How would you rank the following SMP's?

[LuluLovesMe]

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Tufts
BU
Temple
Tulane

Are there any other SMPs that either have a high linkage rate or a low tuition and good results that you would suggest?

 

[LuluLovesMe]

@DrMidlife any suggestions?

 

[FumblyBumbly]

You can find more specific stats on the other threads here, including a stickied thread but from my vague recollection (that's at least 1.5 years old):

EVMS, RFUMS, University of Toledo, University of Cincinnati, Georgetown, Drexel, UPenn. Check them all out though. I know there have been new developments at most of those schools that may have changed their success/unofficial linkage rates.

I know there are more SMPs out there but these are the ones that immediately come to mind.

As I recall, you've got pretty good stats so I would suggest Temple and Tulane (if you get waitlisted) over BU and Tufts based on their guaranteed/high linkage rates.

 

[DrMidlife]

I haven't kept up.

When I was in your shoes, deciding where to apply and trying to tease apart the pros/cons of all the programs, I created the stickied "GPA enhancement programs" list so that all my work could be useful to others.

Want to make something that gets over 250,000 SDN readers? Do an update.

 

[GrapesofRath]

IMO my two cents

If you can get into Temple or Tulanes Anatomy program(note not pharmacology the anatomy one which requires an MD WL to even apply) take it don't look back. I think both have 90+% of their grads get into US MD programs. No brainer.

1) Cincinnati:
https://med.uc.edu/msinphysiology/alumni/meet-the-class-of-2013
Read about it. The vast majority of their grads get into US MD programs. It's small, very respected and does well. Also you get to establish Ohio residency if you need a gap year after which is big. Ater Temple and Tulane its for my money the best program. You know what you are getting here. They specifically show you exactly how well their grads do which is very rare. I think probably on average at least 80% of their grads get into US MDs. Do what you need to here, you'll be in good position. And Cincinnati if you get in is a really good med school. This would be my top choice for anybody looking for an SMP.

2) Georgetown: They still have a great rep. The majority of their grads get into US MD programs. The program is brutal and hard as hell, if you dont have work habbits and have recent good grades in UG you are just asking for problems here, but if you get through it and do decently, you are putting yourself in a solid spot.

I don't know a ton about other programs. I think Tufts places the majority of its grads into US MD programs and about 30-40% in Tufts med. It's a solid option although they are kinda vague and tight lipped with how well their grads do which gives me pause and why I would go G'town or Cinncy over them.

The days of programs having strong linkage are done. Eastern Virginia and Toledo's linkage ie percent of SMP grads who get into their MD program has gone way way down in recent years. Its a watered down product, I wouldn't recommend. Same with Drexel and other lesser known programs. Rosalind Franklin is one I think might head down this direction although for now their linkage seems still pretty decent.

All in all given how risky SMPs are and how watered down alot of programs are, I really would only bother with a few of them. If its not Cincy or G'town or perhaps BostonU/Tufts/Rosalind/Loyola(and even some of these I'm meh on), I don't think I'd really recommend it in most situations.

 

[heybubbaa]

IMO my two cents

If you can get into Temple or Tulanes Anatomy program(note not pharmacology the anatomy one which requires an MD WL to even apply) take it don't look back. I think both have 90+% of their grads get into US MD programs. No brainer.

1) Cincinnati:
https://med.uc.edu/msinphysiology/alumni/meet-the-class-of-2013
Read about it. The vast majority of their grads get into US MD programs. It's small, very respected and does well. Also you get to establish Ohio residency if you need a gap year after which is big. Ater Temple and Tulane its for my money the best program. You know what you are getting here. Do what you need to here, you'll be in good position. And Cincinnati if you get in is a really good med school. This would be my top choice for anybody looking for an SMP.

2) Georgetown: They still have a great rep. The majority of their grads get into US MD programs. The program is brutal and hard as hell, if you dont have work habbits and have recent good grades in UG you are just asking for problems here, but if you get through it and do decently, you are putting yourself in a solid spot.

I don't know a ton about other programs. I think Tufts places the majority of its grads into US MD programs and about 30-40% in Tufts med. It's a solid option although they are kinda vague and tight lipped with how well their grads do which gives me pause and why I would go G'town or Cinncy over them.

The days of programs having strong linkage are done. Eastern Virginia and Toledo's linkage ie percent of SMP grads who get into their MD program has gone way way down in recent years. Its a watered down product, I wouldn't recommend. Same with Drexel and other lesser known programs. Rosalind Franklin is one I think might head down this direction although for now their linkage seems still pretty decent.

