Pikeville SOM ???

[actnow]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

Pikeville has very low tuition which includes all fees, books, board prep, board costs, omt table, equipment; all at around 33K (~50K COA). They are ranked by USNEWS for best in rural medicine. The match list is above average IMO. Pikeville Medical Center just ranked # ONE(!) National Hospital of the Year. Year 3 and 4 can be done at any of the far ranging core sights (instead of having to move twice for rotations between years 3 and 4). PCSOM has high board pass rates. etc.


I write all these positive statements IMO because I am curious why pikeville doesn't seem to get the respect or sdn support it deserves. Is it because the school's mission is for the appalachian area? size of school? I am slightly outside this area from a big city and was accepted (but yet to commit). I have heard the same from others too.


I am aware of the negatives but I think the positives outweigh them. The campus is relatively small now but they are expanding very soon. The average gpa and mcat are on the lower side compared to others but this is contributed partly by giving priority to Kentucky residents so there mission of serving the appalachian area can be met.


I am just trying to get the overall perception of pikeville som. I am aware of the new dean and the past "problems" as mentioned on sdn. Everything seems to be headed in the right direction now.


Is there anything I am missing about the school?


Thanks for those willing to give their honest opinions!!

 

[PunkmedGirl]

Pikeville has very low tuition which includes all fees, books, board prep, board costs, omt table, equipment; all at around 33K (~50K COA). They are ranked by USNEWS for best in rural medicine. The match list is above average IMO. Pikeville Medical Center just ranked # ONE(!) National Hospital of the Year. Year 3 and 4 can be done at any of the far ranging core sights (instead of having to move twice for rotations between years 3 and 4). PCSOM has high board pass rates. etc.


I write all these positive statements IMO because I am curious why pikeville doesn't seem to get the respect or sdn support it deserves. Is it because the school's mission is for the appalachian area? size of school? I am slightly outside this area from a big city and was accepted (but yet to commit). I have heard the same from others too.


I am aware of the negatives but I think the positives outweigh them. The campus is relatively small now but they are expanding very soon. The average gpa and mcat are on the lower side compared to others but this is contributed partly by giving priority to Kentucky residents so there mission of serving the appalachian area can be met.


I am just trying to get the overall perception of pikeville som. I am aware of the new dean and the past "problems" as mentioned on sdn. Everything seems to be headed in the right direction now.


Is there anything I am missing about the school?


Thanks for those willing to give their honest opinions!!

You know, I'm interested in hearing about this as well. PCSOM has always been this big iffy to me and there is definitely a lack of information about the school that I'm very interested in reading.

 

[FutureCTDoc]

I think the lack of respect on SDN is for the following reasons A) it's newer B) it has lower academic standards C) it's location is poor D) it's affiliated with a smaller college as opposed to being affiliated with a major university. The school is considered one of the least selective DO schools which garners less respect. It's out of the way, most schools that attract top applicants are located in major metropolitan areas or on the coasts. The school has a relatively short track record. Better schools tend to be older, while some new schools are excellent that tends to be the exception rather than the rule. It is not affiliated with a major UG either.

 

[SAEbrodel]

^plenty of good reasons above, the biggest turn off for me was the town it was located in, it's very small and a little too rural for me, I was also put off by the low standards of the school as well, i'm sure it's a great fit for many people, it's just my cup of tea though

 

[MalachiConstant]

Some people may answer this saying the primary reason is the undesirable location, but LMU-DCOM gets plenty of recognition on these boards and compared to Harrogate, TN, Pikeville is a sprawling metropolis.

I think PCSOM suffers from a lack of prestige partly due to the low stats, and the dated facilities may be a turn off for some who interview. I nearly decided to attend there myself, but after much consideration, opted for OUCOM. The major concerns for me were ability to manage my time efficiently, as I have a family, and clinical education. Pikeville requires attendance to all lectures which I feel is a waste of time, and Ohio offers better options for 3rd and 4th years. Pikeville medical center is surprisingly impressive and the place looks like an upscale hotel inside, but most of the other KY hospitals they use for clinicals are quite the opposite. (though I can't speak of the actual quality of rotations, the hospitals are small and most interesting pathology gets sent elsewhere.)

Ultimately, the school is a good value and you'll be a doctor when you get done. To me, it should be an easy choice if deciding between someplace fancier but considerably more expensive like CCOM or WVSOM. In my case, cheap family housing at OUCOM nullified much of the disparity in cost of attendance, so I chose what I felt was the better school for me.

