Touro COM - New York (TouroCOM-NY) Discussion Thread 2013 - 2014

[medtech123]

LECOM is def the more established school out of the 2, but Touro's reputation is increasing exponentially (They had the highest MCAT score out of all the DO schools). Also LECOM SH is all PBL whereas Touro is more of a lecture/pbl hybrid. The facilities are brand new in Middletown and alot of the Harlem professors are going to teach in Middletown
TLDR, I would choose Touro

Thank you kingbob 128! I am from long island and i was quite impressed with Touro on my interview day, so i'm leaning more towards Touro to be honest. However, as you have stated, LECOM is more established and is quite a bit cheaper..so I was just wondering if it worth an extra >$10000 tuition per year to go to Touro middletown...

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[kingbob128]

Thank you kingbob 128! I am from long island and i was quite impressed with Touro on my interview day, so i'm leaning more towards Touro to be honest. However, as you have stated, LECOM is more established and is quite a bit cheaper..so I was just wondering if it worth an extra >$10000 tuition per year to go to Touro middletown...

I completely forgot about LECOMs cheap tuition. I was in a similar position a while ago, I had an acceptance at NYCOM and Touro and an interview pending at LECOM-SH. Ultimately, I decided to withdraw my interview at SH, because I knew I wanted to practice in NY (im from queens), and I felt that teh NY schools would make it easier for me to do that

 

[MouseMaestro]

Hi everyone,

I am new to studentdoctor and am very grateful for all the info I could get from my fellow DO candidates! I have recently been accepted to both LECOM-SH and TOURO-Middletown and need to send in my deposit by end of this week but I am really have a tough time to decide which one to go with as they are BOTH satellite campuses (which makes me worried about the quality of education being not as good as the main campuses... and the fact that I have not been to either of the two campuses kinda make me hesitate...) Any comment would be greatly appreciated! 🙂

I am in a similar situation as you are with the exception that I was accepted to Erie LDP as opposed to SH. Coming from Long Island, I was also drawn to Touro-Middletown (also accepted there) due to its location and the new ORMC. However I think I am leaning towards LECOM for a few reasons:
1.) Cost- LECOM is obviously cheaper which is a huge plus
2.)Reputation- LECOM is more established (Yes, Touro is gaining some credibility in the DO community however that is for the Harlem campus. As it stands right now, Middletown is a big question mark) This is also true for first time board pass rates, and residency matches. At least with SH it has been around for a few years so you can get some information/insight on their program.
3.) Learning styles- For you this may not be such a big difference since you have a choice between PBL at LECOM and basically learning independently at Touro with their lecture podcasts. However for me, I was always comfortable with traditional lectures throughout undergrad and really don't know how I would fare with learning on my own at Touro. (The only good thing about the podcasts is that the actual lecture material and lecturers in the videos will be the same ones used by the Harlem students, so being at Middletown wouldn't put you at a disadvantage in that aspect).

When it comes down to it, (in my opinion) you need to base your decision on which learning style will better suite you and which style you will excel in. The rest really shouldn't matter. I have been to Middletown and the Erie campus and would be happy to answer any questions you may have. Good luck with your decision!

 

[bullpoop]

Hello everyone! I interviewed at Harlem a few weeks ago and got waitlisted. I really like this school and I would love to attend here. Have anyone heard anything about the movement of the waitlist? Or does anyone know who I should send a letter or intent/interest to? Thanks in advance!

 

[medtech123]

I am in a similar situation as you are with the exception that I was accepted to Erie LDP as opposed to SH. Coming from Long Island, I was also drawn to Touro-Middletown (also accepted there) due to its location and the new ORMC. However I think I am leaning towards LECOM for a few reasons:
1.) Cost- LECOM is obviously cheaper which is a huge plus
2.)Reputation- LECOM is more established (Yes, Touro is gaining some credibility in the DO community however that is for the Harlem campus. As it stands right now, Middletown is a big question mark) This is also true for first time board pass rates, and residency matches. At least with SH it has been around for a few years so you can get some information/insight on their program.
3.) Learning styles- For you this may not be such a big difference since you have a choice between PBL at LECOM and basically learning independently at Touro with their lecture podcasts. However for me, I was always comfortable with traditional lectures throughout undergrad and really don't know how I would fare with learning on my own at Touro. (The only good thing about the podcasts is that the actual lecture material and lecturers in the videos will be the same ones used by the Harlem students, so being at Middletown wouldn't put you at a disadvantage in that aspect).

