MCO v EVMS

[lmnop]

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I'm trying to decide whether to go to my EVMS interview and was wondering if anyone can compare these two. I'm from CA so I'm out of state either way. Thanks!

 

[liverotcod]

I can't compare since I haven't been to MCO, but I was really impressed with EVMS. They include a demonstration of their simulated patient program as part of interview day. I saw the general hospital, which was nice, but I hear that the children's hospital is even better. The campus is compact and doesn't feel very urban considering the size of Norfolk. No undergrads nearby, closest are at Old Dominion a couple miles away. Nice library, labs, student lounge, etc.

Their focus is definitely primary care, but they have pretty good speciality placement, too. My tour guide, an MS1, was ~38, and there were other non-trads among the students I met and among my fellow interviewees. I asked a specific question in interview about support and resources for students with children, and my interviewer called me back a week later with followup information on that. Pretty student-oriented place, based on this anecdote.

All in all, neat school, worth considering especially if you are interested in primary care.

 

[acidhouse303]

do you mean MCO as in medical college of ohio? i thought the school was pretty nice, it was really clean and new looking, the facilities were great. it is in the crappy town of toledo though and you'd have to drive to school. the faculty members i met were really cool and interested in the well being of their students. one of my interviewers was the assistant dean and a cardiothoracic surgeon and he was really awesome ! i havent been to EVMS or even know where that is? (virginia i am guessing?) so im not sure how the town compares to toledo. the cool thing about MCO is that they have a USMLE testing facility right on campus, which is one of trhe nine places in the country that has one, i believe (maybe there ar emore than 9 i dont knwo!) anyway, that way you can practice takin the testo n teh computers there and whern teh real day comes you have first choice. they also offer free USMLE tutoring sessions and had a 97% pass rate w the current class.

 

[EvoDevo]

I can't compare since I haven't been to MCO, but I was really impressed with EVMS. They include a demonstration of their simulated patient program as part of interview day. I saw the general hospital, which was nice, but I hear that the children's hospital is even better. The campus is compact and doesn't feel very urban considering the size of Norfolk. No undergrads nearby, closest are at Old Dominion a couple miles away. Nice library, labs, student lounge, etc.

Their focus is definitely primary care, but they have pretty good speciality placement, too. My tour guide, an MS1, was ~38, and there were other non-trads among the students I met and among my fellow interviewees. I asked a specific question in interview about support and resources for students with children, and my interviewer called me back a week later with followup information on that. Pretty student-oriented place, based on this anecdote.

All in all, neat school, worth considering especially if you are interested in primary care.

what he said. 👍


BTW, nice to see you 'round these parts, Liver.

 

[size_tens]

One factor to consider is price. After the first year at MCO it's possible to become an OH resident and pay in-state tuition. From what I hear gaining VA resident status is much more difficult.

 

[lmnop]

any other thoughts?

 

[sfbear]

Have you already been accepted to MCO and would you be happy there? If you haven't been acceptanced already, then I would definitely go to the interview so that you give yourself a better chance of getting in somewhere. Otherwise, if you feel secure in the fact that you'd be happy at MCO then I wouldn't worry about it. It would be cheaper . . .

 

[Attentive]

any other thoughts?

hey lmnop,

I'm in roughly the same situation as you are, got into MCO already, and was debating whether or not I wanted to attend my EVMS interview. I was initially set against it, but based on discussion with friends who had already interviewed there, I decided to give it a shot.

According to these friends, EVMS does have an excellent mock patient program, great student groups, city's bigger/nicer than Toledo and the research resources are growing rapidly.

The main drawbacks or advantages depending on how you look at is that they don't have a teaching hospital but rather rely on surrounding partner hospitals for 3rd and 4th year.

Good luck with the process.

 

[Hallm_7]

Have you been accepted into MCO already? You'll have a good chance of getting in at MCO because they take 25% out-of-state, but I would still go to both of them. You never know what you'll like better.

I don't know anything about EVMS, but I'm going to MCO and know quite a bit about it, so I'll comment on it. MCO will give you in-state tuition after the first year, so that'll save tons of money in the long run. MCO has its own hospital on campus, a 300-400 bed tertiary care center that does all the transplants in the region and splits the trauma with another hospital that MCO is affiliated with. Also on campus is a adolescent psychiatric hospital and a rehabilitation hospital. MCO is also affiliated with MCO/Mercy Children's Hospital and St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center with are on the same campus located close to downtown, and they have just reinstated a smaller affiliation with Toledo Hospital and Toledo Children's Hospital. St. V's and Toledo Hospital are both private hospital with something like 700 or 800 beds each. You will spend significant time in MCO Hospital and St. V's with some time at other hospitals in the city. All the facilities are very new, the faculty are all very helpful and the faculty that teach focus on the students, and it is located on a large campus with plenty of open space to enjoy (not located downtown like so many schools).

Toledo isn't quite as bad as everyone makes it out to be. Definitely not a Chicago or Miami or New York, but it's got its positives. I searched on the internet and found that it is larger than Norfolk, but I don't think the difference would make that big of a deal. Cost of living in Toledo is really cheap, and you can find a nice 1BR apartment for $400-500/month in a good area. You might want to check out their matchlists online. MCO goes about 45% Primary care (IM, FM, OB/Gyn, Peds) and 55% specialize.

If you have any specific question PM me and I'll try to help out.