College, Inc.

[combatwombat]

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http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/front...aign=viewpage&utm_medium=grid&utm_source=grid

This is an episode of Frontline about the dubious efficacy of for-profit colleges. While it focuses on schools like the University of Phoenix, I wonder if it also applies to SMP's. If anyone has the time to watch (it's about 50 minutes long) and throw in their $0.02 I'd be interested to hear someone else's take on it.

 

[DrMidlife]

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/front...aign=viewpage&utm_medium=grid&utm_source=grid

This is an episode of Frontline about the dubious efficacy of for-profit colleges. While it focuses on schools like the University of Phoenix, I wonder if it also applies to SMP's. If anyone has the time to watch (it's about 50 minutes long) and throw in their $0.02 I'd be interested to hear someone else's take on it.

There are no "real" SMPs at for-profit schools. By "real" SMP I mean a program that puts you through a subset of the first year of med school to prove you can do med school, despite a less than stellar undergrad GPA. I also mean a program that has no purpose other than to get its grads into med or dental school.

I'd argue that many of the programs at Drexel and Barry, while not specifically for-profit, have dubious efficacy. If the main criteria for admissions is your credit rating or that you have a checkbook, don't go there.

 

[RogueUnicorn]

i'm extremely satisfied with my smp experience so far, at a non-profit med school as most are.

re: the money situation, it is what it is. to me it's an everyone-wins scenario. med schools make money, the students get chances.

 

[jslo85]

The only for profit medical school that I know of in the United States is Rocky Vista University in Colorado that is opened up by Tien who also owns AUC in the Caribbean.

While I would agree that SMPs are somewhat of a cash-cow for most medical schools that have formulated such programs, they're purpose is purely to provide a concise and intensive representation of the first year of medical school to prove yourself beyond what your less than exemplary UG GPa suggests.

I do somewhat agree with Dr. Midlife in Drexel. Way too many programs who don't provide enough "bang for the buck". The main knock on Barry is that they have programs catering towards those who want to get into medical school and offering courses to mimic those of other SMPs while lacking a dental or medical school of their own. They also demand a very high tuition for their academics and tend to accept students with lower credentials that other SMPs may pass on and demand a ridiculously high deposit to hold your seat. That said, this program has worked for some but I doubt any would contest me when I say that only 1 year accelerated track is worth mentioning as opposed to the others.

 

[jl lin]

The way I see it, pretty much all schools have some level of "for profit" to them. The educational system is all about making money, just like hospitals are. Non-profit hospitals still make profits. Non-profit schools still make money/profits.

I mean just getting down to the hard core reality, making money is most definitely the driving force behind these systems, whether they are for profit or not. Education is an industry--ask all the texbook pubs and co.s. It is what it is. It's just a matter of how the money comes in and then where it is re-directed or the "wheres and hows" of the flow--the ins and outs of the funds. And it's one reason why figures can be very misleading.