TOURO-MI vs WESTERN

[manfood.com]

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So I just accepted and paid my deposit, and then guess what comes in the mail, lol. Interview invite from COMP. lol. Now what should I do.... hrmm... anyone advice, feedback of western? I just want to know if it's going to be worth my time. 2k is whatever in the long run. can anyone help with the pro's and con's maybe. What you did or didn't like? thanks.

 

[HemaOncoDoc]

So I just accepted and paid my deposit, and then guess what comes in the mail, lol. Interview invite from COMP. lol. Now what should I do.... hrmm... anyone advice, feedback of western? I just want to know if it's going to be worth my time. 2k is whatever in the long run. can anyone help with the pro's and con's maybe. What you did or didn't like? thanks.

Couldn't help copying from a PM that I sent someone...

Pros:
1) Systems-based curriculum starting second semester
2) Helpful staff
3) 94% pass rate
4) Top notch match list
5) Open-ended 3rd and 4th year clerkships
6) SoCal
7) Diverse student body
8) Nice technology
9) Better looking campus after the improvements
10) New building
11) More emphasis on research in future years

Cons:
1) SoCal too!
2) Tuition
3) Larger class size
4) Setting up own clerkships during 3rd year (no adjoining hospital)
5) Different weather from Touro-MI

Personally, both schools are great, but I got into Western early on and declined my Touro-MI interview. Hope this helps. Best of luck.

 

[manfood.com]

Thanks. Any other help would be awesome.

 

[HemaOncoDoc]

Thanks. Any other help would be awesome.

The surrounding area wasn't particularly great, but LA is only about half an hour away. Most students stay at the Helix or in surrounding cities. Not many students stay in Pomona itself. The traffic was pretty bad when I went there and I'm used to Boston drivers. For me, the interior of the school speaks for itself.

Perhaps you could ask more pointed questions since I'm not sure what you're fishing for. What qualities did you like or did not like at Touro-MI and what would be your main criteria for choosing one school over another?

 

[sweetstuff25]

Couldn't help copying from a PM that I sent someone...

Pros:
1) Systems-based curriculum starting second semester
2) Helpful staff
3) 94% pass rate
4) Top notch match list
5) Open-ended 3rd and 4th year clerkships
6) SoCal
7) Diverse student body
8) Nice technology
9) Better looking campus after the improvements
10) New building
11) More emphasis on research in future years

What does it mean by "Systems-based curriculum"?

 

[HemaOncoDoc]

What does it mean by "Systems-based curriculum"?

Organ systems. They incorporate the basic sciences and clinical sciences together starting second semester.

 

[Flyfisher]

4) Setting up own clerkships during 3rd year (no adjoining hospital)

Hey Hema, I think you might be mistaken about this, although we don't have a hospital sitting right next to us, there is Arrowhead regional and Riverside medical center nearby where people do their 3rd year. google OPTI-West it should tell you more about them.

 

[manfood.com]

what do you mean the interior speaks for itself?

 

[UCSDSkippy]

So I just accepted and paid my deposit, and then guess what comes in the mail, lol. Interview invite from COMP. lol. Now what should I do.... hrmm... anyone advice, feedback of western? I just want to know if it's going to be worth my time. 2k is whatever in the long run. can anyone help with the pro's and con's maybe. What you did or didn't like? thanks.

I got into both Western and MI and I would def. recommend you check out Western. Personally, I wouldn't attend MI because of what I observed at the school on interview day. The program at MI seems to be in a transition state with not a lot of direction. Hearing the dean speak about the school, he gave a negative impression of the state of the program. He said they needed to work on the pass rate and that they also are trying to make more connections to the hospitals in the surrounding areas, so rotation spots in the Bay Area are limited, many students have to go to other areas because of limited slots. I also heard conflicted stories about the school for the staff as well. Dr. Haight told us that the weakness of the school is its diversity, while the dean said it was its strength. Also, neither really knew the new curriculum that was being put in place. They would go "well when the new curriculum is in place for you guys next year, X will be different", but when asked what the new curriculum was they didn't know. The dean actually told us to give the Office of Education a call to find out ( and btw, the curriculum posted on the website is old the last time I checked). The students also said that there is a lot of lecture time they have to go through as compared to other programs. However, they do have a a good OMM component to their program. Compared to other schools, some of which are even younger (ie Touro NV), it doesn't seem that MI is really at the level it should be. There are a lot of "planned changes" but realistically, will they be in place by the time we enter the program or even graduate from it?

My experience at Western was a lot more positivie. Great new curriculum in place with great results on the boards. Staff and students are wonderful there, friendly and just a really cohesive enviornment. They have strong ties to the community (lots of chances to worked with the underserved) and lots of places to rotate to. If you want to even go up to the NW, they can arrange it. I felt that they have a good solid program in place and have more confidence in the education they can provide.

With all this being said, you should really go to the school that you feel would be the best fit. A school can serve you everything you need for a stellar education but it is your choice whether you want to take advantage of it or not. Your education is what you make it, no matter where you go.

 

[Mr_Doc]

hey i was wondering for the folks that got into Westeren, could you possibly post your gpa/mcat? I just want an idea....thanks

 

[HemaOncoDoc]

Hey Hema, I think you might be mistaken about this, although we don't have a hospital sitting right next to us, there is Arrowhead regional and Riverside medical center nearby where people do their 3rd year. google OPTI-West it should tell you more about them.

I should have pointed that out. Good catch. 🙂

And for Mr_Doc, GPA/MCAT listed on my mdapps profile. Check out the link in my footer.

