Drexel IHS program

This forum made possible through the generous support of SDN members, donors, and sponsors. Thank you.

bread22

New Member
10+ Year Member
Joined
Jul 16, 2009
Messages
4
Reaction score
0
Hey guys,

I applied to Drexel's IMS program, but they placed me in the IHS program instead due to my low gpa. I am seriously considering on attending it, and I have to make a decision very soon. I've been wondering if anyone here has any experience with the IHS program? I've searched around but could only find one negative comment posted a while ago, so I've been wondering if anyone here has any recent experience or thoughts on it?

Basicly my gpa is low, and while my MCAT is not that bad, it doesn't look like I will be accepted into any decent smp. Does anyone know if it is worth the money, and whether doing well in this program would help? It seems like a good way to work on my grades while working towards something tangible such as the masters degree. Thanks for any info anyone has.

Members don't see this ad.
 
I would be very cautious about joining this program. I don't mean to bang on my "avoid Drexel" drum too frequently, but the IHS program strikes me as particularly questionable.

Unlike IMS, DPMS and MSP, the IHS program does not have a roster of alumni and their accomplishments following completion of the program. Additionally, IHS is very clear about it's primary goal: exposing students with sub-par credentials to other (read: non-MD/DO) health fields.

How about an anecdote? While in IMS, I met a number of IHS students. The general consensus was that the program wasn't helpful in getting them closer to medical school. No one I met applied directly to IHS; instead, they were shunted over from the IMS applicant pool. Most felt their MCAT was inadequate for admission to IMS but still wanted to take graduate coursework.

If you are leaning towards attending, I would recommend that you inquire about the successes of IHS students from last year and plan accordingly.

Good luck!
 
Thank you for your reply TyrKinase. Those are my exact worries, which is paying the tuition and putting in the hard work without it getting me closer to medical school. The advisor I spoke to from the program says it will help, but I'm still not quite sure, which is why I am looking here for more information. If anyone else has anything to share, please do.
 
Members don't see this ad :)
*bump*

Did anyone else get trickled down into this from MSP/IMS for 2010?
 
I also got "bumped down" to the ihs from the ims program. spoke with someone on the phone today, would almost definately still go, want to wait and see what happens though...
 
Where else have you applied? Are you trying to go to medical school? I am very skeptical about this program as it seems to have no data about past students and their successful matriculation into medical school.

The director informed me that it is in no way the same program as the IMS (no guaranteed interview). I am under the impression, based on the course list, that we can still take the med school courses in the second year of the IHS program. I read an anecdote from a poster on these forums that he got a 4.0 in the program and was still not admitted into the IMS (he did not post his MCAT).

Based on their mission statement, the program seems to be for students who wish to investigate alternative careers in the health sciences independent of MD/DO.

I feel as if I got a phone call that said you were rejected but we still want your money and have these programs for you to take that probably won't do you much good.
 
i got a really good impression from speaking to the director. she knew that I was only interested in M.D. school and seemed to be encouraging that this program would help me get in. The first year I think would be some easier, but interesting, courses and (seemed to me) would automatically set you up for the IMS track the second year.

I also applied to (and rejected from) postbacc/masters programs at Penn, Dartmouth, and GTown. I did get into the MBS prgram at TCMC, but didn't feel it was right for me since my MCAT score is already high and I do not need or want to take it again.

But the website for the IHS program says something about applicants with a score of 17. (17?!! really??!!) BUT the director said that the website is very outdated. So really I dont know what to do...
 
So the second year is not the IMS track. Instead it is considered the MIHS which allows ( I quote from the attachment that was emailed to me View attachment IHSPMIHS 2010.pdf )

"During the MIHS year students will complete 24 additional credit hours of graduate
course work (for a total minimum of 48 hours in the entire 2 year program)* including a
final research project and paper."

There seems to be an MIHS medical sciences track which allows us to take the following medical school courses:

1. Medical Biochemistry I & II with Conferences (IMSP 510S & IMSP 511S)
2. Microanatomy and Cell Biology I & II with Labs (IMSP 540S & IMSP 541S)
3. Medical Physiology I & II with Conferences (IMSP 520S & IMSP 521S)
4. Medical Neuroscience with Labs (IMSP 560S)
5. Medicine and Society I & II (IMSP 502S & IMSP 503S)

I'm not sure if this was previously offered but this is the only thing that is keeping me interested in the program. Unfortunately there is no interview granted for DUCOM. Therefore, we would have to apply during the summer of the first year and realistically not have any of the second year medical school courses on our application.
 
i got a really good impression from speaking to the director. she knew that I was only interested in M.D. school and seemed to be encouraging that this program would help me get in. The first year I think would be some easier, but interesting, courses and (seemed to me) would automatically set you up for the IMS track the second year.

