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does anyone know how many people are in the program? do a majority get accepted to med school the following year? etc?
info about masters in applied physiology at finch?
- Thread starter whyme
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i got accepted to that program..the dean told me only 2/3 of the masters students actually maintain the 3.0. If you do, he said you'll get in...that's all i know
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anxiousmed,
would you mind telling us a lil about yourself in terms of stats and clinical experience and such when you applied to the program? I'm thinking of applying, but i dunno if i want to wait a year and then apply or apply to enroll straight after graduation. I know there are prolly a lot of different types of people that go, but it would be nice if someone fleshed out the program a tiny bit for me. thanks!
would you mind telling us a lil about yourself in terms of stats and clinical experience and such when you applied to the program? I'm thinking of applying, but i dunno if i want to wait a year and then apply or apply to enroll straight after graduation. I know there are prolly a lot of different types of people that go, but it would be nice if someone fleshed out the program a tiny bit for me. thanks!
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the AP program is one of the ancillary programs at CMS. they also have a MIS prg (masters of imaging science). basically, both are post-bacch prg's, but you get a "non-academic/professional masters" for the the $32K tuition.
if i get in (which i should find out soon), then i'll say that it's a GREAT prg.
1. compared to other post-bacch programs, this one has a VERY high success rate. when i considered G'town, CMS, and others... i was not willing to take a $30K+ risk without the same "guarantee" that Finch/CMS has.
2. so what IS the "guarantee"? if you talk to students of the prg, they say it IS 100% guaranteed that if you get a 2.96GPA, you'll get the degree and you'll get IN to the med school. but if you talk to the CMS admin, of course they will say, over and over again, "there is NO guarantee". but i think i think believe the alumni camp on this, and that the admin only says "NO guarantees" to cover their backs for obvious reasons.
bottomline, if you WANT to, and are READY to go to med school, then do this program. come, get your 2.96GPA, and get IN. you'll do your 2yrs of sciences in 3yrs, (and have a really easy and fun M1 year), and you'll have an MD at the end. downside is the tuition, and living in WHACKegan for 3yrs. and since CMS is so highly represented by California kids, people know about CMS and you can get residencies in CA.
but again. if you are like me, then you will first have to fail on your own and apply to 30+ med schools for one or two years, and then get depressed and desperate, before you are willing to commit to CMS.
so good luck. i think it's an easy way in...kinda a back-door to a MD. and it's basically handed to you on a silver platter. come to CMS, get a 2.96GPA, and get started on your medical career.
if i get in (which i should find out soon), then i'll say that it's a GREAT prg.
1. compared to other post-bacch programs, this one has a VERY high success rate. when i considered G'town, CMS, and others... i was not willing to take a $30K+ risk without the same "guarantee" that Finch/CMS has.
2. so what IS the "guarantee"? if you talk to students of the prg, they say it IS 100% guaranteed that if you get a 2.96GPA, you'll get the degree and you'll get IN to the med school. but if you talk to the CMS admin, of course they will say, over and over again, "there is NO guarantee". but i think i think believe the alumni camp on this, and that the admin only says "NO guarantees" to cover their backs for obvious reasons.
bottomline, if you WANT to, and are READY to go to med school, then do this program. come, get your 2.96GPA, and get IN. you'll do your 2yrs of sciences in 3yrs, (and have a really easy and fun M1 year), and you'll have an MD at the end. downside is the tuition, and living in WHACKegan for 3yrs. and since CMS is so highly represented by California kids, people know about CMS and you can get residencies in CA.
but again. if you are like me, then you will first have to fail on your own and apply to 30+ med schools for one or two years, and then get depressed and desperate, before you are willing to commit to CMS.
so good luck. i think it's an easy way in...kinda a back-door to a MD. and it's basically handed to you on a silver platter. come to CMS, get a 2.96GPA, and get started on your medical career.
