Best Post Bac / Masters Program for DO?

[wr250x]

I wasn't able to procure a seat at any of the schools I applied to this application cycle. In early December I started receiving the "you didn't make the initial cut, but here is a chance at redemption" emails, all soliciting some sort of masters program.

I did a lot of research on the different programs and what they had to offer. Briefly I'll outline my choices:

1. DMU DO'q (qualifier?) : You do the first 1.5 semesters and get an interview. Downside is there is zero financial aid, and your in Des Moines.

2. Midwestern's M.A in Biomedical Science : 9 month program very similar to the first year of medical school. A fair number of their students are enrolled in professional programs the next year. No real downside

3. Touro's MHS : Not super attractive, I don't think I'd be a good fit at Touro. I'm sure a fair number of their masters students end up as DO students but nothing is in writing.

4. PNWU : This peaked my interest as I liked PNWU and it was high on my list. The program is run through a local school for one year and then you transfer your second year to PNWU. The downside is that this is a two year program, but if you successfully complete the coursework you are offered a seat in the next years DO class.

I have been accepted into all of the programs and need to make a decision fairly soon. Honestly, I'm leaning towards PNWU because of the school (its mission and my experience there), and explicit offer of 'preferred admissions' to their DO class. I'm wondering what others think, what they would do and why?

Thanks for the input!

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[randomusername]

A few big questions I'm sure most people are going to want to know/need to know for offering advice would be how are your stats, how widely did you apply this year, and did you receive interviews at any of the schools or were you rejected without any interviews?

 

[wr250x]

Good point,

-I have good stats with GPA, both science and overall are above a 3.5
-I applied to a lot of DO schools, no M.D. (personal preference)
-Lower than desired MCAT, ie sub 30
-3 interviews, 1 waitlist that turned into a rejection

A few big questions I'm sure most people are going to want to know/need to know for offering advice would be how are your stats, how widely did you apply this year, and did you receive interviews at any of the schools or were you rejected without any interviews?

 

[randomusername]

Good point,

-I have good stats with GPA, both science and overall are above a 3.5
-I applied to a lot of DO schools, no M.D. (personal preference)
-Lower than desired MCAT, ie sub 30
-3 interviews, 1 waitlist that turned into a rejection

How early did you apply? Assuming your MCAT > 25, unless you don't interview well or didn't apply very early, it seems like you should be relatively-competitive.

 

[Ferocity]

3.5GPA and you want to do a post-bac?

This makes no sense...

 

[zann0324]

3.5GPA and you want to do a post-bac?

This makes no sense...

Ha....I have a 3.65 GPA and going to do a post bacc(the MBS at Midwestern)..Currently waitlisted at 2 schools.....low MCAT 🙁. The reason I chose to do the program was so I would have something to make me a better applicant than just working and re-taking the MCAT...I still don't know if its the right choice and I am hoping I just get moved off a waitlist. I have 4+ years clinical experience and 1000's of hours of EC's..so besides re-taking the MCAT I was at a loss of what to do and didn't want to just hangout this year. Ideally I would like to travel and maybe do some med things out of the country but lack of funds puts that out of reach so I might as well dump myself more into debt in the masters? tough decisions. OH, and to the OP---I would go where you think you want to be at for school I think Midwestern probably has the better program (possible bias here 🙂) but if you would be happy going to med school at PNWU then go there.

 

[docdonny]

Ha....I have a 3.65 GPA and going to do a post bacc(the MBS at Midwestern)..Currently waitlisted at 2 schools.....low MCAT 🙁. The reason I chose to do the program was so I would have something to make me a better applicant than just working and re-taking the MCAT...I still don't know if its the right choice and I am hoping I just get moved off a waitlist. I have 4+ years clinical experience and 1000's of hours of EC's..so besides re-taking the MCAT I was at a loss of what to do and didn't want to just hangout this year. Ideally I would like to travel and maybe do some med things out of the country but lack of funds puts that out of reach so I might as well dump myself more into debt in the masters? tough decisions. OH, and to the OP---I would go where you think you want to be at for school I think Midwestern probably has the better program (possible bias here 🙂) but if you would be happy going to med school at PNWU then go there.

