LECOM-Erie class of 2011!!

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LisaMD said:
Am I dumb?? All I see on that site is apartments and NEW homes. Where is the renting house option?

And I sent in my deposit and gave up my seat at DCOM. I still haven't heard from a lot of schools and I don't have a #1 choice, so.....
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if you do an apartment search it should pull up houses and townhouses too. also, some of the listings have a link with them and if you go to those websites there are more houses/townhouses. I did a search for places with short-term leases and found townhouses/houses. So, they must be there somewhere...
 
I got my letter today confirming my deposit and welcoming me to LECOM-ISP. Very exciting. The letter said they'd send out more info regarding matriculation soon. I wouldn't mind some kind of big fat envelope with some kind of something for me to read and re-read obsessively...
 
bkpa2med said:
Did you fill out your FAFSA yet?
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Hey bkpa2med,

Just curious...why'd you pick LECOM over NYCOM? lol I am from Long Island and would have loved to stay there but alas I ended up here in Erie.
 
is a 3.39 overall 3.35 non-science and 3.43 science with a 23O MCAT good enough for LECOM-erie in terms of stats, also i have a letter of rec from a DO who attended LECOM-erie.
 
DnB607 said:
Hey bkpa2med,

Just curious...why'd you pick LECOM over NYCOM? lol I am from Long Island and would have loved to stay there but alas I ended up here in Erie.
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Cost. I didn't really like the thought that cost of attending is $65k/yr and increasing every year and to be honest Erie just felt right. To each his own I guess. I'm still going to be coming down to NYC every other weekend. I know I will get alot done on my own when I have no one haggling over me lol👍

Edited: Also, mind you that many hospitals are being closed down in NYC due to their inefficiencies to operate. I believe that will close many rotation sites for many schools including NYCOM. But word on the street is that they are trying to get a University Hospital.
 
ppormansdoormd said:
is a 3.39 overall 3.35 non-science and 3.43 science with a 23O MCAT good enough for LECOM-erie in terms of stats, also i have a letter of rec from a DO who attended LECOM-erie.
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What was your MCAT breakdown?
 
bkpa2med said:
What was your MCAT breakdown?
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7V, 7PS, 9BS, what did u guys put down for the essay that states "list the qualities you possess which will help you become a successful osteopathic physician"
 
ppormansdoormd said:
7V, 7PS, 9BS, what did u guys put down for the essay that states "list the qualities you possess which will help you become a successful osteopathic physician"
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So you haven't sent in your secondary application yet? It IS kind of late in the cycle to be doing that especially if you are worried about your grades/scores. But its your call, it never hurts to try unless you are really worried about spending money in the next cycle as well.
 
does LECOM-erie accept letters from Interfolio.com
 
bkpa2med said:
Cost. I didn't really like the thought that cost of attending is $65k/yr and increasing every year and to be honest Erie just felt right. To each his own I guess. I'm still going to be coming down to NYC every other weekend. I know I will get alot done on my own when I have no one haggling over me lol👍

Edited: Also, mind you that many hospitals are being closed down in NYC due to their inefficiencies to operate. I believe that will close many rotation sites for many schools including NYCOM. But word on the street is that they are trying to get a University Hospital.
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Good point about the cost of tuition. Didn't even think of that. I probably would have went there anyway if I had applied earlier and gotten in. I am so homesick here! You're going to go to NYC every other weekend? haha It seems all I have time to do is study during weekends...although I know I am not always so disciplined. lol I also didn't know about hospitals closing down...good info to know. Well enjoy your time before you start school here in August! 🙂
 
DnB607 said:
Good point about the cost of tuition. Didn't even think of that. I probably would have went there anyway if I had applied earlier and gotten in. I am so homesick here! You're going to go to NYC every other weekend? haha It seems all I have time to do is study during weekends...although I know I am not always so disciplined. lol I also didn't know about hospitals closing down...good info to know. Well enjoy your time before you start school here in August! 🙂
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Are you planning on rotating back in NYC? Also, are you LDP?
 
MiesVanDerMom said:
if you do an apartment search it should pull up houses and townhouses too. also, some of the listings have a link with them and if you go to those websites there are more houses/townhouses. I did a search for places with short-term leases and found townhouses/houses. So, they must be there somewhere...
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Ahhh I see now. I thought it was just for apartments. and WOW cheap houses to rent!! Does anyone have advice on these houses? They seem to be on the west side, that is the good side, right?
 
