TUCOM vs. PCOM

[MsEmerica]

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I still have a few weeks to decide, but I have acceptances to both of these schools, and I'm having such a hard time deciding. I was wondering if anyone could offer me some advice! I have lived in Pennsylvania my whole life and I would love the change of pace and atmosphere of California. I know PCOM has a great reputation, but TUCOM seems to be up-and-coming in the osteopathic world. All the pros and cons are equal for me. I'm just feeling rather indecisive lately. Thanks! =)

 

[Adapt]

I would choose PCOM. PCOM is well established over in Pennsylvania and is fairly respected. TUCOM just opened in the late 90s and is not established in California yet.

In fact, for rotations you can't even stay in the San Francisco region to do them because the other allopathic schools don't let them. Thus, they have to go all over CA and even to Las Vegas to do them. I'm sure at PCOM you can do your rotations right there in the Pennsylvania area.

I interviewed at Drexel, Temple, and Jefferson. I heard good things about PCOM even at those interviews and one interviewer told me that all of the Philly schools including PCOM talk amongst each other and have meetings together. PCOM has successfully integrated into the allopathic world whereas TUCOM has not.

Even though I was accepted to TUCOM, for me the choice would be easy, PCOM.

 

[MsEmerica]

Slickness, you do not seem to think too highly of TUCOM. Why did you apply?

 

[bigmuny]

I would pick PCOM as well. TUCOM is in a crummy location(though SF is reasonably close), not well established, and their rotation sites did not seem too great. However, if you are planning on doing your residency in CA, then you might want to choose TUCOM(being close makes it easier to make connections). I was accepted at TUCOM, have not seen PCOM, and choose without reservation to go to another school.

 

[Adapt]

Originally posted by MsEmerica
Slickness, you do not seem to think too highly of TUCOM. Why did you apply?

I applied to TUCOM because I wanted to be a doctor and to increase my chances of getting in somewhere. The campus was nice, and I did like the dorms that they had on campus. Of the 31 MD and DO schools I applied to, it was about 28th on my list. Thus, it wasn't exactly the lowest on my list.

 

[maysqrd]

"In fact, for rotations you can't even stay in the San Francisco region to do them because the other allopathic schools don't let them. Thus, they have to go all over CA and even to Las Vegas to do them."

This is completely inaccurate. Yes, TUCOM has rotation sites all over the rest of the country and some in Vegas but the school DOES have rotation in the bay area. One of our main rotation sites is at St. Luke's Hospital in San Francisco. The other allopathic school physicians and faculty here think VERY, VERY HIGHLY of TUCOM students and thus we can compete for many of the same elective sites during 4th year along side of our allopathic counterparts. We have SEVERAL M.D.'s on our faculty and integrate very well with the allopathic institutions while still promoting our osteopathic principles.

The only issue is that there aren't enough spots for every single student to stay in the area and some student will need to do rotations at other facilities. If you are from Michigan, Pennsylvania, Ohio, etc. and would like to go back to those areas for your rotations, you would have no problem and would only be in California for 2 years and then could go back to the east coast for your last two years.

Please always ask the school directly if you have questions about the rotation sites. The admissions department is more than willing to answer any questions and if they are not able to satisfy your questions then tell them that you need to speak to someone who can better answer your questions and they WILL help you. We have one of the best admissions departments in the country and this is mainly because they are so willing to help you in anyway that they can.

Good luck in making your decision.

Maysqrd
OMSI
TUCOM Class of 2007

 

[MsEmerica]

Well, thanks for you input everyone!

maysqrd, thank you very much too.

I noticed that if I went to TUCOM, I could always come back to Pennsylvania to do my rotations if I really didn't like California, so I think I'm going to try out the west coast and go to TUCOM =)

 

[raptor5]

I say PCOM but I am biased since that is where I am going next year. From what I have seen from my travels is that the Philly area/PA has the highest number or is second highest number of D.O.'s than any other state. When it comes to third & fourth year rotations seeing a D.O. in clinical anomaly but a norm. One of the hospitals that you may do a rotation at has dual accreditation so it is like a D.O. breeding ground. I spent the summer at this particular hospital and I swear half the doctors I talked to were D.O.'s. Obviously this is probably not the case with the other hospitals like PENN, Einstein, MCP, Hahnemann, and so on. On the flip side I do not like Philly but that is me. I would prefer warmer climates but I this is sacrifice I am willing to make.

