One of the many advantages of pursuing your Master of Science in Medical Sciences (MSMS) with a Tiber Health university partner is the fact that you can benefit from medical school linkage opportunities. We’ve discussed how our post-bacc program linkages work in the past, but we thought it was worth revisiting the subject.
Specifically, we want to explain how you can best take advantage of the opportunity to obtain preferential consideration for admission to Ponce Health Sciences University (PHSU) or one of the other institutions our partners offer linkages with.
Understanding Linkage Agreements
First, a reminder about what linkage agreements offer you. A linkage is not a guarantee of admission to a medical school. Instead, a linkage agreement streamlines the process of applying to a specific medical school that has a formal agreement with our MSMS program. It means that, if you achieve certain academic performance targets, you will be able to interview with, or receive preferential review of your application for, the linkage school.
Remember that linkages also come with obligations on your side: if you choose to take advantage of a linkage, you will only be able to apply to that school during that year’s admission cycle. If you aren’t admitted (or if you decide it’s not the right school for you after all), you will have to wait another year before applying to other medical schools.
Do Your Research About Each School
The next step is to understand what each of the schools offer and whether they meet your needs. All our university partners offer the top 20% of the MSMS graduating class a guaranteed interview with PHSU, but some also offer linkages with doctor of orthopedic medicine (DO) programs. Before you enroll in our MSMS (or decide to pursue a linkage), spend some time researching each of the schools.
Does the school’s mission align with your goals for your career? Is it in a location you can move to? If it’s a DO program, do you understand how orthopedic and allopathic medicine differ? Finally, you should also note the specific criteria, such as GPA requirements, MCAT scores, and course prerequisites, for each linkage. You can view these requirements by choosing a university partner from our Find an MSMS page.
Take Advantage of Networking Opportunities
Some of our university partners may participate in activities with PHSU or their other affiliated medical schools throughout the MSMS year. These will vary, but may include in-person or virtual meet-and-greets with faculty and current or former students. You may also be able to take part in a visit to the school’s campus, or arrange one yourself.
Make sure you sign up for these activities if they’re offered. It provides you with an additional chance to get to know more about the school – and for you to become known to faculty and staff at that school before you apply. This can help you better tailor your personal statement, know what questions to ask at interviews, and feel less anxious about the process of applying overall.
Put in the Work and Keep Track of Your Progress
Obviously, your academic performance is crucial to your linkage eligibility. Aim for the highest GPA possible in your post-bacc courses. Our predictive analytics model makes it possible for you to understand how you’re performing in different content areas, so make sure you review your performance regularly, and ask your program director for advice addressing your weaknesses.
If you’re planning to retake the MCAT because your linkage requires it, begin planning your study strategy several months in advance to ensure you’re ready to go on test day. (You can read more about preparing for the MCAT here.)
Finally, don’t forget to practice your interviewing skills! If you’re able to obtain a guaranteed interview, that still means you have to take it seriously. It is no less formal and important than it would be if you were applying without having completed the MSMS. Ask your program director or another advisor for help arranging mock interviews.
The First Step: Apply to the MSMS
The goal of our MSMS program is to provide talented students with the support and additional coursework they need to become part of the healthcare workforce of the future. We’re proud to be able to offer an additional opportunity via our linkage programs.
If you want to get on the path to your career goals in medicine, dentistry, or another professional health field, find your MSMS university partner today!
