VCOM (Virginia) vs ICOM

[FutureDr.R]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hello everyone!

I would really like to get some advice and your thoughts on this.
I am definitely considering VCOM over ICOM due to the amount of pros I could think of for me. I am wondering if anyone has any other pro/con they can add to either institution. Also, my main concern is coming back to Michigan for rotations and residency. Does anyone have any insight into this?

Please and thank you!!!

VCOM:

Pros:
- I'm from Michigan and ideally, I would like to return there possibly for rotations but residency for sure. I've noticed that they had a decent number of students match into Michigan residencies.
- Good match placements and good comlex pass rates
- More established school
- Partnered with VTECH which provides additional resources and VCOM students will be treated like VTECH grad students
- Great anatomy lab (ICOM does not have its own and will share with ISU)
- Much more research opportunities due to being more established and the partnership with VTECH
- One week off after every block
- Cheaper than ICOM but not by much at all (but interest rates would be lower I believe since they should provide federal loans)

Cons:
- Attendance policy (Mandatory at 80%)
- Dress code is stricter
- Test heavy curriculum
- Library is not large

ICOM:

Not sure what to think of it but:
- Inaugural class. This would be a great experience but also comes with numerous cons. But maybe would come with more leadership opportunities?

Pros:
- Great administration that seem determined to make this an excellent institution
- Brand new building with brand new and state of the art equipment
- Great vibe and area. Boise and Meridian are also growing at a very fast pace.
- Classes start at a later date (Sept 1)
- Also have a week off between semesters but the duration of classes seems longer than VCOM's.
- Dress code is not as strict

Cons:
- Further from MI and MI seems out of scope for them since they really focus on Idaho, North and South Dakota, Utah and Montana
- Private loans
- Private, For Profit school (Does anyone have any insight on this or if this even matters?)
- No graduating class to see comlex pass rates or match placements
- Will be sharing anatomy lab with ISU
- Also has 80% attendance policy

 

[humblethinker]

Hello everyone!

I would really like to get some advice and your thoughts on this.
I am definitely considering VCOM over ICOM due to the amount of pros I could think of for me. I am wondering if anyone has any other pro/con they can add to either institution. Also, my main concern is coming back to Michigan for rotations and residency. Does anyone have any insight into this?

Please and thank you!!!

VCOM:

Pros:
- I'm from Michigan and ideally, I would like to return there possibly for rotations but residency for sure. I've noticed that they had a decent number of students match into Michigan residencies.
- Good match placements and good comlex pass rates
- More established school
- Partnered with VTECH which provides additional resources and VCOM students will be treated like VTECH grad students
- Great anatomy lab (ICOM does not have its own and will share with ISU)
- Much more research opportunities due to being more established and the partnership with VTECH
- One week off after every block
- Cheaper than ICOM but not by much at all (but interest rates would be lower I believe since they should provide federal loans)

Cons:
- Attendance policy (Mandatory at 80%)
- Dress code is stricter
- Test heavy curriculum
- Library is not large

ICOM:

Not sure what to think of it but:
- Inaugural class. This would be a great experience but also comes with numerous cons. But maybe would come with more leadership opportunities?

Pros:
- Great administration that seem determined to make this an excellent institution
- Brand new building with brand new and state of the art equipment
- Great vibe and area. Boise and Meridian are also growing at a very fast pace.
- Classes start at a later date (Sept 1)
- Also have a week off between semesters but the duration of classes seems longer than VCOM's.
- Dress code is not as strict

Cons:
- Further from MI and MI seems out of scope for them since they really focus on Idaho, North and South Dakota, Utah and Montana
- Private loans
- Private, For Profit school (Does anyone have any insight on this or if this even matters?)
- No graduating class to see comlex pass rates or match placements
- Will be sharing anatomy lab with ISU
- Also has 80% attendance policy

For information regarding the for profit medical school model, read through all threads from the last few years on California Northstate MD for profit medical school.

