Loyola MSMP 2018-2019/Alumni?

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drwhoknowsnothing

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Didn't see a thread for this program, so I decided to make one. Also any alumni from this program want to talk about their experience? I'm planning on applying to this program, but it seems relatively new and there isn't a lot of information about the program given the recent program director change.
 
Seems like the MSMP program is less popular judging by the lack of comments here. I have applied to this program. We shall see what comes of it.
 
I applied a few days ago as well! Does anyone know the main differences between this programs and MAMS?
 
I applied a few days ago as well! Does anyone know the main differences between this programs and MAMS?
This is literally on their website:
  • What is the difference between MSMP and MAMS at Loyola?
The MSMP program is offered at the Stritch School of Medicine (SSOM) by the Department of Cell and Molecular Physiology at the University Medical Sciences campus. It is taught by medical school professors, our curriculum is very similar to the M1 course work at the SSOM, focusing on medical cell physiology, function of the human body, introductory courses in human anatomy, neurophysiology, pathophysiology and clinical bioethics. Our Professional Development course aids students with their interview skills and AMCAS statements. Volunteering opportunities available to our medical students, including medical Spanish and Polish courses are also available to our students. We offer individual mentoring to our students.

The MAMS program is offered by the Department of Biology at the Loyola University Chicago undergraduate campus, and is taught by undergraduate professors.
 
By the looks of it, it seems like MSMP's curriculum is aligned more towards other "SMPs" in the sense that the classes are more like medical school classes compared to the MAMS program. The disadvantage compared to MAMS appears to be lack of committee letter in MSMP. In contrast, MSMP prepares its students for interviews. Both programs have guaranteed interviews to Loyola given their students gain a min of 3.6 in the program. It seems the MAMS program is more popular by the look of things online. I'll share my journey with MSMP here.
 
By the looks of it, it seems like MSMP's curriculum is aligned more towards other "SMPs" in the sense that the classes are more like medical school classes compared to the MAMS program. The disadvantage compared to MAMS appears to be lack of committee letter in MSMP. In contrast, MSMP prepares its students for interviews. Both programs have guaranteed interviews to Loyola given their students gain a min of 3.6 in the program. It seems the MAMS program is more popular by the look of things online. I'll share my journey with MSMP here.

The MAMS program prepares you for interviews as well, you literally just email your pod advisor or one of the faculty members and they'll help you with one-on-one or MMI.

Source: MAMS alumnus.

Best of luck with the SMP journey it's a long one but worthwhile in the end.
 
Has anyone heard back about acceptances for this program?
 
I emailed the program director ~3 weeks ago querying my eligibility for the program (< 3.0 cGPA due to unfortunate circumstances), and she emailed me back today encouraging me to apply. I started my application today. Does anyone know if we can submit our LORs via Interfolio for this program? I couldn't find it on the website anywhere.
 
Back in March but I’m not too sure about Temple. I don’t really like Philly or the surrounding area, but you can’t really say no to pretty much a med school acceptance
 
Back in March but I’m not too sure about Temple. I don’t really like Philly or the surrounding area, but you can’t really say no to pretty much a med school acceptance

I totally agree. I’d strongly reconsider your acceptance to ACMS. It’s just 5 years, unless you do residency there. I talked with a person from Phily and they said it’s not as bad as outsiders perceive it to be.


Typed on my iPhone
 
Accepted MSMP 04/19 complete mid Feb. Received a call from the program director yesterday and accepted today.
 
Accepted MSMP 04/19 complete mid Feb. Received a call from the program director yesterday and accepted today.

Accepted recently too after a call with the program director! Also got accepted to the MAMS program so I'm trying to figure out which one I should do. Have you committed to MSMP?
 
Has anyone heard anything about the rigor of the classes in the MAMS vs. MSMP programs?

The MAMS seems to require students to have a stronger science background (their website suggests applicants must have minored in a science in college) whereas MSMP does not. Wondering if that means the MAMS classes with be harder/more intensive?

Best wishes to everyone on their path to medical school!
 
Accepted recently too after a call with the program director! Also got accepted to the MAMS program so I'm trying to figure out which one I should do. Have you committed to MSMP?
Yeah I’ve committed to MSMP. I think MSMP is better. Having instructors that are medical school professors alone in MSMP would make their letters of recommendations indispensable. The small class size is def a plus. Good luck on your decision!
 
Yeah I’ve committed to MSMP. I think MSMP is better. Having instructors that are medical school professors alone in MSMP would make their letters of recommendations indispensable. The small class size is def a plus. Good luck on your decision!

Hi! I submitted my app pretty recently and am wondering how long it will take to hear back from the program. When did you press submit and when did you hear back?
 
The MAMS program is offered by the Department of Biology at the Loyola University Chicago undergraduate campus, and is taught by undergraduate professors.

The MSMP program is offered at the Stritch School of Medicine (SSOM) by the Department of Cell and Molecular Physiology at the University Medical Sciences campus. It is taught by medical school professors, our curriculum is very similar to the M1 course work at the SSOM, focusing on medical cell physiology, function of the human body, introductory courses in human anatomy, neurophysiology, pathophysiology and clinical bioethics.

Based on the info above, MSMP will be more rigorous than MAMS in my opinion.
 
Hi! I submitted my app pretty recently and am wondering how long it will take to hear back from the program. When did you press submit and when did you hear back?
It took around 2 months for me, I believe I submitted my application in mid Feb and heard back mid April. The turnaround time might be quicker now since its closer to the start of the program than before.
 
