does bachelors matter?

[rammen]

I wanted to apply to Ross but wanted to know if having your bachelors matter or not. they say it doesnt but in actuallity does not having my bachelors reduce my chances significantly

[Shadowstar]

I don't think it will reduce your chances. But I think having it can improve your chances, especially if your stats aren't high. If you don't have a bachelors but meet all the prereqs and have a decent mcat or gpa, I'd say you have a good chance with Ross...moreso than St. Georges or any of the other big 4...except maybe AUC.

[Cuando2]

Back in the day, you didn't even need a bachelors. You could, I believe, finish two years of coursework at a US undergrad institution, send over some "application" papers to Ross, and they will call you telling you that you have been accepted. Then, they said you needed to take the MCAT to get in, however, they never based their acceptance on your score (you can sometimes get in BEFORE an MCAT score is reported to them as proof that you didn't require it). So, in essence, you can walk into the next MCAT testing date and take the damn thing cold, get a 2 or a 3 on the MCAT (or whatever is the lowest score) and get into ROSS. Good luck.

[DOCplucinski]

Back in the day, you didn't even need a bachelors. You could, I believe, finish two years of coursework at a US undergrad institution, send over some "application" papers to Ross, and they will call you telling you that you have been accepted. Then, they said you needed to take the MCAT to get in, however, they never based their acceptance on your score (you can sometimes get in BEFORE an MCAT score is reported to them as proof that you didn't require it). So, in essence, you can walk into the next MCAT testing date and take the damn thing cold, get a 2 or a 3 on the MCAT (or whatever is the lowest score) and get into ROSS. Good luck.

i don't believe it's like that anymore

i know a friend of the family that was recently accepted without a bachelor's, had 90-some credits, all the required coursework, decent grades and a 24 on MCAT

[rammen]

Has anyone attending or will be attending Ross not do their bachelors and been accepted

[Dru]

My unofficial opinion is that it matters. I think a lot of the things you learn in your undergrad apply and help in med school. The other issue that I seem to recall reading some where (help me out here) is that in order to get a residency, it is necessary to have an undergrad degree. As a consumer, I think I'd have second thoughts about seeking medical attention from a doc who didn't have an undergrad degree, too. Don't bash me...I'm JUST giving my opinion.

[DOCplucinski]

My unofficial opinion is that it matters. I think a lot of the things you learn in your undergrad apply and help in med school. The other issue that I seem to recall reading some where (help me out here) is that in order to get a residency, it is necessary to have an undergrad degree.

I believe that some states require a minimum of 90 credits for licensure

[GFLIP]

It may matter in the long run. You should contact your State Board of Medical Examiners and find out if they require a Bachelors degree for licensure.

[islandthrift]

Ross requires a minimum of 90 credit hours including ALL prereq classes. ROSS UNIVERSITY: Getting Started (http://www.rossu.edu/med/admissions/gettingstarted_021.cfm)

[Carlota321]

My unofficial opinion is that it matters. I think a lot of the things you learn in your undergrad apply and help in med school. The other issue that I seem to recall reading some where (help me out here) is that in order to get a residency, it is necessary to have an undergrad degree. As a consumer, I think I'd have second thoughts about seeking medical attention from a doc who didn't have an undergrad degree, too. Don't bash me...I'm JUST giving my opinion.

For the record Dru, my father never officially graduated from undergrad. He had been accepted to medical school but never completed his gym requirments so Ithica College refused to give him his degree. He is now a successful Doctor as well as a clinical instructor for Albert Einstein and he does the interviews for new residents in his field at Long Island Jewish Medical Center. I think from now on unless you are posting FACTS and not OPINIONS that are wrong (because let's face it, opinions CAN be wrong) then maybe you should refrain from posting.

[Helicon]

Dru doesn't like those docs who don't have undergrad degree. That's her choice. What's wrong with that? Somebody likes Britney Spears, somebody doesn't.

[swimguy23]

For the record Dru, my father never officially graduated from undergrad. He had been accepted to medical school but never completed his gym requirments so Ithica College refused to give him his degree. He is now a successful Doctor as well as a clinical instructor for Albert Einstein and he does the interviews for new residents in his field at Long Island Jewish Medical Center. I think from now on unless you are posting FACTS and not OPINIONS that are wrong (because let's face it, opinions CAN be wrong) then maybe you should reframe from posting.

Lay off of Dru

You can obtain residency without a bachelors degree, however, the vast majority get their degrees. It is inarguable that completing 4 years could give you a competitive edge for success in medical school. Of course if you blow off your senior year thats fine and probably won't benefit, but you can do research and start taking med courses.

