Someone please explain SOMA's curriculum

[ladysmanfelpz]

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Year two. Whats it all about?

I heard you have to travel around and you finish up your education at different community campuses. Do you stay at one the whole year, or move around to different locations as you complete your schooling? Do former students favor or dislike this curriculum?

If I'm way off please let me know. I just remember hearing something about this and am not finding anything on their site. Thanks SDNers.

 

[just_SAIYAN]

First year you are at the campus in AZ. The first year is like a super year in terms of what you cover. Then you get I believe something like 4 weeks summer break between MS1 and MS2 and that is to move to your CHC (community health clinic) years 2,3,4 are done at your CHC which is a clinic in one of there predetermined locations. They have something like 12 CHCs all over US (Chicago, Portland, Phoenix, flagstaff, DC just to name a few) during year 2 you listen to podcasts of lectures and pretty much self learn the material. And then one day a week you go to CHC for omm and some early clinical exposure stuff. Hope that helps some.

 

[DrPatriot]

First year you are at the campus in AZ. The first year is like a super year in terms of what you cover. Then you get I believe something like 4 weeks summer break between MS1 and MS2 and that is to move to your CHC (community health clinic) years 2,3,4 are done at your CHC which is a clinic in one of there predetermined locations. They have something like 12 CHCs all over US (Chicago, Portland, Phoenix, flagstaff, DC just to name a few) during year 2 you listen to podcasts of lectures and pretty much self learn the material. And then one day a week you go to CHC for omm and some early clinical exposure stuff. Hope that helps some.

Pretty much this. The CHC's are located in underserved rural and urban communities. I'm not a fan of the SOMA curriculum at all.

 

[QueenJames]

You designate a CHC. Don't choose one you don't want to go to. You will do your rotations at that CHC and the surrounding area with a mix of preceptorships and hospitals too. You also have the choice of doing electives wherever as well. For some programs, especially ones in competitive states to get residency like California and New York, I see this as a plus... but only if you want to do something in the realm of primary care (IM, EM, FM, etc.). Then again it is what you make it. SOMA had a match at Loma Linda for Neurosurgery..... so obviously the CHC doesn't really hinder you in anyway. After talking to many students at the CHC I will be going to, there is MORE than enough time to study because you don't have to be stuck in class all day.. only meet your preceptor once a week... had a leg up in certain clinical situations (experience with colonoscopies, reading MRIs, etc.).

I could be wrong but hopefully somebody else can chime in with much more solid info.

Paging @SLC , @keels99 (these are past and current students, respectively, who can possibly add more to the convo).

 

[SLC]

Year two. Whats it all about?

I heard you have to travel around and you finish up your education at different community campuses. Do you stay at one the whole year, or move around to different locations as you complete your schooling?

You travel to the CHC you were assigned to in the month or so between M1 and M2, that's about all the travelling you'll need to do in 2nd year. You get all lectures delivered by video podcast, you watch/study them on your own schedule. You meet two half-days per week in class with the 9 other students at your CHC and your RDME's which are the SOMA faculty based at the CHC. Monday morning you go through an overview of the week's curriculum. Friday morning you do a review of the weeks curriculum and work through a few relevant cases as a group.

Then one day a week you have OMM and medical skills. And one half day per week you have a clinical experience, perhaps you see patients with a doctor in a primary care setting, perhaps you go to a hospital and learn intubations from the Anesthesiologists. I even had a friend of mine who was scrubbing into surgery and even participating as an assist. She got to cut the flexor retinaculum on a few carpal tunnel releases etc.

All in all you have 2.5 or so days per week that you are assigned to be somewhere. The rest of the time is yours to study or use as you see fit. The last block of 2nd year is super easy and low stress, most people began board study in earnest during this time, and then used 1-1.5 months after 2nd year ended to finish studying and take boards.

Do former students favor or dislike this curriculum?

I loved the curriculum. Everything was taught in context, everything made sense. I find that I'm naturally reasoning through problems as a resident because the curriculum taught me to think like a physician from the get-go.

