Reconsidering WVSOM Interview

[Hatman]

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So...I will be the first to admit that I applied to a lot of Osteo schools hoping I get into at least one. I finally get an interview and its at WVSOM....which is in the middle of NOWHERE! The damn population of the city is 3,900 and it would take me 4 connecting flights to even get there! The interview sheet says there is no cab service and I would have to find my own transportation to the school. I assume enterprise or budget car sales is out of the question. Anyone know anything about this school or town its in?!?

 

[dr.kicia]

So...I will be the first to admit that I applied to a lot of Osteo schools hoping I get into at least one. I finally get an interview and its at WVSOM....which is in the middle of NOWHERE! The damn population of the city is 3,900 and it would take me 4 connecting flights to even get there! The interview sheet says there is no cab service and I would have to find my own transportation to the school. I assume enterprise or budget car sales is out of the question. Anyone know anything about this school or town its in?!?

I also got an interview there and i am ecstatic about it...and if accepted i would love to attend😍. I think the school is amazing from what i gathered from their website, students and SDN. I love the area (google it)! I think it is absolutely beautiful and for me it reminds me of the Bieszczady mountains in Poland where i grew up. It definelty has a home like feeling to me from just the pictures i could see online. And that is sooo important for me because i do not want to feel lonely or depressed while i need to be concentrating on studying. Besides the school is #1 in the whole nation as far as primary adn rural medicine programs go! And they have super high tech facilities, great anatomy lab and Otto (an electronic patient🙂).

There is plenty of things to do in Lewisburg if you are an outdoor kind of person and I was amazed how many of my hobbies I can do over there. Even my dad who is in Poland after I called him about the interview said that i will love over there and that they have awsome hiking, mountain biking and skiing areas...and horses
As crazy is it may sound I even researched the houses in the area today😀

But i know for everyone there is something different. I suggest you read their website and interview feedback on SDN to find out what students who visited school thought about it. One thing i noticed is that all students who go there geniuanly love their school and that stuff and faculty bend out backwards to help their students succeed. I know their OOS tuition is crazy but i think that money should be the last reason in choosing the school.
Best of luck to you no matter what decission you will make but i encourage you to attend an interview. And yes flight connections suck over there...i decided to drive instead but you can also try close by airports...and even if it takes 4 different flights to get there...hey! you made it so far in the med school application process...that is just a slight inconvienience comparing to mcat, aacomas, nerve wracking waiting and all other things you would want to add to the list! You never know...you may end up loving the school after all so don't cross it off just yet.

 

[dr.kicia]

oh and there were few students on the interview feedback page talking about a limo service from the airport...so i am sure you can figure it out.
What day is your interview? If i am there same day i could definetly give you a ride since i will be in the area 🙂

 

[Hatman]

THanks for the info....my interview is on Sept 23rd....I am just worried about residency opportunities etc.....growing up in Chicago is quite different

 

[dr.kicia]

THanks for the info....my interview is on Sept 23rd....I am just worried about residency opportunities etc.....growing up in Chicago is quite different

i am in Chicago😀
if you can drive it is not too bad...like 10 hour drive. My interview is on the 19th so i will be going there on 18th and then leave back after my interview.
As for the residency check out the AOA site and see what residencies WVSOM grads get...most go into primary/rural residencies with emphasis on OMM (that is what i am interested in) but I have seen few grads even on myspace (yes i am that resourceful LOL) who are in ER, Rads etc...so it all depends on YOU! No school will get good boards scores for you or elective rotations, contacts and LORs. They also have a PBL program which sounds really cool and could help those who are more independent thinkers and into more competetive specialieties.
Read their web, ask questions on WVSOM thread in medical forums or email Angie and you will get a better idea about school.
If i were you i would accept the offer...you have nothing to loose and you may really like the school

 

[DyersEve]

I interviewed at WVSOM in Feb. It's a very nice school. The people there were very friendly. It seemed that the faculty, students and administration all got along very well. They repeatedly told us about the sense of family they feel there and they were doing a hell of an acting job if they were lying about that. The facilities were pretty impressive too. It was among the more impressive DO schools I've visited.

I thought the town was alright. Believe me, it is far better than some of the towns that other osteopathic med schools are located in. However, my judgment might not be relevant to you as I attended college in the same region (I only had to drive 2 hours to get there). I could see it being kinda crappy for someone who has grown accustomed to life in a big, cosmopolitan city.

The interview was a pretty painless affair. They interview applicants in two sessions: morning and afternoon. I was among the morning applicants. After that, we went on a tour and then we were taken out to lunch by 3 students. After lunch we came back to campus and then we heard presentations about clinicals and then about the problem based learning option. After that, the morning interviewees were free to go and they interviewed the afternoon people.

The big con about WVSOM is the hideous tuition they charge out of state students. I remember looking at their cost of attendance packets and cringing. Even the interview fee is doubled for out of state applicants. You can't even become eligible for in-state tuition as your status is determined by where you lived PRIOR to matriculation. Even if I had got in (I got wait-listed), I don't think I would have seriously considered it unless it was my only choice.

 

[Doctor Bagel]

Here's a tip about trying to get there -- don't fly into Lewisburg. I think most people fly into either Roanoke, VA or Charleston, WV. You should be able to get to both of those airports with only one connection because both have major airlines, and they both have all the big car rental people. Both are about a 2 hour drive away from the school. Unless you have an SO who needs to find a job or you're already sitting on an acceptance, I'd recommend going.

