Do you guys know if CCOM sends out IIs in big batches once per month, or sporadic IIs throughout the month? I have been complete since November, and still no word. 3.6 sGPA, 3.01 cGPA, 36 MCAT.
Midwestern University Chicago (CCOM) Discussion Thread 2015 - 2016
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Some questions:
1. I know that all of the rotation sites are in Chicago, so are students allowed to set up an elective rotation out-of-state if they want?
2. Does CCOM have an OMM Fellowship?
3. How do current students like the symptom-presentation approach to the curriculum? (I've never seen that style before)
4. How are exams taken? On a computer/written? In classroom/testing center?
5. Are you guys happy at CCOM?
THANK YOU!!!!
1. I know that all of the rotation sites are in Chicago, so are students allowed to set up an elective rotation out-of-state if they want?
2. Does CCOM have an OMM Fellowship?
3. How do current students like the symptom-presentation approach to the curriculum? (I've never seen that style before)
4. How are exams taken? On a computer/written? In classroom/testing center?
5. Are you guys happy at CCOM?
THANK YOU!!!!
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1. Yes
2. Yes
3. It doesn't seem to have a big impact on our curriculum to be honest since we're basically living and breathing basic science for the most part. We have a "case of the week" that we discuss in Patient Symptom Presentation class on Monday mornings. PSP is the "doctoring" class we take in first year, which corresponds to Physical Exam Skills (PES) - a separate but highly interrelated course where we learn the physical exam. The case of the week is usually relevant in OMM too, but not so much in our science courses. However, they do try to line up topics (for example, we're doing head/neck anatomy, learning physical exam of the eyes, ears, nose, throat, and doing cranial and cervical OMM right now) which I think is the main goal. So, in short, the symptom-presentation approach is all right, but nothing ground breaking in my opinion.
4. On a computer in a testing center. The facilities are nice and everything is organized - during orientation/before you take your first exam, you'll get a little simulated quiz to take in the testing center so you can see what it's like.
5. YES!
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@Independencebaby , to add to @ananasmed's response to your question regarding rotations out of state, you can also do rotations out of the country. A 4th year just presented to us that she did one of her electives in Nicaragua.
Can any student comment on whether there are free clinics students can volunteer at? Is the MWU clinic one of them? Can't seem to find the information on the website. Thanks in advance!
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There's one clinic you can work for through all 4 years (Community Health Clinic) but you have to apply and only ~30 people get selected. There is also an OMM clinic in Old Irving Park held by one of the OMM faculty and you can volunteer as a student at the student-run OMM soft tissue clinic. Some students also volunteer at other clinical settings in their time outside of class.
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CCOM is very receptive to update letters. You can email a formal letter as a PDF. It may have been a coincidence, but I received an interview invite a week after I sent one. It can't hurt!
Unfortunately, I haven't seen that work before
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It's looking more and more like this will be the school I am attending come August, and coming from California, casual apartment searching is harder than I would would like. I'm having a hard time finding info on sharing apartments with other medical students and wondering if anyone on here knows of a good place to look, or is interested in the same thing and wants to discuss it further.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Hi there,
I was wait-listed here, but I'd be glad to answer any questions you may have about the area. I have lived in a suburb 10 min. away from Midwestern my entire life, and could give you ideas about where to look. Downers Grove itself is a nice suburb with a small stretch of shops/restaurants near the train tracks. It is about 25 minutes to Chicago. I don't know how close you want to live to the school, but feel free to ask questions. If you were thinking of living in Chicago, I'm not much help.
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I'm interested! I live in a suburb about 20 minutes from Midwestern and am considering the student apartments or something similar. The living situation nearby campus is a bit pricey, from looking at the student housing vs. local apartments it will likely be cheaper to be on campus, esp since you wouldn't need to worry about having a car for your classes. PM me 🙂
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How does paying the first semester's tuition work? I know that a $1,000 deposit is due soon (depending on when I got accepted), but aside from that, when is the remaining $61,000 due? Is it due soon or not for another few months?
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So I applied to this school as a safety school back in August and never heard anything about an interview. I've already gotten into a good MD school but CCOM is quiet. Obviously it doesn't matter at this point but I guess I'm just curious why they're giving me the silent axe?
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I've heard there's no such thing as a safety school when applying to med school. And even if there was I don't think CCOM would be anyone's "safety"
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Seriously...there is nothing to be gained from speculating as to why you didn't get an interview when you aren't considering reapplying. Go read a book. You've been accepted and your free time is officially on a countdown.
Edit: This is my revised post, my first draft was a rant about how pointless it is to ask pre-meds about the thinking of adcoms at a school you would not attend over a current acceptance.
D
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Can anyone comment on whether you can be accepted without a DO LOR?
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I think you can since they only ask for 2 LORs: one from a physician (MD or DO) and one from a science professor/premed committee. I know they strongly recommend a DO LOR but I bet if you have a great relationship with an MD (thus a strong LOR from them) and have significant DO shadowing experience you can discuss, you're good to go.
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Agreed! I had a strong MD letter (with some DO shadowing) and a premed committee letter and was accepted 🙂
Interview at 8 am tomorrow! Complete in mid Nov after an MCAT mixup with AACOMAS. Interview at AZCOM in 10 days. Seen some awesome feedback on here, any last pointers for an interview? Can't wait to get a closer look!
