7 year med vs. 8 year med??

Pre-Med & Medical School Multiple Degree Programs
1

<p>Hey guys! so...I've just started to post on CC...but I've been reading CC forums for a while and would love to get the helpful input that I see so often on this site! </p>

<p>After going through all the extra medicine related essays, getting past the applicant requirements, and doing nerve wrecking interviews at both the undergraduate and med schools, I am extremely happy with each and every one of my acceptances into combined degree programs.</p>

<p>But I've narrowed it down to two. </p>

<p>I've seen many threads on topics debating whether to attend a combined bs/md program so that there is more or less guaranteed admission into a respectable med school, or to attend a more distinguished undergrad school and take the traditional MCAT and cutthroat competition fraught path to a top med school. </p>

<p>But what about 7-year into a good med school vs. 8-year into a great med school? </p>

<p>I'm pretty solid with my decision right now, but I wanted to be 100% certain before I send back my signed acceptance letter. </p>

<p>Drexel University Undergrad with Drexel Medical College is a stellar program with a good med school in an unbeatable location. It has a very structured undergraduate program, with an average MCAT requirement, fairly easily attained GPA requirement, is accelerated to 7 years, and has granted me $17500 per year in merit based scholarships. </p>

<p>Case Western Reserve University's Pre-Professional Scholars Program (PPSP) is an amazing program with a "top 25" med school with a decent campus and a small city feel. PPSP is basically being a regular undergrad student at Case, except you don't have to take the MCATs and have to maintain a 3.6 (which shouldn't be taken lightly at a competitive school like Case) to get into Case's Med school. It is not accelerated, and has given me $26500 in merit based scholarships.</p>

<p>I'm leaning heavily towards Case because of its amazing research opportunities, great med school reputation, and proximity to Cleveland Clinic and Rainbow Babies Pediatric hospital which are both ranked in the top 5 in the nation for hospitals and children's hospitals, respectively.</p>

<p>...But Drexel is a 7 year program, which is also extremely attractive.</p>

<p>Any feedback would be very much appreciated~! =]</p>

2

<p>It's up to you. I'd take the 8-year at case, not because of difference in college quality, but because I don't want to shortchange and hurry up my undergrad college experience (which is where the year in drexel's program comes from)</p>

<p>You seem to really like Case as an undergraduate and medical school, and the nearby hospitals. Off of your post, I'd say you want to go to Case much more than you want to go to Drexel.</p>

<p>Congrats on getting into Case's program; I didn't even get an interview there.
And of course, congrats on getting into Drexel's program as well. I may see you there next year :)</p>

3

<p>Thanks! Congratulations to you, too! I do prefer Case right now, but I feel like a 7-year program is something I should be taking advantage of...because isn't that the main attraction of these programs? You get to your goal more quickly?</p>

4

<p>
[quote]
Thanks! Congratulations to you, too! I do prefer Case right now, but I feel like a 7-year program is something I should be taking advantage of...because isn't that the main attraction of these programs? You get to your goal more quickly?

[/quote]
</p>

<p>not really... given the fact that you will be in school/residency for over a decade, what difference does one year make? Case's program sounds signficantly better than Drexel's, for many reasons which you already seem to understand.</p>

5

<p>Both are good. You will get into a good residency both places. Go where you like (I'd choose Case, though).</p>

6

<p>Oh yeah, I'm sure you can finish a regular major at Case in 3 years if you put the effort into it (or have >30 AP Credits)</p>

7

<p>Thanks for your feedback! Actually, they don't let you accelerate your undergrad anymore...but apparently you can use the time and go abroad or something if you've fulfilled your requirements. Do you know how Case's PPSP compares to Brown PLME, Northwestern HPME, or Rice/Baylor?</p>

8

<p>They're all good. I can't say one is better than the other. I would rank them around the same. They're are all great school. Sure, the US NEWS says some bs about ranking, but it means little.
Also, it's always good to spend sometime abroad and enjoy life before 4 years of hard, hard work!</p>

9

<p>Case definitely. Better medical school, better scholarship, better undergrad (in my opinion). Don't worry about the 7 vs. 8 year, an extra year will make you more mature before medical school anyway...</p>

10

<p>I am a physician who has been in practice for over 25 years. I was a traditional pathway student - 4 yrs undergrad, 4 yrs med school. My med school class had students in an accelerated program. I was envious of them at the time because they were reaching their goal sooner. I am not envious of them any more, because I have come to value the extra year of undergrad to pursue personal interests, and yes, have fun. For some, just that year of growing up is very important. So I am not a fan of accelerated programs.</p>

<p>My kids are in college now. One is ready to graduate and started with >30 AP credits. When he had a single major, I suggested that he could finish early, but never told him that he had to. But then he switched to a double major and needed the year for his engineering classes. The other wants to go to med school. She started with almost 20 AP credits. She is planning on taking a semester abroad -- something she never could have done in an accelerated BA/MD program.</p>

11

<p>That's a really good point. Basically, once your medical school, things go by so quickly. Take the extra courses and interest yourself in various fields.
Also, you can take do a semester abroad in an accelerated program, if you have enough credits (I, for one, had the opportunity).</p>

12

<p>I'm pretty much decided now; thank you!</p>

13

<p>take case.</p>

<p>but the undergraduate experience blows as said by a few friends of mine.</p>

<p>amazing program though</p>

14

<p>Case . . . extra year shredded off doesn't make that much difference, more financial aid, better med school.</p>

15

<p>take Case, its a better med school. Don't bother with the years issue, one year is meaningless compared to how many years you will be in school or working.</p>

16

<p>hey i'm kinda dealing with the same issue...i got into the case program but i don't know if i want to go because i heard undergrad there sucks and a 3.6 GPA is relatively hard to get. and the students there said that if you got a 3.6 GPA you could probably get into case med school anyway. </p>

<p>i also got into a few 7 year programs, but i don't want to rush through college. but at the same time college experience will be more relaxing because i won't have to constantly keep up my GPA and take all the "safe" courses.</p>

<p>also for the drexel program i heard the med school isn't that great...</p>

17

<p>mentos07-
I'm a current ppsp junior and I'm going to have to disagree with much of what you've heard. It's not that hard to get a 3.6, I've been well above it my entire time in college, very very few ppsp students fall below the 3.6, easily less than 1/year are removed from the program due to grades. I've never chosen to take "safe" courses, I've actually done a science BS degree including the engineering math/physics sequences and still been okay, it's just a matter of staying on top of things it's not impossible. Many of my fellow PPSP'ers have done BA degrees but they've also then had time to go abroad, something that might be challenging to fit in with only 3 years of undergrad. The Case med incoming average GPA was a 3.7 for the Class of 2010, so yes people with a 3.6 could still get in but many many Case students with a 3.6+ are rejected from the Case med school. The undergrad experience is what you make of it, if you want to have a good time you will. If you have any other questions feel free to ask and good luck with your decision</p>