BGU acceptance

[mikkey]

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I was just accepted to BGU and I have mixed feelings. Everybody is telling me that the school is great but how are the profs? Are they good? Do you have class recordings? Are course notes provided?
Also, I am a Canadian. How would that work to get a residency in the US, seeing as though Canada takes like no one internationally? This is actually my huge concern, because I don't know how an international individual with an international degree would fare in the match.
Thank you for your input!

 

[jones173]

Hey Mikkey,

Congrats on your acceptance. It is not nearly as easy to get in here as it used to be. I am a third year. It really has taken me a few years of perspective to be able to effectively evaluate our profs. I can some it up by saying that most of them are excellent. We learn from well published physicians our first two years who have tons of experience in their respective fields. We are currently in obgyn and I remember so much since repro was taught so well last year. Now, dont get me wrong, like every school there are some weak ones and some whose English is not so great. But you will learn a ton if you apply yourself. My classes board scores speak for themselves. Most beat the US national mean this past year on step 1 and I think out of 39 students only one failed. There are no class recordings provided, however you are given all of the powerpoint slides printed out.

As far as Canada goes, we just had some good news. One of our fourth years just matched University of Toronto for Internal Medicine. This is quite an accomplishment from what I have heard since this school has very few spots for FMGs. Canada can be a possibility, however, you should probably keep the options of the US open too.

PM me if you have any other questions.

Good Luck and congrats again..

 

[IzzyMD09]

congrats on getting in
i really have very little to add to the last post which pretty much summed it up
but I just wanted to throw in, that our professors, at least second year, are all clinicians and they all present patients and teach us third year material, there is very little review of basic sciences in the second year besides some phys path and pharm thrown in here and there to explain disease etiologies that we may be unfamiliar with

i remember the boards from this past summer, and i can honestly say a lot of what I knew cold was because of the teaching at our school, I went to almost every single class, and i learned more in 10 months than I have in 10 years, and this year on the wards we see our professors everyday, so if you are a super star in second year, it not only helps you when you are getting pimped but it gives you a boost in the letter or recc dept and clinical honors side as well

izzy

 

[Starfish1976]

Hi Mikkey,
I am also a Canadian that has been accepted to BGU. I have also interviewed at one school here in Canada, and I honestly don't know what I will choose to do if I get accepted here in Canada. I applied to BGU thinking it was my first-choice school because of the international health focus, and simply the experience of living in Israel. But I also worry about my options for the future - it is becoming a little bit easier to get residencies at home, but this still comes with problems - as a FMG, doing a residency in Canada means you have to sign a return-for-service contract. And this means being tied down to a place you have no control over for a significant amount of time. Since my goal is to work overseas as soon as possible, this situation is less than ideal...I would honestly rather do my residency in the US. Part of me hopes I don't get into med school in Canada so I don't have to make the decision!

 

[jonathani1]

Starfish and Mikkey, I'm interviewing at BGU later this month. I have a 28 on the MCAT, a 3.89 GPA, stellar LORs and a decent amount of volunteer experience, including some overseas. Any tips for the interview? Where did you guys stay? Think I stand a chance? Thanks

 

[a_ditchdoc]

Starfish and Mikkey, I'm interviewing at BGU later this month. I have a 28 on the MCAT, a 3.89 GPA, stellar LORs and a decent amount of volunteer experience, including some overseas. Any tips for the interview? Where did you guys stay? Think I stand a chance? Thanks

You stand a good chance. Don't try too hard to impress them. Just be yourself, be sincere. They just want to weed out anyone with a pathological personality and others that might not be a "fit" with the program.

 

[jonathani1]

Thank you, that's good advice.

 

[minkwhale]

Hi Everyone,

I was accepted to BGU and it's definitely my first choice. I may, however, need to be in the states for the next few years and I was wondering if anyone else made the choice between DO and BGU. Is there a big difference between options that are available for DO and BGU graduates? Any other thoughts?

Thanks.

 

[NewGradGA]

A SAMPLE FROM A THIRD YEAR WHO POSTS ON HERE A LOT

"I am a third year hear at BGU and I too had to decide between the two schools. To answer your questions. The facilities at Soroka are good and up to the standards of the states. I think we get charged too much to go here. There is nothing to really do here in Beersheva. Tel Aviv has a lot more. There are community service opportunities to work with Physicians for Human Rights. Financial Aid is not handled great and is kind of disorganized, however the loans to work out eventually. We are in class way too much the first 2 years in my opinion. There is no honor society, but there are plenty research opportunities since this is a well published University hospital. Groups have been way too big this year and it has affected our learning. Most of the tutors have been good, but some are poor and dont speak good English. You are never part of a team. You are typically in 2 hospitals, one is good while the other is metiocre. We typically do four electives fourt year in the US and we are prepared decently from what I have heard.

