Tulane Master's ???

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southerncomfort

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Hi there,
Anyone have any experience with the Tulane MS program in Cell and Molec. Biol.? Good, bad, or other. Success rates? I'll be starting it this fall--hopefully that'll be the stepping-stone. Thanks!
 
I've never heard of this program before, but I'm glad that you mentioned it. I know one thing though- NEW ORLEANS IS GREAT! As you've probably guessed, I'm from there. You will really love New Orleans. I promise. Be sure to PM if you need any advice about the area because I definitely know it well (housing, etc.) Have fun.
 
Hi Brownskinladae,
Thanks! I actually work for Tulane (research) and live in the area, so I was happy to find a program in NO. They actually offer two pre-prof. MS programs--the cell and mol., and one in pharmacology--I think they're both relatively new. I'm looking forward to getting started!
 
My boyfriend graduated from the MS in Human Genetics last May. THis program is another 1-year accelerated Masters program. I believe it is a Tulane Med School linkage program as well, although he chose another med school in the East Coast.

Also, there is the Anatomy Certification program where you take classes in the fall with 1st year med students. HOwever, you do not receive a Masters since the program is just the fall semester and you show off your stuff so Tulane Med can accept you. If you succeed, you get an acceptance for the following fall. During the spring & summer terms you can take MPH classes. I have some friends who are doing this and they loved it! Now they are starting as T1s in a couple of weeks!
 
I am currently in the Tulane Pharmacology (1 year master's) program. It's great if you want a Master's degree, but it didn't help us get into Tulane medical school.
 
What are T1s?
 
Can anyone comment on what New Orleans is like? Whats the city comparable with?
 
Hi, i would also like to attend this Tulane program, and am just curious what kind of linkage it has to the actual med school? If you get a 4.0 there are you basically accepted to Tulane Med? Also how hard are the classes, is it ludicrously hard, and that 4.0 is unattainable?
Finally, how hard is it to get into this program. Would a 3.1 from an Ivy and good GRE scores be enough? Thanks..
 
I'm in the Tulane Master's program in Cell and Molecular Biology and I love it! If you need a "bump", then this is the way to go. The program directors and faculty are very supportive, friendly and cool. They all WANT you to succeed. The department is a lot of fun, too--we usually have 1 or 2 department parties a semester (well-catered, I must say!) and there's always a nice selection of beer at seminars!

A big plus is the service learning component of the research course focused on patient skills/'bedside manner'. The class lecture meets twice a week to learn patient communication skills and we have placements in local hospitals on a number of different units to test them out (we have to do 50 hrs/semester), and do assignments (psycho-social history, medical history, etc.) that we discuss as a class.

No, it's not that difficult to get into it. No, admission to Tulane Med. is not at all guaranteed. But, yes many people do get into a med school (or vet school, dental, PhD, etc.). There is often a "gap year" between finishing the MS and beginning med school, because many people want to show schools their entire graduate record on application. No, we don't study all the time--but we do study a lot, and generally have 2-3 hefty research papers a semester plus at least two presentations. No, it's not a blow-off either--generally 1-2 people (out of 20) are asked to leave the program for poor academic performence.

If you have any other questions, I'll try to answer them. 😀
 
Southerncomfort, I earned a 25 in august (5 VR), will it hinder my acceptance chances? I am a strong bioch. major in a top school that will do research for departmental honors. Although my VR score is reflective of a non-native (which I am not), I think if I take the test again I should be able to bring my score up. In the case that I am able to, will the school allow me to go on interviews? If my MCAT sucks in April will Tulane allow me to enter into the PhD program? I am glad to hear the program is fun! How much class time is there each week? I am told that having an additional degree can be a leg up when it comes to applying for residency positions, is this at all what the school says? Thanks a lot

Growing older, Getting wiser, Becoming more dumba
 
SouthernComfort, I'm just curious about where you went to undergrad, your undergrad GPA, and your MCAT/GRE score that got you into the Tulane Master's program. Hope to see you there next year back home in New Orleans!
 
