Taking the MCAT or any other test that is going to determine the path for the rest of your life as a trial run is utter stupidity!!!
Life does not afford you trial runs. If you wanted a trial run you should have taken Kaplan tests.
Who you studied with is of no relevance when it comes to admissions. They don't care if he was a Nobel laureate. Same with the university you attended. It could have been at the university of the deep forest...
What determines admittance is GPA, MCAT research publications. So that means they judge you on your efforts alone and not those of your professors or the school's. Knowledge and fame does not rub off on people.
So if they gave you the MPH route that means there were at least 350 people with higher achievement than you.
I had beer rounds every week (and was a guest to my wedding) with the guy that invented aspirin use for myocardial infarcts back in 79. So what? It was his efforts that got him his fame. It didn't rub off on me.

I don't mean to be offensive or critical or whatever, but was was your MCAT then a 15. Because if you applied for the MD and the admission gave you an MPH spot, then that means there must have been some serious problems with your aplication. i am curious to learn the statistics for the MPH program.

__________________
ST. GEORGE'S UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE --CLASS OF 2008--

something along those lines

__________________
I make the best of today, because I am not assured of tomorrow

Hey,
I was in the same situation earlier this year deciding between MPH at SGU and AUC. Make a long story short I am at AUC now finishing up 2nd semester just fine. I also went to UCR just like you, so I feel ur pain with getting hammered by Cardullo in Bio 5A sucked. Getting killed in the bio med program wasn't fun either. But taking all those extra upper division Bio, microbio, neuro, cancer bio etc... classes really helps when you make it to med school. So if you can get into AUC i would say come here, you'll fit right at home. Most of the material you would have seen back at UCR. In fact we covered in more detail that they want you to know it here so it is an advantage.
Thinking back had i not been accepted to AUC i probably gone with the MPH program. I had only applied to the big 3 at the time because i want to practice in California. Now you have 4 options with the big 3 + Saba. Try and apply to those and see what happens... If you want any other advise feel free to pm me.
Later
G

__________________

There is nothing anyone is going to say in this thread that hasn't been said in previous threads started by people in similiar situations. So save yourself even more grief and do a search for "MPH" and set out a few hours to read the posts. I'm surprised the mods haven't locked this thread and/or sent some warnings out, but i also know they have better things to do that pay more $. Its flaming like this that makes me embarrassed when potential SGUers read this forum. Now get back to studying as i write all of you a Rx for a chill-pill, Sup. PR AC+HS #30.

__________________

PGY-2 Pediatrics
SGU class of 2007

Can I nominate Dr. Nick to be a mod?

__________________
Me fail English? That's unpossible!

Too late. But thanks. I'm flattered. Now i just hope my head doesn't swell like hydrocephalus.

__________________

PGY-2 Pediatrics
SGU class of 2007

I think doing an MPH at this time in your life is not going to help you. The MPH is helpful once you have some experience in medicine but not now. It seems that SGU is using the MPH as a way to get weaker candidates into the medical program. I wouldnt waste any money on an MPH at this time. You really need to concentrate on basic sciences. Medical school is expensive, esp. st. georges. You want to conserve your funds. Call St. Georges to see if you can get admitted into their MD program in Jan or May. Waiting a semester is really not a big deal. You could work and make some money. I wish I had worked more before med school as money was always tight. If they say no then consider AUC,Ross,SABA , Israel, Ireland, Australia. I dont suggest UAG. UAG used to be the only alternative for americans to study medicine. I feel there are better options with the above schools. Some people will argue that knowing spanish will help you. Yes this is true but your main goal is to learn medicine and pass the boards. You can learn spanish at another time. There are a lot of spanish courses. I suppose you could get medical school credit if you do a medical rotation in a spanish speaking country and learn spanish at same time. I know there are uS students that do this in places such as Guatemala. Good luck.

To kind of get back to the original topic..... I actually have an interest in Public Health, especiall Epidemiology and Infectious Diseases. Are you saying that the MPH programme at SGU would not be the best way to go, even if that is the type of medicine I want to do?

__________________
~Rebeccah the Bug Girl~
Bugs are tasty.
My Blog (latest update: July 5)
MySpace(same blog, more about me)
"Get your manpants on the who!"

its not the best route because its not recognized in the US.
but there are very nice infectious diseases classes in MPH...i have taken them all and all have been very helpful and educational.