All in all given how risky SMPs are and how watered down alot of programs are, I really would only bother with a few of them. If its not Cincy or G'town or perhaps BostonU/Tufts/Rosalind, I don't think I'd really recommend it in most situations.

I would pretty much agree here.

 

[LuluLovesMe]

IMO my two cents

If you can get into Temple or Tulanes Anatomy program(note not pharmacology the anatomy one which requires an MD WL to even apply) take it don't look back. I think both have 90+% of their grads get into US MD programs. No brainer.

1) Cincinnati:
https://med.uc.edu/msinphysiology/alumni/meet-the-class-of-2013
Read about it. The vast majority of their grads get into US MD programs. It's small, very respected and does well. Also you get to establish Ohio residency if you need a gap year after which is big. Ater Temple and Tulane its for my money the best program. You know what you are getting here. They specifically show you exactly how well their grads do which is very rare. I think probably on average at least 80% of their grads get into US MDs. Do what you need to here, you'll be in good position. And Cincinnati if you get in is a really good med school. This would be my top choice for anybody looking for an SMP.

2) Georgetown: They still have a great rep. The majority of their grads get into US MD programs. The program is brutal and hard as hell, if you dont have work habbits and have recent good grades in UG you are just asking for problems here, but if you get through it and do decently, you are putting yourself in a solid spot.

I don't know a ton about other programs. I think Tufts places the majority of its grads into US MD programs and about 30-40% in Tufts med. It's a solid option although they are kinda vague and tight lipped with how well their grads do which gives me pause and why I would go G'town or Cinncy over them.

The days of programs having strong linkage are done. Eastern Virginia and Toledo's linkage ie percent of SMP grads who get into their MD program has gone way way down in recent years. Its a watered down product, I wouldn't recommend. Same with Drexel and other lesser known programs. Rosalind Franklin is one I think might head down this direction although for now their linkage seems still pretty decent.

All in all given how risky SMPs are and how watered down alot of programs are, I really would only bother with a few of them. If its not Cincy or G'town or perhaps BostonU/Tufts/Rosalind/Loyola(and even some of these I'm meh on), I don't think I'd really recommend it in most situations.

Thanks for the detailed info. Looking at past years for Cincinnati, it seems about 50% get into their medical school on average while overall 90% get into a medical school.

12/25 2011
8/28 2012
23/32 2013
16/32 2014

Still not as good as Tulane or Temple. I'm leaning towards only going with Tulane or Temple, because my stats are already very high for applying to DO schools l and I don't want to spend 50k on just a chance of getting into an MD school + an extra gap year on top of the SMP year.

 

[GrapesofRath]

Thanks for the detailed info. Looking at past years for Cincinnati, it seems about 50% get into their medical school on average while overall 90% get into a medical school.

12/25 2011
8/28 2012
23/32 2013
16/32 2014

Still not as good as Tulane or Temple. I'm leaning towards only going with Tulane or Temple, because my stats are already very high for applying to DO schools l and I don't want to spend 50k on just a chance of getting into an MD school + an extra gap year on top of the SMP year.

Tulane and Temple are hyper competitive. The odds of anybody getting into them are slim. It's really not a good idea to focus all the effort on them.

Also looking at linkage to just Cincinnati is foolish. Your goal is to get into A single MD school in the US period. And for that, 80+% of Cincy SMP grads get into A single US MD school, even if it isn't Cincinnati. If you are an SMP student or borderline applicant, you aren't in the position to say "Oh I only want to go to Cincinnati, not a school like Wright State or Tolddo".

 

[LuluLovesMe]

Tulane and Temple are hyper competitive. The odds of anybody getting into them are slim. It's really not a good idea to focus all the effort on them.

Also looking at linkage to just Cincinnati is foolish. Your goal is to get into A single MD school in the US period. And for that, 80+% of Cincy SMP grads get into A single US MD school, even if it isn't Cincinnati. If you are an SMP student or borderline applicant, you aren't in the position to say "Oh I only want to go to Cincinnati, not a school like Wright State or Tolddo".

My goal is either Tulane or Temple or just go DO next cycle. I think I have a good shot at both.

 

[Dreamstoo]

I remember hearing how great EVMS was (this was years ago, something I heard from someone whose a resident/attending now) until it got watered down as posters have said here.

Georgetown is definitely up there in prestige. BU is too. I've heard both are cut-throat.