aug2004--We usually have three hard science lecture courses/semester plus our seminar course (which doesn't seem like class, it's fun!) and weekly departmental seminar--so about, 12 actual class hours/week.
And, I don't think your score would be a problem at all! That means you averaged 10 in the science sections, definitely not shabby. There was someone last year who had like a 22-24 first test, and then retested at 30 after doing test prep. So, come do a MS, do well in the grad courses, and kick on the April MCAT!
As far as going on interviews, many of us are applying while still in the program. If you need to go, you just let the prof know. They'll do what they can to help you with interview prep also.
And yes, having an additional degree or advanced degree can do nothing but help you! 🙂 On one school's secondary, there is a form for re-applicants which asks "What have you been doing since last time? Any more degrees we should know about?" As far as residency positions, I don't know how much this comes into play--at this point, I'm just trying to get in! 😀

TheGuy2000--I'm a Loyola girl, so I literally went next door! Let's just say I was "immature" in undergrad, so my gpa is "not reflective of my true capabilities" 😉 (in other words, it really sucks, so I'm counting on doing well in grad to save my butt!) So I worked in research for several years (still am!) and "matured".
MCAT--took it twice, okay but nothing spectacular. Then I took the August test (28 O) because my scores were a bit moldy, but my best scores are: VR--12, PS--7 (PS sucks!), WS--O, BS--11.

And hopefully, I won't see you next year because I'll hopefully be downtown! 😛
 
so if I apply to one of Tulanes one yr. masters programs in the fall of 05, what are my chances of getting into med school in the fall of 06 (assuming that I complete the program with really good grades, and I bump up my MCAT score next August??) WOuld you say better than, or less than 50%?

Also, who is it that I need to contact over at Tulane for more info about there one year masters program(name and phone #)?? What is the tuition like?? I have heard that it is 1/2 of normal tuition (which is 15 grand from what I hear).
 
Go to the Tulane SOM website

www.som.tulane.edu

Find the dept you want to get your master's in, and it'll have all your info.
 
RxDaisyMSPH said:
Also, there is the Anatomy Certification program where you take classes in the fall with 1st year med students. HOwever, you do not receive a Masters since the program is just the fall semester and you show off your stuff so Tulane Med can accept you. If you succeed, you get an acceptance for the following fall. During the spring & summer terms you can take MPH classes. I have some friends who are doing this and they loved it! Now they are starting as T1s in a couple of weeks!
Click to expand...
Correct me if I'm wrong, but to be eligible for the Anatomy Certification program you have to have been placed on a waitlist at a US med school, right? Also, I thought you had to take a year of classes to complete the program...

http://www.mcl.tulane.edu/departments/anatomy/acpinfo.html

I'm not applying to this program (haven't applied to med schools = no waitlists), I was just curious...
 
Southern Comfort,
Do you have like an AIM account, because I'd really like to chat with you more about the Tulane program, and also how hard is cellular physiology, and cells and tissues? What kind of grades do people make for these classes, and how are you tested in them. After being up north for 4 years I want to get back home! I live about a mile away from Tulane, so it would be great to go to school there, assuming the classes aren't too hard.
 
Southerncomfort -
Hey, could you do me a favor and tell me what seems to be the difference b/w the cellular and pharmacology master's programs? Does the cellular run during the following summer like the pharmacology program does? Do the best students in the masters program ever get admitted to any top ten medical schools? thanks. Please add any additional information that may help me decide if this is the correct decision for me
 
Hi again!
To the Tulane questions here:
1. Cell and Molecular MS program (http://cell.tulane.edu/graduate.htm) is separate from the ACP and Pharm. programs. C&M is on the Uptown campus, runs fall through spring, 30 hours, includes the hospital-based service learning component (Patient Skills)--which is awesome, by the way! 😀

ACP and Pharm are on the downtown campus (Med school, Public Health). I don't know *that* much about them, but check the med school website.

2. What are your chances of getting in after doing the MS? If I knew that answer, I'd be in Vegas! 😀 😛
Really, though--you need to decide for yourself. Will it give you a better chance? Of course. You need to decide how much of your life you want to devote just trying to get IN to med school and how much you'll have to do to get there.

