UCB-UCSF Joint Medical Program

[olivier]

---

Members don't see this ad.

Hello,
I will be applying this summer to med schools... I was wondering if any of you have any information about the UCB-UCSF JMP... I'm especially interested in hearing about the the curriculum and interviewees' experiences. Does any one know how many people they interview and accept? Is there an in-state advantage? Thank you guys for your help. Congrats on recent acceptances!!!!

Great Forum by the way 🙂

 

[Pgn'DocSam]

Hi Oliver,

I can offer you a little insight, my gf is part of the HMS class of 2004/MD 2006 and I interviewed for their program back in the day. According to my gf, the curriculum is organ-based pbl and small-group discussions. Sprinkled in the mix are some required and elective classes for the MS. Anatomy, radiological correlates and a course in research is taught during the summer preceeding the first year. I interviewed there the day after interviewing for the UCSF regular program and found everyone rather friendly and easy-going. I don't think there is an in-state advantage, though its in your best interest to be a Cali resident before applying. My gf's classmates seem pretty diverse given that there's only 12 of them, but neither of us know exactly how many they interview and how many acceptances they send out. If it helps, I interviewed in early January and put on waitlist 8 weeks later, my gf interviewed in October and accepted in December. The only other thing I can offer is that the class my gf is part of seems to be really accomplished, I mean all medical students have achieved many things in life, but these guys are real overachievers. My gf was asked at her interview there how she could do everything she stated in her application and one interviewer actually added up all the hours from her various activities.

 

[olivier]

Thank's for the reply!

Anyone else with info 🙂 ?

 

[jayzway]

Hi,

Would you mind explaining what the program is? Thanks!

 

[souljah1]

The UCSF-UCB program is a joint program where, after five year, you graduate with a M.S from UC Berkeley and an M.D. from UCSF. The first three years (the preclinical years) are spent across the bay in Berkeley where 12 students learn the material required for clerkships (and step 1 of the boards) pretty much exclusively with PBL. They have clinical coursework as well that grants them early exposure to interviewing patients, physical examinations, etc. A large part of the third year is about getting your Master's Thesis in order and preparing for Step 1 of the boards. After completing the three years at Berkeley, most move over here for clerkships and fourth year. It seems like an interesting program and I contemplated applying to it, but decided that I wasn't really into that philosophy so much.

I guess the major differences between the UCSF and the UCSF-UCB programs are class size and proximity to the hospitals. I don't think I'd be as happy as I am with my class of 140 if I were to have to be in a class of 12. Yes, you'd become incredibly close with those people, but I really appreciate having a fairly large class of people. We have small group sessions with around 12 people and if my whole preclinical education was like my small group, I don't think I'd get as much out of my education. Secondly, I think there is something to be said about attending a school that is attached to a large teaching hospital. Not only are there more opportunities to shadow as first years, but I think that spending time around a campus that is in a large health care center was something that I was looking for. Many of our clinical lectures are given by the heads of their respective departments. It is pretty cool to have the head of the cardiac catheterization lab give you a lecture on care of the acutely ill cardiac patients, etc. The pathology department here is amazing, and I have been really impressed with the faculty who have lectured us. Faculty from the VA and SFGH also lecture quite a bit. I don't know, I just think being closer to all of the UCSF-based hospitals has many advantages.

I have a very good friend who is in her third year of the UCB progam and she liked it, but I think that I wouldn't enjoy it as much.

If you want a M.S., enjoy the idea of spending three years with 11 other people, and really really like PBL without many lectures - then go for it.

 

[olivier]

Thank's Souljah for your perspective!

 

[aznwangsta]

Hi Olivier,

I interviewed for JMP early March. I was told ~19 are accepted out of ~60 interviees from pool of ~300 for a class of 12.
You already have a bit of info on UCB-UCSF program already, so I'll give you my interview perspective.
This program is definitely unique; even the interview day was different than any other place I interviewed at. You're the only applicant for the day. In the morning, Dr. Breckler or another admissions faculty member briefs you on the program. She explains how the curriculum works and everything. This isn't an interview so you can ask anything you want.
Then you have two interviews with JMP faculty member. I had a pediatrician and a gastroenterologist. The pediatrician was a JMP graduate years ago, and she had lots of really good things to say about the program. The gastroenterologist was very thorough and inquisitive, and was disappointed when we had to stop for the second interview. He made sure I knew what I was getting myself into, with PBL being the main form of learning. I was really impressed by the both of them, and their devotion to JMP.
What really helped was that I asked Ronnie London, the JMP Student Affairs lady, who is the nicest person you can meet, for a student contact. She gave me email for a current JMPer, and he was very helpful before I came onto the Berkeley campus. It was a lot of fun to meet him in person having exchanged quite a few emails of q's I had.
After the interviews I stopped by an actual PBL for half an hour. The first years were incredibly smart, and it was interesting how they were intensely discussing the best diagnostic and therpeutic approach to a case with little information given.
Oh, and after the interview, they take you to an actual restaurant for lunch; no limits on your orders!
Hope this helps give some perspective.

