UNECOM Discussion thread 2007-2008

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.
Hey RN2DO...Can you share your stats? ECs? etc?
 
heard about an interview a couple days after supp. submission. Decent EC's (shadowed UNECOM ALum), New England Resident. 3.54 27 gluck!
 
SO this is a question that I posed on the general pre-DO forum. Probably should have asked while I was there interviewing, but questions seem to typically come up after I've already left the place where they could get answered!

Perhaps a dumb question but it worried me anyhow.

They mentioned in my interview this past weekend that you set up your own 4th year rotations at UNECOM. How does this process work, does this help you get better rotations than a MD model where you spend most of your rotations at one place...or does it make it more difficult to get good experiences? Or does it really not matter and I shouldn't be concerned about it yet?
 
bioteach said:
SO this is a question that I posed on the general pre-DO forum. Probably should have asked while I was there interviewing, but questions seem to typically come up after I've already left the place where they could get answered!

Perhaps a dumb question but it worried me anyhow.

They mentioned in my interview this past weekend that you set up your own 4th year rotations at UNECOM. How does this process work, does this help you get better rotations than a MD model where you spend most of your rotations at one place...or does it make it more difficult to get good experiences? Or does it really not matter and I shouldn't be concerned about it yet?
Click to expand...

In my humble opinion it is the latter (ie don't worry about it). You have ALOT more flexibility if you set up your own rotations. I did 2-3 away rotations and then spent the rest near home in Maine. It had no effect on my experiences. I chose what I heard were good rotations and received ALOT of good experience.


Wook
 
Thanks, Wook. I really liked UNECOM but that "setting up your own rotations" thing had me a little worried - just because I know so little about what that entails.
 
bioteach said:
They mentioned in my interview this past weekend that you set up your own 4th year rotations at UNECOM. How does this process work, does this help you get better rotations than a MD model where you spend most of your rotations at one place...or does it make it more difficult to get good experiences? Or does it really not matter and I shouldn't be concerned about it yet?
Click to expand...
I think the freedom to choose your 4th year rotations is very important. I would hate to be locked into a track designated by the clinical affairs staff. I met alot of MS from schools during third year whose rotations were locked in. Many of them were unhappy becuase they were doing non-audition rotations (rural FM or OMM) during the prime showcase months...there showcase roations were late or early.

The freedom is important if you have family and wish to stay near home. Plenty of classmates did just that and were happy and seem to be lined up well in the residency game. If you are seeking a competitive residency like ortho, you need to go to PA, Detroit, Michigan etc to spend your fall impressing those programs. Although I will say I get the most out of my rotations when I am in a familiar place (aka not lost en route to a patient's room and know how to use the computer), it has been great to have the freedom to get out and have expereinces at my top 3 programs...I already know where I will be next year and it was my first choice.

Setting up rotations is a breeze (except the harvard system)..mostly email/online forms. I started around xmas third year and figured out what I needed to do to go to my top choices in showcase months and contacted the programs early. The other months have all fallen to place without any hassle. I got first choice in rotation and dates everywhere I applied.
 
Hey,

I've been complete at UNECOM for a while now and have not heard anything from them regarding an interview.

Any advice about what I should do? Would calling the admissions office help?

Thanks!
 
Christluvu said:
Hey,

I've been complete at UNECOM for a while now and have not heard anything from them regarding an interview.

Any advice about what I should do? Would calling the admissions office help?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

You could always contact the admissions office and touch base to see if they had any questions about the background information that you had provided or if they needed any additional information.

Other than that, I really don't have any other suggestions. Maybe ShyRem or one of the other posters still in school may have some additional thoughts.


Wook
 
Can any of the current students tells us the average board score for the COMLEX and if availabe the USMLE? Thanks in advance! 🙂
 
Hello all future osteopaths,

UNECOM is a great medical school with many courses being taught by very knowledgeable and caring professors.

BUT, the biochemistry course & curriculum is just plain pathetic. The last few years students have nearly revolted, with some students even attempting to transfer. Which you should know is very difficult to do. The students have many several attempts to address this issue in the proper college channels BUT the administration (made up of professors and sub-Deans) just nod their collective heads and nothing happens. It could be the fact the college is running without a head Dean (For the last three years the college has had an interim Dean).

