Top choice

[dtrack22]

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As you can tell from the frequency of posts I'm bored out of my mind waiting for that app process to finish. Playing football and taking one water aerobics credit leaves me with little to do Anyways, if you had to choose one school right now where would you go? I'm curious to see how everyone's "top school" changes (or doesn't) throughout the application and interview process.

My pick: AZPOD

 

[Roy Munson]

Cpms

 

[air bud]

if you are bored now, this next year is of waiting is going to kill you. i sat on my butt for year because i was done with school. at least with MD, they string you along and you often have to wait til spring to find out. here, it is wham-bam-thankyou-ma'am done in a month and by october you are done

 

[dtrack22]

Thanks air bud...I feel a lot better now! 😉

 

[Bearsfosho]

Not really sure about the top choice. Got an interview at Temple though. If i get into either DMU, OCPM, Samuell Merrit, Scholl or Temple Ill be happy.

 

[dtrack22]

ok bear, I'm holding a figurative gun to your head and you got into all of those programs...which one do you choose?

 

[janV88]

Scholl 😀

Why? because I grew up in chicago, went to undergrad in chicago, family is in chicago, and I plan to practice in chicago. Oh and Scholl is a great school, highly regarded, and affiliated with a med school.

 

[Bearsfosho]

I cant decide your just gonna have to off me.

 

[air bud]

Scholl 😀

Why? because I grew up in chicago, went to undergrad in chicago, family is in chicago, and I plan to practice in chicago. Oh and Scholl is a great school, highly regarded, and affiliated with a med school.

what if the chicago market is grossly oversaturated when you want to practice?

 

[Roy Munson]

Cpms

I should clarify - DMU is my top choice for a handful of reasons, chiefly that it's not too far from where I live currently. I also liked the campus when I visited and I like the aspect of taking classes alongside DOs.

 

[janV88]

what if the chicago market is grossly oversaturated when you want to practice?

Some say its already oversaturated...but I love this city. If, however, the market is so bad that I would be making under $100k, I'll practice somewhere in the midwest...probably Michigan.

Although right now my first choice is Scholl...I will keep an open mind. Given that I don't know anything about all the colleges...I might change my mind.

 

[dyk343]

CSPM, AZPOD, or Barry... Lived in the midwest my entire life... cant take the cold any longer...

 

[dtrack22]

Ok dyk...but which ONE?

 

[pieds]

azpod! I live in az and i like that the program is integrated with DO's.

 

[FootPro]

scholl because i'm from chicago area and am in undergrad in illinois so i want to stay close if i can, but i'm applying everywhere besides western

 

[dyk343]

Ok dyk...but which ONE?

I like the beach... but wont have tons of time to be there while in school so Miami sounds great but in reality...

I also like California. Although the beach is cold, San Fran is an amazing place to be... my sister went to UC Berkeley for Law... I visited often. Im not a big fan of 10-12 hr long lecture days though. Kinda pointless because after 5 hrs straight no one will be listening anymore (at least I wont be able to)

I hear you have to check your shoes every morning in Arizona to check for scorpions.... true anyone? Not fond of scorpions.

To be honest... I will have to decide after I interview.

Anything is better than three months of -20 degree weather and summers that are smoking hot/humid (yes I know Miami is hot/humid too)

I sound like a pessimist. I'm not.

 

[dtrack22]

To be honest... I will have to decide after I interview.

Yes, we are all going to decide after we interview. Out of the three descriptions which one appeals the most right NOW? Everyone has a school they think/hope they'll love, sometimes that turns out to be the school for them, other times it doesn't. That's the point, to see if it changes at all.

Ok, ok...from now on if you don't understand the point of the thread then just don't post.

 

[dyk343]

...

 

[dtrack22]

Beautiful dyk...no need to explain your answer. Now we wait and see if you'll live that dream after interviews roll around.

 

[Royal Rooters]

I'm going with AZpod. I've lived in other parts of the country for long periods of time, but not yet the Southwest. Plus I think the exposure to different cultures, different lifestyles, and different environments is beneficial and can help make somebody a well-rounded clinician/overall person.

