WesternU MSMS vs. Tourocom Middletown

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AM_PreMed

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Hello,
I have been accepted to Touro Middletown DO program and WesternU MSMS and want to ultimately get a residency in California.
Is it worth it to stay in CA and take an extra year to do a MSMS and link to the DO school at western to have a better chance of a CA residency program? I've spoken to several MSMS students and was told I should have no problem getting linkage since I have a high MCAT as long as I do well in the program.
I would appreciate any advice.

Thanks
 
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Residency in California will be hard unless it's family medicine. I rarely see matches in California from the new York schools. This might be due to regional preferences when applying, but it could also be the difficulty from coming from a school that is largely unknown to this region. Middletown may add to that skepticism. Ultimately, I'd take the Middletown seat if I were you. You have a sure thing and will save a lot of money this way.
 
Western's a great school, but will you have a plan if you do the program and still can't get in? You might not get another chance at Touro.

Me don't understand why we're talking like this. Now me doing it too
 
Sorry my phone change all the "I" to "me" somehow
 
lol I get it. Well I understand the difficulty in getting a residency in CA for out of state students. I am confident I will link because WesternU offers 15 out of the 20 premed students a linkage as long as they meet a minimum of 18 MCAT and a 3.0 in the program. But as you have mentioned, I am unsure if turning down an acceptance is a good choice.
 
AM_PreMed said:
lol I get it. Well I understand the difficulty in getting a residency in CA for out of state students. I am confident I will link because WesternU offers 15 out of the 20 premed students a linkage as long as they meet a minimum of 18 MCAT and a 3.0 in the program. But as you have mentioned, I am unsure if turning down an acceptance is a good choice.
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Well put it this way: is it worth risking being the five out of twenty who doesn't connect to the DO program? Some like those odds, others are scared to death of them. Depends on how confident you are in your own abilities and how well you'll score on the MCAT.
 
I'm thinking 15/20 isn't bad. I spoke with Jodi today and she gave me some confidence about choosing either route. I have a solid MCAT of 30 (11-8-11) so I won't be needing to retake it. As long as I do well in the program, I have a good chance at linkage.
 
If you want to ultimately be in California, go with westerns program. Touro middletown..is a farcry from Western standards and environment.
 
So you would rather sacrifice a yr's income just to stay in Cali?
 
Telekinesis said:
So you would rather sacrifice a yr's income just to stay in Cali?
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You have your whole life to work - for the OP, maybe living and working in California trumps studying in the middle of nowhere at middletown.

Physicians aren't poor people, 1 year of lost wage isn't an issue, especially since you can delay retirement..
 
WesternRedCedar said:
You have your whole life to work - for the OP, maybe living and working in California trumps studying in the middle of nowhere at middletown.

Physicians aren't poor people, 1 year of lost wage isn't an issue, especially since you can delay retirement..
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Touro is in the middle of nowhere? Interest still accrues tho, regardless if payments are deferred
 
Telekinesis said:
Touro is in the middle of nowhere? Interest still accrues tho, regardless if payments are deferred
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Plus the cost of the 1 year program. I did meet one guy that went this route. Abandoned an acceptance to SOMA and did the masters to DO. It worked out for him though.
 
Yeah, have you ever been to middletown? It isn't exactly the most lively area. But for the OP, if they are set on California or west coast, their best bet is to go to school their and do rotations there etc. Going to Middletown...that isn't going to exactly open doors to California.
 
OP does your school let you rotate early in another area? You could do away rotations to gain credibility in California programs.
 
WesternRedCedar said:
You have your whole life to work - for the OP, maybe living and working in California trumps studying in the middle of nowhere at middletown.

Physicians aren't poor people, 1 year of lost wage isn't an issue, especially since you can delay retirement..
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I agree... one year isn't going to make or break in da bank. I think the OP should follow his/her dream and stick with Western.
I did notice on this thread and during interviews that Californians will do whatever it takes to stay in their state. It seems like that more than other applicants from other states. I wonder why.
 
Chillywilly said:
I agree... one year isn't going to make or break in da bank. I think the OP should follow his/her dream and stick with Western.
I did notice on this thread and during interviews that Californians will do whatever it takes to stay in their state. It seems like that more than other applicants from other states. I wonder why.
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Have you lived in this state?
 
