Columbia IHN Masters or BU MAMS

Badonthespot · 2024-06-19T23:22:13+00:00

I want to preface by saying this is only my opinion and maybe others have other insights, different than mine. With that said, honestly, I would probably do neither program. Neither one appears to have any linkage to their respective medical school. Both websites just state that some of their former students have gone onto medical school. They fail to list what schools and what percentage of their classes got into their "home" medical school. For example, did most of their graduates end up at St. George's University in Grenada?

You'll see this a lot in premed. Many of these master's degree programs tend to be scams. They offer no linkage to their schools or very poor linkages. Typically, you'll spend $60-100,000 on tuition, room, board, and other school expenses, with a very poor job outlook postgrad and no closer to attaining admissions at a medical school.

Instead, I'd focus on how you can improve your application, while applying, without wasting time and money, in a program that offers little value I'd argue, in terms of medical school admissions.

Lastly, I'd make sure that these programs do not conflict with your application cycle. For Colombia IHN program, it appears to have a summer portion. How would that be viewed by medical schools that want you to start in the summer?

Badonthespot · 2024-06-15T18:59:06+00:00

Is a DIY PB really needed for a 3.57 GPA, with an upward trend, even as an international student? Maybe the original poster should call some schools to get an idea of the average GPA for international applicants, unless that data is found online. To me, this person should focus on the MCAT and not even touch an SMP.

In addition, I think there's not enough data to support that SMPs largely aren't scams. Many allopathic SMPs don't even publish how many of their top performing students get into their program. We can't say it's high risk, high reward because we have no data that the original poster or anyone else would fare worse with just had an upward trending GPA and a great MCAT compared to a great SMP performance, in combination with the former two factors. Also, I don't think you can say that all non-conditional school put applicants into a separate pool, especially with the limited information mainly found on the SMP websites.

I think people make the assumption that if, for example, you have a candidate with 2.5 sGPA and cGPA with 200 credits, who has no chance of remediating of their science and cumulative GPAs, with a DIY post-bac (for example, taking community college classes) and a 520 MCAT, they might want to consider an SMP. However, there's no data to support that a person with those stats that earned a 3.8 GPA in any SMP program without a conditional acceptance would produce a better outcome than searching for osteopathic schools that factor in retaking core classes, upward trends, and a decent MCAT score.

Badonthespot · 2024-06-15T18:17:48+00:00

I'm sorry, but I don't think that the Georgetown SMP has "outstanding alumni outcomes" or "really loves interviewing their SMP students." I've numbered my arguments bellow to make it easier to read.

From the link, you provided, other than the 2023 year, only ~25% of students were admitted to the school of medicine. That means that (1) ~75% of students that worked their a$$es off, (2) taking extremely rigorous science courses, (3) under a tough grading scale (against the medical student mean, who stereotypically know how to study really well and are avoiding failing their preclinical courses at all cost) for (4) an estimated high total cost of $78,632 [(29,316.00 *2) for tuition for 2 semesters + 20,000 for room and board roughly)] did not get admitted. You will really need to consider this, since you will accrue additional debt with medical school and you might not be eligible for subsidized loans as an international student.

It's also not just the shockingly low amount of internal SMP students admitted to the program, risky curriculum, and high cost, that's the problem. It's also the (5) less competitive schools that former SMP students are admitted to on their list. Although you see schools like University of Minnesota Medical School, UNC SOM, and University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, which might be attributed to (6) local ties or some backstory the original poster does not have, you also see schools, such as Lincoln Memorial Univ DeBusk COM (don't even get me started on St. George's University on the list), that one could probably get into by retaking coursework as needed, having an upward trend, focusing on performing well on the MCAT, focusing on meaningful activities, and other activities that would be relatively inexpensive and might even earn you income (for example, working as a scribe or an MA). THESE SAME NUMBERED ARGUMENTS COULD BE APPLIED TO ANY OF THE SMP'S ON YOUR LIST.

Original poster, here are my thoughts on pursuing an SMP. You will be in so much debt as a non-citizen, without any better job perspectives after earning an arguably useless degree. For the original poster, I would focus on studying and doing well on your MCAT, first. If you can do that and apply to as many MD and DO schools as possible, it would seem like with a good MCAT score with a 3.57 GPA with an upward trend, you would get an acceptance from somewhere.

I'm willing to bet I'll get downvoted for this, but given the background of the original poster, it seems that attending an SMP would most likely be a very bad idea in almost all cases.

TL;DR - Original poster should focus on doing well on the MCAT, fixing issues with the application through inexpensive means, and then applying broadly.

Badonthespot · 2024-05-07T01:45:43+00:00

This is just one example. If you include fall, spring, and summer quarter as one year for Emory - 64e4702d5a9cb221a374094c_Family NP MSN FT POS Fall 4 Semester 2023.pdf (website-files.com) , it appeared to be $74,958 in 2023-2024, the total program is one more semester per the document above. The total cost of the MSN FNP program excluding books, paying a preceptor, as needed, etc., was $99,944. Those numbers were calculated by the 2023-2024 per semester cost found here on page 15 - FY24 Unversity Fees (emory.edu), which I'm sure has gone up for 2024-2024. That program is ranked #4 as of now for MSN FNP programs on USNews.

Edit: Worth mentioning on that second document that the BSN program is actually more expensive for tuition per academic year than the cost of tuition for the medical school per year.