I also applied to (and rejected from) postbacc/masters programs at Penn, Dartmouth, and GTown. I did get into the MBS prgram at TCMC, but didn't feel it was right for me since my MCAT score is already high and I do not need or want to take it again.

But the website for the IHS program says something about applicants with a score of 17. (17?!! really??!!) BUT the director said that the website is very outdated. So really I dont know what to do...

Did you have a phone interview yet?

I figured out there are 35 in the program. Of the 35 last year 4 applied to med school. 1 had mult accept, 2 had single, and another applied late and was invited to reapply next year. The majority are currently applying.
[FONT=Calibri,Verdana,Helvetica,Arial]

.[FONT=Calibri,Verdana,Helvetica,Arial]
.
 
Yes, I did have a phone interview.
I think I made it very clear at that point that I am firmly seated in the MD camp. I am not interested in other health professional schools. If it takes me an extra year, fine. An extra 5 years, still ok, on this point I am not really willing to compromise.

So basically at this point, I am trying to decide what is the smart thing to do.
1) take this acceptance and roll with it. bust my ass for 2 years and eventually get in to a US med school!

2)stay home and work PT and take some UG science courses nearby and raise my GPA for a year or so and then apply to SMP/postbaccs again and/or med school
 
I also got "bumped down" to the ihs from the ims program. spoke with someone on the phone today, would almost definately still go, want to wait and see what happens though...

Yes, I did have a phone interview.
I think I made it very clear at that point that I am firmly seated in the MD camp. I am not interested in other health professional schools. If it takes me an extra year, fine. An extra 5 years, still ok, on this point I am not really willing to compromise.

So basically at this point, I am trying to decide what is the smart thing to do.
1) take this acceptance and roll with it. bust my ass for 2 years and eventually get in to a US med school!

2)stay home and work PT and take some UG science courses nearby and raise my GPA for a year or so and then apply to SMP/postbaccs again and/or med school

How long did your interview take? if you don't mind me asking what questions were asked?
 
Members don't see this ad :)
It was like 25 mins long. what are your strengths? weaknesses? are you considering DO school? Have you applied to med school before? How do you feel about waiting another year?

standard interview questions, plus some about my current job.
email if u like!
 
My roommate is trying to decide whether or not to attend Drexel's IHS Program this fall. She is Pre-Optometry, and is hoping that taking some graduate level classes will help her get into Optometry school next year. Has anyone else accepted their spot into the IHS Program for this fall? Apparently there are 35 students in the program, and they make a list of their top 5 classes that they want to take. The program coordinators meet and decide which classes to offer based on the responses. Some of the classes are not applicable at all to med/optometry school (for example: fingerprint analysis, care of laboratory animals, crime scene investigation, pharmaceutical law, etc..). She is worried that the graduate level biology classes she wants to take (biochem, microbio, anatomy, etc.) will not be offered because not enough people want to take them. Are most people in this program hoping to get into medical school/optometry school, etc, and will be wanting to take biology-related classes? Does anyone know people who have taken this program before and were not able to take the classes they wanted? Any info is helpful, thanks.
 
Hey guys,
I met someone who did this program and got a 4.0. He told me he got some kinda certificate and 500 dollars for doing the best in his program. I guess he applied to Drexel and was very bitter that they didn't give him even an interview chance.

Anyways, he ended up going to BU MAMS the next year and getting in to BU SOM. I get the sense maybe working you on your undergrad GPA might be a better idea and then applying to SMPs since I am guessing this is an expensive masters program...
 
Hey guys, I attended and finished the IHS program. If anyone has any questions you send me a PM and ill try to answer what I can.
 
Am I out of my mind to attend this program over UMDNJ Stratford's MBS?
 
Am I out of my mind to attend this program over UMDNJ Stratford's MBS?

