Need help deciding between RVU-Utah, Campbell, Alabama, and ATSU-SOMA. Please vote. Any insight would also be greatly appreciated 🙂
Need help picking a school!
- Thread starter doc1994
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How was your interview experience at those schools? Is there any you’re leading towards right now?
I enjoyed all of them to be honest. I'm from California so being closer to home is preferable, however, I don't mind going far away if that means getting an excellent education. I think academically all of these schools are pretty comparable to one another, which is why its difficult to choose.
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Unfortunately I don't have any specific opinions to pass long about these schools, however, the only thing I'll say is that if their stats are comparable, I would look into the school that you felt the most comfortable with moving forward. At the end of the day, you have to enjoy where you are attending medical school especially when the stressful times kick in later on. Hopefully some students who attend those schools can shed some light on your specific question though! Good luck!
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The only thing I would suggest is making a list. Rank it.
1. Curriculum - do you think you would prefer one over the other?
2. Environment - comfort level at school. Around campus.
3. How important is distance?
4. How important is cost?
5. Residency options
6. Housing situation
7. Research important?
8. Activities?
9. Etc.
Add it up and see how you feel. If you feel uneasy after that, go with your gut, ha. Count down from 3, blurt out the first one that comes to mind. Let it be an instinctual reaction.
1. Curriculum - do you think you would prefer one over the other?
2. Environment - comfort level at school. Around campus.
3. How important is distance?
4. How important is cost?
5. Residency options
6. Housing situation
7. Research important?
8. Activities?
9. Etc.
Add it up and see how you feel. If you feel uneasy after that, go with your gut, ha. Count down from 3, blurt out the first one that comes to mind. Let it be an instinctual reaction.
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I can only speak for RVU just based on my interview experience but I honestly loved the school. More importantly, the administration is very responsive to the student's needs. Plus the fact the fact that you're only a short flight away from Cali is a nice perk especially if you want to go home for a weekend. I would get in touch with students from each of those schools to get their input.
What are your thoughts on half of the lectures at RVU being broadcast out of Colorado?
A
AnatomyGrey12
Campbell has residencies, therefore Campbell wins.
What exactly do you mean?
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Campbell, unlike many DO schools, has actually helped to establish residencies (Residencies | Medicine | Campbell University). Therefore their students should have an advantage during the Match at those residencies. This is a significant advantage especially with all the unknowns from the merger.
Ah, I see. Thanks for the info.
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I just interviewed at CUSOM and I was surprised at how well they do on the boards and the amount of research that seems to be available. Pending if I get an acceptance from CUSOM I will be trying to decide on ATSU KIrksvillev and CUSOM.
I have an acceptance from ACOM as well but feel like CUSOM has the advantage over ACOM.
I have an acceptance from ACOM as well but feel like CUSOM has the advantage over ACOM.
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You need to make a pro/con list for you and what you are looking for in your medical education.
Consider:
Cost of attendance
Mandatory Lecture Attendance
Quality of clinical rotations- hard to determine for many schools
Access to research opportunities
Board Scores - although board scores are very individual and do not always reflect the school, it can still be used as a metric. Including finding out how a schools curriculum helps to prepare students or how much time is provided for “dedicated” board study.
Match lists - similar to board scores this does not always speak directly to the schools themselves but should still be used to evaluate a school. Especially looking at where students matched and where you plan/hope to end up for residency both in terms of region and program quality.
Location - you won’t have much time but some people prefer certain areas of the country over others and you still need to try to enjoy your life and good food from time to time.
Cross check that with opinions here and hopefully with students at the school/schools that you are really considering attending. Read the student handbooks. Read everything you can. Treat it like you would buying a house since the cost of your medical education will be as much or more than buying a house in some states (with worse interest rates).
Consider:
Cost of attendance
Mandatory Lecture Attendance
Quality of clinical rotations- hard to determine for many schools
Access to research opportunities
Board Scores - although board scores are very individual and do not always reflect the school, it can still be used as a metric. Including finding out how a schools curriculum helps to prepare students or how much time is provided for “dedicated” board study.
Match lists - similar to board scores this does not always speak directly to the schools themselves but should still be used to evaluate a school. Especially looking at where students matched and where you plan/hope to end up for residency both in terms of region and program quality.
Location - you won’t have much time but some people prefer certain areas of the country over others and you still need to try to enjoy your life and good food from time to time.
Cross check that with opinions here and hopefully with students at the school/schools that you are really considering attending. Read the student handbooks. Read everything you can. Treat it like you would buying a house since the cost of your medical education will be as much or more than buying a house in some states (with worse interest rates).
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This is very helpful. Thank you.
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I am a 4th year at Campbell and loved my experience. We do have residency positions available which are great options but I also have many interview invites from bigger university programs. If you have any specific questions feel free to message me.
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Most students have commented that it doesn't really make a difference in their learning but I do recognize that it's completely dependent on the individual. I personally will probably just watch the lectures online and not even go to class so I don't envision it being an issue. You've got some solid options and I don't think you can go wrong with either. It honestly just depends on where you felt most at home so to speak. Unfortunately, the third and fourth year rotations are a bit of a mystery right now at RVU. No one has gone through them to comment on their quality so just keep that in mind when making your decision that you may be operating under a guide of limited information.
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I guess 3rd and 4th year rotations is one of the bigger things to consider.
Do you want to go to a school that has more established rotations? Or are you up for taking a chance that you will have solid rotations at RVU?
I know some schools ship you off around the state to different sites, which can be stressful.
Do you want to go to a school that has more established rotations? Or are you up for taking a chance that you will have solid rotations at RVU?
I know some schools ship you off around the state to different sites, which can be stressful.
I think I would probably do the same and just watch lectures online, but it's nice to have the option to go to class as well. Yeah, I agree, the main con of RVU is that the quality of their rotations is somewhat unknown. I really did feel at home there though and loved the area. Since their deposit policy is so reasonable I think I'm just gonna go ahead and put my deposit down and see how the rest of the cycle plays out. Thanks for the feedback!
Although the rotations at RVU are unknown, I think the Dean did a pretty good job of allaying any uncertainty during interview day. Obviously it's still a risk, but everything else at the school was so great that I think it may be worth it.
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Well, it sounds like you are leaning towards RVU from your posts and that's great. If you liked/loved it there, that's what matters. It difficult if you have several to choose from, makes the decision a little bit more difficult. Cheers.
Hi there I’m also trying to decide between ACOM and CUSOM, but I don’t have a lot of info about year 3 and 4th. Would you mind providing some insight about the clinical sites. Are those hospitals or small clinics? Are they mostly done at one place or do you have to be constantly moving from site to site?
Thank you any info would be appreciated🙂
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Hi there, I’m trying to decide between ACOM and CUSOM, could you please let me know what makes you choose CUSOM over ACOM?
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To speak to RVU rotations, there is a list that they gave us at Interview Day of the locations and regions where they have them set up. Once you get a location (excluding the Rural Track rotations) you won't be moving around much at all. All rotations in UT with a good number of them in and around SLC & Provo as well as Ogden. There is also talk (possibly confirmed) that RVU partnered with Intermountain Healthcare, the name in UT healthcare, to have access to their facilities for rotations.
A question to consider is where do you want to get a residency? Having a school near that location allows for audition rotations which can help give you an edge in getting a residency at a certain program in a certain state.
A question to consider is where do you want to get a residency? Having a school near that location allows for audition rotations which can help give you an edge in getting a residency at a certain program in a certain state.
