seev99 said:
Hey Everyone, I got accepted to Western/COMP in Pomona, CA, and LECOM-Bradenton in Bradenton, FL. Anybody have any suggestions as to the pros/cons of each place? I like the PBL of Bradenton, but I also like the strength of Western's rotations in Southern California. Both have great weather. Anyways, I like both schools a lot, so what would you do if you were faced with this choice and why?
As an MSI at LECOM-B, I would suggest evaluating yourown personal study preferences..i.e do you like to study with others in a group? Are you a procrastinator or a self-motivator? Do you prefer lectures, or group discussion?
I am assuming you have done research into what PBL entails and the pro's and cons. I am always cautious as to how I word my posts as any slip up could turn this post into a "which school is better" post, so I will give a couple of basic pro's and con's of PBL and LECOM-B in general
1. Little time in lecture (except the first semester)- Most of the time outside of class is devoted to studying learning issues as decided on by the group as a whole at the end of each case. These learning issues are to serve as the basis for the exam.
2. A great number of rotation sites in a variety of different states-I am assuming that LECOM gave you a list of sites, but we have had several additional hopistals added in Fl.
3. You have the opportunity to learn more than you would in lecture. When studying all the learning issues, you may encounter information deemed irrelevant in lectures but may appear on board exams. The learning issues force you to study as much as humanly possible about the subject as you don't have primary objectives. I see this as a bonus.
4. Board scores- I know this seems to be controversial to some, but PBL, according to the infamous anatomist Dr. Kreuger, has been shown to produce higher COMLEX scores as opposed to those in the other path's (LDP and IND) at LECOM-Erie. Again, this is data that Dr. Kreuger presented to us as a class.
5. As a group with a facilitator, you have the opportunity to learn other aspects of basic sciences you may not have encountered in your personal study, from others in your group.
Con's
1. A new school, as so, we need to prove ourselves, which I think we will have no prblem with.
2. If you need direction and objectives, i.e. you like lectures, PBL would not be a good choice.
3. Deciding what is important when you are studying, and what is not. You have such a volume of information to study that picking up the important issues is a matter of what you deem important. I have used additional guides(such as BRS, HY, First Aid), as a vast majority of our students have, to help with the outline in studying.
Finally, I am extremely happy with LECOM0-B but as all first year schools go, you have to be willing to work through a few bumps. We have delt with the vast majority of them and the second class should have little problem with any additional bumps. COMP is a great school, good rotations, but I love PBL, the independence and clinical incorporation of the basic sciences we see everyday. Hope this helps a tad.
