Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine – Midwestern University
CCOM’s great educational reputation makes it a good choice for students seeking to attend medical school in suburban community. By taking advantage of the many resources Downer’s Grove has to offer, CCOM provides a great opportunity for students to get a solid medical foundation in a more typical college atmosphere. CCOM is a family-friendly school that allows students to focus on their education while providing resources and amenities that familys will find necessary.
School Mission/Focus: “CCOM educates osteopathic physicians to provide quality compassionate care; promotes the practice of osteopathic medicine; and encourages lifelong learning, research and service. CCOM Values: The Achievement of Educational Excellence Through: Leadership, Teamwork, Commitment, Integrity, Professionalism.. (www.aacom.org)” Location: CCOM is located in Downer’s Grove, Illinois which is an affluent suburb of Chicago.
Application Requirements:GPA (Cumulative): 2.75 minimum (recommended GPA of over 3.0) GPA (Science): 2.75 minimum (recommended GPA of over 3.0) MCAT: Required. No data is available for a minimum score required on the MCAT (average MCAT score for ’07 matriculates was 27) In addition to a Bachelor’s Degree, student must have completed the follow undergraduate course work:
- English (6 semester hours)
- Biology (8 semester hours) – must include a laboratory
- Physics (8 semester hours)
- General or Inorganic Chemistry (8 semester hours) – must include a laboratory
- Organic Chemistry (8 semester hours) – must include a laboratory
Background check required: Yes All students meeting the minimum application requirements will be sent a secondary application which should be returned as soon as possible. Secondary applications will require:
- Letters of reference – 1 letter from a physician (MD or DO – DO is preferable), 1 letter from Admissions Committee Boards, or Science Faculty member
- $50 application fee
Curriculum:CCOM follows a traditional method of medical education, the first and second years being dedicated to learning the basic sciences and principles of medicine and the last two years spent in clinical rotations. Here is a typical course schedule:
1st Year Biochemistry I & II Gross Anatomy I & II Histology History of Medicine Clinical Medicine I, II & III Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine I, II & III Psychiatry I, II & III Health Care Issues Patient Physician Dialog Physiology I & II Embryology Neuroscience Immunology Electives 2nd Year
Pathology I, II & IIIOsteopathic Man. Med. IV, V & VI Microbiology I & II Pharmacology I, II & III Practice of Medicine I, II & III Patient, Physicians & Society Electives
3rd Year Rotations
Internal Medicine (8 weeks) Surgery (8 weeks) Ob/Gyn (6 weeks) Pediatrics (6 weeks) Family Med/Community Health Electives (4 weeks)
4th Year Rotations
Surgery Rotation III Internal Medicine Rotation III – V Emergency Medicine (4 weeks) Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (4 weeks) Clinical Integration Seminar Family Medicine II (4 weeks) Elective Rotations II – V
School Demographics:
Total Enrollment: 675
Total Male: 317
Total Female: 358
First Year Enrollment: 173
Cost of Attending:
Tuition: $44,643 (non-resident), $40,122 (resident) Fees: $430
Living in Downer’s Grove, IL:
Population: Downer’s Grove has an estimated total population of 49,136. It is located West of the Chicago Metropolitan area which has an estimated population of over 9.7 million people.
Demographics: Downer’s Grove consists primarily of middle-upper class families.The population can be broken down as follows: 87.27% of people are white, 2.21% are black, 7.30% are asian, 0.13% are native american, and 2.55% claim ‘Other’.
Housing: Housing can be very expensive in Downer’s Grove. The median home value is $438,900. Students will likely want to look for rental homes or cheaper real estate in nearby communities with slightly lower housing costs. According to American Baby Magazine’s “Best Cities for New Families, Chicago has the cleanest tap water in the nation.
Cost of Living: The cost of living in Downer’s Grove is also significantly higher than the national average. All aspects of living expenses tend to be high in this area. However, the close proximity of amenities and city life is beneficial to some students who are not on a very limited budget.
Employment Opportunities: There are many jobs available in and around Downer’s Grove. Most students seeking employment will likely commute to Chicago metro for work. Weather: Downer’s Grove is located in a very humid area which tends to create extremes in temperature. Summers have been known to each well into the triple digits and winter temperatures can plummet below freezing. With the added humidity, these conditions can make the weather extremely uncomfortable for those not used to the climate. Here are average temperatures for January and July (in Fahrenheit):
January: High = 32, Low = 14
July: High = 87, Low = 63
Things to do: With the Chicago metro area so close, Downer’s Grove has more than enough entertainment and amenities for anyone. Chicago has something that will meet the needs of anyone who lives there. Chicago is well known for diverse food and culture. Be prepared to spend money when enjoying the entertainment as city life can be very expensive. Chicago is rated as Forbes.com #5 “Best Cities For Singles, 2008.“
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