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oh yeah...the NUMBERS...since you anal pre-meds love this stuff, and to over-analyze and over-interpret it:
in my class, ~80 started. by the end of the second qtr, 65 ppl were still in the program. and i think even fewer than that got the 2.96GPA to get the degree. i only know of a few personal friends that i can say for sure, so i will not guess a # and add to the disinformation that is already rampant on this site.
the class before me, about 60 started and something like 45 got in.
the year before that was also similar.
what i wanted to know when i was deciding to go or not...was why these people did not get in.
the #1 reason is grades. other reasons are they got in to other schools (DO, MDs, etc)...
but yes. getting a 3.0 is NOT that easy. you are taking some classes with "real" med students, and you are taking some hard AP classes...(basically, 40Q midterm and 40Q final that are 50% each of your grade. not much room for error.)
otherwise...if you think you can get a 2.96GPA, and you think you can cut it...then the $32K is not that big of a risk, really. just making the committment is hard.
in my class, ~80 started. by the end of the second qtr, 65 ppl were still in the program. and i think even fewer than that got the 2.96GPA to get the degree. i only know of a few personal friends that i can say for sure, so i will not guess a # and add to the disinformation that is already rampant on this site.
the class before me, about 60 started and something like 45 got in.
the year before that was also similar.
what i wanted to know when i was deciding to go or not...was why these people did not get in.
the #1 reason is grades. other reasons are they got in to other schools (DO, MDs, etc)...
but yes. getting a 3.0 is NOT that easy. you are taking some classes with "real" med students, and you are taking some hard AP classes...(basically, 40Q midterm and 40Q final that are 50% each of your grade. not much room for error.)
otherwise...if you think you can get a 2.96GPA, and you think you can cut it...then the $32K is not that big of a risk, really. just making the committment is hard.
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FU_CMS, I'm most probably going to end up in the AP class....My question is if I think I can keep the grades because of my strong science background, should I not retake the MCAT for august...if you have any stats on any of your fellow AP students that got in with their MCATs would be helpful..thanks.
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So, exactly how hard is it to maintain >3.0?
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FU_CMS (love that name...ha) did a pretty good job explaining it all. Just to add though, next year's AP curriculum Ive heard is going to be totally new. Instead of taking the 4 med classes they take neuroscience too and maybe one more...Im not sure. From what Ive heard though they are cutting back on some of the AP courses and adding more med school courses (whether it's just neuro or if it's more Im not sure). And yeah...it's not easy to maintain that 3.0. A few friends of mine that were just natural geniuses were able to do it without much stress at the end, but I know that for the majority, the last two weeks of finals was a major stress period. So basically as FU_CMS said...if you do the AP then make sure you come ready to work. And just a side note, another option is the MIS program which I did, but I highly recommend going the AP route. I think it's better organized, the classes are more relevant, and you know more about where you stand when the end of the year comes around.
If you want to retake the MCAT, then I would only do so if you're doing it to help yourself get in elsewhere. Otherwise your MCAT score shouldn't really factor in too much into getting into CMS. You also have to keep in mind that the AP's start with the M1's in July and the MCAT is in August...chances are you could have test or something around the that time. MIS starts in September so that's somethign to consider. That played a big factor in my decision to do MIS last year over AP.
If you want to retake the MCAT, then I would only do so if you're doing it to help yourself get in elsewhere. Otherwise your MCAT score shouldn't really factor in too much into getting into CMS. You also have to keep in mind that the AP's start with the M1's in July and the MCAT is in August...chances are you could have test or something around the that time. MIS starts in September so that's somethign to consider. That played a big factor in my decision to do MIS last year over AP.
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anxiousmed, I got into Finch with the same MCAT score as you, so I doubt you'll have to retake. 🙂 Did you apply to CMS this year?
