Worried About WVSOM Cost

[coconutt]

Can any WVSOM graduates out there talk about their experience repaying loans after finishing med school/residency?

I am really thinking about joining the NAVY Medical Corps for 3 years and would love to talk to someone who was a part of this program and their thoughts, ie, hours works weekly, placement, overall impression of the program...

Thank you

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[PunkmedGirl]

Check out the Osteo Forum. I know in the Osteo Class Thread for WVSOM, someone mentioned that if you spend a year after you second year of medical school TAing, then your 3rd and 4th years would be tuition free. That seems like a solid benefit if that's truly the case.

 

[Biology101]

Check out the Osteo Forum. I know in the Osteo Class Thread for WVSOM, someone mentioned that if you spend a year after you second year of medical school TAing, then your 3rd and 4th years would be tuition free. That seems like a solid benefit if that's truly the case.

Hey,

For the student friendly atmosphere...and the amazing facilities....i think the tuition is worth it.

I am going there (oos)!

 

[actnow]

Hey,

For the student friendly atmosphere...and the amazing facilities....i think the tuition is worth it.

I am going there (oos)!

Hi Bio

May I ask why you turned down LECOM-e for WVSOM? And are you getting any kind of assistance for WVSOM tuition? I personally think WVSOM is amazing but feel if I was also accepted to LECOM-e the difference in cost would make me side with LECOM.



Side note,

About the TA position after second year, I called about that and they could not guarantee that that will still be available in the coming years. WVSOM stated at my interview that the TA spots are very competitive to get.

 

[Biology101]

Hi Bio

May I ask why you turned down LECOM-e for WVSOM? And are you getting any kind of assistance for WVSOM tuition? I personally think WVSOM is amazing but feel if I was also accepted to LECOM-e the difference in cost would make me side with LECOM.



Side note,

About the TA position after second year, I called about that and they could not guarantee that that will still be available in the coming years. WVSOM stated at my interview that the TA spots are very competitive to get.

Lecom was nice...but I would use the world....STERILE....to describe it. It had the lecture halls, anatomy lab, an amazing workout facility, and library, however (in my opinion) it had little else. They have strict policies against eating/drinking, dress code, and attendance. I could certainly live with these things, if I wasn't accepted somewhere better, but look at WVSOM in comparison....

-No strict policy on eating/drinking
-No dress code
-Attendance ok, but no strict seating chart
-Personilized lecture area (I LOVED THAT)
-Campus (compared to a single building) devoted to ONLY the DO program (Lecom has several programs)
-Amazing area (historic, scenic, and accessible, I64)
-Friendly and welcoming atmosphere
-Provided a computer (even though tuition recently went down a bit)
-Decent Gym (ok, not as good as Lecom, but totally usable)
-Amazing Clinical building
-Pick your rotations 4th year (Lecom requires you to go back for periodic tests during rotations)
-Walmart (almost next door, thats a plus to me)

So in summary, Lecom has the basics, but WVSOM has the extras (like the bigger and better staff, clinic building, anatomy building, and the huge campus) that make me ok with having more debt. Yes the tuition is alot more, but the lower cost of living in west virginia makes it more feasable, also to have a enjoyable medical education can be the difference between a good 4 years and a intolerable one.


Just my thoughts

P.s. Thanks for the info about the TA.

 

[MalachiConstant]

There's always this to consider:

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=702760

MC

 

[missDO]

There's always this to consider:

