NEOUCOM (northeastern ohio)... anyone LIKE it?

[kateycat]

im on the waitlist at northeastern ohio universities COM (also waitlisted at another place, haven't heard from a third, and have another interview in 2 weeks)

i really didn't like it when i was there for the interview. the one circular building didn't impress me, the students didn't impress me, the interviewers definitely didn't impress me. i'm very into exercise and i was told their workout room "has a treadmill and maybe a couple weight machines... we don't show it to people on the tour because its in the basement and no one really uses it anyway".

the school doesn't even seem to have a positive reputation... and that's from ohioans! it's also kind of in the middle of nowhere, though it's at least close to akron. i don't have any acceptances yet but i'm seriously considering withdrawing my app in case i get pulled off the waitlist.

tell me, am i crazy? i get the feeling that i'll be miserable there, and i also worry about getting a top residency (i'm very interested in orthopedics or some kind of sports med). but i really want to go to medical school (duh). would it be completely insane for me to throw out my chances here?

the only other option i have is to wait it out and see. my fear is that i'll get pulled off the waitlist here and only here, and then be faced with another hard decision: go there, or decline the acceptance and reapply. (yes, i've read the threads about that... which is why i'm thinking about just withdrawing now.)

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[kateycat]

anyone got any ideas or words of wisdom?

 

[kyidmnmaiv]

My personal feeling is, why go anywhere you can't imagine yourself happy? I know we're talking about med admissions and not u-grad, but why waste years of your life in a place you can't stand? If I were you, I'd withdraw and cross my fingers that I get in somewhere else, then formulate a really strong backup plan.

 

[BuckeyeForBass]

Youre only actually in Rootstown for 2 years, which isnt really that long when you look at the big picture. After that, you rotate between Youngstown, Canton, and Akron for your last 2 years ... all of which are dramatically larger than Rootstown. My advice, suck it up and stomach the two years there. Put in alot of effort, do well on the USMLE steps, and then you'll be able to place into residency somewhere you like. As far as reputation goes ... its true that they dont really have much of one, and from what Ive heard, what they do have isnt that great. That being said, if other schools find out that you turned down an allopathic acceptance, and the only reason that you can come up with is "eh ... i didnt like the school", they might start to question your devotion to medicine. Anyway, being in school at a place where there is literally nothing to do might not be so bad... its less distracting for one, which might correlate to more time with your nose in the books... or maybe just more time on SDN

 

[cagey]

Lina Mehta, Assistant Dean of Admissions at Case, graduated from Neoucom. She's a nuclear radiologist. If you do well, you should be able to get your residency.

 

[PeripateticMD]

Hopefully you get in to Wright State and don't have to worry about it. I'd send Wright an update or letter of interest or intent if I were you. Especially if they haven't prioritized their waitlist yet!

 

[maloney]

im on the waitlist at northeastern ohio universities COM (also waitlisted at another place, haven't heard from a third, and have another interview in 2 weeks)

i really didn't like it when i was there for the interview. the one circular building didn't impress me, the students didn't impress me, the interviewers definitely didn't impress me. i'm very into exercise and i was told their workout room "has a treadmill and maybe a couple weight machines... we don't show it to people on the tour because its in the basement and no one really uses it anyway".

the school doesn't even seem to have a positive reputation... and that's from ohioans! it's also kind of in the middle of nowhere, though it's at least close to akron. i don't have any acceptances yet but i'm seriously considering withdrawing my app in case i get pulled off the waitlist.

tell me, am i crazy? i get the feeling that i'll be miserable there, and i also worry about getting a top residency (i'm very interested in orthopedics or some kind of sports med). but i really want to go to medical school (duh). would it be completely insane for me to throw out my chances here?

the only other option i have is to wait it out and see. my fear is that i'll get pulled off the waitlist here and only here, and then be faced with another hard decision: go there, or decline the acceptance and reapply. (yes, i've read the threads about that... which is why i'm thinking about just withdrawing now.)

When did you interview Kateycat?......I am still waiting to find out if I made the alternate list....I interview on Jan 26th....you think it will be much longer?

 

[kateycat]

When did you interview Kateycat?......I am still waiting to find out if I made the alternate list....I interview on Jan 26th....you think it will be much longer?

my interview was end of november, but if i remember, i think it took them 3-4 weeks to send my my waitlist letter. i heard alot of people get waitlisted there though at least at first, bc of all the direct admits... but that theres usually movement on the waitlist. how'd you like the place?