So my warning is be prepared to be extremely frustrated with biochemistry at UNECOM. I would advise taking biochemistry at another university before matriculating and just "passing-out" of the course altogether.

Thanks,
biochemUNECOM
 
I could be mistaken being I've not gone though medical school but It's my understanding biochem usually it not a walk in the park anywhere...
 
I think he means inadequate as in not informative enough to prepare for step 1.
 
speeter said:
I think he means inadequate as in not informative enough to prepare for step 1.
Click to expand...

Dunno enough about the USMLE to be objective about it. Is the USMLE a trivia test or is it mostly how to take it? Or do they do a good job of mixing the two?
 
This is strange because UNECOM is one of the only schools that requires you take biochem before getting there. You would think their biochem would be excellent.
 
I was also told by one of the students last year (while interviewing) that their biochem is weak...however, the biochem is not needed for the successful completion of COMLEX step 1, but only needed for USMLE step 1. So they are preparing you well for the boards ( the COMLEX, not the USMLEs).
 
Just to add another side to this thread,
UNECOM requires a college-level biochemistry course before starting MS1, so in theory, students should be familiar with the essentials. Those in charge of the biochemistry curriculum are trying to develop a course that's really focused on teaching only the stuff required for the boards and is part group-based, part independent study, and (very small) part lecture-based--which really frustrates the majority of students because many students seem to prefer only a strong lecture format.

The program is supposed to be based on cutting-edge research, which it seems a lot of students don't buy into, but it does have a theoretical foundation.
 
ppatel1185 said:
I was also told by one of the students last year (while interviewing) that their biochem is weak...however, the biochem is not needed for the successful completion of COMLEX step 1, but only needed for USMLE step 1. So they are preparing you well for the boards ( the COMLEX, not the USMLEs).
Click to expand...

😕 Since when did we not need to know Biochem for the COMLEX??? Granted it is not focused on as heavily as the USMLE, but you still need a good foundation to pass the COMLEX.
 
Has anyone who interviewed between Dec. 5th and the 16th (the adcom met on the 17th) received their letters yet? I know it's soon but I'm losing my mind! And too afraid to call. :scared:
 
nascardoc said:
😕 Since when did we not need to know Biochem for the COMLEX??? Granted it is not focused on as heavily as the USMLE, but you still need a good foundation to pass the COMLEX.
Click to expand...


I have no idea how much biochem is needed, but this is what I was told by one of the students at UNECOM...I will know soon enough, once I start school in August...
 
ShyRem said:
That won't be out until January or so ppatel. Don't ask me why.
Click to expand...

Hey ShyRem,
Can you tell me the average from the previous year's class? And if you know, what is the national average? Thanks!🙂
 
I agree for the most part with "Jack Daniel", but the course is horribly disorganized and completely lacks instruction. The professor who teaches the class has a PhD in nutrition and I don't think she has spent one iota of time in a lab. In class, she can't answer most relevant and important questions on the topics at hand. She is simply not qualified to teach the course.

My time and money was wasted on that class. I feel I was cheated. The big thing is that 99% of the class agrees w/ me but nothing is being done to correct the issue.

Many of my classmates were biochem majors and thought the class was joke. Simply put, this class will not prepare you for the boards, either COMLEX or USMLE.
 
The biochemistry is not a strong component of COMLEX but it is important knowledge to have and will serve you greatly in the future (especially understanding lab tests). And I am currently a student at UNECOM. Studying for a test right now.
 
biochemUNECOM said:
I agree for the most part with "Jack Daniel", but the course is horribly disorganized and completely lacks instruction. The professor who teaches the class has a PhD in nutrition and I don't think she has spent one iota of time in a lab. In class, she can't answer most relevant and important questions on the topics at hand. She is simply not qualified to teach the course.

My time and money was wasted on that class. I feel I was cheated. The big thing is that 99% of the class agrees w/ me but nothing is being done to correct the issue.

Many of my classmates were biochem majors and thought the class was joke. Simply put, this class will not prepare you for the boards, either COMLEX or USMLE.
Click to expand...

I think it is good that you had the guts to go to a public forum such as SDN and share your opinion. It's always good to hear different sides of the story, including what can be construed as criticism about a program. It paints a fuller picture.

