Need Help AZCOM vs Western COMP!

[ryan2100]

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So I have been accepted to several DO schools but I am down to decide between two of them. CCOM would be fun but its to far from home, so I am torn between AZCOM and Western COMP. I enjoyed both schools during my interview but are still having trouble deciding. I am hoping you guys can chime in to help me decide between the two. What's important to me is the quality of education, good clinical rotations, good residency placements, and finally the area the schools in. Any help would be appreciated. thanks

 

[ND10]

I can only speak direction about AZCOM. From my visit, their basic science education is top-notch and the students match in great specialties at great programs. I have heard that a majority of their rotations are preceptor-based, which can be good or bad.

My friend's cousin attended CCOM and loved it. She had nothing but good things to say about the school. She's doing a residency in urology.

I don't know much about Western, but the consensus is that it's a great school.

I don't think you can go wrong with your decision. You got great choices! If you don't mind traveling, I'd lean towards CCOM, just based on being one of the most established DO schools. That's just me though. Good luck!

 

[jinobi]

Both have top notch basic science education. I was drawn to Western because their core rotation sites are more closely located to the school, rather than AZCOM's four possible rotation regions. Being at Western also means you're close by to UCLA/USC/Loma Linda for any research or away sub-internships.

Residency placements also depend by the program you're seeking; based on what I've heard, ACGME residencies like to see more ward-based clinical rotations, as that's akin to how MD schools primarily send their 3rd and 4th years to. I got the feeling that AZCOM emphasized preceptor-based rotations more, while Western has some decent ward-based rotations at Arrowhead Regional and Riverside County.

Area? Glendale >>> Pomona. AZCOM has on-campus student housing, while WesternU students tend to live anywhere else but Pomona. There are two apartment complexes that are right next to the WesternU campus (Helix and Metropolitan), but they're kinda expensive.

 

[Siggy]

Area? Glendale >>> Pomona. AZCOM has on-campus student housing, while WesternU students tend to live anywhere else but Pomona. There are two apartment complexes that are right next to the WesternU campus (Helix and Metropolitan), but they're kinda expensive.

That's a smidge misleading since Southern California is largely characterized by lots of small cities built right next to each other. Sure, I don't live in Pomona, but it's a 10 minute drive for me to get to school. So, yes, most people live in Claremont, Montclare, or Chino Hills (among other places), but it's not comparable to, say, driving from a suburb of Boston into downtown Boston.

 

[ryan2100]

AZCOM it is!, unless my next interview goes well!

 

[MLT2MT2DO]

AZCOM it is!, unless my next interview goes well!

I hope you didn't make that decision just off of these posts.

 

[ryan2100]

no, based it off a lot more then these posts. Talking to past and current students of both, as well as factoring the lifestyle I would have at each, and quality of education. J

 

[christine121]

I was stuck between the same two schools and I'm going w/ AZCOM too 🙂

 

[Minodi]

I'm probably going to be in the same boat, and will likely go with AZCOM for a few personal reasons, but also I am a bit worried about being in a transition phase for WesternU switching to problem based learning. Once they are settled with it I'm sure it will be great, but I don't want to be part of a test group. Same goes for AZCOM's bigger class size, but I think that's less of an impact.