TouroCOM vs. AZCOM

[shanibravo]

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Hello ppl,

I have been accepted at TouroCOM and even though the school is new, NY suits me as I know people in the area (relatives and doctors).

On the other hand, AZCOM is in Arizona. I know no one in Arizona that I know of, however, as you would know the school is more established than TouroCOM.

So the question is that should I spend money (would probably be 500-800$) to go over to AZCOM for an interview. No one can assure acceptance either, as my interview is already late in the cycle.

What things do you guys think should I consider when comparing the two schools? Completely lost here!

 

[Seagreen2014]

I think you should definately go to AZCOM for the interview. I am shadowing a resident right now who went to AZCOM and he has alot of good things to say about the school!!! Touro NY is new and as you can read from the blogs, people have very different views on the school. The board scores are also unimpressive. Ultimately it is up to you where you feel comfortable going.

 

[DocHomer]

Hello ppl,

I have been accepted at TouroCOM and even though the school is new, NY suits me as I know people in the area (relatives and doctors).

On the other hand, AZCOM is in Arizona. I know no one in Arizona that I know of, however, as you would know the school is more established than TouroCOM.

So the question is that should I spend money (would probably be 500-800$) to go over to AZCOM for an interview. No one can assure acceptance either, as my interview is already late in the cycle.

What things do you guys think should I consider when comparing the two schools? Completely lost here!

Unless you don't have any interest in going to AZCOM, go to the interview. You may end up really liking it.

 

[dudechiefboss]

Hello ppl,

I have been accepted at TouroCOM and even though the school is new, NY suits me as I know people in the area (relatives and doctors).

On the other hand, AZCOM is in Arizona. I know no one in Arizona that I know of, however, as you would know the school is more established than TouroCOM.

So the question is that should I spend money (would probably be 500-800$) to go over to AZCOM for an interview. No one can assure acceptance either, as my interview is already late in the cycle.

What things do you guys think should I consider when comparing the two schools? Completely lost here!

Sorry for the long post:

While no one can assure an acceptance, the school has offered an interview because they like your application. If you don't attend the interview, you will never know what AZCOM has to offer (or receive an acceptance)

When I interviewed at LECOM-Erie, I thought the scholars program was the best thing hands down: expedite the medical school process and save money. However, when I interviewed there, I didn't like the faculty or the area (withdrew the day of the interview)

I withdrew my acceptance from TouroCOM for several reasons: while I have always wanted to live in NYC, I could not justify living in NYC if there were no rotations in NYC. The not-so-great board scores didn't have too much weight in my decision (your score is a reflection of your effort/ability IMO). IMO, I thought the faculty was great at TouroCOM - nice, talkative and realistic. The student vibe was mixed. I didn't mind Harlem, and as previously stated I like the city feeling. I thought the facitlities were not a strong selling point about the school, though.


I don't know much about AZCOM, but if you haven't read this already:

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=407104&page=5

^review of AZCOM via a MS2

For AZCOM, it appears the tuition is a little high, little MS1/2 clinical exposure, good faculty, nice/safe area

Personally, I would take the interview and go from there - hopefully you will have a choice between which medical school to attend - you're very fortunate! Please keep everyone updated! Good luck 👍

 

[JaggerPlate]

If it was TUNV, I'd say skip the AZCOM interview. However, TUNY has experienced some recent issues, and I wouldn't be overtly comfortable going there. It's hard to deny location, and fit (and I don't recommend it), but I'd go check AZCOM out, just because they are a bit more established and will probably offer more bang for your buck. If you go and don't care for it, or like NY better ... by all means, attend, work hard, match well, and prosper.

 

[DocEspana]

i'm going to mirror what was said by dude chief boss said about always trying to see every school. it may be exactly what you want and you have no idea.

Now I'm a TouroCOM student and I want to add that our board scores are thrown around a lot as a negative (oddly enough, mostly by our own students? We have an odd class dynamic). But I got to talk to the recent COCA committee sent over (They are in charge of accredidation for every osteopathic school and visit each school every year to hear student complaints and be able to reprimand admin for us if need be) Needless to say this is especially important in our school since we are only in our third year of classes.

now as it turns out our pass rate for first time board takers is 81%. which is on the nose the EXACT mean pass percentage for DO schools. People throw it around like its a terrible number. I got that 81% confirmed by COCA. and with second tries included we got another handful of people to reach something in the low 90's (coudlnt tell you if its 90, 91 or 92. COCA didnt give me an exact number for that, just that range). We're a brand new school. Anyone in the 2nd or 3rd year can tell you that they messed up the education a bit with substandard teachers for them. And anyone from the 1st year can tell you that the education has done a total 180 and is out of this world now. I can't really compare our education to anyplace else except for UMDNJ (MD school) since I have sat through a handful of their lectures and can say that our first year professors, especially for anatomy and biochemistry (the two classes of theirs i sat through) blow theirs out of the water.

In the end though, I'm not going to sell my school beyond saying what i said above. You really should go check out AZCOM because it may be exactly what you want. If not, you will very much like TouroCOM, especially ify ou already have connections in NYC. That i can say pretty confidently.

 

[snurpy]

Just wanted to reiterate what DrEspana said in his last post, and say something about the rotations. After the meeting with COCA, I think a lot of first and second years were relieved to hear the 3rd years enjoying their rotations. Yes, they're not in Manhattan hospitals, but don't stereotype learning from smaller community hospitals. Often, the third years had many chances to take more active roles in the hospitals and learn medicine that way, as opposed to some third years in other medical schools at bigger hospitals, where they're below the bottomfeeders and kind of just stand around. If learning in a Manhattan hospital is that big of importance to you, 4th year electives are wide open and it's fairly easy to apply for rotations in hospitals outside of the Touro network. It's not a bad idea to learn some real medicine while doing core rotations, and display that knowledge for audition rotations in 4th year at Manhattan hospitals anyway.

 

[wannabeaDO]

Sorry for the long post:

However, when I interviewed there, I didn't like the faculty or the area (withdrew the day of the interview)

👍

!!!
Did you like just go to their office after your interview and withdrew? Or did you call them later in the day?