Boston University MAMS or Georgetown SMP

[ramennoodles498]

Hi everyone. I graduated from undergrad in May 2019 with rather uncompetitive stats (3.2 GPA, 3.0 sGPA). I took more gap years than I initially intended due to some personal circumstances, but I am back on my feet and ready to go back to school. I applied for SMPs for fall 2021 and have been accepted to a few. My top two considerations right now are Boston University MAMS and Georgetown SMP. Both programs are very solid, and I've heard many great things about them. However, I would still like to ask if anyone is willing to give their inputs, opinions, experiences, etc. about both programs.

I hear BU's advising is amazing, courses are amazing, everything is amazing. Honestly, heard nothing but good things about it. I spoke to a friend who did BU MAMS, and she loved it (she'll be going to med school this fall). Even one of my friends who is at Tufts MBS has recommended that I lean more towards BU instead of Tufts (I've also been accepted to Tufts). I know that wasn't a BU vs GT, but it was still worth noting for me. As for Georgetown SMP, well, it's kind of on me for just having attended their webinars and did not get many opportunities to find any alumni or current students to talk to. Their structure also seems very nice, advising also seems very solid from what I heard.. and since it's in DC, there seem to be a good amount of volunteer/clinical opportunities. Then again, Boston is also very well-known, probably even more well-known, for that stuff too (and I know, there are TONS of institutes and hospitals). One thing that did pique my interest is that BU has a 2-year option while Georgetown SMP is 1 year. That means, if I were to go to BU, I can at least still do something (aka working for thesis) while I'm applying for schools/waiting for interviews during the cycle. So I do want to know what Georgetown SMP alumni did or do after graduating and waiting for interviews and whether Georgetown helped them with any of that by any chance (that is if they are willing to share). And another reason I am slightly leaning towards Boston is, I did go to undergrad in Boston. So it'd be like moving back to a more familiar place if I were to choose BU. However, I want to make sure that I choose a program that is right for me.

Some of the things I want to absolutely look for are (not in any particular order unless otherwise stated):
1. Advising (probably my #1 factor) - how helpful they are in both programs, what can they offer to students
2. Linkages (this is probably also my biggest factor) - I think I heard that both programs kind of have unofficial linkage/guaranteed interviews, but I'm not entirely sure... please correct me on this if I'm wrong
3. Courses & lectures - I do have a general idea of BU's course schedule for both 1st and 2nd semesters but not much on GT. And I think they're all taught by med school faculty and you take them with med school students
4. Volunteer/clinical opportunities (and I guess this kind of ties in with the advising if advisors are able to help students get these opportunities)
5. MCAT prep/how ready did you feel about MCAT - now, I'm actually going to take the MCAT in May and hopefully, I will do well enough on my 1st try... but this is just in case I need to retake it. I know BU has some MCAT prep while I believe GT does not...? But I want to know how ready people felt to take or re-take the MCAT after their 1st year of either SMP
6. Housing - I know both Boston and DC are very expensive places to live in. And I know I said I may favor Boston over DC... but I mean, it's still a good thing to ask about

Of course, I know doing an SMP is not a guaranteed gateway to med school; I am willing to work hard and put in my efforts. I'm sure both programs are very hard and intense and I understand it could be hard to get a good GPA (maybe... plz enlighten me on your experience with GPA haha) But I want to make sure I am happy wherever I end up (sounds cheesy, I know) and will be given all the best resources when I need them. Thank you very much for reading. Looking forward to any replies that may come.

Edit: I totally did not realize that there was a Postbaccalaureate Programs forum until around 5 minutes after posting, and I realize that this may be more appropriate there. However, I cannot delete this post (why is there no option to do that..?) but do not wish to post the same thing in case it gets flagged as spam. Apologies for not looking carefully... it's been a long time since I've visited this site.

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[borrawin95]

BU MAMS >>> Georgetown SMP

I’ve heard nothing but poor feedback on the Georgetown SMP. There are several threads from past years if you search for them. BU MAMS is very tough but they’ll set you up for success if you do well.

Good luck!

 

[ramennoodles498]

BU MAMS >>> Georgetown SMP

I’ve heard nothing but poor feedback on the Georgetown SMP. There are several threads from past years if you search for them. BU MAMS is very tough but they’ll set you up for success if you do well.

