I'm Looking into USF's masters in health sciences program as a means to increase my gpa (3.1 as a biochem major). I consider myself a nontraditional student and do not have the luxury of quitting my job and leaving my current city right now due to personal reasons. USF's online masters in health sciences program seems like a good option but I was wondering how it may be viewed by medical schools. Anyone had any success with this program or one like it?
Special Masters Program (USF)
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Moving to the post-bacc forum.
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I am no expert since I am simply a lowly pre-med, but you learn a lot scouring these forums everyday. I think most posters here (and please correct me if I'm wrong) would tell you that any online classes/degree will be seen as a red flag unless you are like on active military duty and literally cannot get to a physical classroom to take courses.
With a 3.1 Biochem GPA, it's likely that upper division post-bacc courses won't boost your undergrad GPA much since you must have a bunch of science credits already. Your best bet is probably to study hard, nail the MCAT, and apply to a legitimate SMP where you can go take courses with med students for one year and kick butt (EVMS, BU MAMS, etc).
But honestly, 3.1 isn't horrible, and if you wanted to have the best chance possible to get into MD or DO, nail your MCAT, make sure you have awesome ECs and LORs, apply VERY early and VERY broadly.
Best of luck!
With a 3.1 Biochem GPA, it's likely that upper division post-bacc courses won't boost your undergrad GPA much since you must have a bunch of science credits already. Your best bet is probably to study hard, nail the MCAT, and apply to a legitimate SMP where you can go take courses with med students for one year and kick butt (EVMS, BU MAMS, etc).
But honestly, 3.1 isn't horrible, and if you wanted to have the best chance possible to get into MD or DO, nail your MCAT, make sure you have awesome ECs and LORs, apply VERY early and VERY broadly.
Best of luck!
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Also, just so you know, any Masters program will not boost your undergrad GPA. It will create a separate graduate GPA in your transcript. But again, these SMPs are great ways to get into med school when you cannot get your undergrad GPA up anymore.
Hello everyone!
I don't want to burst anyone's bubble, but I'm going to share some knowledge with you that I wish someone had told me before I invested so much time and money into this particular program.
I recently graduated from this online program with a 3.87 GPA. Before going to this program, my post-bacc GPA was a 3.9, in the honor's program, Dean's List, Organic chem research lab assistant... (you know, all the things you are supposed to do as a premed lol) I've worked in electroneurodiagnostics for 3 years, been a medical assistant, lab manager, phlebotomist-- tons of patient exposure! I also volunteer for an orphanage, and I have done a lot of community service work as well. My Achilles's Heel is that my MCAT score is average-slightly below average, and the fact that I was on academic probation in undergrad (I went into the reasons why on my AMCAS application- I have a very 'valid' reason... lots of family issues/domestic violence and there is a lawsuit to prove what I was going through at the time). In short, I have been working my butt off to make up for falling flat on my face in undergrad 6 years ago.
I felt that this program would be the perfect way to prove to medical schools that I have matured and can handle medical school in addition to what I had done as a post-bacc. Many of my classmates thought so as well.
At graduation, I was the ONLY one that had been interviewed for medical school and also the only one with a medical school acceptance. Granted, it's a Caribbean school, but my classmates haven't even gotten that! (One other classmate had to fight to be put in the remedial program at a Carib school...Which is 45 grand after interest since she had to go to the one bank that would back the program) Also, I am the only one that has had a US interview, and I am currently on the waitlist at one Florida school. I have kept in touch with classmates, and absolutely NO ONE in my ENTIRE class was interviewed for USF's college of medicine. Trust me, we are all furious.
I know that there are a lot of factors that go into medical school acceptance, so I beg you to not simply think that if you get into this program and have one of the highest GPA in the class (like me) you will get in or even be interviewed.
