NYCOM, NOVA, PCOM or UMDNJ--advantages of each?

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There is an entire thread dedicated to the pros and cons of each school. Dig that bad boy up.
 
all good schools in my opinion... can't go wrong with any of them

NOVA tries to be more family medicine oriented though. They have a mandatory rural rotation or something like that.
 
Pros: Good schools.

Cons: Hard to get into.



Go to Osteo boards and read 'pros/cons of your DO school.' I'm sure there are reviews for all these schools.
 
PCOM makes you do a rural rotation as well. However, you'll get the most elective time at PCOM which is a major plus. You're also in the "mecca" of medical education. However, if you don't like city life you might not like it there. But, it is removed from the city enough that you don't have to see the city everyday, just experience the traffic on the Schuylkill expressway.
 
I have looked at the other blogs, but unfortunately a lot of them are dedicated to interview status and who's heard from who. After hearing back from most of these schools, having been accepted, have interviews set up and all, I would like to know if it is worth it to go on the interviews or if I should wait to put down a deposit.

I am from a big city, and I am looking for a place with a big urban setting. But I guess I would like to hear more about the likes of the schools by the students or what they wish they knew before they got there. I stumbled into a blog talking about residencies being better at certain schools or I'd also like to know how hard it is to get out of state residencies after graduating.

Thank you everybody for your help!
 
I can only speak for NYCOM when i say this .. but if you like the big city atmosphere but want to be removed from it .. NYCOM is located in suburbia and Manhattan is very easily accessible (about a half hour - forty minute train ride). I also (personally, for what I am looking for) was very impressed with NYCOM's match list. I like PCOM's location in an urban atmosphere as well. I'm not sure about the other schools. Regardless, all are very impressive in their own right - depends what you are looking for.
 
You haven't looked at the right things. Not talking each individual school's thread. In the osteo (NOT pre-osteo) there is an entire thread dedicated to people writing the pros and cons of each school.
 
If you're looking for the "big city" atmosphere, UMDNJ is literally only 10 minutes from Philadelphia. It's not in Philadelphia as PCOM is, but still...
 
Question: Does NOVA accept mostly in-states (like NYCOM does) ???
 
I love PCOM. I chose it over UMDNJ and didn't get accepted to NOVA. Didn't apply to NYCOM. All of the schools you're trying to decide between seem like they will give you very good education and I haven't heard too many negatives (I know a couple of people at UMDNJ and 1 person at NOVA). It's basically a personal decision and location played a pretty big factor for me. I'm very happy with my choice and can't think of too many cons. If you have specific questions feel free to PM me.
 
I would argue UMDNJ-SOM is the most prestigious. I say this because it has the highest academic credentials to gain acceptance and is associated with state run allopathic medical schools. Obviously PCOM has been around a long time, but in terms of prestige I would rank.

1)UMDNJ
2)PCOM
3)NYCOM
4)NOVA

But in terms of lifestyle and fun haha...1) NOVA 2) the rest.
 
i was accepted to umdnj and nova, interview at pcom on monday :xf:, and withdrew from my interview at nycom.....i am going to have to make a decision btw umdnj and nova before i hear back from pcom, and i'm pretty bummed about it, so here are some points to take about some of the schools:

1)all put you in VERY close proximity to a major city, so that's not an issue with any of them
2)cost of living seems to be cheaper at UMDNJ than any of the others and tuition is definitely cheaper bc even if oos you get in-state tuition after a year
3)it is my understanding that all of these schools have very good reputations and established rotation sites
4)does class size matter for you? umdnj is significantly smaller than the other 3, which have classes of 250+ (i am fairly certain)
5)nova, nycom, and pcom all have a bigger-campus feel to them than umdnj

....these schools have a lot of similarities which seem to make this decision pretty damn hard (for me it definitely is)
....i am finding it really hard to say no to nova because it was BEAUTIFUL there, but i'm unsure if i'm better off in a northeast school if i want to practice in the northeast....who knows

just some things to think about....i feel your pain 🙂
 
call me x said:
totally missed that one...oops
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It happens. The whole thread bumping is a catch 22. If you start a thread in the same vein of a similar, albeit, older thread, you catch flack for not using the search function. However, bump too old of a thread and you fall prey to members viciously arguing with ghosts, typing out thoughtful responses to people who have already solved the issue discussed in the thread, etc. I've done both ... hahaha. No harm no foul.
 
Question: Does NOVA accept mostly in-states (like NYCOM does) ???
 
Athens said:
Question: Does NOVA accept mostly in-states (like NYCOM does) ???
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No. NOVA receives a small stipend of federal money so they supposedly have a slight preference for instate applicants, but it's quite hard to notice on any given interview day. Class from all over the place, and don't hesitate to apply because of instate discrimination, at all.
 
JaggerPlate said:
No. NOVA receives a small stipend of federal money so they supposedly have a slight preference for instate applicants, but it's quite hard to notice on any given interview day. Class from all over the place, and don't hesitate to apply because of instate discrimination, at all.
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Don't think there's discrimination, but the tuition does rise from 29 grand in-state to about 36 grand if you're out-of-state.
 
