As another MSBS student, I would really like to inform those who are interested in applying, or have already applied to RVU MSBS program for this year. I am doing so, because I wish that someone could have informed me about what I was entering myself into. Unfortunately, this program has been the WORST experience I have ever had. I am extremely disappointed, in that everything that was ever told to the 15 students of the inaugural class, was a LIE. Worse than a business tactic, and far from less than beneficial in preparing students for any professional program, or even a job! I wouldn't be surprised if we found out the masters wasn't even legitimate at this point.
They told us all that they had spot for all 15 of us, with NO MINIMUM. Upon arrival (from out of state), I was informed that this program has all block testing (all 5 subjects on one 3.5 hour exam, with a months worth of material from each subject) and that "if you do well" you would get in. Even after investigating what "well" was, we were told "just do your best, there's no minimum." Come to find out, after a 46% acceptance rate, and 6 months of being lead on that I would get in, they had intentions of only letting in 7 people the only WHOLE TIME! Even the director of admissions wants to let more people in (probably because a 46% acceptance rate bodes well for no one), but the "director" is the only one that can recommend us. Well let me tell you about him; He has quite a dirty past. Obviously (or hopefully) this school hasn't done a background check on this guy! He's not even qualified to be the director, nor is he qualified to freely walk the streets! Not sure who, or how this guy was left in charge, but it is CLEAR that this program was thrown together either with pure neglect, or by money hungry greed.
Regardless, we all took out $50,000 loans, and entered an unknown death race. The faculty and staff have shown ZERO concern for our situations, and the director of admissions is offering seats for their new money sucking campus in Utah for those who entered this program with the minimums (500 MCAT, 3.0 GPA). All while telling us NOT to study for the MCAT all year long! Meaning, if you came to do this preparatory program to become more prepared for medical school, you should have came already prepared (intuitive right?). Even if you were bring up that tail end of the GPA's during the year of this program, as long as you have those minimums you still have a chance. They literally aren't prepared for anything until it slaps them in the face, and unfortunately it slaps us at the same time. Every professor has lied to us, and its just a sport to the "director" to lie to us at this point. Even the director of admissions says the "director" is still willing to recommend students at the end of the program, while the director says he's absolutely not willing. Everything is just a mess, and I wouldn't wish this program on my worst enemy...
They have had no preparation for this program, and charge over $350 a class period, in which they hired an old RVU student (a drop out) to teach our anatomy lectures. Not only not qualified, (see the themes here?) but it is also unacknowledged by any other faculty or staff member that she is teaching the class. At this point, the accreditation has been beyond breached, and I would not be surprised if my next post entailed all of us walking away with no masters and a refund. Bear in mind, they want to accept up to 50 people in next year's MSBS class, AND start a PA program. I wish anyone willing to take this on the best of luck, and to do that acceptance math for 50 people. Unless you plan on coming here with scores or skills of being able to get in the traditional way, then please save yourself the stress, money, time and god awful experience and rock the MACT and apply regularly instead.
