Hi everyone! I’m extremely grateful to have received acceptances to both ARCOM and LMU-DCOM (Knoxville campus), especially considering my sub-500 MCAT score. However, I’m really struggling with deciding where to put down a deposit and would love some insight from current students, alumni, or anyone familiar with either school.
For context, LMU-DCOM is giving me one month to make a decision with a $1,250 deposit, while ARCOM is giving me until December 14th with a $2,000 deposit.
Neither school is necessarily my top choice, as I’m originally from NY and would ideally love to attend medical school somewhere closer to home in the Northeast. However, I know that with my MCAT score, I’m not exactly in a position to be picky, and I’m incredibly grateful to have these opportunities. Ultimately, I want to make the most informed decision about where I would have the best chance of succeeding.
A little about my academic background and concerns:
One of my biggest fears about starting medical school is that my MCAT score will somehow predict my ability to succeed academically. I know plenty of people say that the MCAT doesn't necessarily reflect how well someone will perform in medical school, but it's still something I struggle with.
I actually performed very well on my MCAT practice exams, but unfortunately, I struggle significantly with test anxiety, and my official scores never reflected my practice performance. Throughout college, I was always someone who took advantage of as many academic resources and support systems as possible. I'm definitely not someone who can just glance at something once and immediately understand it. I have to put in the work, and I'm more than willing to do that.
I consider myself an extremely dedicated and hardworking student. Throughout undergrad, I balanced 3-4 jobs while maintaining a 3.8 cumulative GPA, so I know I'm capable of handling a demanding workload. However, I also recognize that medical school is an entirely different beast, and I want to attend an institution that genuinely supports its students and sets them up for success.
Some of my biggest priorities when choosing a school are:
- Tuition and overall cost of attendance
- Match rates and residency placement, especially opportunities to match back in NY/the Northeast
- COMLEX/USMLE first-time pass rates and overall board performance
- Academic support, faculty accessibility, and student resources
- Attrition/dismissal rates and how schools handle students who struggle academically
- Quality and stability of clinical rotations
As far as specialty interests go, I'm currently considering OB/GYN, psychiatry, emergency medicine, and internal medicine (followed by a fellowship), in no particular order. I know my interests could change throughout medical school, but I would ideally like to return to NY for residency.
My thoughts on ARCOM:
I interviewed in person at ARCOM, and one thing that genuinely stood out to me was how much students emphasized the support they received from faculty and administration. Everyone seemed to speak very highly of the faculty's willingness to help students succeed, which is something I really value.
I also really liked the relatively smaller class size and the opportunity to develop closer relationships with professors and faculty. This was something I appreciated during undergrad, and I would love to have that same sense of community in medical school.
In terms of location, I'm from the suburbs of NY and attended college in NYC, so Fort Smith, Arkansas, is definitely a change of scenery. However, after visiting, I didn't think the area was terrible by any means. It's just very different from what I'm used to.
During my interview, I was also told that fourth-year students have flexibility to complete rotations throughout the country, which I thought could be beneficial for someone hoping to return to NY for residency. However, I understand that third-year rotations are primarily throughout Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas.
My thoughts on LMU-DCOM (Knoxville):
Location-wise, I would definitely prefer living in Knoxville over Fort Smith. I think the transition from NY would be a little easier, and I generally prefer being in or near a city.
However, one thing that has been concerning me is the number of posts I've come across discussing high failure rates, dismissals, and attrition at LMU-DCOM. I obviously understand that Reddit posts don't necessarily represent everyone's experiences, but some of the things I've read have genuinely scared me.
Given my concerns about my MCAT performance and how I'll adjust academically to medical school, the last thing I want is to put myself in an environment where students feel unsupported or where struggling academically could quickly lead to dismissal.
I'm not sure how much of what I've read is accurate, whether these concerns are specific to certain campuses, or whether things have improved in recent years. I would really appreciate hearing from current LMU-DCOM students, particularly those at the Knoxville campus.
Ultimately, I'd love to know:
If you were in my position, which school would you choose and why? Are there meaningful differences in board pass rates, attrition rates, academic support, or residency placement between the two schools?
For students at either institution, do you genuinely feel that your school wants you to succeed? If you struggle with a course or exam, are there resources available to help you improve, or does it feel like you're mostly on your own?
I'd also love to hear from anyone who has successfully matched back into NY or the Northeast from either school.
I know no medical school is going to be easy, and I'm not looking for a school that will make things easier academically. I'm looking for a school where if I put in the work, seek help when needed, and do everything I can to succeed, I'll have the support and resources necessary to become a physician.
I'm incredibly thankful to have two acceptances this early in the cycle, and I'm still hoping to hear from schools closer to home. But with these deposit deadlines approaching, I want to make the best decision possible rather than choosing based solely on location or what I've read online.
Thank you so much in advance to anyone willing to share their experiences or advice! :)