 

[CyrusHabs7695]

Vcom


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

 

[DelayedGratification]

For information regarding the for profit medical school model, read through all threads from the last few years on California Northstate MD for profit medical school.

thats 1 instance. Look at RVU, BCOM


OP: I think the anatomy lab thing is very minor. ISU has excellent gross anatomy lab facilities, and a strong virtual lab as well. It won't be anything to your detriment to have lab in ISU.

I would choose a school based on fit, and where you see yourself thriving. Whether thats VCOM or ICOM, I doubt youll go wrong

 

[Cath Up]

ICOM could conceivably end up like the next RVUCOM (good standing) but we don't know. Consider the location of ICOM and the lack of large academic rotation sites nearby and then it seems like your clinical education may be tenuous. Private loans are also scarier, depending on your credit. I also think that given the inherent incentives in a for-profit institution like this, it is better to wait and see if they sacrifice quality for profit, or if they do in fact support their students 100%. I know this is an issue with non-profit schools as well, but if you look at how hurried ICOM has been to get the $$$ flowing in this cycle (large class size, planning on always matriculating the maximum # allowed over their class size, building their campus at the last second, expensive tuition) I think the ball is in their court to produce some competent, specialized physicians before self-respecting applicants/matriculants consider this program. I did look at their faculty list and liked what I saw, however.

VCOM has a proven track record, and is closer to the region where you want to end up for residency. Also, given that they have the same attendance policy (apparently mandatory lecture attendance is a hassle), I think VCOM is the obvious choice.

 

[Cath Up]

thats 1 instance. Look at RVU, BCOM


OP: I think the anatomy lab thing is very minor. ISU has excellent gross anatomy lab facilities, and a strong virtual lab as well. It won't be anything to your detriment to have lab in ISU.

I would choose a school based on fit, and where you see yourself thriving. Whether thats VCOM or ICOM, I doubt youll go wrong

Does BCOM have gov't loans yet? Those were supposed to be around at the end of the school's second year I thought, but kept getting delayed.

Agree that anatomy lab is a minor issue.

Agree that it is unlikely that this student will go wrong with either choice, but I think there is a significantly higher chance of being a worse residency candidate at ICOM.

As is the case with just about all school-specific threads, I caution the OP to place too much weight into the discussion on the ICOM 2017-2018 thread. While I agree ICOM will probably succeed, there is an abundance of cognitive bias in that thread- people are viewing the school through rose-tinted glasses.

Fit is important, but can be difficult to judge honestly when you are being sold on a product during interview day.

 

[humblethinker]

Does BCOM have gov't loans yet? Those were supposed to be around at the end of the school's second year I thought, but kept getting delayed.

Agree that anatomy lab is a minor issue.

Agree that it is unlikely that this student will go wrong with either choice, but I think there is a significantly higher chance of being a worse residency candidate at ICOM.

As is the case with just about all school-specific threads, I caution the OP to place too much weight into the discussion on the ICOM 2017-2018 thread. While I agree ICOM will probably succeed, there is an abundance of cognitive bias in that thread- people are viewing the school through rose-tinted glasses.

Fit is important, but can be difficult to judge honestly when you are being sold on a product during interview day.

interesting post. Why has BCOM kept getting delayed on the government loan ability?

 

[Cath Up]

interesting post. Why has BCOM kept getting delayed on the government loan ability?

I don't know. I just checked, and their website still states that students are not eligible to apply for public loans.

 

[DelayedGratification]

Does BCOM have gov't loans yet? Those were supposed to be around at the end of the school's second year I thought, but kept getting delayed.

Agree that anatomy lab is a minor issue.

Agree that it is unlikely that this student will go wrong with either choice, but I think there is a significantly higher chance of being a worse residency candidate at ICOM.

As is the case with just about all school-specific threads, I caution the OP to place too much weight into the discussion on the ICOM 2017-2018 thread. While I agree ICOM will probably succeed, there is an abundance of cognitive bias in that thread- people are viewing the school through rose-tinted glasses.

Fit is important, but can be difficult to judge honestly when you are being sold on a product during interview day.

I can agree with everything you have said.