So I have been accepted to both OU-COM and LECOM-Erie. I'm having troubles. The main things I think that could affect my decision are the differences between early clinical experience (OU has more, but how much will it help?) And the differences in hospital affiliations. Any thoughts?? I could use all the insight I can get. 🙂 Thanks and Happy Holidays everyone!!
OU-COM vs LECOM-Erie
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Both are good schools. The main difference IMO is where you want to do your third and fourth year rotations. OU-COM is associated with a CORE of hospitals with in ohio so you would primarily stay in ohio for your rotations. Meanwhile, LECOM is associated with hospitals all throughout the country, so this would provide you with some flexibility as to where you rotated.
Also, another factor to consider is the 5 year contract with OU-COM if you are not an in state applicant.
Best of luck on your decision and congrats on having the opportunity to pick between these schools.
Also, another factor to consider is the 5 year contract with OU-COM if you are not an in state applicant.
Best of luck on your decision and congrats on having the opportunity to pick between these schools.
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I can answer any questions you have about LECOM-E. We have clinical experience starting in our first semester. We learned how to take a complete history on a pt and had standardized pt encounters. Next semester we learn how to do a physical exam. We have H&P every week starting in the spring semester. I will say that early clinical experience is a bit overrated though. It just takes time away from studying for class. I'm really glad we don't have a preceptor or are required to shadow anyone so I can spend more of my time studying for class. LECOM has rotations in New York, Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio, etc so if you want a good array of places and locales then LECOM is a good choice. If you want to stay in one spot, then LECOM may not be the best choice.
Yeah I forgot to mention, I am an Ohio resident, but I wouldn't mind having a chance to travel around a little bit. I'm very interested in pediatrics so thats kind of something for me to consider too. Does anyone know how LECOM and OU-COM 3rd and 4th year work in a little more detail? Do I move to a new location for each rotation? Or do I stay at the same hospital and just switch departments? And how does housing work? Because switching to a new city every month could be very difficult to do... but I have the feeling its something I have to learn to deal with no matter where I go. Sorry if some of these seem like dumb questions-I know I'm over analyzing. But its what us crazy pre-meds do, isn't it?? 🙂
I do not think you are over analyzing anything. This is a big step in your life.
I chose OUCOM because of the third and fourth year rotations. I have a wife and I did not want to move around a lot third and fourth year. So from my understanding, since I have not started at OU, is that the third and fourth year rotations are in the same area as your CORE site. I think you can move around to some smaller hospitals, but majority of your rotations are at that one CORE site. So to me, OUCOM's CORE sites were a selling point. After years one and two, I pack up my things and move to one of the CORE sites for years three and four. If I am wrong...someone please correct me.
Also these CORE sites are great for getting into a residency. My last selling point... I do know for a fact that OUCOM has a great reputation around Ohio.
I chose OUCOM because of the third and fourth year rotations. I have a wife and I did not want to move around a lot third and fourth year. So from my understanding, since I have not started at OU, is that the third and fourth year rotations are in the same area as your CORE site. I think you can move around to some smaller hospitals, but majority of your rotations are at that one CORE site. So to me, OUCOM's CORE sites were a selling point. After years one and two, I pack up my things and move to one of the CORE sites for years three and four. If I am wrong...someone please correct me.
Also these CORE sites are great for getting into a residency. My last selling point... I do know for a fact that OUCOM has a great reputation around Ohio.
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I can only speak as a 1st year student at OUCOM, but I can enlighten you on a few points.
-As far as the early clinical exposure, our first quarter is similar to LECOM's (according to bleeker10), however we do have something called CCE's (clinical or community experiences) that are essentially shadowing a doc in the surrounding area and practicing taking the history, doing a physical or part of the exam, and even going out on a limb and trying to diagnose the patients. Personally, like bleeker stated I do not find these to be vital by any means, but some people really enjoyed them (so I guess it is up to the person.)
-Secondly if you do become a pediatrician you will absolutely need to minimize your debt for school OOS at LECOM is 27,250 and OUCOM's instate for you would be 24,111. So they are pretty equal, but OU is a little cheaper.
