Thoroughly unscientific, opinion based comparison, UMDNJSOM vs. MSUCOM vs. NYCOM

[Dr. AK]

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What do you all think about these schools? Which in your opinion is best and why?

If you could chose to attend any of them, and had acceptances to all three, which would it be?

 

[Lamborghini1315]

What do you all think about these schools? Which in your opinion is best and why?

If you could chose to attend any of them, and had acceptances to all three, which would it be?

UMDNJ hands down. Why? simply because it has a good reputation, higher board scores in the past and lastly a tuition that is extremely affordable.

 

[Jpc984]

don't know about the other schools but at MSU you take gross anatomy during the summer. This will give you the advantage of "easing" into the fall semester.

 

[halal meat]

MSUCOM esp for primary care

However i think oos tuition is rather large.

 

[WALKE219]

MSU. Most funding, highest match rate. (and of course I will be going there )

 

[Jpc984]

If you got into msucom, does anyone mind posting their gpa and/or mcats?

 

[Dr JPH]

MSUCOM has the most impressive list of residencies and fellowships. all 3 are good schools though...not a bad decision to have to make!

 

[Dr.Inviz]

What do you all think about these schools? Which in your opinion is best and why?

If you could chose to attend any of them, and had acceptances to all three, which would it be?

MSUCOM if I were in-state. If not, then likely NYCOM with all the surrounding hospitals. However, NJ does have its own teaching hospital, as well. I believe out of the list, MSU and NYCOM have better residency matches.

 

[Orthodoc40]

MSU if you're in state there. If you're not in state, it might still be your best first choice.
2nd choice should probably be NY, then UMDNJ third.

Why? Money shouldn't be the deciding factor for someone in their 20's.

 

[Protease]

Well don't you want to factor in location in reference to your current residence? They will all cost about the same if your OOS applicant. Secondly, regardless which one someone chooses you will get a good education. Personally, I'd rank them as MSU, UMD, and NYCOM based on match results, class size, location, and educational experience. Just remember, where you end up, 60% of the time, you will do well 76% all the time

 

[MaximusD]

UMDNJ-SOM!!!

it's like 25k per year tuition since everyone gets in-state tuition!!!

 

[Kuba]

msucom if you are in-state or money is not a factor.

 

[Orthodoc40]

Why do so many people operate under the assumption that UMDNJ has a great match list? No offense but I haven't been that impressed with it, honestly.

 

[MCATTT]

All schools are really great.

I can tell you that NYCOM has really impressive matchlist.

 

[Kuba]

Why do so many people operate under the assumption that UMDNJ has a great match list? No offense but I haven't been that impressed with it, honestly.

Why not impressed? You have to consider the institions students matched at, not necessarily the specialties, and that UMDNJ has half the students of most other osteopathic schools.

 

[sunnyjohn]

Which one is the cheapest? Who gives the best aid package (before loans)?

 

[Kuba]

Which one is the cheapest? Who gives the best aid pacakge (before loans)?

UMDNJ<MSU(IS)<<NYCOM<<MSU(OOS)

 

[Orthodoc40]

Why not impressed? You have to consider the institions students matched at, not necessarily the specialties, and that UMDNJ has half the students of most other osteopathic schools.

People seem to have the idea they place a lot of people into competitive specialties, which isn't really reflected in the match lists I've seen from there. The institutions seem on par with other schools, but not substantially better. Compared to other schools' lists, I was expecting a lot better, and I didn't really see it, that's all.

 

[Tones24]

Have you visited SOM before?? That place is heavenly

 

[Dr. AK]

So far, MSU is winning, big. Is that the consensus.

 

[Lamborghini1315]

So far, MSU is winning, big. Is that the consensus.

If you are an out of state student, MSU could be a nightmare. I know the tuition for out of state is crazy and further a lot of MSU students go into primary care. However, it's a great school in terms of education

 

[PlasticMan]

Doesn't MSU have both a MD and DO school? If so, the choice should be easy - MSU. If they have an allopathic school there, that means they are more established and have more residency options,etc.

 

[Dr.Inviz]

Doesn't MSU have both a MD and DO school? If so, the choice should be easy - MSU. If they have an allopathic school there, that means they are more established and have more residency options,etc.

agreed. MSUCOM is the top option between the 3, especially if money isnt a concern. Sure, you will have a greater debt, but the opportunities to place in nice residency areas is also great and you will be able to pay off the debt if you use your money well. The next option IMO is NYCOM because of all the hospitals available to rotate in while in NY, in addition to all the great allo med schools there, as well. NJ has the tuition benefit and also has an MD school too, along with having a teaching hospital. I'd say that MSUCOM and NYCOM have better match lists, but NJ isn't far behind either. I'd probably choose NYCOM if I personally had to make that decision. NY baby ...

