Help choose: Rpi or Union/AMC?

Pre-Med & Medical School Multiple Degree Programs
1

<p>Hello,</p>

<p>I am a new CC member and lurked here for the eight stressful months of college applications. Basically, I've been accepted into both RPI's and Union's programs with Albany Medical College. I will not be choosing any other program besides one of these two.</p>

<p>My problem is that I can't decide what kind of doctor I want to become, and it feels like these programs will create very different images of a doctor in the future (stressing research or leadership). Here are my questions regarding each individual program:</p>

<p>Rensselaer
Do RPI/AMC students continue to pursue research after med school?
Are RPI students inevitably bound to the science courses and limited by rigid Physician-Scientist requirements? (probably a misnomer on my part...)
This is a serious one: are most of y'all nerdy-smart? Are RPI/AMC students nice?
Besides the BS in biology, will I have time to pursue another major (ex chem or psych)?</p>

<p>Union
In Union/AMC students, will a major in humanities at Union really affect their future occupations?
Do all MBA students always become leaders in healthcare reform or hospital directors?
What if I am an average writer (760 sat writing); will that screw me over in the social science/humanities major?
Is it stressful to achieve a bachelors degree, an additional major, and a masters in four years?</p>

<p>Thanks in advance!</p>

2

<p>Congratulations criticalfreeze !! </p>

<p>Could you pls post your stats?</p>

3

<p>The thing is, my stats have nothing to do with which one I want to choose. They are not really going to help :stuck_out_tongue:
SATs: 800M, 780CR, 760W
SAT bio-m = 790. SAT mathIIc= 800. SAT Chem = 800.
GPA: no clue, but ranked 17ish/418</p>

<p>EC:
Science team 4 yrs, captain 1 yr
Did lots of local competitions, did pretty well for a 4-yr-old team
Math team 4 yrs, captain 2 yrs (pretty interesting story)
Did lots of local competitions, LOVE MATH, did pretty well (individually) too.
Member of Red Cross Club, Future Teachers of America, Key Club, and middleschool tutoring club.
Did a business competition, won “Best Presentation” on a car-company and then a solar-panel thing.
I’ve been volunteering at my Chinese school for years.</p>

<p>Classes:
I took AP Chem, Calc BC last year, and am currently taking Physics B and English Lit. However, I’ve been independently studying an additional AP each year. Bio 10th grade, stats 11th, and Physics C and US History this year.
Regular classes include orchestra, psychology, sociology, french, and anatomy and physiology. I’m kinda all over the place.</p>

<p>My main problem is that I like learning about science AND business AND social sciences waaaay too much. I could probably make a living any which way, as long as I’m doctoring. However, I’ve been leaning more towards the sciences (obviously, why else would I be a student doc soon? :P). At the same time, I don’t want to limit myself to science for the rest of my life. ARGH.</p>

<p>If there are any Union or RPI/AMC students out there, an email might be helpful :D</p>

4

<p>Do they have business courses at RPI? If you are a leader you will be one with or without an MBA.</p>

<p>Doing a BS and an MBA in 4 years is a condensed program. </p>

<p>You can do whatever you like with your career from either place. Seems like Union is a liberal arts type school and RPI is science/engineering focused. The students are different at each but both are full of amazing & fun people.</p>

5

<p>Congratulation criticalfreeze on your acceptance into two combined programs
RPI /AMC is more of a science/engineering based school. However many of the students take advantage of their AP credits and end up doing one or two minors in humanities/ social sciences. Psychology, economics, management, anthropology…whatever suits your fancy! 2 sciences and 2 humanities per semester is what many students opt out for.
The program also encourages involement in UG research from the first year if you are interested.And you can get the MD with the distinction in research if you continue with the research projects in med school.Many students get some publication …which in turn can help with residency applications. However I hear that they will offering a engineering degree as part of the program sometimes soon…not sure if that will be from your year or not.</p>

<p>Union is more of a liberal arts based school. Therefore the feel of the college is very different Also It is a 8 year combined program compared to the 7 in RPI. Cost wise it is an extra year !!I am not sure of UG research opportunities but you will be geared for their MBA program. This added degree can be a plus if you decide to go into hospital administration or maybe in private practice too!</p>

6

<p>Congratulations criticalfreeze on your acceptance to this into the two programs! I am currently a freshman in the rpi/amc physician-scientist program, so feel free to ask me any further questions you may have. I’ll try my best to answer the questions you have asked so far:</p>

<p>The RPI/AMC program is very research-oriented. The faculty encourages you to pursue undergraduate research during your first three years at RPI. For example, I am currently doing undergraduate research in the biomed engineering dept. During your sixth semester here you conduct full-time research at Albany Med and continue that project potentially throughout medical school, hopefully culminating in a thesis defense for the MD with Distinction in Research. Over the course of the seven years most students submit at least one or more research articles for publication and many students have been published in very respectable journals. Many of the students who participate in this program go on to continue research after med school. From what I have heard students have conducted residency research at the New Jersey Cancer Institute, JHU, and Columbia. Many graduates in the program also go into the academic-side of medicine and conduct full-time professional research.</p>

