RVUCOM-CO vs ACOM

[prehealthboi]

Hello,

I've recently been accepted into both schools and am having a hard time deciding where to put my deposit. I mainly want more clarity on third year rotation sites as I've heard in other programs this can be a nightmare; also, how the school prepares and views students taking both the USMLE/COMLEX or one over the other.

RVUCOM-CO

Pros

• Board and Match Numbers are amazing
• No mandatory attendance
• Denver/Parker is more liberal and a bigger city

Cons

• unclear on 3rd year rotation sites (hit/miss, you have to pay to rotate at CU Med?)
• Cost of living is much higher
• Faculty seemed a bit disconnected from students/two campuses
• For-Profit status (heard mixed things after doing some research)

ACOM

Pros

• Amazing rotation sites that are established/one campus
• Faculty genuinely seemed interested in students’ feedback and development
• Students had nothing bad to say about the school

Cons

• 60% mandatory attendance
• Location, Culture shock, Lifestyle

Would love if students at either program can comment and share their experiences! Thank you 🙂

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[drstranger]

Current ACOM student let me know if you have any questions

 

[Highland Laddie]

RVU, but that's just my own biased personal opinion.

I've been to both Alabama and Colorado, and I'd pick Colorado simply because of the location and no other factor. Colorado is beautiful with a mountain backdrop while Alabama is a literal swamp. I wish I qualified to apply to Rocky Mountain, but I didn't meet their strict class requirements.

You'll be there for 2-4 years at least. I'd love to be able to get some studying on the back porch with the mountains as my view. Just something to consider!

 

[SkyHighMig25]

Students had nothing bad to say about the school

This is a red flag.

• No mandatory attendance - this is a huge positive factor. This is in line with other, established MD schools. This gives you the autonomy you need as a graduate student. This really cannot be stated enough.

Colorado is more in-line and "in-time" with the rest of the nation, while south Alabama is a step (or a few) in the opposite direction. And each school is a product of the local community.

 

[m1redsox]

The only thing I would say is that your big “pro” for ACOM about “amazing” clinical rotation sites may just be a lot of student hype. Their students have to scatter all around AL, MS, and FL for rotations. My buddy is now in rural Mississippi for his 3rd year instead of in Dothan. They do not have many spots for students right there in town. This is prettymuch universally seen as a negative aspect since students will be forced to move and find new housing halfway through med school, so my guess is that RVU’s rotations are actually stronger than ACOM’s. Besides, RVU is much more established and matches fairly well while ACOM is still getting their footing.

I understand the hesitation for liberal Denver, but in all reality, I’m in the South for med school, and regardless of where you go, academia will harbor a liberal environment.

Combine that with non-mandatory lecture attendance, and I think RVU is your winner.

Plus, flying in/out of Dothan is $$$ while Denver is a big airline hub. I have seen airports (aka decent ticket prices) as a huge factor since you’ll probably fly home for the holidays, summers, fly out your significant other, and I have even gone to friends’ weddings since my lectures aren’t mandatory! I can even download them and watch on the airplane if I want! (Again, big supporter of non-mandatory lectures)

 

[Meowster007]

Pardon me for asking- whats up with the liberal stuff?

 

[Highland Laddie]

Pardon me for asking- whats up with the liberal stuff?

Some people care about the political leanings of the population in the area they live. Don't ask me why, lol. You'll know if it's important to you or not.

 

[prehealthboi]

The only thing I would say is that your big “pro” for ACOM about “amazing” clinical rotation sites may just be a lot of student hype. Their students have to scatter all around AL, MS, and FL for rotations. My buddy is now in rural Mississippi for his 3rd year instead of in Dothan. They do not have many spots for students right there in town. This is prettymuch universally seen as a negative aspect since students will be forced to move and find new housing halfway through med school, so my guess is that RVU’s rotations are actually stronger than ACOM’s. Besides, RVU is much more established and matches fairly well while ACOM is still getting their footing.

I understand the hesitation for liberal Denver, but in all reality, I’m in the South for med school, and regardless of where you go, academia will harbor a liberal environment.

Combine that with non-mandatory lecture attendance, and I think RVU is your winner.

