Ben Gurion/sackler

[DR. BOSTON]

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Hi everyone-

I was recently accepted to Ben Gurion/Columbia school for International Health....wanted to know if any students had any advice or things to talk about...i am very excited about the school, what is beer sheva like? how are the clases?? ANY INFO would be greatly appreciated...


also, which is a better school, sackler or ben gurion???

 

[ramona223]

Hi everyone-

I was recently accepted to Ben Gurion/Columbia school for International Health....wanted to know if any students had any advice or things to talk about...i am very excited about the school, what is beer sheva like? how are the clases?? ANY INFO would be greatly appreciated...


also, which is a better school, sackler or ben gurion???[/QUOTE

When did you apply if you don't mind me asking? Just wondering how long their process takes.

thanks.

 

[dhm2101]

I've heard good things about Ben Gurion, although Sackler definitely has a more established reputation, especially in NY. As for choosing between the two, that depends on your eventual goal. From my understanding, Ben Gurion is intended for eventual Doctors without Borders, or something very similar.

As for Be'er Sheva is in the middle of the desert, and about an hour and a half from Tel Aviv. Supposedly, they're building a high speed train from here (Tel Aviv) to Be'er Sheva and that should cut it down to a 45 minute train ride.

Hi everyone-

I was recently accepted to Ben Gurion/Columbia school for International Health....wanted to know if any students had any advice or things to talk about...i am very excited about the school, what is beer sheva like? how are the clases?? ANY INFO would be greatly appreciated...


also, which is a better school, sackler or ben gurion???

 

[organman]

Dr. Boston,

I was also deciding between Sackler and Ben Gurion. They're both great schools with building reputations in the USA. Sackler's reputation is more established and everyone secures an average to above-average residency in the States. Ben Gurion's program in International Health is extremely appealing if you're interested in cultural concerns and social awareness in medicine. Also, Ben Gurion's affiliation with Columbia is extremely helpful when applying for residencies. It's very hard to compare both schools because one is geared towards practicing traditional/modern medicine in the States (and a USMLE/traditional medical school based curriculum) while the other school includes the medical curriculum (system-based) with additional courses in international health subjects (refugee relief, pediatrics in Africa, Health Care in under-developed countries, etc) and attracts people who are GENUINELY interested in these subjects.

I visited both schools in Israel during the application process before I was accepted to either school. The students at Ben Gurion are EXTREMELY warm and the administration is even more welcoming. I met with the head of a few departments (some professors come to teach class straight from the wards) and they all seemed extremely well trained, modern physicians. BGU is a hospital-based medical school. You'll run into Bedouins, Muslims, Jews, Christians, etc. as you walk through the hospital to get to class. It's truly a multi-cultural experience. But again, it's honestly made for people who are actually GENUINELY interested in studying these subjects while taking the very demanding course load of medical school.

Sackler is a traditional medical school in the sense that the curriculum is geared towards the USMLE and structured similar to medical schools in the States. Sackler doesn't waste time on anything that's not anatomy, histology, biochemistry, etc. Sackler is a school that you choose if you wanted to go to school in the States but, for whatever reason, chose to come to Israel. Ben Gurion is a school that you choose if you'd consider going to an international health school in the States. In other words, ask yourself: "If I were to go to school in the States, would I choose a school that has a Sackler-type curriculum or a Ben Gurion-type curriculum?"

In the end, I chose Sackler. I spent months deciding between both schools, but ultimatly it came down to the question above. If I would have chosen to go to school in the States, I would have chosen a school like Sackler. The international health extra curriculum of Ben Gurion sounded fascinating to me and the fact is I probably would have enjoyed it had I gone. But in the end, you have to understand that medical school is going to be intense. My plan is to return to the States to practice, so I decided to devote all my energy to the traditional-style curriculum that will give me the education of any traditional medical school in the States in order to do my best on the USMLE.

Any more questions, feel free to email. I know what you're going through and the best thing to do is to talk to as many people as possible from both sides and then ultimately ask yourself the question above.

Good luck,

Organman

 

[Antiviral22]

Organman ... thank you for your very much for the well-balanced review of Ben Gurion and Sackler. I am a first year student at Ben Gurion and I feel that it's very important to let the pre-medicine community (the whole medical community for that matter) know that Ben Gurion University is not just a traditional program overseas or a second option for those who were not admitted elsewhere. Ben Gurion is a special school that recognizes the importance of training physicians than can thrive in multicultural settings, that understand the importance of primary care, and who recognize and adapt to constraints of the developing world. Several hours a week are devoted to learning about topics like Malnutrition in Africa, Maternal & Child Health of India, and Medical Anthropology etc etc. Above all, Ben Gurion prefers to accept students that sincerely want to make a difference in the world. Good luck at Sackler!!

Dr. Boston,

I was also deciding between Sackler and Ben Gurion. They're both great schools with building reputations in the USA. Sackler's reputation is more established and everyone secures an average to above-average residency in the States. Ben Gurion's program in International Health is extremely appealing if you're interested in cultural concerns and social awareness in medicine. Also, Ben Gurion's affiliation with Columbia is extremely helpful when applying for residencies. It's very hard to compare both schools because one is geared towards practicing traditional/modern medicine in the States (and a USMLE/traditional medical school based curriculum) while the other school includes the medical curriculum (system-based) with additional courses in international health subjects (refugee relief, pediatrics in Africa, Health Care in under-developed countries, etc) and attracts people who are GENUINELY interested in these subjects.