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=702760

MC

IMO...this situation is an outlier. An incredibly dramatized actuality by means of--what appears to be--a frivolous spender with little to no frugality who got in way over her head due to a lack of maturity/(fairly simple, though not easy, but absolutely doable) financial planning. I know I sound harsh...but the media tends to play up any "bad situation" and make it appear ten-fold worse. This is atypical, and when you read into it more and about this specific physician (read the threads in the pre-allo or osteo forums--some folks did their research there), you realize there was much more behind this than an investment in high-cost education. She went to a Caribbean school--which are each generally on the "cheaper" end of the tuition scale. There's clearly more to the story than the media portrays to the impressionable public eye. Don't let the tuition sway you entirely. I totally understand your dilemma--LECOM and WVSOM have a VAST difference in price...I don't blame you for your hesitance and indecisiveness. If I were in your shoes, I'd have a hell of a time deciding--and I love WVSOM for all of the reasons Biology101 mentioned above, and more. Money cannot be ignored as a factor. Just keep in mind, people get through it. TONS. If WVSOM is where your heart is and you know you'll regret the decision to go elsewhere, then you can put your heart and soul into making it financially feasible...and it will be. Tough, but it will be doable. Frugality is key! Good luck 🙂

 

[MalachiConstant]

I agree that particular example is probably not typical, but it should make you think. At WVSOM oos tuition is about 50 grand. Unless you're getting help from elsewhere, you'll need to borrow that x4 years plus about another 15 grand per year to live on, for a grand total of $260,000. Assuming 10 year repayment at an interest rate of 6.8%, which is generous if a portion of those loans are private, total repayment is nearly $360,000, so you're looking at 100 grand in interest alone.

Monthly payments will run $2992.09. That's probably not so bad if you go into ortho or gas, but what if third year you find out you just absolutely love pediatrics? The surveys I've seen show peds salaries at around 175K 5 years out of residency, and of course the government will take their third. So subtract 36 large a year in loan payments from your take home and you end up with around $87,000 a year to live on. Now to me, this is still a pretty good living, but I fear a lot of people will realize that this level of compensation simply doesn't justify the hassle of training for a minimum of 11 years.

MC

 

[teacherman84]

I am really thinking about joining the NAVY Medical Corps for 3 years and would love to talk to someone who was a part of this program and their thoughts, ie, hours works weekly, placement, overall impression of the program...

Thank you

To address your second question...make sure to read the HPSP FAQ in the military medicine forum before considering the military route. There are a lot of aspects about the military scholarships that no recruiter will tell you that people on the forum are just waiting to tell you.

Free med school with money to live on sounds like a sweet deal, but know all the Cons that come with it and please dont do it just for the money...many before you have and regret their decision.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/forumdisplay.php?f=72

 

[The Wild Wind]

I think if you don't mind about oos then WVSOM is great school. I was initially skeptical about the rural settings with extremely high tuition before I go there. But once I saw the campus and met with the faculties and students it really felt like a home. And the students seems like doing okay with the oos tuition there. But you have to make an effort to minimize the expense as much as possible, otherwise you will end up in financial trouble. I have not met with the WVSOM graduates with oos tuition, so I don't know how are they paying back the loans but I am sure there are many people with oos tuition doing okay. For the military, think carefully and do detailed research before you make any kind of decision. And if you're okay with it then that's good because you don't have to worry too much about financial things. But if you're just looking for money aid, then it's not wise to join the military. Military is very good option for those who are interested in it.

 

[175961]

To address your second question...make sure to read the HPSP FAQ in the military medicine forum before considering the military route. There are a lot of aspects about the military scholarships that no recruiter will tell you that people on the forum are just waiting to tell you.

Free med school with money to live on sounds like a sweet deal, but know all the Cons that come with it and please dont do it just for the money...many before you have and regret their decision.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/forumdisplay.php?f=72

i've been pouring over the milmed area of SDN lately (since I'm on the fence about HPSP and trying to decide) and let me tell you, the majority (probably more than that even) will only tell you the cons, will bash milmed and tell you how horrible it will be if you do. the only pro to the deal isnt just money to live on as the quoted post says.
I'm not trying to argue with teacherman in any way, all I'm saying is you will probably want to find more sources than just the SDN milmed because of the reasons mentioned above. surely of the thousands that have gone through it, all havent hated their lives and felt like slitting their wrists (as the majority that post in the those threads make it sound)

 

[FutureCTDoc]

WVSOM is a great school that turns out a lot of PCPs. However being an FP with 200K+ of debt is tough. For an OOS student I'd recommend LECOM at 28,000 plus living expenses that works out to roughly 80,000 fewer dollars in tuition. WVSOM is 50K plus cost of living. Is the slightly nicer vibe at WVSOM worth an additional 80K plus interest? Probably not, especially when there is a significant chance of going into primary care with its notoriously low reimbursement.

