Help! What should i do?

[halfHAVOC]

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Alright guys so heres my situation

i'm a freshman and i just started my first semester in the NYIT/NYCOM 7-Year B.S/D.O program.

so the issue is this year they changed the GPA requirement from 3.5 cumulative to per semester, ok but i knew what i was getting myself into, and they use the average of the incoming nycom class as our Mcat requirement. Last years was 27 , so for my class the expected score is going to be about 29 possibly 30. But the thing that really i guess ticked me off or has me second guessing is the fact that the deans of our program in one of our recent meetings said "oh by the way, you guys do know that the GPA requirement and MCAT score requirement, is just the minimum to apply to NYCOM, it doesn't guarantee anything." which had everyone's heads turning going "WTF?" basically (because that was never mentioned before, as far as we all knew it was guaranteed as long as you met the requirements).

So now im in a predicament because i'm thinking well if its not guaranteed, what the hell is the point? and if i have to achieve an MCAT score that high...why am i locking myself into one medical school instead of applying to a bunch? My other option besides sticking around in the program is to transfer to Rutgers university for my undergrad and just do 4 years there mainly because its close to home so i won't have to spend a ton of money (and yeah its a ritsy area around NYIT so living costs) and ect, and it's just more of a hassle to be up there. The only issue is well if i transfer next semester (spring 2011), i can't be certain if all my credits (18) for this semester will transfer...there's no guarantee with that stuff because i heard about alot of people have problems with transferring credits. And god forbid i ever dropped my GPA and lost my scholarship at NYIT, my tuition rates would double and i would put myself in a huge financial hole.

So I want to ask you guys for some advice, not only what you think i should do, but what would you do in my position?

 

[iamdo]

Alright guys so heres my situation

i'm a freshman and i just started my first semester in the NYIT/NYCOM 7-Year B.S/D.O program.

so the issue is this year they changed the GPA requirement from 3.5 cumulative to per semester, ok but i knew what i was getting myself into, and they use the average of the incoming nycom class as our Mcat requirement. Last years was 27 , so for my class the expected score is going to be about 29 possibly 30. But the thing that really i guess ticked me off or has me second guessing is the fact that the deans of our program in one of our recent meetings said "oh by the way, you guys do know that the GPA requirement and MCAT score requirement, is just the minimum to apply to NYCOM, it doesn't guarantee anything." which had everyone's heads turning going "WTF?" basically (because that was never mentioned before, as far as we all knew it was guaranteed as long as you met the requirements).

So now im in a predicament because i'm thinking well if its not guaranteed, what the hell is the point? and if i have to achieve an MCAT score that high...why am i locking myself into one medical school instead of applying to a bunch? My other option besides sticking around in the program is to transfer to Rutgers university for my undergrad and just do 4 years there mainly because its close to home so i won't have to spend a ton of money (and yeah its a ritsy area around NYIT so living costs) and ect, and it's just more of a hassle to be up there. The only issue is well if i transfer next semester (spring 2011), i can't be certain if all my credits (18) for this semester will transfer...there's no guarantee with that stuff because i heard about alot of people have problems with transferring credits. And god forbid i ever dropped my GPA and lost my scholarship at NYIT, my tuition rates would double and i would put myself in a huge financial hole.

So I want to ask you guys for some advice, not only what you think i should do, but what would you do in my position?

you do not have an option now except just continue in the program.

 

[halfHAVOC]

you do not have an option now except just continue in the program.

what do you mean? i can transfer out after the 1st semester, theres no guarantee all my credits will transfer but as long as atleast like 12 do i should be fine...right?

 

[gatewasani]

i mean if it's not guaranteed acceptance than the only real benefit to doing the program is that you would save a year, make sure you are understanding everything 100% before you do anything but if you really wanted you could do undergrad in 3 years with summers and apply all over. Plus it you finish with a 3.5/30 than you will probably have a very good chance at most DO schools and a good shot at some MD's too.

my best advice for you is to speak to the dean and those in charge of the program and get your facts straight.

 

[normtheniner]

Alright guys so heres my situation

i'm a freshman and i just started my first semester in the NYIT/NYCOM 7-Year B.S/D.O program.

so the issue is this year they changed the GPA requirement from 3.5 cumulative to per semester, ok but i knew what i was getting myself into, and they use the average of the incoming nycom class as our Mcat requirement. Last years was 27 , so for my class the expected score is going to be about 29 possibly 30. But the thing that really i guess ticked me off or has me second guessing is the fact that the deans of our program in one of our recent meetings said "oh by the way, you guys do know that the GPA requirement and MCAT score requirement, is just the minimum to apply to NYCOM, it doesn't guarantee anything." which had everyone's heads turning going "WTF?" basically (because that was never mentioned before, as far as we all knew it was guaranteed as long as you met the requirements).