One other thing. Philly is a healthcare mecca. 7 medical schools in the surrounding area including Hershey. Pharm companies that employ around 50K people. 3 PharmD. schools including Wilkes, Temple, USP. This is one thing you will not find anywhere in the country. On your rotations you will meet Med students from the schools listed above. It is great in the sense that the M.D. students interact with D.O. students and D.O.'s are their superior in some cases and each respects the other.

Sorry can not comment on TUCOM

raptor5

 

[Adapt]

Originally posted by MsEmerica
Well, thanks for you input everyone!

maysqrd, thank you very much too.

I noticed that if I went to TUCOM, I could always come back to Pennsylvania to do my rotations if I really didn't like California, so I think I'm going to try out the west coast and go to TUCOM =)

Well it was obvious that you had your mind set already. That's cool.

However, perhaps it has more to do with you wanting to leave Pennsylania then the actual schools. I don't blame you. I didn't like it when I had to interview there.

I would add that there's not that much to do at TUCOM. It is separated from the mainland and you have to go on a ferry to SF that takes 2 hours to actually do something. It seems almost like a prison because what else could you do on weekends. I guess just chill around the island.

Oh well, that was another thing I didn't like about TUCOM. It's isolation. If you really want to go to a CA school, go to COMP. It's way better than TUCOM although I know you TUCOMers won't agree.😉

 

[Dr JPH]

Originally posted by raptor5
Obviously this is probably not the case with the other hospitals like PENN, Einstein, MCP, Hahnemann, and so on.

Why do you say that?

There are DOs all over Philadelphia in every hospital.

Pennsylvania has mroe DOs than any other state...last I checked anyway.

Go to PCOM. Great school.


JPH

 

[Elysium]

Originally posted by Slickness
Well it was obvious that you had your mind set already. That's cool.

However, perhaps it has more to do with you wanting to leave Pennsylania then the actual schools. I don't blame you. I didn't like it when I had to interview there.

I would add that there's not that much to do at TUCOM. It is separated from the mainland and you have to go on a ferry to SF that takes 2 hours to actually do something. It seems almost like a prison because what else could you do on weekends. I guess just chill around the island.

Oh well, that was another thing I didn't like about TUCOM. It's isolation. If you really want to go to a CA school, go to COMP. It's way better than TUCOM although I know you TUCOMers won't agree.😉

Slickness,

When did you become the expert on Touro? How much time did you spend there, 6 hours? I know you're all up on COMP (as has been discussed ad nausem in every forum on SDN) and doing FP and won't listen to what everyone tells you about keeping an open mind about going to Temple or doing other residencies, yet you're the first one to **** on people wanting to go to another school. Look, COMP ain't Harvard, kid. It has a huge amount of problems (as you well know, if you would admit it to yourself). If you don't have something really valid to say about TUCOM, then just chill, man. There are lots of folks that are really happy at TUCOM (and knowing people from both, I think it's fair to say that folks are WAY happier at Touro, but again, that's my opinion). Just keep a perspective on things and don't come across as a know-it-all. Thanks.

 

[turkdlit]

I'd personally like to hear again about the schools that Slick has interviewed at and was accepted to...for the fifteen thousandth time.

Seriously, I'm not bitter about not being accepted yet or anything...

 

[HKDO08]

Originally posted by turkdlit
I'd personally like to hear again about the schools that Slick has interviewed at and was accepted to...for the fifteen thousandth time.

Mete--hang in there!!!

 

[Adapt]

Originally posted by Elysium
Slickness,

When did you become the expert on Touro? How much time did you spend there, 6 hours? I know you're all up on COMP (as has been discussed ad nausem in every forum on SDN) and doing FP and won't listen to what everyone tells you about keeping an open mind about going to Temple or doing other residencies, yet you're the first one to **** on people wanting to go to another school. Look, COMP ain't Harvard, kid. It has a huge amount of problems (as you well know, if you would admit it to yourself). If you don't have something really valid to say about TUCOM, then just chill, man. There are lots of folks that are really happy at TUCOM (and knowing people from both, I think it's fair to say that folks are WAY happier at Touro, but again, that's my opinion). Just keep a perspective on things and don't come across as a know-it-all. Thanks.

