Which SMP/Masters would you choose? Midwestern, Tulane, UNT

[akwizeguy]

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I got accepted to the Midwestern CCOM Masters Biomedical Sci program. I Need some help on decision making for future plans in an SMP- need all of your guys help!


Doing UH postbac, reside in Houston TX
Extensive Shadowing, volunteer work
Research assistant @ UT Med school houston

I also applied to:

• UNT/TCOM SMP- Masters Medical Science Program
• Tulane University- SMP Masters Pharmacology
• Tulane University- SMP Masters Cell & Molecular Biology
• University Texas Houston Grad School BioScience- Traditional Masters Pharmacology/ Cancer Bio

Pros and Cons of each, in my regard:
Midwestern University CCOM (SMP) Masters Biomed Science
Pros:
-Based on quarter System- gets grades out faster to med schools Ive applied to
-2 year- Thesis based masters
-Courses taken as Masters, are able to transfer over to CCOM program if accepted
-Some Classes taken with DO students at CCOM- unclear as to how many though
Cons:
-In Chicago (Im from Houston, TX)
-tuition: approx. $23,000
-Masters in Biomedical Science (for a Plan B- What can I do with this type of degree as in finding work?)
-CCOM uses AACOMAS- more beneficial for me for retake grades

Tulane University- Masters Pharmacology/ Cell & Molecular Biology
Pros:
-SMP
-1 year (Non-Thesis) Masters- good and bad
-Would recieve Masters in Pharm or CMB- (if I dont get into a school, Ill have a masters in a field to get a job with- Plan B)
-Clinical rotations at local hospitals
-Tuition: $9750 a semester- year- $19500
-Great faculty- as listed on their web page
-Seems like a solid cirriculum- Clinical and research options available
-More reputable school than Midwestern
-Linkage to Tulane School of Med

Cons:
-One year Non thesis based- bad in that as a Plan B option, I dont think a one year non thesis based masters seems as solid as a thesis based one
-Based on Semester system- (slower to get grades out)

UNT/TCOM- Masters Medical Science
Pros:
-SMP?- Ive heard it referred as one and sometimes not- anyone clarify?
-In Texas- closer to the girlfriend- family etc
-linkage to TCOM
-One year- A pro because if accepted get me into Med school faster
-Tuition: approx $4460- for Texas residents
-As far as I have found you take only Anatomy with Med Students- gross anatomy with cadavers, histology, and embryology
-Guarantee Interview with TCOM with GPA 3.5 in program

Cons:
-Masters in Medical Science- As Plan B option, What work can I find with this
-Not much clinical aspect in program- as indicated by other SDN posters
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Other Info found on SDN for UNT/TCOM program:
* Deadline for App: March 24th; announce decisions by April 21st - this means NO rolling admissions, so it's not too late
* Stats for last year: Average GPA = 3.3, MCAT = 26, Applicants = 180; Accepted = 55
* Cost: Summer $2745 (6418) Fall $1978 (6346) Spring $2453 (7830) - () is out of state tuition
* Send in Financial Aid to UNTHSC right now! School code is 009768 or just look up UNTHSC in Fort Worth, TX
* Summer: starts with biochem, biostats, MCAT prep, and doctor mentoring/preceptorship - since the shadowing is a class, you have to go, but they recommend shadowing other physicians as well
* End of Fall: if you have 3.8 GPA, TCOM sends you in invite. Otherwise, you can still get interviews as a separate candidate from TMDSAS, at least from what I understood
* Spring: Anatomy is with med students from TCOM - We get to dissect our own cadaver
* If you think you make the 3.5 GPA at the end of the Spring, you have until June to decide with TCOM, I think
* TMDSAS Match is independent of the GSBS offer with the 3.5 GPA deal - actually not sure what they meant by this
* Typical week - Mon: Test day (no test = no class) Tues-Fri: Fall: 8-10am and 2 night classes, Spring: 8-9am and Anatomy scheduled throughout
* What if I don't get into med school during the program? Two choices mentioned: clinical management studies (6 extra months) or clinical research team (1 year+); during this time, apply again while working, but the whole 3.5 GPA deal is done

University of Texas HSC Houston- GSBS- MAsters Pharmacology/ or Cancer Biology
Pros:
-In houston, less cost incurred for me
-Know alot of faculty from working in a research lab there for 2 years
-In Texas Medical Center- Wonderful opportunities here
-Tuition very reasonable for Texas residents
-Thesis Based- 2 year
-A more solid Masters for Plan B

Cons:
-Traditional Masters- Not an SMP
-No Linkage aspect
-Not advertised as getting people into Medical school, but Ive spoken with alot of grad students there, and there are alot of PhD students that drop down to a Masters and enter medical school that way from this program

Plan B: If Not able to get into a school after program, Use the Masters degree to find a job or go PhD depending

Thats all I can think of, what would you guys choose based on the above criteria?

 

[akwizeguy]

anyone care to comment?

 

[Vihsadas]

The third one is definitely out in my opinion because its a traditional masters. Of the second two, which one has the better linkage?

 

[Isoprop]

i didn't read your post (sorry it was long), but tulane hands down. high(est?) linkage + 1 year non-thesis. congrats on your acceptance.

 

[Isoprop]

I think you´re confusing Tulane SMPs. Tulane has 4 different SMPs. OP, Tulane ACP is, in my opinion, the best program out there, and Tulane Pharm is also excellent. Both have very high linkages to Tulane Med school. I think Tulane Cell is one of the other 2, which I probably wouldn´t get involved with if you have the option of Pharm or ACP.

My other advice: don´t do a regular masters to get into medical school, and get your MCAT up before your start the SMP. You should break 30 if you possibly can.

sorry, i assumed tulane acp. i guess i should've read the post.

