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bostonson

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current student for 2008-2009. ask anyway anything.




BU GMS is a 2 year program that can be completed in 1 year.

below i have written the pathway if you wish to do it in 1 year or 2 years.



-1 year: first two semesters(fall1+spring1) are coursework, afterwhich 2 summer sessions are devoted to library thesis. in total 4 semesters of work has to be done. exactly 1 year you will have a completed GMS M.A. degree.

-2 years: first two semesters(fall1+spring1) are coursework, afterwhich the following summer session + fall2 semester ORfall2 semester and spring2 semester. in this scenario library or laboratory research can be chosen for a thesis. in this pathway, you will get your GMS M.A. degree in approximately 2 years. just remember the last 2 semesters of being registered at BU must be consecutive(so you cannot go summer session 2 + spring2 for example, because you skip over fall2 and thus they are not consecutive)

VERY Important: The program is designed to be completed in 2 years, they do not encourage people applying to medical/dental/whatever when you enter the program...although it is possible. you will NOT get into BU medical school if you apply to it going into the program(unless your application is amazing, in which case there is no reason to go to GMS in the first place).

The summer after your first year is when you retake MCAT(if you need to) and apply to med/dental/whatever school. this is the way it is designed, and thats how people are successful in this program...please keep this in mind and don't be mislead by what other ppl or BU might say.

Other post-bacs may stress applying to med/dental/whatever while going into the program.... BUT NOT AT BU.


 
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I got one for you...

Do most students apply to med schools before their year or after? It seems Georgetown really urges you to apply before, but Boston's website gives little to no info...

Also, how many of the students end up going to Boston?
 
Hi! When do you typicallly find out about acceptance to the program?

Is there housing on campus?

How big are the class sizes?

Thanks for your help!!
 
What percent of the matriculants in the program get into domestic med schools?
Does it really take two years?
 
DocOllie: most will apply to med school in the summer following their first GMS year(for example if you were registering for fall 2009-2010 GMs, you would apply for 2011 aamc cycle)

premedinpa:
-acceptance times varies. if you keep on calling natasha (admissions) she will review your application earlier. i was accepeted in a week, but i applied very late and kept calling her on the phone... don't take my exp. as typical
-yes housing is available. they have apartments(1 bedroom, studio, 2 bedroom) through the school. right across the street from the med school.
-my class is 170+. it basically gets bigger everyyear i assume.

squiggy:
-i have no real figures, so i can't be 100% sure. but from what they tell us, after 2 years in the program, over 75% get into the school they want (may or may not be medicine). from my experience here, its probably lower if you do it in 1 year.
-no it doesn't take 2 'years'. it requires 4 semesters, but lots of students just take 2 semester over the summer. so essentially you get your master's degree in approxiamtely 1 year.
 
bostonson - I think you may have missed my other question... How many end up matriculating into Boston?
 
DocOllie

I am also a current GMS'er. In the past they have accepted 10-15 people. So work your butt off to get into the top 10 percent!
 
do you think taking the MCAT april 4th would assure a rejection for me? for fall 2009? because it's considered on the late end of the app cycle? i emailed BU last week regarding this, but no reply yet.

thanks!
 
nysnow: yes its on the late side. but there is no real deadline. so you have nothing to lose. like i said before, i applied really late (august) and i got in. so go for it
 
What were your stats (MCAT, GPA...)? And how selective is the post bacc program?
 
butterfizzles:

26
3.49

usually most ppl here have a decent mcat and lower grades. but overall very high 20's low 30's mcat and low 3 range for GPA is what most students have. i belive maybe 500-600 ppl applied, so you can imagine a good number of ppl didn't get accepted.
 
Hey bostonson, I am currently applying to the BU GMS and am having difficult writing my personal statement. Should I just say in so many word that the BU program is a conduit to medical school? basically how should i structure my statement for a post bac program?
Thanks
 
ssding ,

from day 1,they tell us that this program is a stepping stone to medicine. so essentally writing an essay about that is perfectly fine.
 
hey bostonson,
do you know of any predents who are in the oral health sciences track that u could put me in touch with? thanks man.
 
