LMU-DCOM Discussion Thread 2010-2011

[SirSpeedyZ]

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Hi all, I started lurking around here last year about this time. I was at work today and got the call from the Dean for acceptance at LMU; I'm super excited (this was my first choice of schools). Looking forward to meeting new classmates and starting next fall.

 

[Dr Yiot]

Hi all, I started lurking around here last year about this time. I was at work today and got the call from the Dean for acceptance at LMU; I'm super excited (this was my first choice of schools). Looking forward to meeting new classmates and starting next fall.

Congrats!! If u don't mind me asking when did u interview?

 

[SirSpeedyZ]

Congrats!! If u don't mind me asking when did u interview?

I don't mind at all, I interviewed last Tuesday

 

[IowaGirl22]

I interviewed at LMU this past Monday (2/7). The school is beautiful and all the faculty I met were really nice. I thought my interview went well, and as a previous poster stated it was very laid back, but I didn't receive a phone call today. This makes me extremely sad because I really, really wanted to go here too. Congratulations to those who did receive phone calls today. That is extremely exciting and I wish you the best.

Dr. Yiot, if we were truly not accepted this time, we will keep going! Never give up! 🙂

 

[SirSpeedyZ]

I interviewed at LMU this past Monday (2/7). The school is beautiful and all the faculty I met were really nice. I thought my interview went well, and as a previous poster stated it was very laid back, but I didn't receive a phone call today. This makes me extremely sad because I really, really wanted to go here too. Congratulations to those who did receive phone calls today. That is extremely exciting and I wish you the best.

Dr. Yiot, if we were truly not accepted this time, we will keep going! Never give up! 🙂

Don't count yourself out yet, they did say some get accepted, but don't get phone calls.

Try and apply again if it doesn't happen this time. I was wait listed last year. I'm very excited to be accepted to LMU and would say don't lose heart and keep trying.

 

[OrangeRoost]

Don't count yourself out yet, they did say some get accepted, but don't get phone calls.

Try and apply again if it doesn't happen this time. I was wait listed last year. I'm very excited to be accepted to LMU and would say don't lose heart and keep trying.

I was accepted in December and never got a phone call.

 

[nontradguy]

Dr. Yiot, if we were truly not accepted this time, we will keep going! Never give up! 🙂

That's right. I was crushed the first time, but liberated the second.

 

[Dr Yiot]

I don't mind at all, I interviewed last Tuesday

did you go to the pizza night?

I interviewed at LMU this past Monday (2/7). The school is beautiful and all the faculty I met were really nice. I thought my interview went well, and as a previous poster stated it was very laid back, but I didn't receive a phone call today. This makes me extremely sad because I really, really wanted to go here too. Congratulations to those who did receive phone calls today. That is extremely exciting and I wish you the best.

Dr. Yiot, if we were truly not accepted this time, we will keep going! Never give up! 🙂

never give up is right. It still makes me sad ..im rooting for you to get in though, underdogs for the win!

That's right. I was crushed the first time, but liberated the second.

i can imagine. congrats though. do you mind me asking what you did from the first and second time you applied? also what do you feel went differently that granted you acceptance this time around?

 

[nontradguy]

i can imagine. congrats though. do you mind me asking what you did from the first and second time you applied? also what do you feel went differently that granted you acceptance this time around?

Sure thing. No problem. I wasted $2000 on an MCAT prep course, which I do not recommend. I improved my score by a whopping 2 points.

Seriously though, I made darn sure that I had my AACOMAS application submitted the very first doggone week the season opened up. Without a doubt. Applying early is key. And, I was sure to update my essay with even more hours spent volunteering (level-one trauma ER, homeless shelters, shadowing DOs that didn't screw me on recommendations the second-time around, etc.). I took Biochemistry, Histology, A&P I & II, Microbiology, and Genetics above and beyond everything else. And most importantly, I lived the vision that Arnold Schwarzenegger discussed in Reader's Digest. That is, I woke up every morning knowing that I was already accepted. It was just a matter of time. (Also, military service I'm sure helped, but, that may detour you 4 years, 4 years that I would highly recommend.)

However, I must make an important point here, a salient one that golfingdoc made. I firmly believe my goals aligned with DCOMs. My personal essay made that clear. I walked into my interview, nervous as hell, and explained why OPP was for me (yeah you know me).

Also, GraceEuphoria motivated me time from time.

As the Toltecs once preached, just do your best, pick yourself up if you fall down, and continue with your dream. Before you know it, you will have succeeded beyond your dreams.

