WVSOM or COMP/Western?

[Delphine]

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Hello everyone.
I am trying to make a choice.

I have been reading quite a lot of SDN lately trying to make my choice between these two schools. Both of which turn out excellent doctors and to which I am very grateful to be accepted.

I just read a new terrible review of Western.

From what I have read, I have deduced that WV has the better first two years and then has complications with their 3rd and 4th years?? (any thoughts?)
My interview there was so pleasant that I left feeling like I had just come out of a spa 🙂. The people were SO nice.

Western was my top choice upon looking at the website and reading about their mission and even my interview there was lovely...I believe that Western has stronger 3rd and 4th years? But the last review I read really turned me off.

I am curious of what your opinions between these two schools. I like to have teachers who are good at what they do and care about their students.
I dont want to be spoon fed, but at the same time I want teachers whom I can count on.

(I have searched quite a deal and if I have not found info that is here...a thread comparing the two schools... please post a link. I have read the pros/cons thread and found that helpful.)

Location is not part of my choice. As far as I can tell one can audition rotation anywhere in the US and end up with a residency there. My focus is on education.
I also realize from reading that any opinion that is given here is only going to be through experience, and most students likely have only experienced one school. Yet perhaps some have found friends from other schools and compared and contrasted? Or just have info they want to share.

Tuition total(living and fees) is about the same between these two schools as the cost of living in SoCal is high, whereas WV is low.

I would appreciate any two cents - silly or serious, as I am in total indecision- just looking for a perspective which is not my own.

TY

 

[DocDude7]

Ty,
I am currently a student here at WVSOM and although I can't speak about Western, I can inform you about WVSOM. Every school has problems or things that aren't the best and always need improvement. However, I would say that our 3rd and 4th year rotations really don't have problems that do not occur everywhere else. Of course that opinion varies from person to person due to what they want and where they want to go. So the foundation and structure of our 3rd and 4th year is quite promising. It is up to the student if things run smoothly or not and if things happen not to go well, our school is there to back you all the way.
Other than that, I would say to go with your gut instinct and how you felt at each interview. Most people are happy with their decisions when they do that instead of over investigating everything. hope this helps and good luck with your decision.

 

[Dr Simplicity]

Hello everyone.
I am trying to make a choice.

I have been reading quite a lot of SDN lately trying to make my choice between these two schools. Both of which turn out excellent doctors and to which I am very grateful to be accepted.

I just read a new terrible review of Western.

From what I have read, I have deduced that WV has the better first two years and then has complications with their 3rd and 4th years?? (any thoughts?)
My interview there was so pleasant that I left feeling like I had just come out of a spa 🙂. The people were SO nice.

Western was my top choice upon looking at the website and reading about their mission and even my interview there was lovely...I believe that Western has stronger 3rd and 4th years? But the last review I read really turned me off.

I am curious of what your opinions between these two schools. I like to have teachers who are good at what they do and care about their students.
I dont want to be spoon fed, but at the same time I want teachers whom I can count on.

(I have searched quite a deal and if I have not found info that is here...a thread comparing the two schools... please post a link. I have read the pros/cons thread and found that helpful.)

Location is not part of my choice. As far as I can tell one can audition rotation anywhere in the US and end up with a residency there. My focus is on education.
I also realize from reading that any opinion that is given here is only going to be through experience, and most students likely have only experienced one school. Yet perhaps some have found friends from other schools and compared and contrasted? Or just have info they want to share.

Tuition total(living and fees) is about the same between these two schools as the cost of living in SoCal is high, whereas WV is low.

I would appreciate any two cents - silly or serious, as I am in total indecision- just looking for a perspective which is not my own.

TY

I'm in a similiar situation since I'm deciding between UMDNJ vs Western. The last review also turned me off a bit too and now I'm strongly leaning towards UMDNJ.

I can say this about the two schools - Western has the better location, better weather, solid rotations, good match list, and I loved the student body. While I did not apply to WVSOM, I have heard from friends how wornderful WVSOM is and that it really has a great feel and a positive, happy student body. It seems that you also got that same impression. Its a tough decision. The more I think about my decision, the more confusing it gets. I think in the end, we're just going to have go with our gut feeling!

 

[tkim]

So where's the bad review?

 

[Delphine]

The poor review is in the Western pre-osteopathic 2009 thread.

...wishing my gut was not so full of indecision too!

Tkim...your thoughts on the bad review would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[tkim]

The poor review is in the Western pre-osteopathic 2009 thread.

...wishing my gut was not so full of indecision too!

Tkim...your thoughts on the bad review would be appreciated.

Thanks

A link would have been nice but I managed to find it on my own ...

That poster touches on a couple of things - study space, and school politics.

The study spaces in HPC has always been an issue. The trouble is, is that those 'breakout rooms' are 'donated' i.e., sponsored by pharm alumni, and also used for their team meetings. So essentially those rooms belong to the pharm students. The other thing is the library hours and size. The lack of study space for a school that big is a problem. I got really frustrated with it all fist year, then eventually started studying at a Panera instead while listening to an ipod.

It's definititely an issue, but looking back it would not be a deal breaker for me.