To summarize:

Pros:
cheap
lots of free stuff
faculty seemed helpful and were available for the students
I haven't seen this myself but have heard board scores and match lists are decent.
good anatomy lab ratios (4 students per cadaver)

Cons:
facilities are a bit dated, and they share the building with undergrads
no podcasts or videos of lectures
mandatory attendance
anatomy is all dissection, so lots of time wasted cutting before getting to what you want to see
clinical sites at small community hospitals (though this may allow you to actually do more, in spite of seeing less pathology)
no real research going on

There's also a strict dress code, though that shouldn't be a big deal. Something I found disturbing about the area was the number of pain clinics. Prescription drug abuse is a huge problem in that part of Kentucky.

That's about all I have for now, and I guess I should add the disclaimer that these are just the views of someone who has yet to actually start medical school, so others may be able to offer more or better insight.

MC

 

[actnow]

I think the lack of respect on SDN is for the following reasons A) it's newer B) it has lower academic standards C) it's location is poor D) it's affiliated with a smaller college as opposed to being affiliated with a major university. The school is considered one of the least selective DO schools which garners less respect. It's out of the way, most schools that attract top applicants are located in major metropolitan areas or on the coasts. The school has a relatively short track record. Better schools tend to be older, while some new schools are excellent that tends to be the exception rather than the rule. It is not affiliated with a major UG either.

For me I have acceptances to Pikeville and WVSOM right now (waiting on VCOM and others). In all reality though most students who attend Pikeville will only be there for the first 2 years, whereas at WVSOM and a good number of other DO schools you are required to do 3rd year rotations near the school/in the same state. My dilemma is paying 80k/year x 4 years at schools like WVSOM, when I am only PHYSICALLY going to be on campus for 2 years and then have to move twice instead of once at PCSOM, while payiing 50K per year (This is nothing new, brought up many times on sdn). So I guess my point is how much importance should really be given to the quality of facilities/location? 2 years you are done. What sticks with you is quality of education.

2) So when it comes down to the bones of it, does Pikeville have any disadvantages I should be aware of?



3) If I want to go into a more competitive specialty (like gas or rad - being that I work hard and have the board scores etc) do you think Pikeville's "not so great reputation" will have any "not so great" impact on matching?




Thanks for the inputs, appreciated!

 

[scdocusc]

the perception of PCSOM is that we have the lowest requirements for admissions which I know for a fact is no longer true. Maybe in 2003 or 2004 but since Dean Buser has taken over, the admissions requirements have been greatly revised and it is way more difficult. Our students regularly score over the 90th percentile on USMLE and do very well each year on COMLEX. Ultimately, it's a matter of passing and scoring well on the boards. This is what happens here. The facilities are being changed in the next year. We are in the process of building a new building and redoing the current building. As far as the anatomy lab goes. If you don't cut in anatomy lab then it is my feeling that you are short changed in school. I'm pretty sure you surgery rotation would be pretty tough if you have never cut into a body. Our town is small but like others say. Harrogate TN is smaller and no one ever says anything about that school. The city of pikeville has it's advantages and drawbacks. I'm very confident that my education here will give me an advantage in applying for residencies. It's a small class and more interactive, there is a true family feel here because we are in a small town and depend on eachother. I want to make the point that the list of med school MCAT averages floating out there is very wrong and out of date. As far as matching in competitive specialties? Our graduates have gone into ortho surgery, rads, derm, ENT, and others. Just look at residencies in south east and you'll find our graduates sprinkled in there. You're board score will get you a residency and not what school you went to. The rural rotations help you do more and you see plenty of pathology that you wouldn't see in a bigger city. As far as pain clinics go.... that really doesn't effect your education unless you go to one. I don't know if this has any affect on anything. Our school is new compared to PCOM or Midwestern ect. But not compared to schools like PCOM-GA, or DCOM, or VCOM ect. We're not exactly the school that is just starting up. Most of our faculty has been here since the school opened in 1997. Ultimately, you need to choose a school you are comfortable with. That's what I did and I'm happy.

 

[deleted285117]

I have an interview in Pikeville coming up, and I can't be more excited. People in that area need healthcare the most, so I am more than willing to go there for their sake (and I LOVE the small, family feel of the school). Just because it's a "newer" school doesn't mean it offers only a sub-par education. I have spoken to many nurses and doctors here in Northern KY and they say the Pikeville residents they've worked with are top-notch. I can definetely see myself there in the future 🙂

Good luck to everyone on applying! 👍

 

[MalachiConstant]

As far as the anatomy lab goes. If you don't cut in anatomy lab then it is my feeling that you are short changed in school.

I should clarify since I agree that cutting is important as well. I wouldn't want to go somewhere that was 100% prosection or had no cadaver lab at all. My preference though, is for a prosection/dissection setup as I think this is the most effective use of time, which for me and most other students will be a precious commodity.