West side is the better area, and preferably the streets with high numbers, for example: W38 and up. I actually bought a home about 5 blocks away from LECOM in the Millcreek area. After looking at many houses, the Millcreek area wins hands down.
 
bkpa2med said:
West side is the better area, and preferably the streets with high numbers, for example: W38 and up. I actually bought a home about 5 blocks away from LECOM in the Millcreek area. After looking at many houses, the Millcreek area wins hands down.
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You bought a house for the upcoming year?? Man you are on the ball!
 
After seven months at this school, I have determined one thing: I would never come here again if I had it to do over.

Yeah, the school looks nice. It has some cutting-edge technology that other schools don't have. Erie is BEAUTIFUL. The Erie-ites are nice. The other students are nice, even if some of them are a little high-schoolerish. The idea of three pathways is pretty cool. The tuition isn't bad. The teachers are pretty nice. The problem is with the administration.

During the interviews, LECOM gives off an aura of organization and policy (for lack of a better word). I can vouch for the "policy", but the organization? There is none. NONE. I doubt that the other schools would send their students on preceptorships where they were expected to do six or seven different physical exams BEFORE they taught their students how to do even the most basic of physical exams. How embarrassing is that? Or how about scheduling a standardized patient and SimMan workshop the day before stethoscopes are passed out, then expecting us to have one? Or telling us the day before preceptorships that we need to go get a white coat? Of course the bookstore and the uniform store at the mall sold out immediately. After all, we have a white coat ceremony in April- why would we buy one now? How would an organized school manage to have an 80 question test with three or four questions that are repeated three or four times each, sometimes on the same page? I understand that mistakes happen, but the frequency of which they happen at LECOM is ridiculous - these are just examples from the beginning of the semester on Jan. 8th. I find it ironic that they impose SO many nitpicky rules on us when they can't even schedule a workshop on the right day.

Speaking of policy, they just added some new ones. I guess the current pile of oppressive rules wasn't enough. I thought I'd share them with you:

Dear Osteopathic Medical Students,
As many of you may be aware numerous changes have been proposed and/or implemented by our Dean / Provost - Dr. Silvia Ferretti. The following changes have been implemented In accordance with the 2006-2007 LECOM Student Handbook. Please keep in mind that this is SGA's understanding of the changes and not an official response by administration of LECOM.

- All students must be in LECOM Dress Code in accordance with building policies (including OMM days)

- Zero tolerance policy is implemented in accordance with the LECOM Attendance Policy

- Zero tolerance policy is implemented in accordance with the LECOM Food / Beverage Policy

- No students will be admitted to any examinations after the examination has begun. It is at the discretion of the faculty and administration whether or not to allow these students to take the examination or receive a zero. All students allotted the opportunity to take the remedial examination will be allotted the highest possible grade as a 70.

- No cellular phones will be admitted to the test taking facilities

- All ISP students will be required to take examinations at one designated time

- Numerous proctors will be present to monitor examination at all times

- Miss keys and challenging of examination questions will no longer be allowed

- All students beginning clinical clerkships in June 2007 will be expected to pass USMLE Shelf Examinations for Pediatrics and OB / Gyn Clinical Clerkships. All students failing the USMLE Shelf Examination will repeat the clinical clerkship

- All individuals failing individual examinations will be required to remediate each failure in order to successfully complete the course (unknown implementation date)

If you should have any questions please feel free to contact your LECOM SGA Officers and/or Class Officers for more information.

Thank you

LECOM SGA

Really, we need to take the USMLE? Aren't we an osteopathic school? I know most people take them on their own anyways, but doesn't anyone find it odd that our DO school is making us take an MD test?

This school is turning into a last resort school. I agree with my classmates that said they'd never recommend this school to anybody. I wouldn't either.
 
Why would taking the USMLE be a bad thing, since for the most part allopathic residencies, in general, are said to be organized in a better fashion?
 
bkpa2med said:
Why would taking the USMLE be a bad thing, since for the most part allopathic residencies, in general, are said to be organized in a better fashion?
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This person is not talking about taking the USMLE; they are talking about having to take a mandatory USMLE shelf exam that the school will not prepare you for. See, LECOM paid for this completely worthless testing program called Exam Master and you as a student are required to take a 50q test at the end of each rotation..IM, surgery, OB/GYN, etc. The problem is that Exam Master's question bank does not correlate to basic concepts tested on the USMLE or COMLEX for that matter, and the OB and Peds exams are difficult to pass. So what is LECOM's idea....like usual, blame it on the students and force a new test (USMLE shelf) on them and if they can't pass that then remediate the rotation.

