Hi everyone! I just wanted to get yalls inputs on PCOM VS VCOM. I have upcoming back to back interviews (vcom tuesday pcom friday) to both schools and wanted to get someone else's prospective on which school you like and why. I know there is a lot to take into consideration ie go to which ever you get in and where you see yourself excelling which area you like best etc etc etc....., but apart from that I want to get the inputs of SDNers on which program they liked and why. I'm on the fence as to which school has a better curriculum and will lead to a better education. Also from what I can find most of the threads comparing the schools are a few years old so I wanted to get so up to date opinions! thanks for the input!
PCOM-GA VS VCOM-CC circa 2015 program comparison
- Thread starter PNV
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I interviewed at both last September and chose PCOM for its location (I, along with S/O, live and work in Atlanta, GA).
some takeaways that affected my decision:
-VCOM has nice looking campus in a low SES area. PCOM has a very ugly campus in a mixed SES area (bordering very rich and very poor towns). The campus facade has little to do with my decision, but for some reason people like to mention it.
-PCOM shares its facilities between DO, pharmacy, and biomedical science students, making study space a big concern to incoming students.
-With PCOM you are 30 min away from metro Atlanta. With VCOM you are a couple hours away from Charleston (but greenville is nice).
-My interactions with students suggested that osteopathic methods were much more emphasized at PCOM
-Tuition at either school is the same.
-Both schools have very high residency match rates (but also consider that many students at both schools enter primary care residencies).
-VCOM emphasized a bunch of different specialties that I wasn't interested in. Sports medicine was emphasized the most. VCOM also has a global outreach program that sends students to South America during the summers (students must pay for some expenses).
-I interviewed a second year and a fourth year student at PCOM. Both students were going for highly competitive fields (dermatology, radiology). Both indicated that the resources to meet your goals are available at PCOM, but in the end it all comes down to how much you work at it. I assume the exact same is true of VCOM-CC.
-VCOM requires prerequisite coursework in biochemistry. Random, but affected my decision nonetheless.
-Class attendance mandatory at VCOM, but not at PCOM. You can watch sped up recordings of classes at either school.
-PCOM has a very relaxed dress code, whereas VCOM has a business casual requirement. This irked me when interviewing at PCOM, as it seemed unprofessional, but I got over it.
some takeaways that affected my decision:
-VCOM has nice looking campus in a low SES area. PCOM has a very ugly campus in a mixed SES area (bordering very rich and very poor towns). The campus facade has little to do with my decision, but for some reason people like to mention it.
-PCOM shares its facilities between DO, pharmacy, and biomedical science students, making study space a big concern to incoming students.
-With PCOM you are 30 min away from metro Atlanta. With VCOM you are a couple hours away from Charleston (but greenville is nice).
-My interactions with students suggested that osteopathic methods were much more emphasized at PCOM
-Tuition at either school is the same.
-Both schools have very high residency match rates (but also consider that many students at both schools enter primary care residencies).
-VCOM emphasized a bunch of different specialties that I wasn't interested in. Sports medicine was emphasized the most. VCOM also has a global outreach program that sends students to South America during the summers (students must pay for some expenses).
-I interviewed a second year and a fourth year student at PCOM. Both students were going for highly competitive fields (dermatology, radiology). Both indicated that the resources to meet your goals are available at PCOM, but in the end it all comes down to how much you work at it. I assume the exact same is true of VCOM-CC.
-VCOM requires prerequisite coursework in biochemistry. Random, but affected my decision nonetheless.
-Class attendance mandatory at VCOM, but not at PCOM. You can watch sped up recordings of classes at either school.
-PCOM has a very relaxed dress code, whereas VCOM has a business casual requirement. This irked me when interviewing at PCOM, as it seemed unprofessional, but I got over it.