Good luck!

Ooohh okay I'll definitely look more into those then. Thank you!

 

[NEactivity]

BU MAMS >>> Georgetown SMP

I’ve heard nothing but poor feedback on the Georgetown SMP. There are several threads from past years if you search for them. BU MAMS is very tough but they’ll set you up for success if you do well.

Good luck!

I echo what was said here. Nothing but really negative reviews of GT. Numerous threads on sdn about students' nightmare experiences there.

 

[mambamed824]

Hey guys! I'm currently accepted into BU's MAMS, Georgetown's SMP, and EVMS's 1-year Medical Masters Program, and am still waiting to hear back from Brown's ScM in Medical Sciences (going to interview in a week), RFU's BMS, and Temple's ACMS program. I'm having trouble trying to figure out how to decide between these programs. I'm currently planning to apply concurrently while in the program (3.3 cGPA, 512 MCAT, strong ECs), but I'm unsure of which program will give me the best chance of directly getting into an MD program without a glide year. Faculty advising, linkages (unofficial or official), and student community are very important to me and I want to make sure that this next year is very beneficial! Any advice/suggestions would be very helpful! Thank you so much! ◡̈

 

[mambamed824]

Since Temple ACMS has guaranteed admission... I think that's your answer if you get into that one. If that doesn't work out, of the ones you were accepted to looks like consensus is BU MAMS

Yeah that makes sense! I guess part of my confusion has also been that EVMS and RFU both offer interviews to almost all their SMP students (spoke to faculty in both programs who confirmed this), whereas with both Georgetown and BU it's not so much the case (only top 40% get interviewed)

 

[mambamed824]

Since Temple ACMS has guaranteed admission... I think that's your answer if you get into that one. If that doesn't work out, of the ones you were accepted to looks like consensus is BU MAMS

Also not sure stats wise whether I'd have a better chance at getting into BUSM if I'm in BU MAMS compared to Georgetown SOM (BU average MCAT score is 517 vs Georgetown's 512)

 

[NEactivity]

Also not sure stats wise whether I'd have a better chance at getting into BUSM if I'm in BU MAMS compared to Georgetown SOM (BU average MCAT score is 517 vs Georgetown's 512)

You ever think about Tufts MBS (also in Boston)? Greater than 30-35/130 MBS students each year matriculate into Tufts med which has average MCAT of 514. BU is very good for also placing out of BU (but not great for into BU, as I think 20/200 students matriculate + you need high MCAT). I think Georgetown has a low number of students matriculating into their med program from their SMP. That in combination of it being notoriously malignant makes me want to stay away if I were you.

 

[mambamed824]

You ever think about Tufts MBS (also in Boston)? Greater than 30-35/130 MBS students each year matriculate into Tufts med which has average MCAT of 514. BU is very good for also placing out of BU (but not great for into BU, as I think 20/200 students matriculate + you need high MCAT). I think Georgetown has a low number of students matriculating into their med program from their SMP. That in combination of it being notoriously malignant makes me want to stay away if I were you.

I read up online that Tufts MBS program is usually completed in more than 1 year though? Usually most of their students apply into their MD program after completing the MBS program

 

[NEactivity]

I read up online that Tufts MBS program is usually completed in more than 1 year though? Usually most of their students apply into their MD program after completing the MBS program

That's definitely true, which is also the same case for BU where you generally also need to do 2 years. Yes, Georgetown can be completed in one year but most med schools want to see a full year of grades in an SMP before applying. If you're in need of an SMP (like I was), schools want to see the fact that you can redeem yourself and not just some preliminary grades. Georgetown also sends a lot of their grads to Caribbean medical schools which is not a good indicator of a successful SMP program.

 

[mambamed824]

That's definitely true, which is also the same case for BU where you generally also need to do 2 years. Yes, Georgetown can be completed in one year but most med schools want to see a full year of grades in an SMP before applying. If you're in need of an SMP (like I was), schools want to see the fact that you can redeem yourself and not just some preliminary grades. Georgetown also sends a lot of their grads to Caribbean medical schools which is not a good indicator of a successful SMP program.

