CalMed MBS 2019-2020

[squid455]

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Hi, quick question! I have my interview scheduled for this upcoming Monday morning but they still haven't reached out with further instructions and it's making me a little nervous hahah. Was this the same for you by any chance??

Yes! I actually ended up emailing them because I thought they forgot about me, but the lady ended up sending the information regarding the interview the day before. The turnaround time was also really quick for me. I submitted my app 5/31, interviewed 6/17 and was accepted 6/20.

 

[estdvo1]

Yes! I actually ended up emailing them because I thought they forgot about me, but the lady ended up sending the information regarding the interview the day before. The turnaround time was also really quick for me. I submitted my app 5/31, interviewed 6/17 and was accepted 6/20.

Congrats on being accepted! Did you also have a more casual/conversational type interview?

 

[squid455]

Congrats on being accepted! Did you also have a more casual/conversational type interview?

Thank you! And yes, it was pretty low key and casual. Definitely go back through this forum and read what others said they got asked during their interview. They asked me some of those same questions!

 

[lidstbay]

Hi, current about-to-graduate MBS student here. Just wanted to clarify a few of the numbers.

Yes, 8/33 current MBS students applied "fresh" to the med school this year and 4 got in, but another 8 came in with provisional MD acceptances based on making it to the MD waitlist in the 2018-2019 cycle (one-time offer for the inaugural MBS class). It's looking like all 8 of those will also get in; we'll know for sure once spring grades are finalized. So, 16 total applied or had been provisionally accepted to the MD program, and most likely 12 got in.

Of the remaining 17 who didn't apply this past cycle, many were coming into the MBS straight from undergrad and wanted to get more clinical experience and otherwise strengthen their med school applications first. At least one student hadn't ever taken the MCAT, so took it this spring and is applying this coming (2019-2020) cycle. Many others wanted to re-take the MCAT because they didn't yet have the minimum score required for the guaranteed MD interview. The guaranteed MD interview offer persists after MBS graduation, so someone who did well in the MBS program and just needed a higher MCAT score could use their guaranteed interview ticket for this coming (2019-2020) cycle and maybe even the following (2020-2021) cycle, if they ended up getting at least the minimum score.

Yes, the MD class size is increasing: 60 the first year (2018-2019), 90-98 this year (2019-2020), 120 next year (2020-2021).

The MBS class size is likewise increasing. We started last year with 36 students (3 dropped for various reasons). They were aiming for 60 students this coming year and it sounds like they'll meet that target.

Feel free to reply or message me if you have other questions. Best wishes to everyone applying!

Hello!

I was accepted into the incoming MBS class and was wondering about how the schedule looked like and the rigor of the classes? Also, did you feel like this program helped you progress into medical school? Reading some people's comments about how so little people matriculated into COM after completing the MBS made me wary, but your explanation makes sense and made me feel better so thank you 🙂

 

[estdvo1]

Thank you! And yes, it was pretty low key and casual. Definitely go back through this forum and read what others said they got asked during their interview. They asked me some of those same questions!

Ahhh I almost had a heart attack. They ended up reaching out an hour before the interview, but thankfully they asked similar questions. I guess now just gotta wait and see what they say hahah. Thanks again for all your help!

 

[jazzmetal]

Hello!

I was accepted into the incoming MBS class and was wondering about how the schedule looked like and the rigor of the classes? Also, did you feel like this program helped you progress into medical school? Reading some people's comments about how so little people matriculated into COM after completing the MBS made me wary, but your explanation makes sense and made me feel better so thank you 🙂

Congratulations! Get ready to study your face off! lol

The program overall is pretty rigorous - it's not so much the difficulty of the material in any given course, but that you're taking so many courses at once, and they're not in blocks so there's a lot of changing of mental gears.

I'm starting CalMed MD on July 15 (was one of the people with the special MBS-to-MD offer) and am told by the professors who teach in both programs that those of us coming from the MBS should have a leg up, especially on the basic science components. I hope that's true!

Our schedule was generally 8am-noon every day with a one-hour lecture, then one-hour break, then two-hour lecture (or some days was one-hour lecture after break and we'd get out by 11am). That said, I think they are considering changing to a M-Th lecture schedule? I'd posted earlier that they were considering splitting the class into two sections, but they're not going to do that. My guess is that you might end up in an 8am-1pm window M-Th or something... Not a crazy amount of classroom hours, just lots of studying and homework and exam prep outside of class.

It's intense, but doable. Just don't fall behind.

