1. How long is the program? When does it start and end?
- the program begins in either August fall semester or January spring semester. The length of this program depends on what track you get accepted in (1 year, 18 months, or 2 year track). Although the track you are in doesn't really matter as you can finish the program as early as 1 year or as late as 2 years. I was accepted in the 2 year track but i finished in 18 months. As long as you take all the required courses and credits you need to graduate. You need 34 credits to graduate, most students are in the 18 month track and take 12 credits each semester (3 semesters total), which is typically 3 classes per semester.
2. What are the benefits of this program compared to other programs that offer MBS?
- while i can't speak for other programs that offer BMS as a degree, i can say the benefit of going to Barry is the cost. The cost of tuition is typically lower than most at 36k total. Another benefit is that this BMS program is pretty well known and have strong connections with other dental/medical schools such as Nova, VCU, Indiana, Western, Roseman. 1 benefit i do like is that Barry works hard to get admissions officers/counselors/advisors from many Dental/Medical schools to come to Barry and host a meeting where students can learn about the school, meet the faculty, ask questions, and potentially earn some face to face exposure. I remember this past semester, when VCU came to Barry, a lot of students who showed up for the meeting who applied to VCU and met with the admissions person, most were offered interviews to VCU the same week! Now that could be coincidence but attending those type of meetings is beneficial nonetheless.
3. What is your examination schedule like? Block Schedule (midterms and finals week) or several every week?
- There are no Midterm/Final weeks. Most classes have Just exams 1-3 or 1-4 or whatever. Whatever day it falls on thats when you take the exam. if it so happens you have all your exams in the same week then so be it. But my exams were typically back to back weeks. During Finals Or your last exams however, you might have all your exams in the same week, which is certainly doable.
Barry is starting to implement a new rule in which if students miss an exam they would need to make up that exam the seem week as finals! So if you miss exam 2 for whatever reason you will be taking your final and exam 2 for the same class the same week on top of all your other classes!. Don't miss an exam!
4. What is the hardest class? Why?
Its a tie between Gross Anatomy/Neuroanatomy
Gross anatomy was certainly difficult because of the material. Its a lot of material and lots of memorization. Gross anatomy is typically offered for every student's first semester. Since thats the case the class might be more difficult to some students because it is their first time in the program, in grad school, in the state of florida, and many factors can contribute to the difficulty of this course such as not yet developing a go-to study method or not yet surrounding yourself with the right crowd of students that you are comfortable with, etc.
Neuroanatomy
Unlike gross anatomy where its JUST ANATOMY. Neuroanatomy you also have to understand the physiology side of it on top of the anatomy side. That means understanding the functions and pathways and tracts of motor and sensation. You have to understand the different types of diseases and symptoms of those diseases as well as the treatment of those diseases. Lab for neuro was very hard because you are looking at sectional models of the brain that are stained. Every spec and bump has a name you need to be familiar with as well as the function. So its not just "anatomy" where you just have to know the location and name but also need to know functions and physiology behind it.
5. What is the easiest class? Why?
-any of your electives, Health Law Ethics/Immuno/Pathology. Health Law was very easy its typically understanding the ethics and legal side of healthcare which was very interesting. Immuno is immuno, all you learn about is more in depth about T-Cell/B-Cell and the functions of each and how they proliferate. Pathology was very fun, understanding the different diseases and symptoms and what test you use. it was almost like being in an episode of house.
6. Are class notes based primarily on textbooks? or based on lecture powerpoints made up by professors?
- most classes are based on powerpoints that the professor provides. Biochem 1/2 is the only class that required a textbook. Dr. Shaw who teaches biochem wrote his own biochem book that he wants student to purchase. It is a good purchase in my opinion, the textbook is very light and easy to read and understand. Histology and Neuroanatomy however is currently taught by the same professor, Dr. Orr. His teaching style is very old fashioned compared to what most students are use to in that he gives students a note packet that is pretty much copies and copies of someone's old notes. So the detail of the text and "hand drawn images" are lost, which can sometimes make things difficult. Since they are notes, not all of the information on what he lectures on are in your notes, so a textbook would come in handy if you need extra information. I didn't purchase the recommended textbook as i noticed it was really "beefy" and not outlined like i prefer. I used BRS Neuroanatomy which was useful in my opinion.
7. Are traditional (paper) textbooks used or are they electronic? If electronic, do you prefer traditional textbooks?
The textbooks that are required such as Biochem come in electronic PDF and paper textbook. For biochem i prefered the paperback version as i needed to actually read the book for the class. However for Neuro, i got the electronic version of the Lab manual and BRS Neuroanatomy. For lab i found that it was easier to zoom in on my Ipad on the anatomy of the brain as well as make marks and colors with my stylus. With the electronic version i can print out several copies of the cross sections of the brain on paper so i can practice coloring in the different parts of the brain/brain stem. I think it just depends on your personal preference.
