Worth it to drive 2+ hours to open house at a DO school?

[HenryH]

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I'm considering attending a DO school's open house being held this Friday, but the school is an approximately 2 hour drive from where I live. Other than for the opportunity to physically check out the school and hear information from the school's representatives directly, is it really worth the drive to attend? Can it actually improve my chances of getting accepted or at least enable me to establish rapport with the admissions staff? Or is it more of a depersonalized talk where attendees sit in an auditorium, listen to a generalized presentation, and then take a brief group tour of the school?

 

[CardioPlus]

While I personally have never been to a medical school open house, I wouldn't travel 2+ hours to attend one. I don't think it will help you getting accepted to the school very much at all. It may increase your chances "slightly" of getting an interview if you meet someone high up on the admissions staff that may remember you if they are sorting through applications and had a positive experience with you, but even that is probably chance.

It may however be helpful though if say down the road you haven't heard from them and wanted to send them a letter of intent or an update on what you've been doing, then you could talk about the open house and how the school is a great fit, yada yada yada... If this is your top school you may want to endure the drive. Maybe someone else on here has experience with an open house and whether it was a complete waste of time or not. Good Luck!

 

[Bacchus]

Since I have a good idea what openhouse you're talking about... it will be a presentation in an auditorium, tour, and probably panel talk in that same auditorium.

 

[HenryH]

If you were thinking PCOM-GA, you're right. When you say "panel talk"... could you describe in more detail what this is? I'm thinking it's where faculty from the medical school take turns giving short speeches, but I'm not sure...

Should I just see about scheduling a private tour sometime, or do you think it's actually worth attending?

 

[Bacchus]

I was thinking PCOM-PA. I'm not sure exactly what's going on, but basing it off of my open house. The panel was with current students.

 

[kypreos]

If you were thinking PCOM-GA, you're right. When you say "panel talk"... could you describe in more detail what this is? I'm thinking it's where faculty from the medical school take turns giving short speeches, but I'm not sure...

Should I just see about scheduling a private tour sometime, or do you think it's actually worth attending?

I drove an hour and a half to PCOM's open house in philli. you should go its a fun day. Although its probobly not as informative as you would think as a large portion of the day was explaining the differences bw MD and DO and things of that nature. So some of the stuff they tell you you will probobly have already known but it is good to get your name out there and see what the school is like etc. See if you could go to school there. Learn new cool things like the 76ers practice there. I think you should go. I am glad I did.

 

[kypreos]

I was thinking PCOM-PA. I'm not sure exactly what's going on, but basing it off of my open house. The panel was with current students.

Yep and the panel was a few students who just finished first year. So I thought that it was pretty uninformative from a pre med's standpoint who already knows about the admissions process and that there are no differences. I was asking how well they were prepared for the boards and about residency placement and they werent there yet. But, I would still go.

 

[da Vincis World]

It's not very far....you'll probably learn something.

You should absolutely go.

 

[AMEHigh]

Yes, I think it would definitely be worth it. I drove several hours to a few DO open houses and I think it helped me out on interview day. I was able to learn a few things that I wasn't able to learn from the internet or on these forums. I also decided to decline a couple of interview invites after I got accepted to PCOM and had been to the other schools open houses and decided they weren't right for me and PCOM was indeed my top choice.

 

[HenryH]

Thanks for the input so far. Aside from getting first-hand exposure to the school's premises and the opportunity to ask students on the panel questions about admissions, are there any other significant advantages to going?

 

[Brocimus]

I think attending an open house gives you a lot of material for you secondary essays. You can go on about how you like the facilities, staff, students, whatever. I think you also get a better feel for the school in general, which will help you in making a decision down the road.

 

[ShyRem]

If you don't go, end up spending $$ to apply, spend $$ to interview, miss school due to the interview, and then find out you absolutely can't stand the school you're gonna be pissed. I'd go to the open house. 2 hours isn't far. It's a free opportunity to check out the place without the pressure of being an interviewee.