 

[nontradguy]

also what do you feel went differently that granted you acceptance this time around?

Oh sorry. Wasn't interviewed the first-time around.

 

[SirSpeedyZ]

did you go to the pizza night?

I didn't go to the Pizza night, because I live in Chattannoga so I just drove up for the interview in the morning.

Now all I need to do is pay some money and my spot is saved. 😀

 

[SirSpeedyZ]

I was accepted in December and never got a phone call.

That would have freaked me out for sure.

 

[Dr Yiot]

Sure thing. No problem. I wasted $2000 on an MCAT prep course, which I do not recommend. I improved my score by a whopping 2 points.

Seriously though, I made darn sure that I had my AACOMAS application submitted the very first doggone week the season opened up. Without a doubt. Applying early is key. And, I was sure to update my essay with even more hours spent volunteering (level-one trauma ER, homeless shelters, shadowing DOs that didn't screw me on recommendations the second-time around, etc.). I took Biochemistry, Histology, A&P I & II, Microbiology, and Genetics above and beyond everything else. And most importantly, I lived the vision that Arnold Schwarzenegger discussed in Reader's Digest. That is, I woke up every morning knowing that I was already accepted. It was just a matter of time. (Also, military service I'm sure helped, but, that may detour you 4 years, 4 years that I would highly recommend.)

However, I must make an important point here, a salient one that golfingdoc made. I firmly believe my goals aligned with DCOMs. My personal essay made that clear. I walked into my interview, nervous as hell, and explained why OPP was for me (yeah you know me).

Also, GraceEuphoria motivated me time from time.

As the Toltecs once preached, just do your best, pick yourself up if you fall down, and continue with your dream. Before you know it, you will have succeeded beyond your dreams.

hmmm, if i have to reapply (which its looking like it) i will apply early and i might take some more classes. thanks for the advice(i will def. take it to heart), it seems like you have a good sense of humor which is nice to see lol. and grace is very helpful. i am not gonna give up no matter what. i cant believe how many of you are actually RE applicants. its impressive. 👍

 

[golfingdoc]

Dr Yiot,
I was talking to a first year from DCOM that I went to high school with and she was emphasizing that even if wait-listed, there is still hope. She said that about 30 people in her class came from the wait-list, a few didn't get accepted until just a week or two before class. Also, I don't know if you met a guy named Matt that's a Navy HSPC student on your interview day, but he also said the exact same thing about his class. So, if a wait-list letter is what you are given, do the best you can with it. I've read a bunch of people sending in a letter of intent saying this is the school for you and mentioning anything you have accomplished since they received your file. I'd search and see how the format is for these things, try to do something worth adding to your file and let them know about any grades you get in May (if you are in classes). I hope this helps some, and I'm sure everyone is still pulling for you!

 

[nontradguy]

From the LMU-DCOM facebook page:

"LMU-DCOM had the second highest match rate in the country at 52.8%, coming in second only to Michigan State University-COM. Way to go!"

Ooh-Rah!

 

[Dr Yiot]

Dr Yiot,
I was talking to a first year from DCOM that I went to high school with and she was emphasizing that even if wait-listed, there is still hope. She said that about 30 people in her class came from the wait-list, a few didn't get accepted until just a week or two before class. Also, I don't know if you met a guy named Matt that's a Navy HSPC student on your interview day, but he also said the exact same thing about his class. So, if a wait-list letter is what you are given, do the best you can with it. I've read a bunch of people sending in a letter of intent saying this is the school for you and mentioning anything you have accomplished since they received your file. I'd search and see how the format is for these things, try to do something worth adding to your file and let them know about any grades you get in May (if you are in classes). I hope this helps some, and I'm sure everyone is still pulling for you!

thank you! that is very comforting. My school offers a quick term which is 10 weeks long from 3/1 to 5/15. I can still register for those classes. so hopefully, If I am waitlisted I can have new grades for them come may and if not taken off the waitlist and I need to reapply then I will have some more grades to boost my gpa even more.

 

[piper19]

hey does anybody know if they are still sending out interviews? (i understand that they are still interviewing) This is the only school I have yet to hear from and I am very interested

 

[Dr Yiot]

hey does anybody know if they are still sending out interviews? (i understand that they are still interviewing) This is the only school I have yet to hear from and I am very interested

they are still offering interviews. they interview all the way through march and I believe into april.
on a side note, maybe I didnt get a call from the dean because I live in NJ and dean stowers doesnt want to increase the cost of his long distance cell phone bill?

