Bumping this post because all the other threads are a few years old!
Dr Woof, could you expand a bit on the 4 different pathways at Erie? Is Bradenton really all PBL? As a Florida resident, am I going to hate Erie? Is Erie the better school? is the dress code true? how are match rates? whats your favorite and least favorite thing about the school?
For sure!
Our pathways:
PBL - Bradenton FL, Elmira, Seton Hill, Erie has a few PBL seats (but if you want PBL you should consider a branch)
DSP - Erie
PCSP - Erie
LDP - Erie (My pathway!)
LDP is lecture-discussion it is what you think of when you think of school. It is attending lecture (currently online b/c COVID), looking at powerpoints, studying it and testing.
DSP (directed-study) most resembles LDP but instead of attending lecture you do it on your own. They say here's the book, here's what concepts will be tested, go forth and learn!
PCSP (this is if you are interested in primary care) it's DSP on steroids because you go through the entire year and finish in 3 years instead of 4.
PBL (problem-based learning) is an entirely different beast. It doesn't really resemble any pathway. You are given a case presentation and you work in a group of 6-8 or so and you solve the case. Then you read EVERYTHING about why the case is a thing. So if it's a patient with familial high cholesterol you go to the textbook and read about the genetics of it, read about the physiology, the pharmacology for treatment, the biochemistry for why the cholesterol stays in the blood, etc. Then you have TWO BIG tests a semester over what your group learned.
As a Florida resident you won't hate Erie! I have friends in my class from Florida and California. It's cold, yes, very cold. But we also have really nice spring, summer and fall. The pros outweigh the cons for many.
I think the "best" school is the school with the pathway that works for you. I want the LDP pathway which is only offered at Erie, so yes, it's the best school for me!
Dress code = yes! We have a dress code of professional dress (yes, even online during COVID). The thought process is "dress like the doctor you want to be" get in the habit now and it's second nature in the future. LECOM truly does raise some of the most professional students and we are constantly complimented when we go out into the field. I have been told more than once "Oh you're a LECOM student? Thank goodness, I just had a student from X school and they were awful. I don't have to worry about you, I know you'll be professional and do the job well."
As a first year, I don't really know much about match rates off the top of my head. It's on our website and my upperclass friends have told me we match VERY well. We also have high pass rates on board scores and some of the highest first time pass rates.
Favorite thing about the school - we have excellent faculty who go above and beyond to help you. They are always available and I've never waited long for a response. My advisor is amazing and goes out of her way to check in, even sending little emails that say "you can do it!" before a test.
Least favorite thing - our unofficial mascot is the geese and they poop everywhere. the snow in winter.
Bottom line: LECOM is a tough, strict school. But you'll be better for it.
