TCU-UNTHSC vs Western Pomona (DO)

[dhallows8]

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TCU UNTHSC
Pros
-MD school
-cool curriculum
-lots of academic support
-class size is 60
-at least $9k a year grant (total would be 51k per year)

Cons
-I am a California resident so I would love to stay in CA
-family, friends, and significant other in CA
-newer school, no match list
-really want to match back into California and don’t know if I would be able to if I went here (would love more insight into this)
-orientation starts July 12th


WesternU Pomona (DO)
Pros

• In California
• Close family member goes to school here
• Established DO school
• Around 40-50% of students match in California

Cons

• large class size: Around 220 I think
• Academically more difficult with OMM and additional board exams
• Not as much academic support
• Step 1 going p/f might make things harder for DO students
• Might be harder to get research
• No grants or scholarships, $60k a year
• 
  Summary: I’m not sure which speciality I want to pursue yet, but don’t anticipate doing surgery, or anything super competitive. I also got accepted into Drexel. Thank you!!

 

[Nvrgiveup01]

TCU. Cheaper tuition and cost of living. Plus, the MD route will open more doors for you in the event that you change your mind and want to match into a competitive specialty. The only tough thing here is your SO other and being apart from them for a while. Is she/he able to find opportunities in Texas?

 

[dhallows8]

TCU. Cheaper tuition and cost of living. Plus, the MD route will open more doors for you in the event that you change your mind and want to match into a competitive specialty. The only tough thing here is your SO other and being apart from them for a while. Is she/he able to find opportunities in Texas?

They will actually be moving with me after a year! So I’ll only be alone for one year! But we both want to settle down in California so I really want to get residency back here 🙁

 

[caterwaiter]

Out of curiosity, have you already ruled out Drexel?

I know the general sentiment here is always to go MD over DO, but I truly think proximity to your support system is so important. I'd give "where you think you'll be happiest" a little more weight. Western is a very well established DO school that consistently matches well, and keeps a lot of grads in CA. I think it's too early to speculate what TCU & UNTHSC's match lists are going to look like.

If matching back into CA is more of a priority than matching into something competitive, I'd go Western. If matching something competitive or cost is more important, I'd go TCU.

 

[Schwifty]

USMD over DO every time

 

[dhallows8]

Out of curiosity, have you already ruled out Drexel?

I know the general sentiment here is always to go MD over DO, but I truly think proximity to your support system is so important. I'd give "where you think you'll be happiest" a little more weight. Western is a very well established DO school that consistently matches well, and keeps a lot of grads in CA. I think it's too early to speculate what TCU & UNTHSC's match lists are going to look like.

If matching back into CA is more of a priority than matching into something competitive, I'd go Western. If matching something competitive or cost is more important, I'd go TCU.

Still thinking about Drexel a bit, but I think I would choose Western or TCU over Drexel because of the weather, big class size, and the rotations. Plus it’s pretty far from home (6 hour flight)

I guess the most helpful thing would be to know if I have the same chance matching into California at both schools. But since TCU doesn’t have a match list, it’s hard to know :/

 

[m1redsox]

1. Drexel
2. TCU
3. Western

Established MD > New MD > established DO

Especially with TCU’s grant, do not pay more to go to a DO school.

 

[dhallows8]

1. Drexel
2. TCU
3. Western

Established MD > New MD > established DO

Especially with TCU’s grant, do not pay more to go to a DO school.

Which would be best for matching in CA for residency?

 

[caterwaiter]

Still thinking about Drexel a bit, but I think I would choose Western or TCU over Drexel because of the weather, big class size, and the rotations. Plus it’s pretty far from home (6 hour flight)

I guess the most helpful thing would be to know if I have the same chance matching into California at both schools. But since TCU doesn’t have a match list, it’s hard to know :/

You probably know all of the reasoning behind the MD>DO side of the coin, so I'll offer a different perspective. You have a good chance at matching in CA from Western, but there's also a good chance it will be CA primary care. If you think you're okay with that, and the higher cost, I think you're fine with Western. If there's any part of you that thinks you wouldn't be happy in primary care, I'd give Drexel (or TCU) more thought.