Unfortunately, I don't have any family or know anybody in the area, however, I am married so my wife would be with me thankfully 🙂 Also, the southwest seems like a fun place to live for a few years!

Either way, I'll be happy attending any of the programs I've applied to. Hopefully we all know soon enough!

 

[that1guyfromFL]

Barry.👍

 

[dyk343]

I'm going with AZpod. I've lived in other parts of the country for long periods of time, but not yet the Southwest. Plus I think the exposure to different cultures, different lifestyles, and different environments is beneficial and can help make somebody a well-rounded clinician/overall person.

Unfortunately, I don't have any family or know anybody in the area, however, I am married so my wife would be with me thankfully 🙂 Also, the southwest seems like a fun place to live for a few years!

Either way, I'll be happy attending any of the programs I've applied to. Hopefully we all know soon enough!

According to dtrack there is no need to explain yourself... 🙄

 

[dayNight]

Ocpm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[allenmarchallo]

Barry....

 

[ldsrmdude]

I hear you have to check your shoes every morning in Arizona to check for scorpions.... true anyone? Not fond of scorpions.

The only reason that I can think of needing to check your shoes for scorpions is if you either live in a tent in a patch of desert or a van down by the river. I have heard of some people finding a scorpion or two in their house, but I have yet to see one personally. It's definitely not something that I worry about.

 

[dyk343]

The only reason that I can think of needing to check your shoes for scorpions is if you either live in a tent in a patch of desert or a van down by the river. I have heard of some people finding a scorpion or two in their house, but I have yet to see one personally. It's definitely not something that I worry about.

Good to know. I heard it from my history teacher back in high school... He spent some time in Arizona

 

[catchburns]

I lived in AZ for the last 8 years and have been stung by more than my fair share of scorpions. Believe me, they are there. There are plenty of rattlesnakes and other nasties too. Cockroaches are the worst part though. While AZPod is also on my list of top choices, there are very few redeeming qualities about AZ itself. Winters are nice because the weather is warm but the rest of the year is miserable. Its too bad the school isn't in Tucson or Flagstaff which are much nicer areas of AZ! Glendale is a fairly decent area of the Phoenix valley to live in though compared to the rest of it.

 

[darazon]

scholl because i'm from chicago area and am in undergrad in illinois so i want to stay close if i can, but i'm applying everywhere besides western

Just curious, why is that?

 

[FootPro]

Just curious, why is that?

I'm not knocking the school but it is very new and I would rather go to a school that has been around for a few years, has some history, and has students that have already been through and are now successful doctors.

 

[darazon]

I'm not knocking the school but it is very new and I would rather go to a school that has been around for a few years, has some history, and has students that have already been through and are now successful doctors.

You know, Western was probably my last pick of schools when I put my app in last year -for much the same reasons you have. I almost didin't even go for the interview, I was accepted at AzPOD, which was my number 1 pick. I went and was blown away by what I saw.

I have been in the program for 2 months now and am extremely glad I have chosen the school. This is my own opinion, but I think Western will become one of the top podiatry schools in the country. The faculty is amazing, and are very well known among DPM, MD/DO circles. The curriculum is geared towards making you a physician first and a podiatrist second. They have tailored all the classes around Vision 2015 -making podiatrists a valuable member of the health care team. We work on numerous group projects with all 9 of the universities colleges (DO, DMD, PA, OD, PharmD, etc.).

Anyways, I could go on and on -if anyone would like more info please feel free to pm me.

What I'm trying to say is, don't count out Western based on it being the new kid on the block (the school has been around since 1977, with numerous programs). Why not come and see for yourself?

I'm glad I decided to take the time and check them out, and I have no doubt that everyone in our inaugural class will perform fantastic on the boards and in residencies.

Just my 2 cents 🙂.

Good luck in any way you choose to go.