And then I learned about FSU's Bridge program... When you apply to their medical school, if you aren't "ready" for medical school, they can put you in this program that is very similar to USF's. It's three semesters taught at the University, and(get this) if you maintain a B average, you are GUARANTEED acceptance to the medical school. I WISH I had known about this program earlier. I would have much rather spent my money on a program that guarantees acceptance.... However, I know that some prefer that USF's program is online. If you don't have a "past" that you are trying to make up for, then you might do alright. However, tread lightly! I personally would have rather given FSU my money for a similar, if not exact, education that guaranteed me medschool acceptance. I could have avoided a lot of stress lol
On the bright side, I do feel that this program has prepared me for medical school. I used to feel that medical school was this huge mountain, and now that I have been accepted and waitlisted at a US school, I know that I have what it takes, and I now even strive to be at the top of my class. Many of my classmates from USF feel the same way, but unfortunately, none of them have been admitted or even interviewed at US schools (MD and DO).
Another good point about USF's program is that all of the exams are given in the USMLE format. This was brought up at my interview for a US school when they asked, "so you had some trouble with the MCAT. How do you know you will pass the boards?" I was able to answer confidently that my A average was based on USMLE questions, and I am already very familiar with the style. My interviewer said that that was very important information, and that he would bring it up to the board of admissions to show that I can thrive in their medical school. Obviously, they agreed because I have been waitlisted at that particular school. 😉
Also, I feel that taking the program online vs inclass is a whole different ballgame. At my US interview, there was another applicant there from USF's program that is currently taking the program in person. He stated that he had already interviewed there, and his stats, experience, and volunteer work fell short of mine. That being said, I think that for the online students, it's "out of sight, out of mind" even when you regularly email professors, initiate programs, and have a high A average like me and my friends did. My LORs were even from well-respected Medical School Professors there. They don't just write an LOR for every student...trust me, I asked my classmates, and not all of them got LORs from USF professors like I did. When I wasn't accepted, I called and let them know that I was very alarmed that I wasn't even interviewed. They said that I can drive all the way to Tampa, and they can tell me in-person how to improve my application for next year....
As with any program, there are pros and cons. Just wanted to help anyone else out there make a more informed decision. Sorry this is so long! If I could do it over, I would have tried for FSU's Bridge program. Good Luck everyone!
I don't want to burst anyone's bubble, but I'm going to share some knowledge with you that I wish someone had told me before I invested so much time and money into this particular program.
I recently graduated from this online program with a 3.87 GPA. Before going to this program, my post-bacc GPA was a 3.9, in the honor's program, Dean's List, Organic chem research lab assistant... (you know, all the things you are supposed to do as a premed lol) I've worked in electroneurodiagnostics for 3 years, been a medical assistant, lab manager, phlebotomist-- tons of patient exposure! I also volunteer for an orphanage, and I have done a lot of community service work as well. My Achilles's Heel is that my MCAT score is average-slightly below average, and the fact that I was on academic probation in undergrad (I went into the reasons why on my AMCAS application- I have a very 'valid' reason... lots of family issues/domestic violence and there is a lawsuit to prove what I was going through at the time). In short, I have been working my butt off to make up for falling flat on my face in undergrad 6 years ago.
I felt that this program would be the perfect way to prove to medical schools that I have matured and can handle medical school in addition to what I had done as a post-bacc. Many of my classmates thought so as well.
At graduation, I was the ONLY one that had been interviewed for medical school and also the only one with a medical school acceptance. Granted, it's a Caribbean school, but my classmates haven't even gotten that! (One other classmate had to fight to be put in the remedial program at a Carib school...Which is 45 grand after interest since she had to go to the one bank that would back the program) Also, I am the only one that has had a US interview, and I am currently on the waitlist at one Florida school. I have kept in touch with classmates, and absolutely NO ONE in my ENTIRE class was interviewed for USF's college of medicine. Trust me, we are all furious.
I know that there are a lot of factors that go into medical school acceptance, so I beg you to not simply think that if you get into this program and have one of the highest GPA in the class (like me) you will get in or even be interviewed.
