WVSOM vs Pikeville??

[hwpo]

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I am looking for some wisdom deciding between WVSOM and Pikeville. I was recently accepted to both and have only 1 week left to decide (or lose one of the deposits).

I know they both have a lot to offer, but if money was not an issue I feel I would choose WVSOM based on the better facilities and technology. I also like the city of lewisburg more.

I have heard they both have excellent faculty.


I would end up saving 100,000 in primary loans if attend pcsom, (which ends up being close to 200,000 after interest).


It will ultimately come down to my hard work at both schools but does anyone feel one school has a better residency match rate?


I am aware of class attendance and dress code for both schools, which does not bother me so much.


So at the end of the day should I spend the extra money for the better facilities and location (imo). ??

I would take into consideration any input!!

Thanks!!

 

[gatewasani]

so I take it, you didn't end up enrolling in an SMP?


do you mind me asking your stats?
pm is fine

 

[WNT Signaling]

I would end up saving 100,000 in primary loans if attend pcsom, (which ends up being close to 200,000 after interest).

Are you sure it's a good idea to take out primary care loans your first year? Schools tend to heavily suggest that you wait until your second year at the earliest. Besides, during your fourth and third year you are allowed to take out more than your COA in order to transfer your loans from years one and two (or three) into primary care loans.
http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/DSA/pcl.htm


You should also realize that since primary care loans have a service requirement, they cannot be cancelled through income based repayment--to clarify, you are elidgible for income-based repayment, but your loans cannot be cancelled at 10 years of public service or 20 years of repayment like normal government loans. One more thing, how do you get a 100,000 loan doubling to 200,000? The interest on the loan is only 5%, and the loan will not accrue interest until you can start repayment, and you are even allowed to defer the loans for up to four years during residency

 

[MalachiConstant]

I hear the facilities at WVSOM are pretty nice and if you're into research you might have a better chance at getting involved in a project there.

That said, I think their out of state tuition is ridiculous, and there's nothing they could offer that would justify nearly an extra hundred grand in debt.

MC

 

[hwpo]

Are you sure it's a good idea to take out primary care loans your first year? Schools tend to heavily suggest that you wait until your second year at the earliest. Besides, during your fourth and third year you are allowed to take out more than your COA in order to transfer your loans from years one and two (or three) into primary care loans.
http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/DSA/pcl.htm


You should also realize that since primary care loans have a service requirement, they cannot be cancelled through income based repayment--to clarify, you are elidgible for income-based repayment, but your loans cannot be cancelled at 10 years of public service or 20 years of repayment like normal government loans. One more thing, how do you get a 100,000 loan doubling to 200,000? The interest on the loan is only 5%, and the loan will not accrue interest until you can start repayment, and you are even allowed to defer the loans for up to four years during residency

Im sorry, I did not mean primary care loans but rather "w/o interest". I should have used a better word. 100,000 to 200,000 is likely if you pay the loans back over some time but in reality if I were to take action faster it would be more like 150,000.


PCSOM waitlisted me.


I am accepting my spot at LECOM-E.

 

[SAEbrodel]

I've been faced with a similar dilemma picking between WVSOM, LMUDCOM, and Pikeville. I wasn't too impressed with LMU with the age of the school, lack of accredation, and facilities, not to mention the town of Harrogate is a little too rural for me. From the advice of a family friend I was told to forgo Pikeville after I heard there was some issues of rotations, faculty quality, and the focus on primary care. WVSOM I was very impressed with the brand new high tech facilities, receptive faculty, and long standing history of placing students into great residencies. Though 50K a year is pricy, the way I look at it is I'll be much happier going to this school, its a few hours drive from my house, and debt is debt, a few thousand is something I'll have to work harder to pay off when I'm a physician. Don't forget there's also an option to stay an extra year to be a TA (forget the exact term), that way they pay for your last two years of school. Hope my insight helps a bit!

 

[Biology101]

Im sorry, I did not mean primary care loans but rather "w/o interest". I should have used a better word. 100,000 to 200,000 is likely if you pay the loans back over some time but in reality if I were to take action faster it would be more like 150,000.


PCSOM waitlisted me.


I am accepting my spot at LECOM-E.

WTF! Why even bother asking for opinions if you have clearly made up your mind? Is this to insight some sort of feud between the students at both schools? Use your brain before you post again.

 

[175961]

I dont know anything about pikeville, but i did interview at wvsom and heres what i got:
I loved it!!!
-the anatomy lab was awesome. lots of work-space and with the vent system you could barely smell the reeky chemicals. i liked it a lot.
-i totally spaced on the name of the building, but its loaded with new equipment, simulation dummies, computers for learning electronic medical record keeping and then some. it looked awesome
-the staff was amazingly nice. period.
-the gym was great. i love lifting/working out and their exercise facility looked good. they have a very nice basketball court as well.
-i really liked the lecture hall. you get this very comfortable chair and your own desk space where you can leave all your crap.
-a laptop for 1st students!!!! gotta like that.
-theres more....but thats all i feel like typing. sorry, i'm feeling lazy
yeah tuition for OOS sucks a big one, but i'd rather invest in myself than anyone/anything else. not like you wont be making enough to pay it back. spend your money wisely as a student, work hard and things will work out.

