Penn State BS/MD (PMM) v. OU BS/MD (MHSP)

College Search & Selection
1

I am deciding between Penn State’s and SKMC’s (Jefferson University’s) 7 Year BS/MD program and Oklahoma University’s 7 Year BS/MD program. Some factors I am considering are:

  • Fit: OU is extremely conservative, and I am afraid I will not fit in such an environment. Pennsylvania and Philly are more suitable for my ideologies.
  • Ranks: For UG and Med, Penn State is ranked MUCH better
  • Program: Penn State is structured to be completed in 7 years, whereas OU is structured for 8 years, with some students self-planning to finish in 7 years. I would prefer to be in a program that is already structured for all my classmates to graduate in 7 years, so I am not worried that I may lose an extra year due to unestablished programs or poor planning.
  • Cost: 500K for Penn vs 250K for OU - a huge factor for my parents
  • Establishment: Penn’s BS/MD is MUCH more established than OU’s BS/MD
  • Location: I absolutely love Pennsylvania and Philly, and much less keen on Oklahoma. But OU UG is close to medical schools for shadowing, while Penn is close to hospitals but far from medical schools.
  • Rigor (not a huge factor): Penn’s requirements are easier than OU’s
  • Applying Out: I can apply out for OU, but not for Penn
  • Some things I am not sure about yet, however, is which is better for Residency Matching and Step/USMLE Scores: Penn or OU?

Based on these factors, which school/program would you suggest I choose?

Thank you for your time!

2

Here is the thing: nobody really cares about which undergrad you finished as long as you have wonderful GPA, MCAT score, nice LOR and other important ECs(shadowing, volunteer, research etc etc) It seems like your heart is at Penn state.

250K and 500K are both large amount of money! did you get any scholarship?? Are these the only two you are accepted? Also, are the costs based on 7 year prorgram?

3

Is it Penn or Penn State? Penn (University of Pennsylvania) is in Philly. Penn State has campuses across the state but the main one is in central PA.

4

Pay attention to the requirements (including college GPA and MCAT score) to remain in each program. If they are significantly higher in one than the other, it may increase the risk of being weeded out at that program.

5

An MD is an MD. 250K cost difference is too large to ignore. The balance would grow by the time you finish residency and can start paying it back. If you think you can be competitive for higher ranked medical schools, OU is allowing you to apply to other programs.

Congratulations on your acceptance to two BS/MD programs.

6

@bodangles Penn State’s BS/MD program is in partnership w/ Jefferson. I believe the first three years are at Penn State’s main campus and the next 4 at Jefferson in Philly.

7

Haha my heart is definitely set on Penn State, my parents are the ones pushing OU. And, all those requirements don’t really apply, the BS/MD gives me automatic acceptance to Jefferson (Kimmel) for Penn or OU College of Medicine for OU.

Yes, costs are for 7 years, after all scholarships, including OU NMF package.

No, I was accepted to other BS/MD, but these two are my top choices.

@paul2752

8

@bodangles

The BS/MD is for Penn State, University Park campus.

9

@ucbalumnus

Penn State is 3.5 GPA and 504-ish MCAT, OU is like 3.75 and 511

10

@osuprof
Thank you!