Independent Podiatry Schools vs. Affiliated Podiatry Schools

[BoilerRunner]

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Hello everyone,

I just wanted to pose a question regarding independent podiatry schools (such as OCPM) versus podiatry schools that are part of a larger institution (such as Scholl). Do you think that there are more or less benefits either way? I have heard opinions supporting each side. For example, some think there are more benefits attending an independent podiatry school because all of the resources are dedicated solely for the study of podiatry. On the other hand, others think (including a podiatrist I have shadowed) that more benefits can be attained attending an affiliated college because the podiatry student has the opportunity to interact with MDs, DOs, and students with other backgrounds with the result that the student's educational experience is diversified and therefore more enriched.

I am asking this question because I was recently accepted into the Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine and I have an upcoming interview at Scholl, which as you all probably already know is part of the larger institution of Rosalind Franklin University. Assuming I get accepted into Scholl as well, I will have to make a decision. Many of the opinions I have received have come from officials from podiatry schools, and I feel that they may be giving me the answer that puts their school in the best light. So I just wanted to pose this question to random people out there and see what your thoughts were on this matter. Any helpful comments will be much appreciated. Thanks in advance! 🙂

 

[spo01]

Hello everyone,

I just wanted to pose a question regarding independent podiatry schools (such as OCPM) versus podiatry schools that are part of a larger institution (such as Scholl). Do you think that there are more or less benefits either way? I have heard opinions supporting each side. For example, some think there are more benefits attending an independent podiatry school because all of the resources are dedicated solely for the study of podiatry. On the other hand, others think (including a podiatrist I have shadowed) that more benefits can be attained attending an affiliated college because the podiatry student has the opportunity to interact with MDs, DOs, and students with other backgrounds with the result that the student's educational experience is diversified and therefore more enriched.

I am asking this question because I was recently accepted into the Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine and I have an upcoming interview at Scholl, which as you all probably already know is part of the larger institution of Rosalind Franklin University. Assuming I get accepted into Scholl as well, I will have to make a decision. Many of the opinions I have received have come from officials from podiatry schools, and I feel that they may be giving me the answer that puts their school in the best light. So I just wanted to pose this question to random people out there and see what your thoughts were on this matter. Any helpful comments will be much appreciated. Thanks in advance! 🙂

There is no right or wrong answer you just have to find what works for you. Which type of atmosphere do you learn best in? Do you want to be part of the undergrad "college type" atsmosphere or do you want to be surrounded by only students in the health field? Do you want warm weather year round or do you want the seasons? Do you want a lot of diversity or a fairly homogenous student body? When you visited the school did you get a good vibe from the place? Do you want to be close to family or mind being further away? etc etc...

Also *personally* talk to or write upperclassman or residents in the program and ask them how they felt the school prepared them. Each school excels in certain areas and falls short in others, so it's not about finding a school that is perfect but more about finding a school that is perfect for you.

 

[Feli]

...some think there are more benefits attending an independent podiatry school because all of the resources are dedicated solely for the study of podiatry...

This is a common misconception.

By FAR, the biggest "resource" any training program has is its educators. At the stand alone pod schools, many professors will not be full time faculty, they will be adjuncts with their main income elsewhere. The are teaching at the stand alone pod school in addition to other area health sciences schools and/or probably running their clinic if they hold a clinical degree. Dedicated? Depends on the individual and their priorities I guess. Since the stand alone pod school is unlikely to be their major source of income or working hours, it's pretty logical that the course(s) they teach there aren't likely to be their top priority.

At the integrated pod programs, more faculty will be full time employees of the university. They won't be 100% dedicated to pod lecturing either. Depending on their function, they'll almost always also have clinical, admin, or lecturing responsibilities for other programs - but at that same university instead of across town, as the stand alone adjunct profs were.

In the end, you want to find the best program for you. Talking to upper classmen or alums is the best way to learn. There's no way you can see all the angles at the interview, so unfortunately, a lot of students just pick on facilities, location, or promise from the admission staff...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kawjAsAWe_M&feature=related

 

[BoilerRunner]

Hey guys, thanks for the responses! I really appreciate your input. I just had my interview at Scholl a few days ago and I had a chance to talk to some upperclassmen there about their opinions. There were mixed views as I had expected but I won't stress about making a decision until I find out if I've even been accepted into Scholl.

Again, thanks for your responses!

 

[footpodguy]

This is a common misconception.



At the integrated pod programs, more faculty will be full time employees of the university. They won't be 100% dedicated to pod lecturing either. Depending on their function, they'll almost always also have clinical, admin, or lecturing responsibilities for other programs - but at that same university instead of across town, as the stand alone adjunct profs were.

In the end, you want to find the best program for you. Talking to upper classmen or alums is the best way to learn. There's no way you can see all the angles at the interview, so unfortunately, a lot of students just pick on facilities, location, or promise from the admission staff...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kawjAsAWe_M&feature=related

I have to agree with this. I went to a private school & we did have professors from outside the school.( both in academic studies, year 1 & 2, as well as the 3rd year) I heard that in Iowa the pods & med students take the same courses. I do not know if this is true or not.