 

[WALKE219]

Logic would tell you that would be true about MSU having both an MD and DO school. However, it is actually not true that they feed off each other. MSUCOM has 24 base hospitals for rotations while MSUCHM(MD) only has 8. Plus, MSUCOM has all the major metro areas in Michigan tied up, MSUCHM has only Grand Rapids, which is smaller than Detroit. Kind of interesting... You would think it would be the other way around..
.
They do share some courses, mainly in the first year, and then they split off and go their own ways, totally in the last two years. MSUCOM does have an impressive residency list 186 at last check... I think double of what CHM offers

The other two schools are really great too. One HUGE downfall of MSU for out of staters is the tuition, something like 50k a year... In fact the lady talking to us about financial aid and whatnot said out of staters can't even get it all taken care of by federal aid, which sucks over all. Then again they only accept something like 1.5% out of state..

 

[Orthodoc40]

One other thing is, if you're under 30 years old, money should really just not be a first concern in deciding where to go! You have plenty of time, kids!

 

[WALKE219]

51k is steep though... worried or not... Considering I am an in stater paying 30k

 

[Kuba]

51k is steep though... worried or not... Considering I am an in stater paying 30k

NYCOM is 43K + 7% increase every year. So almost like MSU and MSU is a much better program imo.

 

[Vix206]

NYCOM is 43K + 7% increase every year. So almost like MSU and MSU is a much better program imo.

where did you hear 43K? last week, taryn croot said it was 37, with a 5-7% increase every year

 

[MCATTT]

where did you hear 43K? last week, taryn croot said it was 37, with a 5-7% increase every year

NYCOM tuition it self is 37 K (for class of 2010) if you have your own insurance. Otherwise, $3099 for insurance is added to the tuition. With book fees ~ 2k and Diagnostic Equip ~ 1 k, it all adds up to 43 K.

For 2011, NYCOM tuition is $38170.

 

[Dr.Inviz]

nycom is definitely not 43K. I'd go nycom if I were OOS and worried about money.

 

[MCATTT]

nycom is definitely not 43K. I'd go nycom if I were OOS and worried about money.

Dr. Inviz, which school will you be going this fall?

 

[Dr.Inviz]

Dr. Inviz, which school will you be going this fall?

not sure, my interview cycle isn't complete. I have 2 more interviews to go. I did get accepted to DCOM though. Once everything is complete and if I get more acceptances, then I will have a better idea. I mainly applied regionally in the southeast. However, NYCOM and NJ are schools I'd consider applying to if I wanted to go Northeast.

 

[Kuba]

nycom is definitely not 43K. I'd go nycom if I were OOS and worried about money.

well by the 4th year using just the lowest 5% increase from a starting 38k it is 44.5k

 

[Dr.Inviz]

well by the 4th year using just the lowest 5% increase from a starting 38k it is 44.5k

big deal. it is the 4th year and not the entire 4 years that you are paying 43K+.

 

[Kuba]

Personally I think UMDNJ is a better school than NYCOM. But for the sake of argument even if NYCOM is a lot better, is it $17,000/year plus added cost of living better?

 

[Kuba]

big deal. it is the 4th year and not the entire 4 years that you are paying 43K+.

and 3rd year . and 3/4 you are paying 40k+

 

[FizbanZymogen]

My understanding was that in general UMDNJ was more highly regarded than NYCOM. No offense to anyone who attends NYCOM, I'm sure its a great school but I have heard fantastic things about UMDNJ. I was invited to interview at MSUCOM but turnedd it down after really deciding that the OOS tuition just wasn't worth it for me (especially if I go primary care).

 

[Dr.Inviz]

and 3rd year . and 3/4 you are paying 40k+

ok, and im sure one could still pay that off. if you're worried about the $, go to NJ then. nobody's stopping anyone from going anywhere once accepted.

 

[Kuba]

ok, and im sure one could still pay that off. if you're worried about the $, go to NJ then. nobody's stopping anyone from going anywhere once accepted.

its not whether one can afford it. it is whether it is worth it. and of course nobodys stopping anyone from doing anything? Can't I have an opinion and express it when the OP asks for one?

 

[Dr.Inviz]

its not whether one can afford it. it is whether it is worth it. and of course nobodys stopping anyone from doing anything? Can't I have an opinion and express it when the OP asks for one?

sure, you may have your own opinion, but dont attempt to enforce your opinions on me. i could care less either way. My opinion is MSU is the best option, but 51K or more is much more expensive. My second option is NYCOM because of all the rotations possible in the hospitals in NY. NJ is nice because of the teaching hospital and the tuition. Can't go wrong either way, but I believe NYCOM also has a better matchlist.

