Western University MSMS/MSBS Program

[MSMsong]

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Hey guys, thinking about applying to Western University's MSMS and MSBS programs since Western is my top choice for DO school and I really want to stay in Southern California (born and raised in SoCal). I have a bunch of questions regarding the program and my fit so any insight would be much appreciated!

I graduated from a top 10 public university in 2020 and my stats are cGPA 3.27, AACOMAS sGPA 3.18 and I'll be starting Princeton Review MCAT bootcamp in a couple weeks and taking my MCAT in January. Both my c/s GPAs are low but I have a solid upward cGPA trend going for me (fresh = 2.39, soph = 2.76, junior = 3.45, senior = 3.82, post bacc = 4.0). I've only taken 6 classes in my post bacc at UCLA Extension (o chem series, microbio, biochem, physio) but it's what I've done since I had to work.

Here are the extra curriculars I've done after I graduated:
Work as a medical scribe and assistant at an MD practice ~ 1500 hours
Shadow a DO doctor (graduate of Western COM)
Volunteer at a community center tutoring and leading fitness classes for underserved kids
Volunteer at church's children's ministry leading small groups
Volunteer with hometown city's Fire/police department for community major disaster preparation

Here are some relevant extra curriculars I did in college:
Research assistant in neuroscience lab with publication on paper about medical imaging ~500 hours
ER hospital volunteer
Yoga instructor

Here are my questions, any insight is greatly appreciated!

QUESTION 1
MSMS applications close February 15, 2022
MSBS are open now but the website doesn't specify when the application closes
Western U says that applications are rolling. I'm planning on taking my MCAT in January 2022, should I apply early next cycle or risk it applying really late this cycle? I really want to apply just once if at all possible so I'm not opposed to waiting if my chances will be greatly improved later on.

QUESTION 2
I know MSMS is 1 year long compared to MSBS which is 2 years long. I've also read on SDN that MSMS provides some degree of linkage if the staff like you and you maintain a certain GPA and get over a certain score on your MCAT. Is this true? If so, does MSBS offer a similar linkage to the COM?

QUESTION 3
For letters of recommendation, I am lucky enough to have 5 people who are willing to write me amazing letters, which 2 should I grab? Western U highly recommends a letter from a science professor so I will for sure be using one from my physio or biochem professor.
Doctor at work (MD), doctor I shadow (DO that went to Western), physio professor (MD), biochem professor, research PI (from college)

QUESTION 4
For the personal statement Western is asking applicants to write about "career plans and interests in applying to MSBS/MSMS program" for people who were accepted into the program, how much did your personal statement change from the general med school "why medicine" prompt?

QUESTION 5
Western U is my top choice for DO school so ideally I would end up there. If I score > 510 on the MCAT should I just apply directly to DO schools rather than apply to MSMS/MSBS and if I score 500 - 510 on MCAT apply to the Western masters program?

Those are all the questions I have right now. Any insight is much appreciated, thank you everyone!

 

[BerkReviewTeach]

Hey guys, thinking about applying to Western University's MSMS and MSBS programs since Western is my top choice for DO school and I really want to stay in Southern California (born and raised in SoCal). I have a bunch of questions regarding the program and my fit so any insight would be much appreciated!

I graduated from a top 10 public university in 2020 and my stats are cGPA 3.27, AACOMAS sGPA 3.18 and I'll be starting Princeton Review MCAT bootcamp in a couple weeks and taking my MCAT in January. Both my c/s GPAs are low but I have a solid upward cGPA trend going for me (fresh = 2.39, soph = 2.76, junior = 3.45, senior = 3.82, post bacc = 4.0). I've only taken 6 classes in my post bacc at UCLA Extension (o chem series, microbio, biochem, physio) but it's what I've done since I had to work.

