Whether to apply to LECOM

[Kuba]

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So for some reason or other reading some threads on here has made me not include LECOM on my list of schools even though it is geographically good for me. Any LECOM students want to dispell the myths about poor clinical locations, poor location, bad administration? If anybody would also like to include how they are choosing schools to apply to, it would be appreciated. How do I know which schools I will like before I visit them for interviews? I seem to be picking schools out of a hat outside of the 4 or 5 I am sure of.

 

[HunterGatherer]

make a list of what is important to you in a medical school and then rank them in order of importance. If LECOM ranks high on your criteria it is worth a visit. Open house and students visits may help with the decision process before getting into the interview stage.For some people one or 2 categories are so important that it makes it easier to choose between schools.

class size
clinical affiliations
offering of preceptorship or clinical training before 3rd year
board pass rate
distance of clerkships from med school (will you need to find housing...again!)
fellowships and residencies offered by the school
PBl vs lecture
research (clinical or lab)
location
match list
diversity of faculty/students
cost
availability of fellowships
technology (STAN, lectures on mp3 or video,etc.)
mission statement of school
exam schedule
grading (pass/fail or pass/fail/honors or letter grades)
are student ranked (does school let you know ranking in percentiles or exact number)
standout faculty
stability of curriculum and amount of input students have in changing it
did you feel comfortable when visiting the school
the list can go on...

 

[scpod]

So for some reason or other reading some threads on here has made me not include LECOM on my list of schools even though it is geographically good for me. Any LECOM students want to dispell the myths about poor clinical locations, poor location, bad administration?

The people who are happy going to LECOM aren't going to go out of their way to give you guidance and comfort. They really don't care whether you have a bad opinion because you listened to the vocal minority. Go back and re-read those threads. There are just as many, or more, that claim that LECOM is a wonderful place to go. The difference is that most of them are fairly rational and are not making exaggerated claims. There are people that hate every school. LECOM may be the latest "bash me" school, but NYCOM, PCOM and even AZCOM have had people bash them as well. In most cases, though, it is very limited. The people that scream the loudest are not usually in the majority. If you want to know the truth, then go there yourself and see it first hand.

In choosing your school you need to look at those factors that are important to you. Remember that any person who gives you an opinion on this forum has a different set of criteria from your own. Develop a set of very specific questions and ask them. Think about your own learning style. Do you work better in small groups? Do you like sitting in lectures all day? How much do you like being told where to go and what to do? Would you rather make some of your own choices? Would you rather see mountains, plains or the ocean in your backyard? Are you willing to go an extra $50,000 in debt to go to one school over another? Do you like more frequent tests, or one big block with lots of them at the end of the semester? When you walk around the campus does it feel like "home?"

 

[Dr Trek 1]

I agree with all that has been said above.

You are doing yourself a disservice if you depend on SDN 100% for which school to attend. You have to actually VISIT the schools, take a tour, talk to students, meet faculty, etc. etc.

LECOM-Pa is an easy school to bash because they have a dress code and attendence policy. However, keep in mind they do have an independent curriculum (which everyone I have spoken to who has done it has absolutely loved it) where you only have to be on campus about one day a week. Also I am annoyed when people wear their sweat pants to classes so I was happy about the dress code.

I worked in admissions in undergrad. and the bottom line is that you have to find a school that fits you. By all means, visit LECOM (they have many open house days, check out their website) and see what you think. Also visit the other schools you are considering.

 

[Willh81]

I agree with all that has been said above.

Also I am annoyed when people wear their sweat pants to classes so I was happy about the dress code.

Why would that bother you?
It has nothing to do with you.

 

[Dr Trek 1]

Why would that bother you?
It has nothing to do with you.

I think it shows a lack of respect for the profession, but that's just my personal opinion. I'm just the type who likes to dress up.

 

[CatsandCradles]

So for some reason or other reading some threads on here has made me not include LECOM on my list of schools even though it is geographically good for me. Any LECOM students want to dispell the myths about poor clinical locations, poor location, bad administration? If anybody would also like to include how they are choosing schools to apply to, it would be appreciated. How do I know which schools I will like before I visit them for interviews? I seem to be picking schools out of a hat outside of the 4 or 5 I am sure of.

Hi there 🙂

Well, please bear in mind that on when people write threads on SDNs, sometimes we use it as a place to anonymously vent our frusteration out so that other folks in similar shoes can provide us feedback and critic.

So I would not rule out a school simply because there was a thread on SDN that was not in favor of the school. Every school has problems. Every school has weak points - and we as human beings tend to remember the bad things while we easily forget the good.

Allright, nuff of my ramblin. Here are the things I like about Lake Erie:

1) Low tuition prices! $23,000 sounds really nice
2) Rotations in Ohio
3) Rotations in Pittsburgh
4) It has a cafeteria
5) It's all in ONE building so you don't have to walk a lot
6) It has a dress code.

 

[Dr Trek 1]

Hi there 🙂

Well, please bear in mind that on when people write threads on SDNs, sometimes we use it as a place to anonymously vent our frusteration out so that other folks in similar shoes can provide us feedback and critic.

So I would not rule out a school simply because there was a thread on SDN that was not in favor of the school. Every school has problems. Every school has weak points - and we as human beings tend to remember the bad things while we easily forget the good.

Allright, nuff of my ramblin. Here are the things I like about Lake Erie:

1) Low tuition prices! $23,000 sounds really nice
2) Rotations in Ohio
3) Rotations in Pittsburgh
4) It has a cafeteria
5) It's all in ONE building so you don't have to walk a lot
6) It has a dress code.

I would add a few more:

7) Choice of curriculum: LDP, ISP, or PBL
8) Erie is a nice area- low crime and low low cost of living
9) You can do all your rotations in Erie if you wish
10) Prosected cadavers are used in anatomy

 

[CatsandCradles]

I would add a few more:

7) Choice of curriculum: LDP, ISP, or PBL
8) Erie is a nice area- low crime and low low cost of living
9) You can do all your rotations in Erie if you wish
10) Prosected cadavers are used in anatomy

Yeah the independent study thing! I think that's something really interesting. I wouldn't be able to do it - but I know some folks that would immediately jump at it.

 

[Dr Trek 1]

Yeah the independent study thing! I think that's something really interesting. I wouldn't be able to do it - but I know some folks that would immediately jump at it.

ISP at LECOM= the more typical med school experience where you don't go to class and study on your own without wasting time sitting in lecture. You get very detailed modules of what to learn and where to learn it from.

There's a reason why at LECOM-Erie, there is always a waiting list for people to join ISP who initially thought they'd be better off in LDP or PBL.

 

[ezal36]

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