U Miami Students/Applicants: What about Boca Raton?

[Bartelby]

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I am filling out my secondary application for the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, and I now have the option to apply either to the Miami campus, the Boca Raton Campus, or both. I read over the descriptions of each place on the website, and I was much more impressed by the Miami campus (Boca Raton seems to put a huge emphasis on "physicianship skills"-- for example, according to their website second year 40% of your time is devoted to learning basic sciences and 60% is dedicated to "integrated patient care" and a "physicianship skills course" 😱). My question is this: for those of you with more experience with or insight about Miller, should I apply to Boca Raton as well? What advantages are there to each setting?

Also, to put this in context, I am an out of state applicant with an interest in Emergency Medicine. Thanks in advance for any advice!

 

[canedoc]

Hi, good luck in the apps process. I just finished my 2nd year at the Miami campus, and from what I can tell the people at Boca really like their program. Your first two years are going to be spent studying a lot, as you well know, so in terms of any differences between the two places...it would really depend on how much you put into it and what you want to get out of it.

If you are planning on trying to do some extra shadowing etc and you are interested in EM, you might want to be down at the Miami campus. There are a few research opportunities in EM at the trauma center that you might be able to get involved with if you decide to go. Also, being in Miami proper will allow you to be better integrated with the campus and also allow you to go to the med school social events more easily. However, if you want 2 years of quality education, you can't beat either place, but you'll definitely have a quieter lifestyle in Boca. Either way you're not making a bad choice, it just depends on whether you want your first 2 years to be in a different location than your last 2. You will have to drive to the Miami campus for certain physicianship skills things from time to time, but it isn't a big hassle from what I have heard.

That being said, if you're really set on the school and want to be a part of all the changes that are going on here, I would put both down and see where you get placed. If I could do it over I think I would have liked to try the Boca part. The facilities are amazing and the area is very wealthy and safe.

Good luck!

 

[QofQuimica]

I am filling out my secondary application for the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, and I now have the option to apply either to the Miami campus, the Boca Raton Campus, or both. I read over the descriptions of each place on the website, and I was much more impressed by the Miami campus (Boca Raton seems to put a huge emphasis on "physicianship skills"-- for example, according to their website second year 40% of your time is devoted to learning basic sciences and 60% is dedicated to "integrated patient care" and a "physicianship skills course" 😱). My question is this: for those of you with more experience with or insight about Miller, should I apply to Boca Raton as well? What advantages are there to each setting?

Also, to put this in context, I am an out of state applicant with an interest in Emergency Medicine. Thanks in advance for any advice!

You're applying anyway; what do you have to lose by adding both campuses? I don't think they even charge anything extra to apply to both. It's hard to know what you'd like best until you get there and see them both for yourself; I was just blown away by the FAU campus and preferred it over the main campus. Other people feel more comfortable with a larger, more traditional program. Check them both out, and see where you feel most comfortable yourself. Best of luck to you with your apps. 🙂

 

[Bartelby]

Thanks canedoc and QofQuimica, applying to Boca as well sounds like solid advice. I am going to go ahead and apply to both. I hope I get a response from one or the other, as Miami seems like a spectacular program. If anyone else out there has more advice or input, let me know-- I am pretty much gathering information from the web about these programs because I don't have the cash to make the trip out.

 

[Old ortho]

My suggestion is put down both the Miami and Boca campus on your application. It does not cost any extra. Once you get an interview, go to both campuses and see for yourself.

 

[limpkitty]

It's not exactly like applying to two different schools. If you put down both, then they will assign you to one or the other, you don't get to choose. I only applied to the miami campus because I'd rather live in Miami. So only put down both if you don't have a preference, I doubt it gives you much of an advantage in terms of admissions chances.

 

[nskittles57]

It's not exactly like applying to two different schools. If you put down both, then they will assign you to one or the other, you don't get to choose. I only applied to the miami campus because I'd rather live in Miami. So only put down both if you don't have a preference, I doubt it gives you much of an advantage in terms of admissions chances.

I agree with limpkitty, you don't get a choice so apply where you know you want to be. I am only applying to the Miami campus because I want the inner-city experience I wouldn't get at Boca...I am sure they are both amazing programs but apply to the area where you see yourself liking the most. If you have decent stats applying to both won't help you that much if you really wanted to go to Miami in the first place...but if you are a little below who knows applying to both may increase your chances!

 

[greg1184]

It's not exactly like applying to two different schools. If you put down both, then they will assign you to one or the other, you don't get to choose. I only applied to the miami campus because I'd rather live in Miami. So only put down both if you don't have a preference, I doubt it gives you much of an advantage in terms of admissions chances.

Not true. They don't pick for you. Each school is independent of each other in terms of admissions.

How do I apply to the regional campus?
When you fill out your supplemental application for the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine you will be asked to indicate whether you prefer to attend the regional campus in Boca Raton, the Miami campus, or that you have no preference. Applicants who choose the Boca Raton Campus will be considered only for admission at the regional campus. Those who list the Miami campus will be considered only for admission to the campus in Miami. Those applicants who list no preference will be considered independently for admission to either campus.

http://www6.miami.edu/UMH/CDA/UMH_Main/0,1770,2600-1;14190-2;47735-3,00.html

 

[canedoc]

Feel free to ask any questions, PM or forum

 

[greg1184]

Anyway, I agree with the other posters. It doesn't hurt to put "no preference" and have another school on your list.

 

[Old ortho]

Dr. Hinkley, the dean of Admissions at Miami, said that if you apply to both campuses and you are accepted by either campus but you like the other campus, you can either accept it and being placed on waitlist for the other campus, or you can refuse it and wait for the next opening.

I suggest apply to both campuses; it doesn't cost any extra. I applied to both campuses for the 2007 cycle. When I was invited for an interview to both campuses, I only went to the Miami campus since I did not have time to go to see the Boca campus. I was placed on alternate list and eventually accepted to the Miami campus. Now if they told me at that time that there was an opening at the Boca campus only and nothing available at Miami campus, I would accept the offer and put myself on waitlist for the Miami campus. I was accepted by another med school when they called, but I withdrew since Miami has a great and dynamic program and I really wanted to come here!