Temple Vs. AZPOD

[486963]

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Hello all,

Im in a bit of a pinch. I was accepted to both Temple and AZPOD but was notified just today about AZPOD. If I went to AZPOD I would have only 5 days to move to Arizona... I live in NY. I know the class size is significantly smaller, but I've never actually been to AZPOD (We did a skype interview). Could you please tell me which one you would choose and why?

 

[jonod1107]

Hello all,

Im in a bit of a pinch. I was accepted to both Temple and AZPOD but was notified just today about AZPOD. If I went to AZPOD I would have only 5 days to move to Arizona... I live in NY. I know the class size is significantly smaller, but I've never actually been to AZPOD (We did a skype interview). Could you please tell me which one you would choose and why?

I wonder how many people reneged on their acceptance at AZPOD recently? They contacted me too, but I already had my heart set on another school way back in Dec.

What is it about Temple that you don't like that made you consider AZPOD?

Which school will be cheaper?

 

[Moose A Moose]

OP, just stick with Temple. They're legit.

Anyway, I fee like if you attempted to uproot and move yourself to AZ in a five day period you'd end up having your face melt off in the process.

 

[SLCpod]

I would stay with Temple.

 

[486963]

Yes I wouldnt want my face to melt off haha. I think I'll stick with Temple. I just dont like the idea of turning down an acceptance offer to a school that I've never visited. Who knows, maybe I would have really liked the place.

 

[jonod1107]

Yes I wouldnt want my face to melt off haha. I think I'll stick with Temple. I just dont like the idea of turning down an acceptance offer to a school that I've never visited. Who knows, maybe I would have really liked the place.

I feel like with every school, you are going to love some parts of it and hate some part of it though...

 

[Shireiqiang]

I would say AZPOD. pm me with any specific questions you have. It really depends on what you are looking for in a school.

 

[JEB88]

I wanted to go to DMU but my wife did not like the cold so I ended up going to AZPOD. It turned out to be a good choice for me. The best choice for you is the school you decide to go to! I probably would have been just as happy at DMU but the winters are great out here and I like the fact that all my basic science courses in the first two years were taken with the DO students.

 

[sdpPOD]

I wanted to go to DMU but my wife did not like the cold so I ended up going to AZPOD. It turned out to be a good choice for me. The best choice for you is the school you decide to go to! I probably would have been just as happy at DMU but the winters are great out here and I like the fact that all my basic science courses in the first two years were taken with the DO students.

I'm deciding between Western and Midwestern (I actually have to make my decision by tomorrow, eek!) Do you know of any students that have gone through their clerkships and CRIPs? I'm wondering with having only 3-4 clerkships prior to CRIPs, do AZPOD students feel prepared for residency?

 

[BIH91]

I'm not quite sure that it is only 3-4 externships at AZPOD from what I heard at the interview. What they said is you could get up to 5. I may be misinformed though, seeing as they are recruiting at the interview, so it would be nice to hear from a current student or alum.

 

[sdpPOD]

This was how the person at AZPOD worded it,

"The 4th yr schedule is slightly different for each student. It depends on which schedule you get in the lottery, i.e. there are 30 schedules all slightly different in terms of the order of when you take each rotation. The lottery is set up so that each student is randomly given a number and then when your number is called, you choose which schedule you want. That said we make the schedule to the students advantage. Most of the schedules allow for 3-4 clerkships prior to CRIPS and at least 1 month of podiatry at the core site (which is also a residency location). Students usually choose a core site at a residency location that they're interested in.

There is also an option to do a 4yr clerkship at the end of your 3rd year."

So, it seems like you would be able to do 3-4 clerkships plus a CORE rotation. I'm a little confused by the last sentence, but maybe they meant you could do a clerkship at the end of your 3rd year prior to starting your 4th yr clerkships? Not sure.

BIH91, did you get into AZPOD?

 

[BIH91]

Yeah that is a bit confusing. I did get accepted.

 

[Royal Rooters]

I'm a 4th year at AZPod and I will have 5 clerkships done before January. I could have done a 6th, however, I decided to take the month of December off to study and to visit a couple of other places for a day or two.

With regards to your 4th year schedule, you can make it whatever you want it to be - I certainly did. Yes, you enter the lottery and pick some arbitrary schedule, but you're free to choose your clerkship months however you please. Clerkship programs have zero clue about the lottery, nor do they care. Also, your core is a 6 month rotation from one of 12 or so different programs (I'm sorry I don't remember the exact number) that includes 3 months of podiatry and one month each of inpatient medicine, emergency medicine and general surgery.

I've spoken to a couple of current AZPod 3rd years and I've been told that they're doing away with the lottery system because it's completely arbitrary and people do whatever they want either way. Also, the 6 month core is becoming 5 months in length. I still believe that this is too long and that we'd be better served with a couple more clerkships under our belts, however, I am happy to at least see that progress is being made.


If you have any specific questions about AZPod, please feel free to PM me. I've been there four years and have enjoyed my time and felt that I received a high quality education. Yes, there are pros and cons just like any other school, but just realize that you'll get out what you put in no matter what school is written on your diploma.