VCOM vs. DeBusk

[Super21]

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Hey guys, I was just recently accepted into Debusk. However, I was also called for an interview at VCOM. Have any of you interviewed at VCOM or at both and could you please tell me what you thought about VCOM. I really liked DeBusk so im not sure if I should even spend all the money traveling to VCOM. Do you think VCOM is worth it???

 

[DoctorMom78]

Hey guys, I was just recently accepted into Debusk. However, I was also called for an interview at VCOM. Have any of you interviewed at VCOM or at both and could you please tell me what you thought about VCOM. I really liked DeBusk so im not sure if I should even spend all the money traveling to VCOM. Do you think VCOM is worth it???

I withdrew my application to VCOM after my DCOM acceptance. I am from NY and there are only so many times I can drive down south for interviews. I also withdrew from WVSOM, but left my application in at Pikeville because I would like to compare DCOM with it if I have the opportunity, plus my application was complete there so there was no additional cost or time involved in it. I guess it is really a personal decision. I loved DCOM and it is one of my top choices which is my reason for withdrawing from the other schools. I have the same predicament you do with NYCOM. I have an interview scheduled and am not sure if I should attend. Everyone keeps telling me to explore all my options, but I don't know if I should waste the time and money. I have heard good things about VCOM, but everyone is different so who knows what you would think. When is your VCOM interview? The deposit for DCOM is due in one month. Would you even have time to hear back from VCOM by that point? Sorry I can't be of more help to you because I have the same problem you do. Congratulations on your DCOM acceptance! Maybe we will be classmates. Good luck with everything!

 

[Sarikate]

I recently interviewed at VCOM. It was a very nice school; good facilities, especially their anatomy lab. VERY friendly, although I interviewed during one of their breaks so didn't get to meet a whole lot of students. There were 3 one-on-one interviews in a row (almost 2 hours in all), but it wasn't stressful. The faculty seem very good and helpful. They have a great international health program.

That being said, there were also some things I didn't like. One is the fact that it's seems nearly impossible to do your rotations in the area, which makes sense, but I want to try and stay in one place as much as possible. Another is that it seemed a bit...churchy. I am Jewish, so when we talked to the students and two out of three of them started mentioning God's plan for them and bible study and whatnot, I was a bit turned off by that. I have nothing against others' religious affiliations, but I didn't think it was appropriate to have that brought up during an interview day, especially at a school that is trying to diversify its student body and is not religiously affiliated.

Still, overall I liked the school and I am definitely an advocate of seeing as many schools as possible, even if you're doubting what the school has to offer you. The interview day opens your eyes a lot more to what really is going on there!

 

[DoctorMom78]

I recently interviewed at VCOM. It was a very nice school; good facilities, especially their anatomy lab. VERY friendly, although I interviewed during one of their breaks so didn't get to meet a whole lot of students. There were 3 one-on-one interviews in a row (almost 2 hours in all), but it wasn't stressful. The faculty seem very good and helpful. They have a great international health program.

That being said, there were also some things I didn't like. One is the fact that it's seems nearly impossible to do your rotations in the area, which makes sense, but I want to try and stay in one place as much as possible. Another is that it seemed a bit...churchy. I am Jewish, so when we talked to the students and two out of three of them started mentioning God's plan for them and bible study and whatnot, I was a bit turned off by that. I have nothing against others' religious affiliations, but I didn't think it was appropriate to have that brought up during an interview day, especially at a school that is trying to diversify its student body and is not religiously affiliated.

Still, overall I liked the school and I am definitely an advocate of seeing as many schools as possible, even if you're doubting what the school has to offer you. The interview day opens your eyes a lot more to what really is going on there!

LOL! Everyone is "churchy" in the south. It's the Bible belt. Did you see all the crosses everywhere down there? There are probably not a lot of people who are Jewish in that area, but the people down there are good people and generally very accepting of others. You just have to take it all with a grain of salt and try not to take it personally. That is just the way the people down there are. (I know I am generalizing so please no one take it personally.😀 ) Good luck!

 

[Super21]

Thank you so much for the advise. I think i'm just gonna stick with DCOM because honestly, I really liked it!!! and even tho this might not be the case once i get there... i really hit it off well with the faculty and the students interviewing! Plus, they are the first to give me a chance when I have been applying for the past 4 years and I am very thankful to them. I am a very loyal person and I wanna dedicate my education to that school and the area to thank them for making my dream come true!

