Why did I chose DMU over UHS?

[PainMan]

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Ok you didnt ask, but here it is anyway....
1. Spoke with the dean at DMU who was quite impressive on his CV and in person. I was being "pitched" by the marketing director at UHS.
2. Reviewed the presidents at each school. I wholeheartedly believe PD's know who is running the schools. Sorry UHS but your pres freaks me out.
3. The curriculum appears to be stable at DMU, not to say it is better than UHS but it seems to work. The UHS Genesis curriculum seems impressive, but it seems to have caused some riff among the faculty. It is still in flux and not proven by COMLEX I yet.
4. UHS was more impressive for clinical rotations with a great chance to stay in K.C. and receive good rotations. I will probably have to leave Des Moines, but I would like to go to a MI or OH teriary Osteopathic center anyway. So this was a wash.
5. The seating for DMU first years is not impressive, but I will manage. The UHS seating is awesome, better than any school I visited including State U. (ok this one is for UHS)
6. The cost of housing is equitable, but in Des Moines I can live within walking distance and feel safe at all hours.
7. UHS will break ground for a new science building in the only parking lot they have. And since you have to drive to school......plus I know what it is like to have construction on campus as I did my last semester of undergrad. It sucks.
8. Computers, Library, study rooms seem the same, but the DMU anatomy lab less stinky and larger than UHS. And it is on the second floor with huge windows at DMU a MAJOR plus. The UHS lab is in the basement with no windows.
9. Tuition is less at DMU.
10. DMU has an unimpressive OMM lab, but a great reputation. UHS has an impressive OMM lab, but unsure of the teaching.

If I was single UHS might have won. KC is decent city for sports and EC's but Im not, and plan to study a lot. Also I think I will win more 5k races in Iowa than in KC which I know has some fast local runners :wink: .

If you feel I was wrong in any view....deal 😛

 

[DOcjoshua]

I interviewed a couple of weeks ago at DMU and they were in the midst of taking a vote to restructure the MS2 curriculum. The class of 2006 would be the flagship class of this new curricular style. They seem to be pushing towards a PBL 2nd year and away from the current systems approach. I have been accepted there and that is definitely a concern of mine. They don't currently have many classes that utilize the PBL format and the couple that they had were severely criticized by the students. I was assured, however, by the head of the PBL taskforce that the kinks would by minimal and he was very enthusiastic about the impending changes. He felt that the vote would pass. I don't know if this aids in your choice but I thought that it might be useful information to you.

 

[Popoy]

Just a quick comment before I get back to studying.....

Yes, the second year curriculum is under severe scrutiny. Us, Class of 2005, may be the flagship starting next year. We did have an option for a Biochem adjunct PBL to the Biochem lecture course. The proposed curriculum change is NOT just PBL.... it is also systems and with integrated lectures (not so much as it would be if it was a full blown lecture course) plus more case studies per system.

Our voices are being heard about the matter.... but we'll see whether or not they'll act on it.

So if you're concern about not being systems based.... then concern yourself no more. It is systems based with an incorporation of case studies.... which according to them is conducive to performing well on the boards and out in practice. If I remember correctly they shouldn't have told you that it was just "PBL" but rather a "case based-systems." Many students criticized because not everyone knows the exact facts behind the proposed changes....

I'm glad you choose DMU.... I don't regret for one moment that I'm here. Good luck and congratulations. 😎