When it comes down to it, (in my opinion) you need to base your decision on which learning style will better suite you and which style you will excel in. The rest really shouldn't matter. I have been to Middletown and the Erie campus and would be happy to answer any questions you may have. Good luck with your decision!

Thanks MouseMaestro! I think I have pretty much made up my mind on Touro Middletown because they seem to invest more on their students and the fact that I would have access to cadaver lab for anatomy (SH PBL students has no access to anything like that...). So, you've been to the Middletown campus? how do you like it? do you)know if it's expensive to rent an apartment up there? How's the job market for musicians there? (my bf is a musician and he will be going with me)..

 

[Halffull]

I got an interview invite last week and passed it up. Hope it goes to any brave soul that's still waiting to hear back!

 

[DocEspana]

Thanks MouseMaestro! I think I have pretty much made up my mind on Touro Middletown because they seem to invest more on their students and the fact that I would have access to cadaver lab for anatomy (SH PBL students has no access to anything like that...). So, you've been to the Middletown campus? how do you like it? do you)know if it's expensive to rent an apartment up there? How's the job market for musicians there? (my bf is a musician and he will be going with me)..

Im from a bit outside of middletown originally (Poughkeepsie NY) but many of my family members live even closer to that area and I've driven through it enough times to know its similar to the areas im familiar with. Rent should be super affordable there. Large places can be rented out for $500 per month and easily $400 or less per person if youre splitting a multi-bedroom place between multiple people.

As for the music scene there, it is not particularly far from NYC. You'd need to take some form of transportation to get there, but NYC is about the cats meow for music scene. Upstate is a LOT of garage bands with small venues letting them play, so there wont be a shortage of areas to play in, just perhaps a shortage of serious adult instrumentalists in the immediate area. BUT.... you are a hop-skip-and-jump from westchester which has a robust scene of musicians of all levels and ages, and some of that music scene has leeched across the river and can be found throughout Rockland County (direclty south of Middletown).

Plus there is always Poughkeepsie. Middletown is (by far) the smallest of the three cities in the poughkeepsie-newburgh-middletown metropolitan area, but is pretty darn close to Poughkeepsie. Over there, if he ever hits it big, are some serious venues to perform at.

 

[streetdoc10]

Not sure if this was asked before, but I was wondering if anyone knows anything about the crime rate in Middletown? Is it a safe place to walk around in the evening?

 

[SmileyDoc123]

Hey all, this is my first time posting even though I've been lurking on a bunch of SDN threads throughout the application cycle. Hope we get along!

Anyways, I'm fortunate enough to have been accepted to ToucoCOM-Harlem. I live about an hour travel from the campus. I was wondering if any current students or any other SDNers who may have some insight can tell me whether or not it would be wise to attempt to commute an hour each way to the campus given the online lecture style. Thanks in advance.

 

[PreSuperman]

Accepted Feb 21st! Interviewed on the 19th !

I got into the Middleton campus against my preference though. This is fine with me so long as I get access to the same resources and benefits of TUCOM-Harlem, can anyone speak about this?

 

[p1036]

Hi everyone! I'm interviewing tomorrow and I've been reading some previous threads... Is it true that I'm interviewing in the waitlist territory now? Because that's disheartening.

Also, can any current students talk about why they applied/accepted admission to this school?

Thanks

 

[DocEspana]

Accepted Feb 21st! Interviewed on the 19th !

I got into the Middleton campus against my preference though. This is fine with me so long as I get access to the same resources and benefits of TUCOM-Harlem, can anyone speak about this?

The quality of the pre-clinical education is very very good. Lots of professors who are at the top of their game.