 

[keels99]

If anyone has further questions feel free to message me. I feel like SLC covered it pretty well

 

[NBLogical]

You travel to the CHC you were assigned to in the month or so between M1 and M2, that's about all the travelling you'll need to do in 2nd year. You get all lectures delivered by video podcast, you watch/study them on your own schedule. You meet two half-days per week in class with the 9 other students at your CHC and your RDME's which are the SOMA faculty based at the CHC. Monday morning you go through an overview of the week's curriculum. Friday morning you do a review of the weeks curriculum and work through a few relevant cases as a group.

Then one day a week you have OMM and medical skills. And one half day per week you have a clinical experience, perhaps you see patients with a doctor in a primary care setting, perhaps you go to a hospital and learn intubations from the Anesthesiologists. I even had a friend of mine who was scrubbing into surgery and even participating as an assist. She got to cut the flexor retinaculum on a few carpal tunnel releases etc.

All in all you have 2.5 or so days per week that you are assigned to be somewhere. The rest of the time is yours to study or use as you see fit. The last block of 2nd year is super easy and low stress, most people began board study in earnest during this time, and then used 1-1.5 months after 2nd year ended to finish studying and take boards.



I loved the curriculum. Everything was taught in context, everything made sense. I find that I'm naturally reasoning through problems as a resident because the curriculum taught me to think like a physician from the get-go.

If anyone has further questions feel free to message me. I feel like SLC covered it pretty well

I like the curriculum SOMA has but wanted to know what you guys think about the CHC community. With it being a small community compared to other communities that other med students have at other schools, do you think this hinders some of the learning process/skills as a 2nd year?
I also see that being in a smaller community with SOMA faculty means more personalized care and attention to the students from faculty as well.
I've just overheard some people aren't a fan of SOMA's curriculum and wonder why since it seems so great to me, at least.

 

[IslandStyle808]

I like the curriculum SOMA has but wanted to know what you guys think about the CHC community. With it being a small community compared to other communities that other med students have at other schools, do you think this hinders some of the learning process/skills as a 2nd year?
I also see that being in a smaller community with SOMA faculty means more personalized care and attention to the students from faculty as well.
I've just overheard some people aren't a fan of SOMA's curriculum and wonder why since it seems so great to me, at least.

I sat in a couple classes they had at one the CHCs and really liked the CHC community. I liked how interactive the class sessions were when they had their clinical presentation class (the one with the case scenarios). It felt like a small family and that was a huge selling point for me.

The only huge problem to me is the way the clinical rotations are done. For most rotations, they are squeezed into certain hospitals (some CHCs do have good connections but other do not). It can be a pro especially if the hospital is huge and can take extra students. However, it is a con with hospitals that can't spare the spots. So there times where students can get dropped and would have go else where to fulfill the requirements.

 

[ladysmanfelpz]

Wow thanks for the great responses guys and gals. I feel like that gave me a fair understanding of it all.

I personally like it. I've heard people like studying on their own in medical school especially because of boards and believe I would be successful with this curriculum. I like how you get to travel for 2nd year too and since I have had a couple gap years feel I have plenty hospital experience and kind of want to jump right into things. I would be interested in see a full list, however. And also can you do different DHC's each year, say like do M2 in Chicago and M3 and 4 in Portland?

Sounds like a great curriculum to me, but do see the fault if you can't fit into a rotation. I'm sure you just fill another one in the area.

 

[keels99]

Wow thanks for the great responses guys and gals. I feel like that gave me a fair understanding of it all.

I personally like it. I've heard people like studying on their own in medical school especially because of boards and believe I would be successful with this curriculum. I like how you get to travel for 2nd year too and since I have had a couple gap years feel I have plenty hospital experience and kind of want to jump right into things. I would be interested in see a full list, however. And also can you do different DHC's each year, say like do M2 in Chicago and M3 and 4 in Portland?

Sounds like a great curriculum to me, but do see the fault if you can't fit into a rotation. I'm sure you just fill another one in the area.

You stay at your same CHC for 3 years. Hope that helps.

 

[QueenJames]

Shameless bump.

May be a dumb question but..

When do we actually meet the students whom we will be going to the same CHC with? Do we meet our fellow CHC students second year or is there something special that SOMA does to have them all meet up before classes start and all that?

