Prematriculation program summer before med school starts?

[southerncomfort]

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Hi!

I am an entering MSI and am interested in a summer prematriculation program offered by the med school for incoming students. It offers mini-programs in anatomy, physio, histo, and biochem, along with study skills, time management, stress management, etc.
The major pro would be the preparation in the med school environment. The major con--not really having a summer and having to quit my job about a month earlier than I planned.
Thoughts?

 

[CANES2006]

Don't do it. Enjoy your last summer vacation.

 

[njbmd]

Hi!

I am an entering MSI and am interested in a summer prematriculation program offered by the med school for incoming students. It offers mini-programs in anatomy, physio, histo, and biochem, along with study skills, time management, stress management, etc.
The major pro would be the preparation in the med school environment. The major con--not really having a summer and having to quit my job about a month earlier than I planned.
Thoughts?

Hi there,
I was an instructor for the pre-matriculation program at my medical school. Without exception, the students who participated in the pre-matric program finished in the top third of their classes. They were given the tools to do very well in medical school and used them well. They were also paid to participate in the program too.

You will have many summers (including the one after a very successful first year) to enjoy yourself and nothing is more satisfying than completing first year at the top of your class. If making a few extra bucks is more important to you than being a better medical student, then bypass this program.

Most of these program do not take the whole summer anyway. Besides, you will have time to check out the city and get a good place to live in addition to getting a good academic start.

njbmd 🙂

 

[nextgendoc]

Hi!

I am an entering MSI and am interested in a summer prematriculation program offered by the med school for incoming students. It offers mini-programs in anatomy, physio, histo, and biochem, along with study skills, time management, stress management, etc.
The major pro would be the preparation in the med school environment. The major con--not really having a summer and having to quit my job about a month earlier than I planned.
Thoughts?

Southerncomfort I just PM'ed you.

 

[crys20]

My school specifically recommends the pre-mat program for:

1 - people who didn't major in the sciences
2 - people who are non-trad/have been out of school for awhile
3 - URMs

Is this a good guideline? I fit neither, at all, so I wasn't intending to do it...But njbmd, you do make it sound enticing!

 

[njbmd]

My school specifically recommends the pre-mat program for:

1 - people who didn't major in the sciences
2 - people who are non-trad/have been out of school for awhile
3 - URMs

Is this a good guideline? I fit neither, at all, so I wasn't intending to do it...But njbmd, you do make it sound enticing!

Hi there,
Students were invited to participate in the pre-matric program based on decisions made by the Dean of Admissions. There were people who majored in the sciences, people who were traditional and people who were not URMs in my pre-matric program. The only criterion for participation is an invitation from the Dean.

In the end, there were plenty of people in the class that were not invited to participate that wished that they had been invited to participate in the program because of the huge success that the program gives participants.

Some schools make participation in a pre-matric program a conditional acceptance but others use these programs for people that they feel could use some extra help in preparing for a very challenging curriculum. Either way, you cannot lose.

njbmd 🙂

 

[MeowMix]

I think the program quality really depends on the school. In the past, my school's pre-matric program certainly has not been the highway to the top of the class, although participants did form strong friendships and generally enjoyed the experience.

I would get in touch with past participants and find out what they have to say about it (the school should be able to provide names and contact info).

 

[ucsb101]

Don't do it. Enjoy your last summer vacation.

agreed!

 

[southerncomfort]

Thanks for the replies!

I think the pros outweigh the cons for me, so I am applying for it. It says its for disadvantaged (economic, educational, or other), so I'm hoping I'll be considered as a non-trad. 🙂