Vibes/Feelings you get from Schools..

[BlameItOnTheOH]

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There was a thread like this going in the pre-MD forums and I found it very helpful. I'm having a hard time deciding which DO schools to apply to and want to get some advice from those who have already went through the interview process....

No Stats about matching/curriculum/acceptance rates...I just want to know what you loved about the place and what you didn't. Which schools surprised you? Just general feelings about the environment.

I'm an Ohio resident with a 28 mcat and so far for DO i have....OUCOM. Need at least few more options! Thanks 🙂

 

[christina30]

I chose NYCOM partly because of the good impression they made on my interview day.

The environment (as in the campus itself) is really beautiful - there's an actual pond sort of adjacent to the quad, complete with turtles, fish, frogs, etc.

The students I spoke to on that day and ever since seem to really like the school and generally seemed happy, imho, which is usually a good sign!

Everyone I spoke to, faculty/staff-wise was friendly. The facilities are pretty good, too - some of it is brand new, they have standardized patients (ROBOTS!!), which are awesome.

All in all, they won me over. 😀

 

[DOwnage]

I haven't actually gone through the interview process yet, but for what its worth, I went to the open houses for DMU and CCOM. I got really good vibes from both of those places and I felt that I got a lot of good info from talking to the current students vs. listening to the rehearsed speeches. I say the surrounding town at CCOM is awesome, but something about the "niceness" of students really stood out for me at DMU - not to take away ANYTHING from the CCOM folks who were great too because I'm only judging from a ~3 hour window of an open house. Those 2 places are pretty much my top choices as of now.

 

[MalachiConstant]

Here's what I got from the 3 interviews I actually attended:

OUCOM - This is where I'm going and I couldn't be happier. Their interview day was by far the most thorough of all that I attended. Between the folder they gave us, and the presentations, pretty much any question I had was answered prior to interviews. All the faculty who spoke to us and all the interviewers were super nice and approachable. The school had an older, lived in feel, but there was still and abundance of technology. There was none of the silliness that many DO schools have with dress codes and required attendance. The school itself just seemed top notch all the way around. They appeared to have both the interest and resources available to really help students be the best they can be. Prior to going there for the interview, OUCOM was in my top 5, but by the end of the day, I knew that's where I wanted to be. I cancelled or rejected all other interviews except one after getting accepted here. Plus they were awesome in that interviews were Friday and I had an acceptance by Monday. I envy your in state status. I also really dug the town of Athens. It's small, but there's a lot of culture there, and with the food options around town, it seems it would be easier to eat healthy than in other places I visited. The only thing I didn't like is that cost of living and things like daycare are more expensive than where I currently live.

PCSOM - I got a really good vibe here from the faculty and students. This place definitely had the most familial feel to it, and that's something that they really emphasize. The school seemed to gear things to try to set the students up for success, with tons of free equipment/laptop/books, free comlex prep classes etc. It was clear that they didn't have the same kind of funding as the other two places I visited, but they did try to make the best of what they had. Areas that suffer though are in the facilities and technology department. The facility I don't think really matters, but not having recorded lectures was a drawback for me. Also they have a strict formal dress code and required attendance, both things which I'm no fan of, but that's just personal preference. The interview day itself was fairly short, and there weren't any really informative presentations. The approach was basically to let current students to answer any questions the interviewees may have had. It had the feeling of being less professional, but it also allowed the opportunity to get unfiltered opinions from people currently in the position you were shooting for. Overall, PCSOM seemed like a good place and I have no doubt I would have received a solid education. I almost ended up here because of the cost factor, but in the end, it wasn't the ideal fit for me.

LMU-DCOM - This was my first interview, so I had no context to judge it by when I was there. At first, I was wowed by the newness of the building and the technology, but it had kind of a sterile, institutional feel to it. I can't think of any specific negatives right now, but I just didn't get that warm fuzzy feeling here. I spent the night before checking out the towns of Middlesboro and Harrogate which may have negatively influenced me. This was by far the most rural of all the schools I interviewed at and there was pretty much nothing in the way of work or entertainment for my wife and daughter.