 

[Songon12play]

You designate a CHC. Don't choose one you don't want to go to. You will do your rotations at that CHC and the surrounding area with a mix of preceptorships and hospitals too. You also have the choice of doing electives wherever as well. For some programs, especially ones in competitive states to get residency like California and New York, I see this as a plus... but only if you want to do something in the realm of primary care (IM, EM, FM, etc.). Then again it is what you make it. SOMA had a match at Loma Linda for Neurosurgery..... so obviously the CHC doesn't really hinder you in anyway. After talking to many students at the CHC I will be going to, there is MORE than enough time to study because you don't have to be stuck in class all day.. only meet your preceptor once a week... had a leg up in certain clinical situations (experience with colonoscopies, reading MRIs, etc.).

I could be wrong but hopefully somebody else can chime in with much more solid info.

Yea, I figure you'd get a lot of experience with colonoscopies at AT SOMA because the CHC system is ****. it's "almost everyone is stuck streaming lectures at random CHCs in the middle of nowhere across the country that literally have almost no purpose and if you get accepted late, enjoy ending up in the middle of nowhere across the country in some totally undesirable location". Even people who get in early often might not get a good site. The CHC system is such a weird and bad gimmick, and forcing people to stream is just dumb. Everyone should have the option to go to lecture and interact in medical school and there's no reason to take that away from people for some awkward mindless gimmick.

 

[keels99]

Yea, I figure you'd get a lot of experience with colonoscopies at AT SOMA because the CHC system is ****. it's "almost everyone is stuck streaming lectures at random CHCs in the middle of nowhere across the country that literally have almost no purpose and if you get accepted late, enjoy ending up in the middle of nowhere across the country in some totally undesirable location". Even people who get in early often might not get a good site. The CHC system is such a weird and bad gimmick, and forcing people to stream is just dumb. Everyone should have the option to go to lecture and interact in medical school and there's no reason to take that away from people for some awkward mindless gimmick.

You're not forced to apply. I agree, the CHC thing isn't for everyone, but most of us love the ability to experience our clinical years early. You only rank sites that you would be okay with going to. Also, a lot of us already stream our lectures, so 2nd year isn't all that different. If you think it's a gimmick, then don't apply.

 

[keels99]

Shameless bump.

May be a dumb question but..

When do we actually meet the students whom we will be going to the same CHC with? Do we meet our fellow CHC students second year or is there something special that SOMA does to have them all meet up before classes start and all that?

You will know who you are going to your CHC with first week of orientation. You also have the ability to interact with second years at your CHC during your first year. Message me if you have any questions and I'll do my best to help.

 

[DetectiveAlonzo]

Yea, I figure you'd get a lot of experience with colonoscopies at AT SOMA because the CHC system is ****. it's "almost everyone is stuck streaming lectures at random CHCs in the middle of nowhere across the country that literally have almost no purpose and if you get accepted late, enjoy ending up in the middle of nowhere across the country in some totally undesirable location". Even people who get in early often might not get a good site. The CHC system is such a weird and bad gimmick, and forcing people to stream is just dumb. Everyone should have the option to go to lecture and interact in medical school and there's no reason to take that away from people for some awkward mindless gimmick.

 

[Portlandia8]

Haters gonna hate. TBH, about 50%+ (inching up to 70%) of people don't go to class after the first few months - this is across the board for allopathic/osteopathic schools that give the option of recorded lectures (even an attending I spoke to 10 years out of school). Once you establish your study habits, one of the major benefits of having pre-recorded podcasts 2nd year is free time to study for boards.

Also:

• The instructor gives you a to-the-point lecture w/o interruptions/off topic questions like during class.
• You can 1.5-2x the lecture to get a first pass in, and start active learning earlier.
• Free up time to study for boards, research, community service - have some semblance of a life.
• Amazing early clinical exposure - this is a huge positive for 3rd/4th year clinicals.
• You DO get in-class time every week with your 2 site RDMEs for clinical cases and for OPP once a week. You're never totally on your own.
• CAVEAT: You have to be self motivated to get through lecture in a timely manner, absolutely don't fall behind. If you're not the type, this is probably not the school for you.

