Howard University vs. University of Maryland Baltimore

[ersoch]

Alright, so before people start yelling at me, I already know that nearly everyone will tell me to go to UM Baltimore. And I agree. I would love to... but I haven't gotten in to either yet. Here's the story:

I went to Pepperdine University at age 16, with the goal of becoming a doctor. I ended up getting my B.A. in English language and literature a few years ago, after a bad study abroad experience left me with a C in organic chemistry and a C in microbiology. Although the university acknowledged that this was not my error but instead an issue of the international program, they were legally unable to change my grades. This brought my undergraduate GPA down to a 3.5, which discouraged me a LOT while in undergrad (people kept saying "You may not get into med school now.. bla bla bla"). At the time, I was very depressed over this (and actually almost sued my alma mater). I was so depressed and discouraged that I dropped the pre-med focus and performed more poorly in subsequent classes.

However, several years after graduation (I am now 24) I came to terms with it and I am now pre-nursing, and for awhile have been planning on becoming a cRNA. However, the med school dream is still there. But I'm terrified that I won't get in. While at Pepperdine, I got B's in chemistry and physics and an A- in anatomy and physiology. I am a better student (and less depressed and discouraged) now than I was then, however, and I have been getting straight A's without any issue at my local community college (in pre-nursing). I have already re-taken microbiology with an A, and am taking organic chemistry next semester. I have gotten As in chemistry and in Anatomy and Physiology at the community college as well. Nevertheless, I am worried that I won't get in to any medical schools due to the Cs I got while studying abroad.

To further complicate things, my fiance is going to grad school in the DC area and will be stuck here for the foreseeable future (government job). So my options for medical school are Georgetown, GW, John's Hopkins, U of M, and Howard. I am ruling myself out of the first three, but want opinions: do I have a chance at the last two? Is Howard worth going to? I want to be an emergency room doctor... would I get a residency in this area if I did Howard?

I know everyone on this forum is very smart, so I think it will be acceptable for me to say that I know myself to be very intelligent. I have taken practice MCATs and have scored very high, and I feel confident that I could achieve an excellent MCAT score (with work, of course). I also currently volunteer at a medical center in the area, where they offered me a job (I am hesitating about accepting it, as I would begin nursing school next fall if I decide to do the nursing route). So my question is: how much will it hurt me to re-take my classes at a community college? (I can't afford to take them elsewhere). Could I still get in to a school like University of Maryland given my Pepperdine grades?

If not, is Howard as bad as some people say, or has it improved in recent years? I don't want to do research, nor do I want a highly competitive specialty. I dream of emergency medicine.

Please; any advice would be lovely. Do some of you wish you had done nursing? Are some of you former nurses? Anything at all. For the first time since I gave up my pre-med dream after the study abroad experience, the thought of med school makes me feel really enthusiastic, as though I'm doing what I dreamed about since I was in high school. But

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[Cambino]

alright, so before people start yelling at me, i already know that nearly everyone will tell me to go to um baltimore. And i agree. I would love to... But i haven't gotten in to either yet. Here's the story:

I went to pepperdine university at age 16, with the goal of becoming a doctor. I ended up getting my b.a. In english language and literature a few years ago, after a bad study abroad experience left me with a c in organic chemistry and a c in microbiology. although the university acknowledged that this was not my error but instead an issue of the international program, they were legally unable to change my grades. This brought my undergraduate gpa down to a 3.5, which discouraged me a lot while in undergrad (people kept saying "you may not get into med school now.. Bla bla bla"). At the time, i was very depressed over this (and actually almost sued my alma mater). I was so depressed and discouraged that i dropped the pre-med focus and performed more poorly in subsequent classes.

However, several years after graduation (i am now 24) i came to terms with it and i am now pre-nursing, and for awhile have been planning on becoming a crna. However, the med school dream is still there. But i'm terrified that i won't get in. While at pepperdine, i got b's in chemistry and physics and an a- in anatomy and physiology. I am a better student (and less depressed and discouraged) now than i was then, however, and i have been getting straight a's without any issue at my local community college (in pre-nursing). I have already re-taken microbiology with an a, and am taking organic chemistry next semester. I have gotten as in chemistry and in anatomy and physiology at the community college as well. Nevertheless, i am worried that i won't get in to any medical schools due to the cs i got while studying abroad.

