One in hand three in the bush...please help!

[FBurnaby]

---

Members don't see this ad.

I'm headed for a deposit deadline dance and I need help on how to proceed. How I rank the following schools, all of which I would gladly attend:
1. MSUCOM
2. NSUCOM
3. KCUCOM
4. LMUDCOM

I was waitlisted at MSUCOM, with it being "top tier" wait list rank, MSU also has a 12/4 deadline which might mean WL movement? I have an acceptance from LMUDCOM, deposit due 12/14. I'm awaiting to hear back from KCUCOM by 11/15 but honestly the interview went so-so. I have an interview invite from NSUCOM on 11/12, unclear if I would get a decision from them by 12/14, even if I did it would be dangerously close to the deposit deadline.

To make things more complicated, KCUCOM I would have to take biochem this spring and MSUCOM biochem plus genetics. Right now I'm thinking put a deposit down for LMU/KCU, take the spring classes and hope for MSU. If I do this and end up at LMU/KCU, I think I regret the missed opportunity of Nova (great clinical rotations, lots of pediatrics residencies in Florida), and having to pay/study for courses while working that I ended up not needing. On the other hand I don't want to spend $600 going to Florida just to get rejected or have to put down the LMU deposit anyway because I didn't hear back in time. Any help would be appreciated!

 

[petyr_baelish]

You may have to just pay the deposit for LMU to ensure an acceptance and then back out. It's expensive but ultimately worth it to go to a better school.

On a semi-related financial tangent:
I never had to do this, but I have zero money to be throwing at different schools. So I anticipated working extra shifts and putting deposits on 0% credit cards. Schools don't always take credit cards but there are ways to fund bank accounts with credit cards for free and then wire the money that way. Worst case scenario being you have to pay for a cash advance.

 

[deleted610572]

I'd attend nova interview unless you get into kcucom. There are a number of threads that talk about the lack of quality in LMU's clinical rotations (from current/past students) and there was recently a class expansion. This will most likely dilute the quality even more.

 

[Seth Joo]

The best school is the one that accepts you.

 

[AlteredScale]

I have never heard of that statement you titled your thread...pretty cool though!

If it were me, I'd wait until the 11/15 to see what happens at KCU. If you get accepted then you just need to figure out between KCU and LMU. Don't make the decision until after the MSU deadline on 12/4. Then from there drop your deposit to KCU/LMU if you don't get off to make sure you secure a seat.

If you REALLY want to go to Nova then just drop a deposite to LMU right now to make sure you secure your seat and interview there.

Either way, it's gunna be expensive :/ but it's the best position to be in! Good luck!

 

[Halcyon45]

I'd wait until you know which schools actually accepted you!

 

[Goro]

I have a very high opinion of KCU. Any DO school that can get graduates into the Mayo Clinic must be doing something right.

I'm headed for a deposit deadline dance and I need help on how to proceed. How I rank the following schools, all of which I would gladly attend:
1. MSUCOM
2. NSUCOM
3. KCUCOM
4. LMUDCOM

I was waitlisted at MSUCOM, with it being "top tier" MSU also has a 12/4 deadline which might mean WL movement? I have an acceptance from LMUDCOM, deposit due 12/14. I'm awaiting to hear back from KCUCOM by 11/15 but honestly the interview went so-so. I have an interview invite from NSUCOM on 11/12, unclear if I would get a decision from them by 12/14, even if I did it would be dangerously close to the deposit deadline.

To make things more complicated, KCUCOM I would have to take biochem this spring and MSUCOM biochem plus genetics. Right now I'm thinking put a deposit down for LMU/KCU, take the spring classes and hope for MSU. If I do this and end up at LMU/KCU, I think I regret the missed opportunity of Nova (great clinical rotations, lots of pediatrics residencies in Florida), and having to pay/study for courses while working that I ended up not needing. On the other hand I don't want to spend $600 going to Florida just to get rejected or have to put down the LMU deposit anyway because I didn't hear back in time. Any help would be appreciated!

 

[FBurnaby]

So is the general consensus KCU>NSU?

 

[SOOyC52H1Sof]

I have a very high opinion of KCU. Any DO school that can get graduates into the Mayo Clinic must be doing something right.

If I were a betting man, I would put my money on you being from KCU. In any case, thanks for your positivity on this forum.

 

[Goro]

I could tell you where I am, but then I'd have to reject you!

If I were a betting man, I would put my money on you being from KCU. In any case, thanks for your positivity on this forum.

 

[FBurnaby]

Thanks @AlteredScale I think that's what I'll do. Any words on why KCU over LMU? Always interesting to hear a students perspective

 

[Stagg737]

So is the general consensus KCU>NSU?