 

[kuraudo]

I think you´re confusing Tulane SMPs. Tulane has 4 different SMPs. OP, Tulane ACP is, in my opinion, the best program out there, and Tulane Pharm is also excellent. Both have very high linkages to Tulane Med school. I think Tulane Cell is one of the other 2, which I probably wouldn´t get involved with if you have the option of Pharm or ACP.

Why do you consider pharm to be a better option than CMB?

They claim similar placement rates. I saw the CMB MS hospital rotations as a plus, and also the option to take gross anatomy with human cadaver lab. The pharm program seems very legit too though...

I agree that ACP trumps all though, so hopefully I'll (at least) be wait-listed when my time comes.

 

[TyrKinase]

(You might get more responses about Tulane's programs by making a new thread as this one is pretty old...)

ACP student here, also was accepted to the Pharm program.

It's generally understood that the acceptance rates to medical schools from SMPs are what make them 'good' or 'bad'. In the past, Tulane's Pharm program got a pretty significant number of people into Tulane (and other schools, too) and as such, it was considered a 'good' SMP. The Cell and Molecular Bio masters wasn't as productive in that sense, although some still earned places at Tulane and other medical schools.

If you're interested in Tulane in particular, I wouldn't bank on much other than ACP because there have been rumors that Dean Sachs is trying to cut down on the number of back doors into the medical school.

Good luck!

 

[faith2]

Tulane!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[kuraudo]

(You might get more responses about Tulane's programs by making a new thread as this one is pretty old...)

ACP student here, also was accepted to the Pharm program.

It's generally understood that the acceptance rates to medical schools from SMPs are what make them 'good' or 'bad'. In the past, Tulane's Pharm program got a pretty significant number of people into Tulane (and other schools, too) and as such, it was considered a 'good' SMP. The Cell and Molecular Bio masters wasn't as productive in that sense, although some still earned places at Tulane and other medical schools.

If you're interested in Tulane in particular, I wouldn't bank on much other than ACP because there have been rumors that Dean Sachs is trying to cut down on the number of back doors into the medical school.

Good luck!

Thanks.

The reason I asked was because CMB actually claims a higher linkage rate to medical school (90%) than pharm (80%). Both of those figures are on their websites. I'm not trying to argue that CMB is better, because it probably isn't. I am just trying to explain why I am confused.

Also, I am interested in these programs because I am a Louisiana resident and feel that the state schools here, which accept almost exclusively in-state applicants, will be my best shot at an acceptance. These programs would allow me to keep my residency. Does that seem like a decent line of thought?

Thats interesting about Dean Sachs though.

 

[TyrKinase]

It's my understanding that the Cell and Molecular Bio Masters allows you to take only graduate-level courses, as opposed to the Pharm program where students take medical school classes with the medical students.

I have friends who have landed spots at Tulane's medical school from both programs but their undergrad stats ranged from on the non-competitive to competitive without having completed a Masters.

As for keeping your residency, it shouldn't be a problem. If you grew up in LA, attended high school here and your family is still here and you leave to for ~9 months for school, you generally will not be considered a resident of your new state. It's best to check with the LSU-NO and LSU-Shreveport to make sure, but I don't think completing a masters elsewhere would disqualify you.

 

[caseofthemndays]

A couple of points. First of all, not sure what you mean by "rotations at local hospitals." At least in pharm, they don't hand you clinical opportunities. The thesis is also optional, but most people do it. And, the new dean's primary objective is not to cut down on "back door" programs, it is to raise the MCAT standards. So, people who would have gotten in 3 years ago with 28-29's are not going to get in. This year, you need a 30+ to get interviewed....


my 2000 pesos....

 

[Server10]

A couple of points. First of all, not sure what you mean by "rotations at local hospitals." At least in pharm, they don't hand you clinical opportunities. The thesis is also optional, but most people do it. And, the new dean's primary objective is not to cut down on "back door" programs, it is to raise the MCAT standards. So, people who would have gotten in 3 years ago with 28-29's are not going to get in. This year, you need a 30+ to get interviewed....


my 2000 pesos....

But wouldn't that effectively limit the number of accepted students from the pharm. program? I'm not sure what the stats on the pharm program are...but for ACP, Tulane's own website states that 94% were accepted to Tulane School of Medicine within the last 5 years. I'm sure that number would go down if you need a 30+ MCAT simply to get interviewed.

 

[swimchick]

...but for ACP, Tulane's own website states that 94% were accepted to Tulane School of Medicine within the last 5 years. I'm sure that number would go down if you need a 30+ MCAT simply to get interviewed.

Admission to ACP is competitive enough as it is, but there is talk that they are going to have to up their standards (mostly the raise the minimum MCAT score) for admission.

 

[caseofthemndays]

Pharm and ACP are completely different animals. ACP has a "waitlist" requirement. 80% of pharm graduates get into med school, I think I heard something like 5 out of 30 got into Tulane from last year? Someone correct me if I'm wrong....

 

[TyrKinase]

Pharm and ACP are completely different animals. ACP has a "waitlist" requirement. 80% of pharm graduates get into med school, I think I heard something like 5 out of 30 got into Tulane from last year? Someone correct me if I'm wrong....

I think you've nailed it. I did a lot of hunting around on SDN when I applied to the Pharm program in March and it seems that just a few years ago (post-Katrina, but not by much) everyone who applied to Tulane from the Pharm program received an interview. I'm not sure if that's still how it goes these days but that isn't a bad setup.

Also, apparently making your case to Dr. Beckmen also helps if you're set on going to Tulane SOM. If I were in Pharm, I would definitely get to know her before interviews go out.