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anxiousmed,
i'm in the same boat as you...in the AP prog, waitlisted at rush, wondering if i should take the august mcat, and waiting to get off these darned waitlists. Doesn't this boat suck? anyways, i am thinking i don't need to take the mcat again to get into CMS. plus i only have 2 months to prepare for it, so i don't want to risk it. And finally, i'm hoping to get off one of the waitlists that i am on and forget about all of this $%#@.
i'm in the same boat as you...in the AP prog, waitlisted at rush, wondering if i should take the august mcat, and waiting to get off these darned waitlists. Doesn't this boat suck? anyways, i am thinking i don't need to take the mcat again to get into CMS. plus i only have 2 months to prepare for it, so i don't want to risk it. And finally, i'm hoping to get off one of the waitlists that i am on and forget about all of this $%#@.
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I'm also interested to know how competitive admission to this program is.
If anybody knows, I would appreciate it.
Thanks.
If anybody knows, I would appreciate it.
Thanks.
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the handle is FU/CMS, (not a derogatory thing). i just think it's funny that the schools' name is Finch University of Health Sciences/Chicago Medical School. it's confusing enough, when people think CMS is UofC, Pritzker, etc. but what the deal w/ Finch, FU, FUHS, etc???
anyways. the million dollar question. how hard is it to get teh magic 2.96GPA???
honestly, not that hard. but i've seen many friends and good people NOT get it. med school in my opinion, is NOT hard. nothing i've taken so far, is CONCEPTUALLY ~hard~. i've had undergrad class kick my ass, wher i just could NOT understand things. but med school is hard b/c of the sheer VOLUME. you have to be disciplined and paced.
reasons i think people in the AP program did NOT get in...i think is b/c they were half-committed. that's why i say, don't go unless you're committed. i was waitlisted at two scho's, and was hopefully. other people were like that too, and just kinda hoping for a deux ex machina to come save them from CMS.
so i recommend calling your waitlist schools, putting them on the spot ("i got into a masters prg, should i go or wait on the wait-list to open up?"...and force them to give you an answer).
second, i think some people were not hungry enough. for me, the AP was my last ditch effort, and my last and only shot at being an MD. i had already taken a year off, and i was about to give up the MD thing. so my back was against the wall. other students were just outta undergrad, and still had rose-colored glasses. and the slept on it, and they underestimated the seriousness of getting good grades, and overestimated their own abilities. there are no "+'s" or "-'s" in grading, and it's ALL multiple-choice test. and they are hard-nosed about it. b/c trust me, you WILL miss a B or an A by literally, ONE question.
third, the program/school/admin is what i call "tough-love". they do NOT hold your hand at CMS or pat your back. i kinda like "tough-love" and coaches like BobbyKnight. but for others, it's really tough. i know a few people there were clearly smarter than me, and clearly had the ability, but the school, (and at least the AP prg), did NOT fit for them. it's tough sometimes, when professors are NOT friendly, when you have to go the extra extra miles to find additional resources, and if you need a support system. granted, the notes, the library, and extra texts are AVAILABLE....but it's diff. i went to office hrs like 3 times the first qtr, and i NEVER went again ever.
another reason is just burn out. the adage among med students is "C's get MD's". meaning you just have to get the mean and pass, and you will eventually graduate with a MD. but not so for AP's. you are constantly shooting for an A's and B's, and for every C you get, you HAVE to get an A to balance out the GPA and maintain the 3.0/
the AP prg is a high stres, and a high-stakes situation. $53K, moving, living in the armpit of america, and having your MD and medical career on the line does not sit well w/ people. add that to 40Q multi-choice test that will be 50% of your grade....and yeah, it sucks and can defeat your regardless of your abilities or preparation.
and Desi is right. they are cmopletely changing the AP cirriculum. but still, most of the classes are the same, b/c those are the ones you will take with the "real" med students. the AP classes are fewer, and the "real" med classes are more. you'll have a harder 3rd qtr, but it'll be all the same.
and despite how "hard" and "tough-love" CMS is....my mantra was that we're all in the same boat. i'm a big sports person, and i LIKE the high pressure, tough-love, and high stakes situations. i like out-working my opponents...uh, classmates, and competing. b/c no matter how hard and sucky it will be, you and your AP'ers will still be in the same playing field. so if you think you can get a 3.0GPA, then it's like what CMS told me when i called them, "why do you have any hesitations?" just go and get your 2.96, and start your MD!