Sucks that the urban CHC locations are in some pretty **** places...NYCBrooklyn/Seattle/Portland/Chicago/Phoenix/Tucson/Washington DC. 🙄
You can also work with rural CA/OH/N. AZ/SC populations if that is where you want to go with your career. The whole point of CHC is to work with underserved populations, that is the mission of the school. But you're right, there is a downside of getting in later and having to choose a location that is less desirable.

 

[arc5005]

Wow. I might actually add this school to my list. I definitely like a lot of these locations! Anyone know the average stats of applicants? Does this school have an in-state or regional bias?

EDIT: nvm answered my own question:

Class of 2018
Applications Received 5,032
Applicants Interviewed 560
Average GPA 3.45
Average Science GPA 3.34
Average Age 25
Average MCAT 27
States represented 20
In-state 10%
Out-of-state 90%

 

[arc5005]

But you're right, there is a downside of getting in later and having to choose a location that is less desirable.

what do you mean about getting in later?

 

[keels99]

what do you mean about getting in later?

Getting accepted later in the cycle means you choose your CHC at a later point

Also I think your stats are solid for applying. There is no OOS bias

 

[arc5005]

Getting accepted later in the cycle means you choose your CHC at a later point

Also I think your stats are solid for applying. There is no OOS bias

Are some of the CHC locations pretty competitive?

 

[Mad Jack]

Someone said the CHC is where you do fourth year? Is that actually true, I thought fourth year was an elective year at pretty much every school?

 

[Songon12play]

You're not forced to apply. I agree, the CHC thing isn't for everyone, but most of us love the ability to experience our clinical years early. You only rank sites that you would be okay with going to. Also, a lot of us already stream our lectures, so 2nd year isn't all that different. If you think it's a gimmick, then don't apply.

Almost every school has early clinical experience without the stupid gimmick.

Haters gonna hate. TBH, about 50%+ (inching up to 70%) of people don't go to class after the first few months - this is across the board for allopathic/osteopathic schools that give the option of recorded lectures (even an attending I spoke to 10 years out of school). Once you establish your study habits, one of the major benefits of having pre-recorded podcasts 2nd year is free time to study for boards.

Also:

• The instructor gives you a to-the-point lecture w/o interruptions/off topic questions like during class.
• You can 1.5-2x the lecture to get a first pass in, and start active learning earlier.
• Free up time to study for boards, research, community service - have some semblance of a life.
• Amazing early clinical exposure - this is a huge positive for 3rd/4th year clinicals.
• You DO get in-class time every week with your 2 site RDMEs for clinical cases and for OPP once a week. You're never totally on your own.
• CAVEAT: You have to be self motivated to get through lecture in a timely manner, absolutely don't fall behind. If you're not the type, this is probably not the school for you.

Sucks that the urban CHC locations are in some pretty **** places...NYCBrooklyn/Seattle/Portland/Chicago/Phoenix/Tucson/Washington DC. 🙄
You can also work with rural CA/OH/N. AZ/SC populations if that is where you want to go with your career. The whole point of CHC is to work with underserved populations, that is the mission of the school. But you're right, there is a downside of getting in later and having to choose a location that is less desirable.

Nice made up statistics. If you can't handle questions being asked during lecture, I have no idea how you've made it through school at this point. Asking questions is an important part of learning even though some can be painfully stupid. Plenty of people do attend lecture in medical school, find it useful, and cripplingly their learning style for no apparent reason is beyond stupid. Whoever thought up the curriculum at AT SOMA has no common sense.

Almost every school has "amazing clinical exposure" without forcing this horrendous gimmick at soma, which basically has these sites that serve almost no purpose (wtf is the purpose of any of this sites if you're mostly just sitting on your butt at home streaming?)

You have to be self-motivated at every school that's not a news flash, just more self-motivated at this school to makeup for its crummy curriculum.

There are ****ty parts of all those cities, and the CHCs are located in the ****tier parts if you can't see that chances are you lived a pretty insulated life before starting at AT SOMA, so I can see why the curriculum worked for you. I'm surprised you didn't realize this one because AT SOMA was all up in our faces about that.