If I had to pick a school....it would be an affilitaed school!!!

 

[footpodguy]

This is a common misconception.

By FAR, the biggest "resource" any training program has is its educators. At the stand alone pod schools, many professors will not be full time faculty, they will be adjuncts with their main income elsewhere. The are teaching at the stand alone pod school in addition to other area health sciences schools and/or probably running their clinic if they hold a clinical degree. Dedicated? Depends on the individual and their priorities I guess. Since the stand alone pod school is unlikely to be their major source of income or working hours, it's pretty logical that the course(s) they teach there aren't likely to be their top priority.

At the integrated pod programs, more faculty will be full time employees of the university. They won't be 100% dedicated to pod lecturing either. Depending on their function, they'll almost always also have clinical, admin, or lecturing responsibilities for other programs - but at that same university instead of across town, as the stand alone adjunct profs were.

In the end, you want to find the best program for you. Talking to upper classmen or alums is the best way to learn. There's no way you can see all the angles at the interview, so unfortunately, a lot of students just pick on facilities, location, or promise from the admission staff...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kawjAsAWe_M&feature=related

I have to agree with the above. I went to a stand alone school & would not do so again. We had professors from outside our school, even in the academic years 1 & 2. This was also true in our 3rd year.

If I had to do it again, it would be a school that was part of a college. I heard that students in some schools with med schools all take the same classes. I do not know of this is true or not. Maybe someone else can let us know.

 

[air bud]

so far at DMU (1st year) we have taken or will take the following classes side by side with the DO's
Anatomy
Biochemistry
Cell and Tissue Biology
Microbiology/Immunology/Virology/Mycology
Physiology
Physical Diagnosis
Pathology
Neuroanatomy
Geriatrics

They have taken OMM, History of Med, and an ethics course separately
We have taken Intro to Pod

 

[WaveOR]

Along the lines of Airbud, @ WesternU we take all the same courses as the DO school the first two years with the exception of OMM (apparently now called OMT haha) and instead we have our pbl pod class.

We work with standardized pts on a regular basic so we learn to take full physicals and diagnose illnesses based on systems. Pretty much prepping us to take the USMLE.

I think Western, DMU, and AZPOD are the only schools that share majority/all of the courses with the DO school.

 

[BoilerRunner]

So it seems that most people would suggest an affiliated school? I just got an acceptance offer today from Scholl and I think I am really leaning towards this school. The students there during my interview day told me that they take a lot of classes with MD students and everyone gets along really well.

Thanks everyone for the info! I'm glad to get some advice from current podiatry students 🙂

 

[UW66]

Boilrunner,
The students here at scholls take 2 class with the MD students where we actually sit in the same lecture hall, anatomy and pathology. Yeah we take a lot of the 'same' courses (biochem histo etc) but we have our own schedule and take em at different times of the year. I donno who told you we take lots but thats just not true. The pathology class is really decent though, the head hanchos of the department are the two guys who wrote the BRS Pathology book, and theyre a blast.

We also take classes with the pathology assistants and phys assistants, and thats a lotta fun. So between them and the MD students we do get the opportunity to hang out and befriend a lot of people outside our class. If youre at all social, and enjoy a larger campus setting (RFU is not large the way an undergrad is, dont get any ideas) RFU is a great place.

RFU also gets a ton of out of town guest lecturers that blow in and outa here pretty regularly. something the smaller podiatry only schools might not have. Not that its a deal breaker by any means, but its certainly a nice bonus to hear what these people have to say on topics unrelated to exclusively podiatry every once in a while.

 

[pipetman]

one thing i wished i did was weigh my options more carefully. while going to a school that was connected to a university meant something to me years ago, i realized later that there were things that mattered more..and each school will graduate successful DPMs, regardless if they take classes with DO's or MD's or not.



if there is a facebook group or if you have any contacts with students from the schools you interviewed at, talk to them. get some more feedback. (an overnight visit with a 2nd or 3rd year would be the move, but may not be realistic) .make a list of things and compare each school. who knows, a huge scholarship from school X , or time off in the summer may mean more to you than who the school is connected to.

just MHO. congrats on the acceptance!

 

[215353]

one thing i wished i did was weigh my options more carefully. while going to a school that was connected to a university meant something to me years ago, i realized later that there were things that mattered more...

What specific things are you speaking of? What school do you attend and what do you not like about it being affiliated with another institution?

Just curious

 

[pipetman]

What specific things are you speaking of? What school do you attend and what do you not like about it being affiliated with another institution?

Just curious

.there's nothing wrong with being afflilated with a larger (i.e DO , MD) school. but it shouldn't be the only criteria in choosing one. i was worried about being just a pod student than a physician that treated the lower extremity if i went to a stand alone school. but even with classes with other students, you are still focused in your scope, and there is a division between pod and DO or whatever. either option graduates competent DPMs. go where you feel you will get the best experience, more importantly where YOU will do the best. that's what I meant. good luck.