 

[DoctorMom78]

Thank you so much for the advise. I think i'm just gonna stick with DCOM because honestly, I really liked it!!! and even tho this might not be the case once i get there... i really hit it off well with the faculty and the students interviewing! Plus, they are the first to give me a chance when I have been applying for the past 4 years and I am very thankful to them. I am a very loyal person and I wanna dedicate my education to that school and the area to thank them for making my dream come true!

Great idea! Then we will be classmates. I had the same feeling about everyone when I was there. When did you interview?😀

 

[ks2005]

yeah I think that you're better off sticking with DMU. Its a better choice. I interviewed at VCOM and they grilled me on rural medicine.why? why? why? why. get the point? dont waste your time. i felt like i wasted mine. Anyways, the rural grilling occured as one of the last interviews and went very, very poorly therafter and, being a minority, it seems that they did not have room for people such as myself. EVERYONE I saw was all white, including the other fellow interviewees. Where are all the minorities there? isn't that one of their mission statements-diversity? congrats on your acceptance.

 

[MossPoh]

LOL! Everyone is "churchy" in the south. It's the Bible belt. Did you see all the crosses everywhere down there? There are probably not a lot of people who are Jewish in that area, but the people down there are good people and generally very accepting of others. You just have to take it all with a grain of salt and try not to take it personally. That is just the way the people down there are. (I know I am generalizing so please no one take it personally.😀 ) Good luck!

Yea but virginia isn't even THAT churchy..at least compared to the areas I'm used to. The bible belt is like the entire country south of New York and east of california in this country.lol Try having a jewish family in southern indiana...I think my gma and dad were like the affirmitive action for the state. 😛

 

[DoctorMom78]

Yea but virginia isn't even THAT churchy..at least compared to the areas I'm used to. The bible belt is like the entire country south of New York and east of california in this country.lol Try having a jewish family in southern indiana...I think my gma and dad were like the affirmitive action for the state. 😛

LOL! I totally agree. Blacksburg is getting pretty close to Tennessee though, so maybe they are more churchy there. When my husband and I were driving to Tennessee we drove past this huge cross in Virginia. It was higher than the houses and was along highway 81 almost to the Tennessee line. It was weird! There are just random crosses scattered all over the place down there. They are serious about religion there, but the people in the south are the nicest I have ever met. I guess all that religion works! LOL!

 

[MossPoh]

Yea.... All of my friends from New York tell me I'm so nice and stuff....I was just under the assumption before coming to school in Pennsylvania that everyone was like that.lol People kind of look at me weird when I do the "Thank ya sir" thing...and I say howdy a lot..which I think has just been my own thing and not so much where I was raised.

 

[DoctorMom78]

Yea.... All of my friends from New York tell me I'm so nice and stuff....I was just under the assumption before coming to school in Pennsylvania that everyone was like that.lol People kind of look at me weird when I do the "Thank ya sir" thing...and I say howdy a lot..which I think has just been my own thing and not so much where I was raised.

LOL! Everyone is nice compared to a New Yorker! We are so rude up here!

 

[OceanPotion]

bump...

any other thoughts on DCOM vs VCOM vs PCSOM vs WVSOM

I currently have acceptances at DCOM and WVSOM, and interviews at VCOM and PCSOM. The deposit deadline is coming up next month (for DCOM and WVSOM), so I was just curious if there were any other perspectives on these schools. As everyone has stated, DCOM seems like its going to be a great school (and I think I'm leaning in that direction, although I'm a little worried about how smoothly 3rd and 4th year will go). I also loved WVSOM, but just not sure I can fork over the OOS tuition. BTW I live in VA. Any thoughts would be appreciated!

 

[QCOM2006]

I just finished my first block at VCOM, and I absolutely love it. My VCOM interview was the least stressful interview that I had. Most of the professors are very nice and approachable. The facilities (especially the anatomy lab) are incredible. My classmates don't try to compete against one another. Instead, we help each other out whenever possible. In addition, Blacksburg is a cute little college town. Furthermore, I also like the way our curriculum is split up. We get breaks in between blocks, which really helps me not to feel burnt out. Don't get me wrong. Our school isn't perfect, but I wouldn't change my decision for anything.

