Have any current SOMA student done a PRO/CON assessment of the school recently? I'd be interested to hear current students thoughts on the school!
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=5220815&postcount=27
{quoted from the link}
Curriculum: Small group, student-centered learning (neither PBL, nor lecutre format, but a hybrid). The curriculum itself is organized by system and incorporates the Clinical Presentation Model developed at Calgary University, which postulates that there are exactly 125 ways in which patients present to physicians. Also, unique is the fact that starting in the second year, clinical education will begin at a CHC (see below).
Location: First year is spent in beautiful, sunny Mesa, AZ (10min outside of Pheonix). The second through fourth years are spent at one of ten Community Health Centers (CHCs) which are located across the country from Hawaii to New York. At the time of acceptance, students are given their CHC assignment. The CHC's are part of the nation's healthcare safety net, serving the un/under-insured populations.
Cost: Middle range for DO schools
Financial Aid: Mainly Federal
Faculty: TBD....President is former head of AACOM, faculty still being assembled.
Reputation: TBD...currently riding on the reputation of its parent campus KCOM, the original school of osteopathy. How the schools own reputation grows, remains to be seen.
Technology: Very high-tech. All students are required to purchase a tablet computer custom-made for SOMA. Patient simulators, video/podcast lectures from main campus in years 2-4, etc. School is striving to stay abreast of the best technology.
Study Space/Library: Very small library, but study rooms are sprinkled throughout the building.
Library technology/Resources:Most books are on-line.
Rotations: Rotations are based on the Integrated Clerkship Model developed by Harvard University. Rather than the traditional separate rotations, IM, Peds, OB/GYN, FP rotations will occur all at once at the assigned CHC. Hospital-based rotations such as surgery and EM will take place at an associated hospital.
Social: Should be awesome. In year 1, you're located a few minutes from Pheonix, one of the largest urban centers in the US and all the natural parks of AZ. The CHC's are mostly located in large Urban centers, such as Seattle and New York, or near beaches such as Waianae, Hawaii or Beaufort, South Carolina.
Hospitals: TBA. As mentioned most education will take place within the CHC. The CHC's serve 15 million people annually and provide comprehensive evidence-based medical care.
Post Grad: TBA. School is very primary-care, non-tertiary care oriented.
Cafeteria Food: TBA (small cafeteria)
Cafeteria Prices: TBA