 

[ellekay324]

Accepted Feb 21st! Interviewed on the 19th !

I got into the Middleton campus against my preference though. This is fine with me so long as I get access to the same resources and benefits of TUCOM-Harlem, can anyone speak about this?

From what I've heard from people, anyone who put both Harlem and Middletown got into Middletown, regardless of preference. I wish I had known that because I'm not exactly excited about going to Middletown. Ohh well.

 

[ellekay324]

Does anyone know what a typical day or week looks like here? What time do classes start, end, breaks, how often are exams, etc?

 

[vagitarian001]

From what I've heard from people, anyone who put both Harlem and Middletown got into Middletown, regardless of preference. I wish I had known that because I'm not exactly excited about going to Middletown. Ohh well.

Didn't you appeal?

 

[Centrum1]

Does anyone know what a typical day or week looks like here? What time do classes start, end, breaks, how often are exams, etc?

I'm not sure about typical day/week, but I have a friend who is there currently. He said that the exams are on every Monday during the first year. Some weeks have multiple exams, but most of your exams will be on Mondays.

 

[Canyptian]

.

 

[PreSuperman]

Didn't you appeal?

you can appeal?

 

[ellekay324]

Didn't you appeal?

Yeah, and they rejected it and would not tell me why :/ So I'm trying to look at any positives of Middletown 🙂

 

[vagitarian001]

you can appeal?

Yes, but there is a slim chance they will accept your appeal.

 

[vagitarian001]

Yeah, and they rejected it and would not tell me why :/ So I'm trying to look at any positives of Middletown 🙂

Aww, sorry to hear that.

 

[ellekay324]

The quality of the pre-clinical education is very very good. Lots of professors who are at the top of their game.

Do you have any idea what a typical day/week looks like now that they're using ITunes? i.e. What time we start, end?

 

[DocEspana]

Nope! No idea. Hahaha. Gotta ask someone closer to the pre-clinical years. I'm before iTunes lectures.

 

[deleted562324]

Do you have any idea what a typical day/week looks like now that they're using ITunes? i.e. What time we start, end?

DrEnderW (an M1) posted this earlier in this thread:

I watch lectures between 1.5 and 2.0x speed - this obviously makes things go way faster and is a better use of time compared to in class lecture. Monday is test day (no test = no class), Tuesday you have four 50 minute iClicker sessions, Wednesday is 3 hours, Thursday is long with OMM lab, histo lab, and anatomy lab (8 hour day), Friday is 3 hours. In other words, I'm home at noon everyday but Thursday. If your not a morning person (8am-12pm), you can do the afternoon group which has the same breakup but is 1pm-5pm. You will be on campus 4-5 days a week first semester M1, no class on Fri second semester I believe. I've never came in on the weekends or evenings.

 

[ekdoctobe]

Thanks MouseMaestro! I think I have pretty much made up my mind on Touro Middletown because they seem to invest more on their students and the fact that I would have access to cadaver lab for anatomy (SH PBL students has no access to anything like that...). So, you've been to the Middletown campus? how do you like it? do you)know if it's expensive to rent an apartment up there? How's the job market for musicians there? (my bf is a musician and he will be going with me)..

I'm a musician. Fyi the nyc music scene is extremely tough and competitive, which was great for getting me ready for this whole med school game. But i'm betting the upstate music scene is better. It is very hard working musicians in nyc.

 

[deleted562324]

Does anyone know when orientation starts?

 

[GodismyPCP]

Monday, 7/28/14 at 8 am.

 

[medtech123]

Im from a bit outside of middletown originally (Poughkeepsie NY) but many of my family members live even closer to that area and I've driven through it enough times to know its similar to the areas im familiar with. Rent should be super affordable there. Large places can be rented out for $500 per month and easily $400 or less per person if youre splitting a multi-bedroom place between multiple people.

