Toledo MSBS or Wayne State BMS?

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Toledo or Wayne?


  • Total voters
    20

SisterDisco08

Full Member
10+ Year Member
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I've been accepted to both of these programs, haven't heard yet from U of Michigan (but there's no linkage there so I probably wouldn't go anyway). Ultimately I want to do primary care. Location is not a huge concern, since they're only an hour apart. Family in both cities, significant other willing to move, and actually likes Toledo better.

Toledo
Degree: MS in Biomedical Sciences-Medical Science
Location: Toledo, Ohio
Cost: $47,775.00
Subsequent Medical School Cost: ~$25,000/year
Total Loans for schooling: ~$150,000
Program Length: 1 year
Linkage to Toledo Med School: 77+% (They do not cap it: if all 50 applicants are good candidates, all 50 could get in)
Notes: Dean let me apply 6 weeks after program application deadline, so I'm potentially taking the spot of someone who had their materials all in order, on time. About an hour from Detroit, where I live. I think it's a better personality/mission fit. Cost of living lower than Metro-Detroit. Seems to actively "want me." More selective than Wayne (50 spots for 200+ applicants). Med School interview guaranteed. Med School classes taken during Grad School do not need to be repeated as M-1.
Rankings: Doesn't make US News rankings for primary care or research.

Wayne State
Degree: MS in Basic Medical Science
Location: Detroit, Michigan
Program Cost: ~$14,000 if I complete only 1 year, ~$28,000 if I complete both years.
Total Loans for schooling: ~$110,000 to ~$130,000
Subsequent Medical School Cost: ~$23,000/year
Program Length: 2 years (can reapply after first)
Linkage to Wayne State Med School: ~30%
Notes: I feel like the Wayne State name is a little more well known. Family, significant other in Detroit (not a huge deal). Cost of living in metro-Detroit higher than Toledo. Very unorganized staff. Not as competitive (admits pretty much all who apply). Doesn't actively "want me." No Med School interview guarantee. Need to repeat all Med School classes taken as Grad Student.
Rankings: Doesn't make US News ranking for primary care, 78 for research.
 
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Location is not a huge concern, since they're only an hour apart. Family in both cities, significant other willing to move/both of us have cars and are willing to drive the hour, and he actually likes Toledo better.
 
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I'd greatly appreciate some more input from people, even just voting without commenting! Pretty torn about this decision, and the schools would like to know asap....
 
Hey! Congrats on acceptance to the Wayne State program! I just got rejected today lol, oh well!

Id say you should go to Wayne State. The area may not be perfect, but Detroit has a charm you begin to appreciate. Its rough, but has potential. Also Wayne State in my personal opinion owns Toldeo as a name. WSU Med School is pretty impressive, and very respected. Research is also very vital in the program, and Wayne State has pretty good research.

My experience with the Administration at Wayne wasnt impressive, however the faculty were terrific. Either school will be great. Congrats again 🙂
 
Hey! Congrats on acceptance to the Wayne State program! I just got rejected today lol, oh well!

Id say you should go to Wayne State. The area may not be perfect, but Detroit has a charm you begin to appreciate. Its rough, but has potential. Also Wayne State in my personal opinion owns Toldeo as a name. WSU Med School is pretty impressive, and very respected. Research is also very vital in the program, and Wayne State has pretty good research.

My experience with the Administration at Wayne wasnt impressive, however the faculty were terrific. Either school will be great. Congrats again 🙂

Thank you. I actually live in Detroit, so I'm well aware of the charm 😛

I agree that the Wayne Med School has a better name than the Toledo med school, but it does seem like the Toledo Grad program is a little better than the Wayne Grad program. So, I'm not sure how much clout the name of the Grad program would really carry, since it's not the Med School (I realize it's through the med school...but it's not the med school...)

Anyone have any idea? I would assume really the only Grad programs where the name actually matters would be from Georgetown or Harvard or something like that
 
If I were you I would go with Toledo. I say this because the major difference between both programs is that Toledo is considered a "real" SMP, in that you would be taking medical school classes. This has multiple advantages, and possibly one disadvantage. The advantages are, if you do well, you would probably have a greater chance at being accepted into multiple medical schools. Also, you would have had experience in actual medical school courses and as you say, you would not need to retake them during M1. The disadvantage is that you would be working much harder to earn strong grades at Toledo than at Wayne (especially because Toledo has a fixed schedule, where you are expected to complete the program in two semesters). I think if you have a strong MCAT score and want a faster path to medical school Toledo is the way to go.

If you don't mind me asking, what was your MCAT and gpa?
 
If I were you I would go with Toledo. I say this because the major difference between both programs is that Toledo is considered a "real" SMP, in that you would be taking medical school classes. This has multiple advantages, and possibly one disadvantage. The advantages are, if you do well, you would probably have a greater chance at being accepted into multiple medical schools. Also, you would have had experience in actual medical school courses and as you say, you would not need to retake them during M1. The disadvantage is that you would be working much harder to earn strong grades at Toledo than at Wayne (especially because Toledo has a fixed schedule, where you are expected to complete the program in two semesters). I think if you have a strong MCAT score and want a faster path to medical school Toledo is the way to go.

If you don't mind me asking, what was your MCAT and gpa?

PM'd.