 

[MrBeauregard]

WVSOM is a great school that turns out a lot of PCPs. However being an FP with 200K+ of debt is tough. For an OOS student I'd recommend LECOM at 28,000 plus living expenses that works out to roughly 80,000 fewer dollars in tuition. WVSOM is 50K plus cost of living. Is the slightly nicer vibe at WVSOM worth an additional 80K plus interest? Probably not, especially when there is a significant chance of going into primary care with its notoriously low reimbursement.

Significant chance of going into primary care? Just because one graduates from WVSOM? Not quite, bud. Any medical school, any residency; that's how it is all over the country.

 

[FutureCTDoc]

Significant chance of going into primary care? Just because one graduates from WVSOM? Not quite, bud. Any medical school, any residency; that's how it is all over the country.

The school graduates 70% of its students into primary care, that is what WVSOM is known for. If you are applying there, you likely have an interest in being a PCP. Hence I made that comment. You can go into any specialty you want out of anywhere. However WVSOM largely self-selects for primary care. Also LECOM is a great school at 60% of the cost. It's a simple money issue. Go where it's cheapest so you won't have issues monetarily driving your decisions.

 

[MrBeauregard]

Preliminary Year PM&R Good Samaritan Hospital Cincinnati, OH The Ohio State University Columbus, OH
Anesthesiology West Virginia University Morgantown, WV
Anesthesiology University of Kentucky Lexington, KY
Diagnostic Radiology OUCOM/Grandview Hospital Dayton, OH
EM/IM Pontiac Osteopathic Hospital Pontiac, MI
Emergency Medicine Penn State Hershey Medical Center Hershey, PA
Emergency Medicine St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center Toledo, OH
Emergency Medicine UNECOM/Kent Memorial Hospital Warwick, RI
Emergency Medicine CAMC Charleston, WV
Emergency Medicine Thomas Jefferson Philadelphia, PA
Emergency Medicine Southern Ohio Medical Center Portsmouth, OH
Emergency Medicine Ohio Valley Medical Center Wheeling, WV
Emergency Medicine Charleston Area Medical Center Charleston, WV
Emergency Medicine Oklahoma State University Tulsa, OK
Emergency Medicine St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center Toledo, OH
Emergency Medicine Lehigh Valley Health System Allentown, PA
Family Medicine Largo Medical Center Largo, FL
Family Medicine United Hospital Center Clarksburg, WV
Family Medicine OSU-Tulsa Tulsa, OK
Family Medicine VCOM/Riverside Regional Medical Center Newport News, VA
Family Medicine University of Wisconsin-Fox Valley Appleton, WI
Family Medicine CMC-Northeast Medical Center Cabarrus, NC
Family Medicine Greenbrier Valley Medical Center Ronceverte, WV
Family Medicine Greenbrier Valley Medical Center Ronceverte, WV
Family Medicine University of Wisconsin Wausau, WI
Family Medicine University of Wisconsin Wausau, WI
Family Medicine Shenadoah Family Practice Front Royal, VA
Family Medicine Our Lady of Bellfonte Hospital Ashland, KY
Family Medicine Alaska Family Med- Providence Hospital Alaska
Family Medicine United Hospital Center Clarksburg, WV
Family Medicine Washington Hospital Washington, PA
Family Medicine Washington Hospital Washington, PA
Family Medicine DMUCOM University of Wisconsin SMPH Madison, WI
Family Medicine Carilion-Roanoke Memorial Hospital Roanoke, VA
Family Medicine CAMC Charleston, WV
Family Medicine Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center Richmond, VA
Family Medicine Heart of Lancaster Regional Medical Center Lititz, PA