 

[olivier]

Thank's aznwangsta!
Have you heard back from admissions? I hope you will get good news soon- It seems like you really enjoyed your visit... Did you actually interview for the regular UCSF program? I heard that you first had to be selected by UCSF first before your material is forwarded to the JMP.

 

[nitemagi]

I may be able to add a bit more. I interviewed in early february. The program is heavily PBL, working on a case per week, with no information of what section or area the case will fit in(like practice). A faculty advisor sits with you during class for 7 weeks, and advises you along the way. More importantly, if the group is straying from the necessary direction, they will suddenly have a spot lecture from an expert in the field, helping to lead them back in the right direction, such as a cardiologist if you're working on an MI case and having trouble understanding some step in the process. I think the process sounds like a much more stimulating way to assimilate the material, i.e. actually having to think through it. I also attended some of their thesis presentations(I'm local) and their work is really incredible. From abortion access in third world countries to the exposure and radical means of testing pesticide toxicity in farming children, I was deeply inspired. There is definitely a california bias in that you have to get a secondary to UCSF just to apply to the JMP, which is hard enough to get on its own. Though I did hear from an outside source of someone who applied just to the JMP through the school of Public Health at Berkeley and was accepted that way, without having to go through AMCAS at all.

 

[olivier]

Thank's ntimagi! Wow! The more I learn about the JMP, the more I think this could definitely be one of my top choices... Good luck everyone!

 

[aznwangsta]

still waiting for response, they said I may know 2nd or 3rd week of April...I was on 'hold' for regular UCSF, which I think they already stopped interviewing🙁 I think many JMPers were accepted to both and chose JMP. So I dunno...hopefully my interview impressed them sufficiently so I won't be rejected or waitlisted (am curious to know how many get off the waitlist).
Good luck Olivier!

 

[LoneCoyote]

This is a great thread since I had never seen a discussion of this program before. I will be applying this June and the JMP program is definitely at the top of my list. I met a current student in the program this summer and she had nothing but great things to say about the program and the research she has been able to do. She also said she loves being in the small group because they have all become really close.

Anyway, a question for those of you who have applied/interviewed. How solid were you about your area of interest for research? When you apply are you expected to have a specific project in mind or else general areas that you would like to explore? Thanks and good luck 🙂

 

[nitemagi]

My impression, and I did have many specifics in mind as possibilities beforehand, is that it's best to have some exposure so you may have ideas, but most important is that you know that you want to do research. My essay particularly emphasized why it was such a great fit, because Berkeley has such great resources, but also that I want to do some research in my career, but not so much to do a separate Ph.D. They want to know you want to do the master's work, not just the PBL. Keep in mind you can end up working with anyone at Berkeley, at even professionals who aren't at Berkeley!

I need a crossed fingers emoticon.

 

[olivier]

Nitemagi,
Did you interview for the UCSF regular program? another poster was saying that many jmp acceptees seemed to have interviewed for the MD program at UCSF... Also, do you guys have any information on the transition to UCSF in the third year? Is it fairly smooth according to students?
Finally do people get waitlisted at such a program? It seems that they would only need to accept or reject people to fill their class...

Thank's again!

 

[nitemagi]

olivier,

I'm not sure I can speak to all those issues. I was on hold for an interview at the main ucsf program, and didn't make that cut. I'm getting over it. 😀 Anway, from what I hear a good many interview at both, but since so many people are waitlisted at UCSF, a lot take the JMP option because it starts in June(so you have to let them know almost immediately). This is what happened to my host student. As for the transition, I'm not sure how smooth it is. I work at UCSF, and I've only spoke with regular med students about it. They say the JMP'ers end up being a little cliqueish by that point, and can have some trouble reintegrating. But I don't think that's the rule. Keep in mind it's FIVE year program, meaning you don't go to UCSF until After your third year. See above for waitlisting.

 

[MaybeMD]

Can someone post a link to some information on this program. I have never heard of it and it sounds real interesting!

 

[chinchilla]

hi all,

i'm presently a second year in the ucb/ucsf jmp- it was by far my top choice when i was applying to med schools, and i speak the truth when i say that i love it more every day! here is the <a href="http://jmp.berkeley.edu"> jmp website </a>. i've also replied to previous posts over the last couple of years regarding the jmp; i think you can do a search for "joint medical program" and the old threads will pop up. to address olivier's question, i and many of my classmates also got into ucsf's regular md program and chose the jmp over it; i'd definitely make the same choice again, hands-down, if i were given the chance. i've PM'ed with several of his year's interviewees who are on SDN (interviews for this cycle, incidentally, are over as of a couple weeks ago), and i do try to pop in here from time to time, but if you have a question about the jmp that doesn't get addressed, do feel free to PM me 🙂

 

[olivier]

Hi,
Can anyone comment on what the committee looks for in an applicant?
Thank's.

 

[aznwangsta]

Hey is there any UCSF-UCB JMP interviewees accepted from the High Priority list???