How long should my personal statement be?
What is the structure of this program and how hard is it?
Where would you recommend living?
I know nothing.
1) Long enough to get your point across, short enough so people will actually read it. It's one of those things where its up to you, use your discretion and don't submit a novel
2) The program really has 2 courses:
Anatomy and
Histology. Neuroscience is also a course but is optional (and also after you get interviewed/decision). During anatomy you are taking a full med school course load. For histology, you are only taking about 1/3 of an integrated course that runs from october --> march so it's fairly doable. Really the only requirement is for you to excel for 2.5 months (Anatomy) and that is enough to get an interview. Acceptance is not guaranteed but historically it has been positive (100 percent of us who interviewed were accepted).
I think the best way to understand how good this program is by comparing it to other programs. I personally have experienced Georgetown SMP and also know a bunch of others non-ACPs who did Drexel, RWJ, BU. They are all great programs but lets look at what you have to do to "Get in" which is our goal.
Tulane ACP: Take 2 medical courses. Beat the average in one that last 2.5 months. Work with your classmates since everyone who does the requirement will get an interview and nearly everyone who gets an interview gets accepted. Small class size with no cut off in accepted students = you work well with your classmates and the faculty is invested in getting you through. In addition, as an ACP you are grouped with 5 other med students into the dissection labs for anatomy.
Tulane treats you like a med student rather than some post-bacc tagging along. I can't speak for other post-baccs but I know for Georgetown they just gave us NetAnatomy and a couple of hours to go in the labs to look at post-dissected bodies. Getting hands on work is clutch for understanding anatomy and the anatomy groups really make you a part of the med class.
Other Post-Bacc: Take nearly every medical course and earn honors in most if not all (that means top 10% of MEDICAL class). Meanwhile, compete with up to 180 post-bacc students for interview spots. Compete with everyone in the interview to get reserved spots. Pay 4 times as much. You get faculty advisors, but they aren't as involved in your day to day.
I'm not bitter about my experience at SMP because I valued the learning experience, however, I have met many people from these other post-baccs during interviews and elsewhere that have had similar frustrations. Being in the top 20% of the medical class in these programs is usually not enough in to get to your final goal: med school. Everyone can do well, but I'm happy I found a road with the higher chance and more supportive environment.
I don't want to give the impression ACP is easy. There have been ACP classes where several didn't beat the average (the averages are quite high here). It's going to take hard work. The difference is that if you work hard, you will get into med school. In other programs, if you work hard, you only have a chance to get into med school.
Addendum: So I lied, there's more to the program than doing well. Tulane is all about creating well balanced and respectful physicians. They are excellent at recruiting students who work hard and play harder. It's nice to be in a place where when you leave the stress of class you don't need to walk into the stress of dealing with troublesome classmates. Tulane makes an effort to make sure their students will all "fit" hence why we as ACP students are so integrated to the med class. That means that not only do you need to do well, but you need to have a good attitude. Are you someone who is helpful, friendly and courteous? Then Tulane ACP is for you. Gunners are welcome, cutthroats are not.
3) We live in all areas of New Orleans, each having its own benefit. There are a bunch of neighborhoods depending on your preference and there is also on campus housing that some use.
@INOHELP
Regarding stats, I'm pretty sure I could find the average but it wouldn't tell you anything. We have those with a really high MCAT and low GPA or less competitive MCAT and high GPA. Some have both high MCAT and high GPA. Some have low of both. What I am saying is the student profile is the same as most med schools: competitive applicants or competitive applicants with flaws. Don't forget you must have been waitlisted at a US med school to apply so at least one admissions committee has to have believed you were capable. I would say if you are waitlisted just apply. I know that a lot of us (including me) came off the waitlist for ACP which meant that people who were accepted for the program ended up getting to their school.
I called again but it was already 4 o'clock in New Orleans so they were closed. I'll try to contact them again today and see if I can send the info to them. Again, thank you.
