Engineering Student

[Abdulkarim93]

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Hey guys. Well here's my situation. I'm an engineering student at DeVry University. I'm doing a BS in Computer Engineering. I have a 3.95-4.0 GPA. I'm going to take the MCAT in the coming march and apply in 2014. I'm going to be 20 years old when I apply and I graduate this winter of 2013.

Things that I have for extra curricular:
1. Founding president of IEEE chapter in our school.
2. Chief Editor of a blog.

Medical related:
1. Volunteering at a local hospital ICU/CCU
2. Going to start research in two weeks and continue until applications.
3. Going to start shadowing in a week and continue until applications.

So, thoughts on how competitive I am in this field?

 

[DrMidlife]

You're going after med school? Uh oh.

DeVry is a for-profit, mostly online school that has advertised its vo-tech programs on TV for decades, so you are up against that impression when med schools review your app. Your high GPA is badly devalued by this. It makes no difference what DeVry told you when they sold you your education, or what degree is shown on your transcript, or how well-educated you feel. Presumably the appeal of DeVry for you was to get out of college fast. The cost of that speed is the low credibility of your transcript. You may be okay if your MCAT is above average (31+ for MD, 27+ for DO) and if you get A's in some science coursework at a regular school.

One thing to look at: how much of your current student debt is private? Figure out if you have loans that can't be deferred during med school. DeVry and other for-profit schools aren't terribly worried about your post-school debt management.

Another thing to look at: how much of your schooling was online? You'll want to get your hands on an MSAR book, and review which med schools allow online schoolwork.

Another thing to look at: the pre-allo forum, because you'd benefit from getting schooled by your peers on what they're doing to get ready to apply to med school.

Best of luck to you.

 

[Abdulkarim93]

I have no debt as my parents paid for school. All of my pre med classes taken were exclusively on site and at another school. I don't necessarily get how that lowers the value of my grades because of the fact that is a for-profit school. The way they handle their funding is up to them, how does that effect me as a student? Only classes I can think of that I took online were programming classes for my major. It also ETAC of ABET accredited which is the highest accreditation for an engineering degree and you cannot take engineering courses online as it voids the accreditation, only gen eds can be.

 

[DrMidlife]

Oh well then you're fine. My mistake, I forgot how I knew everything when I was 20 too.

When you do your med school personal statement, definitely make sure to mention your school's engineering accreditation details and use a lot of supporting detail from the DeVry commercials. Med school admissions officers will want to see those insights and learn from you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pn8Xll7Isis
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3UE-oVWx5I
http://www.devryinc.com/our-institutions/ross-med.jsp

 

[Five0tomed68]

The emphasis of Dr. Mid life's thread should be placed on the advise as to what gives you the best odds. Most people would agree that a degree from Devry may leave adcom's less than impressed. If you want to keep the post on topic then don't debate it and except it.

The MCAT is going to make or break your chances. Most would agree that it is probably a good idea to take some upper level courses from a traditional university. Otherwise, you could volunteer, shadow, and build your application up, take the MCAT, apply next year and see where the cards fall. If Devry is not what the Adcoms are looking for, then there is always the next app cycle. You could take upper-level science courses then re-apply.

It seems like money is not an issue being that your parent's paid for your Devry education (I don't say that sarcastically, Devry is not cheap), so if you don't have plans for the next year, you might as well take a upper level science class or two and do it right the first go round. This way, you don't face the potential of setting yourself back a year.

 

[Five0tomed68]

....

 

[ChE04]

Oh well then you're fine. My mistake, I forgot how I knew everything when I was 20 too.

When you do your med school personal statement, definitely make sure to mention your school's engineering accreditation details and use a lot of supporting detail from the DeVry commercials. Med school admissions officers will want to see those insights and learn from you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pn8Xll7Isis
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3UE-oVWx5I
http://www.devryinc.com/our-institutions/ross-med.jsp

Overreact much? OP only asked how attending DeVry would devalue his grade, he didn't come back and say it's equivalent to a BS from MIT.

OP: DeVry is essentially viewed as equivalent to a "technical institute" or community college. You're going to be fighting the perception that your classes were not as rigorous as those at a typical 4-year university. This is going to lead medical schools to question whether you're ready for the academic challenges of medical school. This can be helped by taking classes at a local 4 year university, to show you can still get A's at more "traditional" schools, and a high MCAT.

 

[TheWeeIceMan]

I have no debt as my parents paid for school. All of my pre med classes taken were exclusively on site and at another school. I don't necessarily get how that lowers the value of my grades because of the fact that is a for-profit school. The way they handle their funding is up to them, how does that effect me as a student? Only classes I can think of that I took online were programming classes for my major. It also ETAC of ABET accredited which is the highest accreditation for an engineering degree and you cannot take engineering courses online as it voids the accreditation, only gen eds can be.

The problem is the DeVry has a pretty shady reputation in academia, so some adcoms might be skeptical of your high gpa. I would seriously consider taking a few upper level classes at a local 4 year school to offset any questions of your ability. Also, isn't the degree actually called Computer Engineering Technology or something like that? Lastly, when looking on their website, DeVry says you can take all or some of your engineering classes online, so I'm not sure what to think about that.

