OUCOM vs. KCOM Dilemma

[hollaATCHAdoc]

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I am deciding between these two schools. They both have their pros and cons. OUCOM is nearly half the price. Debt is an important factor, but is not the deciding criteria. OUCOM is closer to family, which is also a huge benefit. I was very impressed by KCOM when I visited. They are well-established and their residency match list is very strong. I have not been able to get a hold of OUCOM's residency match list. Both schools appear to have an excellent reputation in the osteopathic community. I find factors, such as location, weather, price, etc., much less important than the quality of education between various programs... Should I attend the founding osteopathic medical school (with excellent alumni contacts and a strong history of impressive residency matches) or the more recently established state-funded osteopathic medical school? What would you do? Which is the better school? What is your opinion?? Help please!

 

[Dr JPH]

OUCOM

Personally I wouldnt even hesitate.

 

[SmallTownEMT]

With proximity to your family and the lower tuition, which are factors that you have said are important to you, I would also agree that OUCOM may be the better choice for you.

 

[VALSALVA]

For financial reasons only, I'd recommend OUCOM. Less debt now = way less debt later. Plus, docs are taking bigger and bigger hits on monetary compensation and you never know what things will be like in another 5-10 years.

 

[Concubine]

For financial reasons only, I'd recommend OUCOM. Less debt now = way less debt later. Plus, docs are taking bigger and bigger hits on monetary compensation and you never know what things will be like in another 5-10 years.

Doesn't OUCOM participate in CORE? I remember that one of the students told me this could potentially give you a leg up in getting into great DO residency positions in Ohio. Can anyone confirm this?

 

[Shinken]

Doesn't OUCOM participate in CORE? I remember that one of the students told me this could potentially give you a leg up in getting into great DO residency positions in Ohio. Can anyone confirm this?

Well, yes, the CORE is OUCOM's network of hospitals. You can find residencies from Derm to Plastics to Optho...many programs used to explicitly state that they would give preference to Ohio applicants, but I don't know if that's still the case. Also, be aware that some hospitals in Ohio are not "full" members of the CORE but are affiliate sites, which means that students cannot rotate at those hospitals for 3rd or 4th year (except for electives and out rotations), but they're affiliated to OU for residency sites (could be a big issue for out of state applicants...if you do residency at those hospitals, it counts towards the practice agreement).

I also had to decide between OU and KCOM, and decided to attend OU. It was a great decision. KCOM is indeed a great school, but the tuition is higher, the town is very isolated (much more so than Athens), and unless you want to stay in Kirksville to do rotations, you'll have to travel to another state for rotations.

In the end, of course, it's your own personal decision. If you want more specific info about OUCOM send me a PM.

 

[natsayshi]

Well, yes, the CORE is OUCOM's network of hospitals. You can find residencies from Derm to Plastics to Optho...many programs used to explicitly state that they would give preference to Ohio applicants, but I don't know if that's still the case. Also, be aware that some hospitals in Ohio are not "full" members of the CORE but are affiliate sites, which means that students cannot rotate at those hospitals for 3rd or 4th year (except for electives and out rotations), but they're affiliated to OU for residency sites (could be a big issue for out of state applicants...if you do residency at those hospitals, it counts towards the practice agreement).

I also had to decide between OU and KCOM, and decided to attend OU. It was a great decision. KCOM is indeed a great school, but the tuition is higher, the town is very isolated (much more so than Athens), and unless you want to stay in Kirksville to do rotations, you'll have to travel to another state for rotations.

In the end, of course, it's your own personal decision. If you want more specific info about OUCOM send me a PM.

Incorrect on that information. In Missouri you can rotate at the following sites without having to leave the state:

Northeast Regional Medical Center - Of course.
Capital Region Medical Center - Jefferson City
Phelps County Regional Medical Center - Rolla
Des Peres Hospital - St.Louis
The Institute of Research and Education in Family Medicine - St. Louis
As well as sites in Cape Girardeau, Sikeston, Popular Bluff and Farmington, MO.

 

[Shinken]

Incorrect on that information. In Missouri you can rotate at the following sites without having to leave the state:

Northeast Regional Medical Center - Of course.
Capital Region Medical Center - Jefferson City
Phelps County Regional Medical Center - Rolla
Des Peres Hospital - St.Louis
The Institute of Research and Education in Family Medicine - St. Louis
As well as sites in Cape Girardeau, Sikeston, Popular Bluff and Farmington, MO.

Wow, that's different from when I interviewed there. When I did, they only had Northeast Regional. Things change for the better, I guess. Sometimes I forget that even though it seems like yesterday when I was interviewing for med school, it's actually been almost 4 years.

 

[hollaATCHAdoc]

Thanks everyone! Does anyone else out there have any other opinions??

 

[MJB]

Doesn't OUCOM have that rule about staying in Ohio?

That alone would rule it out for me...but I'm not from Ohio either.

As for KCOM...I liked the staff there...faculty interviews were another story...and it defines "remote".

 

[Concubine]

Yep, five years of practice. If you do your residency in Ohio, it can count towards you contract (1=1.5 years for primary care, 1=1 year for other). I was pretty torn about that, but ultimately chose to put my deposit down at Ohio (I'm OOS). I really don't have roots planted anywhere, so I'm open to moving. Plus the cheap tuition is a plus. I liked it better than the other schools I was accepted too (TOURO-NV, TOURO-MI, AZCOM). However, if I get into any of the other schools I'm waiting on, I will definitely give up my spot.

 

[hollaATCHAdoc]

Yep, five years of practice. If you do your residency in Ohio, it can count towards you contract (1=1.5 years for primary care, 1=1 year for other). I was pretty torn about that, but ultimately chose to put my deposit down at Ohio (I'm OOS). I really don't have roots planted anywhere, so I'm open to moving. Plus the cheap tuition is a plus. I liked it better than the other schools I was accepted too (TOURO-NV, TOURO-MI, AZCOM). However, if I get into any of the other schools I'm waiting on, I will definitely give up my spot.

What other schools are you waiting on? Is there a way you can buy out your contract with OUCOM? What are the penalties if you decided to move away without fulfilling the 5-year contract?

 

[soccer12]

the 5-year contract is ONLY for those who attend OUCOM and come in as an OOS student. I specifically asked this question after my interview and was pleasantly surprised that i am not confined to OH after I finish 4 years...

if you are OOS, i think that your work during the 3-4th years may count towards this contract, but don't quote me on that.
hope this helps!! 🙂

 

[Concubine]

What other schools are you waiting on? Is there a way you can buy out your contract with OUCOM? What are the penalties if you decided to move away without fulfilling the 5-year contract?

I am still waiting on (an had interviews at) University of Washington, University of Utah, and West Virginia University. You can buy out of your contract, but it is very expensive (as in around a years salary as a physician I think?).

 

[soccer12]

a little more info...this contract is due to the fact that you are attending a state school and they believe that their OOS that matriculate need to give back to the state of OH.