Western or KCOM

[waterbuffalo]

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I have been accepted to both COMP and KCOM. Do you all have any advice on which school is the best match for me?

I am very interested in specializing in some type of surgical residency (derm, oph, gen surg). Also, I am single, but I don't think that location is a crucial element for me.

 

[Dr JPH]

Derm & Optho are not really considered surgical residencies.

 

[rddoms]

I am a MS student at KCOM, and will be starting the DO program EC 2008. All of my first year and second year friends love this place, as do I. The environment is wonderful and supportive, and the people this school brings in are awesome. Plus, you could buy a house and have a mortgage payment of $300/month like me!!!

Also, look at the rotation sites for both schools. KCOM has many great sites, such as the Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital, and they are all over the country.

This school has been great to me so far, and I can't wait to start the DO program.

Ryan

 

[waterbuffalo]

thanks ryan!!
that's really great insight! If I decide to attend KCOM, I'll look forward to seeing you there.

 

[twolfbear]

Derm & Optho are not really considered surgical residencies.

Well this all depends on whether or you are performing surgery on the eye or skin. One could assume that he wants to specialize in surgery in those areas.

 

[DrVanNostran]

thanks ryan!!
that's really great insight! If I decide to attend KCOM, I'll look forward to seeing you there.

From the information I have gathered in my research of schools. KCOM seems to undervalued due to the location. The curriculum and school seem amazing, I guess people rather not live in Kirksville. But I have been talking to some people from KCOM and they are saying that Kirksville is actually pretty nice and cost of living is great.

I visited COMP about a month or so ago, the school seems really nice, but it's not LA, its Pomona which isn't so great imo.

Regardless, you have a great decision to make and I am sure you will be happy with either one

 

[twolfbear]

I'm a little familiar with Western, since I live minutes away from them. Indeed it isn't LA, but I wouldn't want to live in LA either. Cost of living is also high. They do have a variety of Hospitals to do their clinicals, however only one of those hospitals really are very good. As far as looking for a school catoring to surgery, not sure Western is the place to go. I'm not sure about your other choices.

 

[oxytocin]

I'm a little familiar with Western, since I live minutes away from them. Indeed it isn't LA, but I wouldn't want to live in LA either. Cost of living is also high. They do have a variety of Hospitals to do their clinicals, however only one of those hospitals really are very good. As far as looking for a school catoring to surgery, not sure Western is the place to go. I'm not sure about your other choices.

Are you referring to ArrowHead as one of those hospitals?

 

[twolfbear]

Yeah out of the list of hospitals and medical centers I believe Arrowhead is the best. They have neurosurgery and general surgery as part of the curriculum. Not so sure if it is any good....just because they have it, doesn't make it great. Nice building though. I know Riverside County Regional Medical Center is fairly new, so it really hasn't made a name for itself yet. The old center for Riverside Regional wasn't that good (not good at all actually, I've been there). At least they have a new facility. The other hospitals such as Downey, Colorado Springs, and Montclair are more for general practice.

I was just refering to the statement of surgery, really Arrowhead is the only one that offers that part of the clinical. However, I could be wrong. Except Downey offers a bit for general surgery.

 

[waterbuffalo]

Thanks for all of your valuable opinions. Could someone explain how the clinical rotations work? Is it based on a lottery system where you are selected randomly where you will be doing your rotations? I figure that might be difficult for KCOM students b/c KCOM has locations all over the US!

 

[waterbuffalo]

Does anyone know how Western's clinical rotations work???

 

[twolfbear]

Depending on what week of the third and forth year you are on, they send you to the hospital that has that clinical for that term. Somewhere on their website shows the clinical curriculum.

 

[emeddo]

Thanks for all of your valuable opinions. Could someone explain how the clinical rotations work? Is it based on a lottery system where you are selected randomly where you will be doing your rotations? I figure that might be difficult for KCOM students b/c KCOM has locations all over the US!

KCOM has a "match" process where you submit a rank list of where you would like to do your clinical rotation sites. This is done early during your second year. Generally all but a few (<5) get one of their top three choices, with a large majority getting their top choice.