I would recommend Tulane/Temple/Cincy. Those are the ones I've heard consistently are considered great MD SMPs.

 

[PhoenixAZ]

IMO my two cents

If you can get into Temple or Tulanes Anatomy program(note not pharmacology the anatomy one which requires an MD WL to even apply) take it don't look back. I think both have 90+% of their grads get into US MD programs. No brainer.

1) Cincinnati:
https://med.uc.edu/msinphysiology/alumni/meet-the-class-of-2013
Read about it. The vast majority of their grads get into US MD programs. It's small, very respected and does well. Also you get to establish Ohio residency if you need a gap year after which is big. Ater Temple and Tulane its for my money the best program. You know what you are getting here. They specifically show you exactly how well their grads do which is very rare. I think probably on average at least 80% of their grads get into US MDs. Do what you need to here, you'll be in good position. And Cincinnati if you get in is a really good med school. This would be my top choice for anybody looking for an SMP.

2) Georgetown: They still have a great rep. The majority of their grads get into US MD programs. The program is brutal and hard as hell, if you dont have work habbits and have recent good grades in UG you are just asking for problems here, but if you get through it and do decently, you are putting yourself in a solid spot.

I don't know a ton about other programs. I think Tufts places the majority of its grads into US MD programs and about 30-40% in Tufts med. It's a solid option although they are kinda vague and tight lipped with how well their grads do which gives me pause and why I would go G'town or Cinncy over them.

The days of programs having strong linkage are done. Eastern Virginia and Toledo's linkage ie percent of SMP grads who get into their MD program has gone way way down in recent years. Its a watered down product, I wouldn't recommend. Same with Drexel and other lesser known programs. Rosalind Franklin is one I think might head down this direction although for now their linkage seems still pretty decent.

All in all given how risky SMPs are and how watered down alot of programs are, I really would only bother with a few of them. If its not Cincy or G'town or perhaps BostonU/Tufts/Rosalind/Loyola(and even some of these I'm meh on), I don't think I'd really recommend it in most situations.

I disagree that Tufts is vague about the acceptance rate their MBS grads. They publish the data on their web site http://publichealth.tufts.edu/Academics/MBS-Microsite (87% of graduates get into med school, 72% interview at TUSM, 34% get into TUSM).

Here (http://publichealth.tufts.edu/~/med...chools MBS Students Have Been Accepted To.pdf)
They also show a list of med schools that their grads get accepted to (

 

[GrapesofRath]

I disagree that Tufts is vague about the acceptance rate their MBS grads. They publish the data on their web site http://publichealth.tufts.edu/Academics/MBS-Microsite (87% of graduates get into med school, 72% interview at TUSM, 34% get into TUSM).

Here (http://publichealth.tufts.edu/~/media/PHPD/PHPD PDFs/Academics/Professional Schools MBS Students Have Been Accepted To.pdf)
They also show a list of med schools that their grads get accepted to (

Yeah I saw those and honestly they aren't too much more vague than Georgetown. I guess I was just slightly biased because I know people in Georgetown's SMP so I have a better idea of how their grads fair at US MD programs. Perhaps I should have rephrased a little better.

The 87% stat is vague in its very design. It includes X amounts of DO's. It includes international schools. You don't know how many years that list of schools their grads to includes: Georgetown does an individual list for each year. You don't know how many of those interviews given are courtesy interviews. The 34% linkage stat is solid.

If you want to know exactly how SMP grads do Cincinnati is by far and away your best bet. They specifically tell you how every graduate does. That's the type of info you need if you want to commit an SMP. Maybe you can get it talking to SMP students of a program, but just blindly going into one becaue a school promises a high linkage rate to medical school in general is just asking for problems.

Note Tufts is still solid. It's just if I had to recommend one program in particular after Tulane or Temple(which very few people will get accepted to and the OP is being kind of naieve just thinking they have a good shot at a program with a 2-3% acceptance rate) I would pick Cincy over Tufts.

 

[LuluLovesMe]

Note Tufts is still solid. It's just if I had to recommend one program in particular after Tulane or Temple(which very few people will get accepted to and the OP is being kind of naieve just thinking they have a good shot at a program with a 2-3% acceptance rate) I would pick Cincy over Tufts.

I'm not saying I'm most likely going to get into Tulane or Temple. I'm just saying I'd rather not take an SMP and just go DO next cycle than go to an SMP that isn't Tulane or Temple.