lI can't remember the last time I posted in the pre-osteo forums..... on a light rotation so what the hell...
I graduated from pcom and and now an intern...so take that bias for what it is. Also, I really don't know anything about DCOM. I'll go through point by point:
PCOM and LMU-DCOM are the two schools I am considering right now. I am leaning more towards DCOM. People think I am crazy to not go to PCOM due to its amazing reputation for being one of the best DO schools out there. However, I was more impressed with DCOM. My question is:
Exactly how important is the schools reputation in getting residencies (either osteo or allo)?
It is REGIONALLY very important...meaning that most of the residency programs & hospitals in the area have experience with pcom's students/residents/attendings and may feel more comfortable taking a "known entity". Outside of philly and the surrounding areas it is probably a wash for allopathic residency programs....as a DO school is a DO school. Most programs outside the area aren't going to gush over having a pcom grad as if he/she were from harvard or the like. If applying to an osteopathic program anywhere - the reputation can hold a lot of weight, as well as the likelihood that they have (hopefully) had good experiences w/ pcom grads in the past.
How should I make this decision? The most important factors to me are: Which school will prepare me best for theboard exams AND which school has the best rotations
both very important criteria, w/ the rotations being even more important.
Any help on how to make the decision would be much appreciated!
important
EXTREMELY important
moderately important
importance depends on the individual... good friends and family can make med school a whole lot more pleasant
important - a difference of a few grand a year is nothing... but > roughly 10K+/yr is definitely something to consider
in my opinion - the most highly over-rated criteria...as long as the place isn't a total dump it should make no difference in your decision
7. Class size (smaller classes better for individual assessment and cadaver time in anatomy)
regardless of how important it is to you and your career.....no one outside of the DO profession knows a damn thing about the "prestige" differences of DO schools. If you substitute prestige for something like "proven track record", then it may hold some water
DCOM wins. Their test questions are written in board-style format and some of the professors write for the boards. The school pays for them to take Kaplan's board review prep class as well as having access to the Kaplan Qbank starting in December. They have about 2 months off to study for boards (may and june)
formal board prep and enough time off are important...but nothing beats learning the material thoroughly the first time around during classes. I don't really know much about dcoms curriculum...but pcom certainly got the job done more then adequately. Regardless of the curriculum...it's up to each individual to learn their stuff well
PCOM wins. PCOM is known for their awesome rotation sites in the Philly area. I wouldnt have to move around much during 3rd and 4th years. Both schools have a big number of electives to take 3rd and 4th year. DCOM is a newer school and the 3rd years are the first group to rotate through hospitals. From what Ive heard, its been good so far and very organized.
PCOM's are pretty decent as far as DO schools go in this regard and I couldn't imagine having to move around significantly month to month.
Both are systems-based. However, I love how DCOM does their testing. You take the test, then you take the test with a group later in the day. I feel like this reinforces the information. Both schools have lots of early patient exposure.
On my interview day at PCOM, I talked to some 2nd year students (not the ambassadors) and they were complaining about disorganization of the 2nd year curriculum. I was kinda shocked by this since the school has been around for a long time!
I talked about this a little bit above...also things may have changed, as it's been 3 years since I was an M2, but I was satisfied w/ it at pcom.
Taking the test w/ a group actually doesn't sound like that bad of an idea from a learning standpoint....but personally I'd rather gouge my eyes out then look at the test again later in the day after spending hours on it earlier in the day. Unless of course you went to happy hour before coming back....
PHILLY!! I love Philadelphiahands down! Also, I have family in the area.
nothing to add
Comparable. 37K vs 34K (I think)
(although cost of living in philly is more expensive)
talked about this above....and it basically is a wash here. If you were deciding b/w these figures and TCOM's....you'd be crazy not to go w/ the lower
I was much more impressed with LMU-DCOM
but, it IS a newer school. PCOM had an amazing athletic center though!!
as above
- DCOM has a smaller class size and a very family-like feel. It seems like the students really get to know the professors and each other.
The large class size didn't seem to make a difference as things like anatomy, labs, omm, etc were always broken up into small groups/section...and lecture is lecture regardless of how many people are quietly listening. Then again...I didn't experience a small class size (and went to PSU for undergrad)...so maybe I don't know what I'm missing
- Prestige. PCOM is known to be one of the best and oldest DO schools out there. It has an amazing reputation--most people seem to agree that PCOM is always in the top 5 Osteopathic schools and better than many Allopathic schools as well.
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as above
hope that helps and good luck w/ your decision