Just be prepared to exceed despite the school. Only 5 more months to go...Thank God!
 
is a 3.39 overall 3.35 non-science and 3.43 science with a 23O (7v, 7ps, 9bs) MCAT good enough for LECOM-erie in terms of stats, also i have a letter of rec from a DO who attended LECOM-erie. anybody?
 
ppormansdoormd said:
is a 3.39 overall 3.35 non-science and 3.43 science with a 23O (7v, 7ps, 9bs) MCAT good enough for LECOM-erie in terms of stats, also i have a letter of rec from a DO who attended LECOM-erie. anybody?
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Yes, with those stats you should be more than competitive for LECOM. I have known students with MCAT's in the 16/17 range so you will be fine.
 
I dont know about anyone else but I am still really excited to be going here. I have friends who are alum that loved LECOM and frankly it was one of my top choices due to recommendations from friends and location *close to family, cost of living etc...* I know everyone is trying to "warn us" of what is ahead, but as I was just accepted I am really excited about what lays ahead- could we lay off the LECOM bashing for just a little bit, maybe let us hold our idealistic thoughts for awhile??? I do appreciate hearing all sides of the story- I guess it just kinda bums me out when I am so looking forward to beginning the education I have been preparing for for the last 6 years!! Is it really all that bad???
 
ppormansdoormd said:
is a 3.39 overall 3.35 non-science and 3.43 science with a 23O (7v, 7ps, 9bs) MCAT good enough for LECOM-erie in terms of stats, also i have a letter of rec from a DO who attended LECOM-erie. anybody?
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I think you should be fine with those scores! Mine were similar, my GPA was around a 3.9 overall and 3.6ish for science but my MCAT was a 23 as well and I also had a letter of tec from an alum! I hear they take alumni rec's very seriously, and hey it cant hurt right? Good luck and maybe we will see you in the fall!🙂
 
mrsalpacino said:
I dont know about anyone else but I am still really excited to be going here. I have friends who are alum that loved LECOM and frankly it was one of my top choices due to recommendations from friends and location *close to family, cost of living etc...* I know everyone is trying to "warn us" of what is ahead, but as I was just accepted I am really excited about what lays ahead- could we lay off the LECOM bashing for just a little bit, maybe let us hold our idealistic thoughts for awhile??? I do appreciate hearing all sides of the story- I guess it just kinda bums me out when I am so looking forward to beginning the education I have been preparing for for the last 6 years!! Is it really all that bad???
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yeah ditto. this thread is for people who've decided to attend. there's really nothing constructive about complaining to us. it's like warning happy pregnant women how hellish motherhood will be. yeah. motherhood is hard as hell, but why ruin someone's pregnancy? We're going to Erie, so let us enjoy our last months being pre-meds.

I've also heard from a lot of happy alums. 👍
 
MiesVanDerMom said:
yeah ditto. this thread is for people who've decided to attend. there's really nothing constructive about complaining to us. it's like warning happy pregnant women how hellish motherhood will be. yeah. motherhood is hard as hell, but why ruin someone's pregnancy? We're going to Erie, so let us enjoy our last months being pre-meds.

I've also heard from a lot of happy alums. 👍
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👍
 
I would like to hear current students' views on the school. We still have months until interviews for all schools are over, and many people that visit these threads are not 100% going to a particular school. The person was not just simply bashing LECOM, he was giving good reasons why he was unhappy...reasons and situations I would like to know about.
 
LisaMD said:
I would like to hear current students' views on the school. We still have months until interviews for all schools are over, and many people that visit these threads are not 100% going to a particular school. The person was not just simply bashing LECOM, he was giving good reasons why he was unhappy...reasons and situations I would like to know about.
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You're one of the smart ones! I can remember the excitement of being accepted to med school... thinking "bashing" is only from the "poor performing" students... .. That one would do anything and could do anything when they got in. LECOM admin rules are moreso interfering with our education than supporting it. The above LECOM quote shows and entire email directly cut/paste from our emails.

