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Its always interesting how people have heard so much about LECOM not being a good school, or have been advised not to apply there… yet we still have not come across a good reason as to why.
Hi. I just wanted to chime in and say that my brother is a graduate of lecom-e, and totally loved it. He did say they are very strict with their rules (i.e.: no food in the school except the cafe, dress code, scanning in, etc), but there were no real problems since those are pretty minor rules to follow.
Additionally, he matched at a pretty competitive residency in the Berkshires in surgical pathology. He also interviewed at Dartmouth and Cleveland Clinic (but didnt rank them first in the eras match). So, I believe that everything lecom proclaims to be is true, since I saw him go through it first hand. He feels he received an excellent education and said that he was more prepared than some of the md students at the first year of his residency. I hope this little insight helps...
I know. 🙁 I suck.
Honestly though, it did make a big impression when a COCA member stated that it was the only already existing school that he wouldn't recommend applying to.
I would love to hear from a current LECOM student. This man had obviously never been a student, so perhaps the education is top notch. It could just be administrative-type issues/hassles. He didn't say anything about the education.
We just recently moved to Bradford, PA. I have heard great things about LECOM. My brother wants to go to medical school and he is considering a DO instead of an MD degree because his GPA is a bit low. He was looking into LECOM-Erie. Well, I was talking to my MD the other day and I didn't mention anything to her about my brother. Her daughter is attending DO school in California. When I asked why she went away when there are DO schools much closer, she said that her daughter was afraid of being associated with LECOM. I thought LECOM was a good school. Why did she say that? I have a friend at LECOM who yes, did get in with a 2.9 undergraduate GPA, but also had a 3.7 in graduate school. I thought they had a decent reputation. Why the hating? Now my brother doesn't want to stay close to us because of this school. 🙁
Finally, the school is a breakaway school from PCOM. They left bc they believed that PCOM was doing something wrong, which is BS.
What does this mean? Can someone elaborate?
The founders were all PCOM graduates and faculty (not sure on the faculty part)
anyone at LECOM or planning on attending have thoughts on this thread: ?
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=471329
For what it's worth, I'll add a little different perspective to this discussion...
I've worked here at a hospital in Ohio for the past two years, and here I met the doc who has become a mentor-of-sorts for my med school journey. He's a D.O., but also the Director of Medical Education, which means he gets the ultimate say on which M4s get to come here (obviously via the Match, but sometimes outside the match).
I was hung up on my decision to attend LECOM-E or another school, and went to him for advice. He said that out of the 120 M4s he has interviewed for a handful of residency slots, MD and DO, for next year, the top 1 or 2 have been from LECOM, and other LECOM-E students have also been impressive. Not only that, he said he has continually been impressed with the residents and current students that have rotated through this hospital out of LECOM, and strongly supported me leaning in that direction.
All other things being equal (facilities, overall feel, tuition, etc), the conversations I have had with him in the past month about LECOM-E have played a vital role in my decision to send in my deposit this week.
I think I'd like to add to this thread. I got my PharmD from Lecom-Erie a couple years ago.... but recently decided to attend DO school (both my best friend and I realized we had selected the wrong graduate program as we were continually jealous of the medical students getting to do the "hands on surgeries.")
That being said, while I was not a Lecom medical student, I did spend a couple years there, and feel I can probably speak on the subject. When I was accepted into its accelerated pharmacy 5 year program, my advisor at a my university (a PA institution) forewarned me about the program. He did not believe it generated well-trained graduates. That being said, I entered anyways-- graduated, and passed my boards with flying colors. Therefore, I'll vouch for the pharmacy program, no problem.
The med students, though, continually didn't impress me (and I realized why my advisor had reservations about the program). Once, I ran into a 3rd year med student, and wanted to show him a wound on my hand-- to ask what it was. He looked up at me, clueless, and said "I have noooo idea...." I suppose it wasn't just that he couldn't answer the question, but that he appeared very unprofessional and immature. Stupefied, actually.
Still -- I know some graduates of Lecom-E ARE great residents/physicians. So I think its more of the person that attends the school, rather than the schools ability to teach, that makes a student successful.
In the end, you alone have to choose where you want to apply. I myself, with my own experiences at Lecom chose not to apply there to medical school, but other people can and will flourish.
Hi I have a couple of questions for any LECOM ISP students out there, or any other LECOM student for that matter.
Anyway, I was recently accepted to LECOM in the ISP pathway and was wondering if any students can offer some insight about this curricular track. After talking to a few LECOM students and grads, I am getting the idea that I should probably just switch to the lecture pathway. Is it difficult to have one test determine your entire grade for each system? Is not being on the same schedule as the lecture students a disadvantage due to not being able to attend lecture? Any advice would be appreciated. Feel free to PM me if you prefer. Thanks
This story is highly irrelevant. You can walk up to any medical student or even interns or residents and they will probably not be able to tell you whats wrong with you on the spot. Remember he is a medical student, not a doctor. If you are concerned about the way he answered your question, I highly doubt that his way of speaking has to do with what med school he attended. LECOM is known for its professionalism and even for being too strict sometimes... so if you are suggesting that their students are not professional enough, I think that is laughable. I would think being there for 2 years you would have more to share and base your opinions on than one silly scenario.