So I had spoken to the directors of both BU MAMS and Georgetown SMP programs and based off of my whole applicant profile, I was encouraged to apply concurrently while enrolled in an SMP, so I was hoping to do that actually. Does this mean I should consider a stronger linkage then? I didn't know about the Caribbean medical schools affiliated with Georgetown though.

 

[NEactivity]

So I had spoken to the directors of both BU MAMS and Georgetown SMP programs and based off of my whole applicant profile, I was encouraged to apply concurrently while enrolled in an SMP, so I was hoping to do that actually. Does this mean I should consider a stronger linkage then? I didn't know about the Caribbean medical schools affiliated with Georgetown though.

What's your GPA? Usually if you're encouraged to apply the year of the SMP it means you already have pretty good stats. If you already have pretty good stats, there is no reason to waste $75k on an SMP. Instead, work in a clinical setting for a year and take a couple of classes to bump up your uGPA. SMPs are extremely rigorous and can work for some people whose uGPA is more or less unsalvageable (<3.2, like mine was) as I would have had to take a few years of classes with straight A's to get that to above a 3.5./3.6. If there's any way you can avoid doing them, I recommend it. I had a successful experience with mine (now at a decent MD school in the US) but can not emphasize how brutally hard they all are. It was truly the most stressful and miserable year of my life, much worse than med school is currently. They are great for people who really have no other options, but are also extremely risky because if you don't perform you've basically eliminated any shot you had as to getting into med school. If your GPA is salvageable I strongly recommend you work and take some classes on the side instead.

Obviously, Caribbean schools should be the last, last option if you're dead-set on going into medicine. Match rates into the US are already abysmal, and will become even worse after step 1 goes P/F next year. Georgetown inflates their number by sending grads to the Caribbean and calling it a success, when in reality, anyone who can get into an SMP already has the stats to get into a Caribbean medical school.

 

[mambamed824]

What's your GPA? Usually if you're encouraged to apply the year of the SMP it means you already have pretty good stats. If you already have pretty good stats, there is no reason to waste $75k on an SMP. Instead, work in a clinical setting for a year and take a couple of classes to bump up your uGPA. SMPs are extremely rigorous and can work for some people whose uGPA is more or less unsalvageable (<3.2, like mine was) as I would have had to take a few years of classes with straight A's to get that to above a 3.5./3.6. If there's any way you can avoid doing them, I recommend it. I had a successful experience with mine (now at a decent MD school in the US) but can not emphasize how brutally hard they all are. It was truly the most stressful and miserable year of my life, much worse than med school is currently. They are great for people who really have no other options, but are also extremely risky because if you don't perform you've basically eliminated any shot you had as to getting into med school. If your GPA is salvageable I strongly recommend you work and take some classes on the side instead.

Obviously, Caribbean schools should be the last, last option if you're dead-set on going into medicine. Match rates into the US are already abysmal, and will become even worse after step 1 goes P/F next year. Georgetown inflates their number by sending grads to the Caribbean and calling it a success, when in reality, anyone who can get into an SMP already has the stats to get into a Caribbean medical school.

First and foremost, thank you thank you thank you for taking the time to really help give advice! ◡̈ I seriously do appreciate that and hope you know that your advice really is valuable and helpful!

My uGPA is currently 3.3 (sGPA slightly lower) so I am kinda like you where I do need to put in some work through taking medical school level courses and show my academic capabilities. I've already been working in research for about 2-3 years now (currently have about 8-10 publications) and have 1000+ clinical/volunteer experience. Ideally, I would want to continue keeping up with both even while doing an SMP (probably unlikely given how rigorous an SMP is) but I would much rather spend the next year strengthening my app academically while applying so I can showcase that much more to med schools.

I was told that ultimately both the BU MAMS and Georgetown SMP are relatively similar in chances of getting into MD programs and that it's just a matter of which medical school I'd rather attend. Given my MCAT score and GPA, I feel like my chances are much lower for BU and fit more with Georgetown's average stats, and going to Georgetown's SMP might help give me a leg up in applying to their med school. Is this the right mindset to have when comparing the two programs? Or do you think I may have a solid chance at BUSM while enrolled in MAMS?