Our match lists have been good especially for primary care. If you are interested in doing a compeititve residency like Rads, Opthamology, Derm, Urology, Plastics, ortholpedics, or ENT I would recommend Sackler or a US School.

The MD degree is FROM Ben Gurion University and I am honestly still wondering about the Columbia connection that we have. We get priority there for electives. Just keep in mind that you will be an FMG when you graduate."

That being said, I talked with a lot of first years about International health stuff, and they all said it pretty much sucks, which is funny cause to be honest its the only selling point a school like that for FMG's has,

I dont want to make decisions for you, but if you had the choice to stay US at a DO school over BGU, you should stick to American Soil, especially if you want to do more than family practice or internal medicine or pediatrics, or if you want to a fellowship in a subspecialty

newgradga

 

[jd778877]

That is clearly not a quote as it sounds as if a ****** wrote it. Did you not get into a school this year? Maybe you should look into a political career instead as you seem to run quite the smear campaign.

 

[ewar84]

Newgrad has serious issues- never quite met such a bitterly rejected applicant before. Dude honestly stop bashing our school- its gone from amusing to most of us just feeling really bad for u on your need to continue this pathetic tirade.

 

[cleothecat]

If you are fluent in French and can pass your French proficiency test you will likely be able to get licensure in Quebec.

Recomendations: If you go offshore, take electives and or courses to attain fluency in French.

 

[jonathani1]

I interview at BGU on Thursday. Is this really late in the admissions cycle? When does BGU make their final decisions? Any tips, warnings or gotchas for the day?

Thanks.

 

[Candlestick Man]

Hey Jon,

there are definately no "gotchas." To be on the safe side, leave plenty of time to find the office, it is hidden away in the top corner of the massive Columbia medical center complex. Make sure you have all your questions ready. It's a good chance to get information, both from Alice (the woman working at the office) and your interviewers. The actual interviews for me were solely about my experiences, why I wanted to attend BGU, and any questions I had. I had some panel interviews at US schools before this one, so it was a pleasant change. Definately not stressful.

good luck.

 

[jonathani1]

Thanks Candlestickman. I'll remember to leave time to find my way to the office. Not a simple matter for me in New York. 🙂

 

[babycapybara]

I didn't interview until May 1 and I got in. (though i have to admit i was panicking during the next few weeks) Relax and let them know why you will be a good fit for the school.

 

[jonathani1]

I had my interview at BGU yesterday. I interviewed with Dr Jewelewietz (sp?), Ob Gyn and Dr Prager, Pulmonologist. The interviews were informative, honest, and had far less pompous BS than just about every other interview I've been to here in the States. I watched some videos on Ben Gurion, and then was joined by a great couple, a husband and wife who are applying jointly to the program.

We received the 2008 residency match list (hot off the press). All the students who applied matched. Most of them were family medicine with a decent number in internal medicine and psychiatry. There were a few OB GYNs, a couple surgeons, and a couple transitional medicines.

The committee meets sometime in April, and again May, so those who are still thinking of applying have enough time to do so, if they hurry up! Alice Mahoney, the program coordinator was friendly and helpful. She emphasized that it is important to keep in contact with the program until you hear from them. ("Constant contact is not bothersome and may actually be helpful.")

Good luck to all.

 

[NewGradGA]

Newgrad has serious issues- never quite met such a bitterly rejected applicant before. Dude honestly stop bashing our school- its gone from amusing to most of us just feeling really bad for u on your need to continue this pathetic tirade.

Do you ever wonder why dumb people congregate together.....

The funny thing is you call this my rant, how pathetic, why dont you be angry at that 3rd year Jones guy that sent me those little tidbits of information, he really seems to like the program, he is the one bashing your school or whatever you want to call it

Brava on the match list, unfortunately I dont think I will be accepting my admission to your prestigious univeristy, I dont know what kind of doctor I want to be, but whatever it is it wont be at

University Hospital

Cincinnati, OH

and defnately not at
Research Medical Center ​

​

Kansas City, MO

whatever those places are

-gradga​

​

 

[sharkchaser47]

NewGradGa,

I think I speak for the vast majority of people at my school when I say that we are glad to hear you will not be joining us next year. There is absolutely no way that you would be happy here. Good luck in the future.