8. What is the grading system? Pass/Fail/Honors? Letter Grades? Percentages?
-Letter Grades
90-100 = A
80=89 = B
70-79 = C
anything lower than a 70 is an F
Although this system is nice if you have a 90-91 because it gets you an A 4.0, but it can also hurt you if you finish with an 89 which is a B not a B+ so that would be a 3.0 on your GPA.
9. Are your classmates generally gunners and try to sabatoge each other? If not, is the culture one where everybody tries to help everybody out?
- I feel that the culture at Barry is a comfortable culture in which everyone is very supporting. The staff and professors are very supporting of students and are always willing to help. I have not run into many students are trying to sabotoge one another. At least my class was, i cant say the same for entering classes that came in after my cohort.
10. Is there a notetaking service for lecture available?
Yes, if you qualify for it because of disabilities then a professor would appoint a volunteer note taker. Although most classes have Lecture Capture where the lectures are recorded and are available online. Typically the major courses such as Biochem, Physio, Neuro, Histo, Gross anatomy have lecture capture.
11. Is class attendance mandatory? How many hours of lecture/assisting per week?
Most core classes are two days a week and 1 day of lab. Attendance depends on your professor. It was typically not mandatory but some professors offer you extra credit if you are in class. Electives are typically once a week for 3 hours long. Biochem is once a week every Friday always.
12. In general, are teachers approachable for questions? Or are they for the most part very busy and unreachable (research, etc...)?
- They are very approachable for questions, before and after class and during office hours.
13. What is the drop out rate?
- I don't know the numbers but for my graduating class this past December of 2015. I don't remember anyone dropping out due to failure. I do know some students who dropped out early out of this program because they got accepted to Dental/Medical school while in the program and decided not to finish it.
14. Are there any resources to help students who are struggling? If yes, what are they?
- the teacher assistants and Lab TA''s typically hold tutoring sessions once a week for the major core classes such as Gross, physio, biochem, histo, and neuro.
15. How difficult was it to get a 4.0?
- i did not have a 4.0, but i noticed it was very obtainable. Most classes are structured in a way to keep students from doing bad. Such as Gross anatomy, there were 3 exams worth 50% but also 3 lab exams worth also 50%. So if you did bad on lecture, you can make it up in lab. Neuro was 70/30 as lab was harder than lecture in my opinion, so that 30% lab grade was really helpful not to bring down my overall grade very much.
16. What are some characteristics of the top students in the program that set them apart from the rest?
- Top students in the program were very hard working. I think anyone can be a top student as long as you compete with yourself and not with others. Find your studying method that works for you and only for you. Dont worry about what other people are doing and how they prepare.
17. Do most people study in the University Library? Or does the place clear out right after school and everybody studies on their own?
- the BMS program is offered at the Hollywood campus and not at the main campus. The hollywood campus is VERY SMALL. there are 3 classrooms, 2 very small and 1 large size. There is also a lobby. Most students do not study on campus as you can only use the classrooms to study if there is no class going on. The lobby is small and is always loud because students are either chatting or getting ready to go to class. Most students study at libraries in the area or on the main campus as well as at Nova Southeastern University which has a public library and its about 15 mins away.
18. Is there much camaraderie between students in the same class? Do students generally associate with each other outside of school?
- Yes, as most students in this program are typically out of state. Most students live near by the school and are very sociable outside of school since everyone is new to the city/state. The school is located just walking distance away from Downtown Hollywood, which has many great restaurants/bars. It is very close to the beach about a 10 min drive and a 20 min drive to either Ft. Lauderdale or Miami.
19. What are your opinions on the location of the dental school? Is finding housing an issue? Is safety an issue?
20. What do you not like about your program?
- I enjoyed almost everything about this program i thought it was really supportive towards my goals and was very fair. The classes were fair and so were majority of the professors.
21. If you had to do it over again, would you choose this post-bacc program?
-Yes i would.
21. Any last words or advice?[/QUOTE]
- Drop whatever studying methods you have from undergrad. Most students are in this program for a reason and that reason is because they did not do well in undergrad. Start this program off right and start fresh. Don't slack off early, start studying early. The earlier you study the faster you realize what methods work for you and do not work for you. You realize what methods work for certain classes and do not work. You realize what group of people you can surround yourself with that you are comfortable with. It really sucks to know that your first exams are coming up and you have not found your method of studying yet.
- Don't compete with others around you, compete against yourself and work with others to achieve the same goal. Everyone here is in the same boat as you.
- Study early so you know what you don't understand so that you can ask questions in class or outside of class. You can't ask a question if you haven't studied yet. By the time you start studying and the exam is around the corner you will not have time to ask something you don't understand.
-Quizlet everything! There is a bunch of information on quizlet from former/current students that is really helpful. If you make your own quizlet don't keep it on private, share with your classmates.
-Most classes take longer to organize the material than it does to actually study the material. If you start early you can spend more time studying rather than organizing. You will understand what this means when you actually start studying. Gross anatomy was a lot easier to study if you organize it well in to charts/diagrams/flash cards. Same with Neuro.
GOODLUCK! PM me for more questions.