 

[MCATTT]

sure, you may have your own opinion, but dont attempt to enforce your opinions on me. i could care less either way. My opinion is MSU is the best option, but 51K or more is much more expensive. My second option is NYCOM because of all the rotations possible in the hospitals in NY. NJ is nice because of the teaching hospital and the tuition. Can't go wrong either way, but I believe NYCOM also has a better matchlist.

If OP can get instate tuition for UMDNJ, than definitely it's the choice. Otherwise, very tough decision to make between NYCOM and UMDNJ due to similar tuition rate.
I am amazed by NYCOM matchlist as well.

 

[Kuba]

If OP can get instate tuition for UMDNJ, than definitely it's the choice. Otherwise, very tough decision to make between NYCOM and UMDNJ due to similar tuition rate.
I am amazed by NYCOM matchlist as well.

everyone gets instate tution at UMDNJ as long as they choose to live in NJ during the med years. NYCOM does have an impressive matchlist, but you are comparing a school with 300 students to a school with a 100. You would expect 1/3 of the people in each competitive specialty.

 

[Kuba]

sure, you may have your own opinion, but dont attempt to enforce your opinions on me. i could care less either way. My opinion is MSU is the best option, but 51K or more is much more expensive. My second option is NYCOM because of all the rotations possible in the hospitals in NY. NJ is nice because of the teaching hospital and the tuition. Can't go wrong either way, but I believe NYCOM also has a better matchlist.

i can at least agree that if you are a resident of michigan MSU is the best option.

 

[Orthodoc40]

everyone gets instate tution at UMDNJ as long as they choose to live in NJ during the med years. NYCOM does have an impressive matchlist, but you are comparing a school with 300 students to a school with a 100. You would expect 1/3 of the people in each competitive specialty.

Yes but even if you account for class size, there is still a big difference. You don't see either the numbers or the variety or the sites on the NJ list that you see on some of the other school's lists.

 

[Dr. AK]

You all make excellent arguments. I just don't know. I do live in NJ and can get instate tuition at UMDNJ, but cost is less important to me then the value of my education. I will, after all, be a doctor for the rest of my life.

What if I could do a DO/PhD at MSUCOM, and have a reduced tuition (less then instate) with a stipend (yes, it is an extra three years but, I would spend that much time paying back loans anyway). What would you all recommend?

UMDNJ-SOM has all the comforts of home, but MSU, I believe, will open up more doors for me. NYCOM has a similar advantage plus the NY system of hospitals. Then again, with MSU I think I can get a residency anywhere I want. Those who have completed a DO/PhD at MSUCOM have done residency at Yale, Johns Hopkins, and the Mayo Medical Clinic. Not a bad list at all. What do you think?

Thanks.

 

[Kuba]

do you want a phd? don't do it for the $$.

 

[Dr. AK]

I would love a PhD. My biggest issue is that I do not want to be limited later on in life. MSU is one of the best college in the world, its like number 60, and part of my reasoning, aside from money, is that it will open up many more doors for me.

 

[koshka]

You all make excellent arguments. I just don’t know. I do live in NJ and can get instate tuition at UMDNJ, but cost is less important to me then the value of my education. I will, after all, be a doctor for the rest of my life.

What if I could do a DO/PhD at MSUCOM, and have a reduced tuition (less then instate) with a stipend (yes, it is an extra three years but, I would spend that much time paying back loans anyway). What would you all recommend?

UMDNJ-SOM has all the comforts of home, but MSU, I believe, will open up more doors for me. NYCOM has a similar advantage plus the NY system of hospitals. Then again, with MSU I think I can get a residency anywhere I want. Those who have completed a DO/PhD at MSUCOM have done residency at Yale, Johns Hopkins, and the Mayo Medical Clinic. Not a bad list at all. What do you think?

Thanks.

umdnj has a do/phd program as well, although I am not sure of the extent of research opportunities

 

[Kuba]

umdnj has a do/phd program as well, although I am not sure of the extent of research opportunities

MSU and UMDNJSOM are #1 and #2 respectively in federal grant money. However, MSU counts its faculty for both the MD and DO school in that number while UMDNJSOM only counts the DO school faculty.

 

[Kuba]

I would love a PhD. My biggest issue is that I do not want to be limited later on in life. MSU is one of the best college in the world, its like number 60, and part of my reasoning, aside from money, is that it will open up many more doors for me.

If you think it is worth it money-wise then go for it. MSU is probably the best osteopathic school in the country.