Desi is right. the MIS prg is something else to consider. and what i've learned this past year, you're all still young, and there are soooooo many alternate routes to practice medicine. it's just how BAD you want it, and for how LONG you want it. the avg incoming age is what, 25yrs old?
the Dean of the AP prg gives a good speech during orientation. b/c for me, last year, all the noise and junk i heard from students was all hearsay and rumor to me. when you hear it straight from the horse's mouth, you'll be calmed. even though he'll keep saying, "there are NO guarantees". but med school is a business. so is the AP prg. if it did NOT work, or if it was really that bad, it would not have had 80 incoming students last year all paying $32K in tuition to be there.
anyways. the million dollar question. how hard is it to get teh magic 2.96GPA???
honestly, not that hard. but i've seen many friends and good people NOT get it. med school in my opinion, is NOT hard. nothing i've taken so far, is CONCEPTUALLY ~hard~. i've had undergrad class kick my ass, wher i just could NOT understand things. but med school is hard b/c of the sheer VOLUME. you have to be disciplined and paced.
reasons i think people in the AP program did NOT get in...i think is b/c they were half-committed. that's why i say, don't go unless you're committed. i was waitlisted at two scho's, and was hopefully. other people were like that too, and just kinda hoping for a deux ex machina to come save them from CMS.
so i recommend calling your waitlist schools, putting them on the spot ("i got into a masters prg, should i go or wait on the wait-list to open up?"...and force them to give you an answer).
second, i think some people were not hungry enough. for me, the AP was my last ditch effort, and my last and only shot at being an MD. i had already taken a year off, and i was about to give up the MD thing. so my back was against the wall. other students were just outta undergrad, and still had rose-colored glasses. and the slept on it, and they underestimated the seriousness of getting good grades, and overestimated their own abilities. there are no "+'s" or "-'s" in grading, and it's ALL multiple-choice test. and they are hard-nosed about it. b/c trust me, you WILL miss a B or an A by literally, ONE question.
third, the program/school/admin is what i call "tough-love". they do NOT hold your hand at CMS or pat your back. i kinda like "tough-love" and coaches like BobbyKnight. but for others, it's really tough. i know a few people there were clearly smarter than me, and clearly had the ability, but the school, (and at least the AP prg), did NOT fit for them. it's tough sometimes, when professors are NOT friendly, when you have to go the extra extra miles to find additional resources, and if you need a support system. granted, the notes, the library, and extra texts are AVAILABLE....but it's diff. i went to office hrs like 3 times the first qtr, and i NEVER went again ever.
another reason is just burn out. the adage among med students is "C's get MD's". meaning you just have to get the mean and pass, and you will eventually graduate with a MD. but not so for AP's. you are constantly shooting for an A's and B's, and for every C you get, you HAVE to get an A to balance out the GPA and maintain the 3.0/
the AP prg is a high stres, and a high-stakes situation. $53K, moving, living in the armpit of america, and having your MD and medical career on the line does not sit well w/ people. add that to 40Q multi-choice test that will be 50% of your grade....and yeah, it sucks and can defeat your regardless of your abilities or preparation.
and Desi is right. they are cmopletely changing the AP cirriculum. but still, most of the classes are the same, b/c those are the ones you will take with the "real" med students. the AP classes are fewer, and the "real" med classes are more. you'll have a harder 3rd qtr, but it'll be all the same.
and despite how "hard" and "tough-love" CMS is....my mantra was that we're all in the same boat. i'm a big sports person, and i LIKE the high pressure, tough-love, and high stakes situations. i like out-working my opponents...uh, classmates, and competing. b/c no matter how hard and sucky it will be, you and your AP'ers will still be in the same playing field. so if you think you can get a 3.0GPA, then it's like what CMS told me when i called them, "why do you have any hesitations?" just go and get your 2.96, and start your MD!
