I see. So are you going to try and declare residency in Florida or try to go back to Kentucky?? I think being a resident of Florida could hold some advantages with there being more med schools, but I don't know much about the competition in Ky or their med school.
Florida schools application thread part 2
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I see. So are you going to try and declare residency in Florida or try to go back to Kentucky?? I think being a resident of Florida could hold some advantages with there being more med schools, but I don't know much about the competition in Ky or their med school.
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I'm liking Florida so I'm considering it. I want to apply this upcoming application season though so I don't know if I have time to declare residency before then. I've been here over a year though so maybe I just have to fill out paperwork. I'm paying OOS tuition, so I'm taking most of my classes at Hillsborough Community College for that reason but if I don't get in this year, i'm thinking of completing another degree at St. Leo University.
I know the CC thing is looked down upon, but it was the only way I could afford going back to school that first year while being an OOS.
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Guju, I am in some rare disagreement with you on this one with your opening statement "If you dont get in after applying the first time...consider...SMP." I strongly recommend that this be a choice of last resort because EVERYTHING is gambled on this one year. Generally I would recommend considering an SMP in situations where an applicant has been pounding away and has done everything else, BS, MS, retakes of MCAT, and throughout this experience shown that there is a good foundation of basic science knowledge. In mosts cases this means having received a solid to great GPA and less than stellar MCAT. SMP's are great if you can keep a 3.5 or so --- dangerous if not because it's probably your last shot. It's and expensive gambit at +/- $40K. It is very situational and you should get good advice in making this choice.
Yeah but I thought the poster who I was responding to did a postbac. So that would be a last resort is what I was under the impression of. Or are you suggesting he get a MS in something else like Pharmacology first and then if that doesn't help to do an SMP????
Also how do you view the other tracks to the IMS degree? They have this pharm track and research track. What's your thoughts on that vs. an actual MS in Pharm or some other science?
Also wanted to add to my above post another thing....
I guess I"m a bit confused because up until your recent posts I've always been advised SMP is the way to go if you have like a good MCAT and have done a postbac and still no luck. Some advisors even say that getting the MS in something like chem or bio is a waste of time. So I guess I'm confused because I am now getting 2 conflicting views on what to do.
Also, I thought programs like SMP programs out of state allow you to lead into other masters programs if you don't get in. So that's the other reason your statements confuse me. But I'll keep in mind what you are saying.
I guess I"m a bit confused because up until your recent posts I've always been advised SMP is the way to go if you have like a good MCAT and have done a postbac and still no luck. Some advisors even say that getting the MS in something like chem or bio is a waste of time. So I guess I'm confused because I am now getting 2 conflicting views on what to do.
Also, I thought programs like SMP programs out of state allow you to lead into other masters programs if you don't get in. So that's the other reason your statements confuse me. But I'll keep in mind what you are saying.
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One thing I am confused about with SMPs. Why put a student through such a thing if they can prove through a post bacc (say 1 or two years of upper-level science courses) that they can ace their courses and that they can score in the upper percentiles of the MCAT? I would think that what the ADCOM is trying to do is to divine whether this person can handle the course-load of medical school and can pass with high marks on the board exams. If lower-level undergraduate coursework and the MCAT is good enough for the traditional applicant, why can't upper-level undergraduate coursework and the MCAT work as well?
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I believe that SMPs are for people like me 🙂.
Allow me to demonstrate. Coming from Quebec, I graduated from my Bachelors of Science with 110 science credit hours to my name REQUIRED for my major. With a not so stellar GPA, but an AMAZING (I'm just being honest 😉) background in biological sciences, doing a post-bacc would have been stupid. In a post-bacc I would be retaking many classes that I got B's in. My undergrad GPA is not bad because of mostly A's and a bunch of C's. It was because of MANY B's across the board. With so many science credits to my name, I think you could agree that I was ready to move on to graduate level courses, and if I retook classes, OF COURSE I would do well having gotten B's the first time. What would I really be proving to med schools? That I can do well if I take a class over? I would think most intelligent people could if they put in some effort. But med school is not about intelligence, it's about hard work and diligence and a few other things.
I decided to do an SMP, because it was the closest thing to a med school curriculum and you learn almost the same stuff that medical students learn in first year. Therefore, with an already more than adequate background in bio sciences in undergrad, I could say post-SMP: "hey! I can do this". Remeber that undergrad classes are not similar to med school classes...at least not in this country. Most kids going into a US allopathic institution complain are shocked by the change in volume of knowledge that they are expected to know, as it is unlike their typical undergrad class.
I dunno if my long-winded explanation makes sense...but...LOL...I thought I would try.
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So, to add to my other post:
I think that post-baccs are really useful for those people who
1) want to complete med pre-reqs and haven't - whether it be to career change later on or just deciding that medicine is for you halfway through your UG or something.
2) I think it's also for people who have been out of school for a hell of a long time and need to get back into the swing of things and relearn old knowledge for the MCAT.