Her opinion is fine.....btw i'm sure you have NEVER been wrong while posting on this forum :rolleyes:

[DOCplucinski]

I think from now on unless you are posting FACTS and not OPINIONS that are wrong (because let's face it, opinions CAN be wrong) then maybe you should reframe from posting.

this is a public forum, not everyone agrees with everything that people have to say. although i'm one of those that have not finished their bachelor's for reasons i won't disclose, i mastered my undergrad with a 3.8 overall and a 3.6 science.

so i agree with you that having the degree doesn't make you any less of a doctor, but on this forum, you should be able to state your opinion freely without bashing or flaming. she wasn't stating any facts that through research, those without a bachelor's were terrible docs, blah blah, she just feels that probably receiving your bachelor's shows a level a maturity and accomplishment that doctors should have.

of course, theres always more to the story and other circumstances which is why i feel that if you at least obtained your 90 credits in good academic standing, you are sufficient enough to continue to medical school. this is MY opinion, not fact.

[Swaydaa]

Went to Ross with no degree. Had tons of residency interviews and never asked about undergrad. Matched into anesthesia at my #1 choice.

[Shah_Patel_PT]

I wanted to apply to Ross but wanted to know if having your bachelors matter or not. they say it doesnt but in actuallity does not having my bachelors reduce my chances significantly

dont skip the bachelors if you have already started. It will bite u in the ))) in the future.

[Cuando2]

dont skip the bachelors if you have already started. It will bite u in the ))) in the future.

Nobody is talking about skipping undergrad altogether...it is not possible to enter Ross w/o having done some undergraduate coursework. The whole point of the thread is whether or not admission at ROSS can be attained without finishing an undergraduate bachelors program.

[Shah_Patel_PT]

Nobody is talking about skipping undergrad altogether...it is not possible to enter Ross w/o having done some undergraduate coursework. The whole point of the thread is whether or not admission at ROSS can be attained without finishing an undergraduate bachelors program.

yes Ross will accept u with 90 semester credits....I still think the bachelors should be done!!!!!!!

[vaneleus]

For the record Dru, my father never officially graduated from undergrad. He had been accepted to medical school but never completed his gym requirments so Ithica College refused to give him his degree. He is now a successful Doctor as well as a clinical instructor for Albert Einstein and he does the interviews for new residents in his field at Long Island Jewish Medical Center. I think from now on unless you are posting FACTS and not OPINIONS that are wrong (because let's face it, opinions CAN be wrong) then maybe you should reframe from posting.

First, it is "refrain."

Secondly, Dru was offering an opinion and stated as much. One is allowed to opine on these boards, as you have seen fit to do in some of your own posts.

[Carlota321]

Yes she is allowed her opinion but she just seemed to be a tad bit obnoxious. "As a consumer, I think I'd have second thoughts about seeking medical attention from a doc who didn't have an undergrad degree, too. " If she were anyone else on this forum I may not have been so quick to post a reply to what she said by she is a moderator and should not be offering obnoxious opinions, instead she should be setting an example. She did niether and just sent me an infraction instead.

[doctormua]

it never hurts getting your bachelor's. i mean, at the very least, it'll add a level of legitamacy to your caribbean MD, it's nice to have a bachelor's hanging on your wall from an american or canadian school. furthermore, it's an achievement, and it shows that you didn't just rush into med school............you need 90 credits minimum, why not spend the extra year and finish it up??

secondly, if you are looking for residency, and there is somebody who has similar grades, usmle scores, and a similar background as you.............you having a bachelor's degree will give you the advantage in being selected............

just my 2 cents...

[swimguy23]

Yes she is allowed her opinion but she just seemed to be a tad bit obnoxious. "As a consumer, I think I'd have second thoughts about seeking medical attention from a doc who didn't have an undergrad degree, too. " If she were anyone else on this forum I may not have been so quick to post a reply to what she said by she is a moderator and should not be offering obnoxious opinions, instead she should be setting an example. She did niether and just sent me an infraction instead.

so thats her opinion as a consumer. Would you feel comfortable going to a doc who only did 1 year of residency? I certainly wouldn't. However, they exist.

Would you want nurses who got their degrees online taking care of your mom or dad in the hospital? I wouldnt

Even tho, I know those people may be excellent at what they do......its my opinion. I'm not saying I agree with Dru but understanding why she has that opinion may actually benefit you

[Cuando2]

yes Ross will accept u with 90 semester credits....I still think the bachelors should be done!!!!!!!

Honestly speaking, with the large majority of students majoring in undergraduate areas of anthropology, hotel management, sociology, etc...does a physician really pull any sort of useful information from those degrees in his day-to-day medical practice...the answer is MOST likely not...especially since there are many topics even in basic medical sciences which physicians will never remember having learned.

A bachelors degree (in Sociology for example) really does nothing for a physician (thats why they created medical school), nor does a sociology bachelors do much for a person who is NOT going to medical school...its just one of those life hurdles that everyone "thinks" should be passed, but it really holds no value, especially in medicine. A bachelors is required for many jobs (outside of medicine), and pay structures are usually based on where your undergraduate training was completed (ivy vs non-ivy league). In medicine, pay structures are based upon a totally different thing, not which school you did undergrad from.

[doctormua]

that doesn't mean that having a bachelor's won't help you in attaining a residency against the competition (especially competition without a bachelor's degree)...........not to mention that having an MD, especially a caribbean MD, without a legitimate degree to back it up looks pretty bad..................at least in my view......