Depends on what you're looking for in a med school and the curriculum. If you learn best by doing things on your own, then a PBL curriculum like Bradenton could be great. If you need more structure (like myself), going somewhere else like KCU or MSU is obviously better than Bradenton. Figure out how you learn best, and choose a school that has a curriculum that you think will help you succeed. KCU is a very good school. Idk enough about Nova to make a personal opinion, but I've heard it's at least a decent school too. However, you need to not pick the 'best school' but instead pick the school that is the best for you.

If I were a betting man, I would put my money on you being from KCU. In any case, thanks for your positivity on this forum.

I won't say where I think Goro is at, but based on his past descriptions of the admission/interview process at his school, I can say that he is not at KCU (assuming he's been honest).

 

[Henry101]

I'd look up the 4th year schedule for Nova. With the ACGME AOA merger, 4th year electives will make or break your chances of residency placement and Nova, traditionally, gives very little time for those and makes you do really long rural electives making it hard to do out of house rotations. Just my 2 cents. Nova's location is amazing though. You're biking distance away from the beach.

 

[AlteredScale]

Thanks @AlteredScale I think that's what I'll do. Any words on why KCU over LMU? Always interesting to hear a students perspective

Because I'm there 😉 lol

in all honestly, i chose it because its near the city, theres lot of research opps around, they push you hard to become the best at your study skills, they are receptive to student input in terms of changing anything, they done their best to reduce the amount of lectures they make you come to. the other aspects are theres so much good food here and the city overall takes pride in who they are.

 

[ortnakas]

I agree with most of what's been said above. If you're not sitting on any other acceptances by 12/14, pay the LMU deposit. If you're sitting on a KCU deposit, pay that one. Better to lose the money if you end up getting into MSU or NSU than have the money and not end up matriculating anywhere. And as long as you're not deciding between that and food/rent, you might as well go to the NSU interview-- while right now it's your #2, and seeing it in real life might influence how you rank the rest of your choices, even if you don't hear from them by the December deadline(s).

 

[deleted610572]

If I were a betting man, I would put my money on you being from KCU. In any case, thanks for your positivity on this forum.

That's a way to get that locked but I we all have our thoughts and I don't think he's there based on my interview

 

[Brorthopedic]

Go to the NSU interview, there's a good chance you're going to be accepted as the % accepted/total interviewed is relatively high before December.

 

[FBurnaby]

no votes for LMUDCOM straight up?

 

[deleted610572]

Zero

no votes for LMUDCOM straight up?

 

[petyr_baelish]

no votes for LMUDCOM straight up?

I got accepted there but I can't say it didn't cross my mind that I should reapply rather than go there. I'm so glad I got accepted elsewhere so that I didn't have to decide between being extremely unhappy with my acceptance or risk not getting in anywhere next year. The people there were the best and usually it's the people that make a place, but I couldn't get over the high tuition, rural environment, tight financial aid budget and sketchy information about clinicals. If LMU were a residency program rather than a medical school I'd be singing a different tune. They are extremely supportive and pleasant people, the cost of living is very low and residency salaries are always $50k. But it's a medical school and I need to be reassured that I will be able to get a good job afterward AND be skilled enough to keep that job.

 

[deleted610572]

I got accepted there but I can't say it didn't cross my mind that I should reapply rather than go there. I'm so glad I got accepted elsewhere so that I didn't have to decide between being extremely unhappy with my acceptance or risk not getting in anywhere next year. The people there were the best and usually it's the people that make a place, but I couldn't get over the high tuition, rural environment, tight financial aid budget and sketchy information about clinicals. If LMU were a residency program rather than a medical school I'd be singing a different tune. They are extremely supportive and pleasant people, the cost of living is very low and residency salaries are always $50k.

I wouldn't go that far as to reapply.

There is just no straight up votes. If you don't get into the other places definitely go but you are going to want the best place to help you succeed and all of the other places have more resources

 

[IslandStyle808]

I got accepted there but I can't say it didn't cross my mind that I should reapply rather than go there. I'm so glad I got accepted elsewhere so that I didn't have to decide between being extremely unhappy with my acceptance or risk not getting in anywhere next year. The people there were the best and usually it's the people that make a place, but I couldn't get over the high tuition, rural environment, tight financial aid budget and sketchy information about clinicals. If LMU were a residency program rather than a medical school I'd be singing a different tune. They are extremely supportive and pleasant people, the cost of living is very low and residency salaries are always $50k. But it's a medical school and I need to be reassured that I will be able to get a good job afterward AND be skilled enough to keep that job.

This post actually took the words right out of my mouth. They are extremely nice people, but the clinical rotations worry me. The saving grace of the clinical portion of LMU is their abundance of elective rotations, which is 6 month in both 3rd and 4th year. One could set up rotations in places with residency programs. However, I have no idea how difficult or easy it is to do during 3rd year.

 

[FBurnaby]

As of right now I'm picking DCOM over opportunities at ACOM, KYCOM, and SOMA, mainly because of curriculum/location preference, is this a mistake? or does DCOM just bottom out when compared to "higher tier" like MSU, NSU, KCU?