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Just be yourself! Seriously though, I felt it was pretty low stress. As long as you've thought out the 'why DO why Midwestern why medicine' questions and know some key experiences from your life you can use for 'tell me about a time when...' questions, you're golden. I thought it was really fun to meet other interviewees, too.
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That's the question... Why DO
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Does anyone know when we should start thinking about housing? I'm looking to live off campus roughly 10 minutes away in the direction of downtown Chicago. Anyone have suggestions for places to live or for how to find roommates?
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@Independencebaby I'm going to ask students at the second look day in March about housing options. Some stuff I've seen online are 2-3 bedroom apartments in Hinsdale from about $1080-1500/month; Lisle (opposite direction as you mentioned but still an option) apartments with 2-3 bedrooms from about $1120-$1409. Many are pricier than that but there are a few decent finds. I'm also curious about the on-campus apartments because driving on I-88 in rush hour kiiiiinda sucks.
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Do you know when second look is exactly? Where did you find this information?
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March 11 per an email I got recently!
Hellooo everyone! I was wondering if there is anyone attending CCOM who is in search of a roommate? Im going to be a first year student there this August! I'm in the Facebook group already but it doesn't seem to have much action in regards to people posting... other than the occasional person selling books and what not. If anyone is interested DM me!
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I'll be making a trip back to CCOM from California to check out the campus/Downers Grove/city with my S.O. Unfortunately, the weekend that we are coming (March 3-6) there are no campus tours. Would any current students PLEASE be able to give us a campus tour? PM me. THANK YOU!!
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Accepted! I just interviewed on Monday, such a quick turnaround! 
When were you put on hold at AZCOM?
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Anyone else from feb interviews hear today? Or does silence right now = waitlist or rejection?
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Interviewed 2/8--nothing yet. They said we should hear in 3-4 weeks if not sooner, so I'm not assuming a rejection or waitlist decision yet.
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There are no campus tours because we are on Spring Break. Post on your Facebook page and maybe a current student will be on campus and can give you a tour. I will be at school on the 1st, but it does not seem that you are here yet.
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It may take up to the 1st or 2nd week of march. We are having our finals this week and next, so things are busy for everyone.
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They told us (February 15ht interview) that we would hear back by the first week of March. I would guess no news is still good news (or at least not bad news). They also told us the quickest way to find out was to check your portal for any changes!
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I interviewed on 2/9 and got an acceptance email on 2/19. I highly doubt silence = waitlist/rejection though!! They probably just weren't able to review all of the applicants at their last review session. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you🙂
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Anyone know how does the Master program at CCOM work if somehow I get rejected/wait listed?
Do we have an easier time with the application if we have interviewed or would we still need to apply separately? I'm looking into a Post Bach/masters if I don't get in this year, and I don't want to accidentally miss the deadline and what not.
Do we have an easier time with the application if we have interviewed or would we still need to apply separately? I'm looking into a Post Bach/masters if I don't get in this year, and I don't want to accidentally miss the deadline and what not.
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I interviewed here 2/8 and still haven't heard back. I called this week and apparently they didn't have enough time to go over all of the applicants during their February meeting. Anyone else hear the same thing? We were told we should hear by the beginning of March earlier
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Same interview date--haven't heard anything either. From the patterns in this thread it looks like people hear back on Thursdays at the end of the months. Hoping for some news today.
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Anyone know if your SO can also attend second look day?
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Yep!
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Nothing yet. I've been refreshing the portal most of the day.
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In case you were still wondering, I just received an interview invite this morning (3/4) and there are still 5 interview dates open through mid April.
Does anybody know how filled the class of Fall 2016 is? The soonest I can interview is March 25th and if I'm just interviewing for a waitlist spot, it might not be worth it to fly out there. Also what's the general consensus on the high COA? I know CCOM's got great rotations (according to sdn) but is it really worth $62k/yr?
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I REALLY need to talk to a current student. I am having some serious second thoughts about attending CCOM.
I loved the school and the faculty and, MOST OF ALL, the location, right next to Chicagoland.
However, I'm having some serious concerns about the COA. Some first year students mentioned (in the FB group) that they borrowed $90k for their first year!!!! Another thing I am concerned about is the amount of elective units we have in our fourth year. Some schools give as much as 7-8 months throughout OMSIII and OMSIV but it looks like CCOM gives only about 4. I feel like, with the residency merger, these elective times are going to be even more important for matching in non primary care specialties.
Any other new students concerned? Is this everyone's only acceptance or did you choose it over other schools?
I loved the school and the faculty and, MOST OF ALL, the location, right next to Chicagoland.
However, I'm having some serious concerns about the COA. Some first year students mentioned (in the FB group) that they borrowed $90k for their first year!!!! Another thing I am concerned about is the amount of elective units we have in our fourth year. Some schools give as much as 7-8 months throughout OMSIII and OMSIV but it looks like CCOM gives only about 4. I feel like, with the residency merger, these elective times are going to be even more important for matching in non primary care specialties.
Any other new students concerned? Is this everyone's only acceptance or did you choose it over other schools?