Family Medicine United Hospital Center Clarksburg, WV
Family Medicine/ Emergency Medicine Frankford Hospital Philadelphia, PA
Family Medicine/ OMM Ohio University Athen, OH
General Surgery National Naval Medical Center Bethesda, MD
General Surgery St. John's Hospital NY
General Surgery Fairview Hospital Cleveland, OH
General Surgery PCOM/Pinnacle Health Harrisburg, PA
General Surgery University of Oklahoma Tulsa, OK
General Surgery St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center Toledo, OH
General Surgery SAMMC Wilford Hall/Brooke Army Medical Center San Antonio, TX
General Surgery Grandview Hospital Dayton, OH
Inegrated Family Medicine/NMM PCSOM/Pikeville Medical Center Pikeville, KY
Internal Medicine Camden Clark Parkersburg, WV
Internal Medicine Carilion-Roanoke Memorial Hospital Roanoke, VA
Internal Medicine CAMC Charleston, WV
Internal Medicine West Virginia Univsersity Morgantown, WV
Internal Medicine UPMC Mercy Pittsburgh, PA
Internal Medicine Norton Community Hospital Norton, VA
Internal Medicine OVMC Wheeling, WV
Internal Medicine Northside Hospital St. Petersburg, FL
Internal Medicine Camden Clark Parkersburg, WV
Internal Medicine East Tennesee State Johnson City, TN
Internal Medicine Jersey Shore University Medical Center Neptune, NJ
Internal Medicine Camden Clark Parkersburg, WV
Internal Medicine Ohio Valley Medical Center Wheeling, WV
Internal Medicine Memorial Hospital York, PA
Internal Medicine Millcreek Community Hospital Erie, PA
Internal Medicine University Hospitals Richmond Heights, OH
Neurology Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center Richmond, VA
OB/Gyn Henry Ford Health System Wyandott, MI
OB/Gyn Grandview Hospital Dayton, OH
OB/Gyn St. John and Trinity New York
OB/Gyn St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center Toledo, OH
OB/Gyn Wyckoff Heights Medical Center Brooklyn, NY
Orthopedic Surgery LECOM/Millcreek Hospital Erie, PA
Orthopedic Surgery St. Vincent Mercy Medical Center Toledo, OH
Orthopedic Surgery Brooke Army Medical Hospital San Antonio, TX
Orthopedic Surgery St. Joseph's Health Center Warren, OH
Orthopedic Surgery Cuyahoga Falls General Hospital Cuyahoga, OH
Pediatrics CAMC Women's and Children's Hospital Charleston, WV
Pediatrics CAMC Charleston, WV
Pediatrics Akron Children's Hospital Akron, OH
Pediatrics University of Louisville Kosair's Childrens Hospital Louisville, KY
Pediatrics West Virginia University Morgantown, WV
Pediatrics Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center Richmond, VA
Pediatrics CAMC- Women and Children's Charleston, WV
Pediatrics Cabell Huntington Hospital Huntington, WV
Pediatrics East Carolina University Greenville, NC
Preliminary Neurology NY Hospital Medical Center Queens, NY Stony Brook Teaching Hospital NY
Psychiatry Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center Richmond, VA
Psychiatry Georgetown University Hospital Washington, DC
Traditional Internship Montgomery Regional Hospital Blacksburg, VA
Traditional Internship San Antonio, TX
Traditional Internship Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, VA
Traditional Internship Northside Hospital St. Petersburg, FL
Traditional Internship Northside Hospital and Heart Institute St. Petersburg, FL
Traditional Internship Bluefield Regional Medical Center Bluefield, WV
Traditional Internship Maimonides Medical Center Brooklyn, NY
Traditional Internship CAMC Charleston, WV
Traditional Internship/Family Medicine West Virginia Univsersity-Eastern Division Harpers Ferry, WV
Urological Surgery CAMC Charleston, WV