-At the beginning of second year you are placed into your CORE sight based upon your ranking of the programs and a "lottery". This isn't always as bad as it sounds because it is rare anybody ever gets less than their 3rd choice. However if you want Columbus, Cleveland, or Dayton you may need some luck. Once you are at a rotation you stay at that location unless you choose to do an elective elsewhere (which I personally like). I wouldn't want the stress of packing up all of my crap (and paying for moving expenses) over and over to move to different states or locations. Also, from what I have heard about other programs (NOT LECOM-E specifically) is that it can be difficult to find housing, or even set up the rotations at these new programs.
-Finally, OUCOM has NO DRESS CODE or MANDATORY ATTENDANCE! I do think that these two policies make for more professional environment, but I prefer to study from home in my pj's.
Clearly I do have a slant to my post, but it is really about seeing what you believe is the best fit for you. LECOM and OUCOM have great reputations (especially locally) so I do not think you need to worry about going to either one, just pick the one that fits your style the best.
-As far as the early clinical exposure, our first quarter is similar to LECOM's (according to bleeker10), however we do have something called CCE's (clinical or community experiences) that are essentially shadowing a doc in the surrounding area and practicing taking the history, doing a physical or part of the exam, and even going out on a limb and trying to diagnose the patients. Personally, like bleeker stated I do not find these to be vital by any means, but some people really enjoyed them (so I guess it is up to the person.)
-Secondly if you do become a pediatrician you will absolutely need to minimize your debt for school OOS at LECOM is 27,250 and OUCOM's instate for you would be 24,111. So they are pretty equal, but OU is a little cheaper.
-At the beginning of second year you are placed into your CORE sight based upon your ranking of the programs and a "lottery". This isn't always as bad as it sounds because it is rare anybody ever gets less than their 3rd choice. However if you want Columbus, Cleveland, or Dayton you may need some luck. Once you are at a rotation you stay at that location unless you choose to do an elective elsewhere (which I personally like). I wouldn't want the stress of packing up all of my crap (and paying for moving expenses) over and over to move to different states or locations. Also, from what I have heard about other programs (NOT LECOM-E specifically) is that it can be difficult to find housing, or even set up the rotations at these new programs.
-Finally, OUCOM has NO DRESS CODE or MANDATORY ATTENDANCE! I do think that these two policies make for more professional environment, but I prefer to study from home in my pj's.
Clearly I do have a slant to my post, but it is really about seeing what you believe is the best fit for you. LECOM and OUCOM have great reputations (especially locally) so I do not think you need to worry about going to either one, just pick the one that fits your style the best.
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At LECOM-E, in the fall of your 2nd year you put in for rotations. You either choose to be in a certain city (i.e. Cleveland, Pittsburgh, etc) or a certain rotation schedule (i.e. a certain month off or start with surgery etc). If you choose to be in a certain city, you will stay in that city for all the rotations and come back to LECOM for the shelf exams. You may not get the rotation schedule you want if you choose to be in a certain city so you may start out with surgery when you want to start out with IM. Now you may have to do a rotation in Erie depending on if there is enough students on each rotation. There has to be a certain number of students on each rotation at Millcreek and some other local hospitals. If there is enough people on the rotations, you won't have to come back.
If you choose a certain schedule such as starting with FP, IM in the middle and surgery in the end with a month off in the winter, you will be driving to a new place for each rotation. I know a girl who wanted January off to go snowboarding. She has rotations in Erie, Pittsburgh, Indiana, Colorado, California, New York, and a couple other in western Pennsylvania. The rotations in Colorado and California are 3rd year electives which you can do anywhere in the US. You get two 3rd year electives which you can do in any specialty. The FP rotation can be done with any DO in the country.
Here is the rotation schedule for the class of 2012 and I heard it should be almost the same for my class:
http://my.lecom.edu/pdf/2012.pdf
Here is a good synopsis from someone who just graduated from LECOM this past June. It details the rotations better. It's post #337
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?p=7459142&highlight=LECOM#post7459142
If you choose a certain schedule such as starting with FP, IM in the middle and surgery in the end with a month off in the winter, you will be driving to a new place for each rotation. I know a girl who wanted January off to go snowboarding. She has rotations in Erie, Pittsburgh, Indiana, Colorado, California, New York, and a couple other in western Pennsylvania. The rotations in Colorado and California are 3rd year electives which you can do anywhere in the US. You get two 3rd year electives which you can do in any specialty. The FP rotation can be done with any DO in the country.
