Midwestern university's (IL) M.A in Biomedical Science

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Congrats to everyone who got accepted! I'll be sending in my app very soon... For those who got accepted, did you guys all have at least your MCAT or DAT scores? Did any of you ONLY have your GRE?
 
Yup I turned in my DAT score. I wonder how many seats are taken thus far?
 
I also accepted this offer in late February.
 
This is for any current or former students...

Do you need a car? I'm not going to have one, and I'm stuck between going to RFU with the great linkage program but very limited campus (and it's a commuter campus) or going to Midwestern with a great Master's program. At RFU, it seems like you basically need a car to maintain some semblance of sanity. Is this the same situation at Midwestern and in Downer's Grove or are there shops, restaurants, convenience stores within walking/biking distance?
 
NDpremed13 said:
This is for any current or former students...

Do you need a car? I'm not going to have one, and I'm stuck between going to RFU with the great linkage program but very limited campus (and it's a commuter campus) or going to Midwestern with a great Master's program. At RFU, it seems like you basically need a car to maintain some semblance of sanity. Is this the same situation at Midwestern and in Downer's Grove or are there shops, restaurants, convenience stores within walking/biking distance?
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Nothing is within walking distance of campus. You could definitely get by if you lived on campus without a car (I had friends that did it), and they would just carpool with people places if they needed to go to the store or something. There were actually days-weeks where I went without even using my car. It's definitely doable, but I would have been annoyed not having one.
 
DrMeows said:
Nothing is within walking distance of campus. You could definitely get by if you lived on campus without a car (I had friends that did it), and they would just carpool with people places if they needed to go to the store or something. There were actually days-weeks where I went without even using my car. It's definitely doable, but I would have been annoyed not having one.
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If i decide to go there I will most likely be commuting. is there enough parking? is the parking expensive?
 
june_sp said:
If i decide to go there I will most likely be commuting. is there enough parking? is the parking expensive?
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More than enough. There's lots of lots and a structure right by the major lecture hall. You pay for a parking pass but I don't remember how much it is...not expensive though.
 
I am thinking about living on campus since the program is only 9 months, and was wondering if anyone recommends a certain housing complex over another? What's the best option? There were a ton to chose from when i was skimming through the housing application and was unsure which to pick. Also can someone talk about how it is living on campus vs. off campus?
 
Member201390 said:
I am thinking about living on campus since the program is only 9 months, and was wondering if anyone recommends a certain housing complex over another? What's the best option? There were a ton to chose from when i was skimming through the housing application and was unsure which to pick. Also can someone talk about how it is living on campus vs. off campus?
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For a program that short, it's definitely the way to go. I myself lived in Redwood (the best of the dorms in my opinion). It is a little bit more expensive than the others, but for good reason, and is still cheaper than most off campus housing options. Its 800 something per month (cable, water, air/heat included). Redwood has air and heat (the other dorms DO NOT). It's included in the price so basically I blasted my air conditioning all the time 😀 it also has a lecture hall in the building (used a lot in spring quarter for the masters program) so I would literally take the elevator down to the lecture hall in my slippers some days 🙂 it also is the only dorm with an elevator. There's also study tables on the basement and main floor, as well as study lounges, laundry units and kitchenettes on each floor. The Pines apartments are always of interest to people but I wouldn't get your hopes up because those are hard to come by. I think there are only 48 of them.

But living on campus is nice. Definite downsides (no kitchen to yourself, you have to share a bathroom with somebody, and the walls are a little thin). But the housing is right next to the cafeteria, and a 5 minute walk max to any classroom or the gym. The geese on campus are atrocious though - they were like my own personal roosters every morning 👎 hope that helps provide some insight!
 
@ Dr. Meows. Do you know approximately how many premeds get into ccom after finishing the MA program? I saw that you said it's more competitive than getting into the dental school but I'm trying to get an idea of how much more competitive it will be.
 
And, if you wouldn't mind, what would you estimate the breakdown of the majority of the classes goals were?

DO > Dental > PA or Dental > DO > PA?
 
futdoc251989 said:
@ Dr. Meows. Do you know approximately how many premeds get into ccom after finishing the MA program? I saw that you said it's more competitive than getting into the dental school but I'm trying to get an idea of how much more competitive it will be.
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I'd say out of the 50 students (total estimate here): 30ish were med, 10ish dental and the rest were a mix. Some people went PA and I know one did podiatry. I think like 15 people went off to CCOM the following year, there were a number who interviewed/waitlisted/never pulled off the waitlist and then some were never offered interviews. Some chose to go to other schools and some chose to apply the year after rather than the year during the MA program.

My year was the first year of the program and they made everyone wait until after the 2nd quarter (march) to interview and everyone got waitlisted. This year they only made people wait until after 1st quarter (December) and people have been getting outright accepted so looks like the program is getting better as things move along (unfortunate for me lol).
 
How does financial aid work in grad school? Does the school mostly give you loans or is it like undergrad where you also get need based aid from the university?
 
Has anyone been in accepted using their GRE score? If so, what were your stats?
 
I had my app completed march 7th but I havent heard anything this last month. What is the turnaround time usually? Anyone else heard anything??
 
I also completed my transfer app around this time. I have not heard anything but it seems that a month is the earliest they get back to you. It may take a few more weeks but I am not certain.
 
To those who were accepted, were you notified via mail or email?
 
I first saw my acceptance on the portal then got an email few hours later, but I also got a letter in the mail (don't live at home so not sure how long after I received it). So you'll get notified in multiple ways.
 