I've copied the 2009 match list for WVSOM above. I'm not sure where you're getting your statistics from, but this doesn't look like 70% FP to me. And you think that just because someone is applying to WVSOM means they likely have an interest in being a PCP? That's false, too. WVSOM's mission statement is as follows:

"The mission of the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (WVSOM) is to educate students from diverse backgrounds as lifelong learners in osteopathic medicine and other complementary health related programs; to advance scientific knowledge through academic, clinical and basic science research; and to promote patient-centered, evidence based medicine. WVSOM is dedicated to serve, first and foremost, the state of West Virginia and the special health care needs of its residents emphasizing primary care in rural areas. WVSOM prepares its osteopathic medical students to enter any specialty and to practice in any location."

When I interviewed there, the mission was explained to me by the Dean as such: the school prepares us students not specifically to be PCPs, but it gives us the knowledge and confidence to practice in a rural area. They do not condition and cultivate us to be PCPs in any way, shape or form. They give us the tools to practice in areas typically devoid of many other doctors, mainly including specialists. We must be comfortable handling all different types of situations, hence the need for a vast amount of knowledge and myriad of skills.

I was asked during my interview if I thought I wanted to specialize. I said that, yes, I wanted to be a surgeon and have wanted to be since I was young. They asked me many questions and seemed extremely receptive to this idea. A large majority of my class does NOT want to do FP in a rural area.

 

[missDO]

The school graduates 70% of its students into primary care, that is what WVSOM is known for. If you are applying there, you likely have an interest in being a PCP. Hence I made that comment. You can go into any specialty you want out of anywhere. However WVSOM largely self-selects for primary care. Also LECOM is a great school at 60% of the cost. It's a simple money issue. Go where it's cheapest so you won't have issues monetarily driving your decisions.

I agree to an extent; however, that statement is somewhat contradictory in a sense--go where it's cheapest...so that money will not be a factor in your decisions. By deciding on the cheaper school you are already letting money guide your choices. Obviously, don't have a flagrant outlook toward spending...but don't pick a school primarily based upon tuition. Not to mention, cost of living in WV is VERY low...over the course of your loan repayment, you will most likely not have to concern yourself with an unmanageable and high mortgage (that is, if you can handle/want to remain in WV for a bit of time). I cannot disagree, though, that the price difference is dramatically tempting and influential. It is probably the "wiser" decision to choose LECOM. Unless you are aching in your heart over the idea of passing on WVSOM, it is probably (no, definitely) a better decision to attend the (vastly) less expensive school in the long run. Any resident or attending or established physician would almost always agree with that statement. Especially if you have these schools on fairly equal grounds. I didn't have to make this choice and I am kind of thankful for that outcome--I was only accepted at WVSOM. I will say I would've had quite a difficult time deciding had I had additional options. It's a blessing yet a burden.

 

[FutureCTDoc]

MrBeauregard I said primary care which includes FP, IM, OB/GYN, EM, Peds and some consider Gen surg and traditional rotating internships as primary care all though that is a bit more iffy. Looking through the match list there were 67 in Primary care, 31 in Non-primary care including general surgery and traditional rotating internships. 8 were in general surgery and 9 in traditional rotating internships. 67 out of 98 or 68% went into primary care by its most stringent definition. Including traditional rotating internships and gen surg that is 84/98 or 86% in primary care. FP isn't the only primary care physician and by the most stringent standard over two thirds of the class goes into primary care residencies. That rate is significantly higher than most US allopathic or osteopathic colleges of medicine. At NSU-COM the ratio is 50-50 and the national average is 60-40 in favor of specialty care. To quote the mission statement for WVSOM "WVSOM is dedicated to serve, first and foremost, the state of West Virginia and the special health care needs of its residents emphasizing primary care in rural areas."