 

[Didierdrogba]

Nice made up statistics. If you can't handle questions being asked during lecture, I have no idea how you've made it through school at this point. Asking questions is an important part of learning even though some can be painfully stupid. Plenty of people do attend lecture in medical school, find it useful, and cripplingly their learning style for no apparent reason is beyond stupid. Whoever thought up the curriculum at AT SOMA has no common sense.

I agree that SOMA has its problems, and many CHC-specific issues that only current students that are on rotation can understand. But as a person who has almost made it through SOMA, I can tell you that it is true that people just stop showing up to lectures after a while and preferring to stay at home to stream lectures at 1.5x speed instead. It is absolutely more efficient. SOMA's pre-clinical education curriculum is just fine.

 

[keels99]

Almost every school has early clinical experience without the stupid gimmick.




Nice made up statistics. If you can't handle questions being asked during lecture, I have no idea how you've made it through school at this point. Asking questions is an important part of learning even though some can be painfully stupid. Plenty of people do attend lecture in medical school, find it useful, and cripplingly their learning style for no apparent reason is beyond stupid. Whoever thought up the curriculum at AT SOMA has no common sense.

Almost every school has "amazing clinical exposure" without forcing this horrendous gimmick at soma, which basically has these sites that serve almost no purpose (wtf is the purpose of any of this sites if you're mostly just sitting on your butt at home streaming?)

You have to be self-motivated at every school that's not a news flash, just more self-motivated at this school to makeup for its crummy curriculum.

There are ****ty parts of all those cities, and the CHCs are located in the ****tier parts if you can't see that chances are you lived a pretty insulated life before starting at AT SOMA, so I can see why the curriculum worked for you. I'm surprised you didn't realize this one because AT SOMA was all up in our faces about that.

It's not made up. We are both students at the school. Only 30 students went to class on Friday. The rest of us ECHO (and it's awesome.) If you have questions, the professors are great at answering them via email (or phone) within a couple of hours. I feel that streaming my lectures has in no way hindered my medical school experience.

I don't know what your problem is, but if the school set up isn't for you that is totally fine. It's not like anyone is forcing you to go here. That doesn't mean you should go pushing your unsolicited opinions on everyone else. I feel like current students have a better understanding of the curriculum and can vouch for it better than some rude rando on the Internet.

 

[keels99]

Someone said the CHC is where you do fourth year? Is that actually true, I thought fourth year was an elective year at pretty much every school?

We go to our CHC second year, rotations in the CHC surrounding area years 3-4. You have the electives just like any other program.

 

[SLC]

Soma was awesome, as a grad of the school I'd absolutely go back again if I were starting over. I got a top notch pre-clinical education, great clinical education, and I don't think you can ask for much more than that.

I'm in residency at an Ivy League institution now, and have been getting excellent reviews about my clinical acumen and medical knowledge. To get that from a place filled with grads from other Ivy League universities tells me SOMA is doing something right.

As for the CHC's being in less desirable parts of town. I went to the Portland CHC and while the classroom was in St Johns, one of the rougher areas, it wasn't a bad area, and we weren't required to live there. I lived in Beaverton, a nice quiet upscale suburb, it was fantastic.

I think @Songon12play should do us all a favor and outline exactly what his/her problem with SOMA is. Vague accusations of the CHC's being a gimmick, or the curriculum being crummy don't cut it. What about the CHC's is gimmicky? What exactly makes the curriculum crummy?

Because I had the exact opposite experience at SOMA.

 

[Songon12play]

Soma was awesome, as a grad of the school I'd absolutely go back again if I were starting over. I got a top notch pre-clinical education, great clinical education, and I don't think you can ask for much more than that.

I'm in residency at an Ivy League institution now, and have been getting excellent reviews about my clinical acumen and medical knowledge. To get that from a place filled with grads from other Ivy League universities tells me SOMA is doing something right.

As for the CHC's being in less desirable parts of town. I went to the Portland CHC and while the classroom was in St Johns, one of the rougher areas, it wasn't a bad area, and we weren't required to live there. I lived in Beaverton, a nice quiet upscale suburb, it was fantastic.