 

[BlameItOnTheOH]

thanks guys...these are very helpful! MalachiConstant...I did my undergrad at OU and am glad to hear you had such a positive experience there...Athens is a great town, you'll love it!

Does PCSOM = PCOM? or am I missing something?

I'm single and kind of wanting to be in a larger city so I'm curious to hear some more about CCOM (although 50K tuition really turns me off) vs. PCOM vs. any other urban area schools...

 

[christina30]

thanks guys...these are very helpful! MalachiConstant...I did my undergrad at OU and am glad to hear you had such a positive experience there...Athens is a great town, you'll love it!

Does PCSOM = PCOM? or am I missing something?

I'm single and kind of wanting to be in a larger city so I'm curious to hear some more about CCOM (although 50K tuition really turns me off) vs. PCOM vs. any other urban area schools...

PCSOM is Pikeville College, it's in a pretty rural area

 

[AMEHigh]

thanks guys...these are very helpful! MalachiConstant...I did my undergrad at OU and am glad to hear you had such a positive experience there...Athens is a great town, you'll love it!

Does PCSOM = PCOM? or am I missing something?

I'm single and kind of wanting to be in a larger city so I'm curious to hear some more about CCOM (although 50K tuition really turns me off) vs. PCOM vs. any other urban area schools...

I'm a 1st year at PCOM, but PCOM was my top choice after I attended their open house and interview. Everyone was very helpful and friendly. Plus the school has a great reputation.

The school has really lived up to what I thought it was going to be as far as a friendly atmosphere. Even though there are over 250 people in our class it's been easy to make friends and not feel like you're just a number. Most professors are very helpful and approachable. Most classmates are very helpful and friendly. We email each other study guides and any helpful info before every tests. I'm very happy hear.

 

[JaggerPlate]

The student attitudes and "vibe" at KCOM was the straw that broke the camel's back in my decision to attend.

 

[MalachiConstant]

thanks guys...these are very helpful! MalachiConstant...I did my undergrad at OU and am glad to hear you had such a positive experience there...Athens is a great town, you'll love it!

Does PCSOM = PCOM? or am I missing something?

I'm single and kind of wanting to be in a larger city so I'm curious to hear some more about CCOM (although 50K tuition really turns me off) vs. PCOM vs. any other urban area schools...

I guess it would have saved me some time if I'd known you went to OU. Heh.
I'll probably have to send my kid to her grandparents house around halloween, but I look forward to seeing that party.

Like Christina said, about PCSOM, I was referring to Pikeville in Kentucky. I withdrew from CCOM when I got other interview offers so I can't be much help there. PCOM was the only place that didn't invite me to interview. It seemed like a black hole for all correspondence, and several others on the interview trail had mentioned the same thing. I would have loved to go see the place since they have such a good reputation. What's weird is that about 2 months ago they finally sent me a letter saying they hadn't received my letters of recommendation even though I'd sent them through interfolio twice. At least I saved the money I would have spent travelling up there.

 

[GraceEuphoria]

I can only offer insights on a couple of the schools, but it's something I guess 🙂

I am matriculating into LMU-DCOM this July and fell in love with the school immediately. The students are so over the top friendly and helpful, as is the faculty and administration. There is a true sense of empowerment there...they WANT you to succeed so badly. The area can be a turn off depending on what you want. I have grown up in a decent sized city and am currently living in my state capitol- I am ready for the change to the middle of nowhere. With regards to what other people have said...I didn't feel like the building was sterile at all- it felt like an academic building to me. Also, I didn't find Harrogate to be appealing necessarily, but it's okay. I thought Middlesboro and another nearby town, Pineville, had a nice small town charm to them. Again though, I am really ready for a small town life at this point.