Desi is right. the MIS prg is something else to consider. and what i've learned this past year, you're all still young, and there are soooooo many alternate routes to practice medicine. it's just how BAD you want it, and for how LONG you want it. the avg incoming age is what, 25yrs old?
the Dean of the AP prg gives a good speech during orientation. b/c for me, last year, all the noise and junk i heard from students was all hearsay and rumor to me. when you hear it straight from the horse's mouth, you'll be calmed. even though he'll keep saying, "there are NO guarantees". but med school is a business. so is the AP prg. if it did NOT work, or if it was really that bad, it would not have had 80 incoming students last year all paying $32K in tuition to be there.
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oh yeah.
as Dr. Hansen also recommends, i would NOT take the August MCAT. and if you enroll as an AP, you will NOT have time, nor will it be necessary. go to Finch, get your AP degree, and you'll get IN to med school.
one thing that i was susrprised about, you'll have to apply to med school AGAIN, meaning this June. so really, taking the MCAT makes no sense.
i just filled out my AMCAS again, and only applied to about 7 schools that i would go to over CMS if i got in. b/c really, NYMC and CMS are basically the same. but when you have advanced standing as a M1A, you'll definitely come back to CMS instead of starting over again at another comparable school.
how competitive is the prg? i don't know. it kinda competitive. i mean, most of the APers are highly qualified and no one would be surprised if they were acutally "real" students if you compared their numbers and "real" CMS numbers. just apply early and have it as an options.
but i don't want to make up numbers, and spread rumors and hearsay. but the AP numbers are on a whole, extremely close to the MD numbers at CMS. (only by 1 or 2 pts in the MCATs, and lower in the GPA by .3-.5 points i'm GUESSING).
but like i said. many will have to go thru it the hard way, and learn the lessons themselves. gettin into med school is TOUGH, and it is a labor of love and determination. i was about to give up, but the AP prg saved my @$$.
as Dr. Hansen also recommends, i would NOT take the August MCAT. and if you enroll as an AP, you will NOT have time, nor will it be necessary. go to Finch, get your AP degree, and you'll get IN to med school.
one thing that i was susrprised about, you'll have to apply to med school AGAIN, meaning this June. so really, taking the MCAT makes no sense.
i just filled out my AMCAS again, and only applied to about 7 schools that i would go to over CMS if i got in. b/c really, NYMC and CMS are basically the same. but when you have advanced standing as a M1A, you'll definitely come back to CMS instead of starting over again at another comparable school.
how competitive is the prg? i don't know. it kinda competitive. i mean, most of the APers are highly qualified and no one would be surprised if they were acutally "real" students if you compared their numbers and "real" CMS numbers. just apply early and have it as an options.
but i don't want to make up numbers, and spread rumors and hearsay. but the AP numbers are on a whole, extremely close to the MD numbers at CMS. (only by 1 or 2 pts in the MCATs, and lower in the GPA by .3-.5 points i'm GUESSING).
but like i said. many will have to go thru it the hard way, and learn the lessons themselves. gettin into med school is TOUGH, and it is a labor of love and determination. i was about to give up, but the AP prg saved my @$$.
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last one.
and i lied. there is a support system for AP'ers. the alumnus of the AP program are extremely helpful and look out for other APs. the only reason why i'm posting on this neurosis-driven site is to offer some insight and comfort. i feel for you guys, and i'm rooting for everyone to get IN to med school, and the AP is a way to get IN. so Foxy, i'm really NOT a grump or baggin on my own school. it's just a sarcastic funny thing to do, i guess.
b/c as for that one post....yes, the 1st yr is hard. but i've seen about 6 or 7 schools in my expr's, and i KNOW that schools like CMS and NYMC are NOT people's first choice. for reals. ask around. and THAT is why they are not happy.....for the same reasons that those schools were not their first choice. if you walk around UCLA and talk to pepole there, i guarantee you will see the obvious differences.
but you're right. it IS what you make of it. and my friends and i try. but you can only make so much lemonade with the lemons you have.