So now im in a predicament because i'm thinking well if its not guaranteed, what the hell is the point? and if i have to achieve an MCAT score that high...why am i locking myself into one medical school instead of applying to a bunch? My other option besides sticking around in the program is to transfer to Rutgers university for my undergrad and just do 4 years there mainly because its close to home so i won't have to spend a ton of money (and yeah its a ritsy area around NYIT so living costs) and ect, and it's just more of a hassle to be up there. The only issue is well if i transfer next semester (spring 2011), i can't be certain if all my credits (18) for this semester will transfer...there's no guarantee with that stuff because i heard about alot of people have problems with transferring credits. And god forbid i ever dropped my GPA and lost my scholarship at NYIT, my tuition rates would double and i would put myself in a huge financial hole.

So I want to ask you guys for some advice, not only what you think i should do, but what would you do in my position?

I would stick it out until December and then make the call. I don't agree with the above poster who said you have to finish the program. I look at it this way:

You're young (I am suspecting right out of high school) and you enrolled in a program that you thought you'd like, but ended up not feeling good about it. There is always the chance that in a year or two you may even decide medicine isn't for you..

Finish the semester strongly and either decide to stay or transfer.

 

[halfHAVOC]

I would stick it out until December and then make the call. I don't agree with the above poster who said you have to finish the program. I look at it this way:

You're young (I am suspecting right out of high school) and you enrolled in a program that you thought you'd like, but ended up not feeling good about it. There is always the chance that in a year or two you may even decide medicine isn't for you..

Finish the semester strongly and either decide to stay or transfer.

Alright, i have to "re-apply" for Rutgers because the deadline is in like a week for the spring semester so im just gonna send that, but finish up this semester and i guess see what happens from there. Oh also we take the mcat the spring semester of the 2nd yr (next yr) do you think i would be like rushed to take it (enough time?), or would it be easier since most the material would be fresh in my mind?

 

[JHInt]

Question to the OP...

If NYCOM average admission stats as you said were 3.6 and 29/30 MCAT, then why should they expect any less from their BS/DO program?

NYCOM is raising its admission standards and now the BS/DOs are so far lagging that their grade standards must be raised as well... My old college had a similar program and required a 3.6/ 30 years ago... As you said if NYCOM average stats are 3.6/29, anyone entering with less than that may be very subpar, they also may not make it out of NYCOM. In all its a good move for the school to have such high admission standards. You still will not need to go through the application cycle or interview process and face the uncertainty i=of not being accepted, you are already in. Now work as had as the other students that got into NYCOM and quit whining

 

[Tin Man]

Question to the OP...

If NYCOM average admission stats as you said were 3.6 and 29/30 MCAT, then why should they expect any less from their BS/DO program?

NYCOM is raising its admission standards and now the BS/DOs are so far lagging that their grade standards must be raised as well... My old college had a similar program and required a 3.6/ 30 years ago... As you said if NYCOM average stats are 3.6/29, anyone entering with less than that may be very subpar, they also may not make it out of NYCOM. In all its a good move for the school to have such high admission standards. You still will not need to go through the application cycle or interview process and face the uncertainty i=of not being accepted, you are already in. Now work as had as the other students that got into NYCOM and quit whining

Sorta what I was thinking. There is a LOT taken off the plate just by being expected to get good enough scores. Some of us have to study for a 30+ MCAT, high GPA, do shadowing, do volunteering, do research, and still manage to impress the adcoms enough so that we might get LUCKY enough that our adcom was in a good enough mood to think about trying to remember who we were.

Only having to focus on two things (one of which is part of your schooling to begin with) still puts you in a very cozy spot compared to every other pre-med out there. You aren't going to get much sympathy here.

 

[halfHAVOC]

Question to the OP...

If NYCOM average admission stats as you said were 3.6 and 29/30 MCAT, then why should they expect any less from their BS/DO program?

NYCOM is raising its admission standards and now the BS/DOs are so far lagging that their grade standards must be raised as well... My old college had a similar program and required a 3.6/ 30 years ago... As you said if NYCOM average stats are 3.6/29, anyone entering with less than that may be very subpar, they also may not make it out of NYCOM. In all its a good move for the school to have such high admission standards. You still will not need to go through the application cycle or interview process and face the uncertainty i=of not being accepted, you are already in. Now work as had as the other students that got into NYCOM and quit whining

lol homie, there's still an application process and interview process with the program (so i still gotta do all the extra-circulars). And the average stats i'm saying for my class is whats predicted (and don't put words in my mouth, i never said they should expect any less...they just raised the standards this year).... but what's like a reasonable GPA/MCAT score that will give me a chance to get into different med schools(MD/DO doesn't matter), giving me more choices? I mean if i gotta get high stats regardless why not have some options? I'm just trying to figure out how much this program really is worth it along with the finances of being there. Idk i'm just wondering i guess because i feel like they're being very shady...