 

[maloney]

my interview was end of november, but if i remember, i think it took them 3-4 weeks to send my my waitlist letter. i heard alot of people get waitlisted there though at least at first, bc of all the direct admits... but that theres usually movement on the waitlist. how'd you like the place?

I wasn't very impressed, the interviewers weren't personable..in fact they were pretty rude, the tour really didnt show me anything because all we really saw was the lunchroom and one lecture hall. Do they have labs there or do they go to another location?..The facilities just seemed small and behind the times. Ive been accepted into some D.O. programs but I would like to see how the rest of my MD apps work out.

 

[maloney]

Kateycat....I found out today that I made the alternate list.......but Im still pretty sure Im going to take my other acceptance

 

[kateycat]

so its been awhile and its still the same debate going on... still a bunch of waitlists, no md acceptances (but i got accepted to georgetown's smp)

anyways, i got a letter from neoucom telling me i was in the high part of the waitlist and asking me to send back a card saying if i wanted to remain on the waitlist or not. i don't particularly want to go there, but it sounds like i have a good shot and getting in...

i still have no idea what i want to do.

ive been studying to retake the mcat and am consistently getting 32-34s on practice tests. so i would have to think that would help me out in reapplying... but should i if i theres a possibility of getting in somewhere this year?

advice please?

 

[lilnoelle]

so its been awhile and its still the same debate going on... still a bunch of waitlists, no md acceptances (but i got accepted to georgetown's smp)

anyways, i got a letter from neoucom telling me i was in the high part of the waitlist and asking me to send back a card saying if i wanted to remain on the waitlist or not. i don't particularly want to go there, but it sounds like i have a good shot and getting in...

i still have no idea what i want to do.

ive been studying to retake the mcat and am consistently getting 32-34s on practice tests. so i would have to think that would help me out in reapplying... but should i if i theres a possibility of getting in somewhere this year?

advice please?

If I were you, I'd do whatever you can to get that acceptance and just suck it up for four years.
Your experience at the school will depend on what you make of it. Be determined to be positive about it and you'll probably like it.

BUT if you really really really can't stand the school and would prefer to apply again (risking that you might not get in next year) over attending that school, then pull off the waitlist before you get an acceptance. Turning down an acceptance to reapply is probably a bad thing.

 

[theraball]

KateyCat -
You really have two options.
1. They accept you. You go.
2. They reject you. You reapply.

You really can't turn down an acceptance. As Buckeye points out, it's only two years of your life, really just 4 semesters. Every accredited school teaches good medicine. You'll learn what you need to pass the USMLE and get into the residency of your choice, and then you'll just move on.

If you are feeling this ambivalent about this school then you should be asking yourself "Why am I doing this? What is my long term goal?" and look in your heart and make sure you really, really want to make this enormous commitment. Good luck!

 

[zeloc]

I really wouldn't recommend NEOUCOM. You'll have to memorize all kinds of useless minutiae during the first two years to do well on their rote-memorization tests that lack any good USMLE-style or even clinical questions. You have to sacrifice a lot to go to medical school anywhere in terms of the number of hours you will put in and all the stress of med school, but its even worse at NEOUCOM because the administration is fighting you the entire way. Legitimate concerns are poo-poohed away with talk of how great an institution the school is and that there are really no problems that need addressing. USMLE Step 1 failure rates are high. We've lost more than 15% of our class to people leaving or having to repeat a year which seems very high to me. Class rank is a big joke because the tests are so inaccurate, and AOA is partially based on class rank making both class rank and AOA meaningless from this school. I would not consider going there unless you get in nowhere else.

 

[halflife94]

I would recommend NEOUCOM. Disclaimer I am about to graduate from there and going into anesthesia. The college 2 or 3 years is fast paced, but the friendships you make and the comraderie you will form guides you through. I went throught the university of Akron. It isn't for everyone because you must start with at least some maturity on day one. The two years at the rootstown campus is really a misnomer. You are only there 3 days a week actually. 1 day is then at your clinical campus learning physical exam and talking to patients. I actually didnt go to class at all my first 2 years at neoucom and was able to do pretty well, but most people attend class. The last 2 years of the BSMD program are in my opinion the best. At 24 years old in 1 short month I will be a doctor heading off to an anesthesia residency. Yes I am young by comparison but I would stack my maturity up against any 8 yr MD candidate in a heart beat. There are alot of BSMD alums out there too who actively seek out NEOUCOM grads for residency as I discovered on the residency interview trail. Please PM me with any questions.

 

[momofpremeds]

Wondered what the waitlist movement will be this year?

