WVSOM vs. UIWSOM vs. VCOM-Louisiana

[Sharingan001]

Hello! Help me work out the pros/ cons of these schools please!

WVSOM:
pros:
-more established, around since 1974, graduated plenty of classes.
-non-mandatory attendance
-no dress code
-nice state-of-the-art anatomy lab
-traditionally graded classes-- easier to stand out for residency apps after pass/ fail STEP 1 in 2022?? (although also a con since more stress)

cons:
-such a small town/ rural location, I'm used to big city life
-Lack of diversity in surrounding population. I love ethnic/ racial diversity and might feel odd there, especially if had to stick around for rotations/ residency. WVSOM limits 3rd yr rotations to WV. And really pushes students to stay and practice there too.

UIWSOM:
pros:
-Big city life, diversity of San Antonio, TX is amazing- better leisure/ socialization for a minority.
-residency/ rotation options in a location I could see myself practicing longterm, although would prefer to relocate to another major city near family after graduation.
-rotations would probably be high quality in a major city like San Antonio?
-warm weather is great!

cons:
-mandatory attendance
-pass/ fail classes (less stress, but also less potential to stand out on residency apps?)
-weird essay exams instead of multiple choice
-dress code I think?
-newer school, only 3 classes in. First class board results are still not posted, no idea how it's prepping students
-have heard high faculty turnover?
-most expensive at ~55k tuition and cost of living is higher in a hot big city (AC bills!)
-Mandatory EMT certification and volunteering

VCOM- Louisiana
pros:
-cheapest of bunch at ~46k tuition.
-parent VCOM schools seem to have decent rep.

cons:
-location/ diversity not as great as San Antonio.
-inaugural class, no established rotations yet, who knows how curriculum will work/ quality control issues.
-80% mandatory attendance policy

I am potentially interested in specializing in something like anesthesiology or radiology. I'd be happy with primary care as well, but don't want to close the door on specialization just yet. All schools are about equally as far away from family/ home. Especially considering that the USMLE Step 1 is likely becoming pass/ fail in 2022, which school would make me most competitive if I don't want to rule out specialization just yet? Where can I stand out for residency/ do well and then potentially come back to practice in a major city?

Thanks!!

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[Sharingan001]

@Goro would love your input, especially since you give great advice about newer DO schools we might not know what to make of just yet!!

 

[Goro]

@Goro would love your input, especially since you give great advice about newer DO schools we might not know what to make of just yet!!

Stick with the established school. WVSOM

Hofstra has essay exams as well. I've found they're better at assessing student knowledge.

UIW should have its board scores up by now. Not a good sign.

 

[deleted1005514]

Not sure what you mean by good/bad diversity, but VCOM-La is located in an area with 60+% non-white population.

I don’t recommend it though, not because of the school, but because it’s in a high crime area with a very bad economy. Very low COL though.

 

[Sharingan001]

Stick with the established school. WVSOM

Hofstra has essay exams as well. I've found they're better at assessing student knowledge.

UIW should have its board scores up by now. Not a good sign.

Thank you so much for your reply! How valid is this reasoning UIWSOM has provided on 2 occassions for delayed reporting?---->

Admissions email today: "Unfortunately, we are unable to officially report our pass rates at this time as it is still pending. I am sorry that I do not have information to share yet as I understand it can be a big factor in your decision. We are confident in our inaugural class’ ability to succeed on COMLEX, and know many have. We hope to have the official information by mid-April.


"On interview day 2/21 they said they are still waiting and they won’t be officially posted online until late summer. She said reasoning for this is that they are waiting for the National statistics of the new blue print to be released and they won’t publish until they have those."

 

[wysdoc]

Thank you so much for your reply! How valid is this reasoning UIWSOM has provided on 2 occassions for delayed reporting?---->

Admissions email today: "Unfortunately, we are unable to officially report our pass rates at this time as it is still pending. I am sorry that I do not have information to share yet as I understand it can be a big factor in your decision. We are confident in our inaugural class’ ability to succeed on COMLEX, and know many have. We hope to have the official information by mid-April.


