RVU vs LECOM Erie?

[kjsef alkj]

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How to choose?

 

[LuluMed]

How to choose?

1. which did you like better on interview day?
2. which has been around longer? - more established
3. which is cheaper?
4. which is closer to home?

Just some things that you can take into consideration!

 

[Dr. Hopeful]

Where do you live/where would you like to practice? If you're a resident in either of the states of these schools, I'd choose that school. If you're not, I think it really comes down to curriculum. I know RVU had some of the highest board scores in the country when Dr. Dubin was their dean, but he's not there anymore. If they still use the same curriculum that was there with Dr. Dubin, I would choose RVU, just because you're getting a tried and proven curriculum that will help you achieve very competitive board scores. BUT if you're into PBL, it's been shown that students studying in the PBL pathway have gotten great board scores as well at all of the LECOM sites.

1.) Pick your in state school. If there is none, then...
2.) Pick the curriculum you feel most comfortable with.

 

[ToKingdomCome]

Lecom erie

 

[user3]

I would only choose LECOM if it was PBL. If your only option is their lecture pathway, choose RVU.

 

[Prncssbuttercup]

RVU still uses the same curriculum. We have higher board scores and very successful matches. I had the same choice, I chose RVU. There's no dress code, not as many rules like LECOM-E has. Idk, our staff came from LECOM, Nova, and other good schools...

 

[hallowmann]

Both will get you where you need to go. This really comes down to a personal choice. PBL and DSP at LECOM are very good, but these two schools are practically in different worlds, so it really comes down to what you prefer, where you'd like to be, etc.

FYI, both seem to have very high board scores and board pass rates compared to the "average" DO school.

 

[WingedOx]

I still don't trust the Tien family.

LECOM all the way.

 

[Prncssbuttercup]

But you'll trust the owners of lecom? You're being fooled...

 

[kjsef alkj]

Thank you all for your advice. It seems like support is leaning towards RVU... why do you think it has shifted since this post? http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/rvu-lecom-or-saba.797967/

 

[kjsef alkj]

Where do you live/where would you like to practice? If you're a resident in either of the states of these schools, I'd choose that school. If you're not, I think it really comes down to curriculum. I know RVU had some of the highest board scores in the country when Dr. Dubin was their dean, but he's not there anymore. If they still use the same curriculum that was there with Dr. Dubin, I would choose RVU, just because you're getting a tried and proven curriculum that will help you achieve very competitive board scores. BUT if you're into PBL, it's been shown that students studying in the PBL pathway have gotten great board scores as well at all of the LECOM sites.

1.) Pick your in state school. If there is none, then...
2.) Pick the curriculum you feel most comfortable with.

Don't they both use a systems based curriculum though?

 

[Deranged Medic]

Colorado vs. Pennsylvania? That's not even a question for me. RVU all the way; plus you won't have the awful LECOM rules!

 

[ortnakas]

1. which did you like better on interview day?
2. which has been around longer? - more established
3. which is cheaper?
4. which is closer to home?

Just some things that you can take into consideration!

You can get a good education at either-- pick with these considerations. Don't ignore the tuition difference. If RVU is a better "fit" for you that's understandable, go for it, but ~$15K per year more, plus interest, is a lot.

 

[Prncssbuttercup]

Happiness is worth 60k over four years. Denver is pretty great, especially the weather compared to "dreary Erie"...

 

[hallowmann]

Thank you all for your advice. It seems like support is leaning towards RVU... why do you think it has shifted since this post? http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/rvu-lecom-or-saba.797967/

That post was made before RVU had even graduated a class. That's the difference. Now compared to other newer DO schools RVU is mid range. Some people, like myself, don't like that they're "for-profit" on top of their already high tuition, but that has little to do with education.

Before it was a clear answer because only one had a record of successful graduates, now both do, so it comes down to less important things like "weather", region of the country, etc. all of which are very subjective things. Some people might hate one area, so you'll hear them chant how one is better than the other.

