well let me start by saying through the encouragement of this site through the last 3 1/2 years, I’m finally able to say- I’m going to Medical school!! the only issue I find myself faced with now is where to go?: I’d like to hear from others on what they would advise.
WVUSOM - Lewisburg,West Virginia
Accepted, loved the school, facilities, people.
Location was very far from where my family, friends, etc are
PCOM-Georgia Campus (just outside of Atlanta)
Accepted, seems like a great program based on the original Philadelphia campus. still fairly new and the campus was a bit different as it was just one warehouse building, but nonetheless I was accepted here too. good location
VCOM-Carolinas Campus (Spartanburg, SC)
Will hear about acceptance this week,new branch of Edward Via in South Carolina
got an amazing feeling about the town, people, and school… still under construction so can’t say much about the building, but I think it will be nice. only worries are being in the charter class and not having any guidance from upperclassmen. the school already has accredidation though, b/c of the VCOM Virginia campus.
William Carey University- Hattiesburg, MS
Interview coming up, first year of the school, in the home state of my parents, concern being that it’s so new and accredidation not to occur until first class graduates, will know more about the school and feeling once I visit next week.
So obviously a good problem to have, just want to make the right choice since I do have some options and where I’m going to learn best and have the best shot at passing the boards. I’m hopefully going to do the Navy HPSP scholarship, since I’m already in the reserves so cost isn’t an issue. I just want to pick the right school. Help 
thanks so much again Old Pre Meds and I’m happy to join the ranks who have been accepted through this long journey
Don’t know which school you should pick, but that is an awesome problem to have
Congrats on whatever you decide!!!
Congratulations!
Geez,
I’d hate to be in your situation. Life seems so tough.
Jokes aside, Congrats and no matter what you choose, you will be a doc.
I would simply try to talk to some alumni. For me, three factors would come in play
1- cost
2- proximity with my wife and kids
3- weather
You have to figure out what matters to you.
Congratulations!
For all of our understanding, what was different this time around? I remember you were quite discouraged back in May.
- redo-it-all Said:
I'd hate to be in your situation. Life seems so tough.
Jokes aside, Congrats and no matter what you choose, you will be a doc.
I would simply try to talk to some alumni. For me, three factors would come in play
1- cost
2- proximity with my wife and kids
3- weather
You have to figure out what matters to you.
And don't forget that intangible gut feeling. You are going to spend the next 4 years involved in the school. It should feel right.
BTW, we have had several members goto WVSOM and a few to PCOM. The both school seem extremely supportive of older students. The PCOM CEO has come to a few of conference and WVSOM is one of our longest conference exhibitors
thanks everyone, but if there’s any way I can swing this conversation towards some helpful advice on the schools that’d be great
VCOM- I’ve heard different things on VCOM’s block schedule that some people like it while others do not. can someone please offer their input here? it seems like it might be nice to have little breaks scattered throughout the year.
Also, I’m a little concerned that since it’s a first year school, there won’t be the help from upperclassmen such as mock exams, things like that. any input here is greatly appreciated!
PCOM-GA has a trimester system which I’m not too familiar with but if anyone can chime in on that it would also be great!
basically I’m just looking to make the best decision school wise and given the choices, I hope someone can help… thanks so much!
Hey, wish I’d known when you were interviewing at WVSOM, we could have talked! LEt me know if you have any questions I can answer about the school.
Re block scheduling, many schools have that to a greater of lesser extent. WVSOM runs two main courses together (plus 2 once a week courses that run all year). Also does Anatomy by itself. Better that you don’t have to study everything all together. I wish it was MORE in a block, sometimes as we still have to figure out how to split our study time a bit.
I was told at an interview at EVMS by a student that the things you want to know that will make a tremendous difference to you as a student are:
is there block scheduling (easier than, say, 6 classes at once)
and
how often are their tests, and are they cumulative.
You want tests pretty frequent (no more than 3 weeks apart) and NOT cumulative.
Anyway, those were some things I looked for in picking a school as they sounded good to me.
You’ll want to know what arrangements they have for you to get some clinical exposure in the first 2 years, also.
Hope that’s helpful.