and all i'm saying is, i think that incoming students should know "what's up". esp on this forum, which is open, candid, and extremely informative.
so i'm happy for everyone that got in to CMS. i just found out today i got in off the AP prg, and i'm extremely happy and grateful to CMS for being the ONLY ones to give me a chance. and i will be reppin' CMS and Waukegan with pride. Wauk-town! get down!
see you all July 22nd. i'll be the tall orientation advisor that every thinks is a grump and wet-blanket, but really isn't.
late.
and i lied. there is a support system for AP'ers. the alumnus of the AP program are extremely helpful and look out for other APs. the only reason why i'm posting on this neurosis-driven site is to offer some insight and comfort. i feel for you guys, and i'm rooting for everyone to get IN to med school, and the AP is a way to get IN. so Foxy, i'm really NOT a grump or baggin on my own school. it's just a sarcastic funny thing to do, i guess.
b/c as for that one post....yes, the 1st yr is hard. but i've seen about 6 or 7 schools in my expr's, and i KNOW that schools like CMS and NYMC are NOT people's first choice. for reals. ask around. and THAT is why they are not happy.....for the same reasons that those schools were not their first choice. if you walk around UCLA and talk to pepole there, i guarantee you will see the obvious differences.
but you're right. it IS what you make of it. and my friends and i try. but you can only make so much lemonade with the lemons you have.
and all i'm saying is, i think that incoming students should know "what's up". esp on this forum, which is open, candid, and extremely informative.
so i'm happy for everyone that got in to CMS. i just found out today i got in off the AP prg, and i'm extremely happy and grateful to CMS for being the ONLY ones to give me a chance. and i will be reppin' CMS and Waukegan with pride. Wauk-town! get down!
see you all July 22nd. i'll be the tall orientation advisor that every thinks is a grump and wet-blanket, but really isn't.
late.
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honestly, not very high.
since you will be applying again (like July23rd, when the Dean tells you you have to apply thru AMCAS again....and you probably won't be able to finish your primary till late Nov during Thanksgiving break b/c you'll be taking classes RIGHT away, and you'll have your first Genetics final 3weeks after school starts), not much will have changed in your application. and since grad school grades are usually inflated (except for CMS's ancillary graduate prg's), that won't help you much either.
and since you're an AP for a reason (i.e., you did NOT get in to any other med schools), then your chances of getting in after applying so soon, i would say, are slim, for the reason that your app has not changed much.
a few of my classmates did get in to other schools though. but i don't think it had much to do with CMS or the AP prg. one got an interview and their acceptance was contingent upon their completion of the AP prg. another one got in in the middle of the year, so they just withdrew from the AP prg.
so you do get a few that get to escape from Waukegan. but usually it does not have much to do with the AP prg, but on their previous strength of resume. b/c like i said, the qualifications of the AP people are right up there and extremely competitive...just the luck of the draw. you know what they call Lady Luck.....
but like i said. do not do the AP prg with such pipe-dreams and outside hopes. (do not try to win the wait-list lottery, do not be an AP with hopes of eventaully escaping Waukegan).
if you go, go and be an AP 100% committed, knowing that your MD is on a silver platter and that you only have to get a 2.96GPA. any pipe-dreams will only be distractions and will serve as excuses for you later, and prevent you from committing to getting the grades you need, and from doing what you have to do.
since you will be applying again (like July23rd, when the Dean tells you you have to apply thru AMCAS again....and you probably won't be able to finish your primary till late Nov during Thanksgiving break b/c you'll be taking classes RIGHT away, and you'll have your first Genetics final 3weeks after school starts), not much will have changed in your application. and since grad school grades are usually inflated (except for CMS's ancillary graduate prg's), that won't help you much either.
and since you're an AP for a reason (i.e., you did NOT get in to any other med schools), then your chances of getting in after applying so soon, i would say, are slim, for the reason that your app has not changed much.
a few of my classmates did get in to other schools though. but i don't think it had much to do with CMS or the AP prg. one got an interview and their acceptance was contingent upon their completion of the AP prg. another one got in in the middle of the year, so they just withdrew from the AP prg.
