LECOM vs Notre Dame MD

[kristalove]

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HELP!! I have been accepted into two schools and I don't know which one to pick! Any advice would be great! Thanks in advance!

Notre Dame of MD:

Pros:

-Affiliations with John Hopkins and other hospitals/universities
-Curriculum planned sounds AWESOME!
-Small class size

Cons:
-SUPER EXPENSIVE in comparison to LeCOM, as in an additional estimated 60K
-Pre-Candidate Status
-Weather...

LeCOM, Bradenton:

Pros:
-Full Accred.
-I live close so I would save on room and board

Cons:
-Concerns about the school affiliations

 

[foreverlearning]

Congrats on your acceptances 😀

So I had a Notre Dame interview but declined, mostly based on their pre-candidate status. The rotation sites do sound very tempting though especially if you plan on going into residency.

I did however go to the LECOM interview because of their full accreditation. BUT, I learned that they haven't graduated their first class yet and the accreditation is based on their affiliation with LECOM-Erie. So in my mind, they are a candidate until they graduate their first class this year. Another thing I don't think I would be comfortable with is their strict business-attire dress code. I did love the building and how new and incredibly clean it was. You will be saving a great deal + you will not have to deal with the drastic weather change + you will be in your original setting which is very conducive to studying because you have a solid support system already. If you're worried about the rotation sites, call the school and ask them about it. It might make your decision easier. They seemed really nice. And I think the Dean's credentials are AMAZING. He was so inspiring and I loved his career path.

Goodluck! 🙂

 

[Espada]

I wanted to share my experience at LECOM!

CONS:
1. They had a strict policy with business attire. I didn't like the fact that pharmacy students had to adhere to the dress code, no exceptions. (There were medical students that did not follow the dress code.)

2. The strict policy with no-food or drinks within any part of the building except for the cafeteria and outside areas.

3. When the student panel was asked "What changes would you think LECOM needs?" They stood silent afraid to answer. I could sense hesitation.

 

[bn43py53]

Notre Dame is one of those border line for profit schools that, well, have no affiliations to major academic facilities for hands on training. Located in an expensive area, this school is also very christian on principles and a pro women school. You could probably also take a look at the school's incoming class pictures and see if you would like to work/interact with those kinds of people. So, it's brand new and with an uncertain future and that is at least my opinion.

 

[Mersades8711]

Notre Dame is one of those border line for profit schools that, well, have no affiliations to major academic facilities for hands on training. Located in an expensive area, this school is also very christian on principles and a pro women school. You could probably also take a look at the school's incoming class pictures and see if you would like to work/interact with those kinds of people. So, it's brand new and with an uncertain future and that is at least my opinion.

What exactly do you mean "those type of people"?

 

[kristalove]

Thank you everyone for your input!! I will call each school and follow up on the academic facilities for hands on training for both schools!

 

[IrishHammer]

Why am I having flashbacks to the 2004 Presidential election? Oh, yeah, because that was another situation with a pair of terrible options.

I'd say Bradenton, not because it's better, but because it's slightly less worse. Plus any money you can save during pharmacy school is a plus. There's a big difference between only owing 80K in student loans and owing 160K in student loans.

 

[kristalove]

Update for anyone who may be in a similar predicament as me:

Ok so after a million calls..and lots of voicemails with a # that doesn't work (the # provided on the acceptance letter: 410-532-5551 doesn't work but the extension number to reach the same guy-Lawrence Shattuck-is 5551-weird)

Finally got to someone w/this number: 1410-532-5597 (Admissions)

This is what i asked and the answers:

-What major academic facilities do you have available to students for rotation sites?
-Best person to answer that is [email protected]. As the man I spoke to is in Admissions, he does not keep as up to date as the faculty. However he knows that they are adding new ones in constantly? I expect them to have some planned as rotation sites start in the second year.

-I read on your website that Notre Dame expects a review in the 2009-2010 year for candidate status. When do you expect the academic review results will be available? Perhaps before this fall?
-They are scheduled for a visit in mid to late April of this year to review. The last time they came to visit for the granting of the Pre-Candidate status was in November and they were officially notified of Pre-Candidate status in Jan/Feb.


-Just to confirm, students attending a Candidate status school has the same privileges as students attending a Fully Accredited school?
-Yes.

 

[kristalove]

Why am I having flashbacks to the 2004 Presidential election? Oh, yeah, because that was another situation with a pair of terrible options.

I'd say Bradenton, not because it's better, but because it's slightly less worse. Plus any money you can save during pharmacy school is a plus. There's a big difference between only owing 80K in student loans and owing 160K in student loans.

Lol! So your suggestion is for me to go to additional scheduled interviews I take it!

 

[IrishHammer]

Lol! So your suggestion is for me to go to additional scheduled interviews I take it!

No, my suggestion is to go to Bradenton. Or at least, if you are going to test the waters at other schools (which, if you're in Florida, you probably should do because there are far more esteemed schools down there than LECOM), at least reserve your spot at Bradenton.

 

[kristalove]

No, my suggestion is to go to Bradenton. Or at least, if you are going to test the waters at other schools (which, if you're in Florida, you probably should do because there are far more esteemed schools down there than LECOM), at least reserve your spot at Bradenton.

Thank you for your advice and we're on the same page! I actually decided to put the deposit down for Bradenton and am waiting to hear back from my interview at NSU.

 

[kristalove]

SO:

I have decided to put down the $500.00 deposit for LeCOM-Bradenton. Although I am not a fan of the strict no food/drink policy, I like the fact that the area is very secure (security monitoring 24-7). Also, it would save me a lot of money.. no drastic weather change. and it's Fully accred.

The first graduating class from LeCOM are currently P3s and ARE having a hard time finding clinical rotation sites but all that will be in place by the time I get there.

Factors that drew me away from College of Notre Dame of MD:

-yes, they have a nice planned curriculum but the tuition KILLS me. LeCOM projects around 88,160 for four years and i added 10,000/year for room and board so the tuition for est. four years: 128,160

CND tuition: they gave us a financial expense budget for students who lived in the dorm: 46,750 x 4 years: $187,000

NSU tuition: $114,416 *i have a house down there, so i only included tuition-24446 for florida residents, 1758 for misc. fees, and 2400 for books and supplies.

-precandidate status: i am 95% positive that they will get their candidate status without a problem as the faculty and staff seems competent and so nice!! .. but i am a stressball so i am not willing to take any chances.

-weather: i will be quite miserable .. they underwent two blizzards recently.


anyways, thank you to everyone who put in their 2 cents!! definitely could not have made this decision so quickly!! 😍

 

[Espada]

Given your circumstances of the two schoolsl one being fully accredited and one not accredited, I would definitely go for the school that has its accreditation by far.

As much of the unsatisfying experiences at LECOM, I feel that they will change their strict policies. Im sure that other students feel the same way.



Congrats on your acceptance. Florida was beautiful when I was there!🙂

 

[kristalove]

Given your circumstances of the two schoolsl one being fully accredited and one not accredited, I would definitely go for the school that has its accreditation by far.

As much of the unsatisfying experiences at LECOM, I feel that they will change their strict policies. Im sure that other students feel the same way.



Congrats on your acceptance. Florida was beautiful when I was there!🙂

Thank you 🙂 I guess I am a true Florida girl at heart 😉