<p>Students in this program are required to complete a BS in biology, which means you do have to take several required classes. However, most students in the program come in with many AP credits (it looks like you will too) and so they have lots of free time in their schedule especially during freshman and sophomore years to pursue other classes and free electives. Personally I am minoring in Economics and am looking to possibly minor in something else as well. Given the three year time constraint however, it is quite difficult to pursue a double major, though a few students have done it with Psychology. I haven’t heard of anyone dualing with any other major though. Most students in the program take a pretty relaxed schedule, usually taking two science classes and two humanities classes per semester. </p>

<p>All the physician-scientist students are quite hard-working and bright people, but it doesn’t mean we don’t have fun and we are all very nice :D. Given your outstanding stats I would say you’ll fit in quite well with us! During the week most of us study quite hard, but on weekends there is lots of fun to be had on campus: there are parties, campus shows, club events, etc. </p>

<p>Overall, I would say if you really enjoy sciences and math, then rpi is a great choice for you. The science classes are challenging and prepare you well for med school. Plus you will have the opportunity to take several additional high level math classes here too. Many of my friends took diff eq and one of is in multivar and linear algebra right now. Plus only requiring 7 years is an added bonus! </p>

<p>You should certainly weigh your choice carefully, but from what I can tell of you from the little I know you seem like you would fit in and excel here. Are you on facebook? You should add me if you are!</p>

<p>Peace</p>

7

<p>obviously if you got into both programs you have leadership skills AND an interest in research</p>

<p>with everything else equal, i would say go to RPI. my brother is in the program right now and says that those who come from RPI’s program are so much more prepared for medical school than union kids. I know thats looking way into the future, but thats just my little tidbit.</p>

8

<p>Hey, congrats
I am a right now freshmen in the RPI/AMC program so feel free to ask questions.
I was in the same boat as you last year, and i was not sure if RPI would be right for me being a tech school and all, but after a almost a year here, i can easily say I made the right choice and its WAYYY better than i though it would be. </p>

<p>If you AP out of classes freshmen year, the course load is not too bad. There are set classes you have to take but you are free to pursue a minor in anything you want, psych, management, etc. </p>

<p>Although reserach is encouraged, not all students part take in research until it is mandatory (after the 6th semester). I actually am not sure if I want to do research in the long run, and once you come out of medschool it is up to you what you want to do with your degree. But from what I hear, of the 3 schools associated with AMC, RPI students tend to do the best.</p>

<p>And yes, RPI/AMC students are nice lol. We are smart and have alot of fun as well. All the kids in the program are supportive and help each other out.</p>

9

<ul>
<li>I am a freshmen right now ( my laptop is buggin)</li>
</ul>

10

<p>Wow, you guys are really helpful!</p>

<p>I have a couple more questions (most are pretty shallow).</p>

<ol>
<li>Club scene… seriously? at RPI? Digging that :P</li>
<li>Is the RPI/AMC group a tight-knit community? Do you (personally) hang out more with them or with “regular” RPI kids?</li>
<li>ANYONE FROM UNION???</li>
<li>And I have more questions, that I’d like to email you guys, if you message me your email addresses :)</li>
</ol>

11

<p>Not sure how many or how often students go to Troy.It is not that great of a place. But there is plenty to do at the RPI campus.The weekend as some mentioned gets busy. Many frat houses available if you want to join one.They provide tremendous social opportunities. RPI is a tech school, but not as nerdy as many people think.
Bottom line… if you are outgoing and determined to have a good time… you will!!!</p>

12

<ol>
<li>clubs, they arent as popular in troy but def. alot in albany.</li>
<li>NO the RPI/AMC kids HATE EACH OTHER…lol</li>
</ol>

<p>and in addidtion to post the above me, just in the freshmen class, i think 4 of the 7 are in fraternities.</p>

13

<p>There are not that many clubs in troy, but as mentioned before Greek life offers a number of social and party opportunities. Also Albany has its fair share of clubs and parties. Its basically up to you to find your social and club scene.</p>

<p>It really just depends on the people in your year on how much the RPI/AMC group hang out together. I know in my year some of us hang out together a lot, but all of us also have many other friends at RPI. In the year above me however, the RPI/AMC group is really tight-knit and they hang out together all the time. Personally, I have a class with a lot of sophomore RPI/AMC kids so I tend to hang out with them even though I am in the freshman class. The RPI/AMC student relationship really just depends on what type of person you and who else is in your class.Typically though the RPI/AMC kids are very nice, easy to get along with, and supportive of each other.</p>

14

<p>I am going to the RPI program.</p>

15

<p>Good choice. You will have a great time!</p>

16

<p>I’m a HS rising senior.
From what I’ve heard so far that RPI is research oriented(with BME) and Union is Leadership in medicine program.
I seem to like both.
But I have a doubt if someone could help me with it. Does research oriented program at RPI mean that you end up being a research physician or you still have good chances to go for clinical?
If want to pursue career of a surgeon with BME background would that be possible going RPI-AMC route?</p>