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I am a senior undergraduate student in college from Tennessee. I have received interview requests from all 7 of the podiatry schools and have already interviewed at Scholl in Chicago. I am also scheduled to interview at two other schools within the next two weeks. I was very impressed with Scholl but I wanted to know if anyone has seen some legitimate school rankings or have any advice for me about the schools. I just want the best education possible (as everyone does) and I have found it hard to seperate the schools simply by online information. Thank you.

Well congratulations with your interviews! Unfortunately there are no real rankings for the schools, but I graduated from Temple in 1999. In meeting different students/former students in residency and practice, I have found that Philly, San Fran, and Chicago are the best schools and attract the best students. Of course, there are exceptions to the rule, as I have meet very bright students from the other schools also. Traditionally, Temple is the hardest school academically, while San Fran has the best biomechanics program. My advice is to go the one of these three schools; either way you will have a great education and you will learn whatever you bring to your educational experience! Good luck!

There has never been rankings, to my knowledge, of the US podiatry colleges. I don't know if the rankings would be much use either since what may be important to one student may not be important to another student. I graduated from the California College of Podiatric Medicine in 1983. At the time, it was widely thought by many podiatry students that I talked to that CCPM and the Pennsyvania Colleg (now Temple) were the best podiatry schools. At that time there were only five schools in number, with the other three being the New York, Cleveland and Chicago schools.

In the 22 years since I graduated from CCPM, much has changed. There are now schools in Florida (Barry) and in Des Moines, Iowa. There is a new school also now in Arizona. CCPM has moved to Oakland and is affiliated with Samuel Merritt College and is now called the California School of Podiatric Medicine (CSPM). I teach at CSPM about four times a year.

I would say that the education at each of the schools is good but I know nothing about the quality of the new Arizona school. I have trained residents from many of the podiatric medical schools in the country and the bottom line seems to be that the best students (who are the ones I get to train as residents) will do well at any of the schools.

Unless you don't want to go to school in sunny California in the beautiful Bay Area of the Golden State, I would highly suggest visiting the Oakland campus before you make a decision on your podiatry college of choice. I am a member of the biomechanics faculty there and am also involved in administrative decisions for CSPM. Since I know most of the faculty personally, I don't think you will find a better faculty anywhere in the US. Of course, as you can imagine, I am definitely biased in favor of my alma mater but think that you would be very well educated at CSPM. Plus, you will get the finest podiatric biomechanics education offered anywhere in the US...again my bias may be showing through.

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Sincerely,

Kevin

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Kevin A. Kirby, DPM
Adjunct Associate Professor
Department of Applied Biomechanics
California School of Podiatric Medicine at Samuel Merritt College

e-mail: kevinakirby@comcast.net

Private Practice:
107 Scripps Drive, Suite 200
Sacramento, CA 95825 USA
My location

Voice: (916) 925-8111 Fax: (916) 925-8136
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M Butler, I have emailed you my response.

DPM school is an uphill battle and it is conjoined with your personal and emotional health. It is a decision that will make you wonder some day why the heck you did not do something with your life. Perhaps you have a rap sheet or a hiccup on the olod personality meter. DPM will be scarred upon you forever no matter what you do. Soon to be banned from this site for sharing the ugly truth about the wicked world of DPMs.