"On interview day 2/21 they said they are still waiting and they won’t be officially posted online until late summer. She said reasoning for this is that they are waiting for the National statistics of the new blue print to be released and they won’t publish until they have those."

I'm not a DO expert but I have seen this kind of "non-answer" often at one new Texas MD school. They only want to publish "good news" about the school and if the data is not what they are proud of, they waffle. 😵

 

[Goro]

Thank you so much for your reply! How valid is this reasoning UIWSOM has provided on 2 occassions for delayed reporting?---->

Admissions email today: "Unfortunately, we are unable to officially report our pass rates at this time as it is still pending. I am sorry that I do not have information to share yet as I understand it can be a big factor in your decision. We are confident in our inaugural class’ ability to succeed on COMLEX, and know many have. We hope to have the official information by mid-April.


"On interview day 2/21 they said they are still waiting and they won’t be officially posted online until late summer. She said reasoning for this is that they are waiting for the National statistics of the new blue print to be released and they won’t publish until they have those."

Bull****. They have had some failures and they want them to retake in order for the scores to look better, or to keep those people from mucking up this cycle's stats, and thus spooking potential applicants.

Other schools, including brand new ones, didn't wait to publish their stats.

 

[deleted936470]

WVSOM

 

[Scribe4Life]

Hey fizzers! I'm here at WVSOM and can answer any school-specific questions that you might have if you want to PM me. For clarity/background, my decision came down to LMU/WVSOM/CUSOM.

Sent from my ONEPLUS A5000 using SDN mobile

 

[deleted1041468]

Hello! Help me work out the pros/ cons of these schools please!

WVSOM:
pros:
-more established, around since 1974, graduated plenty of classes.
-non-mandatory attendance
-no dress code
-nice state-of-the-art anatomy lab
-traditionally graded classes-- easier to stand out for residency apps after pass/ fail STEP 1 in 2022?? (although also a con since more stress)

cons:
-such a small town/ rural location, I'm used to big city life
-Lack of diversity in surrounding population. I love ethnic/ racial diversity and might feel odd there, especially if had to stick around for rotations/ residency. WVSOM limits 3rd yr rotations to WV. And really pushes students to stay and practice there too.

UIWSOM:
pros:
-Big city life, diversity of San Antonio, TX is amazing- better leisure/ socialization for a minority.
-residency/ rotation options in a location I could see myself practicing longterm, although would prefer to relocate to another major city near family after graduation.
-rotations would probably be high quality in a major city like San Antonio?
-warm weather is great!

cons:
-mandatory attendance
-pass/ fail classes (less stress, but also less potential to stand out on residency apps?)
-weird essay exams instead of multiple choice
-dress code I think?
-newer school, only 3 classes in. First class board results are still not posted, no idea how it's prepping students
-have heard high faculty turnover?
-most expensive at ~55k tuition and cost of living is higher in a hot big city (AC bills!)
-Mandatory EMT certification and volunteering

VCOM- Louisiana
pros:
-cheapest of bunch at ~46k tuition.
-parent VCOM schools seem to have decent rep.

cons:
-location/ diversity not as great as San Antonio.
-inaugural class, no established rotations yet, who knows how curriculum will work/ quality control issues.
-80% mandatory attendance policy

I am potentially interested in specializing in something like anesthesiology or radiology. I'd be happy with primary care as well, but don't want to close the door on specialization just yet. All schools are about equally as far away from family/ home. Especially considering that the USMLE Step 1 is likely becoming pass/ fail in 2022, which school would make me most competitive if I don't want to rule out specialization just yet? Where can I stand out for residency/ do well and then potentially come back to practice in a major city?

Thanks!!

VCOM carolinas and Virginia have great reputation and good to great matches each year in specialties. I am graduating there and doing neuro at a university. I wouldn’t recommend their new school yet as it is new and they will need to figure things out. You are going in at a time with a ton of change. Step pass fail. Post merger. New schools opening left and right. I’d go with established and go to West Virginia and call it a day. Trust us on here. We have been through the process.