This thread was making me nervous because I had three acceptances so far and have decided on Erie. Azcom class is increasing too much and Touro Ny is too new, I also declined the other touro interviews. When I told my DO about my choices he said Erie all the way, he was very impressed by the school, so I'm going with his advice because he is very knowlegeable and I trust him. Please current students chime in..............
Does anyone know if LECOM-E has a human simulation lab? In my continuing internal debate on which school to attend next fall, some other schools place a large emphasis on their latest and greatest HSLs, and LECOM didn't even really mention it.
But beware future enrolles of Lecom-E, that many Pennsylvania residents (myself included) are wary of being treated by a Lecom graduate.
Of course I did- and I suppose you would have had to experience this student's answer first hand to understand my dissatisfaction.
And who do you think you are to speak to me on this topic? Even if you are a current medical student at the program, unless you are a fourth year, I have spent more time on that campus than you.
What I found highly disturbing about these students, was that the few times I chose to sit in on their classes -- for example, although pharmacy school provided its own anatomy lab, I also was in the lab with the medical students from time to time to review for exams-- the students had little to no knowledge of the material. Although my focus was pharmacy, I continually outperformed the medical students-- which surprised me considering they had many more class hours than myself in anatomy.
I also had many friends that were medical students, and many showed dissatisfaction with the program, and the wish to have enrolled at another school.
Be it what it may -- the school may be great for some. But beware future enrolles of Lecom-E, that many Pennsylvania residents (myself included) are wary of being treated by a Lecom graduate.
Why hasn't this been moved to the LECOM thread?
What I found highly disturbing about these students, was that the few times I chose to sit in on their classes -- for example, although pharmacy school provided its own anatomy lab, I also was in the lab with the medical students from time to time to review for exams-- the students had little to no knowledge of the material. Although my focus was pharmacy, I continually outperformed the medical students-- which surprised me considering they had many more class hours than myself in anatomy.
Be it what it may -- the school may be great for some. But beware future enrolles of Lecom-E, that many Pennsylvania residents (myself included) are wary of being treated by a Lecom graduate.
I asked at my interview and they told me they have a simulation robot. Other than that the interviewers did not seem to know a great deal about it as they were faculty in other departments. They did say that it does get integrated into the curriculum.
Hi.. I am new to this website but it is highly informative!
I have a question.. I am interviewing in the next week or so and I was wondering if the interview is open or closed file? If anyone knew that would be great! Also.. does the admissions committee have a preference to which pathway students select. In other words... would they be impressed if a student selected a certain pathway as their first choice or does that not matter what so ever?
Thanks!!!
... would they be impressed if a student selected a certain pathway as their first choice or does that not matter what so ever?
Thanks!!!
As far as I'm aware it doesn't matter one bit which pathway you select. The pathways are designed for people with different learning/life styles- no one will think any differently if you choose one pathway over another.
As for the rest of the page that I've read, I am an MSI and I really like it here. Sure there are lots of rules and if you're caught breaking them, you'll absolutely hear about it. But I am a very laid back person and don't see it as worth my time or energy to get upset about these rules. You adapt, deal with it and forget it or you'll just be annoyed for a large portion of the time- How would you rather go through school?
As far as LECOM being a break away from PCOM meaning that the founders thought PCOM was doing something wrong, I don't know anything about that. I do know that during my interview and orientation LECOM faculty and founders have spoken nothing but words of high praise regarding PCOM and we were told that the school was opened because there was a shortage of doctors in the area.
As far as the quality of its students I think at every school there are going to be people who are immature, unprepared, and less than articulate. I also think at every school you will find extremely intelligent people. There are some very smart people here and there are absolutely people I'd never want as my own physician.
Anyone can PM me with questions if they are interested. I was very questionable about LECOM a year ago when I was deciding mainly because of things I read on SDN, but I spoke with current students, went with my gut feeling and am extremely happy with my choice.
Well put man, I also agree that the type of person you are is what makes a good doctor, not what school you attend. (Also top notch board scores, and good rotation experience 😀)
just submitted my secondary, just hope that my LORs come in a timely fashion. i applied hella late. how long does it take LECOM to respond regarding secondaries? i hope its really fast cause i hate having false hope. hahaha
does anyone know what the earliest date that people can be pulled of the waitlist is? how do they rank the waitlist people? I gave a letter of intent and applied early so will that help me get to the top of the list?
What I found highly disturbing about these students, was that the few times I chose to sit in on their classes -- for example, although pharmacy school provided its own anatomy lab, I also was in the lab with the medical students from time to time to review for exams-- the students had little to no knowledge of the material. Although my focus was pharmacy, I continually outperformed the medical students-- which surprised me considering they had many more class hours than myself in anatomy.
The earliest date varies from year to year, so I have nothing to say about when the waitlist is used actively.does anyone know what the earliest date that people can be pulled of the waitlist is? how do they rank the waitlist people? I gave a letter of intent and applied early so will that help me get to the top of the list?
Anybody received their matriculation packet in the mail yet? I am not sure of it, but I thought they said it would be coming soon. Maybe I am just a little anxious to get things going.
Just Received Interview Invite For 1/18.. So Excited!!! 😍
tell him to just chill out and have fun. Despite all the things that are said about LECOM's interview process being impersonal and such, I found that interview to be more engaging and fun than my other interview. Oh and tell him not to get the turkey for lunch. It was really dry.