Again, THANK YOU SO MUCH 😀

 

[NEactivity]

First and foremost, thank you thank you thank you for taking the time to really help give advice! ◡̈ I seriously do appreciate that and hope you know that your advice really is valuable and helpful!

My uGPA is currently 3.3 (sGPA slightly lower) so I am kinda like you where I do need to put in some work through taking medical school level courses and show my academic capabilities. I've already been working in research for about 2-3 years now (currently have about 8-10 publications) and have 1000+ clinical/volunteer experience. Ideally, I would want to continue keeping up with both even while doing an SMP (probably unlikely given how rigorous an SMP is) but I would much rather spend the next year strengthening my app academically while applying so I can showcase that much more to med schools.

I was told that ultimately both the BU MAMS and Georgetown SMP are relatively similar in chances of getting into MD programs and that it's just a matter of which medical school I'd rather attend. Given my MCAT score and GPA, I feel like my chances are much lower for BU and fit more with Georgetown's average stats, and going to Georgetown's SMP might help give me a leg up in applying to their med school. Is this the right mindset to have when comparing the two programs? Or do you think I may have a solid chance at BUSM while enrolled in MAMS?

Again, THANK YOU SO MUCH 😀

Hey, happy to help! I know exactly how it feels to be in your position and it's smart of you to consider all options. Your argument make sense; BU definitely has a high MCAT threshold and if I had gone to their MAMS program I would have not likely got into their MD school based on my MCAT score. If you're really set on GT, I would email admissions directly to see exactly how many kids get accepted form that program. I just see thread after thread on SDN about how many people hate the GT experience, which obviously to me is a huge red flag. See below.

Georgetown SMP and Master's Program Review

Hello Pre-Meds! I graduated from the Georgetown SMP program and am writing this post with one of my friends who graduated from the regular MS program. This post is geared towards anyone considering doing a post-bac program or someone who wants to supplement their application to medical school...

forums.studentdoctor.net

Also I would consider that even if you don't get into BU's med school, they are still very successful at sending their students to other med schools. I know it's super tempting to see a program like GT and think that after one year you could be in med school. I would just be careful that that shortened timeline doesn't come at the expense of lowering your chances of getting into a US medical school. Your resume is obviously impressive with your publications and clinical experience. I don't doubt that you could be successful at GT- I just think that SMPs are stressful enough without having all these extra hurdles thrown in can make the experience so much harder. I'm going to also throw in a personal shout out for Tufts as they send 35/130 of their SMP kids into their MD program every year (compared to BU at 20/200 students), and they have a lower average MCAT score than BU. Perhaps they would be a good option? Again, these are all just suggestions and you can take or leave whatever you want 🙂

 

[mambamed824]

Hey, happy to help! I know exactly how it feels to be in your position and it's smart of you to consider all options. Your argument make sense; BU definitely has a high MCAT threshold and if I had gone to their MAMS program I would have not likely got into their MD school based on my MCAT score. If you're really set on GT, I would email admissions directly to see exactly how many kids get accepted form that program. I just see thread after thread on SDN about how many people hate the GT experience, which obviously to me is a huge red flag. See below.

Georgetown SMP and Master's Program Review

Hello Pre-Meds! I graduated from the Georgetown SMP program and am writing this post with one of my friends who graduated from the regular MS program. This post is geared towards anyone considering doing a post-bac program or someone who wants to supplement their application to medical school...

forums.studentdoctor.net

Also I would consider that even if you don't get into BU's med school, they are still very successful at sending their students to other med schools. I know it's super tempting to see a program like GT and think that after one year you could be in med school. I would just be careful that that shortened timeline doesn't come at the expense of lowering your chances of getting into a US medical school. Your resume is obviously impressive with your publications and clinical experience. I don't doubt that you could be successful at GT- I just think that SMPs are stressful enough without having all these extra hurdles thrown in can make the experience so much harder. I'm going to also throw in a personal shout out for Tufts as they send 35/130 of their SMP kids into their MD program every year (compared to BU at 20/200 students), and they have a lower average MCAT score than BU. Perhaps they would be a good option? Again, these are all just suggestions and you can take or leave whatever you want 🙂

Thank you for this feedback! I had a couple of questions about BU MAMS if you don't mind ◡̈ I spoke with Dr. Offner, the director of the program and medical school and she did suggest that I fulfill the program in one year since I don't plan on retaking the MCAT and have solid ECs. Are there any stats available for students that successfully get accepted into MD programs that apply concurrently while enrolled in MAMS? Any insight into that process would be really helpful! I know that only about 30/180 students in the MAMS program do 1 year/apply concurrently so I don't know much about how that process would work.