As far as pain clinics go.... that really doesn't effect your education unless you go to one. I don't know if this has any affect on anything.

True, this shouldn't have any impact on your education. The patient population in the area was more of a concern for my wife who would be working as a nurse. Even then, it's more of an annoyance than anything.

I think if the school published more of the information you mention it might help ease some of the negative perceptions. I have to say the students I met there were enthusiastic and reported being happy overall, and I believe I would have been as well had circumstances played out differently for me.

MC

 

[missDO]

For me I have acceptances to Pikeville and WVSOM right now (waiting on VCOM and others). In all reality though most students who attend Pikeville will only be there for the first 2 years, whereas at WVSOM and a good number of other DO schools you are required to do 3rd year rotations near the school/in the same state. My dilemma is paying 80k/year x 4 years at schools like WVSOM, when I am only PHYSICALLY going to be on campus for 2 years and then have to move twice instead of once at PCSOM, while payiing 50K per year (This is nothing new, brought up many times on sdn). So I guess my point is how much importance should really be given to the quality of facilities/location? 2 years you are done. What sticks with you is quality of education.

Just an FYI--for WVSOM you get to choose one of 7 places where you can rotate throughout WV, Ohio, and I believe a large hospital in Michigan (Garden City?). During your 4th year, you can go wherever you want in the country.../world. You can also choose to remain at your location for both years 3 and 4, making your move total: once. Or even none at all--there is a location right in Greenbriar County for rotations, too. Just a heads up 🙂. I really liked what I researched on Pikeville when I was applying last year, though; I never got the chance to visit but I've heard good things about the school. To be honest, it sounds like you've nearly made your mind up already. Don't feel the need to continuously rationalize out loud in order to feel better about your decision--be confident and happy with your choice. The tuition difference alone is such a huge factor. Besides that enormous incentive, it sounds like your heart is already at PCSOM. Good luck with your decision 🙂

 

[FutureCTDoc]

Just an FYI--for WVSOM you get to choose one of 7 places where you can rotate throughout WV, Ohio, and I believe a large hospital in Michigan (Garden City?). During your 4th year, you can go wherever you want in the country.../world. You can also choose to remain at your location for both years 3 and 4, making your move total: once. Or even none at all--there is a location right in Greenbriar County for rotations, too. Just a heads up 🙂. I really liked what I researched on Pikeville when I was applying last year, though; I never got the chance to visit but I've heard good things about the school. To be honest, it sounds like you've nearly made your mind up already. Don't feel the need to continuously rationalize out loud in order to feel better about your decision--be confident and happy with your choice. The tuition difference alone is such a huge factor. Besides that enormous incentive, it sounds like your heart is already at PCSOM. Good luck with your decision 🙂

WVSOM and PCSOM both can do the Alabama Medical Education Consortium Program http://www.amec.uwa.edu/

 

[actnow]

Just an FYI--for WVSOM you get to choose one of 7 places where you can rotate throughout WV, Ohio, and I believe a large hospital in Michigan (Garden City?). During your 4th year, you can go wherever you want in the country.../world. You can also choose to remain at your location for both years 3 and 4, making your move total: once. Or even none at all--there is a location right in Greenbriar County for rotations, too. Just a heads up 🙂. I really liked what I researched on Pikeville when I was applying last year, though; I never got the chance to visit but I've heard good things about the school. To be honest, it sounds like you've nearly made your mind up already. Don't feel the need to continuously rationalize out loud in order to feel better about your decision--be confident and happy with your choice. The tuition difference alone is such a huge factor. Besides that enormous incentive, it sounds like your heart is already at PCSOM. Good luck with your decision 🙂

I have not made up my mind.

I am however trying to stir up conversation on Pikeville SOM because there is a lack of information here on SDN. It seems a little strange to me that there are so many positives about the school (from what information I have gathered and listed; also trying to validate them) and yet it is probably the least discussed osteopathic school on sdn. Again, is there anything I am missing about the school?

I was told at my interview by the faculty at WVSOM that you are assigned one of the "7 places" for 3rd year without being able to choose, and then you can go wherever 4th year. Thanks for correcting me if you are right 🙂, I guess they gave me misinformation.

I am not rationalizing out loud, I still have no idea where I will be going. I am trying to get more information out there about Pikeville for those who are seeking it. I mean no offense to WVSOM, I love that school!



Thanks futureCTdoc for posting that
😀

 

[docbulldog]

I have not made up my mind.