Hey guys I need help with this IHS program decision...I am not sure that this program will help me get into medical school especially without giving it two years! I read the post about the student that had the 4.0 and did not get accepted. I also found the following from http://www.drexel.edu/senate/proposals/DUCOM/IHSP/IHS_proposal.pdf

Interdisciplinary Health Science (IHS) Certificate Program
Gerald Soslau, Ph.D., Senior Associate Dean of Post-Bacc. Pre-professional
Education
Philosophy Statement:​
The graduate programs in the division of Post-Bacc. Pre-professional Education receive
approximately 1000 applications per year. Most of these applicants’ ultimate goal is to
get into medical school. Unfortunately, many will never achieve this goal. This rigorous
program would allow students to explore other career pathways in the health sciences that
they may never have considered.​
Program Goals:​
This program would offer established course work from multiple programs to acquaint
the student with other fields within the health sciences, in addition to medicine. A few
new courses will also be established to afford the student a broad exposure to “hard
science” courses as well as “humanistic” science courses. The student’s performance in
the hard science courses could allow them to be reconsidered for programs within the
division that they had been previously rejected from. More importantly, these courses​
should facilitate the student’s future academic endeavors.

Not sure how to really take it but it does not seem like the program is to interested in getting me into med school you know?
 
Hey guys I need help with this IHS program decision...I am not sure that this program will help me get into medical school especially without giving it two years! I read the post about the student that had the 4.0 and did not get accepted. I also found the following from http://www.drexel.edu/senate/proposals/DUCOM/IHSP/IHS_proposal.pdf

Interdisciplinary Health Science (IHS) Certificate Program
Gerald Soslau, Ph.D., Senior Associate Dean of Post-Bacc. Pre-professional
Education
Philosophy Statement:​
The graduate programs in the division of Post-Bacc. Pre-professional Education receive
approximately 1000 applications per year. Most of these applicants’ ultimate goal is to
get into medical school. Unfortunately, many will never achieve this goal. This rigorous
program would allow students to explore other career pathways in the health sciences that
they may never have considered.​
Program Goals:​
This program would offer established course work from multiple programs to acquaint
the student with other fields within the health sciences, in addition to medicine. A few
new courses will also be established to afford the student a broad exposure to “hard
science” courses as well as “humanistic” science courses. The student’s performance in
the hard science courses could allow them to be reconsidered for programs within the
division that they had been previously rejected from. More importantly, these courses​
should facilitate the student’s future academic endeavors.

Not sure how to really take it but it does not seem like the program is to interested in getting me into med school you know?

So you were rejected from the IMS program on the basis of your GPA and MCAT? Are you a science major with <3.0 science GPA? What's stopping you from taking classes a la carte at any undergraduate school? If your GPA is really that terrible it will take you much more time (2+ years) to repair your GPA.

Have you PM'd bread22 and not received a reply?
 
There really is no quick fix for undergraduate GPA troubles if the damage is extensive. Any good SMP worth anything will evaluate their applicants on whether they would be potentially successful in matriculating to medical school after a "successful" completion of the program therefore it may take 1 year+ to begin damage control on your own as an informal post-bacc to demonstrate an upward trend and a capacity to handle the hard sciences before a worthwhile SMP will consider you for their program.

I'm personally biased against Drexels programs but I do recognize IMS and DPMS as programs that work and have worked for many in the past and they are reputable. From what I have read on these forums, I do not believe this extends to IHS.

Another point to consider is whether you have any strengths to your application in other important aspects (strong LOR, E.C, MCAT etc) which could potentially shorten the time required before an SMP would accept you should your GPA be heavily damaged.
 
So you were rejected from the IMS program on the basis of your GPA and MCAT? Are you a science major with <3.0 science GPA? What's stopping you from taking classes a la carte at any undergraduate school? If your GPA is really that terrible it will take you much more time (2+ years) to repair your GPA.

Have you PM'd bread22 and not received a reply?

Yes i was rejected from IMS and msp and pushed down to the IHS program my science gpa was btwn 2.9 and 3.0 I'm not a traditional student. I've done extensive pre-med postbach undergrad work, taking everything from A&P to biochem. MCAT scores are low 20's. I am seriously interested in becoming a surgeon, but i feel that devoting 1-2 years at drexel in first the ihs then mihs program will not get me in. I have not heard back from pcom yet (i applied late) but feel if i am accepted and do well, that i will not be able to get into an md school to pursue surgery. I hear it's very difficult to become a D.O. surgeon especially in CT surgery!
 
