St. georges + a year or SMU NOW??

[opnr2k2]

I got a call about 2 weeks back that i have been accepted to SMU w/o an interview. ross/saba said "no and we don't want to see you again" heh... but St georges is saying try out our mph program and get a 3.5 and we will let you in for jan 06 M.D. program. I dunno what to do!!

Cali approval is important for me b/c i want to practice here, but i am torn b/w a chance at st. george and smu.

this is the break down...

smu = start now jan 05
st georges = spend a year in mph, then have a shot at their med school in jan 06

I have a 2.7 and 19 MCAT from University of California, Riverside.

[###]

................

[stateofequilibrium]

ever thought about trying for AUC? Lots of us UCR'ers over here.

[skidoc42]

When I read your post, it reminded me of lots of situations that have come my way on my perilous trek to obtain my M.D. My advice to you is to follow your dreams. If your goal is to practice medicine in CA, then go to a school that allows you to do so, even if it takes an extra year. However, I do believe that SMU will get Cali approval in the next 6 months to a year. Bottom line is this: you've worked to hard to get where you are. And to settle for anything less than your dream is selling yourself short!!


skidoc42

[microphage]

ever thought about trying for AUC? Lots of us UCR'ers over here.

Last time I checked, you were the only UCRer... (at least, you were the only one I knew..Or rather, don't know).

[yoyoson]

check it son. Make up your mind depending on what you want to do. I think you have a far better chance of getting into a harder residiency/speciality by going to ross, sgu , or auc. So If you want to be a cardiothoraic surgeon or a radiologist or something that is hard to get then I say go to the mph at sgu. If you are content with internal medicine, family pratice or even general surgery I thihnk st. matthews would be fine.

[microphage]

I'll echo DrB's post... MPH program at SGU isn't the best way to go at it if you have no interset in getting a MPH.

Also factor in that SMU and Saba are in the process of California approval. Since you are from California, I would wait it out and see if SMU gets Cali before attending the school but if Cali is of no concern to you, then go ahead and goto SMU.

[wolfvgang22]

check it son. Make up your mind depending on what you want to do. I think you have a far better chance of getting into a harder residiency/speciality by going to ross, sgu , or auc. So If you want to be a cardiothoraic surgeon or a radiologist or something that is hard to get then I say go to the mph at sgu. If you are content with internal medicine, family pratice or even general surgery I thihnk st. matthews would be fine.
This guy always gives the best advice. Really.

[AmericanIMG]

yoyoson's comment on going to SGU for certain fields of medicine makes no sense. if you are a good student, it doesnt matter where you go to class at. please remember that the USMLE step1 is the major factor that is looked at for all IMGs. being from SGU and getting a 220 or being from SMU and getting a 220 makes no difference, and for those that tell you otherwise...it isnt a logical arguement.

as for UCR, i went there, as did several students here at SMU. its always nice to see students from Riv pushing to get the MD, especially since the now-defunct biomed program messed up so many students their frosh yr.

anyway, good luck with your decision. another thing to think about is the use of the MPH. instead, perhaps a MBA/MHSA would help you in the long run? SGU is so expensive to begin with...more time getting a degree that might be of no use to you might not be the best idea.

Don't get me wrong though SGU is an excellent school, i chose SMU because of the cost, the professionalism in their conduct with applicants and their location. I was also admitted to AUC and Ross.

again goodluck!


:wink:

[SMU_Information]

Not weighing in on the actual discussion, but I did want to say the UCR was far and away the busiest graduate school fair I attended this year. I wouldn't be surprised if there weren't some more joining you guys shortly.

[yoyoson]

thats where u are wrong american Img. Sgu is much better affiliated with more hospitals than smu. A better school will get you into a better hospital which means geting a better residiency, and that will ultimately lead you to a better fellowship. Allot of getting a fellowship depends on where you did your residiency. You think you are gonna get a fellowship like cardiology by doing a residiency at some crap community hospital in harlem somewhere?

[GatorMD]

You've got to be kidding me......last time I looked at the location of many of our clinical students they were in larger hospitals around the country. I am from Florida and I can tell you first hand that SMU's affiliation with Florida Hospital is not only my first choice, but I am sure about the fact that it is one of the largest hospitals in the Central Florida area myself and anyone else could get any residency they want. I am also sure this is the case across the country.
I'm thinking that next time you keep your mouth shut about things you don't know about nor take the time to look into.

[yoyoson]

first off im talking about getting a fellowship after residiency. Cant u read? secondly if it was so easy to get a good residiency just cause you go to a big hospital why doesnt everybody get what they want. Just cause your hospital is big, as u say, doesnt mean it has the fellowship spot u want, or a good one at that.

[skidoc42]

yoyoson,

I've read your posts on other forums. I hate using this forum for petty junk like this; however, in this case it needs to be done!

skidoc42

[GatorMD]

.....so maybe if you actually read what you wrote refering to where the residency takes place maybe you would understand that I was infering that a good residency at the many affiliations SMU has would indeed increase chances of a good fellowship............Have a great day.