 

[mshheaddoc]

LOL! I totally agree. Blacksburg is getting pretty close to Tennessee though, so maybe they are more churchy there. When my husband and I were driving to Tennessee we drove past this huge cross in Virginia. It was higher than the houses and was along highway 81 almost to the Tennessee line. It was weird! There are just random crosses scattered all over the place down there. They are serious about religion there, but the people in the south are the nicest I have ever met. I guess all that religion works! LOL!

VCOM has "religious" ties ... just to let you know. Not offically but hey. VA is not really in the bible belt but the extreme southern end is and all of Tennessee is as well. The bible belt is known for the midcentralwest to the southeast.

And just because of religion, remember ... you didn't get a chance to meet any DCOM students because there are none yet. I'm sure there will be plenty of "church" goers in your class and I wouldn't let that deter you from either school.

VCOM is in a city can offer you more than DCOM so there are many things that you have to weigh not just religion. Rotations are a good one, although not all DCOM rotations will be in the immediate area either. Look at the curriculum differences and rotation differences (how many blocks and where you have ot do them). DCOM doesn't even have their rotations set up yet so that is difficult to be the "guniea pig". Some people might not want to do that. There are pros and cons to both schools so check it out yourself before you take 2 other negative opinions. We never know where YOU WILL be happy.

 

[Fermata]

At VCOM you are eligible for student tickets to ACC basketball and football.


QED, VCOM > Debusk. 😀

 

[Cat48100]

VCOM has "religious" ties ... just to let you know. Not offically but hey. VA is not really in the bible belt but the extreme southern end is and all of Tennessee is as well. The bible belt is known for the midcentralwest to the southeast.

And just because of religion, remember ... you didn't get a chance to meet any DCOM students because there are none yet. I'm sure there will be plenty of "church" goers in your class and I wouldn't let that deter you from either school.

VCOM is in a city can offer you more than DCOM so there are many things that you have to weigh not just religion. Rotations are a good one, although not all DCOM rotations will be in the immediate area either. Look at the curriculum differences and rotation differences (how many blocks and where you have ot do them). DCOM doesn't even have their rotations set up yet so that is difficult to be the "guniea pig". Some people might not want to do that. There are pros and cons to both schools so check it out yourself before you take 2 other negative opinions. We never know where YOU WILL be happy.

Hi, I am new to the board. I just wanted to mention that I interviewed at DCOM recently and they do actually have their rotation locations set up and are in the process of adding more locations. The hospitals which will host the rotations for the first class spread through out the entire state of Tennessee including Memphis and Nashville. I also wanted to mention that just because DCOM is going to be a new medical school, the school itself has been open for over 100 years and the professors teaching at DCOM actually come from some of the other top Osteopathic Medical schools including UNECOM and COMP. There is no doubt that you will get an excellent education there, but even greater than that, this school is going to be one of the most high tech medical schools around and will even include patient stimulation mannequins which I did not see at some of the other schools I interviewed at. Anyone who has interviewed there knows that this school is going to emerge at one of the top Osteopathic Medical Schools around.

 

[mshheaddoc]

Hi, I am new to the board. I just wanted to mention that I interviewed at DCOM recently and they do actually have their rotation locations set up and are in the process of adding more locations. The hospitals which will host the rotations for the first class spread through out the entire state of Tennessee including Memphis and Nashville. I also wanted to mention that just because DCOM is going to be a new medical school, the school itself has been open for over 100 years and the professors teaching at DCOM actually come from some of the other top Osteopathic Medical schools including UNECOM and COMP. There is no doubt that you will get an excellent education there, but even greater than that, this school is going to be one of the most high tech medical schools around and will even include patient stimulation mannequins which I did not see at some of the other schools I interviewed at. Anyone who has interviewed there knows that this school is going to emerge at one of the top Osteopathic Medical Schools around.

And while you have interviewed and they have "plans", nothing is concrete and anyone who has gone to any recently new schools can attest to how things can change. I'm not saying DCOM isn't a good school, not in the least ... but students looks for various things in a medical school. DCOM has "hospitals" in which you can set up your rotations, but nothing will be set until the current applicants become 3rd year students and are the first to rotate. As well as it is my understanding that not all the "rotation" schedules have been setup (reason being they have no students in rotations). As well as not all rotations will be in the immediate area of the school. It has been stated that you "can" complete your rotations within 60 miles of the school, but that doesn't mean everyone can do it. These are my only points in stating what I commented on previously. And to note, I have talked with those interviewed and reviewed the hospital lists given at interviews. They are great hospitals but remember not everyone can rotate in the same place at the same time. I'm addressing these issues for those who stated the DCOM vs VCOM debate. Call me the devil's advocate but both appear to be great schools and we look forward to the things to come from their graduates. Both have short comings as newer schools which are obvious and which are/will be addressed when those hurdles need to be jumped.