There really is no quick fix for undergraduate GPA troubles if the damage is extensive. Any good SMP worth anything will evaluate their applicants on whether they would be potentially successful in matriculating to medical school after a "successful" completion of the program therefore it may take 1 year+ to begin damage control on your own as an informal post-bacc to demonstrate an upward trend and a capacity to handle the hard sciences before a worthwhile SMP will consider you for their program.

I'm personally biased against Drexels programs but I do recognize IMS and DPMS as programs that work and have worked for many in the past and they are reputable. From what I have read on these forums, I do not believe this extends to IHS.

Another point to consider is whether you have any strengths to your application in other important aspects (strong LOR, E.C, MCAT etc) which could potentially shorten the time required before an SMP would accept you should your GPA be heavily damaged.[/QUOTE

Thanks jslo85,

I'm not to fond of Drexel IHS but it seems like the only way to get into Drexel for me at this time, yet i am not confident that this program will be able to supply such a pathway! The director does not have any stats for me, which makes the decision even more difficult. What are the chances of getting into an MD school (b/c i'm interested in surgery) from completing a biomedical program at PCOM (given a good performance)? My options at this point are to either take the IHS program or dont and continue working until i hear something from PCOM, however should PCOM not accept me, i would be forced to continue working and try for DPMS next year...oh and i'm not getting any younger by any means!
 
I'm also still skeptical but at this point I'd rather stay in Philadelphia than go to New Jersey for UMDNJ Stratford's program.

Orientation starts Monday and class ranking has already begun.
 
It comes down to deciding betweeen osteopathic and allopathic medicine when choosing between the PCOM biomedical and Drexel IHS respectively.

What I can tell you is PCOM biomedical sends about 14-22 of its first and 2nd year MBSers into their medical school each year with about 4-6 being accepted outright and the rest filtering in from the waiting list. PCOM is also very reputable among the other osteopathic schools so PCOM is not your only option by far should you choose to attend the program but its own linkage back to the medical school (PCOM) is not as strong as many other programs. PCOM is also very strong in surgery having a program being considered for AGCME accreditation and comparing to many competitive surgery residencies around the nation despite being an AOA one currently.
 
It comes down to deciding betweeen osteopathic and allopathic medicine when choosing between the PCOM biomedical and Drexel IHS respectively.

What I can tell you is PCOM biomedical sends about 14-22 of its first and 2nd year MBSers into their medical school each year with about 4-6 being accepted outright and the rest filtering in from the waiting list. PCOM is also very reputable among the other osteopathic schools so PCOM is not your only option by far should you choose to attend the program but its own linkage back to the medical school (PCOM) is not as strong as many other programs. PCOM is also very strong in surgery having a program being considered for AGCME accreditation and comparing to many competitive surgery residencies around the nation despite being an AOA one currently.


That sounds good jslo85, i did not know that about PCOM's surgery program! I emailed my old adviser with the same ? and she said that IHS has a good rep but suggested that i contact PCOM to check on my status- she thinks i have a better chance of getting into osteopathic schools. Well i checked and i am currently on the waitlist. You say that choosing Drexel IHS comes down to whether i want allopathic or not, yet i feel(i have no proof otherwise) graduates of the program are more likely to be accepted by osteopathic schools than allopathic. I am now leaning more towards PCOM now that you gave me that info on their surgery res, but it sucks that i was accepted right into Drexel IHS but have to wait to here from PCOM. I will probably hear from PCOM once the Drexel IHS program begins, and by that time it will be to late! Decisions decisions! On a side note, can accept waitlist positions at multiple schools? Are you required to attend if you are selected from the waitlist (contract)?

Thanks in advance, this site and you guys have really helped me...i was literally pulling hairs out!
 
Well you have to understand attending a program is by no means a guarantee into the medical school. Depending on the program and past years, you may have a better chance of getting into the same medical school as the program if the program has had a reputation of having a strong linkage in the past. Drexel traditionally does not have a strong linkage back into their school with only about 20% of IMS students being granted interviews and 10% (give or take a couple percent) being accepted (aidama can answer whether these rough %s are right). The only program that seems like a more sure thing is DPMS with their conditional acceptance upon entering the program.

