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If you're interested in Case, then attend their SMP, many SMP's have back doors into the med school itself.
 
Go with the program that has the strongest track record of success.
 
Do whichever one you feel like you'll be the most successful in. Doing well (3.5+ gpa) will really help your application, while low grades might tank you. I did the Tufts program and I had the opportunity to do a year of research after finishing my classes, but I'm sure you'll have opportunities in other programs as well.
 
AnonymousDoctorGuyPerson said:
That's the issue. It's hard to really determine success rate based on the numbers they provide.

Any insight on which SMPs would be best suited to apply this cycle and have on my applications?
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I agree they tend to be a bit ambiguous. If you can, you should try to reach out to current/former students in each program for more information. I unfortunately do not know much about any of these program and cannot provide any beneficial insight.
 
AnonymousDoctorGuyPerson said:
I only have a week left to decide which SMP to attend. I narrowed down my decision to BU MAMS, Tufts MBS, Drexel IMS, Case Western MS.

Money not a factor for the SMP, my goal is to enter SUNY Downstate due to its location to where I live. However, I'm also pretty interested in attending Case Western Medical School as well for personal reasons. Which of these programs done successfully would best help me match to either?

I'm also /very/ interested in pursuing research during the 1 or 2 years I'd be attending the SMP, most preferably in the realm of cancer biology.

Anyone have any input?

Thank you guys!


PS: Little about me, in case it helps or if you were wondering.
>Undergrad: GPA = 2.7 ; MCAT = 29
> Post-bacc (1 year of 7 UDV BIO courses) = 3.9 ; MCAT = 518
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Drexels program isn't good.

Between BU, Tufts, and Case, the decision is yours. While there is no formal guarantee for an interview or admissions guarantee, an SMP gives you a leg up at the home medical school. Your MCAT proves you're worthy for all 3 of the schools in the 3 SMP programs. Case is a research powerhouse, so consider that!
 
AnonymousDoctorGuyPerson said:
That's how I'm feeling. Case has the least info on it, but it would definitely help me the most in terms of getting into Case over the other programs. And research is what I want to get into. However, Case may not help me as much in getting into other schools.

Problem comes down to "Do I want to commit and move to Ohio for med school to attend a really good research school" or "Do I want to stay in my neighborhood, attend a cheap SUNY school in the city I'd want to one day work in."

*hyperventilate*

Also, care to elaborate on your opinion on Drexel IMS? Thank you!
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I can DM you later regarding Drexel. Long story short, its highly disorganized and doesn't have the best track record.

Fellow New Yorker here! While your appreciation and interest in DS is noted, if it came down to Downstate vs. Case, what would you pick? Simply going to Case for the SMP won't get you disqualified from downstate, unless your state residence will change? And even if it did, your history in New York will certainly make you look different than a regular OOS student. And even if THAT doesn't occur, DS is particularly friendly to OOS students, consult with the MSAR.

I feel you with the money argument, however, I'd personally pick Case. Yes, i'll be in more debt, but its so much better than any of the SUNYs, you'll have a much greater chance of pursuing a top-tier residency at a top-tier hospital. Even if that isn't your goal, having an MD from case will certainly never hinder your career goals. If it were DS vs some less-prestigious or even worse private school, then I'd go for Downstate, but Case is leagues > downstate.
 
ohiowannabedoc said:
We are home so hopefully things will turn around tonight! Nobody is really worried. We did come back 3-1 last year after all 🙂
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I'm a knicks fan, but come NBA Finals I'm a Cavs man. Here's to watching Curry cry tonight and the Cavs making a comeback!

AnonymousDoctorGuyPerson said:
That's how I'm feeling. Case has the least info on it, but it would definitely help me the most in terms of getting into Case over the other programs. And research is what I want to get into. However, Case may not help me as much in getting into other schools.

Problem comes down to "Do I want to commit and move to Ohio for med school to attend a really good research school" or "Do I want to stay in my neighborhood, attend a cheap SUNY school in the city I'd want to one day work in."

*hyperventilate*

Also, care to elaborate on your opinion on Drexel IMS? Thank you!
Click to expand...

Case SMP will not make other medical schools suddenly see you as a poor applicant. The SMP serves for grade improvement and that alone. Additional bonus is the home medical school advantage, but that doesn't mean there's a trade off and other schools will not be interested in you. In fact, going to Case might help Downstate want you THAT much more.

