Midwestern University Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine

CCOM organizes the preclinical years around a weekly symptom rather than organ systems alone. Dani Sychowski describes weeks where the symptom ties together lectures, anatomy, osteopathic manipulative medicine, and the physical exam lab, though not every week lines up that neatly.

Dani notes that lectures are optional, recorded, and posted within hours, and that courses are letter-graded, with a few pass/fail exceptions.

The mandatory Early Clinical Contact Program places first- and second-years with a preceptor, where students write SOAP notes and get physician feedback. Students can also volunteer in local community health clinics and a student-run OMM clinic on campus.

Third- and fourth-year core rotations, including family medicine, internal medicine, surgery, pediatrics, psychiatry, and OB/GYN, take place at approved affiliated sites around Chicago.

Classes are large, around 200 students, but Dani has never felt cut-throat competition. Classmates share notes and mnemonics in group chats, and a big-little program pairs each first-year with a second-year.

With dozens of student organizations, from wilderness medicine to food as medicine, Dani says it’s easy to find your people.

The campus is in Downers Grove, a western suburb, with Chicago an easy drive or train ride away. It backs onto the Lyman Woods forest preserve, with a trail gate right on campus.

Dani lives on campus in the student dorms and notes the suburbs offer restaurants, a Saturday farmers market, and Naperville close by.