The only other school I ever saw was CCOM and I remember really liking it. However, it was the first school I saw, so I think that factored into it. I don't recall being super impressed with anything in particular. I remember thinking the area around the school is nice, but other than that, the vibe was kind of...neutral, at least in retrospect. If you're wanting to be in that big city though, it might be a good option.

I would also recommend looking at KCUMB- I never saw the school but everything I read and looked at appealed to me highly.

 

[ilovefishing]

I interviewed at 3 DO schools:

TUCOM-NV: I live in Vegas and have passed by the school a few times. A lot of students complain about the "warehouse feel" of the school, but once you get inside you don't really notice it. Overall the students seemed happy and friendly. I thought I would get in since I am a NV resident, but oh well 🙂

ATSU-SOMA: The campus was nice, but didn't really like only staying in Arizona for a small period of time before getting sent elsewhere. The students were helpful and friendly, but I felt like the school wasn't for me. I did get accepted though.

VCOM: This is were I will be going in August! It had a warm family feel and I really felt like I was meant to go here. The faculty and students were really helpful and seemed happy to be here. I also like how green VA is and the fact that my family is close by.


Overall you will know what school is right for you when the time comes. Just apply broadly. And be sure to check out the interview feedback on each school!

 

[bonsaipalmtree]

I interviewed at a few DO schools. Here are my impressions:

LECOM-Bradenton: Bradenton is a quiet, spread-out suburban area, and LECOM is one isolated building that kind of reminded me of a corporate office building, very clean and almost sterile. The faculty were very nice and genuinely seemed to care to get to know me. I was accepted, but I decided against it because they are solidly PBL and I didn't get any sort of community feeling, which I need in a school. The vibe was sterile.

NSU-COM: Fort Lauderdale is a larger city and the campus had more of a university feel. Students all wore scrubs (their dress code, I guess) and seemed happy. Overall vibe was that of a 'normal' university, pretty diverse and active, unlike LECOM. My faculty interviewers were very kind. I was accepted but decided against it as I wanted a little more flexibility in my third-year rotations. Plus I'm a left coast person.

RVU-COM: Building is new, students are SUPER friendly, as were the faculty. Building was brand spanking new. Everyone was very laid-back and made you feel at home, literally, complete with home-cooked lunch. Met the Dean and didn't get a great vibe from him. Someone compared him to Rasputin, and I'd agree with that person. Accepted, but there were just too many what-ifs. Vibe was that I was being heavily "sold"/marketed on the school, but that's prob because I'm influenced by the for-profit thing.

Western/COMP: CA was nice, Pomona was run-down though, and campus was in an old strip mall, which felt kind of weird. Faculty interviewers were mixed- one really nice, one silent, one not-so-nice. Most of the students I met were from SoCal, so they were hoping to get in so they could be near home. Vibe kinda felt almost like a commuter school because of that. Despite all of that though, I actually felt the most solid about this school, out of all the DOs I interviewed at. They were the most honest about the rigors and competition of school and boards, the rotation sites, etc. Accepted here, and I would attend here if I didn't get off my state school's waitlist. Overall vibe was solid (but really expensive!!).

 

[MN premed]

DMU - It was my first interview, and I was really impressed by the school. I loved the surgical skills lab and the robots. I definitely thought these were awesome. I also thought it was kind of cool that the tour guides gave us an OMM demo in the lab, haha. I was pretty nervous at this interview, since it was my first one, but all of the students had only good things to say about the school and they seemed really happy to be there. I would have loved to go there.

AZCOM - 2nd interview. Right away, I loved the place. I loved Glendale (thought it was really pretty and not too busy!) and I loved the landscaping around the school - it was gorgeous. I got the feeling that the school was really trying to get high numbers (gpa/MCAT) more than others, and they seemed to really sugar-coat their clinical years and the fact that you have to set up your own 4th year and may have to move around. Our tour guide wasn't even a DO student. I wasn't sure what to believe really. This was my favorite interview group though - I really liked the other students interviewing with me.
Edit- The lecture hall scared the crap out of me! It was HUGE and the seats looked uncomfortable and didn't have outlets. The seats were like the kind in undergrad where they are all attached and the table folds up from underneath. It looked like a miserable place to spend hours every day.