3) people who want to bump up undergrad GPA and could still benefit from taking more upper-level medical science courses at the undergraduate level. In my case, I've taken so many upper-level sciences, I felt that I would be repeating myself.
I'm sure there are more reasons, but those are the ones off the top of my head.
REL...what do you think?
Lifetimedoc,
There's a couple of things to note about an SMP vs. a postbac. Sometimes postbacs with 18 credits are not representative of what 18 credits in med school is like because the pace of the material you learn and amount of material you learn for the same 18 credits in med school is much more then you learn in undergrad. Also, some universities have it possible to take 18 credits in which one one or two classes really require a lot of studying while some require minimal effort such as online classes or classes like one of our classes here at USF that is open book open notes. Med school isn't like that and there's no way to distinguish whether someone in a postbac had it as tough as med school when one postbac may not be so tough and another may be hell on earth tough.
Just a few points to note.
There's a couple of things to note about an SMP vs. a postbac. Sometimes postbacs with 18 credits are not representative of what 18 credits in med school is like because the pace of the material you learn and amount of material you learn for the same 18 credits in med school is much more then you learn in undergrad. Also, some universities have it possible to take 18 credits in which one one or two classes really require a lot of studying while some require minimal effort such as online classes or classes like one of our classes here at USF that is open book open notes. Med school isn't like that and there's no way to distinguish whether someone in a postbac had it as tough as med school when one postbac may not be so tough and another may be hell on earth tough.
Just a few points to note.
Thanks guys for all the great advice. I can see both sides very vividly, and will most likely wait for financial aid awards from both schools before I make a final choice. I would the love the experience of Boston, but many have mentioned (correctly) that I would have the opportunity to go elsewhere after medical school. In some ways I could look at it as being paid $120,000 to stay, I don't know. Also, UFs budget for living expenses seems to be slightly more favorable to a comfortable lifestyle than does BUs. On the other side, I have done everything there is to do in Gainesville, including being apart of 2 national titles, so the decision remains difficult.
Thank you all very much and if there is any advice I can offer in any way, just PM me as I do not always check the threads. Good luck to you all, and thanks again!
Thank you all very much and if there is any advice I can offer in any way, just PM me as I do not always check the threads. Good luck to you all, and thanks again!
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Yeah, but can't the same thing be said for undergrad? Someone may have it easy while someone else might have a hell on earth scenario. I think that SMP's should be last resort because that's your one shot. If you apply three times and don't get in and you can't really change anything about your application, but you really think you want to go to med school, try an SMP, but otherwise, I think you're taking too great a risk. That's just my opinion though. Does anyone know anyone who crashed and burned out of an SMP? We always hear about the ones who go on to med school. There must be an equal or greater number who screw up, right? Or do most people succeed in SMP's?
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at my interview i noticed that they interviewed 450 students and accepted 300, and im guessing put a lot on the waitlist, is it almost impossible to get rejected from univ of miami?
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Hmmm...who knows...that's a good point. I'm on the waitlist at main campus 🙂
At many a premed forum, Dr. Hinkley has said that 3/4 candidates get accepted of the interview pool. So you are on target.
Like you, I assume that includes waitlist candidates. The better question would be what percent gets off the waitlists and is their waitlist ranked? How do they decide who to take off the waitlist and who not to take off a waitlist?
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well i tend to be ruthless and shameless with my questions at interviews, because i really dont care either way since i have an acceptance, but from his answers to me, he said a very large portion of the waitlist get in, because obviously miami is a private school, and many choose other private schools outside of florida over miami, and some just choose UF and USF cause of cheapness, so i think even with the waitlist, you have an extremely high chance of getting in
I think another reason a lot of people at USF and Umiami get off the waitlist is that a lot of the top applicants get acceptances at more prestigious schools like IVY league schools or other top 10 schools so they tend to go there over Florida schools.
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Most reputable SMPs claim a 80% or so eventual matriculation rate. Stuents crashing and burning (i.e. failing) is pretty rare, at least from what I've seen at Georgetown. Everye test there may be 3 or 4 people in a class of 155 who perform in the F or C range.
Precisely. About 80% do make it at the more reputable ones. There are a few who don't make it and sometimes its not because of the SMP so much as it is because something else about their app.
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Any Comments?
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Ok, they if already did another degree, 2nd bachelors or MS, and showed some more in the basic sciences then the IMS might be the next step. I lost track of the poster having done something more. This means we dont disagree and you are still perfectly on target. If the postbac was a 2nd bach in the core sciences, the next step could be a MS in basic sci, or if the app feels like they have a solid science background, then trying an IMS might be ok. Tho it may lengthen the route another year, I would more often suggest the MS before the IMS. There are two MS available from the COM which are 1 year, one is Pharm and the other Molecular Medicine. Doing really well in one of those might go a long way in enhancing academic credibility in the med app process.