This seems like a very poor financial decision. Why not take an MCAT emersion program over the summer offered by Kaplan or some other intense MCAT emersion program and save your money. The only thing holding you back is your MCAT so doing a post bacc could end up hurting you rather than helping you (ie you get below a 3.5) You get above a 26 on your MCAT and will be going to medical shcool the following fall.

 

[drctother]

OP, things dont add up unless maybe im missing something

You had a 3.5+ GPA, a decent MCAT (if you say "sub 30" im assuming you have high standards and got a 27-29?).....and you got several interviews. I dont know you, but im going to say that maybe your interviewing skills need to be worked on. Im not implying you are socially challenged or anything but perhaps you were giving cookie-cut answers in your interview? A lot of people I met at my interviews, who wanted to practice, gave me cookie-cut fake answers (ie answers they think the interviewer wants to hear)

How were your interviews?

To your original Q, I would pick Midwestern BUT I know nothing about PNWU. I was looking into their program before I got my acceptances

 

[iamshedoctor]

I wasn't able to procure a seat at any of the schools I applied to this application cycle. In early December I started receiving the "you didn't make the initial cut, but here is a chance at redemption" emails, all soliciting some sort of masters program.

I did a lot of research on the different programs and what they had to offer. Briefly I'll outline my choices:

1. DMU DO'q (qualifier?) : You do the first 1.5 semesters and get an interview. Downside is there is zero financial aid, and your in Des Moines.

2. Midwestern's M.A in Biomedical Science : 9 month program very similar to the first year of medical school. A fair number of their students are enrolled in professional programs the next year. No real downside

3. Touro's MHS : Not super attractive, I don't think I'd be a good fit at Touro. I'm sure a fair number of their masters students end up as DO students but nothing is in writing.

4. PNWU : This peaked my interest as I liked PNWU and it was high on my list. The program is run through a local school for one year and then you transfer your second year to PNWU. The downside is that this is a two year program, but if you successfully complete the coursework you are offered a seat in the next years DO class.

I have been accepted into all of the programs and need to make a decision fairly soon. Honestly, I'm leaning towards PNWU because of the school (its mission and my experience there), and explicit offer of 'preferred admissions' to their DO class. I'm wondering what others think, what they would do and why?

Thanks for the input!

OP, are you speaking of TouroCOM-NY Master's Program? If so, why did you feel they were unattractive. The reason I ask is because I am definitely looking into this program and was just about to suggest it to you until I read your comment. What's the deal?

 

[LesBois88]

I'm at TouroCOM-NY and our masters students are generally quite successful. They do work hard.

If I were to guess, I'd say the OP isn't comfortable with living in NYC, because that is the most common reason people aren't comfortable with applying.

 

[Mzeep]

I think when OP mentioned Touro MHS he/she meant Touro-NV since that's what they call it "M.S. in Medical Health Sciences" or possibly Touro-CA but they don't notify anyone until May 27th. If I'm not mistaken, TouroCOM-NY calls it M.S. in Interdisciplinary Studies in Biological and Physical Sciences.

 

[Julius216]

1. DMU DO'q (qualifier?) : You do the first 1.5 semesters and get an interview. Downside is there is zero financial aid, and your in Des Moines.

I am interviewing for this program next week. I'm not sure what the tuition is for the other programs on your list, but $8000 for the program doesn't seem too bad, especially since it is credited toward your tuition if you are accepted into DMU-COM the following year. What were your impressions of the school? the program itself? How was your interview day?

As for making a decision, I would opt for the program with the strongest linkage or medical school matriculation rates. Time would also be factor as I prefer a one year program as opposed to two. As others have mentioned, you have a strong GPA and it seems like you want to improve your MCAT score. Is a formal Post-Bacc really the answer? Have you contacted schools that you applied to and asked how you can improve as an applicant? Sometime what we may think we need to improve upon might actually be different from what admissions committees think. Doing so can help you make a more informed decision. Additionally, do any of these programs provide MCAT prep classes through Kaplan, PR, etc? Either way, which ever program you choose, make sure you bust your ass and do incredibly well. I'm sure most will agree that doing bad in any of these programs can really put a damper into your hopes of becoming a physician one day. Best of luck.

