Hello all,
I'm currently a 4th year medical student at LECOM in Bradenton. Please let me assure you that I've had a great time here so far. Actually, I don't know who said that we are the "worst DO school," but I couldn't disagree more! The facts speak for themselves really: for three years in a row we've had a 100% pass rate on the boards. I'm fairly certain that would qualify us among the best, not the worst. Additionally, having spoken to folks on the admission committee, I was assured that they have turned many applicants down with mcat scores in the 30s. They are more interested if you fit the demographic that would work well in PBL (work well with others, very independent, non-overbearing, etc.), not necessarily your scores.
I'm sure every school has folks that go there and "hate it," but I know very few people that don't care for the school. And those that do seem to have unfounded reasons. I'm not sure why dressing up every day is considered old-fashioned, but let me tell you something: you are going to professional school. I think it's great to be surrounded by an environment that prepares you for how you should conduct yourself (now and in the future). Yeah, the no drinks thing in lecture is annoying, but it's really not that difficult.
As for PBL--I'll say this. You really must be cut out for it! I would highly recommend you consider PBL if these describe you: independent, motivated, un-easily side-tracked, you do not learn by sitting in lectures/powerpoints, you learn best on your own (i.e.: reading). I don't recommend PBL if you need information spoon-fed to you, lectures are essential to your learning, or need a highly-structured schedule of study (or if you do, you'll have to make that up yourself). For me, PBL's the reason I came to LECOM Bradenton (and yes, one of the top beaches in the US is 20 min away). I learn best studying on my own and get very little out of lecture other than the first 5 minutes. I feel PBL made me an active-learner and it's paid off in my clinical years. Oh, and the group setting is nice because it means you have to be able to explain concepts to others, which is good because if you can't it lets you know you need to polish up on that subject matter. Conversely, if there's something you don't understand, sometimes it helps having someone else explain it to you. I know there's the concern that other group members will be strong and others will sit back and not participate as much. My advise: don't worry about the ones who will sit there on cruise-control (and every group has their member). The person(s) who don't participate aren't hurting the group, they are just hurting themselves. Let them be, and move on.
All in all, I recommend it and really couldn't have asked for anything better, but understand it's not for everyone. I just had to chime in here because we work very hard at LECOM for someone to call it second rate. Is it Harvard? Obviously, no. Will we make highly skilled and professional physicians? Absolutely, but it takes effort on your part, just like anything else.
