I’m from the Seattle area (fam is there) and moved to Boise for undergrad where I have lived for quite a while. That being said I have ties to both WA and ID. I got into both ICOM and PNWU and need help deciding. I’ve highlighted some pros and cons that I have found by talking to various people but I am open to more insight.
ICOM:
Pros:
Pros:
ICOM:
Pros:
- I live in Boise and have a place already so it’s not stress of moving. (I do pay rent.. not with family)
- The campus is by far better than PNWU imo, and the technology aspects are pretty cool.
- Interactions with staff have been positive and mostly positive things form current and former students.
- Boise is a more urban area compared to Yakima with more things to do and more opportunities.
- Only has a DO program as sole focus.
- No federal aid still… they’re saying they will likely get approval for spring 2024 and will allow us to switch our loans for federal but we will for sure have 1 semester or private.
- Cost of living is pretty expensive in Boise.
- Newer school though they just graduated their second class with pretty good stats overall.
- Rotations are pretty far away and haven’t heard of a lot of people being happy with the raffle system. Only 30% of students can stay in the Boise area.
Pros:
- Well established school within its service region.
- Interactions with faculty have been positive.
- Federal loans
- In Washington closer to my family in Seattle.
- Yakima is extremely remote with much less to do.
- Rotations can be far away and seems like current / former students have complained about this multiple times.
- Concerned for research opportunities especially since the focus is very heavy on PC and rural medicine.
- Multiple health professions which I was told by a former student it was packed and felt like they were spread a bit thin faculty wise.