AAMI I need in depth info

[arimama]

I have been looking onto AAMI for a while. I always hear good things about it. I am in Seattle, so SMS has always seemed like *the* midwifery school to me. I do not want to attend SMS but there is a part of me that fells like charging $35,000 they must be teaching more info than AAMI which costs less than $4,000. I am always leary of things that seem too good to be true.
I spoke to Carla and I know that she keeps the cost low so that women can actually afford it, but i cant help that little feeling like I would be getting a sub-par education because its so cheap.

Also I know that the philosophy of AAMI is very hands off, which I completly agree with, but do they teach what to do if something does require attention? I plan to be very hands off but i want to know how to deal with EVERY situation.
Any students willing to tell me what the curiculum involves? What's covered in the course? How is it presented?
The more detailed the better here. I'm thinking of signing up soon and I just need these few questions answered.
Thanks

[636Jen]

In just looking at the SMS course, I found it EXTREMELY involved with an amazingly long list of prerequisites that includes a course in Advanced Writing.: I'm not saying it's a bad course study but WOW! I love the school I go to. (Michigan School of Traditional Midwifery) SMS looks more like a college course rather than a self-study way to go. I can't believe the graduation requirements!! WHOA!

Graduates must demonstrate proficiency in the SMS Core Competencies as
shown by:

[Mina]

I've been trying to get in depth info about AAMI & have had no luck. I want to know what the work is actually like. All I know is students say it's difficult, there are projects invovled and no research papers.

[636Jen]

Speaking from experience, some schools don't allow you to discuss your coursework with people who haven't paid the tuition. I tried to get information about what kinds of things I would be studying and what kind of projects/research papers I would need to do, etc. but I never got a response either. I think if you go by the school's reputation and listen to the comments of the students, you'll get a good idea of what you will get out of it.

[courtenay_e]

I think they've had problems in the past with people sharing the curriculum for free, which is hard for AAMI, since they keep the cost so low to begin with, so they ask their students to sign a promise that says they won't discuss what's in it.

[arimama]

That makes it really hard! I understand them not wanting students to copy and send the full curriculum to other people, but I want to know what I will be learning so I can decide if it covers what i feel I need to know to practice as a competant midwife, kwim?

[Reha]

hi! AAMI student here.

I know nothing about other programs (as I have never been enrolled in any others), but I can tell you without a doubt that AAMI will indeed prepare you fully (and then some) to be the best midwife you can be, fully competent.

Feel free to PM me if you have any questions.

[MidwifeErika]

I believe one of the biggest reasons for the finances of these schools being so different has to do more with MEAC than the value of the education you recieve.

I am an AAMI student. I will speak carefully about what is involved because I do not want to cross any lines. I am really learning that AAMI is a school where you get out of it what you put in. It isn't a situation where you are told what to think as a midwife or what to do, but instead the school asks you to study the subject, research it, and come up with your own opinion and explain that opinion. Looking over the curriculum, I really feel that by the end, I will be well prepared to be on my own. I should really understand what my protocol is for whatever situation and why it is that way. Mixed with an apprenticeship, I really do think that I will be well educated.

There are some drawbacks. In a classroom, you really have to stay at the same speed as everyone, there is external motivation to keeping you going. AAMI is selfpaced, so that can be a major blessing or very hard if you have a hard time motivating yourself! Also, sometimes I would love to just sit in a classroom and discuss all of this stuff and sometimes my brain works better to have someone talking to me than just reading it all the time. I do like though being able to take time off to take care of my family or go to births or whatever without worrying about falling behind. And I could always get a study group up and running here as well if I really needed to speak to someone face-to-face.

[arimama]

I enrolled! yay.

[Reha]