Also, with GT's SMP program, I believe its the top 10% (~30/180 students) get accepted into their MD program! I think it's pretty comparable between BU and Tufts IMO but I also understand the level of rigor and stress involved in that program.

 

[DocJanItor]

GT SMP grad here. My initial stats before entering the SMP were cGPA 2.84 (AFTER DIY grade repair from a 2.52), MCAT 515, older, no research, no clinical volunteering. I had to get a GPA waiver from the graduate admissions committee just to be accepted. I've now finished at GUSOM and I'm matched into Interventional Radiology.

I stumbled out of the gates when I first started with 2 B's. I really wasn't ready for the pace of the coursework and had to learn an entirely new way to study. However, I managed to have a 3.5 by the time interview invites went out and had a good interview with one of the deans. I finished with a 3.53. I can tell you that score is probably not within the top 10%.

First off, lets get some things out of the way: Georgetown's facilities are aging but they are by no means dilapidated or rodent infested. Most of the lecture rooms have been remodeled with new chairs and equipment within the past 5 years. I'm not going to say that someone didn't see a mouse but I didn't see one or hear about one in the 3 years I attended preclinical lectures (SMP + 2 years med school.)

Second, it is very difficult and yes it is competitive. Curves are set by the M1 class scores but technically everyone can still get an A if they all did well. I think the biggest shock that people have is that the med school faculty aren't there to help you along. This isn't college, and many of these professors are clinical doctors who have hospital duties, residents, patients, rounds, clinic, etc. If you don't understand a concept there are multiple places online to explain these things, often for free. The grad school professors are more than willing to assist you online and (when not in a pandemic) during office hours. All lectures are recorded and there is a note taking service to provide succinct (hopefully) summaries of the lecture (and last year's notes as well).

Third, you do not JUST need to be in the top 10-20% of the class to be accepted to Georgetown. The medical school takes the interview seriously, and even the top student in the SMP won't be accepted if he/she is not personable. The school also takes into account the recommendation of the SMP faculty; if you're known to be hard to get along with or not a team player it will not be a good look.

The SMP is 5x more work than a full load at college, and M1 is twice as much as the SMP. The SMP is about proving that you can handle the level of rigor and efficiency that comes with medical school and eventually residency. SMP averages about 30 students per year to the med school, but in my matriculation year it was actually 30 from my SMP class and 10 from the SMP class before for a total of 40.

Happy to answer questions or DMs.

 

[ramennoodles498]

Hi everyone, thank you for all the responses! I was away for a while but was happy to read the discussions and all 🙂 now, I know I just asked about BU MAMS and Georgetown SMP in my post, but does anyone have anything to say regarding Case Western MSMP and Johns Hopkins Post-Bacc HSI within MS in Biotechnology? I was recently accepted into those two programs as well and just wanted some more perspectives if possible. Thank you!!

 

[MD_minded]

Hey guys! I'm currently accepted into BU's MAMS, Georgetown's SMP, and EVMS's 1-year Medical Masters Program, and am still waiting to hear back from Brown's ScM in Medical Sciences (going to interview in a week), RFU's BMS, and Temple's ACMS program. I'm having trouble trying to figure out how to decide between these programs. I'm currently planning to apply concurrently while in the program (3.3 cGPA, 512 MCAT, strong ECs), but I'm unsure of which program will give me the best chance of directly getting into an MD program without a glide year. Faculty advising, linkages (unofficial or official), and student community are very important to me and I want to make sure that this next year is very beneficial! Any advice/suggestions would be very helpful! Thank you so much! ◡̈

Temple ACMS had conditional acceptance to LKSOM, so if you get it and you do well you'll be enrolled straight into temple med school with out having to reapply.

