<p>Currently, I have been accepted to these programs, but I have not heard back from all of them. I am personally inclined towards HPME because NU's undergrad and med school have the best rankings of the three programs. However, many people seem to think BU med school is a good med school, so I am hesitant to dismiss that program. Is BU a good med school? The ranking isn't high but people say that BU's med school has good resources and affiliations and clerkships with some of Harvard's hospitals, etc. Also, PSU is probably my last choice at the moment, but I like the feel of the program and it is a 6 year program. Is HPME my best bet among these three choices??</p>
<p>Any advice/suggestions/comments would be greatly appreciated!!</p>
<p>@op, 8yrmn is saying HPME because he is accepted and going there (almost). So, take hs advice with a grain of salt. Of the 3 programs that accepted you, the cost will be the lowest at PennSt/Jefferson. Four years of NU vs. 2 yrs of Penn St., the cost difference will be large!</p>
<p>8yearman has said HPME/Rice Baylor are the top programs before he got in; what incentive does he have to brag on an online forum. Is cost an issue for you?</p>
<p>i’ll be taking a student loan, and my parents are willing to help me with the finances. i want to figure out which program is best in the short term (experience at that program, the resources, opportunities) and in the long term (residency matchings, etc), taking finances out of the equation.</p>
<p>^you want to keep finances in the picture. It may not seem like a big deal now, but when you’re 200k+ in debt and are making barely enough to get you by as a resident you will realize that it matters. You don’t want your first 5-8 years of work dedicated paying off large debts, but I’m sure you’d rather have that money for a nice house, car, etc.</p>
<p>I will not spend over 200K for entire cost of UG and medical school at this point. I am considering to decline BU, RPI. I may puruse local USF/USF Seven-year program instead. That is my safety net. I was very lost when I was declined by Miami HPME. For some reason, it did not work out. </p>
<p>My suggestion is, do not spend over 200K for becoming a doctor. The only exception is, if your parents are willing out to finance anything over 200K. Just think.</p>
<p>Please don’t be angry with me for saying that HPME is the best, in my opinion. Like kbbm24 said - I always maintained that HPME and Rice/Baylor were the best. I think I have been very decent on this forum. I have not been exceptionally bitter like many on here, have not criticized them for said bitterness, nor have I denounced any programs. When people write me asking for advice on programs, I give them a fair and balanced viewpoint. I realize that many people didn’t get what they exactly wanted in this admissions cycle - I didn’t experience that, fortunately. Toughyear, I don’t think I ever said anything negative on any forums that would merit your decidedly angry response. I am really trying to help people out here. Of course I am going to endorse a school that I am attending! I think every student at a college will promote their own, unless they hate it and are considering transferring. Finally, I don’t want to be criticized as being “filthy rich” because some people are not happy with their results. Really, I get it - things were not as fortunate as they could have been. But you guys are really starting to roll out the ad hominems. If you guys don’t want me to give any advice, like MiamiDAP was so ungratefully eschewed this last year, I will go. But I have had a lot of success with the programs, and I personally feel I could pass on a lot of advice to people. A junior asked me for advice on the programs this past week. I sent him back a 2000 word email. Really, I am not in it all for me - I am actually trying to help people. And I still maintain that HPME is the best program. I know most people on this thread won’t say that, but also keep in mind most of these people did not find success in the realm of admissions from Northwestern. There is a reason it isn’t getting great support this year.</p>
<p>If you want to shun me because you feel I am too biased, filthy rich, or untruthful, as people are saying, then just tell me. I certainly don’t want to be helping people who don’t appreciate it.</p>
<p>you would THINK penn state and thomas jefferson is the cheapest, but it’s only a real benefit i you do the two year option (still 53k per year) and pretty expensive still to do the three year (42ish i believe per year)… they don’t give any merit and didn’t offer me any aid, but other schools offered me enough aid/merit to be less expensive than PSU… in the scheme of things, no matter where you go you’ll be over your head in debt at graduation, so you have to decide how much the added debt is worth for the opportunities at a given med program…good luck!</p>
<p>I would also say that HPME is the best of the three programs, but it is very expensive. I think it comes down to finances because all of you that have been accepted to these programs will get in the regular route, so it really depends on how much you think you will save the regular route. I think a detailed cost analysis along with your parents would be ideal. </p>
<p>For example, for a Texas resident to attend say, Yale (on good financial aid), then come back to UT-Southwestern (~17k tuition AND fees) or Baylor (~20k tuition AND fees) would be a much better deal (and perhaps more fulfilling experience?) than a program like HPME. </p>
<p>Such an analysis will allow you to see how much extra such a program is costing you. Make sure to include all possibilities (full ride at state school, finances of Ivys…decisions come out Wednesday, finances of other privates that gave you merit/financial aid, cost of medical schools in-state and top privates…which I’m sure students of your caliber would be competitive for in the traditional route).</p>
<p>Congrats on your wonderful options, but also don’t write off the regular route! I’m sure students like you are very capable to put together the glorious resume 3 years down the road!</p>
<p>@8yearman: Don’t worry, take it easy. I followed your posts and you always said your No. 1 is NU/HPME and No.2 is Rice/Baylor. And you were really helping the folks seeking some advise about these programs. Time to relax and enjoy the moment!</p>
<p>Thank you all for the input!! Since the beginning of the app process, I was set on attending a program. More and more, I am thinking about just taking the traditional route. I’ll have to see what happens on Wed… </p>
<p>In terms of the cost, I can assure you I will not be receiving any financial aid from any of the universities I applied to, only merit (and few of the schools I applied to give merit). And my parents are willing to pay for my education, because they really want me to pick the best choice without looking at the cost. I’m really fortunate that my parents are willing to do this, but I do not want them to be paying so much. </p>
<p>In terms of opportunities at different med programs, does BU offer a lot of opportunity because it is in Boston? Somehow, when I talk to people who are not very knowledgeable at BA/MD programs, they tend to think BU is the better program. Only those who have investigated HPME understand that it is a very reputable program.</p>
<p>Of these choices, HPME is the better program. But where do you want to go? Do you need to consider other things (region,cost, etc)? Where do YOU “fit”? THAT is the best program for you.</p>
<p>I am looking forward to these 7/8 med year programs as well. But I am not sure if I have the statistics to get in. I’ve had a 4.13 GPA sophomore year and a 4.67 GPA junior year maxed out at a total of 12 AP classes. I have a SAT score of 2140 so far, took it again this month(october) and have yet to take the ACT. I have seen a heart surgeries/shadowed neurosurgeons. I also have hospital volunteer experience; am a varsity swimmer for 3 years(broke a swim record at the state level) and participate in a plethora of clubs. </p>
<p>What all did your stats look like for these programs?</p>