I thought I'd post this about BU's GMS program --> MAMS Review from a current student

[ShyD33]

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I was typing this to for a PM and decided to post it (sorry I got on a rant)

Here's the page for BU's MAMS program (a part of the GMS division of BUSM)

http://cobalt.bumc.bu.edu/current/Catalog/medsci/masters.htm

go there and check it out.

its a great program. yes it will increase your chances of getting into medical school (as long as you don't F-it up) for these quick reasons (all directly related to the program)
1) you get to take lots of medical school classes (by the end I will have taken Medical Histology, Biochemistry, Physiology, Endocrinology, and Immunology...and there's more than that!)
2) You can apply with a GRE score (i got in with a 1300) or an MCAT (don't have one yet! =))
3) you've be advised by medical school faculty members AND Admissions Commitee members of BUSM (they're the same people!!!)
4) you get an Associate Dean's Letter of Recommendation from S of M --> you just have to meet the right deadlines)
5) There's the BU Outreach program running every thursday from 6-10 to gain volunteer experience in the clinical setting helping unprivleged people of multicultural backgrounds
6) you have the chance to instead of a paper thesis, to do a clinical thesis based on clinical research tahts you've helped with and gained experience @ --> this is KEY b/c you can do clinical research in a field that you may one day for yourself in a residency!
7) and you go to school at BU S of M! =)

Its NOT a POST BACC --> post bacc's deal with MORE undergraduate classes to boost a poor undergraduate GPA--> they usually consist of more upper level science classes at an undergrad instituition

BU's MAMS is a Graduate Program. You get a master'd Degree in the Medical Sciences, and you do that the best way possible --> by taking Medical program (M.D.) classes (pretty cool)... these are NOT graduate classes... although you can take graduate level sciences through the program anyways... the point is to take med school classes to prove that you can handle them (while NOT being offically in medical school..wild)

The faculty is awesome. They're all very very helpful. They really take care of GMS students. The key is (if your serious, to get your app in a.s.a.p. (if you haven't done so) and show your determination and drive to do this.

Some side notes are that the program CAN be done in one year, but realistically, its designed to be for two ( your second year is when you can do research, etc)

Also, the second year is designed to be the year when your applying to medical school, NOT the first year when you are entering the program (as in right now)

To give you an example of what I'll have done in this program:
Medical Biochemistry
Medical Histology
Medical Phyiology <--- I'm right here now as of 3/6/6
Medical Endocrinlogy
Medical Immunology
TA / tutor for Histology
Volunteer for BU Outreach
Clincial Research Thesis
Associated Deans' LOR
(have taken an MCAT-blah)
Advisee to 5 ADCOMS (and my actual advisors)
-maybe Medical Neuroscience in Fall 07 (only if I want too =))
-anything else i can think of.

oh yeah.. and If you have to take the MCAT after the first yearof MAMS, take a look at the classes, youve taken.. the A's youve gotten, and say damn... The biological Sciences should be a cake walk. -SR

 

[SaturdayDwarf]

Thanks for all of that information. I had a question about the program while applying to medical school.

I basically have a free summer after I graduate. Should I study full-time and take the MCATs this August. Or should I study while in classes and take the MCATs next April? Will the classes really help a lot with the MCAT? Enough to justify having to study the rest of the subjects while taking classes?

Thx.

 

[junebuguf]

I would highly advise against studying for the MCAT while in the program--it is very intensive and wont leave you with much time to do anything but prepare for your classes. That is, unless, you opt to take a light load, which will not help your application as much. If you have two months to dedicate to the MCAT, get it over with now, so you dont have to worry about it. Also, the MAMS program will really only help you on the bio section (and even at that, it wont help on the Orgo questions in the bio section, so it really only helps for 3/4 of the bio section). It wont help for phys and verbal, which require intensive prep as well.

Or, if you are dedidated, you can opt to prepare intensively for the phys and verbal sections over the summer, go through the program over fall and spring, taking practice tests every now and then to keep the material you reviewed fresh, and take the MCAT in april, which will maximize the benefit of the program. Either way, you should review this summer because you wont have time to do so during the program.

 

[CKP616]

Hey guys,
I was just wondering, if I were to apply to the program, is an AMCAS application required or is the general MAMS application sufficient? Also, I have yet to finish my pre-reqs (will take orgo1,phys1 in fall06 and orgo2,phys2 in spring07). When will I be able to apply for this program as well as other similar programs (SMP's)? Thanx.

 

[chaeymaey]

Do y'all know what the BU app is talking about where it says to list classes related to studies and foreign language classes? Is that just for people transferring graduate credit? Is it ok if we leave that blank for MAMS? Also, can we use our AMCAS essay, or do we need a BU MAMS specific essay?

 

[SaturdayDwarf]

Do y'all know what the BU app is talking about where it says to list classes related to studies and foreign language classes? Is that just for people transferring graduate credit? Is it ok if we leave that blank for MAMS? Also, can we use our AMCAS essay, or do we need a BU MAMS specific essay?

I just filled that section out. I thought it was strange though. Since I had more classes than would fit in that section, I just listed my best grades and/or most relevant to science.

I also wrote an new personal statement. I think I remember people advising applicants to do that in an old MAMS thread.

 

[chaeymaey]

I just filled that section out. I thought it was strange though. Since I had more classes than would fit in that section, I just listed my best grades and/or most relevant to science.

I also wrote an new personal statement. I think I remember people advising applicants to do that in an old MAMS thread.

So did you just list your pre-req's until you ran out of space?

 

[dcb154]

I'm assuming you need to have the premed prereqs done before applying to this thing right? If that's the case, after I complete my prereqs, should I try jumping right into a program like this? Also, would you be able to skip the glide year and jump right into medschool after you completed the program?

 

[jebus]

Do y'all know what the BU app is talking about where it says to list classes related to studies and foreign language classes? Is that just for people transferring graduate credit? Is it ok if we leave that blank for MAMS? Also, can we use our AMCAS essay, or do we need a BU MAMS specific essay?

I didn't even bother to fill the language part out - I don't see how it's germane to the application.
I wrote a new essay. The scope of the MAMS essay was so different from the AMCAS personal statement that I couldn't justify not filling out a new essay. (That's a good double negative!) Otherwise, the application has no place to explain clinical stuff, research stuff, volunteering stuff, or what we hope to get out of the MAMS program. Email Ms. Hall and see what she suggests, she's been really nice when I've asked questions. (You can use your LORs written in support of a medical school application, you don't need to get new LORs - I asked her about that.)

 

[jsamuels]

Hey all,

I was wondering how extensive your reason for apply to BU was? I'm applying now and wondering if I have to write in detail.
Also, what's the best thing about the program?
How is the culture at BUSM?

 

[GorgeousBorges]

Nothing like a seven-year bump.

 

[jsamuels]

Nothing like a seven-year bump.

Nothing like a jerk