WesternU Podiatry Information/Questions- From a student

[Jessepod]

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I wanted to start this thread for anyone that has questions about the podiatry program at WesternU. I am currently a third year student who just got done with boards and am doing my rotations in various hospitals in the LA area. I am also a student ambassador for the school, but even more than that, I am just a typical guy and would not say that I am your typical "book worm," or even the top of my class. I am doing this to help other people who have questions about WesternU's program. My biggest advice is to not only look at the curriculum for the first 2 years, but to look at the last 2 years. I think the number one thing to look at when considering any podiatry school (especially in a residency shortage) is to look at how many externships you have in your 4th year BEFORE CASPR/CRIP. For you that do not know what I am talking about, your fourth year you have an opportunity to extern in hospitals throughout the country. In essence this is a mini "tryout" for the residency programs. You get to work with the residents and residency director and they can get to know you on a personal basis rather only your name and GPA on a piece of paper. You have an opportunity to show that you are serious about their program and you can let your personality shine. More importantly, you get to see how they and their residency program work to ensure that you will be comfortable working with them for 3 years.

At WesternU you get 7 externships before the CASPR/CRIP residency interviews. I am not certain what every other school's exact number is (since the purpose of this is not to bash on other schools), but what I do know is that no school has more before the CASPR/CRIP than WesternU. Ok that is fourth year, but in third year you rotate through Community hospitals in the area where you are expected to write all notes and help treat patients with the attending on various services. 2 of the podiatry services that you rotate through have Podiatric residencies associated with them (VA West LA and Chino Valley). Yes, the curriculum is challenging but it prepares you to be ready to see patients on your own while rotating through other services in the hospitals (orthopedics, endocrine, cardio, general surgery, vascular surgery etc.). We have a clinical class that starts from day 1 that prepares you to assume the role of being a physician and I was fully prepared to see patients every day in the clinic. I feel like every school has its positives and negatives. However, I feel like the amount of externships before interviews is something that is often overlooked when students apply. That being said, ask any questions about WesternU or podiatry in general. I am willing to help out in any way that I can.

 

[tzhryan]

Did you interview anywhere else? How do you feel your chances are at landing a good residency?

 

[Jessepod]

Yeah I applied late in the game (literally the last day) because my original plan was to wait another year before applying but I threw my application in just to see what would happen. Arizona was full at the time (which I was fine with because I am from Arizona and wanted to get out of it for school) but I interviewed and was accepted by WesternU, Barry, CSPM, NYCPM, and Temple. I didn't apply anywhere else.

I feel like I have a great chance for a good residency. I have some upperclassman friends that have landed some of the best residencies in the country and I am confident that I can do the same. Much of landing a good residency is about your attitude, personality, willingness to work hard, being a team player, and #1 not being immature. Yes, grades are important as well as other things to put on your CV to make you shine on paper but when it all boils down to it the residents/residency director care more about being able to work with you for the next 3 years than your A that you got in Neuroscience. Hope that answers your questions.

 

[Pod Zilla]

@Jessepod I think you have a good point but somebody has also given their two cents about this topic not too long ago. I have provided the link to his thread about this: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/thr...clerkships-before-crips.983152/#post-13661234

What I like about his post is that he, like you, was determined to get as many externships in before CRIPS. But after the whole process, he reflected that too many can be too much. He is now a first-year resident. It is an interesting read and all pre-podiatry students should do their research regarding this topic.

 

[Jessepod]

@Pod Zilla Yeah, the purpose of this thread is just for general Q and A about WesternU. I was just highlighting some of the things that I feel are the positives of coming to WesternU. I don't necessarily believe that "more is better." I just feel like the more time you spend with someone, the more of an opportunity you will have to get a residency. Some externships are only 3 weeks at other schools but WesternU has 4 weeks for every externship so you have plenty of time to really know if that residency is going to work for you, not necessarily with the program itself but the people in/running the program. Everyone wants a great experience for their 3 years of residency training so I feel the more time you have with someone the more you will understand if you will be genuinely happy somewhere. Also, you don't truly know if you will love a particular residency until you have seen multiple residencies. Just like you cannot know what cold is if you have never felt warmth, you can't truly know if you will be a right fit unless you can compare multiple residencies because you should not go somewhere just because someone says that it is a great program. What is good for one person may not be good for another. I agree with you that less is not necessarily more. However, I do know that if you have 7 externships, by the fourth one you know how to do well because you have been in that environment for four months and you know the expectations. So if you are strategic you can plan for the residencies that you REALLY want in your 5,6,7th rotation and you will already be sharp from your previous externships and you will also be fresh in their mind when it comes to interviews. I just feel like with any "tryout," having experience is invaluable, like an actor or trying out for a sports team (Michael Jordan getting cut from his high school varsity team). You get feedback from one tryout and you correct those things and do better the next time. So you are right, more is not necessarily better but if you work the system to your advantage you should be able to improve with every externship that you do. On the other hand, I don't necessarily see how having less externships puts you at more of an advantage than having more. To me, it just makes sense that you perform better in environments you are familiar with and having 7 externships allows you to become comfortable with how the system works. After all, you are working and understanding how hospitals work, and where do you do your residency? Hospitals. Yeah, maybe not every residency is gonna take a look at you but keep in mind its not just for a "tryout," it is part of your training and you learn a ton of information by being at these residencies even if you don't really "have a shot." Yet, going to these programs for a month takes you out of the peghole of just a GPA and a name on a piece of paper and makes you a real person to the residency director, which in my opinion gives you a shot irregardless of your GPA. Thanks for the response, I appreciate the discussion.

 

[goblu3]

As a pre-pod student I have recently been looking into schools and Western U is currently a top 3or4 choice right now(others Im considering are scholl, kent state, dmu - Im from the midwest). I have a few concerns as it is a newer program/ not as established but being new isn't necessarily a bad thing. A few questions I have are: What are the facilities like? Do you think the "groundbreaking curriculum" (quoted from their website) is any different than other schools, and if so, how? What is it like living in Pomona - cost of living especially?