Touro-NV - 3rd interview. I thought it was so funny that the school was by all the car dealerships and didn't really look like a school! But, inside, it felt like a school (a very small school lol) 🙂 Right away I realized that Henderson was not nearly as gorgeous as Glendale was - bummer, but not super important. This school seemed to be the most honest and upfront with us. I liked the admissions people, and my interview felt more like a conversation. They were really nice! The student tour guides and panel also seemed to really like the school - one of them kept raving about the anatomy lab lol. I was very impressed by Touro, since I went into it not really knowing what to think, I almost decided to turn down the interview! But after my interview day I was really glad I didn't - everyone seemed really friendly and happy.
Edit- their lecture hall looked so nice. Smaller, comfy looking individual chairs with long tables, outlet for each student's laptop. 👍

I won't go into UTHouston since it's not DO - but it was the best vibe of them all actually.

 

[BlameItOnTheOH]

thanks everyone...any other opinions NSU-COM? I want to have plenty of things to do outside of med school and Ft. Lauderdale seems like a decent sized city (anyone know what its like?)...and of course the weather is just about as far from cleveland as you can get!

 

[JaggerPlate]

I loved NSU ... they have a fantastic program down there. Turning them down for another school was such a tough decision. I seriously felt guilty and weird letting them know I wasn't attending. I definitely got a really good "click/vibe" feeling there.

Beautiful campus, students seemed generally happy and tight (only negative comment they had was mandatory attendance and it really didn't even seem like a big deal), the dean was enthusiastic, the area was great, rotations seem solid, etc.

 

[BlameItOnTheOH]

thanks...i'm definitely gonna go ahead and add NSU to my list...anyone know how OOS friendly they are?

 

[TeamZissou]

thanks guys...these are very helpful! MalachiConstant...I did my undergrad at OU and am glad to hear you had such a positive experience there...Athens is a great town, you'll love it!

Does PCSOM = PCOM? or am I missing something?

I'm single and kind of wanting to be in a larger city so I'm curious to hear some more about CCOM (although 50K tuition really turns me off) vs. PCOM vs. any other urban area schools...

You won't find a better city to live in, and when I say live in the city I mean years III and IV. You can live in the city during the first two years but I think it would be a waste of time commuting.

Bottom line about tuition is it's dependent on how conservative you wanna be. I look at a $60K tuition and getting to go to a school I really like and live where I wanna live for 4 years as a pretty sweet deal (considering you'll make in the neighborhood of 3-6 million over the course of your career).

 

[mrsmith]

thanks...i'm definitely gonna go ahead and add NSU to my list...anyone know how OOS friendly they are?

NSU is quite friendly to out of state students. Here are the stats on the class admitted last year (just over half the class was out of state):

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=8499185&postcount=161

I will find out the stats for this years class and post them when I get them....though that likely won't be until orientation in early August.

 

[FutureCTDoc]

I loved NSU ... they have a fantastic program down there. Turning them down for another school was such a tough decision. I seriously felt guilty and weird letting them know I wasn't attending. I definitely got a really good "click/vibe" feeling there.

Beautiful campus, students seemed generally happy and tight (only negative comment they had was mandatory attendance and it really didn't even seem like a big deal), the dean was enthusiastic, the area was great, rotations seem solid, etc.

Just to follow up while attendance is mandatory it's usually enforced in the breech if at all. One of my friends is an MS2 going into MS3 this fall and said attendance really wasn't required and nothing happened if you didn't show. NSU has arguably one of the nicest campuses that I've seen. It's very modern, light and airy. So if you're looking for collegiate gothic, the school is sure to disappoint you. The school has a real nice vibe, I've been fortunate to get to know a few of the medical students and if you need mentoring they are certainly willing to help on that front. If you have more questions PM me.