[benjie]

dude
you do not even know how to spell correctly 8)

[JEOBrien]

opnr2k2, I got the same offer with a 3.0 and a 24. I had a lot of clinical experience, community involvement and I own a construction company. I was unable to tell the admissions jerks that when I wasnt working or in class I spent a bit too much time meeting up with friends at the pub and not enough time studying- yes absolutely my fault. However, I was angry that they didnt want to consider that I not only worked through school but ran the company and crew on top of trying to do the premed stuff. So nuts to the idea that because your scores werent in the top ten percent of the nation you cant succeed. My stats werent the greatest either and it is certainly no reflexion of ability. Sorry for the rant but before you cast the first stone consider that not everyone has the opportunity to sit and study all night after class. Many students viewing these forums have to work to support their children or work to pay for school. Not everyone gets a free meal ticket.
As far as the MPH program goes, obviously you are not considering the MPH program because you need the degree to obtain your goal of becoming a nuring home supervisor. Instead you are using it as a means to an end, that being your goal of becoming a physician. No, SGUs MPH is not a good one but if you want to practice in cali you have to go to a state appproved school. I appologize if I was offensive toward anyone.

[Donno70]

Cali approval is important for me b/c i want to practice here.

2K,

I think you've answered your own question.

My choice was SMU, but I've got my own reasons. Ultimately, it's your opinion that matters...not anyone else's. If you want CA. approval and don't mind waiting a year, you've got one choice. Although I hear it’s more expensive, with the KEY bank disaster, I’m sure SGU has more funding options.

Conversely, If you want to start this year with a quality school and a good value, there's SMU (they have the MHSA dual degree if that's your thing). Besides if your waiting until '06 for SGU, SMU MIGHT get CA approval during that time. I think if/when that happens, people will be beating doors down (even more) to get in.

Either way, you can't go wrong. If your really twisted, write down YOUR pros and cons to both schools. Whoever wins: wins! Good luck with your decision.

DM

[LqdPls]

JEOBrien. Your cliché rhetoric about how unfair and subjective the admissions process is has been heard and written about time and time again. Everybody has some type of story about why they have a 2.7 instead of a 3.7 or why they scored a 24 on the MCAT instead of a 34. The truth is that there are many people out there who work while going to school, raise families, experience unfortunate tragedies, and often experience what appear to be like insurmountable odds. But in the end they still manage to come out on top, often doing much better than those people who may have not been challenged by the circumstances of life.

The truth is that many of us on this forum are untraditional applicants, or what I would like to call late bloomers. At the time of our undergraduate years, while our peers were hitting the books, we spent more time hanging out, playing school yard ball, or kicking back at the bar as you have described it. But now we have arrived at a point in our lives when we are finally ready with renewed life experience, maturity, commitment, work ethic, and motivation to pursue a career in medicine. Of course we did not arrive at this conclusion sleeping on mom's couch, because we were unemployed college graduates. We went out and deliberately pursued a specific endeavor related to our dream. We became nurses, EMTs, physician assistants, scientists, social workers, artists, peace corp volunteers, etc, in order to realize our true potential and passion in life. Our mentors have vouched for our success and abilities, and their statements of recommendation in fact state that our numerical statistics are not necessarily reflective of our true aptitude. Therefore, it is why we are granted a chance, if only, considered by many, a marginal one. But nonetheless it is still a chance, an opportunity to prove oneself, an opportunity to prove that the means and time that you have spent in pursuit of your goal truly justify the end.

[benjie]

JEOBrien. Your cliché rhetoric about how unfair and subjective the admissions process is has been heard and written about time and time again. Everybody has some type of story about why they have a 2.7 instead of a 3.7 or why they scored a 24 on the MCAT instead of a 34. The truth is that there are many people out there who work while going to school, raise families, experience unfortunate tragedies, and often experience what appear to be like insurmountable odds. But in the end they still manage to come out on top, often doing much better than those people who may have not been challenged by the circumstances of life.

The truth is that many of us on this forum are untraditional applicants, or what I would like to call late bloomers. At the time of our undergraduate years, while our peers were hitting the books, we spent more time hanging out, playing school yard ball, or kicking back at the bar as you have described it. But now we have arrived at a point in our lives when we are finally ready with renewed life experience, maturity, commitment, work ethic, and motivation to pursue a career in medicine. Of course we did not arrive at this conclusion sleeping on mom's couch, because we were unemployed college graduates. We went out and deliberately pursued a specific endeavor related to our dream. We became nurses, EMTs, physician assistants, scientists, social workers, artists, peace corp volunteers, etc, in order to realize our true potential and passion in life. Our mentors have vouched for our success and abilities, and their statements of recommendation in fact state that our numerical statistics are not necessarily reflective of our true aptitude. Therefore, it is why we are granted a chance, if only, considered by many, a marginal one. But nonetheless it is still a chance, an opportunity to prove oneself, an opportunity to prove that the means and time that you have spent in pursuit of your goal truly justify the end.


Well said!

[JEOBrien]

Wow guys- I didnt mean to open this can of worms. I was merely trying to respond with some positive words of encouragement instead of criticism. I was trying to explain to opnr2k2 that the SGU MPH was not a horrible idea and that many choose that particular dual degree program as a means to an end. I further wanted to voice my thoughts on DrBs comment concerning opnr2k2s stats: "Given your low GPA and MCAT, I would be concerned about your ability to handle medical school." I am certain that opnr2k2 already heard that from an admissions rep and probably didnt need to hear it again. I certainly did not mean to give the impression that I was whining. I believe that I admitted that my low scores were of my own doing and my own choice to sit in the bar or play football while my classmates were in the books. Just trying to give someone a bit of encouragement- sorry for the cliche rant in the previous post, LqdPls, but I think we are on the same page