Honestly, if it were me, I'd go to the cheaper one and/or the one closer to my family (fortunately for me that choice was the same). Cheaper because I like not being all that worried about doing PC if it's what I want the most (I see too many people making their debt a major deciding factor of what they'll do), and closer to home, because it'll be easier for me to come home if something happens with my family that needs me to be there.

Happiness is worth 60k over four years. Denver is pretty great, especially the weather compared to "dreary Erie"...

We obviously know your choice, but the truth is when it comes to the actual quality of education, the differences are negligible.

These generally meaningless attributes (like weather) are pretty subjective either way, so it's really up to OP, because no matter what you'll find people who prefer one over the other.

 

[MedicineMan99]

It doesn't matter. Both are legit DO schools. Go to whichever is best for you.

 

[ortnakas]

Happiness is worth 60k over four years. Denver is pretty great, especially the weather compared to "dreary Erie"...

Totally a fair point-- I actually lived in Colorado for several years and love it there, so I would never discourage anyone from going there! Geography is the main criteria for a lot of people, and that's totally fine. But I see too many posts about going to your first choice regardless of cost, and I think the difference in debt load (and like Hallowman said, its implications on choosing a specialty) should at least be considered a factor.

 

[acapnial]

Thank you all for your advice. It seems like support is leaning towards RVU... why do you think it has shifted since this post? http://forums.studentdoctor.net/threads/rvu-lecom-or-saba.797967/

People used to go nuts about the "evil for profit medical school." "Evil", "trash", "third tier" were all terms that were used pretty regularly when people talked about RVU in the old days of that thread. It was ridiculous. RVU is a good program now and was then too... people just got so upset about its profit status that they were willing to exaggerate or totally make up negative things about the school.

Hallowmann has a good point about LECOM being cheaper, and the price difference is just big enough that I wouldn't write it off without some serious thought. Having said that, if you would be happier at RVU then the added expense would be totally worth it. I would choose RVU, but I did, so obviously I'm biased.


To sum up: I guess there's no reason to NOT go to either school? Just go with your gut.

 

[Prncssbuttercup]

That post was made before RVU had even graduated a class. That's the difference. Now compared to other newer DO schools RVU is mid range. Some people, like myself, don't like that they're "for-profit" on top of their already high tuition, but that has little to do with education.

Before it was a clear answer because only one had a record of successful graduates, now both do, so it comes down to less important things like "weather", region of the country, etc. all of which are very subjective things. Some people might hate one area, so you'll hear them chant how one is better than the other.

Honestly, if it were me, I'd go to the cheaper one and/or the one closer to my family (fortunately for me that choice was the same). Cheaper because I like not being all that worried about doing PC if it's what I want the most (I see too many people making their debt a major deciding factor of what they'll do), and closer to home, because it'll be easier for me to come home if something happens with my family that needs me to be there.



We obviously know your choice, but the truth is when it comes to the actual quality of education, the differences are negligible.

These generally meaningless attributes (like weather) are pretty subjective either way, so it's really up to OP, because no matter what you'll find people who prefer one over the other.

Here's the thing; LECOM is a pseudo non-profit. The owners own the land the schools sit on, and the school has to pay 'rent payments' to the owners every month. They own the apartments that were built across the street from LECOM-B so you can pay them tuition AND rent. Let's also add the $1500 non-refundable fee to hold your space. Don't think for one lousy second that the owners of LECOM aren't out to make money. They just do it in super shady ways that allow the school to look great, and them to make nearly 7 figures each every year. As for RVU's tuition, not really sure where it's 'already high' 45k is pretty mid-pack for DO schools. Yeah, LECOM's 30k is cheaper, but RVU is certainly not the highest out there, nor is it exorbitant. As for the weather, ummm.... A lot of people don't want to live where winter lasts 5-6 months of the year, and gets feet of snow in a snowfall on a regular basis. Erie is considered one of the snowiest cities in the US and actually gets WAY more snow than Denver. In addition to it being considerably colder than Denver. So, while it's all well and good for you to say weather isn't important, to a lot of people it is.