The reason I say IHS is more allopathic and PCOM is osteopathic is because in general you attend an osteopathic SMP to enter osteopathic school. If you are aiming for allopathic school you generally should attend an allopathic SMP and should you be successful it should carry over some weight into osteopathic school as well. Example would be you wouldn't attend Nova MBS if your goal is entering EVMS.

I'm really not sure if IHS is reputable or not with many drexel students even confessing to not knowing about the program. It's a new one and it's probably Drexel's fifth in this regard. I actually have trouble believing IHS students even progress into the "actual" SMP (IMS) upon successful completion much less into medical school in general.

As for PCOM, I'm a supporter of their program but I made a choice not to attend their program over that of another as well, if you want to know the reason you can look back through my past posts. I feel their linkage back into their own school is very low for osteopathic SMP standards but it should be beneficial for you everywhere else.
 
Well you have to understand attending a program is by no means a guarantee into the medical school. Depending on the program and past years, you may have a better chance of getting into the same medical school as the program if the program has had a reputation of having a strong linkage in the past. Drexel traditionally does not have a strong linkage back into their school with only about 20% of IMS students being granted interviews and 10% (give or take a couple percent) being accepted (aidama can answer whether these rough %s are right). The only program that seems like a more sure thing is DPMS with their conditional acceptance upon entering the program.

The reason I say IHS is more allopathic and PCOM is osteopathic is because in general you attend an osteopathic SMP to enter osteopathic school. If you are aiming for allopathic school you generally should attend an allopathic SMP and should you be successful it should carry over some weight into osteopathic school as well. Example would be you wouldn't attend Nova MBS if your goal is entering EVMS.

I'm really not sure if IHS is reputable or not with many drexel students even confessing to not knowing about the program. It's a new one and it's probably Drexel's fifth in this regard. I actually have trouble believing IHS students even progress into the "actual" SMP (IMS) upon successful completion much less into medical school in general.

As for PCOM, I'm a supporter of their program but I made a choice not to attend their program over that of another as well, if you want to know the reason you can look back through my past posts. I feel their linkage back into their own school is very low for osteopathic SMP standards but it should be beneficial for you everywhere else.

Hey guys,

Today was the first day of IHS orientation. I must honestly say that I am not sure about doing this program. Right now I'm on the waitlist for PCOM's program and spoke to admission who said that they are over capacity and were not to optimistic about removing people from the waitlist. This sucks why does there have to be so much bul to help people...just venting darn, you sit with admissions and they tell you one thing but once you apply its something different. I'm just ready to be in medical school already you know, how many hoops do i have to jump through...just venting again!😡
 
Hey guys,

Today was the first day of IHS orientation. I must honestly say that I am not sure about doing this program. Right now I'm on the waitlist for PCOM's program and spoke to admission who said that they are over capacity and were not to optimistic about removing people from the waitlist. This sucks why does there have to be so much bul to help people...just venting darn, you sit with admissions and they tell you one thing but once you apply its something different. I'm just ready to be in medical school already you know, how many hoops do i have to jump through...just venting again!😡

Yeah, I really got the impression at orientation that this program wouldn't be the way to go for pre-med. Is it not an option to just spend the next year taking upper level bio classes at a public school, and do some intense MCAT prep? Then you could apply again next spring to MSP or IMS.

Granted, you could be taking the med school classes next year through MIHS, but without the guaranteed interview it will put you a year later in the application cycle anyway. Even in IMS, it's a hail Mary to apply to DUCOM the same year, and that's with the advantage of knowing that they'll at least look at your application in Jan/Feb if you keep your grades up. Taking the classes through MIHS would almost definitely necessitate waiting until the summer after to apply.
 
Yeah, I really got the impression at orientation that this program wouldn't be the way to go for pre-med. Is it not an option to just spend the next year taking upper level bio classes at a public school, and do some intense MCAT prep? Then you could apply again next spring to MSP or IMS.

Granted, you could be taking the med school classes next year through MIHS, but without the guaranteed interview it will put you a year later in the application cycle anyway. Even in IMS, it's a hail Mary to apply to DUCOM the same year, and that's with the advantage of knowing that they'll at least look at your application in Jan/Feb if you keep your grades up. Taking the classes through MIHS would almost definitely necessitate waiting until the summer after to apply.