Feel free to message me if you have other questions!

 

[Meowster007]

1.Is it safe to say to only apply here if you have a good standing MCAT? Their website states 504+ so we should have 508s?
2.For those of you who were in this program, how did you find it and do you recommend it? What is the matriculation rate into their SOM?

Thanks

 

[KEPT]

Anyone know when we will know the final decision?

 

[OCcalistud18]

Anyone know when we will know the final decision?

Well, i got my rejection letter on Friday (e-mail). It probably means you are still being considered. You will probably get something soon. Good luck!

 

[KEPT]

Well, i got my rejection letter on Friday (e-mail). It probably means you are still being considered. You will probably get something soon. Good luck!

I’m sorry to hear, hopefully I get some sort of news soon lol the suspense is killing me

 

[OCcalistud18]

I’m sorry to hear, hopefully I get some sort of news soon lol the suspense is killing me

lol. no worries. I got accepted into my top choice program so I am doing well. They did take a very long time. Best of luck to you!

 

[OCcalistud18]

When did you interview? I had my interview on Friday and my interviewer told me that the committee meets every two weeks on Monday and I should hear back from them on Wednesday before the break.

Yes, I do believe that is when they meet. I interviewed about two months ago. Good luck to you!!!

 

[KEPT]

I interviewed in early May lol

 

[KEPT]

Any movement from waitlist?

 

[KEPT]

Any news??

 

[bunnyrabbit3]

Hi! If anyone that is currently finishing/finished with this program is still using this forum, I was wondering if you could provide some insight into the program. What did you think of the program overall and how were the courses? Also, any advice on housing? I was accepted into the program and plan on attending, but I’m moving from Texas, so I’m not very sure about how different Cali’s housing situation is. Thank you for any advice!

 

[Meowster007]

Hi! If anyone that is currently finishing/finished with this program is still using this forum, I was wondering if you could provide some insight into the program. What did you think of the program overall and how were the courses? Also, any advice on housing? I was accepted into the program and plan on attending, but I’m moving from Texas, so I’m not very sure about how different Cali’s housing situation is. Thank you for any advice!

please lmk too!

 

[jazzmetal]

Hi, I was in the first class and am now finishing M1 at CUSM. I thought the MBS program was solid, and very intense! They've made some scheduling improvements for the second class, and the new program director who came on board in Spring of 2019 is outstanding. It will be a lot of work still, since you'll have 8 courses at a time. There are some opportunities for research - reach out early to the various MD student groups The jury is out on how strong the linkage to the MD program will be. I believe there are only 10-12 students from MBS 2020 applying right now, plus a few from MBS 2019 who hadn't applied last year. See earlier in this thread for admissions stats for MBS 2019 who applied last year (10 of us are M1s in the MD program now).

CUSM can give you a list of housing options; you can also check the usual sites: Craigslist, Realtor.com, Trulia, Zillow, etc. There are some newer apartments and townhouses right near Arrowhead Regional Med Center (ARMC). There are also houses to rent nearby. Many students grouped up to rent houses which is an affordable and comfortable way to go - rents are around $800 per person in a shared house. You can pay a lot more for one of the newer apartments, e.g., a two bedroom at Circa2020 in Redlands is more like $1200/person and one BRs there are as high as $1800. Other apartments (especially right around ARMC) are less expensive. Most of my classmates lived in Redlands or Grand Terrace or Loma Linda. When classes move over to the new building (hopefully whenever school starts up again in July or Aug), the closest towns will be Colton, Rialto and the city of San Bernardino. Ontario, Fontana and Rancho Cucamonga are more upscale suburbs to the west of ARMC on the 10 freeway. Many students live farther away in a different direction: in Riverside, which is a university town and has a more urban vibe (and is also on the way to the beaches in Orange County). Some live even farther in that direction, e.g., Corona, Chino Hills. A few brave souls commute from LA which is a 1-2 hr drive depending on traffic. In sum: you'll have plenty of housing options.

 

[bunnyrabbit3]

Hi, I was in the first class and am now finishing M1 at CUSM. I thought the MBS program was solid, and very intense! They've made some scheduling improvements for the second class, and the new program director who came on board in Spring of 2019 is outstanding. It will be a lot of work still, since you'll have 8 courses at a time. There are some opportunities for research - reach out early to the various MD student groups The jury is out on how strong the linkage to the MD program will be. I believe there are only 10-12 students from MBS 2020 applying right now, plus a few from MBS 2019 who hadn't applied last year. See earlier in this thread for admissions stats for MBS 2019 who applied last year (10 of us are M1s in the MD program now).