Consult the match lists. Yes, Downstate matches a lot of students into NYC, but so does Case. And Case has a better track record of matching students into better residencies. Ergo, if you (hypothetically) want to pursue an Orthopedic Surgery Residency at HSS, Downstate being a SUNY will actually hinder you (notice the HSS Ortho residents are nearly all from top tier medical schools), and Case MD will give you the fancy title that HSS is after.
 
AnonymousDoctorGuyPerson said:
I only have a week left to decide which SMP to attend. I narrowed down my decision to BU MAMS, Tufts MBS, Drexel IMS, Case Western MS.

Money not a factor for the SMP, my goal is to enter SUNY Downstate due to its location to where I live. However, I'm also pretty interested in attending Case Western Medical School as well for personal reasons. Which of these programs done successfully would best help me match to either?

I'm also /very/ interested in pursuing research during the 1 or 2 years I'd be attending the SMP, most preferably in the realm of cancer biology.

Anyone have any input?

Thank you guys!


PS: Little about me, in case it helps or if you were wondering.>Undergrad: GPA = 2.7 ; MCAT = 29
> Post-bacc (1 year of 7 UDV BIO courses) = 3.9 ; MCAT = 518
Click to expand...
I just finished a MS degree at Case (2 year medical physiology program). I would be EXTREMELY cautious if your goal is to get into Case Med. I have really enjoyed the program and it has been hugely beneficial for enhancing my medical school application/preparation. During my two years I essentially got all the medical school basic science courses under my belt through required and elective courses (typically at a level above what is required of medical students so I feel I'm pretty prepared). However, admission from my program (and similar MS programs around campus) is extremely rare. I'd say that in a given year there would be 1-2 people in my program who gain acceptance to Case med. These are people who not only do extremely well in the program (awesome grades, research experience, publications, volunteering, etc. etc.) but also have 515+ MCAT and 3.5+ ugGPA. I noticed your ugGPA is 2.7 and no matter how well you perform in the program it won't be overlooked in the least by admissions. So, with that being said, I do think the program is great and there is always good placement of graduates into medical schools across the country. Like you I am very interested in research and used my two years to pursue it (I got my first publication with more to come, got to present at multiple conferences, etc.) The campus is next door to University Hospitals and the Cleveland Clinic so research and clinical volunteering options are essentially endless. Like I said, if your goal is to get into a medical school then this program would no doubt be beneficial (especially if you take advantage of the available ECs available in the area). But, if your goal is Case med then you may want to reconsider.
 
When did you retake the MCAT/how long is your MCAT valid? Ideally you'd have the program completed before applying. As such, and since you're flexible on location/cost, I'd target the one with the least 'fluff' and the highest chance of completing it within the year (while simultaneously being an 'SMP' with medical school level coursework). Case's 'highly recommends' two years, so that would be worth investigating if you're considering enrolling -- if it's meant for 2 years and you accelerate to 1 year, your grades could suffer, etc.

Potential timeline:
Fall '17 - spring '18 - SMP
Spring '18 - summer '18 - Work/prep app/submit app
Summer '18 - summer '19 - work/interview/matriculate

So if you plan to matriculate in the fall '19, the earliest your MCAT can be is from August '16. For example, downstate says that they will accept MCAT's from Aug. 1, 2015 for the application cycle that just started, or August 1st '16 for matriculation in 2019. Some schools have a 2 year limit.
 
Thanks all for your advice! Especially in regard to Case Western.

I'm thinking it may be worth it to contact DS themselves as well and see if any of these programs in particular they'd find preference for.

Also my MCAT is very fresh (May)


Ohio, any experience with classmates who successfully got into an MD program after 1 year?
 
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AnonymousDoctorGuyPerson said:
Thanks all for your advice! Especially in regard to Case Western.

I'm thinking it may be worth it to contact DS themselves as well and see if any of these programs in particular they'd find preference for.

Also my MCAT is very fresh (May)


Ohio, any experience with classmates who successfully got into an MD program after 1 year?
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You can complete the program in one year if you wish. You'd have to cram your electives in with the core courses to do so but it can be done. I know of one guy personally who completed it in one year and started medical school (MD) somewhere in Ohio (where he went escapes me for the moment) while I started my second year in the program. There may have been other people who had similar experiences but he is the only one I know of personally. So theroetically it is possible but I never considered it personally. If you overload your semesters then you could (a) risk a bad grade which at this point in the game could squash any chances of getting into medical school or (b) be too busy with courses to pursue any extracurricular activities which are quite important.
 
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