 

[123165]

I had a tough decision between NSU and KCOM. In the end, the vibe won me over, as well as the reputation, flexible rotations, and banging OMM program.

I also think I will fare better in a small town closer to home (I am from the midwest).

I don't think I could have gone wrong with either school, but being the first DO school, I really feel priveleged to attend.

 

[Lewist02]

I had a tough decision between NSU and KCOM. In the end, the vibe won me over, as well as the reputation, flexible rotations, and banging OMM program.

I also think I will fare better in a small town closer to home (I am from the midwest).

I don't think I could have gone wrong with either school, but being the first DO school, I really feel priveleged to attend.

I interviewed at PCOM, NYCOM, TOUROCOM-NY, and LECOM-E.

PCOM was my top choice from the beginning and my impressions from my interview only solidified that choice. Although they don't give you much to do on interview day (workshops and such), I was happy to not have to sit through another financial aid workshop. The interview process there was so laid back. Students stopped in the office to wish us good luck and tell us how much they enjoyed it there. The admissions committee was amazing. You are allowed to sit in on classes when you have down time during the interviews (no other school I interviewed at allowed this.) The tour was great and their facilities were the best out of all the schools I had visited, IMO.

NYCOM was definitely second for me. Beautiful campus, very friendly student body. Another laid back admissions process (one on one). Facilities were good (I ranked them second next to PCOM). The only things I didn't like about NYCOM were the price-tag and the location (further away from home for me). All in all, a hard school to turn down.

I didn't like both Tourocom-NY and Lecom-E. Tourocom-NY was so unorganized the day of the interview. We didn't have an opportunity to talk to students (they were not in exams that day, but were on campus). The facilities were new but were not completed yet. The interview was not friendly (this obviously varies depending on who you interview with). I felt my interviewers did not really want to get to know me, and played Devil's Advocate with every answer (I don't disagree with this view of interviewing, but didn't make me feel at home). Also didn't like how much I might potentially spend on Cost of Living. That said, Obed was the best part of Tourocom. Very encouraging and dedicates a lot of time to the admissions process. I also liked Harlem.

LECOM-E felt very sterile and institutional. The admissions process was really easy (group interviews) so I was less nervous. The workshops were helpful but dragged out and were very boring. I didn't like the dress code (but wouldn't have minded it if I liked everything else). I hated the fact that you could have no food or drink in the buildings (couldn't even have my water-bottle...and I was sick). I felt like security is on top of you before you even step in the door. That being said, price tag was amazing (~$28,000). Cost of living in Erie is cheap. The activities center was AMAZING.

 

[ShyRem]

Be careful listening to other folks' "vibes". I had really terrible "vibes" from some otherwise very good schools. I chalk it up to a bad interview day especially as the students seemed very very happy to be there. It did, however, lead me to withdraw immediately from at least one school.

The bottom line is to trust your own feelings. Everyone is looking for different things in a school, whether consciously or subconsciously understood.

 

[kpatel226]

I interviewed at PCOM, NYCOM, TOUROCOM-NY, and LECOM-E.

PCOM was my top choice from the beginning and my impressions from my interview only solidified that choice. Although they don't give you much to do on interview day (workshops and such), I was happy to not have to sit through another financial aid workshop. The interview process there was so laid back. Students stopped in the office to wish us good luck and tell us how much they enjoyed it there. The admissions committee was amazing. You are allowed to sit in on classes when you have down time during the interviews (no other school I interviewed at allowed this.) The tour was great and their facilities were the best out of all the schools I had visited, IMO.

NYCOM was definitely second for me. Beautiful campus, very friendly student body. Another laid back admissions process (one on one). Facilities were good (I ranked them second next to PCOM). The only things I didn't like about NYCOM were the price-tag and the location (further away from home for me). All in all, a hard school to turn down.