 

[FutureCTDoc]

I agree to an extent; however, that statement is somewhat contradictory in a sense--go where it's cheapest...so that money will not be a factor in your decisions. By deciding on the cheaper school you are already letting money guide your choices. Obviously, don't have a flagrant outlook toward spending...but don't pick a school primarily based upon tuition. Not to mention, cost of living in WV is VERY low...over the course of your loan repayment, you will most likely not have to concern yourself with an unmanageable and high mortgage (that is, if you can handle/want to remain in WV for a bit of time). I cannot disagree, though, that the price difference is dramatically tempting and influential. It is probably the "wiser" decision to choose LECOM. Unless you are aching in your heart over the idea of passing on WVSOM, it is probably (no, definitely) a better decision to attend the (vastly) less expensive school in the long run. Any resident or attending or established physician would almost always agree with that statement. Especially if you have these schools on fairly equal grounds. I didn't have to make this choice and I am kind of thankful for that outcome--I was only accepted at WVSOM. I will say I would've had quite a difficult time deciding had I had additional options. It's a blessing yet a burden.

I recognize the somewhat contradictory nature of the previous statement. However I was referring to the most latitude to choose a specialty based on passion as opposed to remuneration. While WV is an inexpensive state, Erie has a cost of living index score of 75 with 100 being the natioinal norm, Lewisburg's cost of living is a 90. That means Erie is actually less expensive than Lewisburg.

 

[PunkmedGirl]

MrBeauregard I said primary care which includes FP, IM, OB/GYN, EM, Peds and some consider Gen surg and traditional rotating internships as primary care all though that is a bit more iffy. Looking through the match list there were 67 in Primary care, 31 in Non-primary care including general surgery and traditional rotating internships. 8 were in general surgery and 9 in traditional rotating internships. 67 out of 98 or 68% went into primary care by its most stringent definition. Including traditional rotating internships and gen surg that is 84/98 or 86% in primary care. FP isn't the only primary care physician and by the most stringent standard over two thirds of the class goes into primary care residencies. That rate is significantly higher than most US allopathic or osteopathic colleges of medicine. At NSU-COM the ratio is 50-50 and the national average is 60-40 in favor of specialty care. To quote the mission statement for WVSOM "WVSOM is dedicated to serve, first and foremost, the state of West Virginia and the special health care needs of its residents emphasizing primary care in rural areas."

Primary care is FP, OB/GYN, Peds, and IM. EM, GS, and TR(internship) are not primary care so please stop trying to twist it into something its not or more specifically into something you don't know about.

 

[J1515]

Primary care is FP, OB/GYN, Peds, and IM. EM, GS, and TR(internship) are not primary care so please stop trying to twist it into something its not or more specifically into something you don't know about.

Yup. Primary care doesn't include EM and definitely doesn't include surgery.

 

[FutureCTDoc]

Primary care is FP, OB/GYN, Peds, and IM. EM, GS, and TR(internship) are not primary care so please stop trying to twist it into something its not or more specifically into something you don't know about.

Even if we exclude EM, Gen surg and TRI the majority 58% go into primary care. That's almost 20% above the national average. The reality is that most students will go into primary care no matter how you want to define it. For what it's worth, most people consider emergency medicine to be a part of primary care. That's because for every true "emergency" there are ten more runny noses, so while EM is not designed to be primary care, in reality it is. To the OP WVSOM graduates tend to go into primary care at a rate above the national average. That is something to consider when choosing schools.

 

[PunkmedGirl]

Even if we exclude EM, Gen surg and TRI the majority 58% go into primary care. That's almost 20% above the national average. The reality is that most students will go into primary care no matter how you want to define it. For what it's worth, most people consider emergency medicine to be a part of primary care. That's because for every true "emergency" there are ten more runny noses, so while EM is not designed to be primary care, in reality it is. To the OP WVSOM graduates tend to go into primary care at a rate above the national average. That is something to consider when choosing schools.