3. No AIM for me, but feel free to email me--I think it's in my profile. If not, I'll add it.

Off to become one with the biochem...
 
Southern Comfort
Add that email!

Thanks again
 
for the one year accelerated programs in genetics and cell. physiology, do I have to take the GRE?? My only problem with that is I have to retake the MCAT next summer (which I cannot take in April b/c of my spring class load).
 
I am glad to hear that there are other people considering the One year Master's program at Tulane. I am new to SDN and wish I knew about this site when I was applying to medical school.

I graduated with my MS in 2004. I, like Southern Comfort, really enjoyed my time at Tulane. I thought the faculty were wonderful and extremely supportive. One of the directors, Dr. Grisbaum, will help you in any way possible (he will give you mock interviews before your interview date). If you go in with the mind set that this can make or break your application and work real hard, the program is very manageable. Like all other graduate school programs, you can not get any Cs or you will be on probation. Actually, if I remeber correctly, I think if you get 2 B- you are also on probation ( do not quote me on this). Many of the people who started with me for some reason thought that the program would be a joke. Unfortunately, 5 people failed out.

Before doing this program, I was definitely on the low end of the todem poll when it came to GPA and I was middle of the road when it came to MCAT. I had an interview while I was in the Master's program, but I knew I did not have much of a chance because of my GPA.

To make a long story short, I studied hard and ended up graduating with a 4.0. When I interviewed this year, everyone kept telling me that the GPA they now considered was my 4.0. Needless to say, I was pretty damn happy about that. I got accepted back in November and am stress free for the next 8 months.

I think this program really helped me get in. The classes will definitely help you in medical school also (Embryology, Histology, Neuroscience, Gross Anatomy, etc.). There is a lot of work involved, but if you do well, it will definitely help you get in. If you have anymore questions, just let me know and I will try to answer. If I can get into medical school, anyone can do it.
 
edawg423 said:
I am glad to hear that there are other people considering the One year Master's program at Tulane. I am new to SDN and wish I knew about this site when I was applying to medical school.

I graduated with my MS in 2004. I, like Southern Comfort, really enjoyed my time at Tulane. I thought the faculty were wonderful and extremely supportive. One of the directors, Dr. Grisbaum, will help you in any way possible (he will give you mock interviews before your interview date). If you go in with the mind set that this can make or break your application and work real hard, the program is very manageable. Like all other graduate school programs, you can not get any Cs or you will be on probation. Actually, if I remeber correctly, I think if you get 2 B- you are also on probation ( do not quote me on this). Many of the people who started with me for some reason thought that the program would be a joke. Unfortunately, 5 people failed out.

Before doing this program, I was definitely on the low end of the todem poll when it came to GPA and I was middle of the road when it came to MCAT. I had an interview while I was in the Master's program, but I knew I did not have much of a chance because of my GPA.

To make a long story short, I studied hard and ended up graduating with a 4.0. When I interviewed this year, everyone kept telling me that the GPA they now considered was my 4.0. Needless to say, I was pretty damn happy about that. I got accepted back in November and am stress free for the next 8 months.

I think this program really helped me get in. The classes will definitely help you in medical school also (Embryology, Histology, Neuroscience, Gross Anatomy, etc.). There is a lot of work involved, but if you do well, it will definitely help you get in. If you have anymore questions, just let me know and I will try to answer. If I can get into medical school, anyone can do it.
Click to expand...

How does the Pharmacology program compare? Will it also help out for medical school? Thanks
 
is the tuition 7,500 per semster for a grand total of 15,000 for the entire year, or is it just 7,500 for the entireprogram?
 
HussainGQ said:
is the tuition 7,500 per semster for a grand total of 15,000 for the entire year, or is it just 7,500 for the entireprogram?
Click to expand...


It seems Tulane is not as cutthroat as Georgetown. How should one prepre for special masters program?
 
I've been accepted into the Tulane 1 yr masters genetics program at the medical school campus and will most likely be going there. This is NOT a linkage program with the medical school but genetics is an up and coming field in medicine so that's why I think this program is cool. I think only 7 or 8 of us are registered for classes this year.
 
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