Research-based Masters or Traditional SMP (Mount Sinai vs. USF)

[VFL2013]

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Hey Everyone!

I know there are a ton of threads discussing the whole traditional masters vs. SMP dichotomy but I wanted to come to you guys to ask specifically about my situation. I've been fortunate enough to get into USF's Masters in Medical Sciences Program as well as Mount Sinai's Masters in Biomedical Sciences Program and am having an especially difficult time choosing between the two. My stats are as follows: cGPA: 3.45, sGPA: 3.36, MCAT: 30.

I've listed the pros and cons of each program below

USF:
Pros:

• 1 year
• True SMP, meaning I take M1 classes
• < 20K/low living costs
• MCAT prep

Cons:

• No research aspect
• I'll be done in a year and am worried I won't have anything to do while I take a gap year applying to med schools
• Success rate is at about 60% if I'm not mistaken and includes DO, dental, PA programs as well in this rate

Mount Sinai:
Pros:

• Research-intensive. You're pretty much expected to have a first-author publication by the end of the 1.5-2 years
• Small program- <20 students so more individualized faculty support and mentorship
• >90% success rate of getting its graduates into MD, PhD, or MD/PhD programs
• Option to take classes with both the M1s as well as first-year PhD students
• MCAT prep

Cons:

• Tuition is >45K , and don't even get me started on the living expenses YIKES!
• Med school classes are pass/fail system (but the classes taken through the grad school are based on a numerical system)

I guess my question to y'all is: which program would be more beneficial for me in the long run? While I would ideally like to apply to MD/PHD programs, I know my stats are way too subpar. However, I do want to be involved with research during my MD years so I would like to apply to more research-intensive medical schools. Would going to Mount Sinai aid me in that particular aspect? Or should I just go to USF, do well, get into any med school I can, and then worry about research later?

Any insight would be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks guys!

 

[darklabel]

USF MSMS is not really a true SMP. The only true SMP in USF is the IMS program which takes about 15 students a year. The MSMS program is a graduate program that you take with ~250 grad students. The classes are supposed to mirror the med students but you're not taking the same exact class as the med students. The program isn't very prestigious and they don't release how many get into US MD a year. I know only ~10 a year get an interview from USF MCOM same year and usually those few people already had good stats.

I would go to Mt Sinai or an SMP with more success and fewer people in it. Georgetown, temple, and Cincinnati come to mind.

 

[Sd768]

I would go with Mt. Sinai for the same reason darklabel mentioned above.