Hi, I'm currently accepted into several SMP/Biomedical science programs. My cGPA is a 3.24 AMCAS sGPA is a 3.2 and AACOMAS sPGA is a 3.17, I'm a super ORM, NJ resident.
200 Hours shadowing; 100 in the ER and 100 in Neurology Clinic
Scribing since January, on hold due to COVID
Pharmacy technician for 3 years
Clinical EC; 300 hours, Big Hospital
Clinical Research with leadership position; 500 hours, big hospital
I've been accepted to Rowan's post bacc, PCOM biomedical sciences, Chatham Biomed sciences, local Masters in Biology, and waiting on VCOM and Geisinger's MBS.
Rowan:
Pros: it's in Jersey, linkage with Cooper, small class
Cons: apartments expensive, no financial aid, upper-level undergrad courses, the linkage is iffy
PCOM:
Pros: Established DO school, offers conditional acceptance/guaranteed interview w a 3.2 and MCAT above 500
Cons: Talked to people and admissions told me approx 20-30% of students matriculate every year, however, looking around I've heard less
www.pcom.edu
Chatham:
Pros: Smaller program, guaranteed interview w/ wvsom given you get to meet the admission reqs for wvsom
Cons: Far away (Pittsburgh, 6 hours from family), smaller less-known/new program, most expensive
VCOM:
Pros: Best linkage, meet the reqs and you are in (one of the DO campuses) w/o an interview as long as the MCAT/GPA reqs are met.
Cons: The farthest away, still waiting on a decision
www.bluefield.edu
I'm currently at a dilemma and wanted some advice. I haven't taken the MCAT as of yet, but planning to and wanted to know if staying local and doing a Masters in Biology would be a better option in terms of money. Due to the pandemic and all, family and I are being conservative. By the outlooks of these programs, it mostly depends on my MCAT. I'm aiming for a decent MCAT score hopefully top quartile (508+). I'm most likely going to stay at a local master's and study for the MCAT due to financial obligations. Seems like VCOM is the best option (the decision will come in this month).
I know at my current gpa I can't be a chooser and have to play the game as an ORM which is why DO schools are my main objective. Would staying at a local masters hurt my chances? What MCAT score would I need given that I do well in the masters? Thanks for the feedback.
EDIT:
Also threw in an App to Geisinger's SMP
Pros: online now due to COVID and reduced cost from 45k to 33k
Cons; linkage is iffy, they give preference to PA residents. online might be good due to covid, but they've always had an online curriculum (might raise a red flag for adcoms)
Added links to the website for curriculum info.
200 Hours shadowing; 100 in the ER and 100 in Neurology Clinic
Scribing since January, on hold due to COVID
Pharmacy technician for 3 years
Clinical EC; 300 hours, Big Hospital
Clinical Research with leadership position; 500 hours, big hospital
I've been accepted to Rowan's post bacc, PCOM biomedical sciences, Chatham Biomed sciences, local Masters in Biology, and waiting on VCOM and Geisinger's MBS.
Rowan:
Pros: it's in Jersey, linkage with Cooper, small class
Cons: apartments expensive, no financial aid, upper-level undergrad courses, the linkage is iffy
PCOM:
Pros: Established DO school, offers conditional acceptance/guaranteed interview w a 3.2 and MCAT above 500
Cons: Talked to people and admissions told me approx 20-30% of students matriculate every year, however, looking around I've heard less
Foundation Year | MS in Biomedical Sciences Degree | PCOM
Learn about the foundation year of PCOM's biomedical sciences degree program, which focuses on developing scientific skills in preparation for further studies.
www.pcom.edu
Chatham:
Pros: Smaller program, guaranteed interview w/ wvsom given you get to meet the admission reqs for wvsom
Cons: Far away (Pittsburgh, 6 hours from family), smaller less-known/new program, most expensive
VCOM:
Pros: Best linkage, meet the reqs and you are in (one of the DO campuses) w/o an interview as long as the MCAT/GPA reqs are met.
Cons: The farthest away, still waiting on a decision
Biomedical Sciences Degree | Master of Arts | Christian Colleges VA
Bluefield College is a Christian Liberal Arts institution in southwest Virginia that offers a Master of Arts in Biomedical Sciences graduate degree. Learn more now.
I'm currently at a dilemma and wanted some advice. I haven't taken the MCAT as of yet, but planning to and wanted to know if staying local and doing a Masters in Biology would be a better option in terms of money. Due to the pandemic and all, family and I are being conservative. By the outlooks of these programs, it mostly depends on my MCAT. I'm aiming for a decent MCAT score hopefully top quartile (508+). I'm most likely going to stay at a local master's and study for the MCAT due to financial obligations. Seems like VCOM is the best option (the decision will come in this month).
I know at my current gpa I can't be a chooser and have to play the game as an ORM which is why DO schools are my main objective. Would staying at a local masters hurt my chances? What MCAT score would I need given that I do well in the masters? Thanks for the feedback.
EDIT:
Also threw in an App to Geisinger's SMP
Pros: online now due to COVID and reduced cost from 45k to 33k
Cons; linkage is iffy, they give preference to PA residents. online might be good due to covid, but they've always had an online curriculum (might raise a red flag for adcoms)
MBS-Scranton and Online Course Descriptions
Descriptions of MBS courses in Scranton and online.
www.geisinger.edu
Added links to the website for curriculum info.
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