 

[deleted1056062]

Hi everyone. I graduated from undergrad in May 2019 with rather uncompetitive stats (3.2 GPA, 3.0 sGPA). I took more gap years than I initially intended due to some personal circumstances, but I am back on my feet and ready to go back to school. I applied for SMPs for fall 2021 and have been accepted to a few. My top two considerations right now are Boston University MAMS and Georgetown SMP. Both programs are very solid, and I've heard many great things about them. However, I would still like to ask if anyone is willing to give their inputs, opinions, experiences, etc. about both programs.

I hear BU's advising is amazing, courses are amazing, everything is amazing. Honestly, heard nothing but good things about it. I spoke to a friend who did BU MAMS, and she loved it (she'll be going to med school this fall). Even one of my friends who is at Tufts MBS has recommended that I lean more towards BU instead of Tufts (I've also been accepted to Tufts). I know that wasn't a BU vs GT, but it was still worth noting for me. As for Georgetown SMP, well, it's kind of on me for just having attended their webinars and did not get many opportunities to find any alumni or current students to talk to. Their structure also seems very nice, advising also seems very solid from what I heard.. and since it's in DC, there seem to be a good amount of volunteer/clinical opportunities. Then again, Boston is also very well-known, probably even more well-known, for that stuff too (and I know, there are TONS of institutes and hospitals). One thing that did pique my interest is that BU has a 2-year option while Georgetown SMP is 1 year. That means, if I were to go to BU, I can at least still do something (aka working for thesis) while I'm applying for schools/waiting for interviews during the cycle. So I do want to know what Georgetown SMP alumni did or do after graduating and waiting for interviews and whether Georgetown helped them with any of that by any chance (that is if they are willing to share). And another reason I am slightly leaning towards Boston is, I did go to undergrad in Boston. So it'd be like moving back to a more familiar place if I were to choose BU. However, I want to make sure that I choose a program that is right for me.

Some of the things I want to absolutely look for are (not in any particular order unless otherwise stated):
1. Advising (probably my #1 factor) - how helpful they are in both programs, what can they offer to students
2. Linkages (this is probably also my biggest factor) - I think I heard that both programs kind of have unofficial linkage/guaranteed interviews, but I'm not entirely sure... please correct me on this if I'm wrong
3. Courses & lectures - I do have a general idea of BU's course schedule for both 1st and 2nd semesters but not much on GT. And I think they're all taught by med school faculty and you take them with med school students
4. Volunteer/clinical opportunities (and I guess this kind of ties in with the advising if advisors are able to help students get these opportunities)
5. MCAT prep/how ready did you feel about MCAT - now, I'm actually going to take the MCAT in May and hopefully, I will do well enough on my 1st try... but this is just in case I need to retake it. I know BU has some MCAT prep while I believe GT does not...? But I want to know how ready people felt to take or re-take the MCAT after their 1st year of either SMP
6. Housing - I know both Boston and DC are very expensive places to live in. And I know I said I may favor Boston over DC... but I mean, it's still a good thing to ask about

Of course, I know doing an SMP is not a guaranteed gateway to med school; I am willing to work hard and put in my efforts. I'm sure both programs are very hard and intense and I understand it could be hard to get a good GPA (maybe... plz enlighten me on your experience with GPA haha) But I want to make sure I am happy wherever I end up (sounds cheesy, I know) and will be given all the best resources when I need them. Thank you very much for reading. Looking forward to any replies that may come.

Edit: I totally did not realize that there was a Postbaccalaureate Programs forum until around 5 minutes after posting, and I realize that this may be more appropriate there. However, I cannot delete this post (why is there no option to do that..?) but do not wish to post the same thing in case it gets flagged as spam. Apologies for not looking carefully... it's been a long time since I've visited this site.

How did you get into Georgetown SMP without taking the MCAT?

 

[ramennoodles498]

How did you get into Georgetown SMP without taking the MCAT?

I was actually waitlisted first, but then they asked me to submit a practice MCAT test score. So I took one from Blueprint (Next Step), and I guess I did well enough for them to then accept me then

 

[shivani3846]

Hello! Hope everyone is doing well. Does anyone have any information on Pitt Biomedical Masters Program (BMP). I'm having a hard time deciding between Pitt BMP and BU MAMS program. I appreciate all input! Thanks!