And then I learned about FSU's Bridge program... When you apply to their medical school, if you aren't "ready" for medical school, they can put you in this program that is very similar to USF's. It's three semesters taught at the University, and(get this) if you maintain a B average, you are GUARANTEED acceptance to the medical school. I WISH I had known about this program earlier. I would have much rather spent my money on a program that guarantees acceptance.... However, I know that some prefer that USF's program is online. If you don't have a "past" that you are trying to make up for, then you might do alright. However, tread lightly! I personally would have rather given FSU my money for a similar, if not exact, education that guaranteed me medschool acceptance. I could have avoided a lot of stress lol
On the bright side, I do feel that this program has prepared me for medical school. I used to feel that medical school was this huge mountain, and now that I have been accepted and waitlisted at a US school, I know that I have what it takes, and I now even strive to be at the top of my class. Many of my classmates from USF feel the same way, but unfortunately, none of them have been admitted or even interviewed at US schools (MD and DO).
Another good point about USF's program is that all of the exams are given in the USMLE format. This was brought up at my interview for a US school when they asked, "so you had some trouble with the MCAT. How do you know you will pass the boards?" I was able to answer confidently that my A average was based on USMLE questions, and I am already very familiar with the style. My interviewer said that that was very important information, and that he would bring it up to the board of admissions to show that I can thrive in their medical school. Obviously, they agreed because I have been waitlisted at that particular school. 😉
Also, I feel that taking the program online vs inclass is a whole different ballgame. At my US interview, there was another applicant there from USF's program that is currently taking the program in person. He stated that he had already interviewed there, and his stats, experience, and volunteer work fell short of mine. That being said, I think that for the online students, it's "out of sight, out of mind" even when you regularly email professors, initiate programs, and have a high A average like me and my friends did. My LORs were even from well-respected Medical School Professors there. They don't just write an LOR for every student...trust me, I asked my classmates, and not all of them got LORs from USF professors like I did. When I wasn't accepted, I called and let them know that I was very alarmed that I wasn't even interviewed. They said that I can drive all the way to Tampa, and they can tell me in-person how to improve my application for next year....
As with any program, there are pros and cons. Just wanted to help anyone else out there make a more informed decision. Sorry this is so long! If I could do it over, I would have tried for FSU's Bridge program. Good Luck everyone!
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There is a difference between the MSBS, IMS and other online programs from USF. I would say IMS > MSBS > Online degrees, but just my 2 cents. It would be best to aim for IMS but it also happens to be the most competitive because it only offers around ~15 - 20 slots while the MSBS offers over ~200 spots. Also, the IMS takes classes that med students take while the MSBS takes their own classes, but in the same classes as med school students.
I would personally avoid all online SMP degrees from any program.
I agree with you 100%!! At the time, I was going to apply to their medical school with my 3.9 post bacc GPA, but I wanted to know more about the SMP programs and see if I could apply to both that year. The admissions department told me that they don't like to accept students directly into their medical school, and that I would be encouraged to apply for the SMP program since it has a proven track record of success and would help me more in the long run as far as the USMLE and other coursework were concerned. She stated that there was no difference in doing online vs in person since it was the same curriculum taught by the same faculty.
Obviously, she was wrong, and should be fired... and she was who I got when I called the COM Admissions department. I believed every word she said and didn't question it thinking that I would not only get in, but succeed in their medical school. I just don't want other premed hopefuls to fall into the same trap as I did!
Obviously, she was wrong, and should be fired... and she was who I got when I called the COM Admissions department. I believed every word she said and didn't question it thinking that I would not only get in, but succeed in their medical school. I just don't want other premed hopefuls to fall into the same trap as I did!
I recently came across this program and would really like to see more replies if possible. I am not a FL resident, non-trad who doesn't have the money to up and move somewhere to take an "in class SMP". I am a bio major so my 3.1 gpa prb not moving much more. My plan for next yr cycle is retaking my mcat early (Jan 2014), having my LORS and rest of my stuff in June 2014. Idk. Seems like a lot was left out in OP post and really regardless if ur in class or online the SMP is a gamble. So if I was anyone I would go to the source, adcom for all respective schools and ask what they think about the online SMP. Outside of gross anatomy which is hands on, don't see the problem or understand why online work here get such disdain. Regardless work hard whatever u do and ur work will speak for itself.