Kate
Just looking for some advice here-- got accepted to 3 schools that I really loved and am having trouble deciding which one I’d like to attend since I can’t go to all 3 Really, this decision is killing me and it’s so hard to know and everyone keeps saying the same thing “do what’s best for you”> if I knew that I would have already decided so please please help me.
One school is VCOM-Carolinas campus - a branch of the Blacksburg campus that is going to have it’s first class this Fall. Great town (Spartanburg, SC), the admissions people are great as well as the faculty i’ve met. The only thing I see is that it is going to be the first year for the class which could be a good thing, but also gives me a slight concern, ex: clinical rotations may be hard to firm up, no second year students to guide you).
The other school is PCOM-Georgia campus outside Atlanta in Suwanee. This school has been there for a few years and is backed by the main campus in Philadelphia which has been there over 100 yrs. One building with the Pharmacy school shared. This school kind of gave me the “warehouse” feel and I’ve also head that they may be having a name change which concerns me…but I’m loving the legacy and the location as well.
William Carey University (WCU) Hattiesburg, MS
first years class this year and I was impressed with the school and it’s in my parent’s home state. i liked the facilities and the people were very friendly. the area surrounding the school is a little bit shady, but could live further away… the dean situation concerns me, having just been dismissed, and the provisional accredidation…otherwise a good school in a state that really needs healthcare love.
just mainly looking for guidance to pick which school will best prepare me for the boards and to complete medical school., which curriculum model would be the best between both of these (I believe one uses a tri-mester system vs a block system vs. a discipline system), clinical opportunities, etc. thanks so much and again I know this is a good problem to have, but it’s an important decision and a huge investment so I want to be fully informed. thanks so much!
I think a block system gives students a better opportunity to do well by concentrating one’s focus on a couple of subjects at a time.
I hear your concern about the feel of the building at PCOM-Georgia. On the other hand, that is the most established school of the three, which would argue for them having refined their curriculum and program.
I think I’d ask for email addresses for some current students at each and ask them the pros and cons of their school to get more of a feel.
Kate
you’re right- I keep thinking I wanna go there b/c of the established history and the PCOM name…I’ve heard they may try to change the name in the future and i’m not sure what that will result in for students/graduates.
The problem is that I LOVE all schools and it’s so hard to pick one and not the others… Angie at WVSOM was one of the sweetest women I have ever had the pleasure to meet.
Just a quick two cents…
I’d be very cautious about going to a school that is just starting. Not to say at all that the schools will not provide what they hope (and state) they can, but you will be investing A LOT of money into your education and you want to get the most superb education you can. Experience does matter. Not that it has to be the only part of the equation, but for me it would be one of the most important.
Best wishes in your decision!
thanks guys- I thought a lot about it, and don’t really think I can go wrong either way but definitely appreciate the advice and feel like I’ll be better served going to a more established school… the only thing was that “warehouse” “devry” feel I got from Ga-PCOM… i’m sure it doesn’t really matter much the building where I learn for the first 2 years… do you guys think that shouldn’t play a factor too much ? or do you think that is really important… ?
For what it’s worth, here’s my two cents…
In my opinion, more important than the building where you’ll do your first 2 years is the building(s) where you’ll do your last 2 years. Not from a physical standpoint, but from the quality of healthcare delivered and the quality of teaching and your involvement as a 3rd and 4th year.
The first two years are, for the most part, your run of the mill classwork with some varied patient experiences thrown in here and there at most schools (most schools, in my opinion, oversell how much patient interaction you get in the first two years and how meaningful that interaction is). Thus, the facilities are really less important in those two years.
It’s the truth…Angie is a big draw for this institution!
We’re great - come here! (ok, that was my shameless plug)
Kate
Two cents…I’ve worked with Family Med residents from both WV and PCOM/ATL. Without exception, they are top-notch physicians, well-prepared to meet the challenges of residency. I agree that the experience you get in 3rd and 4th yr is more important than the facility where you do your pre-clinical years. Both of these schools have a broad reach to provide 3rd and 4th yr students with a solid clinical/hospital foundation. I don’t think you could go wrong with either one. Congratulations and best of luck!