 

[thefritz]

The problem is the DeVry has a pretty shady reputation in academia, so some adcoms might be skeptical of your high gpa. I would seriously consider taking a few upper level classes at a local 4 year school to offset any questions of your ability. Also, isn't the degree actually called Computer Engineering Technology or something like that? Lastly, when looking on their website, DeVry says you can take all or some of your engineering classes online, so I'm not sure what to think about that.

I don't see how any of that means he can't be a successful med student. The traditional elitist collegiate system is dying a well deserved death. The days are numbered for the snobby pricks that cling on to the system to justify their status. Unfortunately the medical field is rife with these old guard ivory tower types. So ivy league schools may be out for you. Lesser ranked MD and DO schools are still wide open.

Criticizing a school on the basis that it is for profit is stupid. If you don't think the traditional elite colleges in this country aren't about money, you need to think again.

This is the whole point of the MCAT and is why you need both a high GPA and a high MCAT to get in. OP, while the point that your education is sneered at was presented so rudely to you in this thread, it carries a semblance of unfortunate truth in places that breed career academicians who've never had real world employment in their lives. This doesn't mean you can't be a doctor.

And if his school really is so unusual, doesn't that mean he fits right in in this forum?
Sheesh...

 

[thefritz]

This can be helped by taking classes at a local 4 year university, to show you can still get A's at more "traditional" schools, and a high MCAT.

Pointless. If he can apply with his degree, he should. If he doesn't get in after one or two tries, THEN do a post-bac at one of those schools.

 

[edgerock24]

Isn't DeVry regionally accredited? I know its reputation... but shouldn't that be the only thing that matters. OP, just make sure its entirely clear that you took these science classes all in person.

Also, why did you choose DeVry out of all schools to attend? Is it cheaper? If there is reasoning behind this then showcase that. May help your chances.

 

[TheWeeIceMan]

I hope that you had good reasons for attending for-profit schools like DeVry, as I'm pretty certain that adcoms will be thoroughly pestering you why and possibly questioning every class of yours. Schools like DeVry serve good purposes for certain populations but they're not for everyone.

Make sure that you check whether your particular DeVry branch was regionally accredited; if not, start planning on finishing your prereqs at an accredited school.

At 20 years old, you still have plenty of time to turn it around. I hate to break this to you, as I don't want to rain on your parade and that I can't exactly tell if you're just trolling (hopefully not), but you might have been lied to re: your program's ABET accreditation. ABET accredits TWO types of programs, engineering and "engineering technology." Those programs are NOT the same. It is deceiving for them to advertise ABET engineering technology accreditation as an engineering program...the requirement and standards aren't the same.

A quick search on the ABET site reveals that while DeVry is accreditation, all of the accredited programs are "engineering technology" programs and I did not see any chemical engineering programs receiving accreditation. This may affect your admission process since adcoms may reject you on a technicality on the basis that your program has no proper accreditation...of course, I may be wrong...

OP said he is doing a BS in Computer Engineering. When I looked on DeVry's website, they only offer a Computer Engineering Technology degree, among other engineering technology majors. This was what I was confused about in my first post. Not sure if they're using a loophole to confuse potential students.😕

 

[Abdulkarim93]

lol you guys are hilarious. Check this link out for engineering technology: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engineering_technologist

There is no loophole involved. Its clearly engineering technology. I majored in it because of the practicality and the availability within the job market, something to fall back on in case I didn't get in. I definitely wouldn't have any issue with any question that any "adcom" would have in answering the legibility of my education. Its bad publicity unfortunately to be labeled as a for-profit school...

 

[jreed32152]

Most employers do not consider a computer engineering degree from DeVry any higher than an associates degree. A buddy of mine went through there program and then couldn't get hired anywhere as more than a tech because it is not a calculus based program. Good luck.

 

[TheWeeIceMan]

lol you guys are hilarious. Check this link out for engineering technology: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Engineering_technologist

There is no loophole involved. Its clearly engineering technology. I majored in it because of the practicality and the availability within the job market, something to fall back on in case I didn't get in. I definitely wouldn't have any issue with any question that any "adcom" would have in answering the legibility of my education. Its bad publicity unfortunately to be labeled as a for-profit school...

My point was that you said you were a Computer Engineering major and that it was an accredited engineering degree when it is actually an engineering technology degree which is certainly not the same thing and a little misleading.

 

[DrMidlife]

*cough* DeVry owns Ross *cough* and Rocky Vista *cough*

Flexner is rolling over in his grave.

 

[Mr Avante]

My point was that you said you were a Computer Engineering major and that it was an accredited engineering degree when it is actually an engineering technology degree which is certainly not the same thing and a little misleading.

My same thoughts. The respect both degrees convey is, and will never be, the same.

 

[edgerock24]

I don't think the particular major he has will make a difference for medical school adcoms. You can major in anything and still get into med school.

The real question is will his SCIENCE classes from DeVry be taken seriously?

Should get into Ross easily, though, if you're interested in that OP.

 

[NuttyEngDude]

OP find your state school, call them and ask about your classes and plan. Unfortunately, it's in the height of application season so they might be a little busy at the moment but at least try to find out.