To further complicate things, my fiance is going to grad school in the dc area and will be stuck here for the foreseeable future (government job). So my options for medical school are georgetown, gw, john's hopkins, u of m, and howard. I am ruling myself out of the first three, but want opinions: Do i have a chance at the last two? Is howard worth going to? I want to be an emergency room doctor... Would i get a residency in this area if i did howard?

i know everyone on this forum is very smart, so i think it will be acceptable for me to say that i know myself to be very intelligent. I have taken practice mcats and have scored very high, and i feel confident that i could achieve an excellent mcat score (with work, of course). I also currently volunteer at a medical center in the area, where they offered me a job (i am hesitating about accepting it, as i would begin nursing school next fall if i decide to do the nursing route). So my question is: How much will it hurt me to re-take my classes at a community college? (i can't afford to take them elsewhere). Could i still get in to a school like university of maryland given my pepperdine grades?

If not, is howard as bad as some people say, or has it improved in recent years? I don't want to do research, nor do i want a highly competitive specialty. I dream of emergency medicine.

Please; any advice would be lovely. do some of you wish you had done nursing? Are some of you former nurses? anything at all. For the first time since i gave up my pre-med dream after the study abroad experience, the thought of med school makes me feel really enthusiastic, as though i'm doing what i dreamed about since i was in high school.

7/10

 

[jayceee]

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=637177

Here's a thread that has a match list from 2007/2008

match list for 2011 here:

http://www.alumniconnections.com/olc/pub/HRM/cpages/chapter/chapterpage.jsp?chapter=64&org=HRM

 

[jayceee]

http://www.alumniconnections.com/olc/pub/HRM/cpages/chapter/chapterpage.jsp?chapter=64&org=HRM

^2012 match list

I don't think you have to worry about matching into ER if you work hard.

 

[weezynation]

Alright, so before people start yelling at me, I already know that nearly everyone will tell me to go to UM Baltimore. And I agree. I would love to... but I haven't gotten in to either yet. Here's the story:

I went to Pepperdine University at age 16, with the goal of becoming a doctor. I ended up getting my B.A. in English language and literature a few years ago, after a bad study abroad experience left me with a C in organic chemistry and a C in microbiology. Although the university acknowledged that this was not my error but instead an issue of the international program, they were legally unable to change my grades. This brought my undergraduate GPA down to a 3.5, which discouraged me a LOT while in undergrad (people kept saying "You may not get into med school now.. bla bla bla"). At the time, I was very depressed over this (and actually almost sued my alma mater). I was so depressed and discouraged that I dropped the pre-med focus and performed more poorly in subsequent classes.

However, several years after graduation (I am now 24) I came to terms with it and I am now pre-nursing, and for awhile have been planning on becoming a cRNA. However, the med school dream is still there. But I'm terrified that I won't get in. While at Pepperdine, I got B's in chemistry and physics and an A- in anatomy and physiology. I am a better student (and less depressed and discouraged) now than I was then, however, and I have been getting straight A's without any issue at my local community college (in pre-nursing). I have already re-taken microbiology with an A, and am taking organic chemistry next semester. I have gotten As in chemistry and in Anatomy and Physiology at the community college as well. Nevertheless, I am worried that I won't get in to any medical schools due to the Cs I got while studying abroad.

To further complicate things, my fiance is going to grad school in the DC area and will be stuck here for the foreseeable future (government job). So my options for medical school are Georgetown, GW, John's Hopkins, U of M, and Howard. I am ruling myself out of the first three, but want opinions: do I have a chance at the last two? Is Howard worth going to? I want to be an emergency room doctor... would I get a residency in this area if I did Howard?

I know everyone on this forum is very smart, so I think it will be acceptable for me to say that I know myself to be very intelligent. I have taken practice MCATs and have scored very high, and I feel confident that I could achieve an excellent MCAT score (with work, of course). I also currently volunteer at a medical center in the area, where they offered me a job (I am hesitating about accepting it, as I would begin nursing school next fall if I decide to do the nursing route). So my question is: how much will it hurt me to re-take my classes at a community college? (I can't afford to take them elsewhere). Could I still get in to a school like University of Maryland given my Pepperdine grades?

If not, is Howard as bad as some people say, or has it improved in recent years? I don't want to do research, nor do I want a highly competitive specialty. I dream of emergency medicine.

