Online SMP

[engtomed]

Hi all,
I am a new addition to SDN and wanted to ask the question about any online SMP options?

If anyone knows of any, please let me know. I have thoroughly been searching with no success. The SMP I am looking for needs to meet the following criteria, if possible:
1. Needs to be available online (I have a chaotic schedule plus I am deployed overseas)
2. It can be a purely health-related SMP but if it has a blend of biomedical engineering, than it would be preferable. (my background is chemical engineering and I would like to make the switch into medicine but if med school does not work out, I would like to have a masters in engineering, at least)
3. Preferablly not that expensive. I saw some credit hours reach pricess of $1200/hr.

If anyone can provide feedback or guidance, I would appreciate it.

Thanks

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[mic2377]

Simply put, there is no SMP that fits any of these criteria. By definition, the reputable SMP's that are actually effective are 1)costly (or at least somewhat so) 2)directly associated with the med school and 3)have a defined curriculum.

 

[klmnop]

paging drmidlife...

see if she can give you some advice. your question reminds me of this so she may be able to help: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showpost.php?p=9405456&postcount=1011

 

[klmnop]

It can be a purely health-related SMP but if it has a blend of biomedical engineering, than it would be preferable. (my background is chemical engineering and I would like to make the switch into medicine but if med school does not work out, I would like to have a masters in engineering, at least)

do some reading. smp's are not traditional master's degrees and they most certainly don't grant engineering degrees. their purpose is to enhance the credentials of future health profession students

some post-bacc programs may have a few biochem-eng type courses, but these are not true-smp's and nor are they true biochem-eng masters programs.

if you want to to do an smp you better be damn sure you are going into medicine, otherwise its a waste of time and money. some of these programs offer backup plans, but this is not their purpose and it is often a waste of time.

if you want a master's in engineering or biochem-eng, then just get that. they are very different than medical training.

 

[DrMidlife]

The only SMP-like program that's online, that I know of, is offered by U of S. Florida. U of N. England has online postbac (undergrad) coursework.

Online coursework is a mistake unless you've got a rock solid reason for doing it, such as being military stationed overseas. If you have a low GPA and are amending it with online coursework, you're in a sketchy situation. Don't make any assumptions about your situation being comparable to other folks: you have to roll your own success path. Your path to success undoubtedly must include a stellar MCAT - this is the one variable you control.

Give up on the idea of using an SMP to give you a backup plan (ie a useful masters degree) if med school doesn't work out. In a GPA comeback you have to go big or go home.

Best of luck to you.

 

[engtomed]

Dear all,
Thanks for the honest feedback!!! I am not sure how I can tackle this major career switch. I am sure many have done it before but it requires a complete change of mindset. So, I guess I will be looking for online bio-engineering or bio-med masters degrees.

Again thanks for the response to this thread! and best of luck to all!!!

 

[apachefly21]

I am in the same situation as ENGTOMED. I am an Apache pilot in the Army. I too have been deployed and completed my BS in Aeronautics online. I did two years at Embry Riddle, then came into the Army to fly, got about 60 credit hours towards an Aeronautics degree from flight school and training alone (pretty awesome), finished the last 50 or so credits all online.

I have spoken to many Universities, both MD and DO. All of them except Stanford were ok with online classes, due to the situation. If you are in the military and have deployed or have an insane training schedule (i was gone from home 8 months of the 12 i have been home from deployment for training) you will be fine. Just make sure you check with the schools that you are applying that they will take the course work.

Also, i completed all but one of my science pre-reqs online, again the schools "said" they have no issue with that due to my situation. I will be applying here in the next year or so once my contract is up.