 

[m1redsox]

Which would be best for matching in CA for residency?

Depends.

Matching neurosurgery, plastics, derm, ophtho, ENT, IR, ortho? - Drexel (especially with Drexel’s ties to norcal)

Matching at more prestigious programs within CA (UCLA, UCSF, Stanford, UCSD) - Drexel

Matching primary care at a community-based residency - Western

Yes, Western matches into CA programs more frequently than Drexel, but the quality of Western’s matches is much lower, and their CA match rate is likely due to applicant preference rather than merit or connections. Would you rather match into the specialty of your choice or match in CA? If your specialty of choice is primary care (IM, FM, EM, peds, or even anesthesiology), then there is no problem with choosing Western. If you want surgery, you will have to work much harder and you will still likely get a lower tier residency than someone with the same score at Drexel.

Keep in mind that you may change your specialty preference many times during med school and Drexel will keep the most doors open.

 

[drgoldenboy]

I think you should go to TCU if you don't want to go to Drexel. I interviewed there last cycle and the school has some really cool things going for it. Plus Fort Worth-Dallas will be a cool place to do med school in. I think avoiding DO is the smart move here. They also just got the first year tuition free right?

Drexel would give you the best prospects come residency time, but I bet TCU will also match well. They are investing a lot into their students.

 

[MDMechEngr]

see attachment.

 

[dhallows8]

Depends.

Matching neurosurgery, plastics, derm, ophtho, ENT, IR, ortho? - Drexel (especially with Drexel’s ties to norcal)

Matching at more prestigious programs within CA (UCLA, UCSF, Stanford, UCSD) - Drexel

Matching primary care at a community-based residency - Western

Yes, Western matches into CA programs more frequently than Drexel, but the quality of Western’s matches is much lower, and their CA match rate is likely due to applicant preference rather than merit or connections. Would you rather match into the specialty of your choice or match in CA? If your specialty of choice is primary care (IM, FM, EM, peds, or even anesthesiology), then there is no problem with choosing Western. If you want surgery, you will have to work much harder and you will still likely get a lower tier residency than someone with the same score at Drexel.

Keep in mind that you may change your specialty preference many times during med school and Drexel will keep the most doors open.

Thank you for your detailed reply!! I don’t think I’m interested in the super competitive specialties (definitely not surgery). Drexel is a great option but it’s too far from family for me. It’s a 6 hour plane ride vs 3 hours from TCU. Hoping that TCUs match list is good. As long as I match in the west coast I think I would be happy, while of course matching into the specialty I love!

 

[dhallows8]

I think you should go to TCU if you don't want to go to Drexel. I interviewed there last cycle and the school has some really cool things going for it. Plus Fort Worth-Dallas will be a cool place to do med school in. I think avoiding DO is the smart move here. They also just got the first year tuition free right?

Drexel would give you the best prospects come residency time, but I bet TCU will also match well. They are investing a lot into their students.

Their first class (2019) got their tuition free and now their second class (2020) is getting their 2nd year tuition free!

 

[drgoldenboy]

Their first class (2019) got their tuition free and now their second class (2020) is getting their 2nd year tuition free!

Gotcha - well, my suggestion still stands. I think it's going to end up being a school that does really well. They are super invested in their students, in a great area, cool program, and you get the MD (which means that you don't have to study OMM and take 2 boards). I also think they have a lot of resource. Curious to hear what you decide!

 

[drgoldenboy]

Gotcha - well, my suggestion still stands. I think it's going to end up being a school that does really well. They are super invested in their students, in a great area, cool program, and you get the MD (which means that you don't have to study OMM and take 2 boards). I also think they have a lot of resource. Curious to hear what you decide!

Also, if I recall, it's easy to get from the TCU med school via public transit to the airport. Direct flight as you know to LAX. If you just look at the academic calendar ahead of time and make sure you plan out some flights, you'll probably be able to see the fam/friends in Cali plenty. You'll be super busy anyways if you stayed in Cali. Med school is short, might as well go to the best one, and do what you can to get back home as often as possible.