 

[hockeyduderr]

I was actually waitlisted first, but then they asked me to submit a practice MCAT test score. So I took one from Blueprint (Next Step), and I guess I did well enough for them to then accept me then

Have you made a decision on your choice of SMP Program? I am in a similar situation and I am curious. Thanks!

 

[asw.]

Hi everyone. I graduated from undergrad in May 2019 with rather uncompetitive stats (3.2 GPA, 3.0 sGPA). I took more gap years than I initially intended due to some personal circumstances, but I am back on my feet and ready to go back to school. I applied for SMPs for fall 2021 and have been accepted to a few. My top two considerations right now are Boston University MAMS and Georgetown SMP. Both programs are very solid, and I've heard many great things about them. However, I would still like to ask if anyone is willing to give their inputs, opinions, experiences, etc. about both programs.

I hear BU's advising is amazing, courses are amazing, everything is amazing. Honestly, heard nothing but good things about it. I spoke to a friend who did BU MAMS, and she loved it (she'll be going to med school this fall). Even one of my friends who is at Tufts MBS has recommended that I lean more towards BU instead of Tufts (I've also been accepted to Tufts). I know that wasn't a BU vs GT, but it was still worth noting for me. As for Georgetown SMP, well, it's kind of on me for just having attended their webinars and did not get many opportunities to find any alumni or current students to talk to. Their structure also seems very nice, advising also seems very solid from what I heard.. and since it's in DC, there seem to be a good amount of volunteer/clinical opportunities. Then again, Boston is also very well-known, probably even more well-known, for that stuff too (and I know, there are TONS of institutes and hospitals). One thing that did pique my interest is that BU has a 2-year option while Georgetown SMP is 1 year. That means, if I were to go to BU, I can at least still do something (aka working for thesis) while I'm applying for schools/waiting for interviews during the cycle. So I do want to know what Georgetown SMP alumni did or do after graduating and waiting for interviews and whether Georgetown helped them with any of that by any chance (that is if they are willing to share). And another reason I am slightly leaning towards Boston is, I did go to undergrad in Boston. So it'd be like moving back to a more familiar place if I were to choose BU. However, I want to make sure that I choose a program that is right for me.

Some of the things I want to absolutely look for are (not in any particular order unless otherwise stated):
1. Advising (probably my #1 factor) - how helpful they are in both programs, what can they offer to students
2. Linkages (this is probably also my biggest factor) - I think I heard that both programs kind of have unofficial linkage/guaranteed interviews, but I'm not entirely sure... please correct me on this if I'm wrong
3. Courses & lectures - I do have a general idea of BU's course schedule for both 1st and 2nd semesters but not much on GT. And I think they're all taught by med school faculty and you take them with med school students
4. Volunteer/clinical opportunities (and I guess this kind of ties in with the advising if advisors are able to help students get these opportunities)
5. MCAT prep/how ready did you feel about MCAT - now, I'm actually going to take the MCAT in May and hopefully, I will do well enough on my 1st try... but this is just in case I need to retake it. I know BU has some MCAT prep while I believe GT does not...? But I want to know how ready people felt to take or re-take the MCAT after their 1st year of either SMP
6. Housing - I know both Boston and DC are very expensive places to live in. And I know I said I may favor Boston over DC... but I mean, it's still a good thing to ask about

Of course, I know doing an SMP is not a guaranteed gateway to med school; I am willing to work hard and put in my efforts. I'm sure both programs are very hard and intense and I understand it could be hard to get a good GPA (maybe... plz enlighten me on your experience with GPA haha) But I want to make sure I am happy wherever I end up (sounds cheesy, I know) and will be given all the best resources when I need them. Thank you very much for reading. Looking forward to any replies that may come.

Edit: I totally did not realize that there was a Postbaccalaureate Programs forum until around 5 minutes after posting, and I realize that this may be more appropriate there. However, I cannot delete this post (why is there no option to do that..?) but do not wish to post the same thing in case it gets flagged as spam. Apologies for not looking carefully... it's been a long time since I've visited this site.

any update on where you choose to attend and your experience there?! I am in the same position as you currentlly!