Lot of good discussion, although I didn’t get some technicalities/terminology (like MS3, FP, VSAS, COCA, etc). I’ll give a second reading tonight when I get freed up a little.
Will LECOM “assign” the campus or will we have a choice. For example, if we opt for Brandenton, FL campus as first choice, will they give ?
(BTW, my daughter got accepted to Elmira campus for undergrad with 2+4 LECOM EAP option as well). But we are leaning towards CSUF+LECOM (4+4 years), as it’s closer to home and also we read bad reviews about Elmira crime rate, etc. So, after undergrad, we would like to avoid Elmira, and probably Erie (due to snow as per the discussion).
BTW, any good websites/forums, where we can get feedback from actual LECOM students/parents (regarding the points highlighted by you about rotations/hospital-supervisor guidance, quality, etc) ?
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There are a lot of people who reside in lake affect areas of PA (like Erie) and NY (like Buffalo). Or OH (like cleveland). The snow is well managed. Those places know how to deal with the heavy snows they get some winters…and some storms. Really, it’s winter weather, but it’s not something to be afraid of.
Of course, if you prefer a more temperate climate, these places are not for you.
I do have more than one kid (actually 3 in college). One is in LECOM EAP as a freshman, so I can’t help you with down the road residency. In addition, DD is absolutely not interested (at least now) in any surgical specialties. She actually wants to treat the whole person and work with people (hear their problems and work it out). She wants family medicine as of now. So we have 0 issues with DO.
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@WayOutWestMom All of the above is wrong. LECOM allows students to chose LECOM location (no matter of initial application) and mode of studying a year before graduation and getting BS. Not all modes are possible at all locations. My DD prefers PBL (project based learning) at Seton Hill. Erie is the only location if you want lecture mode 8-4 every day.
Student can choose Florida.
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Yes, you will get Florida. You can request FL now. DD initially asked Erie and already switched to Seton Hill since she wants PBL and flexibility.
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Reddit and some premed forums. Read with grain of salt. There are some stupid complaints how bad is LECOM for not allowing water into lecture room and asking for business casual there… Then you will read how great LECOM since it is cheaper than other medical schools. Google is your friend.
I do not understand 2+4. LECOM stopped 3+4. LECOM does not care what feeder school you will use. You can switch as long as that school has a spot. There is a limit of spots per year at each school. Check with LECOM EAP coordinator. I believe his name is Dustin Cassell. You can send him email.
Yes it is significantly more difficult to get to LECOM after BS without LECOM EAP.
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abbreviations used for med school discussions:
MS3 = 3rd year of medical school/3rd year med student
MS4 = 4th year of medical school/4th year med student
Some people distinguish between allopathic and osteopathic med students and schools by using
OMS3 = 3rd year of osteopathic medical school/3rd year DO student
OMS4 = 4th year of osteopathic medical school/4th year DO student
MS3 and MS4 are when clinical rotations are done. Students apply for residencies in late September/early October of MS4.
AAMC = American Association of Medical Colleges
LCME = Liaison Committee on Medical Education. (accrediting body for all MD schools)
COCA - Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (accrediting body for DO schools)
VSAS = Visiting Student Application Service (a centralized application service used by med students to formally apply to other medical programs and hospitals to do a “away”–not at one’s home hospital or an partner/affiliated hospital --rotation.)
Other useful abbreviations
ACGME = Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (accrediting body for all medical residencies)
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I probably need to copy your post somewhere. I am totally illiterate in this.
More abbreviations:
PG = post graduate, aka a medical resident or medical fellow. PG is typically followed by a number indicating what ear of training the young doctor is in. A PG-1 is the first year of specialty training and called the intern year. A PG-1 is called an intern.
USMLE = United State Medical Licensing Exam These are a series of 3 -4* 7+ hour long standardized exams that medical students must pass in order to 1. graduated from med school and 2. qualify for medical training license. Also called STEP exams.
COMLEX = Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination. These are a series of 3-4* 7+ hour long standardized exams that ALL osteopathic medical students must pass. DO students often take both COMLEX and USMLE exams, COMLEX because they need them to graduate from med school and qualify for medical licensing. USMLE because most residency programs prefer candidates to have USMLE scores.