Please; any advice would be lovely. Do some of you wish you had done nursing? Are some of you former nurses? Anything at all. For the first time since I gave up my pre-med dream after the study abroad experience, the thought of med school makes me feel really enthusiastic, as though I'm doing what I dreamed about since I was in high school. But

What state are you from? Because if Maryland is not your state school, you will probably have a harder time getting accepted there than all the others except Hopkins. Most state schools have a very high preference for in-state students. You obviously know Hopkins is one of the toughest to get into. If you dont fit Howard's mission of working with the underserved and have the credentials to back it up then that's going to be very tough also. Georgetown and GW are probably your best bets (in spite of their ridiculous applicant numbers each year) unless Maryland is your state school.

 

[ersoch]

What state are you from? Because if Maryland is not your state school, you will probably have a harder time getting accepted there than all the others except Hopkins. Most state schools have a very high preference for in-state students. You obviously know Hopkins is one of the toughest to get into. If you dont fit Howard's mission of working with the underserved and have the credentials to back it up then that's going to be very tough also. Georgetown and GW are probably your best bets (in spite of their ridiculous applicant numbers each year) unless Maryland is your state school.

Wow, first of all, thank you so much to everyone. The responses I have received so far have been so incredibly helpful and they came so fast.

As for answers to the questions: I am from California, but I now live in Maryland (have for approx. 6 months). Since it would take me another year to fully prepare to apply to medical school, I would be a state resident by then, which I think would help me with UMB. However, I have heard that they do sometimes show some "love" to out of state residents for the higher tuition, so who knows.

As for Howard: when I was at Pepperdine, I was actually founder and President of a mission that collected textbooks and sold them to raise money for a hospital in Kenya. Also, the place I currently volunteer at provides medical care for low-income families in the Montgomery county area of MD. Now, I know that those aren't the best volunteer experiences in the whole world (I know plenty of people who have a long list), but at least they are something.

Out of curiosity, looking at the lists, what is "transitional" residency? I understand that some people can work their way into the ER after doing family practice or pediatrics (if they don't get the specialty they want). Does anyone know anything about this?

 

[Josh7]

Wow, first of all, thank you so much to everyone. The responses I have received so far have been so incredibly helpful and they came so fast.

As for answers to the questions: I am from California, but I now live in Maryland (have for approx. 6 months). Since it would take me another year to fully prepare to apply to medical school, I would be a state resident by then, which I think would help me with UMB. However, I have heard that they do sometimes show some "love" to out of state residents for the higher tuition, so who knows.

As for Howard: when I was at Pepperdine, I was actually founder and President of a mission that collected textbooks and sold them to raise money for a hospital in Kenya. Also, the place I currently volunteer at provides medical care for low-income families in the Montgomery county area of MD. Now, I know that those aren't the best volunteer experiences in the whole world (I know plenty of people who have a long list), but at least they are something.

Out of curiosity, looking at the lists, what is "transitional" residency? I understand that some people can work their way into the ER after doing family practice or pediatrics (if they don't get the specialty they want). Does anyone know anything about this?

I disagree, I think both of those ECs are impressive and interesting. Don't sell yourself short!

 

[weezynation]

Wow, first of all, thank you so much to everyone. The responses I have received so far have been so incredibly helpful and they came so fast.

As for answers to the questions: I am from California, but I now live in Maryland (have for approx. 6 months). Since it would take me another year to fully prepare to apply to medical school, I would be a state resident by then, which I think would help me with UMB. However, I have heard that they do sometimes show some "love" to out of state residents for the higher tuition, so who knows.

As for Howard: when I was at Pepperdine, I was actually founder and President of a mission that collected textbooks and sold them to raise money for a hospital in Kenya. Also, the place I currently volunteer at provides medical care for low-income families in the Montgomery county area of MD. Now, I know that those aren't the best volunteer experiences in the whole world (I know plenty of people who have a long list), but at least they are something.

Out of curiosity, looking at the lists, what is "transitional" residency? I understand that some people can work their way into the ER after doing family practice or pediatrics (if they don't get the specialty they want). Does anyone know anything about this?

It's good that you will be able to gain residency in Maryland by the time you apply because it will help you with that school. Yeah state schools show out of state love to a comparatively small percentage of applicants but typically to get into a state school as an out-of-state student, your credentials must be better than the in-state students.

