Drexel programs VS Boston MA program

[scarlett432]

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Has anyone done either program?
Im really stuck. I have been accepted to both the drexel MSP program and the DPMS program and Boston's MA program. Im thinking about going for the DPMS program but I have not actually heard anyones first hand expreience. I was first drawn to the DPMS program because it basicallly secures you a spot in next year's class as long as you maintain a 3.0 and get at least a 23 on next April's MCATs, but I would love to hear anyone's thoughts!!! Any Pros or Cons???
Thanx! 😀

 

[Mouseman]

I would go to the DPMS program. It provides you with the security of knowing that you'll get to Drexel provided you do average in you classes and on the MCAT. The other programs are good, but you still need to kick a$$ to have a good shot of securing your spot in Med school. There very few DPMS students so it might be hard to get a first hand opinion. From what I know its very easy to do well in the classes. The MCAT is a different story, but a 23 is easy to hit with minimal effort on your part. The only thing about the DPMS program is that you must go to Drexel. With all the problems with MCP, you have to weigh the pros and cons.

 

[CaptainJack02]

I would go to the DPMS program. It provides you with the security of knowing that you'll get to Drexel provided you do average in you classes and on the MCAT.

I thought they had guaranteed interview if you do well. Do they really have guaranteed acceptance? That'd kick as$ if they did.

 

[Jonathan13180]

I know people at both programs. My friend who finished at BU (im guessing its the same program) said the school was "suspect" (his words, not mine) in the way things are run. DPMS looks like the way to go, b/c essentially, as long as you maintain a B, youre in med school, whereas at BU, im pretty sure if you are among the top 10% of your class, then you can accept an interview, and matriculate. The drexel one sounds much better in that sense, and plus, all you need is a 23 on the mcat??? Go for it. Goodluck.

 

[Spartacus]

hey scarlett,

can i ask what your stats are? did you get into both drexel programs, i'm not sure what dpms is?

thanks!!!

 

[CaptainZero]

First of all, congrats on all of your acceptances.

I've done the IMS program at drexel, but I know a bit about the DPMS program as some DPMS students are in my classes. (I have a bunch of posts about IMS and MSP under the Drexel IMS thread, if you're interested)
You'd be rather foolish not to do DPMS in my opinion. It's one year, and you're guaranteed a spot in the med school.
Here's how the whole thing works...
With DPMS, once you're in the program you take a hybrid curriculum of IMS and MSP classes plus tons of MCAT practice for a total of 14 credits the first semester and 10 credits second semester...not too strenuous at all (considering IMS/MSP has upwards of 21 credits/semester). You take the MCAT in april and as long as you maintian a 3.0 average in your classes and get a 23 on the MCAT you're in medical school at drexel. (The guaranteed interview is for IMS students that get a B or better in every class in the IMS curriculum...not the same as the DPMS gauranteed seat) To me this is a no brainer...you're essentially in med school now as long as you get a 23 on the MCAT...which most people are able to do with the 9 or so months you are given to prepare for it.
As for MCP being an unstable institution...that was true, but now that it is affiliated with drexel, it will be stable in the future as most of its issues with solvency have been cleared up (the issues with MCP hospital closing have a lot more to do with Tenet's - the company that owns the hospital - financial problems than the Med School's...it just sucks because some med students rotate through there. And for the record, it's looking more and more like it is going to stay open). You might get into a "better" school if you go through the BU program...but it's way more expensive, twice as long and arduous of a task and either way you end up with an MD degree. Drexel is a very progressive and solid med school with better than average residency placements.
I am hesitant to say what I'm about to say for a number of reasons, but I feel I would be remissed if I didn't inform you of the ineluctable tension that exists between some MSP/IMS students and some DPMS students. It all revolves around that ubiquitous pre-med ultra-competitiveness, and the fact that DPMS students get into the med school with a 23 MCAT and barely a B average in what is a rather watered down curriculum, while some IMS/MSP students with better grades, almost twice the course load, and MCAT scores some 4-5 points higher get rejected or have to sweat out the summer on a waitlist. It really doesn't amount to much I suppose...just some behind the back bickering (that I happen to hear a lot of because i'm in IMS) - all in all rather childish, but I felt I would let ya know. I certainly wouldn't let it keep you from coming here...It's a great program, and I can't reiterate enough that you have a guaranteed seat in med school.
Check out this site if you haven't already...
http://www.drexel.edu/med/ims/dpms.asp

Good Luck, and again Congrats.

 

[Fusion]

Practically guaranteed admissions into Drexel w/ a 3.0 program GPA and a 23 MCAT?! All I have to say is WOW.

I just graduated from the BU Medical Sciences program. I am taking the MCAT in August and will be applying for the c/o 2009. I must say, this is a no-brainer - you should definitely go to the DPMS program. I am happy with my experience at BU overall, but if I had to do it all over again I would go to the DPMS program (although I probably would not qualify since I am not socioeconomically disadvantaged). You could be starting medical school 15 months from now. If you went to BU, you would probably have to wait until the year of grades before you applied. BU med takes very few people into the following year's entering med school class directly out of the program. The great majority of students apply after their year of grades. But trust me on this one, GO TO DREXEL. It seems like an awesome opportunity.

 

[Spartacus]

Hey Fusion,

I pm'd you! 🙂

 

[scarlett432]

[The only thing about the DPMS program is that you must go to Drexel. With all the problems with MCP, you have to weigh the pros and cons.[/QUOTE]

What exactly is MCP?

 

[hypersting]

Medical College of Pennsylvania - A longstanding medical school that has undergone several regime changes over the last decade, most recently named Drexel.