I am finishing LECOM, and I too am so ashamed of THE ADMIN here at this school. Professors - awesome.

I was accepted at many other schools and chose here to be close to my brother. I should have chosen another institution. The ADMIN is more concerned with money, power, and image. Again the professors are wonderful and will help whenever and however they can. (I am a good judge of character here, as I was a biochem professor for a short time. - Also used to do a lot of clinical work - Just an FYI that I'm older and experienced and am telling the truth.)

I'm not bashing. Don't care about that. Just be prepared. If you do choose to go to LECOM you have to have an awesome focus to ignore the tons of BS you will encounter.

When you get assigned your "BIG", ask them about ADMIN's policies. (e.g. MANY people had gallstones or removed Gallbladders this year - we can't drink water... fountains few and far between.)

Good luck and God Bless on your choice. But please consider all the facts if you can obtain them to make an adequate choice for you. If I would have known about the current BS (which causes HUGE anxiety at times, affecting memory, etc.) I would not have come here.

Keep up your good works and try to keep your enthusiasm!
 
Despite what people say, I'm still happy that I will attend LECOM! What I have learned in life thus far is to each his own. In the end, medical school provides the purpose of making your doctor. How you take advantage or deal with situations depends entirely upon you.

Let's keep this thread alive and everyone CONGRATS on your choice, as I know I made a good one!
 
bkpa2med said:
Glad I don't want to do Peds or OB/GYN!:meanie:
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Doesn't matter.... these are core rotations. You need to pass to continue and graduate. More than 1/2 of the current 3rd year class has failed.

You have a lot to learn... good lucK!!
 
bkpa2med said:
Despite what people say, I'm still happy that I will attend LECOM! What I have learned in life thus far is to each his own. In the end, medical school provides the purpose of making your doctor. How you take advantage or deal with situations depends entirely upon you.

Let's keep this thread alive and everyone CONGRATS on your choice, as I know I made a good one!
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\

Good attitude. Good luck.
 
As someone with whom many of you have been conversing with on the side, I'm about to climb aboard the "I hate my school" bus. I'm sick of defending my school without seeing any reason in the last semester to do so. I'm sick of my alumni friends coming forward and saying "I'm glad your class hates LECOM as much as ours did!" Where the heck were you guys when I was applying? I'm sick of being told to act like a professional and not being treated like one.

This is not a LECOM family, no matter how hard the proffs try and keep things happy, the administration continually reminds us that this is a dictatorship. There is no conversation about what changes should be made, the powers that be say what's going to happen and it does. No debates, no pushing ideas around, just a statement about what changes will be happening.

You work so hard to get into medical school, you sacrifice so much, then they ruin the experience. I'm genuinely deflated. I've been playing the game with 100% participation, and now they are switching all the rules around. They just re-did the curriculum, our grades have apparently stunk, and now they institute a policy that can only make our lives more miserable. No warning, just "poof" and now the rules have changed.

Ignore, disbelieve, or keep the faith that for you it will be different. I would, however, find it hard to believe that you could find someone who is happy with their choice of school right now, and that's sad. Some of my friends are seriously looking into switching schools, and I think that illustrates just how crazy this has gotten here. I personally am not trying to scare or dissuade anyone, but I do think that it's only fair to update you all on the current changes that are underway here. You may not want to hear it, but it's almost our responsibility to let you know. Isn't that the point of these boards, to get as much info as possible from a variety of sources and then make our own decision?

My current plan: I'm an MS 1.5. Only 1.5 more years of this and then I'm outta here. I came up here with my boyfriend, if it wasn't for him, I'd be on the phone with my friends seeing about transfers. He's encouraged me to leave anyway, but I'm just not willing to do that. So, I go to class, I play by the rules, and I'm saddened that my med school experience is tarnished. I was so excited for this for so long. The only thing I can do is respond with a laugh whenever I get requests for an alumni donation. I will never consider this place my alma mater.

LECOM may be icky, but I still love medical school and am having a good time learning all this stuff!