That said, what you've shared probably happens in a lot of schools, where some classes/coursework is fairly inadequate due to a combination of inaction by faculty and poor instruction. It's frustrating when it's so plainly obvious that something is lacking, but nobody who can make a difference is going to do anything about it. 😡 Hello, it's our careers they are playing with!? Poor instruction just won't do! Sometimes I think we are so much cattle (cash cows, really) to schools. Anyway, if it's true that nothing can be done, you just have to make the best of it and do a lot of studying on your own. Pray that they get the message eventually and get someone more qualified to teach it, for future classes.

However, keep in mind that there are great things about UNECOM, too, so take in all the information, good and bad.
 
So now that biochemUNECOM has been so outspoken about their own opinion, you should also be aware of the following:

1. UNECOM has been interviewing for a new biochem professor.
2. Our interim dean is OUTSTANDING and a whole lot has changed lately -- for the better when it comes to listening to students.
3. We have a new dean who we all have very high hopes for (fortunately the ones the students really hated were not considered).

Now while I agree the biochem course isn't what it could be, I will also say that part of that problem was the students who revolted before they even gave the team based learning a true try. I think it has the potential to be an outstanding program. But the students have to participate and not expect spoon-feeding. It is a new approach and has been undergoing "tweaking". I'm not saying it was great (it wasn't), but I am surprised at how much I remembered. But it certainly wasn't helped by the stubborn-as-mules students who wouldn't even try.

Also, the genetics portion was very good... and it was a nice mix of short lecture and team based learning, trying to get the best of both sides of the tug of war.

Every school has pros and cons. If you're expecting to get everything out of this biochem course as if from scratch, you'll be sadly disappointed. But that's not what it was supposed to be. It's just not as well-prepared or time-tested as other courses (but it is evolving).
 
I would like to make myself clear. UNECOM is a quality institution with many phenomenal professors. The majority of our courses are expertly instructed.

My frustration is with the college's inability to deal with a wayward professor who thinks what she is doing is right. She doesn't care about our education, her only desire is design a curriculum without any lectures.

The professor is producing data on our classes to be presented in posters or published. She cares more about her study than about our education. I have a real problem with that. Especially since I paid the college for an education. I did not give them permission to experiment on me.
 
biochemUNECOM said:
The professor is producing data on our classes to presented in posters or published. She cares more about her study than about our education. I have a real problem with that. Especially since I paid the college for an education. I did not give them permission to expert on me.
Click to expand...

Yeah, this also happens in many schools. Also, you probably did give them permission to experiment on you at least in cohort-type studies. Do you remember all the mass of paperwork you signed? I don't. :laugh:

Anyway, I'm sorry to hear about your experience. It sounds like the school is taking some measure to solve the problem, however, given ShyRem's comment. Hopefully this element will see improvements as it evolves.

Best of luck on your exams. :luck:
 
Strange how a new SDN member with only 4 posts chooses to post something negative about a specific school.

Hmmmm....BiochemUNECOM is your SDN name?

classes are filling up....

something funny here....maybe somebody is on the wait list?

Hmmmmmm...
 
hello your mother,

I'm not sure if you read all my comments. But I am already a MEDICAL STUDENT who is currently studying for the boards. I'm letting pre-medical students, such as yourself, know about the biochemistry class at UNECOM so it won't be a surprise to them if they decide to marticulate here.
 
Yourmother said:
Strange how a new SDN member with only 4 posts chooses to post something negative about a specific school.

Hmmmm....BiochemUNECOM is your SDN name?

classes are filling up....

something funny here....maybe somebody is on the wait list?

Hmmmmmm...
Click to expand...
I thought about making a post on the pre-allo board entitled "Harvard infects students with HIV, and then experiments on you!"

I bet I'd get at least a few PM's asking how I knew this, or if it was really true.
 
Hello...For all you UNECOM students...since I will be commuting did school get cancelled at all during the snow storms? Just wondering....
 
Not today RN. It has been cancelled in the past for snow storms, but I think they were going to be open today no matter what --- it's finals week and today was the MSI integrated exam. Kinda hard to reschedule finals when folks have made plans to leave right afterwards.

They work pretty hard at keeping the streets clear.
 
TexasTriathlete said:
I thought about making a post on the pre-allo board entitled "Harvard infects students with HIV, and then experiments on you!"