 

[Mad Jack]

Isn't MSU's deposit like, cheap?

 

[TUVIX]

I got accepted there but I can't say it didn't cross my mind that I should reapply rather than go there. I'm so glad I got accepted elsewhere so that I didn't have to decide between being extremely unhappy with my acceptance or risk not getting in anywhere next year. The people there were the best and usually it's the people that make a place, but I couldn't get over the high tuition, rural environment, tight financial aid budget and sketchy information about clinicals. If LMU were a residency program rather than a medical school I'd be singing a different tune. They are extremely supportive and pleasant people, the cost of living is very low and residency salaries are always $50k. But it's a medical school and I need to be reassured that I will be able to get a good job afterward AND be skilled enough to keep that job.

Doesn't LMU have over 30 clinical affiliations where you do core rotations? Many DO school send you all over the place for rotations, why is LMU any different?

 

[NBLogical]

You may have to just pay the deposit for LMU to ensure an acceptance and then back out. It's expensive but ultimately worth it to go to a better school.

On a semi-related financial tangent:
I never had to do this, but I have zero money to be throwing at different schools. So I anticipated working extra shifts and putting deposits on 0% credit cards. Schools don't always take credit cards but there are ways to fund bank accounts with credit cards for free and then wire the money that way. Worst case scenario being you have to pay for a cash advance.

Which schools don't take credit cards?

 

[ChrisMack390]

Put down the deposit regardless (unless you hear from somewhere you like better by the deadline).

What is worse - losing some money or playing with fire and losing going to medical school next year?

 

[DrPatriot]

Isn't MSU's deposit like, cheap?

$1000

 

[petyr_baelish]

Which schools don't take credit cards?

LECOM for one.

 

[IslandStyle808]

Doesn't LMU have over 30 clinical affiliations where you do core rotations? Many DO school send you all over the place for rotations, why is LMU any different?

Some schools will REALLY send you out there, maybe two states away. However, there are schools that keep them local. One example is WVSOM, this school not only has its rotations within West Virginia (virtually all of them) it also has a fair amount with in house residencies. Even thought it accepts people with lower stats, it is definitely a mid-tier school.

 

[petyr_baelish]

As of right now I'm picking DCOM over opportunities at ACOM, KYCOM, and SOMA, mainly because of curriculum/location preference, is this a mistake? or does DCOM just bottom out when compared to "higher tier" like MSU, NSU, KCU?

Yes, in my opinion LMU is not as good as MSU, NSU and KCU. I It's still a medical school but it being relatively unknown is not doing anyone any favors.

I would have picked LMU over ACOM too. In fact I cancelled my ACOM interview after getting accepted to LMU because there are no mandatory lectures at LMU. MSU, NSU and KCU are in a different tier. Of the new schools I would say that Marian and Campbell show the most potential. They seem to be getting more competitive applicants for whatever reason.

Doesn't LMU have over 30 clinical affiliations where you do core rotations? Many DO school send you all over the place for rotations, why is LMU any different?

I've read that the quality is extremely variable between locations and that students do all the legwork. At the school I ended up choosing, we have tonnes of clinical affiliations but setting up rotations is a breeze. Literally just filling out a form and handing it in. No phone calls and begging for spots. The more rural the rotation the more chances you will only be taught by one physician. This could be terrible, akin to wasting a 3 month rotation. Their letter of recommendation won't have any weight when program directors have never even heard of a place called Big Stone Gap, Virginia.

 

[FBurnaby]

Update: didn't get into KCU, still going back and forth about scraping up the money for the Nova interview. If no other acceptances by December, I'll be putting my deposit down for LMU.

 

[just_SAIYAN]

Update: didn't get into KCU, still going back and forth about scraping up the money for the Nova interview. If no other acceptances by December, I'll be putting my deposit down for LMU.

Check out Nova man, do what you gotta do financially to make it happen.

 

[Azete]

Update: didn't get into KCU, still going back and forth about scraping up the money for the Nova interview. If no other acceptances by December, I'll be putting my deposit down for LMU.

Nova has had a very high post-interview acceptance rate this year. It would be worth the money, in my opinion.

 

[oOKawaiiOo]

Nova has had a very high post-interview acceptance rate this year. It would be worth the money, in my opinion.

how do you know?

 

[Azete]

how do you know?

I interviewed there and one of the faculty mentioned they were interviewing less this year but accepting a higher percentage.

I believe every person in my interview group was accepted.

 

[oOKawaiiOo]

I interviewed there and one of the faculty mentioned they were interviewing less this year but accepting a higher percentage. I believe every person in my interview group was accepted.

Ohhhh..... that's reassuring! I hope they send love my way. How was the interview? Relaxed?

 

[Azete]

Ohhhh..... that's reassuring! I hope they send love my way. How was the interview? Relaxed?

Pretty short, mostly relaxed but they did ask a couple curveball questions. Campus was beautiful and I might have attended there but my wife had a strong preference for another school's location.