[Shah_Patel_PT]

Honestly speaking, with the large majority of students majoring in undergraduate areas of anthropology, hotel management, sociology, etc...does a physician really pull any sort of useful information from those degrees in his day-to-day medical practice...the answer is MOST likely not...especially since there are many topics even in basic medical sciences which physicians will never remember having learned.

A bachelors degree (in Sociology for example) really does nothing for a physician (thats why they created medical school), nor does a sociology bachelors do much for a person who is NOT going to medical school...its just one of those life hurdles that everyone "thinks" should be passed, but it really holds no value, especially in medicine. A bachelors is required for many jobs (outside of medicine), and pay structures are usually based on where your undergraduate training was completed (ivy vs non-ivy league). In medicine, pay structures are based upon a totally different thing, not which school you did undergrad from.

and what "thing" is that???

[TennisMan]

About the degree, Finish it Finish it Finish It. I am at Ross right now and never finished my ** degree. I had about 1.5 semesters until I got my undergrad degree. Ross still admits people with only 90 semester units or more, but trust me, FINISH IT! I had to do MERP first before starting the main MD program on the island and it was probably since I did not finish my undergrad degree. I did well in MERP, learned alot, and enjoyed it and am doing fine academically right now on the island. I haven't really found that the courses I took in undergrad are any useful in med school, but the priniciple is that if you finish your degree, you will get a chance at getting into a US school, provided your stats are good. They say that you need only 90 semester units to get into most US schools, but since most people have a degree, you will be not as competitive in the face of the adcoms. Trust me, your life will go alot better if you take the time and finish your undergrad degree and get into a US School. At least try, then if the US schools don't want you, then you can go the Caribbean route. Ross is an ok school but if I had to do it over again, then I would have finished the degree and applied to a US school, even if it were an osteopathic school. There are many things that US schools offer to their students that Ross does not have, so I would look at Ross or any Caribbean school as only a back-up. Not to mention, you won't have to deal with the living conditions on the island if you are accepted mainland. Don't make the mistake I made! Finish the undergrad degree. You'll be glad you did.

[Dru]

Out of curiosity, if you take (and pass) MERP, does it carry credits...I mean can you apply it to your degree?

[TennisMan]

MERP is for non-credit. So none of the courses passed in MERP count toward anything besides admission into the MD phase. I wish they would give us some credits. If you ask any former MERPer, many of us would agree that the biochem is more clinically relevant than what is taught on the island and the MERP physiology tests given to us are much harder than what we've experienced on the island mini exams.

[phisigman03]

At least try, then if the US schools don't want you, then you can go the Caribbean route. Ross is an ok school but if I had to do it over again, then I would have finished the degree and applied to a US.


TennisMan, haven't you heard the pace student believes that Ross is better than 1/3 of US schools. I am so happy the island has been so good to me I love taking showers in Muddy water and swimming in beaches where the sewage dumps into. Plus we are the only island in the western hemisphere that has a wildebeast on it.

[MDiva]

Isn't not having a Bachelors degree (and no MCAT req for other schools) one of the things that US med snobs use as fuel to feed the anti-Carib med school flames? US schools state in their req's that a minimum of 90 hours are needed (or is it 60? I forget) provided that you complete the required premed courses. But the reality is that virtually no one gets into a US med school without that degree.

Then there is the issue of residency, and state licensing...Get the degree.

[Carlota321]

I am so happy the island has been so good to me I love taking showers in Muddy water and swimming in beaches where the sewage dumps into. Plus we are the only island in the western hemisphere that has a wildebeast on it.

I understand you are having a hard timing adjusting, but constantly whining to people isn't going to make anything better. If you're tired of the muddy showers, move to an apartment that has filtered water. All I can say for the beaches is have you SEEN some beaches in the US? There is more trash and medical waste than I care to think about. At least the water in the caribbean is still clear!

[TennisMan]

There is a misconception that those who don't have an undergrad degree won't be able to get licensed or receive a residency match. Remember that there are other IMG's from other systems of education where med school happens after high school. Meaning they have no undergraduate premed degree because either their high school curriculum covered premed topics or their country just does not have premed degrees in their systems. Then there are some schools that incorporate premed into med school curriculum similar to those **/MD programs in the US. Many IMG's in the US come from systems that do not have an undergrad premed degree and are licensed and went through graduate medical education. I spoke with a few medical board officials, including a rep from the CA medical board, one of the most strict boards in the 50 States. They do not require any undergrad premed degree nor do they request for transcripts from premedical education once it's time to apply for your license. I do know that New Jersey requires at least 90 semester units and some other States will license physicians on a case by case basis if one does not have an undergrad degree.

Also understand another misconception about an MD being a graduate degree. An MD is technically still an undergraduate [professional] degree and not a graduate degree. If you look at alot of US med school sites, they describe their MD programs as undergraduate medical education. Graduate medical education is considered post med school training, meaning residency and fellowship.