<p>So I was accepted to BU SMED, UMiami's 7-Year HPM and PSU / Jefferson's Med Program, and I simply wanted some alternate opinions on each of the programs. What is the general comparison of these programs? Which would be the best choice program in YOUR opinion? I have a full scholarship to UMiami, and I live in PA, so PSU wouldn't be too expensive either. BU isn't offering any financial aid. Any help is appreciated!!</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Irrational</p>
<p>jefferson. only program that’s like a family, you get priority scheduling and don’t have to take prerequisites for classes, you’re essentially a VIP student, get to finish in 6 years, cheap especially in-state (and also 2 years less of expenses), penn state is by far the most fun of the undergrad colleges</p>
<p>i’d side with BU, but only because I heard 6 year programs have a high ‘burn-out’ rate. Plus, boston is the ideal campus town</p>
<p>“because I heard 6 year programs have a high ‘burn-out’ rate”</p>
<p>each year, about 35 kids matriculate into the program, and typically 0-1 fail out.</p>
<p>also, BU doesn’t take science AP’s</p>
<p>Do I have to take summer courses in BU? I know that for 6 yrs option in PSU, i have to start in June.</p>
<p>also, if you’re looking at the summer thing in penn state as a bad thing, every single prog i talked to said that summers at penn state are the most enjoyable times in college you’ll have (and it beats graduation summer). not to mention you’re only taking 3 classes.</p>
<p>for BU you have to go in the second summer. for penn state you have to go in the first summer, but most go for the second summer anyway since the first was so fun</p>
<p>Most pre-meds anywhere cannot use their science AP’s. They are getting credits but cannot skip the first class.</p>
<p>I agree with doctor2b. Go to a 7 year or 8 year program because 6 year program students are often burnt out and thus extend to 7 or 8 years anyway.</p>
<p>Here are the rankings of each:</p>
<p>BU Undergrad: [Boston</a> University](<a href=“http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/boston-ma/boston-university-2130]Boston”>http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/boston-ma/boston-university-2130)
BU Medical School: [Boston</a> University Medical School](<a href=“http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-medical-schools/items/04046]Boston”>http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-medical-schools/items/04046)</p>
<p>UMiami: [University</a> of Miami](<a href=“http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/coral-gables-fl/university-of-miami-1536]University”>http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/coral-gables-fl/university-of-miami-1536)
Miami Miller: [University</a> of Miami (Miller) Medical School](<a href=“http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-medical-schools/items/04021]University”>http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-medical-schools/items/04021)</p>
<p>PSU: [Pennsylvania</a> State University–University Park](<a href=“http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/university-park-pa/penn-state-6965]Pennsylvania”>http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/university-park-pa/penn-state-6965)
Jefferson: [Jefferson</a> Medical College](<a href=“http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-medical-schools/items/04099]Jefferson”>http://grad-schools.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-graduate-schools/top-medical-schools/items/04099)</p>
<p>You take the MCAT at all 3. BU - 30, Miami HPME - 30, for PSU/Jefferson it says, “Satisfactory performance on MCAT exams is also required for matriculation to Jefferson Medical College.” - whatever that means.</p>
<p>You can check the grading system at each medical school here - [Curriculum</a> Directories](<a href=“http://services.aamc.org/currdir/section1/grading1.cfm]Curriculum”>http://services.aamc.org/currdir/section1/grading1.cfm)
Check with the school to see things have not changed. I know BU’s medical school in the first 2 years is graded “Pass” or “Fail” only.</p>
<p>With all of the above in mind, I would say the most important things are 1) cost and 2) being close to family. By the way the PSU/Jefferson program allows you the 6 year option or 7 year option: [Penn</a> State’s Accelerated Premedical-Medical Program](<a href=“Premedical/Medical (B.S./M.D.) | Eberly College of Science”>Premedical/Medical (B.S./M.D.) | Eberly College of Science), Miami HPM allows you 7 or 8, I think BU allows you 7 or 8 as well but check on that.</p>
<p>The difference between Jefferson Med Tuition and Miami Miller Med tuition seems to be about $5,000.</p>
<p>I personally would pick Miami (as whether you do the 7 yr. or 8 yr. - your undergrad is full paid for, right?) and you could always apply out to medical schools if you really wanted to: [Honors</a> Program in Medicine 2009 | University of Miami](<a href=“http://www6.miami.edu/UMH/CDA/UMH_Main/1,1770,2600-1;66091-3,00.html]Honors”>http://www6.miami.edu/UMH/CDA/UMH_Main/1,1770,2600-1;66091-3,00.html). With Jefferson it’s a little tighter to apply out with 2 or 3 years undergrad although you very well could ([Penn</a> State’s Accelerated Premedical-Medical Program](<a href=“Premedical/Medical (B.S./M.D.) | Eberly College of Science”>Premedical/Medical (B.S./M.D.) | Eberly College of Science)).</p>
<p>Go to either Penn State or Miami, forget BU.