 

[kjsef alkj]

Thank you all for your input. I grew up in Colorado, and it seems that RVU is much more invested in the success and happiness of their students than LECOM. However, for whatever reason, I just didn't feel a "click" there. Plus I love snow, so no problems there with Erie. I also feel that I may be interested in pediatrics, so the cost difference is definitely something to pay attention to. I think it ends up being closer to $20k than $15k when you account for the cost of living difference as well.

Still, I don't feel conclusively about either school, so I have just paid the $250 deposit to hold my spot at RVU and buy myself another month of indecision. Any further advice would, of course, be welcomed, thank you.

 

[kjsef alkj]

PS - I'm in the LDP pathway. I'm not sure why LDP seems to be getting put down, but I'm pretty sure LDP is better for me than PBL or DSP would be anyways. At least I'm confident about one thing.

 

[Prncssbuttercup]

PS - I'm in the LDP pathway. I'm not sure why LDP seems to be getting put down, but I'm pretty sure LDP is better for me than PBL or DSP would be anyways. At least I'm confident about one thing.

The reason people don't like the lecture pathway is that it's mandatory and they take attendance, you have to dress up everyday to be at school, you cannot eat or drink in the lecture halls, and people have said you're generally treated like 5 year olds. If you're learning style is lecture oriented versus reading, lecture will be better for you. RVU doesn't have mandatory lectures for the most part (there are a few that are), you can watch them at home on double speed or 1.5x if you wish, you can go in your pajamas, you can eat in the lecture hall, and have coffee or whatever, and even at the mandatory lectures they rarely take attendance, but if you get called on and you're not there, you're busted. To me, that is what makes RVU the better option for lectures.

Another thought is that with LECOM YOU are required to set up all your rotations (at least that was their policy in 2011). At RVU you don't have to worry about it. If you want to set up rotations, you can, if you don't want to you don't have to. Additionally, if you want to set up all your rotations in a different area, you're welcome to do that. I have friends rotating with their families in PA and TX. As long as you can get everything that is required, you're allowed to do it... So with RVU, for rotations, you get the best of both worlds. Flexibility if you want it, or reliability if you want it!

 

[kalat]

The reason people don't like the lecture pathway is that it's mandatory and they take attendance, you have to dress up everyday to be at school, you cannot eat or drink in the lecture halls, and people have said you're generally treated like 5 year olds. If you're learning style is lecture oriented versus reading, lecture will be better for you. RVU doesn't have mandatory lectures for the most part (there are a few that are), you can watch them at home on double speed or 1.5x if you wish, you can go in your pajamas, you can eat in the lecture hall, and have coffee or whatever, and even at the mandatory lectures they rarely take attendance, but if you get called on and you're not there, you're busted. To me, that is what makes RVU the better option for lectures.

Another thought is that with LECOM YOU are required to set up all your rotations (at least that was their policy in 2011). At RVU you don't have to worry about it. If you want to set up rotations, you can, if you don't want to you don't have to. Additionally, if you want to set up all your rotations in a different area, you're welcome to do that. I have friends rotating with their families in PA and TX. As long as you can get everything that is required, you're allowed to do it... So with RVU, for rotations, you get the best of both worlds. Flexibility if you want it, or reliability if you want it!

I hate to derail the topic here, but how difficult is it to set up rotations of reasonable quality by oneself? Is this an actual problem or more of an inconvenience? I always see people mentioning it off hand.

 

[acapnial]

I hate to derail the topic here, but how difficult is it to set up rotations of reasonable quality by oneself? Is this an actual problem or more of an inconvenience? I always see people mentioning it off hand.

The short answer is that it's harder than you'd think.

 

[Prncssbuttercup]

I hate to derail the topic here, but how difficult is it to set up rotations of reasonable quality by oneself? Is this an actual problem or more of an inconvenience? I always see people mentioning it off hand.

It depends on where & who. Some people don't have trouble, but it's not a guarantee to be easy & it's all YOUR legwork. So while you're supposed to be studying you have to set up rotations.