As for a transitional year, my understanding of it is that some specialties' residencies (anesthesiology for example) do not start until your second year after med school (PGY-2), so for PGY-1 you do a transitional year in which you are in the hospital and rotate through various rotations until that second year when you start your specialty's residency. You could also do a prelim year as well if I'm not mistaken. You apply for both at the same time during the Match in your 4th year of med school.

 

[ersoch]

So what I'm getting from everyone above is that I'm not automatically disqualified by my bad study abroad experience -- which is both heartening and frightening, as it is a little bit scary to open myself up emotionally to the idea of medical school once again. Letting go of it once was, ahem, not the prettiest time in my life. I think now I'm almost only willing to try if I'm basically certain to get in somewhere, which is why I find Howard appealing: I have a great GPA from community college, which combined with a 3.5 will bring up my GPA. I have work experience, ECs, and expect a good MCAT... so if I could get in to Howard, I think I would be happy.

So can I turn the tables on all of you and pick your brains? Presumably you all have a specialty in mind: why? Is there a reason you would never do EM? (Or maybe that you would?)

Do you worry about how medical school would affect life with your SO? My fiance wants me to do whatever I would love, since he doesn't want me to resent him (and since I already moved to DC with him, and am limited in career options for that reason). But that doesn't mean I want to "beat him with a stick everyday for 3 years," which is what the former husband of a medical student in residency tells me it is like.

Opinions? Scoldings? Anything?

 

[weezynation]

So what I'm getting from everyone above is that I'm not automatically disqualified by my bad study abroad experience -- which is both heartening and frightening, as it is a little bit scary to open myself up emotionally to the idea of medical school once again. Letting go of it once was, ahem, not the prettiest time in my life. I think now I'm almost only willing to try if I'm basically certain to get in somewhere, which is why I find Howard appealing: I have a great GPA from community college, which combined with a 3.5 will bring up my GPA. I have work experience, ECs, and expect a good MCAT... so if I could get in to Howard, I think I would be happy.

So can I turn the tables on all of you and pick your brains? Presumably you all have a specialty in mind: why? Is there a reason you would never do EM? (Or maybe that you would?)

Do you worry about how medical school would affect life with your SO? My fiance wants me to do whatever I would love, since he doesn't want me to resent him (and since I already moved to DC with him, and am limited in career options for that reason). But that doesn't mean I want to "beat him with a stick everyday for 3 years," which is what the former husband of a medical student in residency tells me it is like.

Opinions? Scoldings? Anything?

Medical school admissions is one of the most difficult admissions processes not only because of extreme competition, but because schools have very interesting ways of choosing who they interview and accept. Out of my 15 extracurricular activities/community service for my application, about 9-10 of them are related to working with the underserved and this is where I hope to ultimately hope to practice medicine. My application is good overall outside of those activities, yet no interview from Howard, Morehouse, or Meharry which are all schools with a "serving the underserved" mission statement. I only tell you this because I dont want you to be under the impression that because you have those experiences, Howard will automatically be interested in you as an applicant. For example, one of my friends applied to 12 schools, got rejected from most of them without interviews, but got accepted to Harvard Med. So this process can be extremely random at times. I would go in with the mentality that you will apply with the best application you can prepare and expect the best, but also realizing that most people (even those with amazing applications) apply to 15-20+ schools for a reason...getting in is difficult.

As for specialty, I personally would consider EM, but mostly because I am keeping my options open. I am really interested in primary care, but EM is nice because it had shift-work although the night shift could be troublesome at times if you have a family, I'm guessing.

I, too, and engaged; however, my fiance is in her third year of medical school so she obviously understands what I am getting myself into. It's great that your SO wants you to follow your dreams and is supportive of that. I really hope you are able to get in somewhere in the DC area so you two can be together. I am currently about a 5 hour drive from my fiance but we are so busy so it's not as bad. She's obviously in the hospital all day and I am in a program taking the first year medical school courses and will start medical school next fall. Your SO needs to be prepared for the reality of the fact that there will be times where you cannot spend as much quality time as you would like because you will be studying; however, someone I know who is married in medical school told me it's doable. You just have to study thoroughly and efficiently throughout the day and when you go home, you give your full attention to your SO...no studying, no thinking about school. Obviously around exam time this quality time will reduce, but it can be done. It just takes understanding from your SO and your willingness to be 100% present when you are not studying. Hopefully someone else will chime in because this is just my experience and what I've learned.