 

[DiverDoc]

For transportation I am using hertz rental car. They allow males under 25 to rent a car, but its more expensive. Oh well, its an investment right !

 

[dancinRN1022]

hiya....

I called one of the hotels to inquire about how to get back and forth...I am from NYC and I don't drive at all... I can save your life and push all sorts of medications and deliver your baby but don't expect me to drive you to the hospital...with that being said I made arrangements because I had to!...🙂... I am flying into lewisburg...from nyc its only 1 connecting flight in atl... my hotel has a free airport shuttle... then the horrible part is the car service fee... I am hiring a driver to literally drive me five mins each way..and it will be $$118.00 ... I asked the receptionist in the hotel how far away my hotel was and she said five mins... I was almost happy because I am used to walking everywhere...until she said no sidewalks🙂 isn't that an essential part of a town??? anyway...you will kick youself if you don't go to your interview...its early...and if u want to be a doctor bad enough it will be okay...atleast you aren't going to the carribean just yet🙂

my bf is a podiatrist...so I hope he can find a job down there...but maybe we can live in va and commute...I have no clue..in any event I am pretty happy about the interview and my flight is all booked and ready to go!! good luck..you can om if you need details on getting bacn and forth... I did extensive research🙂

Mel🙂

 

[Sarikate]

I loved this school. Was my second or third choice but the tuition was exorbitant and my fiance couldn't go to grad school there. The admissions staff was AWESOME. You can stay at this B&B there, down the street from the school (Lewisburg Inn, or something like that); the guy who ran it was absolutely hysterical. The place was haunted and beautiful and insane. Go for it and have fun!

 

[JJ18]

I am currently a student at WVSOM. The school is absolutely fantastic. The faculty and staff are just as nice as the admissions staff, the students are fantastic (a very noncompetitive environment) and it is just overall a great place to study medicine. If you are planning on coming into town I would suggest staying at the Brier Inn or the Lewisburg Inn. I promise if you take a look around town you wont' be disappointed. I'm from NJ and I wouldn't be down here if I thought I couldn't adjust to the small town atmosphere. More people that go to school here are from out of state than WV and it's a great mix of people. If you have any more questions feel free to PM me! 🙂

-Jaime Jump
OMS I
WVSOM 2011

 

[Richie Truxillo]

If money is an issue, fly into Charleston, WV and then rent a car for less. You take 77 south from Charleston, pick up I-64 east at beckley and then take the Lewisburg Exit to the school. As for a hotel, the Hampton Inn is nice but if you want some character the General Lewis Inn is fantastic.

I'm currently a 4th year student at WVSOM (PBL track) and felt I got a good education. Since I am out of state (Wilmington, NC Native), the tuition is arse-rapingly high but with the cash you can make as a doctor, and all of the loan incentives out there, it's not hard to pay off. They have a 0% loan default rate at the school as far as I know.

Go to the interview. I orignally was going to goto ECU or Chapel Hill but my best friend talked me into WVSOM since he was a first year there. I haven't regretted my decision yet (though lower tuition would have been nice).

Oh and before you ask, I passed my boards first go around.

-Richie

 

[SmallTownEMT]

I'm really looking forward to interviewing there! The place is bigger than where I did my undergrad work, which has a population of 2000. I have a friend that I graduated with starting there this year, and he says that there's a Wal-Mart and such right in town. I'm not used to these things!

Give the small town thing a try- you might like it more than you think. I find it works well for getting to know your friends really well and being a part of a community.

 

[Hatman]

I must say that all these good things are making me want to go to the interview but I am still considering...I am from Phoenix and it would take at least 2 connecting flights and over 800 bucks for this interview....not to mention that I have received 3 other interviews (TUCOM-NV, Western, and NSUCOM) I am feeling rather lucky considering my MCAT was a 25 after 3 whole tries...u guys still think I should go with 3 other early interviews? I would think that I could get at least one acceptance from these schools (nearer to my hometown minus NSU). What you guys think?

 

[MaximusD]

I must say that all these good things are making me want to go to the interview but I am still considering...I am from Phoenix and it would take at least 2 connecting flights and over 800 bucks for this interview....not to mention that I have received 3 other interviews (TUCOM-NV, Western, and NSUCOM) I am feeling rather lucky considering my MCAT was a 25 after 3 whole tries...u guys still think I should go with 3 other early interviews? I would think that I could get at least one acceptance from these schools (nearer to my hometown minus NSU). What you guys think?

Nothing is guaranteed. Go to the interview... if you dont get into either of those schools you'll kick yourself for not going to the WVSOM interview. JMHO.

WVSOM was the first school to which I was accepted. Never have I met nicer people than those who were in Lewisburg. I stayed at the General Lewis Inn for 60 bucks!!! Let them know you are interviewing at WVSOM and they'll give you a 50% discount. Also, for travel make sure that you are letting the travel companies know if you are a AAA member... you can easily get a 10-15 percent discount that way...

I dont know why it's gonna cost you 800 to fly there... I flew from Harrisburg to O'Hare roundtrip for my CCOM interview and it was like 300.

Like someone said previously, try different airports and then rent a car and drive teh last hour or two. At our age you can rent a car but it's usually 10-20$ additional per day.

Best of luck and REMEMBER that nothing is guaranteed during this process.