 

[nontradguy]

on a side note, maybe I didnt get a call from the dean because I live in NJ and dean stowers doesnt want to increase the cost of his long distance cell phone bill?

He called the great state of Texas!

 

[Marathon0503]

I was a reapplicant as well. I interviewed last year and was put on the waiting list. My advice: don't give up! Stay in contact with Janette and apply as early as you can next yr. Good luck!

 

[Dr Yiot]

He called the great state of Texas!

maybe he knew you had AT&T and it would be a free in network call?

 

[OrangeRoost]

He called the great state of Texas!

Clap Clap Clap

 

[piper19]

haha nevermind they actually called me about an hour after i posted that. They had a cancellation for next tuesday so anybody interviewing next tuesday ill see you there. anything I should be prepared for interviewing?

 

[fiznat]

Okay one more photo. After the interview I took some time to go up to Pinnacle Peak, one of the sightseeing locations in the Cumberland Gap. Take a look!

 

[gatewasani]

fiznat,

if you have any more pictures of anything, I would love to see them.

Also, if anyone has an interview coming up, i think everyone here would benefit if someone could take pictures of the housing (university inn, mars etc...), gym, campus, dcom, and whatever else you can get a picture of.

maybe we could set up an account on one of those photo sharing sites or something

Thanks.

 

[fiznat]

Sure, I think I have a few more. Theyre just cell phone pics so nothing really spectacular, but if people are interested I'll post them as soon as I get another chance.

I would have taken pics of the university inn, but... ugh.... was not really impressed with that place.... They were a stark contrast to DCOM's otherwise amazing facilities. I'll say that much.

 

[whoop]

My dad came with me to my interview and he fell in love with DCOM and the Cumberland Gap area because he grew up in an area similar to it.

 

[Atom bum]

Has anyone filled out a FASFA application for 2011-2012?

 

[nontradguy]

Has anyone filled out a FASFA application for 2011-2012?

Atom bum, I have. It takes about 2 minutes online if you have your 4-digit pin number. If you don't, they are quick to send your pin number in the mail.

 

[Atom bum]

Atom bum, I have. It takes about 2 minutes online if you have your 4-digit pin number. If you don't, they are quick to send your pin number in the mail.

I just don't know the federal school code and searching for LMU does not bring up LMU-DCOM.

 

[nontradguy]

I just don't know the federal school code and searching for LMU does not bring up LMU-DCOM.

The packet that they gave us during the interview writes that the FAFSA code to use is: 003502. 👍

 

[Atom bum]

The packet that they gave us during the interview writes that the FAFSA code to use is: 003502. 👍

Thanks much!

 

[nontradguy]

...the university inn, but... ugh.... was not really impressed with that place.... They were a stark contrast to DCOM's otherwise amazing facilities. I'll say that much.

Well, I'm not so sure that I would agree. Granted, the Inn is about 1.5 miles from the medical building (which means a long walk for me), but the rooms are far superior than anything that NYU had available (and for a fraction of the cost). I am a little disgruntled that I won't be able to walk 5 minutes to class and back for it being an "on campus" dorm, but then again, the panoramic view is awesome.

 

[MakesSense]

Okay one more photo. After the interview I took some time to go up to Pinnacle Peak, one of the sightseeing locations in the Cumberland Gap. Take a look!

You staying overnight before heading home. I just got back home about an hour and a half ago from today's interview.

 

[DooooT]

Anyone looking for places to stay yet for the school year?

 

[Total180]

Does anyone have pictures of the Inn? On my tour it was pouring out and we didn't get to see them...I saw the layout and it looks pretty standard, but I would love to see some pictures if anyone has them...

 

[Styria]

From the LMU-DCOM facebook page:

"LMU-DCOM had the second highest match rate in the country at 52.8%, coming in second only to Michigan State University-COM. Way to go!"

Ooh-Rah!

That's not quite what happened. http://www.natmatch.com/aoairp/schltot.htm

There are three matches, military, osteopathic, and allopathic. DCOM has 123 students going into it out of 153 pictured on the 2011 founding class photographs on the wall (8 are doing fellowship, some joined 2012, some failed or departed or transferred, some unprofessional at clinical rotations). Of the 123, 11 matched military back in December (btw, the military requires students to also rank civilian residencies as a backup). After the military ones were taken, 71 students (65 + 17 - 11) remained with osteopathic residencies in their rank. 54/71 = 76% of those applying for osteopathic residencies matched. 52.8% refers to the entire student body, how many now have a place to go. 41 students (33.3%) ONLY ranked allopathic residencies and will be joined by the 17 who did not get an osteopathic one Monday in the allopathic match in March.