Yeah it's weird, I dont think the MIHS ims track students are guaranteed an interview because they don't take the Nutrition and Immuno with the regular IMS students. What are you going to do? Are you staying? My options are very few at this point! I have to quit my job which pays me pretty good to do this program, that's why i want to be sure this program is going to help me get into med school! Plus it's a recession still, so I have no time and money to waste. The director has no stats which is not helping me at all! I mean if i wanted to be a podiatrist...i could go to temple pod put in an app today and start in September...But i want to do MED!!
 
Yeah it's weird, I dont think the MIHS ims track students are guaranteed an interview because they don't take the Nutrition and Immuno with the regular IMS students. What are you going to do? Are you staying? My options are very few at this point! I have to quit my job which pays me pretty good to do this program, that's why i want to be sure this program is going to help me get into med school! Plus it's a recession still, so I have no time and money to waste. The director has no stats which is not helping me at all! I mean if i wanted to be a podiatrist...i could go to temple pod put in an app today and start in September...But i want to do MED!!

But from the way I understand it, to have been put in IHS, you either have a REALLY low GPA or really low MCAT or a combination of the both. You might want to wait until the panel discussion where former students talk to your class and or the breakout session.
 
But from the way I understand it, to have been put in IHS, you either have a REALLY low GPA or really low MCAT or a combination of the both. You might want to wait until the panel discussion where former students talk to your class and or the breakout session.

I wouldn't say my creds are REALLY low, but I'll check out the break out and panel discussion tomorrow.
 
I wouldn't say my creds are REALLY low, but I'll check out the break out and panel discussion tomorrow.

So did we get a final verdict on the program? I'm in the same situation and I'm wondering if it's really worth going for...any help would be appreciated greatly!
 
So did we get a final verdict on the program? I'm in the same situation and I'm wondering if it's really worth going for...any help would be appreciated greatly!

I'm in a similar situation and would love to hear from somebody that stuck with the program.
 
I am also considering doing the IHS program and I need to decide in a week! I just need to work on my GPA since its only a 3.1 but I'm not sure if this program would be better than taking undergrad classes on my own since I am working right now.
 
I am also considering doing the IHS program and I need to decide in a week! I just need to work on my GPA since its only a 3.1 but I'm not sure if this program would be better than taking undergrad classes on my own since I am working right now.

I was thinking the same thing but I must admit, I like the idea of a program, even if all I get is a certificate. I like the semi-structure and it feels like a step in the right direction.
 
Last edited:
I was thinking the same thing but I must admit, I like the idea of a program, even if all I get is a certificate. I like the semi-structure and it feels like a step in the right direction.

You both are pretty much in the same boat I am, the thing that is attracting me is the graduate level biology classes...that should look good to the med school admissions committees, right?
 
Can't hurt, right?

I'm waitlisted for IHS. I guess that's what I get for turning in my app on the very last day. I hope spot becomes available, because I'll jump on it!
 
So I dropped off my deposit and all the other good stuff which means I'm committing to it, lets see how it goes!
 
So I dropped off my deposit and all the other good stuff which means I'm committing to it, lets see how it goes!


Congrats! I just received a call from Dr. Minugh and I am in. I have 11 days to find childcare and move into our new house. Lots to do, but I'm really excited!
 
Helllo,
I recently started the IHS program and because you have already been through it.. can you please let me know more about it (as far as your own experience with the program)
I appreciate it.
 
I was wondering if any current students could give me more information on this program. I'm interested in doing this program since I need to take upper level science courses to boost my gpa. I just wanted to know if students apply to med/dental/vet school directly after completion of the program and how many students get into med/dental/vet school upon completion.
Thanksss
 
I'm starting the IHS program this fall! Anyone else got accepted this year?
 
Hey!
I'm going to be attending this August and I'm looking for a female roommate. I would like to live on campus, found a few 2br reasonably priced apts in center city. Let me know
 
Hi

Has anyone completed the IHS program at drexel and is geared toward more toward future dental students?
 
*bump*

I recently received acceptance to the IHS program. I was wondering for those of you in this thread who actually went through the program, what did you think?
 
Hey, I got an acceptance in the IHS program too. Are you definitely going? I want to go to Med School and I'm trying to make sure that this is the right program for me.
 
Top