I am however trying to stir up conversation on Pikeville SOM because there is a lack of information here on SDN. It seems a little strange to me that there are so many positives about the school (from what information I have gathered and listed; also trying to validate them) and yet it is probably the least discussed osteopathic school on sdn. Again, is there anything I am missing about the school?

I was told at my interview by the faculty at WVSOM that you are assigned one of the "7 places" for 3rd year without being able to choose, and then you can go wherever 4th year. Thanks for correcting me if you are right 🙂, I guess they gave me misinformation.

I am not rationalizing out loud, I still have no idea where I will be going. I am trying to get more information out there about Pikeville for those who are seeking it. I mean no offense to WVSOM, I love that school!



Thanks futureCTdoc for posting that
😀

alright, here's the deal. i'll tell you what i know. i am a first year at PCSOM and i honestly could not be happier with the school. i have nothing but good things to say about the education i have received so far and would be willing to bet that it will remain that way through my time here. when talking about facilities, i can only tell you that the equipment and space/facilities we have work. they are not run down, they are not beat up. they are adequate for our uses and that's all i need. in my opinion, the anatomy lab is exactly what an anatomy lab should be. i can't begin to tell you how much one on one time i was given in the anatomy lab (on top of having only 4 students to a body). these professors want you to do the work and see everything. i wouldn't have aced anatomy if it hadn't been for the intricate lab dissection. it wasn't a waste of time, nor did it affect my studies. it was one of the greatest experiences of my life. as a previous poster said, the facilities are currently being updated and i can tell you they will be stellar.

now, onto why PCSOM doesn't get much play on here. we're in the middle of nowhere. the town is extremely small and quiet, but i can't imagine how difficult med school would be if i lived in a huge city. this place is so quiet that i can study outside! and it's beautiful. yes, there are a lot of pain centers here. that's what happens when a lot of people are in pain. this is a coal mining area and there are many medical problems that you simply will not see in other areas. i think that there was the release of some MCAT data a handful of years ago that put us as one of the lowest in acceptance stats. from what i know (and i know almost everyone in my class) the MCAT average from my class is pretty on par with most of the other osteo schools. for some reason, people think we're a "new" school. i don't really get that. there are a handful of other schools that nobody has a problem with (some of which have yet to receive accreditation) that are not even half our age. if you ask me, i think it has only to do with that MCAT stat release and the fact that pikeville is small and there is LITERALLY nothing to do.

look, you're going to pick the school that suits you. this school has a small class. i know all of my professors and they know me... by NAME! the people that run the school care about your education and will do everything in their power to make any problems better (not that i've had any). Dr. Buser is an excellent dean and has done amazing things for PCSOM and he will continue to make it even better for incoming classes.

in closing, when you're thinking about medical school, try to focus on what you want out of it. it's true... if you don't put in, you don't get anything back. yes, there are fancier med schools out there with brand new, state of the art facilities, anatomy table covers that are so shiny you could see a vampire's reflection in them, and all the bells and whistles anyone could ever want. personally, i couldn't care less. i don't see that stuff giving anybody an edge over anybody else. personally, i'm getting an edge from all the one on one time with my professors. and if you want to talk clinical experience, i have already done so much in my first semester that it freaks my other med school friends out. seriously, this place focuses more on clinical prep than any school i've checked out. by the time i hit rotations, i'm going to be set and then some. so, think about it. i'm proud to attend this school.

 

[scdocusc]

oh yeah. We have a pretty extensive human model program where first years are doing internal exams and physicals ect. The New building will house a brand new clinic devoted to just this program.

 

[missDO]

I have not made up my mind.

I am however trying to stir up conversation on Pikeville SOM because there is a lack of information here on SDN. It seems a little strange to me that there are so many positives about the school (from what information I have gathered and listed; also trying to validate them) and yet it is probably the least discussed osteopathic school on sdn. Again, is there anything I am missing about the school?

I was told at my interview by the faculty at WVSOM that you are assigned one of the "7 places" for 3rd year without being able to choose, and then you can go wherever 4th year. Thanks for correcting me if you are right 🙂, I guess they gave me misinformation.

I am not rationalizing out loud, I still have no idea where I will be going. I am trying to get more information out there about Pikeville for those who are seeking it. I mean no offense to WVSOM, I love that school!

Thanks futureCTdoc for posting that
😀

From my understanding, you list your "top 3" choices for a rotation site. The administration then does their very best to get you assigned to your top choice and from what I learned, most people do in fact get theirs. If there are several people interested in a certain location--more than that particular site can accommodate--then they do a lottery. Regardless, you're still getting one of your top picks, so it is not a complete arbitrary assignment.

