Hello all!
I am trying to decide which SMP programs to apply and go to, and I need your help deciding which programs are right for me! (or if I should do something other than a SMP)
Here's a little background info:
I have a
3.49 cGPA and 3.37 BCPM with a 30N (9V 10P 11B). I took a gap year and it is looking like it will be unsucessful. (I did not apply early or broadly enough
) I have well rounded ECs except most of my clinical experience I didn't do until my gap year. So, I'm applying for a second time (early!) and am planning on doing an SMP during this application cycle.
So far I have been accepted to Loyola's MAMS and RFU's BMS programs. Which one should I pick??? Also, should I apply to other SMP programs? Are there other ones that would be a good fit, such as Georgetown's, BU's, or U of Cincinatti, Tufts, or Temple? Does anyone know anything about these programs?
Any advice would be a huge help. Here is what I know about Loyola MAMS and RFU BMS (I am leaning towards RFU BMS):
Loyola MAMS
-One year MA in Medical Science
-A respected and well-known program (something to consider in light of admissions committees reviewing my app for med school)
-All classes are graduate classes taught by medical faculty, classes are independent of med schools classes and are not graded on a curve.
-Courtesy interview at Loyola med if I get a 3.5 or above.
-The school encourages students to submit an AMCAS AFTER completing the MAMS program and not concurrently. The school offers a committee letter of recommendation and advising services if I apply for the cycle after completing the MAMS program.
-I was told by a few different sources that the linkage to Loyola med is not very strong. The MAMS office claims to not have any statistic on how many students get accepted/choose to go to Loyola.
-The office claims that 80-90% of students end up in medical school sometime after completing the program (MD/DO)
Rosalind Franklin BMS
-One year MS in Biomedical Science with a certificate in Healthcare Administration and Management
-Med school classes are taken with medical students and are graded on the same curve.
-Grad school classes are taken online.
-The program encourages students to apply to med school concurrently with the program, but does not offer a committee letter of recommendation.
-The linkage to the RFU med school is strong. I was told by the office and by others that if students get a B average or higher (3.0+?) then acceptance to the program is "pretty much garunteed" as long as I am a good applicant in all other respects.
-Also, if I decide to attend the RFU med school, then I do not have to re-take the med schools classes that I took in the BMS program. Furthermore, I can take a few more graduate classes (online) along with the rest of my M1 courses and receive a 2nd masters degree. It would convert my certificate in Healthcare Administration and Management into an MS. (I think this would look great for residency)
Any help would be huge!!! Thanks