 

[Cat48100]

And while you have interviewed and they have "plans", nothing is concrete and anyone who has gone to any recently new schools can attest to how things can change. I'm not saying DCOM isn't a good school, not in the least ... but students looks for various things in a medical school. DCOM has "hospitals" in which you can set up your rotations, but nothing will be set until the current applicants become 3rd year students and are the first to rotate. As well as it is my understanding that not all the "rotation" schedules have been setup (reason being they have no students in rotations). As well as not all rotations will be in the immediate area of the school. It has been stated that you "can" complete your rotations within 60 miles of the school, but that doesn't mean everyone can do it. These are my only points in stating what I commented on previously. And to note, I have talked with those interviewed and reviewed the hospital lists given at interviews. They are great hospitals but remember not everyone can rotate in the same place at the same time. I'm addressing these issues for those who stated the DCOM vs VCOM debate. Call me the devil's advocate but both appear to be great schools and we look forward to the things to come from their graduates. Both have short comings as newer schools which are obvious and which are/will be addressed when those hurdles need to be jumped.

Listen, I don't want to start anything here. I just got accepted to DCOM today and I want to be happy, not argueing over which school is better. You obviously have a preference to VCOM but for the record on DCOM rotations, they have already signed the contract with the hospitals. It isn't just a "plan" it is a fact of the matter that rotations will be done there. Some of these hospitals have over 700 beds and I know there will be a lot to be learned there. Where I work at UCI Medical Center in Orange California and they only have around 350 -400 beds. A hospital with over 700 is going to be a great experience. Not all the hospitals are in 60 mile radius but actually that is a good thing because it will give you the chance to network and go to possible hospitals that you would like to do your residency at. I don't know about you but there are some excellent Medical schools in Nashville including Vanderbilt and I would like the opportunity to see what it would be like to do a residency at the local hospital there. I mean I work with medical students, residents and attendings and I know first hand that if you want to get a residency at a certain hospital, you must do a rotation there in order to have a decent shot; therefore I think it would be an excellent opportunity to have rotations throughout Tennessee along with the other surrounding states. Furthermore, they do have an 'agenda' of what rotations you are going to be doing for 3rd and 4th year. Provided, it can always be changed, it is still in place. DCOM may be new but its faculty has been teaching for many decades in some cases and they have taken what they have learned at the other schools and are going to apply it here. It wont be a bed of roses but it is still going to be an excellent school.

The original purpose of this thread was that super21 was trying to decide if he should go to his VCOM interview. In my own personal opinion, you should super21. You should go to the interview and experience the school for yourself as opposed to what other people say about VCOM and what other people say about DCOM because in the end it doesn't matter what we say, it is what you think about the school. From there, you can decide whether you prefer VCOM or DCOM.

 

[mshheaddoc]

That's an interesting assumption considering if I had acceptances to both I'd go to Dcom. You have your opinions and I have mine. There is no arguing. I think you are missing the points that I was making about new schools in comparing DCOM and VCOM, but congrats on your acceptance.

 

[cee]

I interviewed at VCOM and they grilled me on rural medicine.why? why? why? why. get the point? dont waste your time. i felt like i wasted mine. Anyways, the rural grilling occured as one of the last interviews and went very, very poorly therafter and, being a minority, it seems that they did not have room for people such as myself. EVERYONE I saw was all white, including the other fellow interviewees. Where are all the minorities there? isn't that one of their mission statements-diversity? congrats on your acceptance.

i got this same feeling as well. i think, for us minorities from metropolitan areas, they just want us to realize what we'd be getting ourselves into. most of the white people at the school seemed like local southerners from VA, NC, SC, KY, TN, etc. i, too, was the only minority at my interview. however, it wasn't "as white" as i thought, because we took a peek into some classes and it seemed fairly diverse. overall, i don't think it was all that bad. when considering their rotations, it definitely IS set up for rural medicine.