Does anyone know how many seats are left for the MSMP program?
 
For those who got accepted please do come back and share with us any more info! I'm hoping to apply this fall to the msmp
 
The accepted group on FB currently has about 18 ppl and I think the program takes up to 30. I’m sure there’s ppl who have been accepted but haven’t signed up on Facebook though.
 
Anyone know how long the turnaround time is? Or an update on how many spots are left? I applied two weeks ago but still haven't heard anything yet
 
Anyone know how long the turnaround time is? Or an update on how many spots are left? I applied two weeks ago but still haven't heard anything yet
I believe that they review applications once a month! So maybe give it a few weeks incase you submitted it right after they had their monthly review meeting? That being said, I don't think it hurts to send a kind email inquiring about the status of your application in order to express interest and to check-in.
 
hey everyone, I was in the 2017 cohort at Loyola's MSMP and currently applying to medical school. Would be happy to answer questions! Generally it seems like most basic questions have been answered through research by other users above but if not, feel free to ask! I realize its a bit late so many of you may have already decided on programs haha.

When I applied to master's programs I applied to BU, Loyola MAMS, Loyola MSMP, Georgetown, Drexel, and UCincinnati and ultimately decided on Loyola because of its high matriculation rate to medical school (which I believe is at 97% currently). Overall I was happy with my experience. It wasn't perfect, but I definitely learned a lot and being on a medical school campus was definitely nice as we got to interact with M1s and M2s and have opportunities to shadow LUMC physicians. Also, having a small class size was really really nice and probably one of my favorite things about the program.
 
hey everyone, I was in the 2017 cohort at Loyola's MSMP and currently applying to medical school. Would be happy to answer questions! Generally it seems like most basic questions have been answered through research by other users above but if not, feel free to ask! I realize its a bit late so many of you may have already decided on programs haha.

When I applied to master's programs I applied to BU, Loyola MAMS, Loyola MSMP, Georgetown, Drexel, and UCincinnati and ultimately decided on Loyola because of its high matriculation rate to medical school (which I believe is at 97% currently). Overall I was happy with my experience. It wasn't perfect, but I definitely learned a lot and being on a medical school campus was definitely nice as we got to interact with M1s and M2s and have opportunities to shadow LUMC physicians. Also, having a small class size was really really nice and probably one of my favorite things about the program.

What were classes like? Was your class able to do well for the most part?
 
hey everyone, I was in the 2017 cohort at Loyola's MSMP and currently applying to medical school. Would be happy to answer questions! Generally it seems like most basic questions have been answered through research by other users above but if not, feel free to ask! I realize its a bit late so many of you may have already decided on programs haha.

When I applied to master's programs I applied to BU, Loyola MAMS, Loyola MSMP, Georgetown, Drexel, and UCincinnati and ultimately decided on Loyola because of its high matriculation rate to medical school (which I believe is at 97% currently). Overall I was happy with my experience. It wasn't perfect, but I definitely learned a lot and being on a medical school campus was definitely nice as we got to interact with M1s and M2s and have opportunities to shadow LUMC physicians. Also, having a small class size was really really nice and probably one of my favorite things about the program.
What would you say were the biggest imperfections of the program? And do you have any suggestions as to how to avoid them?
 
What were classes like? Was your class able to do well for the most part?
Classes are, as you all already know, primarily taught by Stritch professors and very similar to M1/2 coursework. Its a combination of M1 and M2 because one unique aspect of the program is we do take pathophysiology which I believe most other SMP don't include as it is traditionally an M2 course. Of note, because we take many classes at once (similar to college) whereas medical students are more focused on fewer classes at a time, plus the fact that our school year is a little shorter, we don't cover ALL the material that the medical school coursework does. For example, our physiology class is essentially the exact same lectures as that given to the M1s, with the only difference being we don't get taught about 20% of the material. In other words, if I go to Stritch for medical school, I will essentially have most of those lecture slides already.

For the most part, I believe most of our class was able to do well. Classes are not curved as they emphasize a collaborative learning environment. I can't say for certain since I don't know everyone's final GPAs of course but based on test averages, I'd say the majority of the class hit the required min GPA to receive a guaranteed interview at Stritch.
 
What would you say were the biggest imperfections of the program? And do you have any suggestions as to how to avoid them?

The program is a little newer and it shows in some of the organization of the program. Granted, our year, the program coordinator (not the director, but the one in charge of administrative duties) quit halfway through the year so that kinda threw a wrench into the mix. Nothing major to be honest and the new coordinator seems to be really helpful (based on our email exchanges). The other imperfection imo was just that some professors were not the best. This is somewhat inevitable when you have courses being taught by multiple professors. Generally, it was the professors that teach just a tiny portion of the material and not the primary professors you see for multiple lectures that I didn't like. None of the imperfections are anything you can avoid. I am generally a very optimistic person so if you just go into it with a good attitude, you'll enjoy the benefits of the program. Everyone has different teaching and learning styles, so you just gotta learn to adapt.

On the flipside, being a small class size, you get to be really close to a lot of the professors and they get to know you on a personal level. Coming from a large public university this was very different to me and I really appreciated the change. Faculty are really approachable and are extremely dedicated to the success of the students. A lot of the professors will even joke about how they like the MSMP students more than the medical students (because sometimes we will do better than the M1s on certain tests lol).
 
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