Part of why MSU-COM beat DCOM in the match is because a smaller percentage of their students applied only allopathic (lots of DO residencies in Michigan). 138/165 = 83.6% in the osteopathic match. They have 61 students left to place in March.

Of those who participated in the osteopathic match:
ATSU-SOMA: (37-4)/(37-4+7) = 33/40 = 82.5%
DMUCOM: 55/80 = 68.8%
GA-PCOM: 31/44 = 70.5%
KCOM: 71/97 = 73.2%
KCUMBCOM: 67/98 = 68.4%
LECOM: 125/164 = 76.2%
LECOM-BRAD: 62/79 = 78.5%
LMU-DCOM: 54/71 = 76.1%
MSUCOM: 138/165 = 83.6%
MWU-AZCOM: 41/59 = 69.5%
MWU-CCOM: 78/96 = 81.3%
NSUCOM: 92/124 = 74.2%
NYCOM: 104/146 = 71.2%
OSUCOM: 45/57 = 78.9%
OUCOM: 55/72 = 76.4%
PCOM: 134/165 = 81.2%
PCSOM: 25/37 = 67.6%
TOUROCOM: 45/59 = 76.3%
TUCOM-CA: 29/55 = 52.7%
TUNCOM: 44/71 = 62.0%
UMDNJSOM: 48/66 = 72.7%
UNECOM: 24/30 = 80.0%
UNTHSCTCOM: 35/49 = 71.4%
VCOM: 50/73 = 68.5%
WESTUCOMP: 61/101 = 60.4%
WVSOM: 90/110 = 81.8%

DCOM is #12 out of 26. But take that with a grain of salt too. One student ranked a single osteopathic residency as his #1 choice, then ranked everything else allopathic, because he didn't want to have his 10th-choice osteopathic residency prevent him from getting #2, 3, 4 etc. allopathic residencies in case his #1 didn't take him. Now, he happened to get his #1 (osteopathic) choice, but there may be others who took a similar route and will have to wait for the allopathic match for their own #2.

 

[fiznat]

Well, I'm not so sure that I would agree...

Well I suppose it depends on where you are coming from. Real estate in NYC is particularly difficult and expensive. You have to admit though, the rooms at the DCOM inn are pretty darn small! I don't know about the market yet in the area, but it seems like I *should* be able to find something else on my own for around the $600 range. Maybe not, though.

You staying overnight before heading home. I just got back home about an hour and a half ago from today's interview.

Yeah I stayed one more night cause I couldn't find an early enough flight that I could be sure I'd make. Sitting at the airport now in Knocksville getting ready to fly back home! Good luck, and please post up here if you get or hear about phone calls!!

That's not quite what happened...

Interesting post, thank you! At my interview yesterday, they explained what had happened by saying that (paraphrase) "DCOM was 2nd highest in the country in students matching their #1 choice." It doesn't seem as though the data you posted addresses that. Maybe I misunderstood? Everything was so overwhelmingly positive at the interview and tour yesterday, my internal "propaganda" alarm was going off a little bit. Not that I have any data or information to contradict everyone's overwhelmingly positive attitude and reviews, but the place as presented did seem almost too good to be true. I loved the school, but I think it never hurts to have a little bit of healthy skepticism when you hear this stuff.

 

[OrangeRoost]

Interesting post, thank you! At my interview yesterday, they explained what had happened by saying that (paraphrase) "DCOM was 2nd highest in the country in students matching their #1 choice." It doesn't seem as though the data you posted addresses that. Maybe I misunderstood? Everything was so overwhelmingly positive at the interview and tour yesterday, my internal "propaganda" alarm was going off a little bit. Not that I have any data or information to contradict everyone's overwhelmingly positive attitude and reviews, but the place as presented did seem almost too good to be true. I loved the school, but I think it never hurts to have a little bit of healthy skepticism when you hear this stuff.

I have a friend there and she said that the printer situation sucks. Only 1 or 2 and the allotted number of copies are used up quickly or they don't work. And to be fair, every school has it's negatives; however, I've noticed that most students love the school and don't have many problems.

 

[PeachyPhd]

Do ya'll know how the military match turned out?

E.g. how many students got spots vs. were granted civilian deferments?

Thanks,

-Peaches

 

[MakesSense]

Do ya'll know how the military match turned out?

E.g. how many students got spots vs. were granted civilian deferments?

Thanks,

-Peaches

They did not go into much detail yesterday except to say that the majority of the students in the military match got what they wanted. I do not remember much more being said.