The school politics ... well, every school has them. Some of the stuff that was mentioned happened well after I graduated. A lot of it rings true. During my school years, we went through no less than three deans, an old-time micro prof, biochem prof, neurosci prof. Lots of coming and going.

There are few things that as medical students you cannot grasp simply by reading a book ... several times. Western is a school that self-motivators would thrive at. Heh.

The admin was sympathetic to several personal issues I had when I was there - they allowed me to graduate a month later in order for me to take an entire month off during fourth year so I could be at home to spend time with my wife and second son after he was born.

Here's what some people have to say candidly about the school and rotations:

http://snoopfree.conforums.com/index.cgi

 

[Delphine]

Oops I did not even think to put a link- sorry.😳

And your link was nifty - thanks.

Any other thoughts or opinions on the two schools?
Anyone?

 

[Pony46]

Oops I did not even think to put a link- sorry.😳

And your link was nifty - thanks.

Any other thoughts or opinions on the two schools?
Anyone?

I wonder if that person who wrote about Western was just bitter and had had a bad experience?

Although the idea of being in a place where the relationships you form with your professors r tenuous due to an ugly side to the politics of running a school is definitely not appealing.

Good luck.

 

[EricH]

A link would have been nice but I managed to find it on my own ...

You're kidding right? Yea....you gotta be kidding. Either way, I am glad that you managed to cope with making the three extra clicks with your mouse.....tough stuff.

 

[tkim]

You're kidding right? Yea....you gotta be kidding. Either way, I am glad that you managed to cope with making the three extra clicks with your mouse.....tough stuff.

I had no idea if it was in the interview feedback forum, the pre-osteo, osteo, or the class forum. Obviously I don't read all of the forums so I could either make the effort to look for the review, or decide not to comment at all and leave out any impression of someone who alread went through Western and may have something to add, but not a lot of time to do so.

Have fun at Western, buddy. Might help to lose the 'tude.

 

[EricH]

Edit: not worth the conflict.

 

[tkim]

Edit: not worth the conflict.

Very smart of you.

 

[EricH]

Very smart of you.

Look, I backed down you dont have to be impertinent about it.....buddy

 

[tkim]

Look, I backed down you dont have to be impertinent about it.....buddy

You're right. I'm done.

 

[PistolPete]

If you're worried about study space, Western is opening up a brand new health professions center with craploads of study rooms in a few months time. That will definitely not be a problem. A new parking garage is being built, so parking will also not be a problem, which some people sometimes complain about.

The current dean is a freaking Admiral and is one of the nicest administrators I have ever met. It doesn't look like he's going anywhere anytime soon. Overall, I have no complaints. Great school, great weather, and a fantastic group of people.

So really, go where you think you will do your best. And if you want to end up on the west coast for residency, go to Western. If you want to stay on the east coast, go to WVSOM. You will get a good education at both schools as long as you put in the effort.

My 0.02. Good luck in making this exciting decision.

 

[Delphine]

If you're worried about study space, Western is opening up a brand new health professions center with craploads of study rooms in a few months time. That will definitely not be a problem. A new parking garage is being built, so parking will also not be a problem, which some people sometimes complain about.

The current dean is a freaking Admiral and is one of the nicest administrators I have ever met. It doesn't look like he's going anywhere anytime soon. Overall, I have no complaints. Great school, great weather, and a fantastic group of people.

So really, go where you think you will do your best. And if you want to end up on the west coast for residency, go to Western. If you want to stay on the east coast, go to WVSOM. You will get a good education at both schools as long as you put in the effort.

My 0.02. Good luck in making this exciting decision.

Thanks for the info.

Both to you and to Docdude whom I did not thank earlier. ( 😳)

My concern with Western is not the study space...but the idea that the teachers are not consistent. I really love learning and I feel that consistency of professors is helpful to me. That was why the bad review freaked me out.

Do the teachers really keep on leaving? Is that what you have experienced?

None the less, I keep on hearing many many positive things about both schools though and then some bad.

Overall I just feel really lucky🙂🙂
But I just need to make up my mind.

Thanks alot to all who responded.

 

[FlaMedic]

I have never heard that WVSOM had any issues w/ 3-4th years.

On the contrary, the school has been in existence for over 34 years and has long standing relationships with its clinical facilities.

You can pick one of 6 regional core rotation sites with 5-6 hospitals available in each site. All the facilities have been w/ WVSOM forever and their clinical education programs run like clockwork...or so I've heard. 4th year, of course, you can set up all your own clinicals and go wherever you want as long as you complete the necessary rotations at a teaching site.

Source: page 13 of...http://www.wvsom.edu/_pdf/Handbooks/Catalog/CollegeCatalog.pdf

Western was founded in '77, although I'm not sure about when the DO school itself was started. I'd be surprised if they didn't have quite a good handle on things as well considering its a major multi-disciplinary health university.

So I guess it boils down to which you prefer to do: ski or surf?

 

[EricH]

ski or surf?

WHAT??!?! we have both ski and surf! If you plan it just right you can even do both on the same day. (100 miles apart) Of course, the traffic will make the drive 11 hours long.

 

[EricH]

malfunction 1

 

[EricH]

malfunction 2

 

[EricH]

malfunction 3