I'd have to say Baylor College of Medicine, Penn, or UCLA
Here's why:
18. Baylor College of Medicine*________________
First Year Student Budget: In State: $30,048, Out of State: $43,148
Score: 3
Financial Aid/etc
: Baylor College of Medicine Loan (low interest loans from a very very large endowment), several merit based scholarships, several need based scholarships, sidebar: pretty much all the minorities who attend Baylor receive a full ride (b/c of Dr. James Phillips), access to Texas Medical Association (TMA) loans if you are (or become) a Texas resident, % of students receiving financial aid: 83%, Average amount per scholarship/grant: $8,747, Average 2006 graduate indebtedness: $77,663 (omg soooooooooooo nice) Score: 5.75 (b/c look at that average indebtedness
.nice
just keep in mind majority of class is from Texas)
Curriculum/etc
: Very modernized curriculum designed to allow students to pursue specialized interests (primary care, specializing care, research science, academic medicine, medicine and public health policy). Begin with system based basic science lectures, small group seminars, integration of PBL and case based learning, early early patient contact
learning how to conduct physicals, take history, etc
(i.e allows for the integration of clinical and pre-clinical sciences throughout all four years). Basic science track completed in 1.5 years (nice), Modernized aids to student learning, simulation examination rooms, have access to several electives beginning in first year (nice). Clinical Clerkships last for 2.5 years technically (awesome): Medicine (12 weeks), Surgery (8 weeks), Group A Selectives (Opthalmology, Orthopaedic Surgery, Otorhinolaryngology, Urology
choose two of these)
(total 4 weeks w/ each of your two selections being 2 weeks), Psychiatry (8 weeks), Neurology (4 weeks), Pediatrics (8 weeks), OB/GYN (8 weeks), Family and Community Medicine (4 weeks), also have Group B selectives (Anesthesiology, Clinical Nutrition, Geriatrics, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Dermatology, Genetics, Plastic Surgery, Neurosurgery
As part of curriculum have other integrated clinical components that are meant to enhance the med student experience outside of the classroom (part of the Clinical Half Day): 1.Clinical Application of Biomedical Sciences (CABS), 2. Longitudinal Ambulatory Care Experience (LACE), 3. Mechanism and Management of Disease (MMD)
awesome, other electives available as well. Fourth year best characterized by a significant flexibility
many of the people I know from Rice who attended Baylor often had several months off in their fourth year. International Clerkships readily available and very organized (many selections). Community service requirement, Research/Thesis optional. Five specialized curriculum tracks available for people who have an interest in pursuing a particular facet of medicine: 1. Research Track, 2. Ethics Track, 3. International Health Track, 4. Geriatrics Track, 5. Care of the Underserved Track (this is awesome
If I miraculously get accepted I will be attending for sure). Grading Scale: The fall semester of first year grading is based on a 2 interval scale (Pass/Fail), all other semesters (the other 3.5 years) involve a 5 tier grading system (Honors/High Pass/Pass/Marginal Pass/Fail)
Score: 15+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ (my most favorite curriculum so far)
#Affiliated Hospitals/Facilities: I must first say that Texas Medical Center is the largest medical center in the world
and it is niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiicceee
so I am practically already sold
anyway...back to the calculations: 17 hospitals and an array of specialized clinics and facilities
.but Texas Medical Center includes a gazillion more hospitals Score: 9
Selection Factors (uggggghhh): Private, Rolling Admissions, Heavy State preference (approx 80% for in-state residents
dang it), the school is so good and Texas has snagged them up!!!!! I hate Texas
just kidding!!!! Avg. GPA: 3.77, Overall Median GPA: 3.85, Science Median GPA: 3.84 (ugggghhhh), Avg. MCAT: 33.96 (11.32 in each section), Median MCAT: 35Q (Ranges: V: 4 15, P: 7 15, B: 7 15, writing: K T). 4220 applications for 664 interview slots. my four positives are that I attended Rice and did well for the most part (except in first semester freshman year
grrrrrrrr), I attended the MMEP at Baylor and Received a scholarship to attend a health disparities conference (sponsored by Rice and Baylor) in D.C, I know Dr. Phillips, I am a minority
but even still Score: 4 (only b/c of the positives that I do have).