 

[OrangeRoost]

Do ya'll know how the military match turned out?

E.g. how many students got spots vs. were granted civilian deferments?

Thanks,

-Peaches

According to Styria, 11 got spots. He'd have to tell you how many didn't military match and got civilian deferments.

Of the 123, 11 matched military back in December

 

[Styria]

Interesting post, thank you! At my interview yesterday, they explained what had happened by saying that (paraphrase) "DCOM was 2nd highest in the country in students matching their #1 choice." It doesn't seem as though the data you posted addresses that. Maybe I misunderstood? Everything was so overwhelmingly positive at the interview and tour yesterday, my internal "propaganda" alarm was going off a little bit. Not that I have any data or information to contradict everyone's overwhelmingly positive attitude and reviews, but the place as presented did seem almost too good to be true. I loved the school, but I think it never hurts to have a little bit of healthy skepticism when you hear this stuff.

It's not propaganda so much as they don't understand the internals of the statistics either. Dr. Stowers may have gotten different data, but nothing on that page says anything about #1 choice, and the value he E-mailed everyone about is the same military+osteopathic total. He probably doesn't realize that it includes the military.

Here's what you can conclude from the data:
-DCOM is #2 in percent of students matched to a residency year-to-date. But that's overall, not from Monday. Military pushed us up there.
-Monday's results demonstrated that DCOM is competitive with other osteopathic medical schools in the osteopathic match. #12 is in a rather tight cluster; just one more student getting the osteopathic match would have moved us to #9.
-There is a set of schools that did poorly in the osteopathic match. If 70=DO is your cutoff, AZCOM, DMU-COM, KCUMB, PCSOM, TUCOM CA and NV, VCOM, and Western/COMP couldn't rank well in osteopathic residencies. That doesn't mean students didn't apply for just a few DO (that filled quickly) and leave the rest for MD, but they weren't competitive with other DOs for those spots.
-DCOM really is #2 from the bottom on students participating only in the allopathic match. Are we are more interested in being in the osteopathic sphere? Military students are required to rank military, so you can't tell where their interests lie, but some of them are interested in osteopathic principles and OMT and the military residencies are AOA-approved. So excluding them from the "non-participants" column is valid.

I'd love to see Dr. Teitelbaum (epidemiology, statistics, law, etc.) go through the match data.

 

[fiznat]

Just a few more pics from the interview day off of my cell phone. I didn't think to take any pictures during the tour, so everything I've got is outside...

Looking down at Middlesboro

Another one from the peak.

 

[Total180]

Wow! Those are awesome! Thanks!! I woke up this morning just so incredibly excited to be going to DCOM next year, and to finally be on my way to becoming a doctor! It just seems so surreal.

 

[33Doc]

I interviewed on 2/8... but have yet to receive a phone call. I know the school says that some students don't get a call and should wait out the full 2-3 weeks in case I get something in the mail.

I find this doubtful, as I can't see why the school would feel compelled to call some of the new students but not others.

As a re-applicant and feeling much more confident after this recent interview, I'm pretty disheartened that I didn't get a call.

I was thinking about calling the school tomorrow. Am I overreacting or should I still wait before contacting the school?

 

[nontradguy]

Am I overreacting or should I still wait before contacting the school?

Yes, I think you're overreacting.

 

[fiznat]

Am I overreacting or should I still wait before contacting the school?

When I interviewed earlier this week, they made it pretty clear that applicants shouldn't call unless they haven't heard for at least 3 weeks. They stressed the point in a particular way that emphasized the seriousness of that advice. I'd pay attention to that. They also made a point to say that they don't call everyone.

I would say try to relax and give it a little more time. Unless you've got deposit deadlines looming or something like that, I don't think you should risk tarnishing your name just yet.

 

[33Doc]

Thanks for the advice guys. I just don't want to lose ground by sitting around and waiting (the longer I wait, the less seats there are left in which I can hope to receive one). I feel like the sooner I know, the sooner I can send them another letter of intent to push my cause or something...

Its a tough spot. I'm not like paranoid or super worried, but at the same time... I'd like to do what I can.

But you are right... I'll wait a little bit longer, before I gamble winning them over or "tarnishing" my name, lol.

 

[33Doc]

just out of curiosity... did the school ever provide a valid reason as to why they call some of the students, and not all of the ones they accept? It really makes no sense to me why they would show favoritism/preference like that.

Don't get me wrong... I'll take an acceptance in the mail and no phone call, over no acceptance at all, any day...