Western University

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JEWmongous

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Just curious if any of your applying for the class of 2013 are looking at the pod program at Western U. Seems to have great leadership and very high aspirations. One interesting thing is that applicants will have to apply to the school directly for the first year instead of the general application service. The website said that applications will be available THIS spring for the class entering fall 2009, similar to the MD/DO process.

I remember earlier in the year when people were debating if the opening of western was good or bad. I feel that if a pod school was going to open up (no matter what), I would take a school like western rather than an independent pod school. This will be part of a medical university which offers a variety of programs and is expanding. I'm sure they will incorporate podiatry into the medical curriculum in a similar fashion as DMU and AZPOD.
 
Just curious if any of your applying for the class of 2013 are looking at the pod program at Western U. Seems to have great leadership and very high aspirations. One interesting thing is that applicants will have to apply to the school directly for the first year instead of the general application service. The website said that applications will be available THIS spring for the class entering fall 2009, similar to the MD/DO process.

I remember earlier in the year when people were debating if the opening of western was good or bad. I feel that if a pod school was going to open up (no matter what), I would take a school like western rather than an independent pod school. This will be part of a medical university which offers a variety of programs and is expanding. I'm sure they will incorporate podiatry into the medical curriculum in a similar fashion as DMU and AZPOD.

It will be interesting to see how this affects the admissions/application numbers for the other schools. Currently the application numbers are not very high and theoretically the field should strive to get the application numbers to around 2,000. Of course this is much easier said than done, but in order to get the very best applicants there must be a bit more competition.

Unfortunately some think that b/c pod schools accept students with lower statistics than our MD/DO counterparts that the curriculum is easier. Of course for those of us that are currently going through it, this is far from true. Many individuals are given a chance, but is it based on their prospective ability or the need to meet the funding of the school? Is this necessarily good for the profession? I don't know and I don't pretend to have answers, but I do know that it is unfortunate for those that pay all the money and then not see the results they were looking for?

I think the new school is a good idea, but its opening may be a little pre-mature.
 
I just read an article about the new school in Podiatry Management and it said that they plan to have podiatry students taking classes with dental students and optometry students. It seems to me that is heading in the wrong direction. If the did this I think it would justify schools accepting DAT OAT scores, etc. I just found that interesting.
 
I just read an article about the new school in Podiatry Management and it said that they plan to have podiatry students taking classes with dental students and optometry students. It seems to me that is heading in the wrong direction. If the did this I think it would justify schools accepting DAT OAT scores, etc. I just found that interesting.

It would be much easier to "lump" exams together, especially for the first couple of years.

Hey, if you didn't like feet, you could transfer to the eye or mouth at least. A trifecta of backups. 🙄
 
Hi TUSP0diatricM,

Did you mean that as a joke about transferring to eye / mouth or do you think that is really possible? I'm still trying to decide between the two, feet or teeth?
 
haha OH MY WORD!!
 
I wish they would offer a dual degree program... that'd be cool. The Pod. I shadow was mentored by Dr. Harkless during his residency and based on what I have heard, Dr. Harkless is first rate 👍. The leadership is there, and I have total confidence in the success of the podiatry program at Western.
 
the online tour looks nice, an online video would be nice as well. the site says tuition for the program comes out in april so it should be up any time now.
i'm glad another school is opening up it looks pretty solid. i think it will create the most competition though bw the other cali school (which is falling apart in my opinion) and barry university, since they all have nice weather!
 
I believe the tuition will be at least $30,000 a year. My friend interviewed for their PharmD program, and was told all tuition was going up next year (for PharmD it was like 35000 or 37000). If you look at some of the other doctoral programs at Western they are at least 30000 or more.
 
I believe the tuition will be at least $30,000 a year. My friend interviewed for their PharmD program, and was told all tuition was going up next year (for PharmD it was like 35000 or 37000). If you look at some of the other doctoral programs at Western they are at least 30000 or more.

WOW! That is more than out-of-state at Temple. Yikes!

I hope that they have an awesome scholarship program/yearly budget to help with the cost of living out there.
 
Ummm...I wouldn't go to Western. It is not organized. Also, going to a brand new school is not a good idea. Just wait and get into a school that has been around for a while.
 
How is it not organized? Do you go there?
Yeah - the school seems to be scrambling to start all of these new schools asap, yet the schools that exist are still on gravel, not solid bases. There is a lot of disorganization because the school is pulled in so many directions. The current students are uber unhappy about the podiatry and dental schools starting because they don't see their tuition going anywhere but into building these new schools. If any of the students ask about why there are no basic student services, like a cafeteria or a gym, or why our tuition has gone up so dramatically in the last five years, all we get are defensive and empty responses. It's a weird environment - not so great for real learning and growing because there is no questioning allowed. The school records our lectures and so now no one goes to class because they dislike it so much. Bummer news, sorry dude.
 
Recorded lectures??? OO I love that! My school does it and it's an amazing resource 👍
What's there not to love about new facilities???
 
Not having a gym or cafeteria would kind of suck. Do they give you a membership to a local gym like other schools?
 
I'll be starting this fall in the osteopathic program, and from what I know, they do give you about a $100 for a gym of your choice, plus I think the YMCA which is close to the school is free if you show them your Western ID.
 
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