I would choose Penn state for these reasons:
<p>^It doesn’t look like PSU has a lower MCAT requirement, all of them want about the same. Not to mention since PSU’s is a 6-year program, you take the MCAT after 2 years in college vs. 3 at 7 year programs.</p>
<p>Is Boston University (BU), really not giving you ANY financial aid at all considering they’re a private institution? [The</a> Daily Free Press - Tuition rate hiked 3.7%, $1,404 more, for 2010-11<a href=“Their%20standard%20tuition%20will%20go%20up%20to%20$39,314”>/url</a>. Or did you receive pretty much just loans?</p>
<p>If that’s true, your choices really do come down to Miami and Penn State/Jefferson.</p>
<p>Realize that if you choose the [Six-Year PMM option, Penn State component, 80-81 credits] see here: [url=<a href=“Premedical/Medical (B.S./M.D.) | Eberly College of Science”>Premedical/Medical (B.S./M.D.) | Eberly College of Science]Penn</a> State’s Accelerated Premedical-Medical Program](<a href=“http://www.dailyfreepress.com/news/tuition-rate-hiked-3-7-1-404-more-for-2010-11-1.2193726]The”>http://www.dailyfreepress.com/news/tuition-rate-hiked-3-7-1-404-more-for-2010-11-1.2193726), you have to enroll at Penn State right after you graduate from high school. Find out directly from them if you have enough AP credits or CLEP credits (non-science ones as they probably won’t let you AP out of sciences) whether you are allowed to skip the first or second summer and what MCAT score qualifies as “satisfactory performance on MCAT exams is also required”. I’ll admit that Six-Year PMM curriculum is packed VERY VERY TIGHTLY, and you have to take the MCAT right after. Although if you are living close to home, the supposed stress may not be an issue.</p>
<p>I’m in a similar boat, only I’m stuck between attending JHU BME, Penn State or BU.</p>
<p>Roentgen: Penn State requires the first summer. The second summer is conditional upon whether you have enough credit out of the way.</p>
<p>I just have a question. What do you plan on doing for the visiting weekends? I know both PSU and BU are on the April 16th weekend so I’m sort of stuck between the two…</p>
<p>Also, BU seems to be giving less financial aid and merit scholarships to those who are in the program because they are in the program. I know I got a lot less merit aid than I normally would have…</p>
<p>penn state mcat requirement is a 27 - 9’s on each section</p>
<p>also, you usually finish all the requirements for the mcat within your first year at penn state and no one really starts studying until the semester before they take it. and if you think you will, forget it because you most most most most most probably won’t ^^</p>
<p>and highhope, that would mean you disagree with me 
but look up at my other posts in this thread relating to the “pre-med burnout” thing (a complete fallacy at penn state)</p>
<p>also if you elect to take upper level classes at penn state (400 level classes), then a “B” would go on the record as an “A”! (it’s in prognosis if you want a reference)</p>
<p>greenangel206, oh ok, I see what you mean, like many of the scholarships have an exclusionary criteria that you can’t receive the BU merit scholarship or grant if you’re in the “Seven-Year Program of Liberal Arts and Medical Education” program. I guess they figure that the dangling carrot of offering you the chance to go to a top 50 medical school now (although conditionally) along with saving 1 year, should be enough for you to come. Would be interesting to see whether if someone did the MMEDIC or ENGMEDIC program where you don’t save any years, whether you’d get the chance at more merit scholarships: [MD</a> Program Admissions BUMC](<a href=“http://www.bumc.bu.edu/admissions/programs/md/]MD”>http://www.bumc.bu.edu/admissions/programs/md/)</p>
<p>It’s definitely very expensive though, $39,314 annually for undergrad, $47,488 annually for medical school. Even Harvard Medical School is less in tuition: [AAMC</a> Tuition and Student Fees Reports](<a href=“http://services.aamc.org/tsfreports/report.cfm?select_control=PRI&year_of_study=2010]AAMC”>http://services.aamc.org/tsfreports/report.cfm?select_control=PRI&year_of_study=2010)</p>
<p>Irrational…</p>
<p>You are intelligent and a hard worker…or else you would not have been considered, interviewed, and accepted to those three programs. Therefore, you will likely succeed academically no matter what the GPA and MCAT requirements are.</p>
<p>You and your parents have worked hard over the past four or even six years in order for you to get into a combined undergraduate / medical school program. Now that you have been accepted, it’s time to be happy and enjoy the fruits of your labor.</p>
<p>I can’t think of a better situation then to get an undergraduate degree (3-4 years) for FREE at great school with a beautiful campus/ beautiful weather located in Miami, Florida. Your parents will appreciate not having to worry about having enough money for tuition for the undergraduate years.</p>
<p>As for the medical school part, Miller School of Medicine / Jackson Memorial Hospital seems like an awesome place to get tremendous clinical exposure to all types of patients and diseases with its population pool drawing from the southeast and caribbean. When you are an intern, your clinical experience will be way ahead of interns from most other schools. There is also research opportunity especially with the Bascom Eye Institute, etc.</p>