I didn't like both Tourocom-NY and Lecom-E. Tourocom-NY was so unorganized the day of the interview. We didn't have an opportunity to talk to students (they were not in exams that day, but were on campus). The facilities were new but were not completed yet. The interview was not friendly (this obviously varies depending on who you interview with). I felt my interviewers did not really want to get to know me, and played Devil's Advocate with every answer (I don't disagree with this view of interviewing, but didn't make me feel at home). Also didn't like how much I might potentially spend on Cost of Living. That said, Obed was the best part of Tourocom. Very encouraging and dedicates a lot of time to the admissions process. I also liked Harlem.

LECOM-E felt very sterile and institutional. The admissions process was really easy (group interviews) so I was less nervous. The workshops were helpful but dragged out and were very boring. I didn't like the dress code (but wouldn't have minded it if I liked everything else). I hated the fact that you could have no food or drink in the buildings (couldn't even have my water-bottle...and I was sick). I felt like security is on top of you before you even step in the door. That being said, price tag was amazing (~$28,000). Cost of living in Erie is cheap. The activities center was AMAZING.

i thought PCOM was great too when i went to the open house and it is def my top choice. If you dont mind me asking, what were your stats?

 

[JaggerPlate]

I had a tough decision between NSU and KCOM. In the end, the vibe won me over, as well as the reputation, flexible rotations, and banging OMM program.

I also think I will fare better in a small town closer to home (I am from the midwest).

I don't think I could have gone wrong with either school, but being the first DO school, I really feel priveleged to attend.

Couldn't have said it better myself 👍

 

[TeamZissou]

I think this is a great thread for applicants to discuss their perceptions about schools but just to rehash what ShyRem said, the "vibe" you get from a school can depend quite a bit on a few things. One who the students are you interact with that day and another is just what is goin on at the school in general.

For instance, there were people who said their interview at CCOM was bad and the school seemed pretentious and we talked badly about other schools. Not gonna say this isn't true because I myself have talked about some of the things I didn't like about AZCOM and RVUCOM compared to CCOM. However I'm open about this and I have good things to say about each as well. Moreover I constantly remind people that this is my opinion. I also try my best not to discuss ANY negatives when I'm giving interviewees tours because I'm representing the school at that time and they give us EXPLICIT instruction NOT to talk badly about ANY other schools.

So I just want pre-meds reading this thread to realize that while people on here may seem to have a handle on what they are talking about they are just individuals and they may be drastically different from you. I do my best when I give tours to be straight up about our schools strengths and weaknesses as well as what student life is like. Hahaha sadly even my best tour guide skills couldn't sway the legendary JaggerPlate to attend 😉 (I get a kick out of it when I meet people off SDN). The best way applicants can get a feel for a school is to PLEASE visit the school a second time if you are considering it.

Oh and FWIW summer is a really good time to ask questions and get feedback from current students because we actually have spare time and we are generally in great moods because compared to the school year we have no stressors at all 👍

 

[Lewist02]

i thought PCOM was great too when i went to the open house and it is def my top choice. If you dont mind me asking, what were your stats?

sGPA: 3.39, nsGPA: 3.72, cGPA: 3.54, MCAT: 24Q (7PS, 8BS, 9V), OOS.

Definitely apply early! They only interview ~10% of the applicant pool and I saw a lot of applicants on here apply with AMAZING stats and not here a peep. If you have any friends that go to PCOM, have them send a letter of rec. on your behalf. The admissions committee encourages them to so it would benefit you. I also sent them a letter of interest since I had a lower MCAT score and wasn't hearing anything from them. I got an interview invite 3 days later.

Good luck with all your applications!

 

[JaggerPlate]

Hahaha sadly even my best tour guide skills couldn't sway the legendary JaggerPlate to attend 😉 (I get a kick out of it when I meet people off SDN)

Hahaha ... Ahhhh, now I feel bad!!