When does Boston normally notify students of an admissions decision? I received an email today that my application is complete.

Thanks!
 
No worries man, thanks though!
 
premedinpa: anywhere from 2-4 months from the people i know who got accepeted. i can't guarantee you a time, but i know that if you follow up and keep asking michelle about the status, she will review your file quicker for sure.
 
heya bostonson 🙂 quick questions about the GSM program. Would you happen to know the proportion of MS to PhD in the program? also, what kind of things should i prepare for at the interview? It sounds like a pretty content filled day.

Thanks a bunch!
 
Mystic87: im currently doing the M.A. program for medical post-bac. so there are no MS or PhD students doing my specific program, so i can't help you there.

momoinque: Core classes are mostly afternoon/morning like college. some of the elective classes might be at night, but for the most part during the day
 
I am going to be starting this program this Fall and wanted some advice on where to live?

I am looking for a one bedroom place for around $1000/month, is that feasible? do you know any specific area/apartment complexes I should look into?

thanks for your help
 
Here are my questions:

1) My acceptance letter says I have to accept or deny my spot within 14 DAYS. This seems like little time to think about my options. I haven't heard back from other schools I have applied to. What's their deal with the 14 days?

2) Like pdiddy916, I will be looking into housing as well. However, I'm desperately hoping to keep the rent WAY under $1000/month. I know Boston is an expensive city to live in, but are there any cheap housing options??

3) Are there any ways to make money while in school? Like helping teach an undergrad class or working a few hours at the hospitals? I know the school work will be rigorous and time consuming, but I'm very concerned about the costs associated with living there.
 
pdiddy916: a one-bedroom near school for 1k/mo? very hard to get, and it'll most likely be in roxbury or dorchester neighborhood (two ghetto/bad areas). i would suggest getting a roommate, or a studio if a roomie is outta the question. common places to live are on commonwealth ave(where the BU undergrad is) and harbor point. both of these places are anywhere from 20-40 mins from school.

Dave Rini at the Office of Housing Resources( 617-638-5125) helped me find a place to live, he knows his stuff. talk to him

irishcream312: 1.) no idea about those 14 days, ask natasha how strict it is.
2.)above
3.)i suggest taking out loans. this program is more rigorous than you think it is. you do not want any distractions. but if you really had to get a job, the office has job offers for secrety/tutoring work from time to time. paid research is available sometimes, but i doubt the labs will be flexible.
 
Thanks bostonson! I'm sure I'll have more questions the closer enrollment gets...
 
irishcream312 when did you apply? I am waiting to hear back and was curious as to when you applied and got accepted to see how much longer i have to wait! Thanks!
 
Hi premedinpa, I got an official email that my application was complete and up for review on Februray 20th and then got my letter in the mail on March 24th... so about a month. Hope that gives you a ballpark for when you'll hear back! Good luck!
 
how many people actually go towards a concentration in the program? I am interested in having a concentration but don't want to place too much additional burden on myself. Do you have classes you prefer or classes that we should stay away from ?
 
pdiddy916: very few do concentrations, but i do not know the exact number. just take the required classes and the med classes. like i said before, it is more rigorous than you think it is. don't take classes the advisors don't recommend
 
Bostonson,

Does BU give a designated GPA to obtain in the MAMS program where an automatic acceptance to BU is granted?

Appreciated!
 
hwpo said:
Bostonson,

Does BU give a designated GPA to obtain in the MAMS program where an automatic acceptance to BU is granted?

Appreciated!
Click to expand...

I'm almost certain that you can't get automatic acceptance to BU from this program, although a lot of GMS people that do well do end up getting in.
 
Thanks anyway Bostonson! =)
Looks like i'm moving to Boston...man this is gonna be interesting. Indeed housing is very expensive in Boston. Where do most of the med/ grad students live?
 
hwpo / gujodoc: no automatic acceptance for any gpa. most suggest 3.5+ for interview

gujodoc: yes its 32 credits, yes you can do it in 1 year over the summer. its your choice. they suggest 2 years because it gives you more breathing space. also your not going anywhere for a year as you apply to schools, so might as well stretch it out.