CUSM can give you a list of housing options; you can also check the usual sites: Craigslist, Realtor.com, Trulia, Zillow, etc. There are some newer apartments and townhouses right near Arrowhead Regional Med Center (ARMC). There are also houses to rent nearby. Many students grouped up to rent houses which is an affordable and comfortable way to go - rents are around $800 per person in a shared house. You can pay a lot more for one of the newer apartments, e.g., a two bedroom at Circa2020 in Redlands is more like $1200/person and one BRs there are as high as $1800. Other apartments (especially right around ARMC) are less expensive. Most of my classmates lived in Redlands or Grand Terrace or Loma Linda. When classes move over to the new building (hopefully whenever school starts up again in July or Aug), the closest towns will be Colton, Rialto and the city of San Bernardino. Ontario, Fontana and Rancho Cucamonga are more upscale suburbs to the west of ARMC on the 10 freeway. Many students live farther away in a different direction: in Riverside, which is a university town and has a more urban vibe (and is also on the way to the beaches in Orange County). Some live even farther in that direction, e.g., Corona, Chino Hills. A few brave souls commute from LA which is a 1-2 hr drive depending on traffic. In sum: you'll have plenty of housing options.

Thank you so much! Did you have any classmates from out of state? I will be moving from Texas, so I’m trying to figure out if I need to change any sort of registration for my car or anything else.

 

[jazzmetal]

Thank you so much! Did you have any classmates from out of state? I will be moving from Texas, so I’m trying to figure out if I need to change any sort of registration for my car or anything else.

We did! Most were from California, but a few were from out of state. Yeah, I'd recommend changing your car registration and telling your car insurance company your new address within 30 days. I'm sure lots of people continue to drive with out of state plates, but you could run into trouble with insurance if you had an accident and hadn't told them you'd moved.

 

[LeoLover13]

Nice! it took me about 2 weeks to hear back and get an interview invite after I sent everything in.

Did you decide to attend? Looking to get some questions answered 🙂

 

[LeoLover13]

Hi, I was in the first class and am now finishing M1 at CUSM. I thought the MBS program was solid, and very intense! They've made some scheduling improvements for the second class, and the new program director who came on board in Spring of 2019 is outstanding. It will be a lot of work still, since you'll have 8 courses at a time. There are some opportunities for research - reach out early to the various MD student groups The jury is out on how strong the linkage to the MD program will be. I believe there are only 10-12 students from MBS 2020 applying right now, plus a few from MBS 2019 who hadn't applied last year. See earlier in this thread for admissions stats for MBS 2019 who applied last year (10 of us are M1s in the MD program now).

CUSM can give you a list of housing options; you can also check the usual sites: Craigslist, Realtor.com, Trulia, Zillow, etc. There are some newer apartments and townhouses right near Arrowhead Regional Med Center (ARMC). There are also houses to rent nearby. Many students grouped up to rent houses which is an affordable and comfortable way to go - rents are around $800 per person in a shared house. You can pay a lot more for one of the newer apartments, e.g., a two bedroom at Circa2020 in Redlands is more like $1200/person and one BRs there are as high as $1800. Other apartments (especially right around ARMC) are less expensive. Most of my classmates lived in Redlands or Grand Terrace or Loma Linda. When classes move over to the new building (hopefully whenever school starts up again in July or Aug), the closest towns will be Colton, Rialto and the city of San Bernardino. Ontario, Fontana and Rancho Cucamonga are more upscale suburbs to the west of ARMC on the 10 freeway. Many students live farther away in a different direction: in Riverside, which is a university town and has a more urban vibe (and is also on the way to the beaches in Orange County). Some live even farther in that direction, e.g., Corona, Chino Hills. A few brave souls commute from LA which is a 1-2 hr drive depending on traffic. In sum: you'll have plenty of housing options.

Can I message you somehow ? Deciding whether or not to go forward with this program for this fall 🙂

 

[jazzmetal]

Can I message you somehow ? Deciding whether or not to go forward with this program for this fall 🙂

Yes, sure - just direct message me through SDN.

 

[blueberry4104]

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[DOctorCAL1]

hey everyone
I'm thinking of applying here so I wanted to know:
How's the program? the classes? environment?
Hows the linkage? Did you get into the med school?
Anyone here apply to other schools during the school year you were doing the masters? How was your experience with that?