I think @Songon12play should do us all a favor and outline exactly what his/her problem with SOMA is. Vague accusations of the CHC's being a gimmick, or the curriculum being crummy don't cut it. What about the CHC's is gimmicky? What exactly makes the curriculum crummy?

Because I had the exact opposite experience at SOMA.

Nothing I'm saying is vague. I explained and outlined everything. the curriculum is awful and there's a reason why no other school has this setup, it sucks.

 

[keels99]

Nothing I'm saying is vague. I explained and outlined everything. the curriculum is awful and there's a reason why no other school has this setup, it sucks.

"Nothing I'm saying is vague."

"The curriculum awful."

Haha okay, bro. Unless you're actually taking our classes, I'll continue disregarding your opinion. Why don't you just admit it's not for you personally? Because other people are obviously happy with it.

 

[Songon12play]

"Nothing I'm saying is vague."

"The curriculum awful."

Haha okay, bro. Unless you're actually taking our classes, I'll continue disregarding your opinion. Why don't you just admit it's not for you personally? Because other people are obviously happy with it.

Read above I described why it's awful. It's more than personal opinion this place has a terrible setup. Of course you'd be happy with it, when it's the best or only school you got into. You have to make the best of what you're given.

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

Go back to pre-allo...

 

[SLC]

Nothing I'm saying is vague. I explained and outlined everything. the curriculum is awful and there's a reason why no other school has this setup, it sucks.

What about the curriculum is aweful? All you did was say that is is, you didn't explain why. What do you even know about the curriculum?

The setup sucks? What setup? What exactly are you talking about? And why does it suck? Give us some specifics!

Unless you can put your reasoning out there, you should probably avoid commenting. All of us are willing to listen to what you have to say, but you seem unwilling to come out and say it. Probably because you don't really know anything about the curriculum, and you just don't like the idea of the CHC setup but don't really have any specific reason why. It's OK if that's the case, but at least just own up to it and say so.

Otherwise the rest of us are just going to assume you're playing the part of the jilted lover, got rejected and can't let well enough alone now.

 

[DetectiveAlonzo]

What about the curriculum is aweful? All you did was say that is is, you didn't explain why. What do you even know about the curriculum?

The setup sucks? What setup? What exactly are you talking about? And why does it suck? Give us some specifics!

Unless you can put your reasoning out there, you should probably avoid commenting. All of us are willing to listen to what you have to say, but you seem unwilling to come out and say it. Probably because you don't really know anything about the curriculum, and you just don't like the idea of the CHC setup but don't really have any specific reason why. It's OK if that's the case, but at least just own up to it and say so.

Otherwise the rest of us are just going to assume you're playing the part of the jilted lover, got rejected and can't let well enough alone now.

This. Plaintiff doesn't seem to have had solid luck with MD schools in Minnesota and the like that he/she has applied to, yet continually likes to troll threads concerning certain programs like Liberty, BCOM, and now SOMA. hmmmm....

 

[ortnakas]

Unless you can put your reasoning out there, you should probably avoid commenting. All of us are willing to listen to what you have to say, but you seem unwilling to come out and say it. Probably because you don't really know anything about the curriculum, and you just don't like the idea of the CHC setup but don't really have any specific reason why. It's OK if that's the case, but at least just own up to it and say so.

Otherwise the rest of us are just going to assume you're playing the part of the jilted lover, got rejected and can't let well enough alone now.

I feel the same way about pre-meds complaining about my school.

If SOMA's CHC set-up isn't for you, that's cool. I decided it wasn't a good fit for me, but I'm sure it's a great fit for @SLC, @keels99 and many others. If, at my school, PBL and/or dress code aren't for you, that's cool too, I get it. But it doesn't make it okay for anybody to give vague insults without data or evidence to back it up.

 

[IsWhat]

SOMA isn't shy about the fact that they look for a certain type of individual. Getting rejected post-interview here would sting more than the average school, because it was almost certainly your personality that got you rejected. I can only assume @Songon12play is feeling that sting at the moment.

 

[Songon12play]

SOMA isn't shy about the fact that they look for a certain type of individual. Getting rejected post-interview here would sting more than the average school, because it was almost certainly your personality that got you rejected. I can only assume @Songon12play is feeling that sting at the moment.