 

[ggmk]

4) Setting up own clerkships during 3rd year (no adjoining hospital)

I think setting up own clerkships is something what other COMs have to do. 3rd year at Western is very structured, all at Western's core hospitals. Students choose tracks that are set up by the office using an online lottery system that the school's own tech office built themselves, and they say 80% of students get their top 3 choices. After you get your lottery pick, the online system let's you trade individual rotation blocks with your fellow classmates, all very online shopping cart style, pretty easy to use. You won't need to set up anything, except maybe choosing your 2 electives then telling the office what you want and they'll set it up for you. It's the 4th year that's very open, 3 required and the rest electives. But with any elective block, you can still let the office to choose it for you if you don't care where, but obviously that defeats the purpose of an elective.

 

[cafutbol00]

I just turned down AZCOM and NOVA for Western... and I'm stoaked about the school for the same reasons mentioned above. Western's reputation speaks for itself and it really well connected in SoCal.

My stats
3.7GPA from UCSB
31Q MCAT

For the dude who was wondering weather or not to interview at Western. You definately need to check it out! As you said in the long run 2K won't be significant if it gets you to where you want to be. Good Luck!

-eric

 

[lysosome]

So I just accepted and paid my deposit, and then guess what comes in the mail, lol. Interview invite from COMP. lol. Now what should I do.... hrmm... anyone advice, feedback of western? I just want to know if it's going to be worth my time. 2k is whatever in the long run. can anyone help with the pro's and con's maybe. What you did or didn't like? thanks.

have you decided on whether to interview or not? i visited both and i really liked western.

 

[manfood.com]

My interview date is the 1st. I want it to be earlier so I'm just waiting now. People say it's late, but looking at some of hte numbers, it looks like it really doesn't matter. I told them straight up what my situation was. I think it was better that way. I don't like beating around the bush. I just want to give them what is really my desire. I just feel that there is something about western that I have yet to see.

thanks for all your help. Any other input would be awesome.

LYSOZOME: did you decide on where to go?

 

[KidMedBot]

.

 

[SolanoDoc]

I agree with you. I am very torn between the two schools. Age is important as well as the rotations. Touro-CA needs to become more established. I have been accepted to Touro-CA and I am currently waiting to hear a response from Western. I hope I won't have to pay the $2K deposit... I'm trying to see if Western can tell me sooner. I am also trying to see if Touro-CA can extend the deadline another week. Does anyone think that this is possible?

Touro is pretty strict about this policy, you have two weeks because they make admissions decisions faster than most schools. I am on the fence between Touro CA and AZCOM, the two schools I was offered admission. I might just bite the bullet and pay deposits for both 🙁.

Touro seems like a decent school and they seem to get people who went to some rather big name undergraduate colleges, I was looking at the schools represented. I am from the Bay Area and really want to remain in this region. AZCOM is a much bigger school, they increased their class size to 250 from 160 I believe and I heard they will send a fair portion of students to Ohio for clinical rotations. The vibe I got from students at Touro CA was overwhelmingly positive, people seemed to be happy there. I did not get the same vibe from people at AZCOM even the people I interviewed with didn't seem to make a good impression.

Western is a good school and the oldest Osteopathic school in California, actually the only other DO school in California. I met a Western graduate who practices in San Francisco, its a solid school.

 

[Thomas Hearns]

Hey Hema, I think you might be mistaken about this, although we don't have a hospital sitting right next to us, there is Arrowhead regional and Riverside medical center nearby where people do their 3rd year. google OPTI-West it should tell you more about them.

This was very important to me, and would be the reason I'd choose Western over Touro.

They have hospitals set up for students to rotate through, you don't have to set up your own core rotations.

I don't think you should go to Touro JUST because you already sent in the deposit... in the big scheme of things, you want to be happy, and I think you'll be happier in the long run even if you have to take that 2000 as a loss.


Just realized this was a zombie thread dammit!

But some other guy needed advice so I'm ok 😉

Also, Western will tell you your status after interview ASAP if you have an acceptance somewhere else. Just call them and let them know.

I would personally choose Western over Touro. I'm from Northern California, but I would feel my education/career at risk a little bit because of the uncertainty surrounding the rotations at Touro, as well as the age/reputations of the schools.

 

[EricH]

I recommend that you go the interview and see for yourself. I was also accepted to MI and Western, but Western IMO had a better program for me. I'm not going to lie, it's hard, but that makes it good (If you catch my drift).

One thing that surprised me, frankly is that we have a really high level class. There is one guy with a PhD in neuroanatomy. He used to teach at a med school on the east coast. Also, lots of people are sporting their M.S. I swear that compared to most of the class I am mentally challenged.

Stats for our class (from Dean Adams): 3.6 overall 3.5 science 28 MCAT
Me: 3.5 overall 3.75 science 31Q

You will hear people complaining about this or that, but the truth is that every school in the county produces great doctors (in varying ratios to class size 😉) In the end it's really on you to excel where ever you are. If you want to ask more specific questions feel free to PM.

Edit: In talking with students at MI, one thing that makes me very happy is that Western Podcasts their lectures....MI, to my understanding, does not.

 

[Thomas Hearns]

They don't just podcast them, they upload the whole lecture audio/video and synch it with the power points, correct?

 

[EricH]

They don't just podcast them, they upload the whole lecture audio/video and synch it with the power points, correct?

that is correct 😀

 

[PunkmedGirl]

Edit: In talking with students at MI, one thing that makes me very happy is that Western Podcasts their lectures....MI, to my understanding, does not.

They don't just podcast them, they upload the whole lecture audio/video and synch it with the power points, correct?

that is correct 😀

Interesting.🙂