Just relax kid. I'm just stating my opinion on TUCOM just like how you did when you told me how COMP is bad. No need to jump on me just because you don't like my opinion.

On a side note, I sent in my TUCOM deposit of $2000 a day before I found out I got into Temple. The biggest mistake I could have made. Thus, my negative feelings toward TUCOM for being the only school that wants $2000 in two weeks to reserve your spot.

 

[Adapt]

Originally posted by turkdlit
Seriously, I'm not bitter about not being accepted yet or anything...

Turkdlit, if it was possible, I would gladly give you my TUCOM acceptance. They jacked my $2000.😡

 

[Elysium]

Yawn.

I was accepted AND going to COMP and I turned it down to take off a year because I thought it was that horrible. Is it crazy? Maybe. Do I regret it? Not for a second. I did hours and hours of research on COMP, visited there 3 times, and spoke to lots of current and former students. SO, that's why I added my .02 to the COMP discussion.

Sorry you lost your money. I lost $2000 to that ****box COMP. Them's the breaks of med school admissions.

Now, back to how non-traditional pre-meds can't contribute anything to medicine thread...

🙄

 

[tkim]

I would encourage *all* participants in this thread to remain respectful and sensitive to each other's opinions.

When I was on the interview trail last year, I saw positive and negative aspects at every school I was fortunate to interview at.

The choice of attending one school over another, will ultimately boil down to personal preferences, all other things being equal.

Crapping on each other's choices is unproductive and a waste of energy.

- Tae

 

[raptor5]

Why do you say that?

There are DOs all over Philadelphia in every hospital.

Pennsylvania has mroe DOs than any other state...last I checked anyway.

Go to PCOM. Great school.

If you were to read how the wording is I am just saying the number of D.O.'s at a particular hospital are higher than others and rereading what I typed I also believe I mentioned that PA has more D.O.'s than any other state. or at least second highest. Thanks for clearing that up that they have the most.

 

[Demosthenes_7]

I wholeheartedly agree w/ most of these replies and'd head to Philly over the isle...

 

[MsEmerica]

I'm sorry, I really didn't mean for this thread to turn into a fight! I just needed some advice on what to do, since picking a school is a really hard decision.

After thinking about it, I finally decided on TUCOM and I think I made the right decision for myself.

Thanks again to anyone who added their thoughts, I wish everyone the best of luck for medical school.

 

[ez073323]

Welcome to the Class of 2008!!!

Between you, me, Elysium, we are going to have a blast!!!

If you ever find yourself in Nor Cal before school starts, drop me a line and we can go get lunch or visit Dr. Haight or whatever!!!

TUCOM rules!!!

Brian Enriquez
[email protected]

 

[Elysium]

Brian,

I AM going to call you, I swear!

Touro rules and everywhere else BLOWS!

Just kidding. There are +/- to every school. It's just a matter of what fits you best.

Peace.

😉

 

[calcrew14]

How come Best Western insisted (on phone) that the rate in the brochure was per person, not per room? After that reservation was cancelled, a per room deal at $69 a night for 3 was found online!

Anyone has this problem? 👎 🙁

 

[chicagohope]

Hey guys

I have an interview tuesday dec 9th. I am flying into SFO the monday before (dec 8th) from nyc...red eye there AND red eye back --not too fun. anyone in that interview group?


good luck!

chicagohope

 

[chenquistador]

Well it was obvious that you had your mind set already. That's cool.

However, perhaps it has more to do with you wanting to leave Pennsylania then the actual schools. I don't blame you. I didn't like it when I had to interview there.

I would add that there's not that much to do at TUCOM. It is separated from the mainland and you have to go on a ferry to SF that takes 2 hours to actually do something. It seems almost like a prison because what else could you do on weekends. I guess just chill around the island.

Oh well, that was another thing I didn't like about TUCOM. It's isolation. If you really want to go to a CA school, go to COMP. It's way better than TUCOM although I know you TUCOMers won't agree.😉

Maybe you could study on the weekends? You'll be indoors anyways...

 

[Bacchus]

This person is probably already or close to being done with residency.

 

[Skippygonenuts]

Pcom hands down

 

[munchymanRX]

This person is probably already or close to being done with residency.

lmao. quoted for truth. thread is from 2003.