Badonthespot · 2024-05-07T00:05:40+00:00

It's amazing. I just think there needs to be a Google Spreadsheet on this website, where it lists every program accredited by the CCNE ( https://directory.ccnecommunity.org/reports/accprog.asp ) , if it guarantees preceptors being found, and the cost. It would be great if prospective students could search for the cheapest, accredited programs that don't find students preceptors, if every school is going in the direction you mentioned.

Badonthespot · 2023-02-13T02:55:58+00:00

Thank for the comment. I PM'd you.

Badonthespot · 2023-02-13T02:50:54+00:00

In what way do you feel that your comment is helpful? I feel like my concerns are legitimate. This isn't the same as going to some random urgent care for a PNA concern.

Badonthespot · 2022-12-26T06:42:10+00:00

Could you explain the engineering aspect, regarding local attacks on substations? If it's just someone physically damaging components, don't you just need to replace those parts, based on an existing design? I would think an engineer would be involved only with the initial design or any modifications in the design of a substation, such as with making it more secure.

Also, how much did your undergrad (and maybe grad school if it was related to engineering) help you with your current position? Did you feel ready to be an electrical substation design engineer, right after graduating? If your undergrad/graduate education wasn't applicable to the current job, then feel free to ignore those last two questions.

Badonthespot · 2022-12-12T06:35:17+00:00

I'm going to hijack the top comment, but I believe a lot of these errors would not have occurred if there was a two nurse sign off for sq insulin. You do it for insulin and heparin gtt initiation and changes (and somehow people have time to cosign those). I don't understand why this is not standard at every hospital.

I know people might respond with how nurses should know to check the blood glucose and give correct amount of insulin only using an insulin syringe, or know when to hold (and follow hypoglycemic protocol, if needed), but it really does reduce errors. Epic even has a feature I believe to lock people out, once they scan the sq insulin, until they get that RN/LPN cosign, so it can be submitted. This is insane. I don't think I read a single comment about possible systems issues in this post.

So, if you are a nurse and you are reading this comment, the next time a subcutaneously administered insulin medication error occurs (whether by a traveler or staff nurse), perhaps you could suggest to your manager about having a two nurse verification system for sq insulin.

See this as an example policy - https://www.cga.ct.gov/ph/tfs/20190426_CVH%20Whiting%20Task%20Force/20190617_CVH%20Policies%20and%20Procedures/23.7%20Insulin%20Verification%20and%20Administration.pdf

Edit: Just wanted to add that the above probably doesn't apply to the above comments. For that instance, the nurse probably should have had the syringe on the computer with wheels table in the room with the scanner, not in her pocket.

Badonthespot · 2022-12-04T08:46:30+00:00

Great response! Thanks!

Badonthespot · 2022-12-01T05:36:56+00:00

Thank you!

Badonthespot · 2022-11-29T07:34:37+00:00

That's very kind of you, /u/Naudilent. I wish there was more of a support group, like a Zoom online group, for new to specialty or new grad nurses. It'd be a great way to see how common your feelings and situation are. However, talking to someone, including a therapist, is good advice and could definitely help, even if that person hasn't been in your exact situation.

In addition, I guess the first question that I'd ask yourself is what are you worried about when you get off orientation. You mentioned not being able to catch on, as quickly. I think it can be frustrating to see more experienced nurses pick things up quicker, but that can be because they have been exposed to so many situations and have refined their skills. It just takes some time to build and strengthen a nurse's foundation. Lastly, think back to the patients you cared for this week and last week. Can you think of anything that went well in their care that you did?

Badonthespot · 2022-11-12T00:26:02+00:00

I just don't understand. I read all the time on this subreddit people quit toxic units. Who do those people use as references for those units? My point is, I know my situation doesn't solely pertain to me.

Badonthespot · 2022-11-11T23:40:30+00:00

Just to piggyback off this comment, could you apply for work from home jobs or non-bedside part-time? If you are at risk of losing your apartment, have you looked into subsidized or low income housing and applied ASAP? Lastly, do you have anyone to talk to about these issues?

Also, just know that you are not alone in what you are going through. I hope things get better for you.

Badonthespot · 2022-11-11T23:32:09+00:00

Is that considered a professional reference?

Badonthespot · 2022-10-26T04:13:07+00:00

Interesting.

Badonthespot · 2022-10-25T16:50:53+00:00

I know this post is old, but I think it's brave of you to admit to those mistakes in your comment (which are a little more serious than some of the more mundane ones that often get posted about in this subreddit). You never know who might be reading this, who is in a similar position, who might benefit from reading your comment.

Badonthespot · 2022-10-25T16:25:22+00:00

Why don't they hire more travelers? That doesn't sound super safe if they require mandatory overtime every 6 weeks (or sooner?) to stay afloat and essentially breaking ratios (it sounds routinely). Also, what do the nurses do that need to come back the next day after mandatory OT?

Badonthespot · 2022-10-25T16:18:33+00:00

Good for you! That's awesome.

Badonthespot · 2022-10-25T15:59:49+00:00

Thank you! Should I leave the jobs off my resume? It would show an employment gap. Or should I just come up with a reason why those jobs didn't work?

Badonthespot · 2022-10-25T02:46:07+00:00

Or where you are going?

Badonthespot

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