As for the music scene there, it is not particularly far from NYC. You'd need to take some form of transportation to get there, but NYC is about the cats meow for music scene. Upstate is a LOT of garage bands with small venues letting them play, so there wont be a shortage of areas to play in, just perhaps a shortage of serious adult instrumentalists in the immediate area. BUT.... you are a hop-skip-and-jump from westchester which has a robust scene of musicians of all levels and ages, and some of that music scene has leeched across the river and can be found throughout Rockland County (direclty south of Middletown).

Plus there is always Poughkeepsie. Middletown is (by far) the smallest of the three cities in the poughkeepsie-newburgh-middletown metropolitan area, but is pretty darn close to Poughkeepsie. Over there, if he ever hits it big, are some serious venues to perform at.

Wow! Thank you very much for such a detailed reply! It really eases some of my worries for my bf ~ 🙂

 

[ellekay324]

DrEnderW (an M1) posted this earlier in this thread:

Ah thank you so much! Hm I wonder if you have to choose if you're morning or afternoon group or if you can go to whatever classes you want on any given day..

 

[GodismyPCP]

Everyone is randomly assigned to the group A (morning) or group B (afternoon) sessions. During the first week of class, you can swap groups with your classmates.

 

[dctodo]

Just got an ii today! Does anyone know if this will most likely be for a waitlist spot?

Sent from my HTC Glacier using Tapatalk 2

 

[DoctorMonster]

Got accepted to Touro COM, Middletown a week ago!

Interviewed March 14th, Accepted March 16th

I really want to know more about the campus and the school itself. Are there anybody here who has access to a brochure (I have seen the video posted on their website multiple times)?

P.s. Does the Middletown campus have a separate Facebook group from the Harlem's "NYC DO c/o 2018"? If so where can I find it?

 

[DoctorMonster]

Just got an ii today! Does anyone know if this will most likely be for a waitlist spot?

Sent from my HTC Glacier using Tapatalk 2

They told me that interviews will continue to be held until the end of April, and that they like to spread out their spots until the very end. So I would not give up hope just yet. I had my interview Mid-March, and I thought that it would be extremely tough for me to get in, especially since it was so late in the cycle.

However, it is true that the Harlem campus spots are more competitive at this point, but I'm sure Middletown has a little more flexibility.

I have also heard that even if you are in the waitlist, there would be a lot of movement some time in Late-April, or May (When the second deposit is due - May 15th)

So don't give up hope!

 

[Duck5auce]

Does anyone know anything about the dorms in Middletown? I want to live in a dorm so I won't have to commute, but I haven't received any application if there's any.

 

[kingbob128]

Does anyone know anything about the dorms in Middletown? I want to live in a dorm so I won't have to commute, but I haven't received any application if there's any.

The Middletown dorms are actually inside the school. Watch the middletown video

 

[dctodo]

They told me that interviews will continue to be held until the end of April, and that they like to spread out their spots until the very end. So I would not give up hope just yet. I had my interview Mid-March, and I thought that it would be extremely tough for me to get in, especially since it was so late in the cycle.

However, it is true that the Harlem campus spots are more competitive at this point, but I'm sure Middletown has a little more flexibility.

I have also heard that even if you are in the waitlist, there would be a lot of movement some time in Late-April, or May (When the second deposit is due - May 15th)

So don't give up hope!

thank you for your reply! and congrats on getting into middletown!!

Sent from my HTC Glacier using Tapatalk 2

 

[streetdoc10]

Hi, has anyone received confirmation of the school receiving their immunization records or transcripts?

 

[Doc Surge]

Hi, has anyone received confirmation of the school receiving their immunization records or transcripts?

I didn't get any confirmation, but I emailed Kendra Copeland and asked her if she received them and she confirmed for me that I was all set.

 

[NickWeiler]

Anyone know when the deadline for the secondary is? Was hoping to get into MU and just got rejected so am now exploring other options.

 

[Doc Surge]

Has anyone received the second deposit form that the "what comes next" email said would be sent out in early February? I still have not gotten it, and I am wondering if I should contact Sean Anderson about it.

Thanks in advance.

 

[digidoc14]

Has anyone received the second deposit form that the "what comes next" email said would be sent out in early February? I still have not gotten it, and I am wondering if I should contact Sean Anderson about it.

