Mt. Sinai PREP-Med Program

[rpm]

I looked around but there doesn't seem to be too much info on the program. Their website gives you the basics but does anyone have more info about the program?

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[bopmop]

I had an email from them, but you may have gotten this already:

I want to make you aware of a unique program at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, the PREP-Med Track of the Masters in Biomedical Sciences program. This program is designed to enhance the credentials of students who may have been unsuccessful in their attempt to be accepted to a medical school of their choice. If you have already been accepted to medical school, congratulations and best wishes.

The Master’s in Biomedical Sciences Program at Mount Sinai School of Medicine is a 1.5-2-year intensive research and education program. Within this program is the PREP-Med (Post-baccalaureate Research Education Program for Medicine) track. The objectives of the PREP-Med track are two fold: first, to involve students in an individual research project in a biomedical research environment; second, to better prepare students for the demands of medical school, or other advanced studies, by registering students in the rigorous curriculum of the Graduate School. Students in this program take classes together with first-year PhD and MD/PhD students. The program begins on August 16, 2007. Further information and an application form are available at http://www.mssm.edu/gradschool/biomedical_sciences.

We will extend the stated deadline to June 15. If you applied to Mount Sinai School of Medicine this past year, we will waive the application fee and we can use many of your medical school application materials.

If anyone has done this program and thinks its good, I'd really appreciate feedback as well, I've been considering it myself.

 

[DrMidlife]

I'm curious about this program as well. The website materials I looked at referred to PREP-Med as being for underrepresented minorities, but that doesn't appear to be the case.

 

[MSTPbound]

I'm curious about this program as well. The website materials I looked at referred to PREP-Med as being for underrepresented minorities, but that doesn't appear to be the case.

There are two distinct programs here with similar names... one is "PREP", the other is "PREP-Med". "PREP" is an NIH-funded URM post-bac research enrichment scholarship program. "PREP-Med" is basically an SMP-master's degree program in biomedical sciences - so the former is URM-focused and the latter is not. Hopefully they'll eventually find away to make this distinction clearer on the web site. 🙄

Cheers!

-MSTPbound

 

[bopmop]

I emailed the director of the program asking about the 1.5-2 yr requirement. To me this is the major downside to the program, which otherwise seems great though for budding MD/PhDs...if you do get in med school while you are in this program...you will probably have to drop out (which is a slap in their face) or defer your acceptance...in other words, if you were to do this program this year, you'd be ready to apply to medical school in 2009 =(.

 

[rpm]

I emailed the director of the program asking about the 1.5-2 yr requirement. To me this is the major downside to the program, which otherwise seems great though for budding MD/PhDs...if you do get in med school while you are in this program...you will probably have to drop out (which is a slap in their face) or defer your acceptance...in other words, if you were to do this program this year, you'd be ready to apply to medical school in 2009 =(.

I think mostly all med schools would want you to complete the program before they allow you to matriculate. The upside to the 1.5-2 year requirement is that it gives you further time to strengthen your application and you will already have some grades in by the time you apply. If you can get really good grades in that one year, and the rest of your application is strong such as MCAT's and EC's, then you can have a shot at top tier med schools.

 

[MSTPbound]

I think mostly all med schools would want you to complete the program before they allow you to matriculate. The upside to the 1.5-2 year requirement is that it gives you further time to strengthen your application and you will already have some grades in by the time you apply. If you can get really good grades in that one year, and the rest of your application is strong such as MCAT's and EC's, then you can have a shot at top tier med schools.

Not to mention that if Mt. Sinai is on your radar, particularly for MSTP, which it should be if you're planning on staying in NYC and interested in a top 30 school that actually topped NYU in the US News Rankings this year (!), finishing this program could actually buy you time both in terms of requisite coursework AND research... so that 1.5-2 year investment could be well spent, and actually put you ahead of the game. Just some food for thought.

 

[doctito]

Hey all,

so how hard id it to apply to this program? I think its a definite 3.0 gpa and what about the mcat? what if your stats are a lil lower should someone bother applying? any responses will be helpful

~m~

 

[rpm]

Hey all,

so how hard id it to apply to this program? I think its a definite 3.0 gpa and what about the mcat? what if your stats are a lil lower should someone bother applying? any responses will be helpful

~m~

From their website:

Who is Eligible to Apply

Applications are invited from students who have completed their undergraduate degree with a major in the sciences. Applicants should have a minimum GPA of 3.2, research experience, and be motivated towards a career in medicine or medical research

 

[surfmedstudent]

Does anyone know if that 3.2 GPA is a requirement or is it flexible? Reason saying is that my last 50 credits are a 3.9 but the college years were not that great. If anyone who has been accepted could provide stats that would be great.