USMLE and COMLEX are both referred to as “board exams” because they are developed by the Nation Board of Medical Examiners. (NBME)
And to make this MORE confusing-- board exam also refers to the multi-day standardized written (or written and oral, depending on the specialty) exams that newly graduated residents taken to demonstrate their mastery of the specialty.
NBME exam = these are written exams that med students take at the end of each basic clinical rotation. These measure the knowledge base the student has acquired about a the specialty during their 3-6 week rotation in the specialty. Also call SHELF exams. ( Supposedly because you can be asked any question from a “shelf” of specific textbooks on the specialty.)
Preceptor (also spelled praeceptor) = clinical instructor for a particular rotation. A med student may have several different preceptors on each rotation.
*Both USMLE and COMLEX have 3 levels of written exams. plus there is a day-long practical exam that tests clinical skills. The Clinical Skills exam requirement was suspended during Covid and has not been re-instated for US medical students (MD and DO). However, students who received their medical education in non-US medical school may still be required to take this exam.
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Lot of great information @WayOutWestMom !
Thank you so very much for you taking time to respond in detail !! that’s super helpful.
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Thank You @momsearcheng for your feedback !
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If you will decide on LECOM path, make sure that LECOM coordinator verifies and switches your student to CSU Fullerton BEFORE you will commit! LECOM needs to verify there is a spot for LECOm EAP there! (It has nothing to do with CSU, LECOM just limits number of seats from each school). If all spots at CSU for that year for LECOM EAP are taken, then this option will not be available and you will need to go with your original LECOM school or forget about LECOM.
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Keeping a close eye on this thread…my son is literally in the exact same situation
Lots of good undergrad options / honors college / scholarships
vs
LECOM EAP (4+4)
It’s been a hard decision. Just seeing how hard it is to get into any med school, all the extra activities / research / recommendations / MCAT / and then the almost certain gap year
The feedback we’ve gotten from his undergrad feeder is that LECOM has been a good partner and very supportive of the students working their way through college. Getting into such and such specialty will change multiple times once you go thru rotations and get a feel of things for real.
The hard part is just walking away from really good undergrad programs in case your kid has a change of heart about medicine in general
I think many of the LECOM partner schools for undergrad ARE really good undergrad programs! My opinion!
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A way to decide on the LECOM partner college is to see if it’s a good fit without LECOM (the way @momsearcheng and her daughter looked at all colleges before choosing Rhodes.) This way, if the student has a change of mind wrt medicine, they’re still at a college they like - where they may be superstars or above average but where they have classes of interest, peers and friends.
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definitely, college is college and these programs all have challenging curriculum
but we can all agree that the name factor isn’t there compared to a non-LECOM affiliated undergraduate, and many students would not pick such and such undergrad over the LECOM affiliated school if it wasn’t for the LECOM option (no one is going to claim UW-Madison vs UW- Whitewater have the same distinction).
it definitely isn’t a home run option where there is a clear cut “right” decision (LECOM 4 + 4 vs traditional) and that’s the case for any combined program whether it’s business/law/dental/etc
Actually Rhodes is a big exception. School is full of premed or prelaw oriented students who do not even know about LECOM. Many students passed other options due to good merit, good vibe, and historically good outcome.
We really wanted to avoid Rhodes initially due to distance and crime in the area, but it worked out for us.
DD is genuinely happy at Rhodes. Classes are hard, food is not good but she loves school and she has absolutely amazing friends. We call her roommate our adopted daughter. I had no idea that such roomate is even possible. Dd is very lucky to find good fit.
The key with LECOM feeder is to make sure that your child likes the feeder. It will be hell if your child choses the program for sake of program.
DD refused at the very end to attend Juniata (our initial LECOM choice). She did not like accepted kids… Not her tribe… Too artsy, too sporty, and she is neither…
DD also had many good options with great scholarships. But not taking MCAT and opportunity to enjoy 4 years of college vs 4 years of competition for medical schools with best GPA, activities, research etc. was a great option for her. She does not care about prestige. She wants to be a doctor and help people. LECOM was the best and cheapest way for us.
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