I completed my application in the last week or two of December, and got the acceptance email on Feb 4th
 
qdent said:
I completed my application in the last week or two of December, and got the acceptance email on Feb 4th
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If you don't mind me asking, what were your stats? Do you think I have a chance with a 2.9 gpa and a GRE score of 308 (160 verbal and 148 quantitative)?
 
I feel like a different program that I applied for will start before I even hear back from Midwestern haha. But I would really like to consider both options
 
I called the admissions office today and they told me that I was placed on the alternate list. Can anyone shed some light as to when they start moving through the list or should I just continue looking elsewhere?
 
Hey guys. So I was accepted to this program back in February. I have mostly decided I will attend this fall. Any of the other accepted people want to make a Facebook group for our class? Post the link here if you do. (I'm not very Facebook savvy--everytime I tried to do this, it wouldn't let me for some reason).

See you in August!
 
Was accepted back in feb also. I am on the fence about going because I am on the alternate list for NOVA. Hopefully I'll know around May/June.

Anyone looking for housing yet?
 
kfald said:
Was accepted back in feb also. I am on the fence about going because I am on the alternate list for NOVA. Hopefully I'll know around May/June.

Anyone looking for housing yet?
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I was accepted back on Feb 4th too. I applied for the on-campus housing. Looking for a good roommate though haha. Not sure how they decide on placing roommates in the dorms. Are u thinking of on campus housing or off-campus?

Feel free to pm me.
 
i thought all the rooms were singles for the on campus housing. i applied for on campus housing too haha but im waiting to hear back from another school still too and im worried about what will happen if i get the housing offer first since we only have 48 hours to decide...
there also doesn't seem to be much off campus housing within walking distance of mwu
 
purpzzz said:
i thought all the rooms were singles for the on campus housing. i applied for on campus housing too haha but im waiting to hear back from another school still too and im worried about what will happen if i get the housing offer first since we only have 48 hours to decide...
there also doesn't seem to be much off campus housing within walking distance of mwu
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They are all singles but most have you sharing a bathroom with someone else (usually someone in your class though which is nice). Also, there is NO off campus housing within walking distance. Maybe if you want to bike down some main roads to get to school, but you wouldn't be walking. Just clarifying for you 🙂
 
ohh okay thanks Dr. Meows! yea biking would probably work but not so well during winter when it snows haha. i've looked and there seems to be a downers grove bus system but im not familiar with teh area at all is it convenient for students? would it be hard to get places like groceries if you didnt' have a car? the university i went to for undergrad had a student run bus system that went all around town which was really convenient for everyone even non-students.
 
purpzzz said:
ohh okay thanks Dr. Meows! yea biking would probably work but not so well during winter when it snows haha. i've looked and there seems to be a downers grove bus system but im not familiar with teh area at all is it convenient for students? would it be hard to get places like groceries if you didnt' have a car? the university i went to for undergrad had a student run bus system that went all around town which was really convenient for everyone even non-students.
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I actually know nothing about the bus system, I'm sorry. I know that people have used it though so it must be somewhat convenient. I had a car while living in campus, but also had friends that lived there who did not. You can always carpool with a friend to grocery shop if you need to. There's a cafeteria on campus that's open for all meals so essentially you always have food available to you. There is no transportation system put on by midwestern though. Getting by without a car is doable, but honestly I would have been really annoyed not having one lol. It's not like an undergraduate campus where you can walk everywhere and there's restaurants and stores and stuff. There's nothing within walking distance other than the university buildings itself so getting off campus sometimes is really needed.
 
yea i'll be coming from california so not going to have a car 🙁 thanks for the input though!!
 
Hey guys, congratulations to those who are going to attend this program! I had a quick question, though--what sort of MCAT score does MW accept for the Masters of Arts in Biomedical Sciences?

Thank you so much!!!!!! I really appreciate it!!!!!!!
 
Hey guys, congrats to all who are doing the program! I was a graduate of the very first one year MA class last year. I graduated near the top of my MA class and am starting MD school this August. I thought it was a great program and it did a lot for me. If you have any questions I would be happy to answer them for you.
 
Scrubsy: do most people wait till after they finish the MA before applying to med/dental school or do they apply before the MA starts and use their interview during the MA?

Temeraire03: i don't think there's a minimum but i'm not positive. i submitted DAT not MCAT
 
purpzzz said:
Scrubsy: do most people wait till after they finish the MA before applying to med/dental school or do they apply before the MA starts and use their interview during the MA?
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There were a few people who applied before the program, but I would say most people applied immediately after the program. I chose to apply after finishing the program. Many people waited because you are only eligible for your 'automatic interview' after you complete two quarters. Others waited because they needed to improve MCAT/DAT scores.
 
Sending in my application today, hope it's not too late, does anyone know if it is possible to apply to both the one year and two year programs?
 
How long did it take for you to hear back from them once you submitted your application? I didn't find this program until late and they finally received all of my information on May 3rd, so it has been about 3 weeks.
 
Hi so I have a question that I was really hoping somebody can give me some insight to. I applied to both the masters of arts program at midwestern IL and Az last month. Ive been accepted into AZ but I really want to go to IL. I haven't heard back from downer's grove yet. does anybody know how AZ and IL compares?
 
Has anyone heard anything back? acceptance? rejection? waitlist?
 
19131937 said:
Has anyone heard anything back? acceptance? rejection? waitlist?
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Nope 🙁 Been 2 weeks for me. Is anyone applying for the 2 year track? Do you think it's a bit easier to get into that one as opposed to the one year? Not feeling too optimistic about my chances..
 
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