Telekinesis said:
Touro is in the middle of nowhere? Interest still accrues tho, regardless if payments are deferred
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Middletown is pretty much the definition of nowhere. it should be listed as a synonym for Podunk, USA

but it is about an hour away from Manhattan so it's got that going for it, which is nice
 
AM_PreMed said:
Hello,
I have been accepted to Touro Middletown DO program and WesternU MSMS and want to ultimately get a residency in California.
Is it worth it to stay in CA and take an extra year to do a MSMS and link to the DO school at western to have a better chance of a CA residency program? I've spoken to several MSMS students and was told I should have no problem getting linkage since I have a high MCAT as long as I do well in the program.
I would appreciate any advice.

Thanks
Click to expand...

Do the linkage. It is easy enough. If you fail at the linkage, you pretty much just told yourself you won't succeed in medical school anyway. Just do it.
 
AlbinoHawk DO said:
Have you lived in this state?
Click to expand...

Living in CA and having to move to a different state sounds terrible. I feel bad for the hoards of CA applicants that have to move for med school.

It's probably like driving a Mercedes your whole life then being told you have to drive a PT cruiser and there's very little chance you'll have a better car again.
 
TreadLightly said:
Living in CA and having to move to a different state sounds terrible. I feel bad for the hoards of CA applicants that have to move for med school.

It's probably like driving a Mercedes your whole life then being told you have to drive a PT cruiser and there's very little chance you'll have a better car again.
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Haha. I don't think it's that terrible. There's certainly a lot of iffy places in California. I think since we're a big state with 2 major cities that get a lot of attention we worry we'll miss out on that, but I could definitely see some other great places to live: NYC, Miami, Boston, Portland, Seattle and Texas. Just kidding. Nobody loves Texas besides Texas.
 
AlbinoHawk DO said:
Haha. I don't think it's that terrible. There's certainly a lot of iffy places in California. I think since we're a big state with 2 major cities that get a lot of attention we worry we'll miss out on that, but I could definitely see some other great places to live: NYC, Miami, Boston, Portland, Seattle and Texas. Just kidding. Nobody loves Texas besides Texas.
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your texas comment just made my day. have a like
 
TreadLightly said:
Living in CA and having to move to a different state sounds terrible. I feel bad for the hoards of CA applicants that have to move for med school.

It's probably like driving a Mercedes your whole life then being told you have to drive a PT cruiser and there's very little chance you'll have a better car again.
Click to expand...

There are plenty of ****y places in California, though. Castaic, Lancaster, Merced, and pretty much anything along the 5 between Los Angeles and Sacramento.
 
CSqueed said:
There are plenty of ****y places in California, though. Castaic, Lancaster, Merced, and pretty much anything along the 5 between Los Angeles and Sacramento.
Click to expand...

Sorry I meant southern CA LOL
 
From what I heard, 90% of the Western MSMS got linked or got accepted to med school. But that MSMS is really expensive... On the side note, the linkage requirement is pretty easy, total MCAT 26 min., 7 minimum in each section. 3.3 sci gpa.
 
lmcdavidkim said:
From what I heard, 90% of the Western MSMS got linked or got accepted to med school. But that MSMS is really expensive... On the side note, the linkage requirement is pretty easy, total MCAT 26 min., 7 minimum in each section. 3.3 sci gpa.
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I've heard that usually the ones that don't link is because they don't want to, which typically happens if you get into an MD school.
 
guylewis said:
There are a lot of s#####y places in SoCal too...like Pomona...ohhhh I just went there. But seriously, it sucks. And don't get me started on California's gooch, aka the Inland Empire. Thank the gods LA isn't far away
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You're right. Even LA is basically Detroit with palm trees, save for a few areas.
 
AlbinoHawk DO said:
Haha. I don't think it's that terrible. There's certainly a lot of iffy places in California. I think since we're a big state with 2 major cities that get a lot of attention we worry we'll miss out on that, but I could definitely see some other great places to live: NYC, Miami, Boston, Portland, Seattle and Texas. Just kidding. Nobody loves Texas besides Texas.
Click to expand...