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I know nothing about VCOM, but I am a 4th yr at PCOM-GA and think it has all you need to excel and match into a specialty of your choice. If there is one thing I've learned through all of this process, it's that you really can do anything you want, but you just have to put in the time, and research things and get the job done. I will say that PCOM-Ga is VERY OMM heavy (to a fault), but I also loathe everything about OMM, so I may be biased. Best of luck
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Just to clarify, I'm a 3rd year at VCOM-VA, and 85% class attendance was the mandatory minimum during my preclinical years. They did still record lectures for viewing later but it wasn't 100% reliable (probably closer to 95-98%). I'm pretty sure it was the same way at the Carolinas campus. Also, the dress code is an important point, as business casual was the rule at VCOM, some people love it, some don't care, some hate it.
D
deleted407021
I've seen this corroborated elsewhere. When you say it is very OMM heavy, how do you mean? I'm rather skeptical of the practice looking in very superficially but PCOM-GA remains an in-state option, so I'd appreciate an insider's perspective.
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OMM heavy means our school puts a lot of emphasis into OMM, but that being said most student just study a few days before test and do fine
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I mean that they teach you WAAAy more OMM than anyone needs to know (that isn't going into OMM as a profession). The downside is that if you don't like it, it's quite annoying (my situation). If you do like it, then it's great. It does more than prepare you for boards, however most of the OMM you learn is not relevant to life or boards.
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who cares as long as it isn't lewd or something? having a dress code during a time that is mainly didactic learning, and not working in a clinical setting with patients, is silly.
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deleted407021
Thanks! But knowing that, perhaps, prior to applying wouldn't necessarily have deterred you from attending, would it?
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Yea but they pack on so much pressure for the practicals that they are always nerve wracking. The written are not a huge deal. But wow OMM can be stressful
Sure. As pointed out by Neurospeed, some may care that they will have to dress business casual all the time, and may prefer a relaxed environment. What irked me on interview day was that some students (maybe not even DO students) behaved immaturely in the presence of interview candidates. I initially correlated this to dress code.
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deleted407021
Mercer SOM is the same way. When I attended a tour of their savannah campus, like half the student were slouching around in sweat pants. -_-
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Prob not because you really have no idea what OMM is until you get to school.
Also, I like dressing nice more so than the avg person, but I really just don't think you can be comfortable sitting at a desk/lecture hall for 12+ hrs
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but...but...professionalism
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This changes as you move deeper than 1.5 semesters in, majority of my class studies 1-2 days for a practical and that's it... Not a whole lot of pressure anymore
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Omg I hope so. OMM should not provide more stress than CMBM, but a majority of my classmates are saying that it indeed does. It shouldn't be like that.
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At first I was kind of surprised that we didn't have a dress code but then after a week, I was so relieved.
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Behaved immaturely? Lol I'm sure it had nothing to do with the uptight attitude that most people interviewing have...
Lighten up a bit
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People act like that even on guest lecture days when u have to dress a little nicer. Lol
i probably should
D
deleted407021
Any updates on this topic? Also any opinions in the Auburn campus and how it compares to GA-PCOM and VCOM-CC?
What sort of information are you looking for?
If I had to update my feelings on the decision, I would say every school I got accepted to (4) was exactly the same, and I should pick whichever is closest, cheapest, and offered the most beneficial perks (for instance, some schools give you a tablet and laptop for didactic). School comparisons and rank order lists, while entertaining, are ultimately opinionated and fruitless. Of course, some people might get a lot from them.
You should not let anything anyone says about a school scare you.
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I am a current PCOM GA student and I agree OMM is emphasized however I am glad it's tough because we chose to be DOs and at the end of the day OMM and its related topics makes up 20% of the COMLEX. Our main faculty for OMM writes for the COMLEX step 3 so I think that's what makes it difficult. Although there have been tough times Id rather it be hard now and at least recognize most of this stuff when boards come along. Also as for the dress code when your studying this much and constantly changing (especially first term with anatomy and OMM) clothes you learn to LOVE the laid back dress code. You have your entire life ahead of you to be required to dress up starting third year so enjoy the relaxed dress code! Embrace it! I sure did haha - I never interviewed at VCOM CC so I can't really compare however I will say overall I am incredibly happy with Pcom so far. All your resources are there to help you and get you to your goals at both schools I'm sure but the decision is way bigger than just curriculum. It's where you could be for 2-4 years so check out the community see if you feel you fit there then tally up all the different thing you personally liked or didn't from each place- good luck!
