WVSOM vs. VCOM? Preferences.....
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I'm a Virginia Tech grad...just had my interview for VCOM this past Thursday. I've only been impressed by this school -- I've heard good things about WVSOM also, but the technology and the facilities at VCOM are first rate. I've scheduled my other interviews later in November and early December...I'll find out about VCOM this Wednesday (EXCITED!) -- if I get accepted, I'm going there. Go VCOM! Blacksburg is an amazing town...I fell in love during my first four years...I can't wait for another four.
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MastaPatVT said:
So it only takes a week for them to let you know you are in? I have an interview scheduled on 11/2.
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I've been to both for interviews and I would say WVSOM hands down. I liked the school, the people, and the town a lot more at WV.
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personally, i'd rather go to wvsom for a couple of reasons. one, wvsom has been around for more than 20 hours and has alumni and match lists and all that good stuff. vcom hasn't graduated a class yet, which isn't necessarily a huge deal, but i don't think it's ideal. two, vcom seems politically weird -- do a search if you want to read more about this. basically, the school refused to allow a planned parenthood group to form on campus, and all their medical missions are religiously-affiliated. the administration seems very conservative. also, vcom has a dress and attendance code, and wvsom doesn't. the pbl program at wvsom is another big plus.
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I interviewed at both VCOM and WVSOM, and ultimately went with VCOM. Part of this was because I'm a Tech grad, and have been working with some of the faculty since before the school opened. Both schools seemed to foster a really good attitude in their faculty and students; with faculty seeming very approachable and helpful. I also like Blacksburg over Lewisburg, especially with regards to housing (more apartments and houses due to Tech) and being a larger town, that's still in a rural area.
The dress and attendance codes aren't really that big a deal. The dress code for guys is just a collared shirt, and slacks; and "the equivalent" (still don't know what that means) for women. Basically, no jeans or t-shirts. As for the attendance policy, it's not really enforced that much. It's not as though attendance is checked every class, and people skip lectures if they feel like they can (though, some professors get to know each student, and notice the absence, but don't say anything). If you miss class, and there was something important, that that's your own fault. You can also go through the official process to be excused from class, but most people I know have only done that if there was something important that they would have missed, or if they are going to miss multiple days (a classmate was on a DMAT team sent to Katrina relief, another had a death in the family, etc). I've missed class before either for having too good a time the night before, or because I didn't feel like sitting through a given lecture, and have caught no flack from those events.
As for the politics, that topic has been beaten to death over the passed few months. The medical missions are through the organization of a single faculty member, and are advertised through the school, but are not official school programs. From what I've seen from those who have done it, these medical missions aren't "save their soul, and do some physical healing, too" type missions, but rather regular medical missions, sponsored by a religious group. If some of the docs and students want to pray with their patients, I don't care; I'll be elsewhere doing pt care. A "medical mission" elective rotation is supposed to be in the works, and that will not be affiliated with any religious group. Some people were a little upset (well, more than a little) because this distinction was not made clear during interviews.
The dress and attendance codes aren't really that big a deal. The dress code for guys is just a collared shirt, and slacks; and "the equivalent" (still don't know what that means) for women. Basically, no jeans or t-shirts. As for the attendance policy, it's not really enforced that much. It's not as though attendance is checked every class, and people skip lectures if they feel like they can (though, some professors get to know each student, and notice the absence, but don't say anything). If you miss class, and there was something important, that that's your own fault. You can also go through the official process to be excused from class, but most people I know have only done that if there was something important that they would have missed, or if they are going to miss multiple days (a classmate was on a DMAT team sent to Katrina relief, another had a death in the family, etc). I've missed class before either for having too good a time the night before, or because I didn't feel like sitting through a given lecture, and have caught no flack from those events.
As for the politics, that topic has been beaten to death over the passed few months. The medical missions are through the organization of a single faculty member, and are advertised through the school, but are not official school programs. From what I've seen from those who have done it, these medical missions aren't "save their soul, and do some physical healing, too" type missions, but rather regular medical missions, sponsored by a religious group. If some of the docs and students want to pray with their patients, I don't care; I'll be elsewhere doing pt care. A "medical mission" elective rotation is supposed to be in the works, and that will not be affiliated with any religious group. Some people were a little upset (well, more than a little) because this distinction was not made clear during interviews.
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psychbender said:
Yesterday I spoke with VCOM's admissions office, which said that they have a wide mix of people, and that they are trying to form agreements with many different schools, not just religious ones, and that the press release for Liberty made some big mistakes. She also said that non-religious or non-christian students can go on "mission" trips too, it seemed to me as if they are just using ICF to gain access to the locations.
