In another thread a few months ago, I posted the following in response to:
Hi I am a bit new to the whole SDN business and have been looking around for a thread about the UCSF-UCB JMP program...
I was recently accepted and was wondering what people's thoughts are about the program. I am still waiting to hear back from UCSF main program (which is my top choice) but I was wondering if other people had interviewed at JMP and had opinions about the curriculum, students etc ...
My response:
Regarding the JMP, I interviewed there and I think that, given the unique and idiosyncratic nature of the program, it either fits you like a glove or not at all. Essentially, you either want a pure PBL curriculum, an accelerated Masters Degree, and a class size of 16 people or you don't. I came from a small undergrad and participated in an interdisciplinary Honors Program that provided an alternate liberal arts core curriculum, so I know what virtues a program like the JMP can offer. The advantages are a nurturing environment that supports academic independence, a tight-nit peer group, and access to the amply stimulating Berkeley 'scene'. I also know some of its pitfalls: a limited social group, an intense academic experience, and relative obscurity within Berkeley and the larger healthcare world ("Berkeley has a medical school???").
Your decision should come down to whether or not you see yourself fitting into this scheme. Ask yourself the following questions: 1) Did you click with the current students? This is trivial at most other schools, but given the small size you'll have lots of interaction with your peers in other years. 2) Do you want a Masters degree and do you see your future career benefiting from having one? A Masters will set you up for a career in research, administration, or policy. If you just wanna be Dr. Marmals, don't bother. 3) Do you enjoy PBL and self-directed learning? Notice I didn't say, "Could you deal with PBL...". Most people can cope with any learning environment, but given the choice would you choose not to have lectures or professors or even discrete assignments? Are you sure that you want to base your learning on the pace and ability of your peers? These are questions to be carefully considered. It is an individual choice.
The last thing I would mention is that you shouldn't be swayed by reputation, prestige, or tuition in this case. Yes, you'll have degrees from Berkeley and UCSF but this is such a unique experience that this shouldn't really factor into the equation. Three years is a long time to "put up" with something for the sake of your future life. If you see yourself being happier at another school, take the opportunity.
Feel free to ask reply or PM with any other thoughts that come to mind.
-OFD
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reaming for next year::