I never said I got rejected post-interview.

This. Plaintiff doesn't seem to have had solid luck with MD schools in Minnesota and the like that he/she has applied to, yet continually likes to troll threads concerning certain programs like Liberty, BCOM, and now SOMA. hmmmm....

XD! At least I got into a US MD. 🙂 I'm not trolling. I'm not a fan of those places and for a good reason

 

[QueenJames]

I never said I got rejected post-interview.


XD! At least I got into a US MD. 🙂 I'm not trolling. I'm not a fan of those places and for a good reason

That's great news bud. But mayyybbeee...you should definitely be celebrating that joyous accomplishment instead of coming into threads like these and raining on others' parades.. right?

It is definitely ok if you are not a fan of these places. Not everybody will be. If current students/residents that have actually gone through the program have great things to say about it and have the track record to show for it, then the school and its CHC system must be doing something right?

Regardless of what happened with your experience with SOMA, everything worked out for the best and you will be moving onto medical school just like folks here will be moving onto medical school! So go celebrate instead of trying to tear down something that many of us have worked super hard for. 🙂

 

[SLC]

I never said I got rejected post-interview.


XD! At least I got into a US MD. 🙂 I'm not trolling. I'm not a fan of those places and for a good reason

I notice a suspicious lack of support for your claims. Come on, put it out there for us!

 

[Songon12play]

I notice a suspicious lack of support for your claims. Come on, put it out there for us!

Read above, it's supported. There's nothing vague about how students are stick with crummy CHCs if they get accepted late or even if they are accepted early and aren't ranked high enough according to numerous factors.

The CHC system is clunky as hell too. That's supported by the fact that there should be no reason to put most of the students at a disadvantage where they are forced to stream lectures from across the country at very sites that serve very little utility. Early clinical experience is gained at almost any medical school without the CHC system (if you think proof is missing there google it, but you should already know this). Most medical schools at least have the option for students to attend lectures, and by forcing students to stream it makes the lectures a lot less interactive. I don't care if the students do fine with it, not allowing students to be able to attend lecture is dumb. If you can do it, that's great, but not allowing the option is just plain dumb and annoying.

Learning is best done actively, through thinking, asking questions, and interacting and the CHC system deprives students of just that. If students do well in it, that doesn't mean it's a good system, it just means they are smart students. I'd argue the same exact thing about LECOM - seton hill. The real question is what purpose do the CHCs actually serve? If the whole purpose is to divide students into a small intimate class community across the country at a site that interests them, then it fails at that too. What purpose does this serve when there are only some clinical experiences gained, alongside the osteopathy principles course, and the majority of time is spent streaming lectures at home? Where is the COMLEX/STEP support at these sites? Arguably the ultimate purpose of the first two years is to ensure students will be able to cover material so students can excel at these examinations, so why fragment them across the country, when the most valuable resources and teachers are sitting there in the middle of mesa, az? It's nonsense. Also, how on earth is this clinical presentations model, which is a perfect compliment to PBL, going to serve any point at all when you're mostly confined to passive learning through streams and don't interact with the majority of the class? Where is the classwide community?

It's a horrible system, and you can get just as much experience with different clinical sites at a normal school through visiting rotations without gimping your first two years.

If you think that's vague, you're missing the point entirely, and I already explained these points fully a while ago (scroll up). If this system was planned out better, e.g. at each CHC the courses were taught emphasizing disparities encountered in each community with pertinent examples, and everyone had the option to attend it'd be really good, but right now it's not.

 

[AnatomyGrey12]

And I think.... That you don't know what you're talking about... The CHCs aren't really anything like what your describing. I have seen your other posts and I think I'm going to call this for what it is :troll:

 

[ortnakas]

Learning is best done actively, through thinking, asking questions, and interacting and the CHC system deprives students of just that. If students do well in it, that doesn't mean it's a good system, it just means they are smart students. I'd argue the same exact thing about LECOM - seton hill.