Mystic87: harbor point is common because its more affordable. some even live in the school run apartments (harrison court). the rest are scattered
 
yes you can still do it in 1 yr, so you can apply while in the program. and no, i don't know if theres a status page. you can just give them a call no problem.
 
program is good. some advisors are good, some don't know anything
 
If you do it the normal way, it can take from 1 month to longer.

You can, however, get your application accelerated immediately to the next review session (accepted in 10 days in my case) if you request it as your first choice. You gotta send a fax with a cover sheet stating BU is your first choice along with a list of where you got accepted and where you have applied. Of course, I'd call Natasha first before you send it out, to give her a heads up.
 
Yeah a lot of people prefer georgetown because of the linked schools and the 1 year program.

I wanted to do research and write a thesis, so I preferred doing the BU. Anyway, from what I know, talking to Bostonson and a few other BU GMS students, it is actually fairly easy to complete BU in a year. The way you have to do it is:

One year of Courses, and then two summer semesters of a library thesis (lab thesis will probably be longer). However, whether you do one year or two, your second year (or your summer semesters) can be part time status and so you only need to pay a quarter or so of the full time tuition .

As for WHEN you start applying, it seems you do it as soon as your first year is over (while you start your thesis.) This is a little bit different from GU where they encourage you to apply after the first semester to get you into one of their linked schools.
 
So just to clarify, from what I hear from this and other forums,

-Many people got accepted into other SMPs along with BU's, and most would put BU at the top of their list b/c of reputation & matriculation statistics...
-But BU emphasizes a 2 year deal, so people don't end up choosing BU

BUT

-But from what I hear not just on this thread, but others as well, the only real difference between the 1 year and 2 year deal is whether or not to fit the Laboratory thesis (1 extra year) into the Library thesis (2 summer semesters)

SO
-if i'm correct, more people WOULD HAVE signed up with BU's program if they knew that the "extra year" is actually just a thesis that they could squish into 2 semesters, and that Medical school applications could be done concurrently (so in the end, BU can be a 1 year program). Is my path of logic right?

Follow-up question, then:
Do you what percent of the class opts to do the library thesis and finish in a year? I heard somewhere (don't know how true) that you really need to go out of your way to plan differently from the 2 year track, so I just wanted to know if I would have a big 1 year support group.
 
I don't think that's accurate. No person would ever try to bother with that little credits per semester. The 8 credits of Lab Thesis is something you should be aiming for if you want more credits than the Library Thesis, not as a replacement for 8 credits (though you can and only take 24 real credits over 2 years which is kind of crap)!

"Students wishing to complete all the requirements of the program in 12 months must register full-time (12-16 credits) in the fall and spring semesters and for at least two credits in both summer sessions, or pay the continuing student fee for each of the two summer semesters."

This seems to be the general way even two year lab thesis people do as well. They take a full course load of 24-32 credits the first year finish most (if not all) their course work the first year, then add another 8 credits the second year.

If you do the library thesis and want to finish in a year, as far as I know you must finish nearly all of 32 credits (if not straight out all of it) in the first year, then finish your library thesis by the end of the summer. You don't even have to attend school as long as you pay the continuing student fee.

Also, while 32 credits divide by 4 does equal 8 credits per semester, I don't think anyone in their right mind would only take 2 courses per semester considering that some people have even bothered to pursue a second masters, for example, in MPH during those two years. As stated before, with the flexibility given in this particular program and because SMP is to prove your competency, I think you'd have to be crazy to play the "safe game" and try to wing by with a meager 8 credits per semester.

jodo11 said:
-if i'm correct, more people WOULD HAVE signed up with BU's program if they knew that the "extra year" is actually just a thesis that they could squish into 2 semesters, and that Medical school applications could be done concurrently (so in the end, BU can be a 1 year program). Is my path of logic right?

Follow-up question, then:
Do you what percent of the class opts to do the library thesis and finish in a year? I heard somewhere (don't know how true) that you really need to go out of your way to plan differently from the 2 year track, so I just wanted to know if I would have a big 1 year support group.
Click to expand...