So WHAT?? Have you looked at all medical school matchlists and determined that majority of WVSOM students go into primary care? If not PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD stop spreading ridiculous posts about ones career fate because they choose to go to WVSOM. Why is it such a big deal if someone goes into PC or not?? It's just as highly respected as going into some uber competitive field.

PS. I'm not shouting...its these damn nails combined with me typing in the dark.

 

[FutureCTDoc]

So WHAT?? Have you looked at all medical school matchlists and determined that majority of WVSOM students go into primary care? If not PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD stop spreading ridiculous posts about ones career fate because they choose to go to WVSOM. Why is it such a big deal if someone goes into PC or not?? It's just as highly respected as going into some uber competitive field.

PS. I'm not shouting...its these damn nails combined with me typing in the dark.

Actually I did tabulate it in a previous post. The reason I mention it is the OP is concerned about being an OOS and cost. It is more difficult to pay off the debt in Primary care as opposed to some of the higher paying specialties (not all specialties pay well). Primary care physicians will make approximately 150,000 a year assuming a 200K loan at 8% interest, would require $1700 a month or 20,000 a year. That is a significant amount of money even with the deductions you can take. It is important that the OP consider this when choosing any school as finances can force career decisions.

 

[PunkmedGirl]

Actually I did tabulate it in a previous post. The reason I mention it is the OP is concerned about being an OOS and cost. It is more difficult to pay off the debt in Primary care as opposed to some of the higher paying specialties (not all specialties pay well). Primary care physicians will make approximately 150,000 a year assuming a 200K loan at 8% interest, would require $1700 a month or 20,000 a year. That is a significant amount of money even with the deductions you can take. It is important that the OP consider this when choosing any school as finances can force career decisions.

Technically, its actually easier to pay off student loans when choosing primary care versus any other medical field because you have various different types of programs that are willing to help you pay off your loans, but then again that all depends on your priorities.

 

[teacherman84]

i've been pouring over the milmed area of SDN lately (since I'm on the fence about HPSP and trying to decide) and let me tell you, the majority (probably more than that even) will only tell you the cons, will bash milmed and tell you how horrible it will be if you do. the only pro to the deal isnt just money to live on as the quoted post says.
I'm not trying to argue with teacherman in any way, all I'm saying is you will probably want to find more sources than just the SDN milmed because of the reasons mentioned above. surely of the thousands that have gone through it, all havent hated their lives and felt like slitting their wrists (as the majority that post in the those threads make it sound)

I didnt mean to imply money was the only pro and I agree that most of the people on SDN are negative about milimed...but all of their Cons are valid and should be known by anyone even thinking about military.

That being said, I am doing AF HPSP and decided to take the scholarship after reading about cons for year. I am from 3 generations of AF on both sides, my mom works in military medicine, and I live in a military town...I know countless AF docs and still had to think long and hard before accepting the scholarship. Again...all the cons are very real and should be made known. Yes there are more pros than the $ but I was just pointing out that it shouldnt be your only pro.

 

[missDO]

I recognize the somewhat contradictory nature of the previous statement. However I was referring to the most latitude to choose a specialty based on passion as opposed to remuneration. While WV is an inexpensive state, Erie has a cost of living index score of 75 with 100 being the natioinal norm, Lewisburg's cost of living is a 90. That means Erie is actually less expensive than Lewisburg.

Like I said, LECOM is most certainly the "wiser" choice, due to the overall lesser loan amounts required to cover tuition and fees and cost of living. However, that doesn't negate the fact that WV is far lower than most other medical school communities in the cost of living category. It may be at a 90, but it is still below national average and far below (most likely) the vast majority of other medical schools. While at Erie you get the best of both low-cost worlds, I wanted to be sure the OP kept in mind the low living costs in the state of WV. That will certainly make a significant difference in the loan amounts required to attend at ie CCOM vs a school with such a low COL. Just something to consider.