Here are the extra curriculars I've done after I graduated:
Work as a medical scribe and assistant at an MD practice ~ 1500 hours
Shadow a DO doctor (graduate of Western COM)
Volunteer at a community center tutoring and leading fitness classes for underserved kids
Volunteer at church's children's ministry leading small groups
Volunteer with hometown city's Fire/police department for community major disaster preparation

Here are some relevant extra curriculars I did in college:
Research assistant in neuroscience lab with publication on paper about medical imaging ~500 hours
ER hospital volunteer
Yoga instructor

Here are my questions, any insight is greatly appreciated!

QUESTION 1
MSMS applications close February 15, 2022
MSBS are open now but the website doesn't specify when the application closes
Western U says that applications are rolling. I'm planning on taking my MCAT in January 2022, should I apply early next cycle or risk it applying really late this cycle? I really want to apply just once if at all possible so I'm not opposed to waiting if my chances will be greatly improved later on.

QUESTION 2
I know MSMS is 1 year long compared to MSBS which is 2 years long. I've also read on SDN that MSMS provides some degree of linkage if the staff like you and you maintain a certain GPA and get over a certain score on your MCAT. Is this true? If so, does MSBS offer a similar linkage to the COM?

QUESTION 3
For letters of recommendation, I am lucky enough to have 5 people who are willing to write me amazing letters, which 2 should I grab? Western U highly recommends a letter from a science professor so I will for sure be using one from my physio or biochem professor.
Doctor at work (MD), doctor I shadow (DO that went to Western), physio professor (MD), biochem professor, research PI (from college)

QUESTION 4
For the personal statement Western is asking applicants to write about "career plans and interests in applying to MSBS/MSMS program" for people who were accepted into the program, how much did your personal statement change from the general med school "why medicine" prompt?

QUESTION 5
Western U is my top choice for DO school so ideally I would end up there. If I score > 510 on the MCAT should I just apply directly to DO schools rather than apply to MSMS/MSBS and if I score 500 - 510 on MCAT apply to the Western masters program?

Those are all the questions I have right now. Any insight is much appreciated, thank you everyone!

Question 1: Ask someone in admissions at Western. They are amazing at getting back to people with sincere, well-thougth answers. You'll get a much better answer from them than online.

Question 3: That is a great packet of letters. It hits everything in terms of where letters should come from. Just a small heads up about a letter from Dr. Siani. EVERYONE loves him, because he's an amazing professor. He's very personable and makes everyone feel special. EVERYONE thinks he's the perfect person to ask for a letter of rec. I'm not sure if you had his biochem class downtown, in Bunche, or online (because of COVID). Think about how many students were in your class and then double it for his two locations, and then multiply that by the number of quarters he teaches each year. That is a ton of LoRs. You might want to consider a different second science letter that will be more personal.

 

[MSMsong]

Question 1: Ask someone in admissions at Western. They are amazing at getting back to people with sincere, well-thougth answers. You'll get a much better answer from them than online.

Question 3: That is a great packet of letters. It hits everything in terms of where letters should come from. Just a small heads up about a letter from Dr. Siani. EVERYONE loves him, because he's an amazing professor. He's very personable and makes everyone feel special. EVERYONE thinks he's the perfect person to ask for a letter of rec. I'm not sure if you had his biochem class downtown, in Bunche, or online (because of COVID). Think about how many students were in your class and then double it for his two locations, and then multiply that by the number of quarters he teaches each year. That is a ton of LoRs. You might want to consider a different second science letter that will be more personal.

Thanks for the response, I’ll definitely reach out to Western admissions to discuss my fit!

 

[MedSun]

Hello!
Current MSMSer here🙂
Your stats are great! I would definitely suggest applying early, since they are looking at your overall application, not just the MCAT score.
Last year, people were admitted even without the MCAT.

And between MSMS and MSBS- I would definitely choose MSMS. It's a linkage program to COMP, MSBS is newer and more research based.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

 

[clinical999]

Hello!
Current MSMSer here🙂
Your stats are great! I would definitely suggest applying early, since they are looking at your overall application, not just the MCAT score.
Last year, people were admitted even without the MCAT.

And between MSMS and MSBS- I would definitely choose MSMS. It's a linkage program to COMP, MSBS is newer and more research based.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

can you send me a pm? have some questions about the msms program