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deleted953743
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Hello! After a rough cycle, I'm so happy to have been offered two seats. I would really appreciate if you could help me choose between these schools. Tuition doesn't matter to me-- I'm trying to focus on location, curriculum, and quality of life (their importances not in any kind of order)
UIWSOM - University of the Incarnate Word SOM (San Antonio, TX)
Pros:
ATSU-SOMA - A.T Still University (Mesa, Arizona)
Pros:
Summary: I love love love the curriculum at A.T Still, but it's a long way from home and CHC placement is uncertain. I love love love that I'll be near family at UIWSOM, but I'm unsure about the quality of education I'm getting there since it's only 2 years old.
UIWSOM - University of the Incarnate Word SOM (San Antonio, TX)
Pros:
- Abundant friends and extended family in Houston, Austin and Dallas for support system (MY MAIN REASON FOR WANTING THIS SCHOOL)
- Amazing Dean - I really feel like I'll be in good hands (maybe hehe) even if I have doubts about a new school
- LARGE emphasis on mental health and wellness
- Flipped classroom - less time in class and gives us large blocks of time to do what we want after 12 on Tuesdays & Thursdays (I think)
- Has some early clinical experiences with street medicine club + future free clinic on campus
- Opportunities for basic science and clinical research
- Connected to large university system
- Able to interact with other health profession students
- Apartments in walking distance from campus (I might not have a car)
- Cane's chicken + other restaurants in walking distance of campus
- Military base nearby for future ADT rotations (I'm a HPSP scholar)
- Fun, urban area - lively city + tubing nearby
- New school - no info on how well curriculum prepares for board since no students have taken it yet
- Flipped classroom - case-based learning & I'm used to lecture-based learning
- Professional dress code
- Mandatory attendance
- Not many comfy study spaces on campus
- Campus looks kind of prison-like since it used to be a military base
ATSU-SOMA - A.T Still University (Mesa, Arizona)
Pros:
- Established school with excellent boards
- Two members of extended family in Phoenix for support system
- Connected well with many faculty during interviews
- I love their mission to serve the under-served, and I honestly resonate so well with it. Lots of *osteopathic* enthusiasm throughout their presentations that I agree with and would like to work towards as well.
- 1 + 3 curriculum - getting clinical experiences a year earlier than most medical students (MY MAIN REASON FOR REALLY WANTING THIS SCHOOL)
- First years get a higher capacity of training to deal with patients
- Lecture-based + case based learning
- Attendance not mandatory and can be streamed
- No professional dress code
- Opportunities for clinical research + required clinical project during CHC period
- Asian community nearby
- Abundance of outdoor activities
- Lively, urban environment nearby in Phoenix and surrounding areas
- YMCA right by campus for gym + swimming
- Travel hotspot with Grand Canyon, Cali, snowboarding, hiking spots, and Las Vegas relatively nearby
- 1 + 3 curriculum - CHC placement is unpredictable and may be in unfavorable area. Right now my placement is an Illinois area
- Quality of didactic education after first year is unknown.....
- HOT AF HERE
- The move from Midwest (currently) to Arizona is difficult
- No apartment or commercial eateries nearby (Must drive)
- Not many family members here to help me out if need be
- No opportunities for basic science research
Summary: I love love love the curriculum at A.T Still, but it's a long way from home and CHC placement is uncertain. I love love love that I'll be near family at UIWSOM, but I'm unsure about the quality of education I'm getting there since it's only 2 years old.
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