 

[Biology101]

I dont know anything about pikeville, but i did interview at wvsom and heres what i got:
I loved it!!!
-the anatomy lab was awesome. lots of work-space and with the vent system you could barely smell the reeky chemicals. i liked it a lot.
-i totally spaced on the name of the building, but its loaded with new equipment, simulation dummies, computers for learning electronic medical record keeping and then some. it looked awesome
-the staff was amazingly nice. period.
-the gym was great. i love lifting/working out and their exercise facility looked good. they have a very nice basketball court as well.
-i really liked the lecture hall. you get this very comfortable chair and your own desk space where you can leave all your crap.
-a laptop for 1st students!!!! gotta like that.
-theres more....but thats all i feel like typing. sorry, i'm feeling lazy
yeah tuition for OOS sucks a big one, but i'd rather invest in myself than anyone/anything else. not like you wont be making enough to pay it back. spend your money wisely as a student, work hard and things will work out.

Well said!

 

[cliffhuxtableDO]

I only hear good things about WV. Can anyone talk about the rotations?

 

[Biology101]

I only hear good things about WV. Can anyone talk about the rotations?

my understanding is that third year you have to do a in state rotation (or one of their programs) and the 4th year you can go anywhere in the world that you want.

 

[Dross]

Don't forget there's also an option to stay an extra year to be a TA (forget the exact term), that way they pay for your last two years of school.

Could you perhaps go into some detail on that? Or maybe refer me to where I can get the info on that, please?

 

[SAEbrodel]

what i was told at my interview and by other students is that instead of going straight into rotations after your 2nd year, students can stay an additional year and act as a TA for some of the classes, anatomy lab, etc. In doing so, WVSOM will pay for your last two years in full.

 

[DmanGTR]

I really liked WVSOM, their facilities, especially the SimMan labs and the anatomy labs, impressed me a lot. The admissions are wonderful people. Both Annette and Angie are great and will help you through every step of the way.

BTW, WVSOM takes the deposit via credit card. Just call up Annette and ask. This will save you a bit of time so you don't have to mail a check and risk it getting lost.

 

[MalachiConstant]

what i was told at my interview and by other students is that instead of going straight into rotations after your 2nd year, students can stay an additional year and act as a TA for some of the classes, anatomy lab, etc. In doing so, WVSOM will pay for your last two years in full.

Well....as someone who's considered taking an extra year for an OMM fellowship anyway, that would've been nice to know before turning down the interview.

So it goes.

MC

 

[SAEbrodel]

sorry to hear! best of luck tho wherever you go

 

[MalachiConstant]

No worries. It looks like I'll be at OUCOM in the fall and couldn't be happier.

I should add that it wasn't my intention to run down the school earlier. I've heard good things and have worked with some excellent docs who went there. I think it's a great deal for WV residents, but for OOS'ers the tuition is a bit exorbitant. To me, the opportunity cost is just to high. Happiness is important, but no matter how great the school is, I could never be happy knowing I was amassing such a huge debt load.

MC

 

[SAEbrodel]

congrats on OU, though the tuition is a lot, I think about the facilities and great staff, and I feel like it is a better choice than some of the other schools I've checked out. A lot of the schools I've looked at around the 35k range just don't have those facilities and longstanding history, also the option to cover your last two years, and go to anywhere in the country during the 4th year to rotate is also nice. My ultimate reason for going was being told about the school by a doctor that graduated there about 10 years ago. But to anyone who feels that the OOS tuition is the only reason not to go, consider how it might be a few thousand more, any position as a physician will pay adequately enough in the future to compensate.

 

[Biology101]

congrats on OU, though the tuition is a lot, I think about the facilities and great staff, and I feel like it is a better choice than some of the other schools I've checked out. A lot of the schools I've looked at around the 35k range just don't have those facilities and longstanding history, also the option to cover your last two years, and go to anywhere in the country during the 4th year to rotate is also nice. My ultimate reason for going was being told about the school by a doctor that graduated there about 10 years ago. But to anyone who feels that the OOS tuition is the only reason not to go, consider how it might be a few thousand more, any position as a physician will pay adequately enough in the future to compensate.

I totally agree! If a school fits, but you go somewhere else do to money....you may be sacrificing a rewarding and manageable medical education for one that is difficult and student unfriendly.

 

[actnow]

I have also been accepted to both.

Is it true that pikeville lets you do year 3 and 4 rotations wherever you want based on their availability at the school. IE - if I choose ohio (cinci, dayton) which isn't in their CORE area but still a site they offer, will I be able to do both year 3 and 4 there?

 

[docbulldog]

I have also been accepted to both.

Is it true that pikeville lets you do year 3 and 4 rotations wherever you want based on their availability at the school. IE - if I choose ohio (cinci, dayton) which isn't in their CORE area but still a site they offer, will I be able to do both year 3 and 4 there?

potentially, yes. from what i understand, the rules change every year on deciding how it is done, but for the most part you make top choices and then it is worked out. so, just know that it's kind of like the army in that you could be sent to any of your top choices. other than that, it sounds like you have a tough decision to make. i can tell you that i really enjoy our (PCSOM) program and feel that it fits me best. best of luck to you!

 

[MalachiConstant]

potentially, yes. from what i understand, the rules change every year on deciding how it is done, but for the most part you make top choices and then it is worked out. so, just know that it's kind of like the army in that you could be sent to any of your top choices. other than that, it sounds like you have a tough decision to make. i can tell you that i really enjoy our (PCSOM) program and feel that it fits me best. best of luck to you!

I don't know if this is still the case, but when I was down there, someone told me that rotation assignments could be traded, so most people ended up with what they wanted in the end.

MC