 

[MSUSpartan642]

I was thinking PCOM-PA. I'm not sure exactly what's going on, but basing it off of my open house. The panel was with current students.

Nice avatar switch, band wagon fan 😉

 

[kypreos]

If you don't go, end up spending $$ to apply, spend $$ to interview, miss school due to the interview, and then find out you absolutely can't stand the school you're gonna be pissed. I'd go to the open house. 2 hours isn't far. It's a free opportunity to check out the place without the pressure of being an interviewee.

absolutely. I visited PCOM and the school was beautiful, but after visiting a few schools If had multiple acceptances. I am not so sure pcom would be my first choice considering I really liked other schools as well. Plus the people at pcom were unbelievably nice. thats one thing I enjoyed about the school. How polite everyone was. go.

 

[Pet of the Week]

If you were thinking PCOM-GA, you're right. When you say "panel talk"... could you describe in more detail what this is? I'm thinking it's where faculty from the medical school take turns giving short speeches, but I'm not sure...

Should I just see about scheduling a private tour sometime, or do you think it's actually worth attending?

When is this open house? I'd love to go. PCOM-GA a 4 hour drive for me, but I definitely think it would be worth it. You can't really learn much from a school's website.

 

[SoCar]

i'll be there!

 

[dani042]

If you don't go, end up spending $$ to apply, spend $$ to interview, miss school due to the interview, and then find out you absolutely can't stand the school you're gonna be pissed. I'd go to the open house. 2 hours isn't far. It's a free opportunity to check out the place without the pressure of being an interviewee.

👍

 

[teacherman84]

Thanks for the input so far. Aside from getting first-hand exposure to the school's premises and the opportunity to ask students on the panel questions about admissions, are there any other significant advantages to going?

I would go...

It may have been a coincidence but I hadnt heard a thing from them but set up a tour when I was in town for a wedding. I met with Trena Gologan and had a tour and in less than a week I had an interview.

I think showing a genuine interest is always a good thing...I interviewed a few weeks after my visit and got accepted at PCOM-GA last week.

 

[stlpv07]

I visited KCOM over my fall break and was given a great tour!
We tagged along with some applicants who were there for their interview and we also got to go into an anatomy lab with the 1st years. Tour was defiantly worth my drive there!

1st post on SDN!
😀

 

[HenryH]

I would go...

It may have been a coincidence but I hadnt heard a thing from them but set up a tour when I was in town for a wedding. I met with Trena Gologan and had a tour and in less than a week I had an interview.

I think showing a genuine interest is always a good thing...I interviewed a few weeks after my visit and got accepted at PCOM-GA last week.

That's great! In fact, now I'm wondering if it would be a better idea for me to just schedule a private, 1-on-1 tour sometime instead of being just another face in a big group...

 

[teacherman84]

That's great! In fact, now I'm wondering if it would be a better idea for me to just schedule a private, 1-on-1 tour sometime instead of being just another face in a big group...

Yeah, maybe it would be better but I didnt really see much during my visit. The tour was good, better than the one given by biomed students on my interview day, but the whole visit lasted maybe 45 minutes and I didnt get to talk to students or faculty...if youre driving 2+ hours why not get some more time and info out of it. It seems like the open house would be a good idea...just try to get some face time with Trena or others and follow up with some good emails to show some genuine interest.

 

[redrok]

I wouldn't go to an open house - and I never did!

What I did do was just go to the school when nothing else is going on (no interviews that day, or open houses etc). Call and schedule a tour and tell them you have interest in the school and want to visit in person.

That way you usually get a one-on-one tour and get to meet faculty members one-on-one and others who will be more likely to remember your interest in the school.

You can mention who you met and your impressions of the school on your secondary - Once again I think this is much more personal and will be more impressive to the people who read your app.

Just my opinion, but think about all the big group activities you have ever been to and how many people you remember (especially remember by name).