Applying to a brand new school - opinions?

[EdLongshanks]

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I see the entry in the MSAR for the new Oakland school in California. I was raised in Central CA and still have family there.

Someone who knows something about this subject tell me. Are brand new schools a good idea? Are there dangers associated with going to them? I know that very few actually shut down (Oral Roberts University was one of the rare exceptions to this, I think) but what about residencies, and clinical rotation availability.

 

[mspeedwagon]

There is NO new medical school in Oakland, CA. If you are referring to the new medical school called the "Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine" it is Michigan NOT California.

I see the entry in the MSAR for the new Oakland school in California. I was raised in Central CA and still have family there.

Someone who knows something about this subject tell me. Are brand new schools a good idea? Are there dangers associated with going to them? I know that very few actually shut down (Oral Roberts University was one of the rare exceptions to this, I think) but what about residencies, and clinical rotation availability.

 

[Excelsius]

Yeah, I was sort of surprised. The only school in CA that is going to be opened for now is UCR. Initially the date was around 2012, but with all the budget cuts, I am not sure if it is still on schedule.

 

[vc7777]

I did my post-bac at the aforementioned Oakland University, in Rochester, Michigan.

Let me assure you that this new medical school is indeed NOT anywhere near California. 😳

 

[mspeedwagon]

They claim to still be on schedule. UC - Merced is on schedule for 2013 as well.

Yeah, I was sort of surprised. The only school in CA that is going to be opened for now is UCR. Initially the date was around 2012, but with all the budget cuts, I am not sure if it is still on schedule.

 

[EdLongshanks]

There is NO new medical school in Oakland, CA. If you are referring to the new medical school called the "Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine" it is Michigan NOT California.

Ok, too much information in too little time. What is your opinion, in general, about new schools.

 

[mspeedwagon]

If your estimated GPA/MCAT are your actual scores there is NO way you should be considering a new school. I would look at established schools in the geographic area you really want to be in.

There are going to be a lot of problems that come along with going to new schools (some more so than others). Many have yet to establish third/fourth year rotations. The schools aren't fully accredited until they graduate their first class. You don't have the advantage of having upper class men to help you out. You don't know the USMLE pass rate and the list goes on and on and on.

That said, there are HUGE advantages to certain new schools. A few years ago a new school opened in Florida and offered their inaugural class a FULL-ride for all FOUR years. Free medical school is a good reason to go to a new school. The new schools associated with the UC system in CA has less risk since they have the backing of the UC system. Another advantage is that you will be shaping the school for future generations. Your input will be invaluable to the school.

I would consider an established school in the geographic region you prefer before every considering a new school. I would obviously take a new school over nothing. The one tricky choice is an established school is a less desirable location vs a new school in a very desirable location. Personally, in my case I'd lean toward the new school closer to my family (but if that's not important to you, always go with the established school).

Btw, once you have your actual MCAT scores, post in what are my chance. Catalystik is one of the best at coming up with a list of realistic schools.

Ok, too much information in too little time. What is your opinion, in general, about new schools.

 

[EdLongshanks]

There are going to be a lot of problems that come along with going to new schools (some more so than others). Many have yet to establish third/fourth year rotations. The schools aren't fully accredited until they graduate their first class. You don't have the advantage of having upper class men to help you out. You don't know the USMLE pass rate and the list goes on and on and on.
....


Btw, once you have your actual MCAT scores, post in what are my chance. Catalystik is one of the best at coming up with a list of realistic schools.

Thank you. I will do that. I'm hoping that I'm not being unrealistic in my MCAT estimates. If so, I will be truly embarassed.

 

[riverjib]

I'm a bit freaked out by this too. I'm on Long Island, and Hofstra is supposedly set to open in 2011. From what I've heard, they're hoping to recruit only native Long Islanders AND waive tuition for their first class...which should be easy, considering Stony Brook sends their elite to schools like Harvard and Hopkins. But it's scaring me away. I actually think I might have a better chance at the latter two than Hofstra, which is not a competitive school for undergraduates.

I think you should apply and see how it all pans out. If you're only accepted at this new school AND they're accredited, you have nothing to lose. If they lose their accreditation, that's a good reason to seek transfer and nobody will question your motives for transferring.

 

[QofQuimica]

You have nothing to lose by applying, Ed. If you don't like the school when you visit, don't have confidence that it will be able to become accredited, or don't get an invite to go interview there, then you don't have to go.

Had the new FL schools that recently opened been around when I was applying, I would have definitely applied to all of them. And gone on the interviews if invited. The school I ended up at was one of the last ones I visited, and it was also a school that wasn't very high on my list when I started out. In fact, I almost didn't go on that interview, and if I hadn't, that would have been a real shame.

One thing I quickly realized when I started going on interviews is that you don't have a very good idea about what a school will be like before you go there and see it first-hand. (Even then, you only have a limited idea!) When I look back on my app season, I don't regret having gone on any of the interviews I attended. What I do regret is not having seen the schools whose interview invites I declined, especially one of them that I am now interested in possibly going to for residency.

 

[EdLongshanks]

You have nothing to lose by applying, Ed. If you don't like the school when you visit, don't have confidence that it will be able to become accredited, or don't get an invite to go interview there, then you don't have to go.

I suppose that this is the "how many schools should I apply to" subject. I suspect that the humane society is going to bring charges against anyone who continues to beat that horse.

There's not any especial reason for me not to go to lots of interviews. I work remotely anyway, so I just hook up my sprint speed card, put my wife at the wheel of the van and off we go....

Maybe I can even paint the van yellow with bright flowers 🙂

 

[GoWiththeFlo]

I'm a bit freaked out by this too. I'm on Long Island, and Hofstra is supposedly set to open in 2011. From what I've heard, they're hoping to recruit only native Long Islanders AND waive tuition for their first class...which should be easy, considering Stony Brook sends their elite to schools like Harvard and Hopkins. But it's scaring me away. I actually think I might have a better chance at the latter two than Hofstra, which is not a competitive school for undergraduates.

I think you should apply and see how it all pans out. If you're only accepted at this new school AND they're accredited, you have nothing to lose. If they lose their accreditation, that's a good reason to seek transfer and nobody will question your motives for transferring.

Where do you get the info about recruiting all Long Islanders? It says on the site that they take people from every state, no difference in tuition. Says nothing about a free ride, could you disclose your source or is just your opinion?

 

[QofQuimica]

I suppose that this is the "how many schools should I apply to" subject. I suspect that the humane society is going to bring charges against anyone who continues to beat that horse.

There's not any especial reason for me not to go to lots of interviews. I work remotely anyway, so I just hook up my sprint speed card, put my wife at the wheel of the van and off we go....

Maybe I can even paint the van yellow with bright flowers 🙂

Assuming money and time (and energy!) are no limit, I think you should apply to as many schools as you think you might want to attend. Now obviously, money and time are limits for most of us, so you may need to do some pruning if you get in over your head. But I don't think there's inherently such a thing as "too many" schools. If you are interested in the school, and you think it might be a good fit, and you can afford to apply there in terms of time/money/energy, then heck yeah, add it to the list.

Oh, and I love the hippie van idea. Any chance you'd let me borrow it for my interviews? 😀

 

[EdLongshanks]

I think you should apply to as many schools as you think you might want to attend.
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Oh, and I love the hippie van idea. Any chance you'd let me borrow it for my interviews? 😀

Personally, I only want to attend 1 school.

If only my van was a VW instead of a Dodge, the hippy thing could really work.