As always, questions, comments, and issues welcome.
Yours in the fight for those illusive letters after your name,
FieldDoc
 
Hey everyone, I didn't mean to sound so negative about other people's opinions, of course it's good for us to hear from older students- Sorry about that, I guess I'm bummed because I've already sent my deposit in so I will definitely be going there in the fall and it's a downer to hear all of this now when there was no indication of it at the interview/talking to students that day🙁 I do appreciate being informed-best to be prepared for what's ahead! I'm disheartened to hear so many students dissapointed with their education... I guess I am so excited I don't want to believe that it could be less than what I am hoping it will be! Our incoming class will have to make sure we have some hard a** in SG to try and get through to the Admin if we are unhappy with whats going on- we'll see if it does any good! 😛 Thank you for your input and good luck to everyone who is graduating/matching now! and to those who are coming in the fall I am still looking forward to meeting all of you and hopefully we will make the best of whatever is ahead!
 
My advice as a current second year...DO NOT come here unless you absolutely must (or you are a masochist). I can already tell you that the admin will be unwillingly to listen or change, and it would be best to just lay down and take it.

If you are on your way to Erie next year...make the best of the situation and keep your ultimate goal in mind (it will pull you through).
 
Q to those who attend Erie ...
What field of medicine are you pursuing?
 
leighea said:
When you get assigned your "BIG", ask them about ADMIN's policies. (e.g. MANY people had gallstones or removed Gallbladders this year - we can't drink water... fountains few and far between.)
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are you being serious? It's called a water bottle. I know there's no drinking in class and all, but I imagine one could find a spot between classes.... 😕
 
Current students: In your opinion, what are the strongest qualities of the school. Not general comments like there are three pathways -- but something personal and relevant. It was my impression during my interview that the administration cared about what the students had to say in regard to everything except the dress code and attendance. Am I correct?

I also met a student in Atlanta as we waited for the plane to arrive and she indicated that the support system with the professors and other students is really great.

I walked away from my interview admiring the snow and loving the campus but after reading this I am starting to wonder. Discussing the negatives is great as it depicts a more credible story but can someone please elaborate on the positives??

Thanks!
 
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?p=4227239#post4227239

Check out my old thread before I became a hater. It was a bit nicer. I still stand by that the teachers are the best, with a few minor exceptions. There are also free tutors that you can take advantage of which some of my friends have found useful.

If you have any questions just ask. You can also look at my past posts because I tend to post a lot on LECOM.
 
Well, since everyone else is jumpin' in and stating their views, I guess I will too!!! Before I begin: to all those that are coming next year, don't fret! I too read all the negative views everyone seemed to have about LECOM before I arrived. I had already accepted and was so excited, then everyone started bashing it and I thought I made a mistake. Even if you don't end up liking LECOM, it's a means to an end!

Anyway, here's my two cents:

I thought first semester was pretty good. I quickly got broken in to the whole medical school study routine, as my first anatomy grades were absolutely horrible. However, with the help of the professors and fellow students, things worked out. Most of the professors are awesome, but there are always a few wherever you go that just rub you the wrong way. My fellow students are super-duper and I feel the education I'm getting is great.

But I must agree with the other comments in this thread. LECOM has implemented a whole ton of "revisions" to a rule book that was already thicker than the Bible. It seems that this semester, Satan herself is out to make us hate her even more. We used to be able to come in sweats and a t-shirt for OMM days, now we have to put a shirt and tie on just to come in the building, then go to the locker room and change. How stupid is that? Anyway, all the rules are starting to nag us a little bit, but we will all get through it. With that being said, did you all hear LECOM is building a $35 million (est) Health and Wellness Center - so maybe the administration did listen to our complaints about the "gym" at the school. But then again, Satan and her minions will probably make some absurd rules that you have to wear a tie to workout, and even then, you can't have a water bottle. And absolutely no sweating! 😱

In conclusion: Do the rules suck - yes! Is Dr. Ferretti a wire-haired man goblin - yes! (any fans of Scrubs? :laugh: :laugh: ) But am I happy I came here and will be a DO in the end - you bet! I've always maintained that school is what you make of it. If you let it (or the admin) get to you, then you will hate it. But if you can laugh at how absurdly stupid some of the rules or higher-ups are, you'll manage just fine - I know I have. So take that, Dr. Ferretti!

Welcome to LECOM!

P.S. If you want some laughs - go here: http://www.ajuel.com/Lecom_Marble_Column_Designs.htm. Yep, that's Dr. Ferretti taking the staff from Aesculapius! Now that, my friends, is entertainment!
 
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