so you do get a few that get to escape from Waukegan. but usually it does not have much to do with the AP prg, but on their previous strength of resume. b/c like i said, the qualifications of the AP people are right up there and extremely competitive...just the luck of the draw. you know what they call Lady Luck.....
but like i said. do not do the AP prg with such pipe-dreams and outside hopes. (do not try to win the wait-list lottery, do not be an AP with hopes of eventaully escaping Waukegan).
if you go, go and be an AP 100% committed, knowing that your MD is on a silver platter and that you only have to get a 2.96GPA. any pipe-dreams will only be distractions and will serve as excuses for you later, and prevent you from committing to getting the grades you need, and from doing what you have to do.
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FU/CMS I think summed most everything up right there for everyone that's asking about the AP or even MIS (as a lot of the same rules apply). I will add, speaking as student who went into this right out of undergrad, it's tough because you didnt have that time off and you're now taking classes with your backs against the wall and a lot at stake. It's definitely doable, but for myself, I know it wasn't easy in the beginning with physio, especially coming off an easy first term as an MISer. I think I was lulled into a false sense of security and then caught off guard when Physio started. That's not to say that we didnt have support from those in the MIS dept, but some things dont sink in until you're really in the midst of it.
That all said, AP or MIS, is, again, definitely doable. As FU/CMS said, Med school is really not that hard, because the concepts are interesting, and once you figure out how to learn it and how they're gonna test you, you're set (this is what sank in for me finally midway thru). I kind of liken it to Orgo in the sense, that once you "get it" everything clicks. Anyone, though, coming right out of undergrad (with the rosey glasses as FU/CMS said) expecting to totally just walk in and kick ass, you'll be in for a surprise.
Oh...and just to add (for those interested in considering MIS), the 2.96 rule applies there as well. You need to get a 2.96 in your 3 med classes to be considered for acceptance. So it is possible to graduate and get the degree but still not get into med school. My recommendation...if you want to take the MCAT in August and want to try and have other schools as a possibility then go with MIS (the program head, Dr. Levan, actually encourages you to go elsewhere for med school, if possible, and tries to help you in that endeavor). If you're NOT, however, going to retake the MCAT this summer and are ok with going to CMS for your MD, then go with the AP for the reasons FU/CMS said above.
That all said, AP or MIS, is, again, definitely doable. As FU/CMS said, Med school is really not that hard, because the concepts are interesting, and once you figure out how to learn it and how they're gonna test you, you're set (this is what sank in for me finally midway thru). I kind of liken it to Orgo in the sense, that once you "get it" everything clicks. Anyone, though, coming right out of undergrad (with the rosey glasses as FU/CMS said) expecting to totally just walk in and kick ass, you'll be in for a surprise.
Oh...and just to add (for those interested in considering MIS), the 2.96 rule applies there as well. You need to get a 2.96 in your 3 med classes to be considered for acceptance. So it is possible to graduate and get the degree but still not get into med school. My recommendation...if you want to take the MCAT in August and want to try and have other schools as a possibility then go with MIS (the program head, Dr. Levan, actually encourages you to go elsewhere for med school, if possible, and tries to help you in that endeavor). If you're NOT, however, going to retake the MCAT this summer and are ok with going to CMS for your MD, then go with the AP for the reasons FU/CMS said above.
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Originally posted by qweewq11
First, let me say that FU...CMS and DesiMD have been extremely helpful...thanks!!
Two more questions: as I understand it, one resubmits an AMCAS for the coming year after being accepted to the AP program. So I guess people have interviews / secondaries to deal with while in the AP program? Has that been a major burden on these students?
Second, you mentioned that AP students that successfully complete the program and attend Finch for med school are granted advanced standing? Are they considered to be 1 quarter/semester/year ahead? Or do they retake the same classes once they are fully accepted to Finch?
Thanks!
add to that, why is that dr levan saying to go else where????