Eudjinn said:
all good schools in my opinion... can't go wrong with any of them

NOVA tries to be more family medicine oriented though. They have a mandatory rural rotation or something like that.
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Since we're bumping this thread, I might as well add that instead of rural, you could also do underserved which many major urban institutes qualify as.
 
Last edited:
scpod said:
Don't think there's discrimination, but the tuition does rise from 29 grand in-state to about 36 grand if you're out-of-state.
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Weird. I thought it was only a couple grand (29 vs 33 or something).
 
so i am waiting until after my interview at pcom on monday to re-hijack this thread, but i am totally going to voice my opinions on/ask for advice on nova, umdnj, and pcom.....just wanted to throw that out there now hah....see ya on monday 😉
 
I'm very happy at Nova so far, I'll be even happier in a week once finals are over! I don't personally know anyone at the other schools listed so I can't comment on them. I'm sure you will get a good education at each, it just depends on what you are looking for in a school.
 
redrumi said:
I'm very happy at Nova so far, I'll be even happier in a week once finals are over! I don't personally know anyone at the other schools listed so I can't comment on them. I'm sure you will get a good education at each, it just depends on what you are looking for in a school.
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Thanks for sharing that....I LOVED Nova, my main concerns are that it costs a lot more than UMDNJ, there doesn't seem to be too much research going on (although I know I can find it if I want to), and that it is further away from my family (which isn't really a big deal except if my bf gets into dental school in nj and i'm in fl that would be pretty lame)....oo and there is the fact that i might get in trouble wearing jets gear and being rowdy/obnoxious near the dolphins training facilities......

....good luck on your finals!
 
Are there any differences in terms of academic curriculum? Please tell me about the following:
1) let's say you are taking a biochem class in the fall. how many different professors lecture you? How many of them hand out a detailed syllabus before the lecture (i.e. a 10page summary of whatever they'll talk about)?
2) how many classes are you taking at once? I.e. i know that some schools operate in modules. So you take only biochem or only renal physiology for 1month. you have an exam covering the entire course at the end of the month and then start another course. while some schools just have you attend 3 different classes and give you 3 different exams in december.
 
Bacchus said:
So, as I'm sure a lot of people know, I'm pro-PCOM. But, quite frankly, UMDNJ is a great school and so much less expensive that I can't even endorse PCOM 100% in your case. Tuition is 12K lower and the COL is probably lower too. In your case $$$ talks.
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i have a feeling i will end up having more questions for you after my interview/in the case i actually get accepted, but did you by any chance apply to umdnj as well/have to chose btw the 2 when you were applying....since pcom is basically the mecca of d.o. schools, do you think being at pcom would put me at an advantage when applying to residencies over umdnj (i'm not going for anything super-crazy, peds/im and i know you don't really know about applying to residencies bc you're still in school but just wondering about what you've heard while at school)

thanks,
x
 
AMEHigh said:
I love PCOM. I chose it over UMDNJ and didn't get accepted to NOVA. Didn't apply to NYCOM. All of the schools you're trying to decide between seem like they will give you very good education and I haven't heard too many negatives (I know a couple of people at UMDNJ and 1 person at NOVA). It's basically a personal decision and location played a pretty big factor for me. I'm very happy with my choice and can't think of too many cons. If you have specific questions feel free to PM me.
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i know you mentioned location (i am kinda weary of staying in jersey, not gonna lie) but would you be willing to expand on why you chose pcom over umdnj?

thanks so much!

-x
 
Eudjinn said:
all good schools in my opinion... can't go wrong with any of them

NOVA tries to be more family medicine oriented though. They have a mandatory rural rotation or something like that.
Click to expand...

NSU-COM is not more family oriented. The rural selective has one condition that it be rural, you could do rural gen surg, derm, IM, ophtho. This also includes international rotations. If you look at the match list, relatively few go into FP, 50% and declining go primary care. FP might be 20% of the total.
 
Bacchus, are you involved with the PCOM interview days at all? I was wondering if I might be seeing you at my interview on Monday?
 
Bacchus said:
Nope and this is our test week. We have no classes except for OMM practicals and a case conference so you probably won't be seeing many first years around.
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ah bummer....good luck on exams!
 
call me x said:
i know you mentioned location (i am kinda weary of staying in jersey, not gonna lie) but would you be willing to expand on why you chose pcom over umdnj?

thanks so much!

-x
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I'm not sure if I have a profound reason to why PCOM was my #1 choice. Location played a big part like I mentioned before. During the open house I went to I really liked what the staff and students had to say. Although it sounds corny, I like the 'Doc from day one' motto. I think they really do try and give you hands on experience and clinical info from the beginning even though we're still mostly in the classrooms.

I had heard from different people that PCOM students/graduates did really well on rotations and in residency. That they did just as well, if not better than the other students/graduates of all the Philly med schools.

Now that I'm here, I think I made the right choice. The professors are really supportive and so is the entire class.
 
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