Plus, flying in/out of Dothan is $$$ while Denver is a big airline hub. I have seen airports (aka decent ticket prices) as a huge factor since you’ll probably fly home for the holidays, summers, fly out your significant other, and I have even gone to friends’ weddings since my lectures aren’t mandatory! I can even download them and watch on the airplane if I want! (Again, big supporter of non-mandatory lectures)

I just can't look past RVU's recent ownership by Medforth and association with SGU. They are also trying to open a Montana campus and have gotten heat for some comments made by the President recently. Who knows, they may even try to funnel SGU students at RVU rotation sites in the future and it may all just become a clusterf***. I understand they are more established and tend to match well, but I feel like in the future, when it comes time to apply for residencies, this may raise red flags or some PD's when they see graduates from RVU. But again, who knows what will happen down the line. Is it smart to invest in this school when there are already this many concerns? For these reasons and more, I am still undecided.

 

[FootballAndSkiing]

I just can't look past RVU's recent ownership by Medforth and association with SGU. They are also trying to open a Montana campus and have gotten heat for some comments made by the President recently. Who knows, they may even try to funnel SGU students at RVU rotation sites in the future and it may all just become a clusterf***. I understand they are more established and tend to match well, but I feel like in the future, when it comes time to apply for residencies, this may raise red flags or some PD's when they see graduates from RVU. But again, who knows what will happen down the line. Is it smart to invest in this school when there are already this many concerns? For these reasons and more, I am still undecided.

It sounds like you know RVU is better school and the better option, you just cant get passed the fact that they are for-profit. I know a lot of people on here are against for profit medical education, but you really dont notice it as a student. Keep in mind even though they are for profit they still have to compete with with other schools on price and quality. RVU has had above average outcomes, and slightly above average price. In regard to SGU, I think your making up scenarios in your head. These are different schools, with different connections. Regarding Montana, I agree its not a good look, the admin seems to taking it seriously.

Feel free to message me. I am a first year student with a positive experience overall.

 

[drstranger]

I don't think SGU will take any RVU sites and I don't think PDs are starting to have a bias against students in the near future. I will say RVU has a very strong GS match and if you want GS and do their special surgical program that is the one large benefit. Other than that I would say neither school is better than the other at this time. RVU is doing some shady thing by saying placement rate instead of match rate and combining SU match list with CO list. On top of that RVU had 20 or so students match prelim years meaning they have to enter the match again next year. ACOM has told us their match (92%) and placement rate (100%) so as far as being open with students I believe that is huge.

 

[FootballAndSkiing]

I mostly agree with this. I get frustrated when people get mad at RVU for combining stats from both campuses and for only publishing placement rate, because many other schools do this too. I feel like sometimes RVU is held to a different standard because they are for profit. That being said, we are comparing two schools, and ACOM did publish their match rate and you cant do better than 100% placement rate.

RVU CO is still a really solid DO school. Most of the problems seem to be coming out of Utah. I would try to separate the two campuses in your head because the differences in outcome thus far are substantial.

 

[drstranger]

I mostly agree with this. I get frustrated when people get mad at RVU for combining stats from both campuses and for only publishing placement rate, because many other schools do this too. I feel like sometimes RVU is held to a different standard because they are for profit. That being said, we are comparing two schools, and ACOM did publish their match rate and you cant do better than 100% placement rate.

RVU CO is still a really solid DO school. Most of the problems seem to coming out of Utah. I would try to separate the two campuses in your head because the differences in outcome thus far are substantial.

agreed RVU-CO has no complaints by me it's more the parent's organization and south Utah. Also, PCOM and KCU keep the list seperate. LECOM is the only one that combines the list. It would not have been a problem to combine the list if they were open and honest about each branch campus, so the reason people are upset at it is that it seems like they are using a combined list to hide information.

Actually LECOM post individual Board scores

 

[FootballAndSkiing]

agreed RVU-CO has no complaints by me it's more the parent's organization and south Utah. Also, PCOM and KCU keep the list seperate. LECOM is the only one that combines the list. It would not have been a problem to combine the list if they were open and honest about each branch campus, so the reason people are upset at it is that it seems like they are using a combined list to hide information.

Some schools do, some dont. I agree it would be better if everyone published each campus separately. NYIT does not separate I believe.