Active learning through asking questions and interacting is almost exactly what we do in PBL programs (LECOM-SH, LECOM-B, and PBL at LECOM-E.) And I'm pretty sure it's a big part of what the small groups do at ATSU-SOMA as well.

 

[Songon12play]

And I think.... That you don't know what you're talking about... The CHCs aren't really anything like what your describing. I have seen your other posts and I think I'm going to call this for what it is :troll:

Thanks for stunning example of vague remarks with nothing backing them up, and you said I was doing that lol. How cute. I'm not trolling either. Just because you can't refute anything im saying doesn't im trolling.

Active learning through asking questions and interacting is almost exactly what we do in PBL programs (LECOM-SH, LECOM-B, and PBL at LECOM-E.) And I'm pretty sure it's a big part of what the small groups do at ATSU-SOMA as well.

LECOM is a do it yourself pbl. How is anyone going to do active learning exercises at at soma when they're insulated in their rooms across the country?

 

[realfakedoctor_md]

Thanks for stunning example of vague remarks with nothing backing them up, and you said I was doing that lol. How cute. I'm not trolling either. Just because you can't refute anything im saying doesn't im trolling.


LECOM is a do it yourself pbl. How is anyone going to do active learning exercises at at soma when they're insulated in their rooms across the country?

He said soul!

 

[Songon12play]

He said soul!

LECOM- seton hill: cheap because actually educating you isn't included in the CoA.

 

[IsWhat]

Thanks for stunning example of vague remarks with nothing backing them up, and you said I was doing that lol. How cute. I'm not trolling either. Just because you can't refute anything im saying doesn't im trolling.

I guess SOMA's CHC curriculum isn't so bad. It was only chosen by the AMA as one of 20 something schools (along with two other DO schools, and a handful of mid/top tier MD programs) as a program with an innovative way of training student doctors for the new world of medicine we will eventually practice in.

http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/ama-wir...campaign=article_alert-morning_rounds_weekend

 

[DetectiveAlonzo]

I guess SOMA's CHC curriculum isn't so bad. It was only chosen by the AMA as one of 20 something schools (along with two other DO schools, and a handful of mid/top tier MD programs) as a program with an innovative way of training student doctors for the new world of medicine we will eventually practice in.

http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/ama-wir...campaign=article_alert-morning_rounds_weekend

To sum it up... SOMA is pretty much the DO Harvard.

#Started

 

[Songon12play]

To sum it up... SOMA is pretty much the DO Harvard.

#Started

rofl whatever helps you sleep at night, but don't fool yourself. also look at the other schools on the list, morehouse must be another name for harvard bc it's so good (sarcasm).

I guess SOMA's CHC curriculum isn't so bad. It was only chosen by the AMA as one of 20 something schools (along with two other DO schools, and a handful of mid/top tier MD programs) as a program with an innovative way of training student doctors for the new world of medicine we will eventually practice in.

http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/ama-wir...campaign=article_alert-morning_rounds_weekend

innovative doesn't mean it works well or is good. look at the ****ing WiiU. also, check out some of the other schools on the list like morehouse. this list doesn't mean jack****. come on. you're going to have to do better than that.

 

[DetectiveAlonzo]

rofl whatever helps you sleep at night, but don't fool yourself. also look at the other schools on the list, morehouse must be another name for harvard bc it's so good (sarcasm).


innovative doesn't mean it works well or is good. look at the ****ing WiiU. also, check out some of the other schools on the list like morehouse. this list doesn't mean jack****. come on. you're going to have to do better than that.

It says it right there. It's on the list bro. SOMA is up there with some baller MD programs that seem to work well or good.

U mad bro?

#salty

 

[Songon12play]

It says it right there. It's on the list bro. SOMA is up there with some baller MD programs.

U mad bro?

#salty

nope. One word "morehouse". That list doesn't mean ****.

 

[DetectiveAlonzo]

nope. One word "morehouse". That list doesn't mean ****.

Y u mad? Did they reject you too?

#GotEmmmm

 

[Songon12play]

Y u mad? Did they reject you too?

#GotEmmmm

nope.avi. they're just mediocre institutions at best. I never got rejected at either of these places so try again. You're gonna have to do better than that bc you're putting me to sleep.