Diversity: 24% URM, 56% minority Score: 15++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Dual Degree Options: MD/MBA (at Rice might I add), MD/MPH, MD/PhD, MD/MS Score: 7
Student Support: Very very very strong Office of Recruitment, Retention, & Minority Opportunities that has sponsored many programs and initiatives, such as the Underrepresented Minority Initiatives (this was implemented by Dr. Phillips
I know this guy
hes really awesome), Education Resource Center, tutorial assistance, reading and study skills counseling, peer counseling groups, Pre-Clinical Resource Network
part of career counseling, very diverse collection of student run organizations
including the SNMA, current TMC library across the street from the school, building a new large health science library and museum (The Michael E. DeBakey Library and Museum)
.nice nice nice
modernized aids available meant to support learning Score: 6.75
Housing: No housing specific to only BCM students
however there are three primary apartment complexes designated for students, faculty, and staff working in the Texas Medical Center (it is pretty nice)
so it is basically like off-campus affiliated, plenty of on campus housing immediately surrounding the school and medical center
many students live in Archstone Medical Center Apartments b/c students get a nice discount and is right on the light rail (so are so many other apartment complexes)
.very affordable (basically you can a nice 1 bedroom apartment in a gated community in very safe area for less than $800) than so in this case it is basically very ideal Score: 6
Location: Texas Medical Center is the ideal location (you can tell that this is my favorite school so far
but I also know the most about it
b/c Rice is right across the street), Houston is extremely diverse like Philly
diverse patient population
and through Baylor you will have access to medical facilities in the same area where getting by medicine and high-tech medicine are being practiced. Houston is the 4th largest city
gets hot and nasty in the summer and fall
mild to cold temps in the winter
springtime is like Los Angeles (I love LA
hahahahahaha) Score: 5
Class Size: 168 (25% of interviewees attend Baylor
and a larger percentage of interviewees are accepted) Score: 4.25
Residency Match List: 44% entered primary care residency programs, 56% enter specialist residency programs
Volunteer/Research Opportunities: Baylor College of Medicine Sponsors several community initiatives ranging from healthcare to education (two of the most important, fundamental needs of any individual)., opened the Childrens Cancer Clinic in south Texas, Baylor International Pediatric AIDS initiative, Sponsor the DeBakey High School for Health Professions (my sister attended this school). In addition, many student run organizations actively organize volunteer opportunities and maintain affiliations with organizations, such as Operation Smile
and more. Research: Initiatives for Minority Student Development, several research centers and institutes, currently have one large biomedical building, in addition to the many other research centers and labs on campus, a new companion biomedical research building is currently being built that will be dedicated solely to Cardiovascular sciences, Diabetes and metabolic disease, Cancer, Pharmacogenomics, Imaging, and Informatics and Proteomics, plenty of student research opportunities (both summer and extended year long opportunities), research track option as part of the curriculum
involves mentored research, total research support: $374 million, Total NIH funding: $248,451,313 (rank 11th), Total NIH research grant awards: $229,839,778....these were last year's numbers and have to be updated Score: 11++++
Miscellaneous: For me I think Baylor is the ideal place for me
The good thing is that I know a lot of people at Baylor, Rice is strongly affiliated with the institution (they do a lot of close joint research), and I did the MMEP at Baylor, a lot of my friends are there
great website, very traditional students (average age is a little younger than 23 b/c of all the students who enter immediately after undergrad) Score: 3
Total Score: NO FULL SCORE ASSIGNED UNTIL ALL SCHOOLS COMPLETED
HELPS PREVENT ANY POSSIBLE INLETS FOR BIAS