Here is the rotation schedule for the class of 2012 and I heard it should be almost the same for my class:
http://my.lecom.edu/pdf/2012.pdf
Here is a good synopsis from someone who just graduated from LECOM this past June. It details the rotations better. It's post #337
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?p=7459142&highlight=LECOM#post7459142
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This is a big difference between the schools. We do have mandatory attendance and a dress code (shirt and tie for men). Some days it really sucks to have to be in class from 8-4 or 5. There are times when I would love to skip class and study in the cafeteria to learn it on my own but I can't because I don't wanna risk being docked points off my grade for missing class. They don't take attendance all the time. I have heard differing stories on how they use the attendance lists. I've heard you get one unexcused absence and then everyone after that is points docked off your final grade. Another is they don't dock you points but if you are on the verge of failing or need to remediate they will look at your attendance and see if you were in class. I've also heard they don't really use it for anything at all. The dress code isn't a big deal at all. I like wearing a shirt and tie to class and I don't even notice it anymore. We are required to be in dress code from 8-5 unless we have OPP and then we can wear shorts/sweats and a t shirt or sweatshirt/hoody. After 5 you can wear normal clothes. There have been times when I'm studying after class and I realize around 8 or 9 pm that I'm still wearing my tie. You get used to it pretty quickly
I also heard something about LECOM where you're set up in groups for your rotations? Is that normal for med schools or specific to LECOM? And what exactly does that mean...? That you get set up in a group and then have to decide if you want to choose a city or move around or whatever... or you choose what you want to do and then you're matched to a group...?
Okay, ignore my last post. I hadn't read all the way through that second link you sent (which is an AWESOME link btw... thank you!!). I suck. But my question still stands about if that is common amongst med schools or specific to LECOM? And is housing easy to figure out if you move from city to city, do you know? And then the electives you can do on your own independent of your group...?
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Questions about LECOM-E. I can't find that much information about the independent study track. Are you on the same schedule as the lecture people? How many people are on the track percentage-wise? How many times do students in the independent study program come into school per week? Thanks.
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You can have a Mac at LECOM even though the website says you can't. At least 25% of my class have Macs and they have no problem. Just make sure you have a program to open up powerpoint slides.
The ISP track is on a similar schedule to LDP. In Core, we take immuno, micro, biochem, and physio. ISP did biochem in 2.5 weeks, then physio in 2-3 weeks, then micro in 1.5 weeks, and immuno in 1 week. They only take one class at a time. We take immuno first with some physio and then do micro, physio and biochem together. We finished physio a week ahead of micro and biochem. I'm not sure how the schedules will work out for the spring b/w ISP and LDP. I know we start with pharm, genetics/biochem, path, and human sexuality.
The ISP track is on a similar schedule to LDP. In Core, we take immuno, micro, biochem, and physio. ISP did biochem in 2.5 weeks, then physio in 2-3 weeks, then micro in 1.5 weeks, and immuno in 1 week. They only take one class at a time. We take immuno first with some physio and then do micro, physio and biochem together. We finished physio a week ahead of micro and biochem. I'm not sure how the schedules will work out for the spring b/w ISP and LDP. I know we start with pharm, genetics/biochem, path, and human sexuality.
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Can you elaborate on that? What does Athens have that Erie lacks? Or is it due to weather/the people/crime rates/etc.
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I had the same decision to make. I chose OUCOM for a couple reasons. Not saying LECOM is a bad school at all, just OUCOM was a better fit for me.
I'm an Ohio resident so the 5 year contract isn't a worry for me. And LECOM isn't a lot higher in cost in the grand scheme of things... so I can't use money as an excuse to make this decision easier haha.
TheGoodGoodTime... could you tell me what made you choose OU? I know its different for everyone, but I would be interested to hear what made you choose. Thanks 🙂
TheGoodGoodTime... could you tell me what made you choose OU? I know its different for everyone, but I would be interested to hear what made you choose. Thanks 🙂
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