I visited both schools in Israel during the application process before I was accepted to either school. The students at Ben Gurion are EXTREMELY warm and the administration is even more welcoming. I met with the head of a few departments (some professors come to teach class straight from the wards) and they all seemed extremely well trained, modern physicians. BGU is a hospital-based medical school. You'll run into Bedouins, Muslims, Jews, Christians, etc. as you walk through the hospital to get to class. It's truly a multi-cultural experience. But again, it's honestly made for people who are actually GENUINELY interested in studying these subjects while taking the very demanding course load of medical school.

Sackler is a traditional medical school in the sense that the curriculum is geared towards the USMLE and structured similar to medical schools in the States. Sackler doesn't waste time on anything that's not anatomy, histology, biochemistry, etc. Sackler is a school that you choose if you wanted to go to school in the States but, for whatever reason, chose to come to Israel. Ben Gurion is a school that you choose if you'd consider going to an international health school in the States. In other words, ask yourself: "If I were to go to school in the States, would I choose a school that has a Sackler-type curriculum or a Ben Gurion-type curriculum?"

In the end, I chose Sackler. I spent months deciding between both schools, but ultimatly it came down to the question above. If I would have chosen to go to school in the States, I would have chosen a school like Sackler. The international health extra curriculum of Ben Gurion sounded fascinating to me and the fact is I probably would have enjoyed it had I gone. But in the end, you have to understand that medical school is going to be intense. My plan is to return to the States to practice, so I decided to devote all my energy to the traditional-style curriculum that will give me the education of any traditional medical school in the States in order to do my best on the USMLE.

Any more questions, feel free to email. I know what you're going through and the best thing to do is to talk to as many people as possible from both sides and then ultimately ask yourself the question above.

Good luck,

Organman

 

[dhm2101]

Organman,

Congrats on your decision to come to Sackler, and if you need any advice on how to go about the transition, then feel free to drop me a message (provided that you're not already in my class...).

And if anyone has specific questions regarding Sackler, feel free to drop me a message, as I'm a current first year there.

-D

Dr. Boston,

I was also deciding between Sackler and Ben Gurion. They're both great schools with building reputations in the USA. Sackler's reputation is more established and everyone secures an average to above-average residency in the States. Ben Gurion's program in International Health is extremely appealing if you're interested in cultural concerns and social awareness in medicine. Also, Ben Gurion's affiliation with Columbia is extremely helpful when applying for residencies. It's very hard to compare both schools because one is geared towards practicing traditional/modern medicine in the States (and a USMLE/traditional medical school based curriculum) while the other school includes the medical curriculum (system-based) with additional courses in international health subjects (refugee relief, pediatrics in Africa, Health Care in under-developed countries, etc) and attracts people who are GENUINELY interested in these subjects.

I visited both schools in Israel during the application process before I was accepted to either school. The students at Ben Gurion are EXTREMELY warm and the administration is even more welcoming. I met with the head of a few departments (some professors come to teach class straight from the wards) and they all seemed extremely well trained, modern physicians. BGU is a hospital-based medical school. You'll run into Bedouins, Muslims, Jews, Christians, etc. as you walk through the hospital to get to class. It's truly a multi-cultural experience. But again, it's honestly made for people who are actually GENUINELY interested in studying these subjects while taking the very demanding course load of medical school.

Sackler is a traditional medical school in the sense that the curriculum is geared towards the USMLE and structured similar to medical schools in the States. Sackler doesn't waste time on anything that's not anatomy, histology, biochemistry, etc. Sackler is a school that you choose if you wanted to go to school in the States but, for whatever reason, chose to come to Israel. Ben Gurion is a school that you choose if you'd consider going to an international health school in the States. In other words, ask yourself: "If I were to go to school in the States, would I choose a school that has a Sackler-type curriculum or a Ben Gurion-type curriculum?"

In the end, I chose Sackler. I spent months deciding between both schools, but ultimatly it came down to the question above. If I would have chosen to go to school in the States, I would have chosen a school like Sackler. The international health extra curriculum of Ben Gurion sounded fascinating to me and the fact is I probably would have enjoyed it had I gone. But in the end, you have to understand that medical school is going to be intense. My plan is to return to the States to practice, so I decided to devote all my energy to the traditional-style curriculum that will give me the education of any traditional medical school in the States in order to do my best on the USMLE.

Any more questions, feel free to email. I know what you're going through and the best thing to do is to talk to as many people as possible from both sides and then ultimately ask yourself the question above.

Good luck,

Organman

 

[cjalw]

Israeli schools are top notch.

 

[h2onymph1]

If You Graduate From The American Md Program In Israel At Ben Gurion In The Negev

Is It Possible To Stay And Practice Medicine In Israel And Get An Israeli Internship Do Most Poeple Want To Do Those Things? Do Most Go To The Usa? I Know Sackler Wont Let Its Graduates Practice In Israel Does This Hold True For Bgu????

Thank You In Advance

I remember either attending a information session or reading about this. Their program is geared towards the US (also remember, Columbia University was involved in putting together the program, too). Their program and curriculum is not geared towards licensing in Israel. It was designed as a different kind of medical program. Therefore, I think that's the source of why they don't want people staying in Israel to practice.

It may actually also be true that they make money with US alumni, but I've also seen in their brochures that they do get people from Japan, Korea, other countries. Those students are expected to go back to their countries to take their licensing exams as well, although again, they remind everyone that their school is based on the American model of medical school.