Opening New Doors to Medical School
For many aspiring physicians, Loyola University Chicago’s Master of Arts in Medical Sciences (MAMS) program offers a valuable opportunity to strengthen their academic credentials and gain a competitive edge when applying to medical school. In this Q&A, Jacob Halvorsen, DO—a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation physician and clinical assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health—reflects on how the MAMS program prepared him to thrive in medical school and set him on a path to lasting success in medicine.
You’ve shared that your path to medicine wasn’t straightforward. How did Loyola’s MAMS program help you bounce back from a challenging start to college?
In my freshman year of college, I walked out with maybe a 2.4 GPA. I didn't know what I was doing, and I didn't know how to study. High school was easy, right? I finished with a 4.0 GPA and never had to really study—It was great. I thought college was going to be the same way, but that first year really humbled me and cost me the ability to get into medical school the first time. The MAMS program is the reason I was able to make amends for that first year and still get into medical school. It’s what propelled me to where I am now.
How did the MAMS program prepare you for the academic rigor of medical school?
When I matriculated from here to medical school, I effectively felt like I was retaking stuff that I had already seen, which was great. I knew how to study, what to study, and where to look for the answers to things if I didn’t know. I was insanely prepared for those first two years of medical school where basically all you're doing is burying your face in a computer screen or a book for 12 to 14 hours a day.
What makes Loyola's MAMS program distinctive from other pre-med programs?
The pre-health advising is certainly part of it; it’s a strong suit that I think sets its apart from other programs around the country. I think the longevity and the commitment to the program by Loyola is great. The curriculum itself has been highly adaptable—it's changed quite a bit since I left the program—and I think that ability for the program to evolve over time and meet the needs of the ever-shifting landscape of medical education is a really big strength.
What do you think medical schools notice when they see Loyola’s MAMS degree on an applicant's resume or transcript?
I don’t interview medical students very often, but I do interview medical students for residency. We've had former MAMS students in my residency in the past. When I see that on a prospective resident’s application, I know I'm getting somebody that's been tested academically, has put in the work to do this, and is going to be really committed to moving forward. It's not an easy thing to come through this. I know that these are people that have made a significant investment in themselves and will continue to push forward.
How have Loyola’s Jesuit values—especially its focus on service and ethical care—shaped the kind of physician you are today?
That’s all of it right there. One of the things I tell people at the hospital is that I'm just there to serve. That's why I'm there as your doctor, but that's also why I'm there as a person. You have to be an ethical person to move forward in medicine and healthcare. To have that ingrained in you from the beginning puts you ahead of the game already.
What would you say to a prospective student who might be wondering if the MAMS program is worth it?
If this is what you want to do, it is one hundred percent worth it. You're going to have to invest in yourself. And again, one thing I always look for in potential residents are people that are personally invested in themselves, because that level of commitment to your own personal success bleeds into people around you. It bleeds into your patients. It diffuses everywhere. If you're ready to take the leap, you're going to have to invest in yourself. It'll take a while, but it's worth it one hundred percent of the time.
To learn more about Loyola’s Master of Arts in Medical Sciences (MAMS) program, visit our website or contact our admissions team with questions.
For many aspiring physicians, Loyola University Chicago’s Master of Arts in Medical Sciences (MAMS) program offers a valuable opportunity to strengthen their academic credentials and gain a competitive edge when applying to medical school. In this Q&A, Jacob Halvorsen, DO—a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation physician and clinical assistant professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health—reflects on how the MAMS program prepared him to thrive in medical school and set him on a path to lasting success in medicine.
You’ve shared that your path to medicine wasn’t straightforward. How did Loyola’s MAMS program help you bounce back from a challenging start to college?
In my freshman year of college, I walked out with maybe a 2.4 GPA. I didn't know what I was doing, and I didn't know how to study. High school was easy, right? I finished with a 4.0 GPA and never had to really study—It was great. I thought college was going to be the same way, but that first year really humbled me and cost me the ability to get into medical school the first time. The MAMS program is the reason I was able to make amends for that first year and still get into medical school. It’s what propelled me to where I am now.
How did the MAMS program prepare you for the academic rigor of medical school?
When I matriculated from here to medical school, I effectively felt like I was retaking stuff that I had already seen, which was great. I knew how to study, what to study, and where to look for the answers to things if I didn’t know. I was insanely prepared for those first two years of medical school where basically all you're doing is burying your face in a computer screen or a book for 12 to 14 hours a day.
What makes Loyola's MAMS program distinctive from other pre-med programs?
The pre-health advising is certainly part of it; it’s a strong suit that I think sets its apart from other programs around the country. I think the longevity and the commitment to the program by Loyola is great. The curriculum itself has been highly adaptable—it's changed quite a bit since I left the program—and I think that ability for the program to evolve over time and meet the needs of the ever-shifting landscape of medical education is a really big strength.
What do you think medical schools notice when they see Loyola’s MAMS degree on an applicant's resume or transcript?
I don’t interview medical students very often, but I do interview medical students for residency. We've had former MAMS students in my residency in the past. When I see that on a prospective resident’s application, I know I'm getting somebody that's been tested academically, has put in the work to do this, and is going to be really committed to moving forward. It's not an easy thing to come through this. I know that these are people that have made a significant investment in themselves and will continue to push forward.
How have Loyola’s Jesuit values—especially its focus on service and ethical care—shaped the kind of physician you are today?
That’s all of it right there. One of the things I tell people at the hospital is that I'm just there to serve. That's why I'm there as your doctor, but that's also why I'm there as a person. You have to be an ethical person to move forward in medicine and healthcare. To have that ingrained in you from the beginning puts you ahead of the game already.
What would you say to a prospective student who might be wondering if the MAMS program is worth it?
If this is what you want to do, it is one hundred percent worth it. You're going to have to invest in yourself. And again, one thing I always look for in potential residents are people that are personally invested in themselves, because that level of commitment to your own personal success bleeds into people around you. It bleeds into your patients. It diffuses everywhere. If you're ready to take the leap, you're going to have to invest in yourself. It'll take a while, but it's worth it one hundred percent of the time.
To learn more about Loyola’s Master of Arts in Medical Sciences (MAMS) program, visit our website or contact our admissions team with questions.