I've got the same question. I feel like I'm not hearing much about the school. Apparently the program is only about two years old but that's all I really know about it.
I am a 2014 graduate of the MA in Biomedicine program at EMU and am preparing to begin medical school this summer/fall. I am in my 30's and had been out of school for some time before deciding to pursue a career in medicine, so I wanted to really beef up my academic background before applying to medical schools. In short, this program was definitely the right fit for me. There were a few folks in my position who needed certain prerequisites or just wanted to refresh their knowledge because of the amount of time since they had been in school. For others, they may not have done so well in UG and wanted an opportunity to improve their academic performance before applying to schools. I think this program is ideal for several reasons, depending on what your objectives are.
Just a few facts about the program (beyond what you might find on the website
http://emu.edu/ma-biomed/):
It is small. Class size ranges from about 8-15 students. The pro of this...you get amazing one-on-one attention from faculty.
Because of the small size, and because EMU is a small school, many of your classes are shared with UG bio major students. For me, this was never an issue. The MA students have additional lecture periods for most classes and have slightly varied assignments.
EMU is small, but the faculty is amazing. They are accessible and willing to work with you through your individual challenges and interests.
EMU has a longstanding reputation as a top school in this region for their UG pre-med program. Because of that, they have strong, positive relationships with medical schools throughout the region. Faculty and staff are willing to go to bat for their students - it can make all the difference to have someone voluntarily place a call to your school of choice to make sure your application gets a closer look.
EMU is a private, religiously affiliated (Mennonite, obviously) school but is, in my opinion, very socially liberal (though you will
definitely find opinions/perspectives that span the spectrum), and, for its size, has a very diverse student body (religiously, ethnically, etc.). There is lots of intentional engagement about social issues...this is a huge part of the program. Issues of ethics and social/global perspectives surrounding medicine are a major focus point of the program and, I believe, really set it apart from other similar programs. No matter your background or philosophy...your assumptions will be challenged.
There is a cross-cultural component to the program that is also hugely valuable and is a unique opportunity to set you apart from other medical school applicants.
The program isn't just designed for pre-med folks. There are several people in the program who have gone on to do dental school, PA programs, PT/PTA programs, and even pharmacy programs. They also have a track for those who are more interested in teaching or administration.
You have one-on-one assistance not only with academics, but also with preparing your applications, studying for the MCAT, practicing for interviews, etc. This is tremendously helpful.
So, all that said...the program is CHALLENGING. That's why it's a credible program. If you want a real taste of what medical school is like, this is a great introduction. The program will require you to work hard...very hard. My recommendation is that you should already be fairly certain you are interested in a career in medicine before starting a program like this. If you haven't already tried less expensive options, like volunteering as an EMT or working as a CNA, etc., try those first. Figure out if a career in medicine is really the right fit for you before committing to a graduate program. If you know this is a path you're ready to pursue, EMU can give you a truly spectacular experience. One of my classmates is in his first year of medical school, another in his second year of dental school, and both have repeatedly said how well prepared they were for school because of this program - even significantly more prepared than the majority of their classmates. For me personally, I worked harder than I ever have during the MA program but now feel incredibly confident in my ability to excel when I start medical school in a few months.
If you're interested at all, I strongly suggest contacting the program directly. The staff is incredibly friendly and knowledgeable and is more than happy to set up in-person or virtual tours.
I hope this is helpful!
Thanks for any info 🙂
