Pikeville Campus?

[everlastingfrui]

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Has anyone visited PCSOM or know anything about the school and its facilities?
Anything would be helpful...thanks in advance 🙂

 

[Aaron Earles]

I am a current second year student at PCSOM. It is a nice campus. We are getting ready to move into our new OPP lab sometime in January. They are still putting the finishing touches on the building.

It is a great school with a lot of positives. What did you want to know in particular?

 

[everlastingfrui]

I am curious as to the support system and overall friendliness of the staff as well as fellow students? What is the Pikeville like, what is there to do?
Thanks

 

[drgreeneatutk]

I am curious as to the support system and overall friendliness of the staff as well as fellow students? What is the Pikeville like, what is there to do?
Thanks

Hey Everlast,
You'll probably get more info out of aaron since he goes to Pikeville but I thought I'd drop my opinion of the school down to. I interviewed there in september and have been accepted. It is also probably where I will go. The "niceness" of the campus depends on what you are looking for I suppose. It's not the most immpressive campus ever, but certinly sufficient to meet the students needs. In addition to the new OPP lab that aaron spoke of, they were also completing a new first and/or (cant remember) second year lecture hall when we toured and it will be nice. There is alot of housing within walking or short driving distance to the school which is also nice. I interviewed at PCOM-GA after pikeville and there facilities are "WOW" with the newness and the technology ect... and pikeville wont wow you with it's buildings. HOWEVER, the people were awesome!!! All the first years and second years and profs and administartors that I met were great. Extremely down to earth, supportive, laid back, non-competitive, and there to help each other succeed. The support system seems well in order. Other students seem to help out alot and the profs have an open door policy at all times. They appearantly give you their home phone #'s so you can call if you have questions at any time. I interviewed with the Anatomy prof and the bioethics prof and I liked them alot. Anyway, if you have any questions from someone who's been there but doesn't go there (yet) let me know. I had a couple PM's with Aaron before my interview with questions I had and he was very helpful (he seems to be a good representation of what the class is like). Anyway, I liked PCOM-GA, but not as much as PCSOM and the feel of the environment there impressed me alot. I think the only other school I applied to that I would choose over PCSOM at this point is UT memphis (my state MD school) for finnicial and clinical clerkship reasons. Hope this helped

 

[Jack Daniel]

HOWEVER, the people were awesome!!! ... Extremely down to earth, supportive, laid back, non-competitive, and there to help each other succeed.

I'd sure have to agree with this comment--
I visited the school a while back (I'm originally from a nearby area) and left thinking it was an environment in which I could thrive. PCSOM is truly filling a needed role in that part of Appalachia, and I think it is demonstrated in the students.

 

[JMCarpenter]

Hey,
I'm a first year at PCSOM right now... so hopefully I can answer *some* of your questions 🙂

As for the facilities, the first years just moved into our revamped classroom a few weeks ago and the new OPP lab should be done soon. I don't think there are any plans in the works to do anything to the 2nd year classroom (Aaron, correct me if I'm wrong here) because it's still relatively new itself. All of our rooms aren't exactly the "state of the art" that you might find at other schools, but they definitely serve their purpose 🙂

I would have to agree with the previous poster(s) in saying that PCSOM didn't blow me away with the buildings/campus when I came here on my interview... instead it was the people and the atmosphere that completely drew me in. The first day of orientation... the first thing every single person will tell you here is that competition ended with acceptance. I've had such a wonderful experience so far in school because everyone really teams up to help one another and it's not at all like the cut-throat rat race that's sometimes depicted in the media of med school.

I would have to say to get a full opinion of PCSOM and Pikeville, you'd really have to visit. If you have any more specific questions, please feel free to PM me (or Aaron 🙂 ). I'd be happy to help in any way.

Oh, and congrats to drgreeneatutk for your acceptance!!

 

[GrinchPM]

I'm also a first year. I did a postbacc at Drexel's Medical school and literally took classes with their first years so I have a school to honestly compare Pikeville to. Pikeville FAAAAAAR surpasses Drexel as far as supportive and conducive environment to study. I am learning all my material much more thouroughly at Pikeville because professors meet with us on weekends, they are always there, the class size is so much smaller and everyone helps each other above and beyond what's expected. (my personal experience of course)

All of that said, the facilities at Pikeville are another story. Yes, we first years just moved into our "new" classroom, which is really not a good room at all. It's actually uncomfortable with very poor wireless connection and tiny little fold out desks that can't even fit a full piece of paper (like our exams!!) You have to often put your exam on your lap and your bubble sheet on the little desk thing). The negative thing about Pikeville is that the fastest internet in the whole town is still pretty slow and there are always tech problems during class and people seem pretty disorganized about anything regarding computers or facilities. The construction here takes forever. They told us this new OPP lab would be open last year when I was interviewing so basically I wouldn't count on it. I pass by the construction site often and no one is even working on it.

But Pikeville has BIG perks. Honestly I think the campus itself is actually very beautiful! The mountains are gorgeous!! And you CANNOT beat the rent in the area. It's soooo cheap and many stiudents get Section 8 housing (NO wait list in Pikeville and GREAT apartment, sometimes better than regular apartments). I have sectin 8 housing, love my apartment and my "rent" contribution is $25/month. The gov. pays the rest for me. All you have to do is say you have no income (cause you're a student). Anyway, I know of no other place that give Section 8 to students.

When considering Pikeville, you will have to consider what's most important to you: reliable technology and good facilities or great education/faculty and a great learning environment.

To me, I'd take the second choice by far! Being at Pikeville, I know I'll be the the most knowledgeable physician I possible.

 

[everlastingfrui]

To all who replied-
Thanks you so much for all of your input! I really appreciate it, this is the kind of info everyone wants but can't get from a school website! It sounds like a great school (I don't care about the facilities)! I much more care about the people and the environment in which I am in. Originally, I was somewhat interested in Atlanta PCOM only because it is relatively close (I go to UTK now) as well as PCSOM. Now, though, from all of the input from everyone it seems as though I would definitely thrive in Pikeville compared to Atlanta!
Thanks again to all of you!
Good luck to ya!