 

[CuyahogaMD2B]

I really wouldn't recommend NEOUCOM. You'll have to memorize all kinds of useless minutiae during the first two years to do well on their rote-memorization tests that lack any good USMLE-style or even clinical questions. You have to sacrifice a lot to go to medical school anywhere in terms of the number of hours you will put in and all the stress of med school, but its even worse at NEOUCOM because the administration is fighting you the entire way. Legitimate concerns are poo-poohed away with talk of how great an institution the school is and that there are really no problems that need addressing. USMLE Step 1 failure rates are high. We've lost more than 15% of our class to people leaving or having to repeat a year which seems very high to me. Class rank is a big joke because the tests are so inaccurate, and AOA is partially based on class rank making both class rank and AOA meaningless from this school. I would not consider going there unless you get in nowhere else.

You must have a huge "ax to grind" with your medical school. Sad situation for you. The school must be on the brink of losing accreditation - which I haven't heard about since I am in Ohio- with that high a USMLE Step I failure rate.

 

[momofpremeds]

I hope there is waitlist movement soon!

 

[Wch]

I hope there is waitlist movement soon!

i'm in the "normal" ranking in the waiting list. waiting to see what happens. i already have another acceptance (ponce school of medicine). would like to have all acceptances to make a life changing decision.

 

[momofpremeds]

What's "normal" ranking? I've seen "high", "middle" and "low" as well as "top 1/3", "middle 1/3" and "lower 1/3" but never "normal" - can you explain and did the school tell you this?

 

[Wch]

What's "normal" ranking? I've seen "high", "middle" and "low" as well as "top 1/3", "middle 1/3" and "lower 1/3" but never "normal" - can you explain and did the school tell you this?

i meant middle.

i call it normal b/c being in the middle portion of the list gives you a normal chance of being accepted. either way i'm going to school this fall

 

[zeloc]

You must have a huge "ax to grind" with your medical school. Sad situation for you. The school must be on the brink of losing accreditation - which I haven't heard about since I am in Ohio- with that high a USMLE Step I failure rate.

Sad situation for me? I am going to a top residency program, did very well in the program and received excellent clinical training, better than that of some other medical schools whose residents I have worked with. This does not mean that there are not significant problems, even if it did not personally affect me. The first 2 years of education are suboptimal. There's recently been a major overhaul of how 3rd year grading is done due to problems in that area. The statistics I cited were not USMLE failure rates, please read that section in my post again, although we probably had close to a 10% failure rate in our class and our average was significantly below the national mean. I do not think accreditation is a concern. Clinical training is good. I have talked to many of my colleagues and we agree that many recent decisions by the administration have been questionable. Students now have to purchase syllabi for each class instead of receiving them. Grading was done differently for pharmacy and medical students for the same tests to help out those who were failing, but after many complaints the grading was standardized. When I first heard about the program as a senior in high school, a representative raved about every feature but did not tell us at that point that the USMLE failure rate was around 20%! After that, they hired a specialist and made significant changes. It is better now, but still the administration tends to wait to deal with problems instead of being proactive. Everything the other poster said about camaraderie is true. I wouldn't say don't go here, it could be a good financial deal and you can finish sooner, but I would look at other medical schools closely.

 

[EKG1]

Sad situation for me? I am going to a top residency program, did very well in the program and received excellent clinical training, better than that of some other medical schools whose residents I have worked with. This does not mean that there are not significant problems, even if it did not personally affect me. The first 2 years of education are suboptimal. There's recently been a major overhaul of how 3rd year grading is done due to problems in that area. The statistics I cited were not USMLE failure rates, please read that section in my post again, although we probably had close to a 10% failure rate in our class and our average was significantly below the national mean. I do not think accreditation is a concern. Clinical training is good. I have talked to many of my colleagues and we agree that many recent decisions by the administration have been questionable. Students now have to purchase syllabi for each class instead of receiving them. Grading was done differently for pharmacy and medical students for the same tests to help out those who were failing, but after many complaints the grading was standardized. When I first heard about the program as a senior in high school, a representative raved about every feature but did not tell us at that point that the USMLE failure rate was around 20%! After that, they hired a specialist and made significant changes. It is better now, but still the administration tends to wait to deal with problems instead of being proactive. Everything the other poster said about camaraderie is true. I wouldn't say don't go here, it could be a good financial deal and you can finish sooner, but I would look at other medical schools closely.

Thank you for your candor.

We could all benefit from your experience. Could you write a list of pros and cons about NEOUCOM (Quality of teaching, tests <how often, fairness, volume>, and also the recent decisions by the administration that have been questionable, etc.)

Contratz on your residency placement!