I bet I'd get at least a few PM's asking how I knew this, or if it was really true.
Click to expand...

I bet you'd get some supporting posts too with people saying "OMG! I know! My sister's boyfriend's uncle's dentist's assistant's daughter goes there and told me that too!"
 
So let me ask a question. I took Biochem since UNECOM required it and UNECOM is one of my top choices. However, I don't feel like I learned much of anything in my Biochem course. The class average was a 38% and everyone was curved, giving me a low B. My question is, should I enroll in a REAL Biochem class where I might actually learn something before matriculating to UNECOM (if I'm lucky enough to get in) or will I be okay with what little I know so long as I satisfied the pre-requisite. In other words, how beneficial is it to know Biochem well before starting at UNECOM? Do they start the class assuming you know everything there is to know from Biochem I in undergrad or can I catch up on what I don't know?
 
It's entirely possible to catch up on what you don't know. I would start with a rapid review biochem book -- there's one that's slim, white and green... look for it in medical review sections.
 
I just wanted write: unecom sent me a nice holiday card today. i havent even sent in my secondaries. they are going out next week. thats nice of them.
 
WOW... I am reading all this stuff about Biochemistry at UNECOM and I am surprised to see that Shyrem and Jack Daniel, two of the people I took the class with last year both have nothing but optimistic things to say about the course. But then again if UNECOM administration is going to be monitoring SDN and Facebook... then I would be careful what to say on here as well.

I took that class and felt completely ripped off. It is not great new approach to teaching Biochemistry. (as it was presented last spring at a Conference by the program director)

It is however a horrible excuse for not doing the right thing and admitting that they were wrong and returning to proper way of teaching it. Despite all the negative things 2009 and 2010 had to say about it... it doesn't seem like anyone is listening.

Did you do histology or not yet? Wow there goes another 5k down the drain.

I would strongly suggest you pick up Lippincott's Illustrated Reviews Biochemistry, by Pamela Champe and Richard Harvey, and study from there.

Biochemistry may not be important for COMLEX, but it is important to being a Physician. Oh please don't tell me that its not! It is.
 
I hope all the class of 2010 did well with their exam today.

You guys are almost out of there. Only 5 months left after this and you will be out of there. Good luck!
 
Thanks db. The heme exam was pretty brutal. 🙁

I think you misread my post. I did specifically state the class wasn't great. But I also stated it is undergoing "tweaking". And if (IF) students really went on board with it, I think it has potential.

Note I didn't say "it'll DEFINITELY be AWESOME". I said it had "potential."

You should also reread what I said about the interim and new dean. Let's all face it, the old dean was a big part of the problem. Well connected or not (and he definitely was), good riddance to someone who did very little for the students.
 
Has anyone that had an interview in early December heard back from UNE? They told us we would hear by the end of last week but so far I've recieved nothing. I waited to buy a very expensive plane ticket to ATSU because I thought I would have a decision by now...

Anyone have any insight?
 
Jill32579 said:
Has anyone that had an interview in early December heard back from UNE? They told us we would hear by the end of last week but so far I've recieved nothing. I waited to buy a very expensive plane ticket to ATSU because I thought I would have a decision by now...

Anyone have any insight?
Click to expand...

I interviewed December 8th, and my acceptance letter arrived this past Friday...
 
Found out that I was placed on the Alternate list after interviewing 12/13. Any word on ranking of the waitlist? Past years acceptances from the alternate list?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Dudeijustwanttobeadoctor
AZCOM vs UNECOM
Replies
2
Views
1K
deleted610572
D
chilly_md
  • Sticky
*~*~Official AACOMAS Questions Thread 2025-2026~*~*
Replies
13
Views
3K
Maidenless??
M
chilly_md
*The Official Osteopathic Underdawgs Thread 2025-26*
Replies
0
Views
1K
chilly_md
chilly_md
wysdoc
  • Locked
  • Sticky
2025-2026 Alphabetic Index of Osteopathic School-Specific Discussion Threads
Replies
0
Views
16K
wysdoc
wysdoc
Mr.Smile12
DISCUSS: New DO schools...
2
Replies
60
Views
12K
Obnoxious Dad
Obnoxious Dad
Top