How is VCU outside of its linkage?

[pritomd]

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I know the VCU cert SMP program has linkage to its medical school if you do well, but how does VCU stand compared to other SMPs when considering medical schools other than MCV? I couldn't find a statistic anywhere..does anyone have it? Do a lot of medical universities know the program? I'm a VA resident, so I'd consider MCV, but my ideal choice would be UVA 👍

 

[chucktown]

Anyone? There has to be people on here that have done the CERT program at VCU.

 

[tmntdonjuan]

I personally know people from the program who have been accepted at EVMS (chose to attend VCU instead), another guy from the program currently at UNC Chapel Hill, and another guy at Wake Forest. I've heard of someone a while back from the program being accepted into UVA. Whether or not the program can get you into UVA really does depend on how competitive of an applicant you are without the program (i.e. GPA, MCAT, etc).

 

[agill786]

From what I had understood, it was never a "linkage" per se. It's just a way to enhance your credentials and the certificate is just like a formal postbac except you take med school classes not necessarily with the actual med students.

But is there actually a conditional guarantee with the program provided you have a reasonable MCAT score. BTW, what is there MCAT cut off?

 

[hung]

http://www.medschool.vcu.edu/graduate/premed_cert/

"GUARANTEED MEDICAL SCHOOL INTERVIEW AT VCU SCHOOL OF MEDICINE

Students successfully finishing the program with a GPA of 3.5 and presenting an MCAT score of 28 or higher are guaranteed an interview for Medical School at VCU, for the application cycle following completion of the CERT Program. Significant medical experience and exemplary professional behavior are also expected for guaranteed interviews."

 

[pritomd]

I read a very disturbing stat when searching through VCU topics...only ~20% of students get accepted into med school after completing the program? Why is this so low?

 

[aSagacious]

I read a very disturbing stat when searching through VCU topics...only ~20% of students get accepted into med school after completing the program? Why is this so low?

I don't know about 20% (I'm not sure of the figure myself, but that seems a bit low). Anyway, it is most likely due to the fact that they have lower admission criteria than some other post-bacs. Since completion of the program is only able to demonstrate a marginal increase in competitiveness, applicants that were far from competitive to begin with won't have much more luck after one more year of classes.