PCOM vs COMP (westernU Pomona)

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
Get help with your application

Use all the free resources available to you from SDN: articles, guides, expert advising, forums discussions, and school research.

arrow333

New Member
5+ Year Member
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
PCOM
pros
  • close to current home
  • city school
  • highly ranked
cons
  • in the northeast when I ideally want to move to SoCal for residency
  • interview day experience was unorganized and made me weary (because they just started a new curriculum - so my class would be round 2 guinea pigs)

COMP
pros
  • not the best location but in SoCal which raises my chance for residency in SoCal (I am assuming from the research I have done)
  • really liked the interview day experience
  • pretty well-respected school in SoCal
cons
  • huge move (across the country)
  • not the best rotation locations (I have gathered from previous SDN posts)
thank you guys/gals so much in advance I appreciate any and all feedback 🙂
 
Congrats on both! I also am deciding between PCOM and a few other schools too. From my research, PCOM is more reputable, it is older and therefore highly recognized. If you are worried about getting matched in the west coast, I do know two 3rd year PCOM students who are currently rotating (3rd year) in San Diego and San Fran (their hometowns). I know if you make the effort to rotate in your desired location, you can increase your chances for matching. If I were you, I would speak to someone at PCOM/WesternU's admissions and try to seek out more info. If you want to stay close to home, there is probably a way (that someone has done) to make it to the west coast for residency. Good luck with everything!
I also think you will find this forum really helpful:
Going to a med school on the east coast. Any advice on how to get a residency position at a UC?
 
Advertisement - Members don't see this ad
Phys/anat for each system first year, then path/micro/pharm for each system second year. Used to be just one pass per system essentially.