Skip an interview?

[texasgirl2010]

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Hi,
I have been reading SDN forums for about a year, but this is my first time posting anything. I need yall's help lol!
I have a total of 5 podiatry interviews coming up in the next several weeks: OCPM, Temple, AZPOD, CSPM, and Western. I have already booked my OCPM and Temple airline tickets so I'm going to those for sure, and AZPOD and Western are my 2 top choices right now so I am definitely going to attend those interviews as well.
Flying to all these places is getting reallyyy expensive, so I am considering not going to the CSPM interview. The reason is that at this point, if I got accepted to AZPOD or Western, I would choose it over CSPM so what is the point in spending money to go to the interview. However, one part of me is saying that what if I love CSPM at the interview and change my mind. The other thing is, I heard that CSPM is having some financial trouble??? This may be completely false, but if it is true then that would also factor into my decision. I was wondering if anyone could tell me what I would be missing by not going to the interview?? And if there is something different/special/amazing at CSPM that the other schools don't have? OR if anyone just has any general info about CSPM that would help me make this decision...I would really appreciate it!! 🙂

 

[Shireiqiang]

The best way to find out if a school is for you is to go interview at the school. Depending on where you are from, maybe sticking around to interview at another california school would be worth it if you are already out there. You can talk to the schools and try to schedule your interviews near the same time. While I was interviewing I met students who had interviewed at all of the schools you mentioned. I heard good things and bad things about all of the schools. I even realized at my interviews that I personally never found a perfect school. I just found the one that fit best for me. I would recommend checking out CSPM. That way if you did have second thoughts, you wouldn't have to spend the money to go back out to california (assuming you live far away) for another interview. You will hear mixed things about all of the schools. You just have to take the opinions with a grain of salt.

 

[spo01]

Depends how tight the money is. Also depends on your stats, are they good enough to where you think you will be accepted into those programs? Also if CSPM isn't a top 3 choice of yours I wouldn't really bother. I only went to 2 interviews and I cancelled the 3rd one at OCPM and it was only a 3 hour drive for me but my mind was already made up on a school.

 

[texasgirl2010]

hey, thanks to you both for your advice. I think my stats are pretty competitive...i have the average matriculated MCAT score, and a much higher than average gpa.
did either of you interview at CSPM? or if anybody reading this interviewed at CSPM, what was your experience like?
Any info on this school would be helpful! 😳

 

[jpevball]

As a first year student at CSPM, I can tell you that there are absolutely no financial issues at CSPM. YEARS ago(more than 8-10?) when the school moved from SF to Summit Medical to be affiliated with Samuel Merritt University in Oakland, there was some sort of "papers-not-turned-in-on-time" thing that suspended accreditation for approx. 1 summer as a slap on the wrist. That was not a sign of how the school is, or what sort of education it provides. It was a random, short, and totally insignificant incidence that had more to do with timing of the move and accreditation paper filing that didn't mix well, rather than crappy admin or teaching or student performance, etc... The bottom line is that nothing but great DPMs have been coming out of here for many many years since. Attrition rate is very LOW and small class sizes DO make a difference. Don't listen to everything that PREPODS blow out of proportion here on SDN. You'll realize once you start school that a lot of stuff people post on here is a often unfounded.

Anyway, the Bay Area is one of the most fun/interesting/diverse/worth-it places to go to school. Western is in Pomona (which is alright if you've never been to CA or LA area 😀 ) and it is only in its infancy. It will be interesting to see how Dr. Hearkless steers the new "ship" toward success...hopefully it all works out. I'm sure he'll get it done, but there's ALWAYS a "what if"..Anyway, don't waste $$ if you are unsure, but don't base your decisions solely on some bum rumors on SDN. The education at CSPM is amazing (maybe not Biochem so much, but that's pretty much everywhere..lol ;o) and wherever you go, what you put in is what you get out. Good luck with your decision process!

 

[catchburns]

Skip it.

If you don't really want to go there than save your money. One of the other schools is bound to fit what you want. Now, understand that this has nothing to do with my opinion of CSPM, simply that if you don't really want to go there than interviewing isn't likely to change that. Those other schools you are interested in are good choices so you'll find one of them is for you. That $1000 you'll save from traveling will come in handy for you deposit at whatever school you choose.

 

[FootPro]

I went to 2 interviews out of the 8 offers I got. The two interviews I chose were closest to my home and my top choices. I got accepted to those 2 schools and I was done.

 

[sorham]

I turned down two interviews because I found a school that fit everything that I wanted out of it and I knew my family and I would be happy in that area. I am happy with my decision so far and haven't yet had any doubts about visiting the other schools, it's just a personal decision, if you think you will regret not going and wonder what if, then go, I'm not that kind of person though.I liked having the money to put down on the school I want to go to for sure than spend my money on a what if.