In my first post, I was just relaying to you an outsider's perspective and how I interpreted your words. It merely seemed as if you're already swayed toward PCSOM, and if so, that's great. It makes things easier when you have some sort of a "gut feeling" versus being totally up in the air. If you are still at a loss with no preference, it makes the decision all too difficult. And...I took no offense toward WVSOM! I just wanted to give you some more information to help your decision. I wish I knew more about PCSOM.

It's funny how you feel there is a lack of info on PCSOM on SDN...I have felt that way about WVSOM since I discovered SDN last year. I'm not sure why it is, but they're just not as hyped up or talked about on here. Doesn't make either of them any less than what they are: two excellent osteopathic medical schools that will grant you those magic letters. I hope your decision becomes an easier one! Docbulldog's http://forums.studentdoctor.net/member.php?u=313816advice above seems incredibly helpful and insightful. I think he/she gives some excellent reasons behind PCSOM's (and the similarly rurally located WVSOM's) lack of SDN/overall hype. And I entirely agree with the advantage of studying in such a small, quite town. I went to undergrad at UM in Miami, FL...too many distractions.

Good luck 🙂

 

[docbulldog]

From my understanding, you list your "top 3" choices for a rotation site. The administration then does their very best to get you assigned to your top choice and from what I learned, most people do in fact get theirs. If there are several people interested in a certain location--more than that particular site can accommodate--then they do a lottery. Regardless, you're still getting one of your top picks, so it is not a complete arbitrary assignment.

In my first post, I was just relaying to you an outsider's perspective and how I interpreted your words. It merely seemed as if you're already swayed toward PCSOM, and if so, that's great. It makes things easier when you have some sort of a "gut feeling" versus being totally up in the air. If you are still at a loss with no preference, it makes the decision all too difficult. And...I took no offense toward WVSOM! I just wanted to give you some more information to help your decision. I wish I knew more about PCSOM.

It's funny how you feel there is a lack of info on PCSOM on SDN...I have felt that way about WVSOM since I discovered SDN last year. I'm not sure why it is, but they're just not as hyped up or talked about on here. Doesn't make either of them any less than what they are: two excellent osteopathic medical schools that will grant you those magic letters. I hope your decision becomes an easier one! Docbulldog's http://forums.studentdoctor.net/member.php?u=313816advice above seems incredibly helpful and insightful. I think he/she gives some excellent reasons behind PCSOM's (and the similarly rurally located WVSOM's) lack of SDN/overall hype. And I entirely agree with the advantage of studying in such a small, quite town. I went to undergrad at UM in Miami, FL...too many distractions.

Good luck 🙂

i think the lack of info is due to the lack of exposure which is due to the placement of both schools. seriously, email me with specific questions and i will be happy to help with any answers i can. [email protected]

 

[MalachiConstant]

So I have a pretty easy schedule this semester and too much free time. I looked at the number of page views and posts for each schools 2009-2010 discussion. PCSOM was second from last in both categories. Interestingly to me, at the bottom by a pretty significant margin was actually OUCOM. WVSOM was somewhere around the middle.

LMU, the one place more rural than Pikeville or Lewisburg and one of the least established DO schools has 1125 posts, the second most of all schools. Apparently being new and rural doesn't negatively impact discussion, or maybe since there's nothing else to do in Harrogate, they all just log on to SDN.

I'm not running any statistical analyses here, but it seems that the number of people talking about a school on SDN doesn't necessarily correlate with age, location, prestige or anything else really. So just because there's not a lot of talk doesn't mean there's anything wrong with a particular school. At least I hope not, since if it did, I'd be SOL.

MC

 

[actnow]

I'm not running any statistical analyses here, but it seems that the number of people talking about a school on SDN doesn't necessarily correlate with age, location, prestige or anything else really. So just because there's not a lot of talk doesn't mean there's anything wrong with a particular school.

MC

For me, I am not inferring that lack of of talk on sdn about a medical school = something wrong with it. Rather, it leaves some uncertainty about the school that creates a lot of questions from people who are seeking it and cannot find the info.

IMO, I bet there is a strong correlation between the size (# of students) and location (ie rural) of a medical school and how many posts (should look at number of authors also) and views are on each medical school (its actually common sense). I don't believe anything will be revealed if someone did the research because, it really doesn't matter in the end


??Does anyone know the recent boards pass rate at pcsom and any inside details on who matched into what/where. ?? The school does not have this info published anywhere.


Thanks to those who posted!!

 

[scdocusc]

I don't know the specific number but it hovers around low 90%'s I believe. Keep in mind smaller class size amplified the % changes. But it is historically pretty good. It varies from year to year for sure. But it's pretty good. Hope this helps