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Zeke, Lifetimedoc, Guju, I think you understand most of the good reasons for an SMP. Something I wonder about is the definition of postbac. When I use postbac, I mean a 2nd bachelors degree. With this definition the 2nd BS, usually a 50-60 hour degree, is good for those who either did not have a science degree or have been away from academics for awhile. I usually recommend a full "postbac" rather than a couple of full-time semesters of somewhat hap-hazard courses. In general med schools do not want you to retake courses unless you can justify it by fortifying a weak science foundation in preparation for the MCAT. Normally you should take higher level coursework rather than retake. If your undergrad degree was science and you didnt do a good job and there arent too many meaningful basic science courses left for you to take at the BS level, then a MS in basic sci is the best next step to show an admissions committee that you have the academic strength to survive med school academics. The other definition of postbac I have heard from some are some of the MS taken after your bachelors degree. I believe they should be called MS degrees, not postbac although they do occur after bac.
Now for those who might be the best candidates for an SMP which I define as a Med I curriculum, preferably with Med I's (some programs are purportedly the curriculum, but no Med I's). The most common situation that I would recommend an SMP to would be: 1) someone who has done a credible job in bs and probably MS basic science work (3.40-3.60 SGPA -- these would be state of Florida GPA's) and has taken the MCAT a few times and cant seem to get above 25-26 and just isnt getting the attention for interviews. At no time would I recommend the SMP to someone who applied only once and didnt attempt to repair weakness. If the are reapplying they probably havent displayed enough science ability in the GPA or MCAT. They must build a strong foundation before playing for end game or they are probably going to lose.
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Hey, I'm in the same situation. I keep getting that e-mail, nothing else. I sent an update e-mail late last year, but apparently it didn't help! I don't know when the last interview invites go out, but I think that the e-mail says that UF interviews candidates until April. I might be remembering incorrectly; it could be March. I can't really remember, but I think the last month of interviews is mentioned in the e-mail. I don't know, but I hope you hear good news soon!
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Hey I know I really don't post on here but I have a question for the south Floridians or anyone interested in south Florida, and I know USF is the University of South Florida but I am making my own line of demarcation and anything above west palm beach I am considering central or north Florida. Someone may have already asked this but is anyone interested in Miami primarily for the weather. Tampa and Gainesville being 4-5 hours north can have substantially different ranges in temperature (and Tallahassee is even further). Should having the possibility to use a free day in the winter at the beach instead of inside or with a coat on be a significant factor in med school decisions? Sorry I didn't use the search option if this has been brought up. 😎
Yeah just to clarify, most of the people I've recommended to an SMP category are those who have fit somewhere in this category that you suggest would be candidates for SMPs. I think my friend who did it at Gtown and whom is now an MS I at USF was on his 3rd app. cycle when he did the program. So it was worth it for him but I think he might have gotten more interviews had he also done more volunteering and shadowing and research. He hadn't done a lot of that because of having to work to support himself and things of that nature.
Ahh but you also get it worse when hurricane season comes around my friend. Where hurricanes don't hit Tampa side as bad as Miami, Miami often gets the brunt of hurricanes hitting Florida and it often leads to having to condense 2 days worth of lecture into one day and in med school that's a lot. I remember some of the current MS I's and MS II's at the UMiami campuses talking about this.
Also, USF is only called University of South Florida because it was originally slated to be located in Miami when they started the plans for the university in 1956. However, that never happened due to whatever reason.
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Interesting, I always wondered why was it named USF being in central FL lol.
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Yippee!!!!
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Point taken with the past hurricane season being so quiet I almost forgot about that. Thanx for the USF trivia though very interesting.
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Thanks REL and everyone for the advice. I guess an SMP at this stage wouldn't be helpful in my situation as I feel that I've satisfied myself that I can handle the USMLE (with a good MCAT score) and the rigors of medical school (post bacc grades). Now it's just time to convince the ADCOMs. If I had known about SMP programs 12 years ago, I would have already been an attending physician! 😳
A couple of friends of mine has done that program in the past and it has changed ever since the implementation of the IMS degree at USF. Since they implemented the IMS degree the prematriculation has become similar to those summer courses that the IMS students take and not much involved in getting you a chance to see a lot of the science stuff like gross anat stuff before school starts. I just thought I'd share that with you and have you ook into it carefully because I don't know that its going to be a huge huge benefit and your summer might be better spent relaxing and doing something fun because this is the last 3 month summer you will have in a long time.
I read it a long time ago before they completely changed the USF website. But now I can't seem to find that article.
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No change here. 🙁
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Whats up, hows it going
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Have you been sending update letters or anything? I thought you mentioned you did, but I was just wondering...
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Not bad, just chillin 🙂...you?
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lol...we're so lame...
I'm probably the most lame, because Titanic is on TV and I'm watching it...
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time for drinkey drink, yup, mmmmmmmmmmm the sweet taste of beer😱
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I bought one a pino grigio with fruity goodness. I typically drink harder stuff, but it was nice 🙂 I think I'm going to ask my parents to fill my liquor cabinet before medical school 😉
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bump (yay, I finally get to bump one of your threads!)
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I emailed Dr. Hinckley last Thursday to ask. He said that they are currently trying to decide on the dates for the second look, and it will be announced when they do.
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