LMU-DCOM vs. VCOM

[m1021]

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Hello! So I found a med school thread for LMU-DCOM vs. VCOM but not for the post baccs. I'm looking for a little advice as to which to pick. Here are my thoughts, but feel free to add your own or give me any more insight.

LMU-DCOM: very rural area with pretty much nothing around, newer (somewhat less established) school, offers program as a Master's degree, guaranteed interview and pretty much acceptance with min MCAT I have and 3.0 in program, high matriculation rate into med school

VCOM: much more college-like town that fits me better, no degree offered, guaranteed interview with min MCAT I have and a 3.5 in program, much lower matriculation rate into medical school

My biggest problem is that I love the area around VCOM better, but it has a much lower acceptance rate into med school, versus LMU, where I don't see myself as happy in the area, but as long as I do well, I am almost guaranteed admission. Should I be happy where I live or do whatever I can to be a doctor and get a degree out of it?

 

[JimmyT]

Do you want to be a doctor or have more recreational activities in your life? If you want the former, pick the school that gives u the best chance. If you want more activities, as a 2nd year med student, I can only tell you med students for the most part have no lives, so location doesn't matter that much.

 

[1017345]

I had the same decision to make this year and I chose LMU. It was for a variety of reasons. For one I like the idea of some of the classes I'm taking this fall and spring being actual med school classes that will be transferred in if I continue at DCOM. I was also torn about the location not so much because of myself but more so because of my fiancé, she is half way through her MBA and I didn't want to stunt her career by not having the opportunity for her to get a job in her field but she agreed that DCOM would be a better fit for me and I think she may end up working in knoxville so it looks like it will work out for the both of us. And like you said LMU has a much higher rate of students that matriculated into their school the following year and in my option this is by far the most important factor. Add all that up with the facts that it will be a masters program, the faculty, students and facilities are top notch and I couldn't choose vcom over lmu but I think they are both solid programs and it is totally your call.

 

[Vinny]

The increase in class size for this program, will probably increase the MCAT requirement. Since there were fewer kids before the MCAT threshold was 22, now maybe they'll increase it. This program is great, but honestly I feel that it might not be as "guaranteed" as before. Before, the program use to be 25-40 people but now they're making it an accredited masters program and increasing the class size to 60 people. I feel that if all 60 kids hit the 3.0 and get As in the med classes, the "guaranteed admission" everyone is talking about, will probably not happen anymore. It'll just be an interview.

 

[1017345]

The increase in class size for this program, will probably increase the MCAT requirement. Since there were fewer kids before the MCAT threshold was 22, now maybe they'll increase it. This program is great, but honestly I feel that it might not be as "guaranteed" as before. Before, the program use to be 25-40 people but now they're making it an accredited masters program and increasing the class size to 60 people. I feel that if all 60 kids hit the 3.0 and get As in the med classes, the "guaranteed admission" everyone is talking about, will probably not happen anymore. It'll just be an interview.

Are you getting any of this info from the school or is this just something you are assuming, just wondering?

 

[schwasted589]

Hello! So I found a med school thread for LMU-DCOM vs. VCOM but not for the post baccs. I'm looking for a little advice as to which to pick. Here are my thoughts, but feel free to add your own or give me any more insight.

LMU-DCOM: very rural area with pretty much nothing around, newer (somewhat less established) school, offers program as a Master's degree, guaranteed interview and pretty much acceptance with min MCAT I have and 3.0 in program, high matriculation rate into med school

VCOM: much more college-like town that fits me better, no degree offered, guaranteed interview with min MCAT I have and a 3.5 in program, much lower matriculation rate into medical school

My biggest problem is that I love the area around VCOM better, but it has a much lower acceptance rate into med school, versus LMU, where I don't see myself as happy in the area, but as long as I do well, I am almost guaranteed admission. Should I be happy where I live or do whatever I can to be a doctor and get a degree out of it?

I'm from a VERY large city and went to college in a major city, as well, in a part of the country that's very different from Harrogate, but I had little trouble adjusting. First semester you're studying almost all the time because of MGA and your other classes so you really really don't have time for very much leisurely activities. If you have any questions about it you can PM me. 🙂 I would, if I was in your position, go to the school with the better linkage rate.

 

[Gilligan26]

Hello! So I found a med school thread for LMU-DCOM vs. VCOM but not for the post baccs. I'm looking for a little advice as to which to pick. Here are my thoughts, but feel free to add your own or give me any more insight.

LMU-DCOM: very rural area with pretty much nothing around, newer (somewhat less established) school, offers program as a Master's degree, guaranteed interview and pretty much acceptance with min MCAT I have and 3.0 in program, high matriculation rate into med school

VCOM: much more college-like town that fits me better, no degree offered, guaranteed interview with min MCAT I have and a 3.5 in program, much lower matriculation rate into medical school

My biggest problem is that I love the area around VCOM better, but it has a much lower acceptance rate into med school, versus LMU, where I don't see myself as happy in the area, but as long as I do well, I am almost guaranteed admission. Should I be happy where I live or do whatever I can to be a doctor and get a degree out of it?

Though I'm originally from a town the same size as Harrogate, I've lived most of my life in large cities. Best bet is to go where you have a better shot of getting in. Don't let the location bother you. I was reluctant about coming here at first but the best advice I heard was "The inside of a study room will look the same anywhere in the country." Plus, when you do want to take a weekend off, you're only an hour from Knoxville and two hours from Lexington.

 

[m1021]

Thanks for everyone's replies! It's not like I wanna go out partying or anything. I would just like to go to Target if I need something kind of thing. I am aware of the linkage issues with a bigger class at LMU, and it also hasn't been stated that its officially a Master's yet. I'll def have to think about things.