Top 5 SMP's?

[UnderdogMD]

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In people's opinions what are the top 5 SMP's. The only criteria would be the percentage of people who are able to matriculate after completion. Also, please stick to 1 year programs.

So I plan to apply anyway this june and then to SMP's next january. Hence, the reason for the question.

 

[Dooooom]

I know someone who got 2 interviews with a 36 and a 2.7 from William and Mary. He ended up getting into 1 school, so no harm in trying. He also raped his boards and is doing a derm residency.

1. EVMS
2. Gtown
3. BU
4. Drexel
5. Cinn (don't know any other 1 year masters off the top of my head)

3 and 4 are interchangeable
Evms 1, because it has the highest percentage of students who get into "medical school" that being their own medical school - last year nearly 90%... gtown doesn't come close to that, but they do offer a greater variety of schools that students get accepted to.

 

[TheGalvaniFrog]

You may be surprised with those numbers. If you apply broadly, the chances are some med schools will take you. It may not be the elite research schools, but perfectly good ones.

I don't think it's possible to rank the programs. At Georgetown, the eventual matriculation rate is reported to be 80-85%. I'd imagine other reputable programs have pretty similar rates.

 

[GottaLuvIt]

I may be wrong but I believe the 80% acceptance into medical school is calculated from different amounts of time following the EVMS and Gtown programs. For EVMS, the 80 - 90% acceptance is for those who enter med school directly after they complete the 1-year masters program (and yes most are matriculating into EVMS). I was under the impression for Gtown, the acceptance rate takes in account another year following their post-bac as to how many of their students get accepted into med school. I think that may have been on the website when I was reading about the differences in the respective programs around this time last year.

Just something to keep in mind.........

 

[Dooooom]

Yeah, from what I remember.... back in the day... that is the reason I didn't go to gtown. Gtown was 40/60% after 1 year (i'm not sure 40 or 60 i'm leaning toward 40) and 80% after 2 years.

 

[imrep1972]

Split the difference - its usually a little above 50% (although last year it was almost 60%) after the first year, and then 85% or higher after the second.

One thing to keep in mind with those stats - GT takes a number of students who don't plan to apply to medical school - they are included in the calculation of people who did or didn't get in. Also, some students decide during the program that they don't want to apply to med school after all. They are included in the calculation as well. Not all schools do that (not pointing fingers at anyone, just stating what I've been told) so you want to ask about that when you hear statistics.


To the OP: if EVMS' success rate is 90% after one year and you just want to get into med school and don't care where, then I'd say do that. It's a no-brainer.

If you want to have more of a choice of where you wind up going (while taking a chance that you may have to wait an extra year) then GT is probably your best option.

The great thing is that if you get into any SMP and do well, you're going to be a doctor, and in the end, that's all that matters. You really can't go wrong.

Good luck!

Yeah, from what I remember.... back in the day... that is the reason I didn't go to gtown. Gtown was 40/60% after 1 year (i'm not sure 40 or 60 i'm leaning toward 40) and 80% after 2 years.

 

[UnderdogMD]

BUMP. Not having much luck . I am still looking into SMP's. I wish there was a MSAR like resource for SMP's. My question is still the same. Please chime in. I would never have heard of some of these programs like Tulane's ACP if not for other users. My fear is that I overlook a really good program. I think we need an exhaustive list of SMPs with the percentage of people who get in too. Braluk maybe this is something worth starting? Anyway post if you have any info or opinions.

 

[cheezer]

your mcat rules

 

[ssquared]

The one thing to keep in mind is that with EVMS, if you go to their SMP, chances are your only option for med school will be EVMS. If you're cool with that, great, but if not, well...that's why I turned them down.

Georgetown's "acceptance rate" is calculated so that after two years, they have an average of around 80% acceptance for their students who completed the program. Drexel has an acceptance rate of 60-80% after the first year, and it goes up to around 90% for the second year. But they have a program that is either 1 or 2 years, so after that second year people often have another full year of coursework.

I have no idea what BU's stats are, so no comment on that.

Personally, my mental rankings of SMP's is the following:
1) Georgetown
2) Drexel
3) BU
4) EVMS

Many of the other programs are so new it's hard to comment on them.

(and no sour grapes: I got into every SMP I applied to)

 

[Da Nealson]

I think it really depends what you care about. If you goto EVMS, you might not get into other places. But this year, we had people who got into GWU, MCV, Jefferson, and Drexel (and of course, EVMS). I chose the EVMS program because I knew it was honestly the best way to get into a medical school in one year. Your MCAT's are great and maybe if you destroyed the gtown program you could probably pick from some schools.

But the only problem I have with that is what if you don't? I mean every year it gets more and more competetive and as you guys all know, getting into medical school is kind of like a crap shoot. I got into another school in addition to EVMS that is highly competitive and I got in (definitely wasn't because of my stats hahha).

Also, EVMS is pretty laid back and its pretty cheap to live there. It's not like DC or Boston where everything is so expensive. The med students are also pretty cool and its overall a good environment for med school. Also, if you do well, getting out of your classes could prove to be useful b/c a lot of med masters are doing research. While it's not NIH, but it is a year of research which does mean quite bit.

I think it really depends on how much you want to goto med and where you want to go. It's hard to be picky when our stats in one area are significantly lower than all other applicants. If you have an questions about the EVMS, feel free to PM me. Also, I "heard" you can only apply to tulane's program if you were waitlisted somewhere, and from what I gather, its a pretty good shot if you get in to the program.

 

[ssquared]

Also, I "heard" you can only apply to tulane's program if you were waitlisted somewhere, and from what I gather, its a pretty good shot if you get in to the program.

