etc) when i already have an acceptance somewhere else. I have 2 weeks to decide though so i will keep my options open for now. Thanks again SDNers!!! 🙂🙂

 

[Rob C]

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[MLT2MT2DO]

It's not like the weather in Florida is always awesome either. Plus, if you want creepy, go to the top floor of LECOM-B and check out the clown wall...... Although the exterior of Tucom is bland, the interior was really nice. The cadaver lab was large and well ventilated. Plus, no ties for the gentlemen everyday.

The clowns became a lot less creepy when I learned the history of it. Additionally I learned Florida State University started out as a clown college.

 

[nlax30]

I am not sure what you are referring to. My post was made based on my personal experience at the school.

I interviewed at LECOM-B before I interviewed and was accepted to my first choice. I cannot imagine going to med school 3 days a week in order to learn medicine from my classmates.

If that's what you think then you don't really understand PBL.

If that is not bad enough, the admin of the school treat the students like rambunctious children. You cannot bring any food or drink into the classroom, not even a water bottle. Also, I do not understand why you have to show up with a tie everyday to sit in PBL sessions with other students.

These are certainly a couple of the annoying parts. The food/drink part is very annoying but at least the place is kept clean. But, I was only on campus for a couple hours at a time since I preferred to study elsewhere so I dealt with it. You're in professional school, things like this shouldn't be deal breakers.

 

[87DO15]

Granted, I won't start til this July, but I always failed to understand why the dress code is such a big factor in turning people away. Do people just feel this infringes on their "liberty" or are they just uncomfortable in that type of clothing?

I don't really understand why water isn't allowed in areas around the building, and that is a bit annoying, but I can deal with it. I won't lie, though...the clowns creep me out.

 

[Rob C]

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[SFO-IST]

If you are anything less than 100% sure you're set on LECOM, I'd head out to Touro-CA.

 

[joeDO2]

I don't think the dress code is necessarily a deal breaker. However, it is definitely a disadvantage. Dressing up each day takes more time and is more costly. Scrubs, as a dress code, are very easy and comfortable, not to mention cheap. The no water thing is also rediculous. If I am in a two hour PBL session, it would be nice to have a swig of water every once and a while.

Just out of curiousity, does anyone know why LECOM keeps these rules when so many people think they are overbearing?

they probably keep those rules because they don't want people attending their school who base their school decision on having a water bottle and wearing a tie.

 

[MLT2MT2DO]

I don't think the dress code is necessarily a deal breaker. However, it is definitely a disadvantage. Dressing up each day takes more time and is more costly. Scrubs, as a dress code, are very easy and comfortable, not to mention cheap. The no water thing is also rediculous. If I am in a two hour PBL session, it would be nice to have a swig of water every once and a while.

Just out of curiousity, does anyone know why LECOM keeps these rules when so many people think they are overbearing?

I don't think everyone feels the dress code is overbearing. I've heard the no food/water helps keep the building clean which saves janitorial costs which helps keep tuition lower.

 

[TILalot]

IMO try it out and go to CA for the interview. Touro only interviews for accepted spots not waitlist spots. If you got an interview, you're interviewing for a spot starting this August. They don't interview for waitlist. (sorry if I sound redundant)

 

[SoulinNeed]

they probably keep those rules because they don't want people attending their school who base their school decision on having a water bottle and wearing a tie.

I think it has more to do with cleanup costs of the facilities.

 

[TheSeanieB]

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[SFO-IST]

I think it has more to do with cleanup costs of the facilities.

Is the marginal cost spread out over every student's tuition from having a janitor spend extra time cleaning up water spills really that much of a burden? LECOM is an incredible value and I wish other schools were as economical, but claiming that the no water policy has one iota to do with that is incongruous with common sense.