 

[Paulywog]

I agree! Visit the school before you scratch them off your list. Take the biased advice on here with a grain of salt. Go to all the schools you might be interested in. Your #5 favorite school pre-interview could become your #1 post-interview. I flew from one interview to the other. I saved money flying to all of them in a row. A few hundred dollar investment (plane tickets) going to many school interviews could help you enjoy your next 4 years better. Good Luck!

 

[FootPro]

Biased advice? Not everyone can go to all the schools they are interested in. I'm from IL and I dont have time/money to flew to more than 2-3 schools. Biased or realistic...

I agree! Visit the school before you scratch them off your list. Take the biased advice on here with a grain of salt. Go to all the schools you might be interested in. Your #5 favorite school pre-interview could become your #1 post-interview. I flew from one interview to the other. I saved money flying to all of them in a row. A few hundred dollar investment (plane tickets) going to many school interviews could help you enjoy your next 4 years better. Good Luck!

 

[air bud]

really? you are willing to blindly invest a few hundred thousand and years of your life?
find the money. go to at least a few. you have two kidneys for a reason. use some of the leftover money to hire a tutor for the time you missed in class

 

[FootPro]

really? you are willing to blindly invest a few hundred thousand and years of your life?
find the money. go to at least a few. you have to kidneys for a reason. use some of the leftover money to hire a tutor for the time you missed in class

good idea

 

[Paulywog]

Biased advice? Not everyone can go to all the schools they are interested in. I'm from IL and I dont have time/money to flew to more than 2-3 schools. Biased or realistic...

Yes, Biased! I am not talking about the comments on this topic. I am talking about the comments I have read over the past 2 years. Many of the things I read were misinformed and/or biased statements. When visiting the schools myself, I saw things I liked that some people didn't. As far as not having money or time...Most people don't. I didn't have money or time since I am married and had a 2 year old at the time and a pregnant wife who wasn't working. I was finishing school and had a part-time job. I had to pull out a small loan to buy my plane tickets. It cost less flying from school to school. Realistic?...Yes. It was a minimal investment to choose the school I would spend 4 years. I understand that many pre-pod students are from areas with Pod schools nearby or with family near a school. That is great. But many people don't have that or want to live in a different part of the country for 4 years. For those that know where they want to live, don't visit many schools. But the many of you who don't know where to go...visit many schools. I didn't want to come to the school I am at originally, because of the things said on here and from Dr.'s I shadowed, but they said things based on what they heard. I added this school as a vacation like many and ended up going here for multiple reasons. I don't care if people go to the school I am at, i just want people to make their own informed, unbiased, "realistic" decisions.

 

[darazon]

Yes, Biased! I am not talking about the comments on this topic. I am talking about the comments I have read over the past 2 years. Many of the things I read were misinformed and/or biased statements. When visiting the schools myself, I saw things I liked that some people didn't. As far as not having money or time...Most people don't. I didn't have money or time since I am married and had a 2 year old at the time and a pregnant wife who wasn't working. I was finishing school and had a part-time job. I had to pull out a small loan to buy my plane tickets. It cost less flying from school to school. Realistic?...Yes. It was a minimal investment to choose the school I would spend 4 years. I understand that many pre-pod students are from areas with Pod schools nearby or with family near a school. That is great. But many people don't have that or want to live in a different part of the country for 4 years. For those that know where they want to live, don't visit many schools. But the many of you who don't know where to go...visit many schools. I didn't want to come to the school I am at originally, because of the things said on here and from Dr.'s I shadowed, but they said things based on what they heard. I added this school as a vacation like many and ended up going here for multiple reasons. I don't care if people go to the school I am at, i just want people to make their own informed, unbiased, "realistic" decisions.

Agreed.

You find the time and the money. It's an important decision and you want to make sure that you explore all your options. Don't let your educational goals be limited because of what you read on SDN.

I interviewed from California to Florida, and all the places in between. I wanted to make the decision for myself, not have some posts on SDN make the decision for me.

Did I have the money, no. Did I have the time, nope. Am I 100% confident I am at the right place for me, absolutely.

 

[Shireiqiang]

azpod!