Originally posted by nontraditional
I finally received word from GW post-interview. The letter I received stated that I would be considered for their 5-year MD program instead of their 4-year MD program. Frankly, I was a little confused/insulted.
Does anyone out there who has experience with this program think that I should even consider it? I like GW but it's rather expensive, although the letter stated that the normal tuition is split 50/50 in the first two years so that the program's fees are the same as the four-year MD program.
Thanks
Hi there,
GW's 5-year program is designed for students who show promise in terms of being able to complete the medical school curriculum but may need extra time to adjust to ramping up for medical school. Admission to this program may be offered to good non-traditional students who may have been away from the academic world. This program is NOT for increasing URMs. GW does not have a problem attracting well-qualified URMs as the school sits in the middle of downtown Washington, DC.
You get plenty of time to adjust to the curriculum and master the first year subjects because you have two years to really hone these classes. You can also use the extra time to get some really good grades so that you start your second year (really your third year) with a higher average than some of the 4-year folks who have been slogging away. The disadvantage is that it takes you two years to do what the 4-year folks do in one.
The 4-year folks do not have problems with the 5-year folks because of the higher standards. (See below) After the 5-year folks complete their first two years, they are the same as any other medical student. Students in the 5-year program generally reflect the ethnic and age composition of the class, with some being younger and some being older.
A couple of caveats though:
As a participant in the 5-year program, you are held to a different standard than the 4-year folks. You must score above the class mean in order to pass the course. (The class mean may be well above the minimum pass score) If you do not pass any course, you are out. This could present a major problem if you get through the first year and are almost done with the second year but get the boot. It will be almost impossible for you to get into any other medical school in the United States because you would have failed out of a 5-year program.
The five-year program is NOT remedial medical school. You are just decelerated to give you plenty of time to get adjusted to a very demanding curriculum. You will not be given any additional courses but it will take you an extra year to graduate. Once you have finished the first decelerated year, you become a member of the next year's class.
While the first two years are decelerated, the last four are not. Second year (which would actually be third year for a decel student) is a very academically strenous year even for the 4-year folks. Most of the second-year subjects well represented on USMLE Step I are the second-year subjects and not the first year classes so you have to ramp up very quickly second year.
If you get accepted into GWs 5-year program, take it and don't look back. Be ready to hit the ground running though and be prepared to work hard to keep your grades high.
There is no stigma attached to graduating as a 5-year student from GW. Your degree is going to say MD and if your performance is good, your USMLE scores are good, you are going to match into a good residency.
I hope this helps!
njbmd
🙂
