***BS/MD Interview Notification for Class of 2013***

Pre-Med & Medical School Multiple Degree Programs
2761

<p>thanks, imgdad, solid advice, insightful. I do appreciate ohioparent’s input on academic setting as well.</p>

<p>One further question on employment, if you are trained at a top program in another area and decide to join a private practice in your home area, would locally-trained residents enjoy some advantage that they are already known to these physicians or recommended by affiliated hospital program?</p>

2762

<p>thebombingrange - most people invited for the interview week are being assured of some level of scholarship. There are only 10 seats and the requirement to get into that program are onerous despite the very low number of people being admitted. </p>

<p>The reason they should give money is so that people show up. Being admitted to the med school with a requirement of 3.8/36 is like saying just do as well as any other applicant we may admit. So in my opinion, it is a totally useless admission without some money to add to the prestige. Being expected to shell out 550-600k for the prestige of attending WASU while working towards a 3.8/36 for the first four years - is priceless.</p>

2763

<p>The operative word there is “should.” These undergrads should do a lot of things nowadays for their cost, but they often don’t. </p>

<p>@Visio in that case, I would agree. If you can afford it, go to WashU.</p>

2764

<p>In my opinion, they SHOULD forget the admission.</p>

2765

<p>@pcb1604, based on my experience in recruiting physicians to our practice, we always prefer locally trained physicians unless the competitions are way ahead and the locally trained physicians are known to be substandard for the following reasons:

  1. The locally trained physicians already know the local medical community and so are more likely to get the practice off very quickly than a new person to the community. Remember, most community physicians are generally not that impressed by where the physicians have been trained. They prefer to see the quality of work before trusting the new physicians, irrespective of whether the physicians have been trained in top tier programs or not.
  2. Recruitment is usually very difficult and for someone locally trained to choose to stay local suggests that the physicians are more likely to stay in the community than to relocate after a few years. Therefore, we prefer to recruit and not to have to recruit again after just a few years because the physicians do not like the community and choose to move. </p>

<p>Remember, what I am saying above only applies to private practice and NOT for academic institutions.</p>

2766

<p>@texaspg Meaning they should get rid of the program?</p>

2767

<p>@IMGDAD
I wanted to get your opinion on becoming a pediatrician vs. a pediatric nurse practitioner. Someone we know works in a pediatrician’s office and says how they are losing money with the compensation the insurance companies are providing. The practice just told all the adminstrative staff and RNs they needed to take a cut in pay for the practice to survive. Many people, when I tell them I am thinking of becoming a pediatrician (including my own pediatrician) seem to steer me toward thinking about a pediatric nurse practitioner. I know the training (and knowledge level) is completely different but at the end of the day, can I achieve the same satisfaction by becoming a nurse practioner vs a pediatrician? If you know, what is the difference in salary level?
Thank you so much</p>

2768

<p>@emoryorbust, at your age, you should follow your passion. Although nurse practitioners and physician assistants make good money (usually around $120,000 a year in this market), they are mid-level practitioners. My experience working with them is that they are given a lot of responsibilities without the authorities. That is why patients who see a nurse practitioner or physician assistant consistently are more likely to have more medications to take because most of the mid-level practitioners are comfortable with starting a medication but just are too afraid to change or discontinue any medications.</p>

<p>If you have the intellectual caliber to go to med school, you should take the opportunity to do so. Do not be deterred by what compensation you might receive. Whatever you are paid as a physician, you will still be making a lot lot more than the national household income. Job satisfaction is extremely important, especially this is something that you will be doing for the rest of your life. It is always better to look back one day and regret over something that you have done than to regret over something that you have not done, especially if you are intellectually capable to doing!</p>

<p>Good luck.</p>

2769

<p>" Meaning they should get rid of the program? " </p>

<p>I am referring to individuals who get an admission without any money unless they have FA. The price tag is too steep to be locked in for 8 years if one can’t afford it.</p>

2770

<p>@ texaspg, you are correct. Just read a CCN article [Doctors</a> driven to bankruptcy - Apr. 8, 2013](<a href=“http://money.cnn.com/2013/04/08/smallbusiness/doctors-bankruptcy/]Doctors”>Doctors driven to bankruptcy)
Cost and time are probably two most important factors to consider here.</p>

2771

<p>vizio - I see you were the person who asked the question about WUSTL. Don’t let my personal opinions influence your decision. I just don’t understand why WUSTL would dangle a bunch of scholarships for undergrads, direct medical school applicants but decide not to give any money for students in this program.</p>

<p>Which way are you leaning?</p>

<p>A parent told me last year that they called 2-3 days before the May 1st deadline and offered more scholarship money for his kid to enroll in undergrad despite starting with a 1/2. This kid did not make the cut for combined.</p>

2772

<p>That is good to know. Both are great options and we also have ivies to consider. Not sure at this time. Thank you all for your opinions.</p>

2773

<p>Which Ivies are you looking into. There is a discussion going on about Yale and HPME/WUSTL combined in another thread under pre-med topics if you have not seen it already.</p>

2774

<p>@nkb747 : I am sending the phone number. I didn’t get your PM that you sent earlier.</p>

2775

<p>@visio, take the rpi/amc. Washu requirements and costs are not worth it! There is no guarantee that you will end up being a doctor ifyou choose washu. I have had family that graduated from there and their gpa did not stay at 3.7 or 3.8 because of the tough curriculum.</p>

2776

<p>hey guys! I’m debating between Boston University SMED and the University of Pittsburgh GAP, and I was wondering what your opinions were on this? Pittsburgh gave me a pretty big scholarship and doesn’t require MCAT, but Boston is only 7 years and a much better location…I’m so confused right now :&lt;/p>

2777

<p>@bluesky2792
Congratulations, it is nice to be spoilt with choices…:slight_smile:
Go for Pitt.
BTW, Can you please post your Stats, so it will help next year applicants?
Thanks in advance.</p>

2778

<p>I clearly am not as eloquint a write as IMGDAD- I really agree with everything he is saying and if you want to be in a really good medical school or training program and then be a total loser/goof off you will be poor doctor. The opposite is likely true. But see the second paragraph of his post #2757- he makes the point I really have been trying to make.</p>

2779

<p>Interviewed at the UCSD med scholars program this past weekend and fell in love with the campus and the program. Does anyone know when decisions come out? If admitted, will need to make tough decisions between bamd and Ivy pre med…but leaning to bamd at least today ;)</p>

2780

<p>yes BLUESKY…would be nice to post stats for juniors planning for next year! Much thanxxxxxx</p>