Thanks in advance.

I didn't receive the second deposit email yet. I tried contacting them to verify getting my immunization record and asking when the second deposit email will be sent. All they said was that an email will be sent soon. Maybe you can have more luck if you tried contacting Sean?

 

[Doc Surge]

I didn't receive the second deposit email yet. I tried contacting them to verify getting my immunization record and asking when the second deposit email will be sent. All they said was that an email will be sent soon. Maybe you can have more luck if you tried contacting Sean?

I sent an email this morning, but no response yet. I figure I'll give them a day or two to get back to me before I think of making a phone call.

 

[raymond33]

I sent an email this morning, but no response yet. I figure I'll give them a day or two to get back to me before I think of making a phone call.

I didn't receive the second deposit email yet. I tried contacting them to verify getting my immunization record and asking when the second deposit email will be sent. All they said was that an email will be sent soon. Maybe you can have more luck if you tried contacting Sean?

I actually called yesterday. Sean said they are running behind and they will sent them out in the coming weeks!

 

[ddukbokeeboi]

I actually called yesterday. Sean said they are running behind and they will sent them out in the coming weeks!

Just got mine a few minutes ago. Can anyone recommend any good pawn shops in the Tri-state area? Plasma centers? Sperm banks?

 

[nambajuice]

Anyone know when the deadline for the secondary is? Was hoping to get into MU and just got rejected so am now exploring other options.

The deadline to submit the secondary isn't until April 21st so you still have time to submit if you'd like. Just know that the Harlem campus is currently filled so they're only interviewing for wait list spots at that campus. The Middletown campus still has a good number of spots available if you're interested in interviewing there.
I'm in pretty much the same position as you and got this info by calling Sean at the admissions office. GL buddy.

 

[DocEspana]

Just got mine a few minutes ago. Can anyone recommend any good pawn shops in the Tri-state area? Plasma centers? Sperm banks?

Actually funny you should mention that...

Are you 5'10" or taller?

 

[Jupiter2012]

Hey all, this is my first time posting even though I've been lurking on a bunch of SDN threads throughout the application cycle. Hope we get along!

Anyways, I'm fortunate enough to have been accepted to ToucoCOM-Harlem. I live about an hour travel from the campus. I was wondering if any current students or any other SDNers who may have some insight can tell me whether or not it would be wise to attempt to commute an hour each way to the campus given the online lecture style. Thanks in advance.

It might be difficult, but not impossible. I know there are a few students that commute 1+ hours to class.
Also, I know that it seems like the iTunes lecture style will give you some leeway, however, we are in school almost every day 1st semester (first year) and Tues-Thurs. second semester, plus Mondays if we have a test. And you do have to show up for class. PD and OMM labs (on Wed. and Thurs.) are mandatory, or you are docked 10% of lab grade for each time you miss, and you are only excused 2 clicker sessions per class before it is factored into your clicker grade (usually only 10% of overall grade).

 

[Jupiter2012]

Do you have any idea what a typical day/week looks like now that they're using ITunes? i.e. What time we start, end?

Tuesdays we have clickers for 4 hours, a little less than an hour per class. Wednesdays we have PD clickers in the morning, then PD lab (schedule varies depending on lab group), then immuno/micro in the afternoon for an hour. Thursdays, we start at 8 and go until 4 or 5 (depending on which group A or B, and which neurolab you are in); we have cultural competence, OMM clickers, OMM lab, Path lab, Neuro lab. No school on Fridays.

 

[Jupiter2012]

I just wanted to let those of you that didn't get into this cycle, but that really want to go to Touro that we do have a Master's program that is a good alternative. You will take class with MS1s for the most part, and if you get a certain GPA, you can matriculate into the next year class, without even having to interview. I know that it's a big $ commitment, but it is a great opportunity, and you will seriously have a leg-up on students that were not in the program. Students who did the Master's program last year are at the top of our class this year.

 

[ddukbokeeboi]

Actually funny you should mention that...

Are you 5'10" or taller?

When the hair is properly coiffed, yes. Why?