In order to even be considered for Tulane's ACP you must show proof of being on a medical school waitlist. (otherwise, I would have applied...I love NOLA...)

Tulane has several one year master's programs, but they are not medical school classes. They have an MS in Human Genetics (the only one I'm familiar with) and another one in pharmacology.

 

[bds03]

I'm jealous of your MCAT score - that is amazing, congrats!

 

[UnderdogMD]

I'm jealous of your MCAT score - that is amazing, congrats!

Don't be jealous. I am a *****. I would gladly accept a 30 if I could have a GPA of 3.5. I am finding out, rather harshly, that a high MCAT means nothing-hence the SMP's

 

[drizzt3117]

Don't be jealous. I am a *****. I would gladly accept a 30 if I could have a GPA of 3.5. I am finding out, rather harshly, that a high MCAT means nothing-hence the SMP's

I wouldn't be so quick to say that. The application season has just started. You're getting a lot of pre-sec rejections? Seems a little early for that?

 

[UnderdogMD]

I wouldn't be so quick to say that. The application season has just started. You're getting a lot of pre-sec rejections? Seems a little early for that?

Actually your right. I should put things in perspective-4 presecondary rejections, and 1 post-secondary. Its just something that one of the schools said (I called) that has me down. My school pretty much told me to not bother applying. I still however stand by my statement and I would take a 30 MCAT 3.5 GPA anyday. Enough with the self pity though. I'd still appreciate any more info on SMP's

 

[Nasrudin]

Very personal criteria feeds into this type of decision. Forced to foot the bill for these last ditch option, these would be my top 5:


1. Tulane ACP (Assuming I can make one waitlist)
2. EVMS
3. Tuft's
4. BU
5. U Cinci/or some other Ohio program


Good luck. Your MCAT rocks!

 

[ssquared]

Very personal criteria feeds into this type of decision. Forced to foot the bill for these last ditch option, these would be my top 5:


1. Tulane ACP (Assuming I can make one waitlist)
2. EVMS
3. Tuft's
4. BU
5. U Cinci/or some other Ohio program

I find it interesting that you picked two very new programs to be on your list (Tufts and Cinci). Personally, I would have picked a program with an older reputation.

Cost certainly is a factor, though. EVMS is $24,000; Cinci is $23,000; Tufts is around $30,000; Tulane is $12,000; Georgetown is $34,000; Drexel is $22,000; and I couldn't find BU easily (they've got a crappy website).

Really, though, I think the key in any of these programs is doing well. If you get a 4.0, it won't much matter if you went to BU or Tufts. As long as you're taking medical classes, a 4.0 should speak for itself, indepedent of the school where it was obtained.

 

[Nasrudin]

I find it interesting that you picked two very new programs to be on your list (Tufts and Cinci). Personally, I would have picked a program with an older reputation.

Cost certainly is a factor, though. EVMS is $24,000; Cinci is $23,000; Tufts is around $30,000; Tulane is $12,000; Georgetown is $34,000; Drexel is $22,000; and I couldn't find BU easily (they've got a crappy website).

Really, though, I think the key in any of these programs is doing well. If you get a 4.0, it won't much matter if you went to BU or Tufts. As long as you're taking medical classes, a 4.0 should speak for itself, indepedent of the school where it was obtained.

Yeah my main concerns are cost and cost of living. The other one is specific probabilities for 1 med school acceptance without having to repeat the bulk of year 1 courses to allow cultivation of a top-notch residency application. I am getting back to California for a good residency spot come hell or high water after just 1 acceptance for med school. The only way I feel comfortable loaning out all that quid is to be operating within semi-knowns at the home institution. I'm not excited about the 2 Boston programs--and would potentially bump up 5 ahead of 3,4--but I am moving to Boston so they wouldn't require a move and they are at least in a city that my wife can operate well in. It's always very personal with this type of thing--or at least that's the way I feel about it.

P.s. I have yet to really look closely at the Ohio programs. I would use that option for low cost of living and the fact that I could get Ohio residency and Ohio is green pasture for med school acceptance probabilities. Not to mention the instate thing would make the long-terms costs a lot cheaper.

I am confident in my ability to do well in an SMP--I don't put up that kind of money and accept losing. But I am not going to sit a the table with iffy and uncertain odds either. I think a lot of these SMP things are straight up scandalous in their taking advantage of a desperate market. They are vulturous speculators for the most part. That's why I am really hoping for the ACP giving no acceptances because at least they are dealing straight.

 

[drizzt3117]

Underdog, I'm a little bewildered why you wouldn't do postbac rather than SMP, have you finished all upper division in addition to prereqs? You'd think retaking some prereqs or upper division and getting As would increase your cGPA enough to gain admission, rather than taking the very risky step of doing a SMP...

 

[UnderdogMD]

Underdog, I'm a little bewildered why you wouldn't do postbac rather than SMP, have you finished all upper division in addition to prereqs? You'd think retaking some prereqs or upper division and getting As would increase your cGPA enough to gain admission, rather than taking the very risky step of doing a SMP...

The reason for my low GPA is taking 18-20 hrs and 4 science classes per semester. I came into college trying to do too much. I now have 123 hrs of solid 3.1. I have done upper-division chemistry and biology. In hindsight I should have taken the easiest courses/professors possible. Raising it significantly is going to take more than a year. I want to be in med school in the shortest amount of time possible.

 

[drizzt3117]

The reason for my low GPA is taking 18-20 hrs and 4 science classes per semester. I came into college trying to do too much. I now have 123 hrs of solid 3.1. I have done upper-division chemistry and biology. In hindsight I should have taken the easiest courses/professors possible. Raising it significantly is going to take more than a year. I want to be in med school in the shortest amount of time possible.

I suppose that makes sense.