 

[473798]

I wasn't able to procure a seat at any of the schools I applied to this application cycle. In early December I started receiving the "you didn't make the initial cut, but here is a chance at redemption" emails, all soliciting some sort of masters program.

I did a lot of research on the different programs and what they had to offer. Briefly I'll outline my choices:

1. DMU DO'q (qualifier?) : You do the first 1.5 semesters and get an interview. Downside is there is zero financial aid, and your in Des Moines.

2. Midwestern's M.A in Biomedical Science : 9 month program very similar to the first year of medical school. A fair number of their students are enrolled in professional programs the next year. No real downside

3. Touro's MHS : Not super attractive, I don't think I'd be a good fit at Touro. I'm sure a fair number of their masters students end up as DO students but nothing is in writing.

4. PNWU : This peaked my interest as I liked PNWU and it was high on my list. The program is run through a local school for one year and then you transfer your second year to PNWU. The downside is that this is a two year program, but if you successfully complete the coursework you are offered a seat in the next years DO class.

I have been accepted into all of the programs and need to make a decision fairly soon. Honestly, I'm leaning towards PNWU because of the school (its mission and my experience there), and explicit offer of 'preferred admissions' to their DO class. I'm wondering what others think, what they would do and why?

Thanks for the input!

Do you happen to know if Midwestern has a linkage program w their COM?

 

[jinobi]

WesternU's MSMS program has linkage with their DO school.

 

[DrMeows]

Do you happen to know if Midwestern has a linkage program w their COM?

Yes, both do. By this I mean, for example, if you're in the masters program at one campus, you are taken into higher regard at both campuses. Hope that helps! 👍

 

[473798]

That's a huge help, thank you! They don't have guaranteed interviews despite being in the masters program though, am I correct?

 

[DrMeows]

That's a huge help, thank you! They don't have guaranteed interviews despite being in the masters program though, am I correct?

I'm not sure about the Arizona masters program, but the Illinois one guarantees an interview the year during and/or year after the program if u get a 3.0 during the first 2 program quarters and at least 1 standard deviation of the previous class' MCAT (for my class this last year it was a 25 just FYI). Hope that helps! 👍

 

[milosavljevic]

WesternU's MSMS program has linkage with their DO school.

Really? I had considered applying for the MSMS program at Western, but I didn't know that they had an actual linkage agreement. I didn't look into it too much since a master's program wouldn't allow me to re-take undergrad classes, but maybe after my post-bac is complete...Western is my dream school (unfortunately the same is also true for many other Californians), but I don't have anywhere near their average stats so for now it's a reach school. I think I'll need all the help I can get when I apply there, so maybe their MSMS is worth considering. Thank you for the information.

 

[DrWily]

We have about 50-60 master's degree holders in my AZCOM class of 250, and i'm willing to bet a large portion of them came from the master's program here.

 

[milosavljevic]

We have about 50-60 master's degree holders in my AZCOM class of 250, and i'm willing to bet a large portion of them came from the master's program here.

Also good to know. Thank you

 

[473798]

Really? I had considered applying for the MSMS program at Western, but I didn't know that they had an actual linkage agreement. I didn't look into it too much since a master's program wouldn't allow me to re-take undergrad classes, but maybe after my post-bac is complete...Western is my dream school (unfortunately the same is also true for many other Californians), but I don't have anywhere near their average stats so for now it's a reach school. I think I'll need all the help I can get when I apply there, so maybe their MSMS is worth considering. Thank you for the information.

I can definitely relate w you on Western being a school on the top of my list. As an OOS candidate, I'd do anything to get a foot into their COM! If I'm not mistaken, I believe you'll be considered for the linkage program if you maintain a GPA of a 3.5 and a strong MCAT score. Here's the link to their page for more info on how to apply for that program. Best of luck

http://www.westernu.edu/biomedical-sciences-msms