<p>Let me pull in a plug for BU here considering how it ain’t gettin no love on these forums. First is the consideration of location. Sure Miami is in florida which is always sunny, but it gets extremely EXTREMELY hot, and not the good hot, its the humid sticky kind of hot during the early fall or late spring/summer time. I know this because my 'rents have a place down there and I’ve gone there many times. Also, Staying in the northeast provides variation. Living in the sun 24/7 gets old fast and you will wish you could see some snow, or changing leaves etc. Next is your surroundings. What better place than to be in Boston, the college town of AMERICA, for your undergrad years. There’s endless restaurants, bars, clubs, eateries, hospitals, clinics, research centers, and students students and more students. There’s no better place that fosters that classic college-y experience than to live in Boston with the plethora of internships and research opportunities BU and neighboring powerhouses MIT and Harvard have to offer. Next comes residencies. Sure where you go to med school has lower impact on your future as a doctor than you may think, but it sure is important when you try to get matched for those residencies. BUMS is ranked higher than the med school affiliated with Miami OR PennState programs and the match list is extremely impressive (unfortunately, I can’t find it right now). </p>
<p>We can’t avoid the subject of cost though, can we? The way I see it, my undergrad years can’t have a price tag on them. Fifty years from now, when you’re retiring, are you going to be thinking about that 100k you paid off forty years ago or are you going to have those memories of living in Boston for seven years to cherish and savor? Once you’re a doctor, and you’re well past your residency in your late twenties, paying off the loans if your parents didn’t already do so will not be a huge burden - don’t get me wrong, it will take time - but still not as bad as you’d imagine.</p>
<p>graduates of harvard med school for neurosurgery ended up at umdnj and a graduate from drexel med school went to cleveland clinic for neurosurgery.</p>
<p>point being, it doesn’t matter the rank of the med school (as long as it is a decent one, and miami, jefferson, and boston are ALL excellent med schools). individual performance matters.</p>
<p>DualDegreeDoc is correct in wherever you go, you will probably easily maintain the GPA and MCAT requirements. so then it becomes a matter of other tangibles. what are you looking for in a school? close to home? #years? tuition? etc.? weigh the pros and cons and see which one is right for you. i am going to jefferson’s program so i am definitely biased, but before i applied to all the programs, it was my #1 - mainly because it was an incredible med school i can graduate from in 6 years and it’s very close to home.</p>
<p>so whatever you choose, good luck</p>
<p>MCAT for PSU/Jeff : 9/9/9, allow more takes if necessary ( 7 yr option), but BU raised it to 33 this yr ( told at intervirew) !! Graduates for Jeff get good matches ( see graduate matching lists 2007/8/9). Cost: 6 yrs vs. 7 yrs. , and Boston is expensive. I don’t know about Miller school except the weather should be nice. Agree with doc2b, individual performances much more important than med school ranks.</p>
<p>Hopeful88, with respect to you saying “We can’t avoid the subject of cost though, can we? The way I see it, my undergrad years can’t have a price tag on them. Fifty years from now, when you’re retiring, are you going to be thinking about that 100k you paid off forty years ago or are you going to have those memories of living in Boston for seven years to cherish and savor?” ----- One could say the exact same about Miami, Florida. While you can’t have a price tag on them, for most people who have to pay bills, BU IS able to put a price tag. Also, with Obamacare, we don’t really know HOW exactly physician salaries and reimbursement will be affected yet, so saying he’ll be able to pay off his debt very quickly from BU is ludicrous. $39,000 undergraduate tuition at a place that’s not even an Ivy League institution and charges more than Harvard for undergrad or medical school IS a lot of money and isn’t pocket change.</p>
<p>You act as if Miami, Florida doesn’t have, “endless restaurants, bars, clubs, eateries,” etc. I guarantee you the OP will have just as fun times, if not more fun times in Miami vs. Boston. You talk about the “hotness” of Miami, yet you leave out the blistering cold and massive snowfall and thus difficulty driving in the Northeast, esp. in Boston.</p>
<p>If you see my post, #9 on this thread, you’ll see the rankings of both the undergraduate institutions and the medical schools. All the medical schools are top tier, the actual ranking is unimportant. </p>
<p>Here is another ranking list based only on NIH grant funding: [The</a> Official Ranking of US Medical Schools](<a href=“http://www.residentphysician.com/Medicalschool_rankings.htm]The”>http://www.residentphysician.com/Medicalschool_rankings.htm)</p>
<p>Seriously, your entire post sounds like one big pipe dream, not based in reality.</p>