MERP vs MPH

[as1024]

I was accepted to both the MPH at st. george and MERP at ross. Both would require me to spend an extra year. At this point I am more inclined towards the MERP because it seems to be alittle easier to accomplish and tuition is alittle cheaper(but I don't get a master degree as I would in st. george). MPH at st. george would require me to get at a 3.5 GPA which I thought is difficult. Any opinions?

[thebeard03]

I don't know whether you say an extra year because of your situation or not, but MERP, (and I think MPH also, though not sure) are 15 week (or 10 in the case of MPH) long sessions that allow for direct admission into the school, so it wouldnt be a full year, unless you wanted to make it one.

[brob311]

If time/money is not an issue, do the MPH deal...at least you have a graduate degree instead of a MERP completion which means nothing to the world outside of Ross. If you have a potential of getting into ST George over Ross, then do it. And MERP is not a guarantee either, just ask Jabee

That being said, an MPH from St George will not exactly have Mayo residencies turning their heads towards you.

[cavalletti]

If time/money is not an issue, do the MPH deal...at least you have a graduate degree instead of a MERP completion which means nothing to the world outside of Ross. If you have a potential of getting into ST George over Ross, then do it. .

You will be alot happier with clinicals at SGU.

[as1024]

I don't know whether you say an extra year because of your situation or not, but MERP, (and I think MPH also, though not sure) are 15 week (or 10 in the case of MPH) long sessions that allow for direct admission into the school, so it wouldnt be a full year, unless you wanted to make it one.

MERP is a 15 weeks program but MPH is actually an master program which would require an year of education. Both would get me into their medical schools as long as I satisy their requirements. I believe St. George does have a better reputation than Ross but it's just that the 3.5 GPA is not easy to maintain in a master program...

[WannaBdoc25]

Is it actually a full year or two semesters.

[Internal Amity]

3.5 gpa for 1 year is way too much, and way too long. If you want to be a physician, both Ross and St. G's will get you there, one way or another. Merp is one single semester (3 months), and you will go directly to the island. Its alot easier than a 3.5 too...4 classes and you need an overall of 70 and at least 60 in each individual class...which is alot easier than a 3.5. A 3.5 is half A's and half B's, a 70 is straight C's. Doesn't take a genius to figure this out.

[BrendaB_MD]

The St. George MPH is basically an admission surcharge. They force students to get an unwanted degree in order to fill seats in a program that is unable to attract students on its own merits. While it is easy to see how this program serve's St. Georoge's interests, it is hard to see how this program serves students.

Although MPH courses are interesting, I am not convinced that it is good preparation for medical school. Are students really better equipped to handle medical school after obtaining an MPH? It seems to me that there are other alternatives such as admitting "at risk" students in a decelerated program rather than draining their bank account and consuming a year of their time.

If SGU really felt that MPH training was a preparation for med school, they would accept an MPH from any good US program as convincing evidence that a student can handle the load. But no, it has to be from SGU. It would all be much more straightforward if SGU simply asked for a $50k check instead of making people consume a year in an unwanted degree program.

The MPH is very expensive. You have to factor in not only the tuition cost but the lost income from the time spent in the MPH program. I expect the difference in cost between MERP and the MPH is about 35k. You also lose a year which, assuming you complete medical school and become a primary care physician is worth about 70k in today's dollars. Thus, if the MPH causes you to delay graduation by a year relative to MERP, the cost of the MPH easily outweighs the potential costs associated with the potential delays in Ross clinicals. And this is on top of the additional cost of SGU relative to Ross.

At the end of the day it depends on your financial situation and your sensitivity to costs. If you are a multimillionaire, then the costs are pretty minor. Otherwise, you have some thinking to do. You also may have other alternatives (AUC or Saba). SGU is a good school; however, it is very expensive. I think it is hard to justify the cost even without the MPH; however, if you add the MPH it becomes wildly expensive. I would look carefully at Saba or AUC.

SGU is usually the class act of the caribbean and generally looks out for its students. It is disappointing that they see them stoop to these kinds of sales tactics that serve nobody's interests except their own.