 I think that's basically right jodo11. And as stated before, if you finish the full 32 credits in the first two semesters, you can finish the thesis outside of BU, though you gotta pay the "continuing student fee" which makes you a part time student (I think).

It is slightly different in that for Georgetown they encourage you to apply DURING the first year, while BU, at the earliest, would be after your first year.

Bostonson is doing the 1 year "plan" and his GPA is phenomenal. Hopefully he can answer for us.

 
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From what I understand, the way a typical student arranges their classes goes like this (Someone correct me if i'm wrong):

A student who wishes to do 2 years, lab research:
1st Semester - A minimum of 12 credits
2nd Semester - A minimum of 12 credits
--Start Applying--
3rd+4th (Normal) Semester - Register as a Part Time student and conduct research (8 credits?)/thesis
What I'm not sure is if you can obtain part time status before fulfilling the 32 credits, in which case you would have to run 16/semester.

A student who wishes to do 1 year, library research:
1st semester - 12+
2nd semester - 12+
3rd+4th SUMMER semester - finish whatever credits you need + library thesis
-- apply at some point during summer --

It is considered abnormal to do research the first two semesters (although some do apparently), and it seems like most put the thesis (library or lab) off until the 3rd and 4th semester.
 
everything's so clear now... thanks for all the responses.

so does anyone know what percent of the class finishes in 1 year?
 
Don't know the answer to that but one person stated 75% of the students are accepted to medical school (DO, Caribbean, MD) after year 1 and even more are accepted after year 2.

Another person stated: "So to break it down, if you apply during your first semester, getting into medical school is not too likely. If you apply after your first year, chances are pretty good, I say over 50%. If you apply after your second year your chances of matriculating is about 85% which is what the program told us."
 
Hi guys, I'm a former GMS student, now a 3rd year med student at BUSM. PM if you have any questions. I'll try to follow this thread and answer any questions I can.
 
gujudoc - my acceptance came in through mail
 
yes, susan wilcox knows me well.

first off you will not get a committe/deans letter in the middle of the first year. you must complete the first year's coursework before you can get this letter(which is one big reason your going to BU GMS). but overall yes, you could say she isn't supportive of ppl applying year 1, but that doesn't mean shes a difficult/bad person.

you can get regular recommendations from professors whenever you want, no problem.

i think it has been stated multiple times in this thread... but there is still some confusion over the whole 1 year/2 year deal. thats one reason why i made this thread so ppl don't get mislead by this program like myself and others did. please refer to the first post on this thread for clarification.
 
I've been accepted to both Tufts and BU and am in the process of selecting where I want to go this fall.

While discussing my plans with my family doctor he told me to absolutely not go to BU because all they worry about is the money and their numbers and it will be an impersonal experience. I also read somewhere on SDN that the class size was 220 kids...

I'm worried if I go to BU I may get lost in the crowd. Then again maybe what I heard wasn't true. Are the BU advisors on top of their students or is everything only about the "top 10%"...?
 
Absolutely don't go to BU med or BU? Unless the family doctor took the BU GMS program, I am hesitant to take his word for more than a grain of salt. Besides, it is all, unfortunately, all about the numbers in SMP programs. If you don't get a phenomonal GPA it will be a problem. Also, it may be a personal experience than anything else to view something as all numbers. Life and med school is for a large portion all about numbers - that's why you're here, trying to get into a SMP in the first place?

I believe the class size in the past has been capped at 180. The fact that practically the 15-20 or so students I've talked to basically said practically everyone gets into medical school, makes me feel comfortable that they are managing to get large numbers of people in.
 
So my question is unrelated to what has been discussed thus far. I am currently looking for housing and have kept my searches for apartments in Brookline and Brighton at the behest of friends from Boston. However, several of the realtors have told me that it may be best to look at apartments near South End, since it is closer to the medical campus. Should I ignore their suggestions and listen to my friends from the area? I am looking for a really great 1BR, and honestly a 30min commute is not a major deterent. Any information on the best places to look for an apartment?
 
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