Hi everyone, I am looking at two different SMP's and wondering which would be the best for me, given my stats, to gain admission to a D.O/M.D. program starting Fall 2014. First I will present my stats and then the programs I am looking at. I'm 24 with a B.S. in Biology. My overall GPA is a 3.25 and my science GPA is a 3.11. I have done 350 hrs shadowing physicians with 2 LOR (one MD and one DO) and 150 hrs volunteering in the ED. I have yet to take the MCAT, but am scheduled for June 20th, and plan to take at least 2 more times this summer (july & august). I have been studying through Kaplan test prep for a month and received a 22 on my first practice test.
I am looking at entering either the USC-SOM (in South Carolina) or the LMU-DCOM Post-Baccalaureate programs. I meet the requirements for admission to both of the programs aside from having an MCAT score, but I feel that I should be able to make at least a 21 to get into the programs. I have been speaking with both the directors of the programs, and gained some information. The LMU-DCOM will receive certification as a one year-masters program this summer, while the USC program is a one-year certificate program that offers you the opportunity to extend into a masters program the second year. The LMU-DCOM curriculum is as follows:
Fall Semester:
Students will take Medical Gross Anatomy at the medical school along with DCOM students and choose additional credits from the following list for a minimum of 12 hours.
DO SYS 701 Medical Gross Anatomy 7 credits
DO SYS 714 Histology 1.5 credits
Students may also choose from the following based on their transcript evaluation by the LMU Post-Bacc Admissions Committee.
BIOL 441 Biochemistry I 4 credits
BIOL 315 Molecular Genetics 3 credits
BIOL 336 General Microbiology 3 credits
SPAN 195 Spanish for Health Care Professions I 3 credits
Spring Semester:
BIOL 442 Biochemistry II 3 credits
BIOL 360 Immunology 3 credits
BIOL 450 Molecular Cell Biology 3 credits
PHIL 420 Medical Ethics 3 credits
SPAN 195 Spanish for Health Care Professions II
The LMU-DCOM program guarantees interviews to students who successfully complete the first semester of the program in good standing, and if accepted to LMU-DCOM's D.O. program, they transfer over the credits for the Medical gross Anatomy class (if you made an A or a B).
The USC-SOM program also allows you to take the GRE to get in which I've heard is fairly simple, but I haven't studied for yet. The curriculum of the USC-SOM is 9 hrs each semester and as follows:
Fall semester:
Molecular Biology (3hrs)
Biological Chemistry (3hr)
Elective 3 (hrs)
Spring Semester:
Physiology for Health Sciences (6hr)
Elective (3 hrs)
Here are the electives you can choose from:
Neuroscience (3hr)
Histology (3hr)
Neoplasia (3hr)
Biochemistry of Metabolism (3hr)
Neurobiology: Physiology for Neurobiologists (2hr)
Medical Cell Biology (3hr)
Anatomy of the Head and Neck (3hr)
Medical Genetics for Health Professionals (3hr)
Human Anatomy (3hrs)
Immunology (3hrs)
The tuition would be a bit higher at LMU-DCOM being around 23k and USC-SOM being around 16k, both offer federal aid. I would like to enter an M.D. program, but I feel given my stats that would take 2 years at the masters program at USC doing perfectly and killing the MCAT. Where as in my opinion, the LMU-DCOM looks safe and a guaranteed admission to the LMU-DCOM D.O. program as well as other D.O. programs if completed with good grades and a mid 20's MCAT score, which is probably where I will score. Let me know what you guys think is the best option given my stats and situation. Also please take a look at the links. Thanks in advance for any advice.
http://www.lmunet.edu/academics/pmsp/index.shtml
http://pmi.med.sc.edu/graduate/index.asp
I am looking at entering either the USC-SOM (in South Carolina) or the LMU-DCOM Post-Baccalaureate programs. I meet the requirements for admission to both of the programs aside from having an MCAT score, but I feel that I should be able to make at least a 21 to get into the programs. I have been speaking with both the directors of the programs, and gained some information. The LMU-DCOM will receive certification as a one year-masters program this summer, while the USC program is a one-year certificate program that offers you the opportunity to extend into a masters program the second year. The LMU-DCOM curriculum is as follows:
Fall Semester:
Students will take Medical Gross Anatomy at the medical school along with DCOM students and choose additional credits from the following list for a minimum of 12 hours.
DO SYS 701 Medical Gross Anatomy 7 credits
DO SYS 714 Histology 1.5 credits
Students may also choose from the following based on their transcript evaluation by the LMU Post-Bacc Admissions Committee.
BIOL 441 Biochemistry I 4 credits
BIOL 315 Molecular Genetics 3 credits
BIOL 336 General Microbiology 3 credits
SPAN 195 Spanish for Health Care Professions I 3 credits
Spring Semester:
BIOL 442 Biochemistry II 3 credits
BIOL 360 Immunology 3 credits
BIOL 450 Molecular Cell Biology 3 credits
PHIL 420 Medical Ethics 3 credits
SPAN 195 Spanish for Health Care Professions II
The LMU-DCOM program guarantees interviews to students who successfully complete the first semester of the program in good standing, and if accepted to LMU-DCOM's D.O. program, they transfer over the credits for the Medical gross Anatomy class (if you made an A or a B).
The USC-SOM program also allows you to take the GRE to get in which I've heard is fairly simple, but I haven't studied for yet. The curriculum of the USC-SOM is 9 hrs each semester and as follows:
Fall semester:
Molecular Biology (3hrs)
Biological Chemistry (3hr)
Elective 3 (hrs)
Spring Semester:
Physiology for Health Sciences (6hr)
Elective (3 hrs)
Here are the electives you can choose from:
Neuroscience (3hr)
Histology (3hr)
Neoplasia (3hr)
Biochemistry of Metabolism (3hr)
Neurobiology: Physiology for Neurobiologists (2hr)
Medical Cell Biology (3hr)
Anatomy of the Head and Neck (3hr)
Medical Genetics for Health Professionals (3hr)
Human Anatomy (3hrs)
Immunology (3hrs)
The tuition would be a bit higher at LMU-DCOM being around 23k and USC-SOM being around 16k, both offer federal aid. I would like to enter an M.D. program, but I feel given my stats that would take 2 years at the masters program at USC doing perfectly and killing the MCAT. Where as in my opinion, the LMU-DCOM looks safe and a guaranteed admission to the LMU-DCOM D.O. program as well as other D.O. programs if completed with good grades and a mid 20's MCAT score, which is probably where I will score. Let me know what you guys think is the best option given my stats and situation. Also please take a look at the links. Thanks in advance for any advice.
http://www.lmunet.edu/academics/pmsp/index.shtml
http://pmi.med.sc.edu/graduate/index.asp
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