I loved, CCOM ... I really did. Turning down one school for another is honestly one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. I really don't know why it isn't discussed more on SDN. In the end, my decision came down to NSU, CCOM, and KCOM. I honestly could have written names down on a piece of paper, picked randomly out of a hat, and been completely happy. It came down to such small details, and I'm so grateful CCOM invited me to come out and interview. Furthermore ... your tour skills were excellent, and I thought you created a fantastic impression of the school! No hard feelings??? 😀

Also, meeting SDN people in real life is awesome. However, explaining to other people that "X" person is your "internet friend" comes off really hilarious at first.

 

[TeamZissou]

Hahaha ... Ahhhh, now I feel bad!!

I loved, CCOM ... I really did. Turning down one school for another is honestly one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. I really don't know why it isn't discussed more on SDN. In the end, my decision came down to NSU, CCOM, and KCOM. I honestly could have written names down on a piece of paper, picked randomly out of a hat, and been completely happy. It came down to such small details, and I'm so grateful CCOM invited me to come out and interview. Furthermore ... your tour skills were excellent👍, and I thought you created a fantastic impression of the school! No hard feelings??? 😀

Hahahaha hell yes! Seriously I was waiting for one of the tourees to give me some love. But I really do try to give a positive/honest impression about CCOM and just let you guys be the one to make decisions. But I can see how some might think my laid back approach seems lazy or something weird, different strokes. And ya I never had to make the decision between CCOM, NSU or KCOM but I bet it was a tough one. The good/bad news is that you are gonna be so damn busy your first year will be over before you know it. Time just starts moving way too fast, never enough time for anything but that's just med school.

Also, meeting SDN people in real life is awesome. However, explaining to other people that "X" person is your "internet friend" comes off really hilarious at first.

And ya let's just say that conversation is one of the most awkward ones I've had in quite a while.... (not all but just one guy)🙄

 

[mmz737]

Before my interviews, I never understood what people meant about the vibes influencing them. My first interview was at UMDNJ SOM, and I just fell in love with it, everyone was so friendly - really really warm and outgoing. It's also the closest to me, and that's a factor too. I think it actually hurt me at other interviews that I went there first, because several of my other interviews I was thinking I didn't like them as much, and ended up not getting accepted even though my stats were similar or above the avg, so wondered if I sent off my own unconscious vibes that I didn't like the school, because the 2 I liked best, I got accepted and wait-listed at, the 2 I didn't like as much, I got rejected from.

So be careful...it's amazing how much info we send out that we don't realize.

 

[pianoman511]

Just bear a few things in mind. Vibes/feelings may be important but remember that you are only there for a short time and you may not get the whole picture.

I go to LECOM which I will admit has one of the "coldest" and most "institutional" feel to it of any school I have ever attended as well as some unique rules. That being said, the atmosphere is what you make of it and I met some extraordinary people who made it a positive experience.

Also, regardless of the school - you are there for two years and then you move on. The important thing is to get an idea of how strong the faculty in the important subject areas are (i.e. micro, path, pharm, phys, anatomy). Those will be the key to doing well on the COMLEX/USMLE.

Bottom line, take your feelings into account but remember that you'll never really know what it's like until you start.

 

[drctother]

Before my interviews, I never understood what people meant about the vibes influencing them. My first interview was at UMDNJ SOM, and I just fell in love with it, everyone was so friendly - really really warm and outgoing. It's also the closest to me, and that's a factor too. I think it actually hurt me at other interviews that I went there first, because several of my other interviews I was thinking I didn't like them as much, and ended up not getting accepted even though my stats were similar or above the avg, so wondered if I sent off my own unconscious vibes that I didn't like the school, because the 2 I liked best, I got accepted and wait-listed at, the 2 I didn't like as much, I got rejected from.

So be careful...it's amazing how much info we send out that we don't realize.

I totally agree, I can see that