I know unecom (do school) has online work but most of theirs is considered post bacc and its very costly. The usf option would be cheaper for me, academic common market, and u could still work(can't just leave) and I will deal with repercussions of that if any
Also if its online, how are u able to contact other ppl in program to even know there status? Through online discussions? A fb group or sorts?
just asking not being funny but I just think a lot on sdn is so cliché that its so often passed off as "rule" but hey I'm not saying that's what u meant and I am glad you have offered us a non-biased opinion
regardless, congrats on your acceptance..hope your waitlist turns into another one!!!
I know unecom (do school) has online work but most of theirs is considered post bacc and its very costly. The usf option would be cheaper for me, academic common market, and u could still work(can't just leave) and I will deal with repercussions of that if any
Also if its online, how are u able to contact other ppl in program to even know there status? Through online discussions? A fb group or sorts?
just asking not being funny but I just think a lot on sdn is so cliché that its so often passed off as "rule" but hey I'm not saying that's what u meant and I am glad you have offered us a non-biased opinion
regardless, congrats on your acceptance..hope your waitlist turns into another one!!!
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Hopefully a user named Goro (part of admissions for a good DO school) can share his input here.
Also the FAQ for the Online masters will answer most of your questions specific to the school.
As for the whole "work hard and the work speaks for itself", an online program isn't just stigmatized here, but it can be seen even during regular admissions. Some secondaries ask if the pre-reqs are online (one even asked to list every online class).
If you want to prove to medical schools you're serious, than you have to go all in and that includes going to a traditional class settings. It isn't an SDN cliche but just to warn you. At the end of the day, its up to you what you want to do and if you believe a 4.0 from the program will net you an acceptance than go for it.
If you don't believe me, call some school's admissions yourself and see how receptive they are of an online masters program.
D
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Well said. As someone involved in the admissions process at their school, id need a damn good reason why you didn't go in person.
When most med students are $150k+ in debt and those that did SMPs are $200k+ in debt - the "I've no money wahhhh" story really gets no play. You better be caring for a sick family member or deployed overseas.
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Just my two cents, I graduated from the online SMP. I did my undergrad at USF and was working full time. I kinda did a hybrid program mixing the SMP courses with inclass graduate level courses from the college of arts and sciences and spread it out to 2 years. I wasn't sure If I wanted to go the medical school route or PhD and it was a good option while I worked full time. I was accepted into a D.O. school and am currently a OMS1. Didn't apply to any MD schools made my decision to go to medical school in January and was actually interested in OMM. Its not the right option for everyone but it can be for some. Im also doing very well one of the top in my class and having the prior coursework really helped. Their is allot of self studying in medical school I personally just watch all the recorded lectures anyways so I haven't seen too much of a difference. If your not working I would recommend the IMS or in class options but if your GPA/MCAT is acceptable, you work, and you just want to prepare yourself for medical school its definitely a solid option.
ps medical school admissions are tough everywhere doing a masters doesn't guarantee admissions if the rest of you application is good and you apply broadly you might get in somewhere its just competitive.
ps medical school admissions are tough everywhere doing a masters doesn't guarantee admissions if the rest of you application is good and you apply broadly you might get in somewhere its just competitive.
Hey, I'm glad things ended up good for you in the end. I'm currently in the same online masters program. I actually applied because I needed to kill 2 years, in which I couldnt apply but wanted to do something in the mean time. I also am not living in florida so the online program seemed like a great fit. After reading this, I'm actually kind of scared. My undergrad was not that competitive but I'll probably finish the masters with a 3.8. I was wondering what the process was for getting letters of rec from the professors. Is there any equivalent of a committee letter that we can get? If not, which professors should I contact that may write me a letter? Thanks in advance!