Y'all can keep California and leave Texas for us then. 😉

It is nice hearing the Pacific on the walk to my truck though...
 
If I'm not mistaken, I tend to think that even Western will question your reasoning for turning down an acceptance, and they will specifically ask you about this in an interview. I don't think "because I want to stay in CA" will bode well. I'm surprised people are suggesting this. Also, other schools may look down on this as well. Maybe @Goro can shed some light.

Just go to Touro, OP.
 
NontradCA said:
If I'm not mistaken, I tend to think that even Western will question your reasoning for turning down an acceptance, and they will specifically ask you about this in an interview. I don't think "because I want to stay in CA" will bode well. I'm surprised people are suggesting this. Also, other schools may look down on this as well. Maybe @Goro can shed some light.

Just go to Touro, OP.
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There's no way for western to know about the acceptance at Touro.
 
guylewis said:
There are a lot of s#####y places in SoCal too...like Pomona...ohhhh I just went there. But seriously, it sucks. And don't get me started on California's gooch, aka the Inland Empire. Thank the gods LA isn't far away
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It's all about the bay area, I agree. It's a step down for us to move to SoCal, but anywhere else is two or more steps down.
 
AlbinoHawk DO said:
There's no way for western to know about the acceptance at Touro.
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1. You still have to go through AACOMAS
2. Western specifically asks you at interview if you've applied to other schools and why you didn't get in, turned down acceptances etc.
 
CSqueed said:
Do the linkage. It is easy enough. If you fail at the linkage, you pretty much just told yourself you won't succeed in medical school anyway. Just do it.
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You think this is a legitimate reason to do the linkage...
 
The DO schools don't play by the MD schools rulebook of showing thier cards on 5/15. Hence, Western is in the dark about ay other acceptances.

Location is an acceptable reason for wantitng ot go to a particular school, especialy if one's family is in the area or state. I hear this rationale a lot from my interviewees. We actually tend to be a bit more leery if someone from afar is interviewing here with no ties or support group in the area. We don't ding someone and say "oh, she won't come here [from NY]", but we do think it.

NontradCA said:
If I'm not mistaken, I tend to think that even Western will question your reasoning for turning down an acceptance, and they will specifically ask you about this in an interview. I don't think "because I want to stay in CA" will bode well. I'm surprised people are suggesting this. Also, other schools may look down on this as well. Maybe @Goro can shed some light.

Just go to Touro, OP.
Click to expand...
 
Goro said:
The DO schools don't play by the MD schools rulebook of showing thier cards on 5/15. Hence, Western is in the dark about ay other acceptances.

Location is an acceptable reason for wantitng ot go to a particular school, especialy if one's family is in the area or state. I hear this rationale a lot from my interviewees. We actually tend to be a bit more leery if someone from afar is interviewing here with no ties or support group in the area. We don't ding someone and say "oh, she won't come here [from NY]", but we do think it.
Click to expand...
But they will find out when he submits his application through accomas the 2nd time.
 
Goro said:
I'll have to ask our Admissions Dean about that. I never see where someone has applied to previously, except our own school.
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They ask at the interview. I forget what the secondary says, but I know a lot of schools ask if you've ever been accepted etc. I know you have to go through the normal process and I wouldn't bank on an acceptance to western even completing their MS program.
 
NontradCA said:
1. You still have to go through AACOMAS
2. Western specifically asks you at interview if you've applied to other schools and why you didn't get in, turned down acceptances etc.
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Being accepted at western, I know that. However, the question doesn't specify if the current cycle or to include past cycles.
 
guylewis said:
I do love the bay area with a passion. but LA is my home and it's really awesome and getting better these last ten years. I mean, the New York Times this year placed Downtown LA on its "52 Places to Go in 2014" and it got #5!! source: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/01/10/travel/2014-places-to-go.html
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Haha. It's only us NorCal jerks that are like this about our Bay Area. I think most of SoCal likes SF and wonders why we even have a rivalry against them.
 
Just go to Western, OP. It's what you want to do.
 
Thank you all for your input. After considering the pros and cons of going with either program, I came to the conclusion that WesternU is the best option for me now.
 
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