Admission requirements to a BS/MD for a homeschooler?

Pre-College Issues Home Schooling and College
1

Hey everyone, so I’m a homeschooled sophomore that take classes at a college accredited online school. I’m not at my local highschool because its not exactly a great school…however I have been playing 1 singles varsity tennis there since freshman year. I’ve always been extremely interested in medicine, and its my dream to become a surgeon. Last year I took Honors Biology, Algebra 2, Geometry, English 3 (10-11th grade english), and World History(I got A’s in all these classes). This year I am taking pre-calc, chemistry, English 4, and Spanish 3, and US history. I also took a couple mock SATs and am scoring around 1300-1330. I know that my SAT score isn’t much to look at, however I’m working my hardest to bring them up to the BS/MD standards.

Recently I found a BS/MD program that I am extremely interested in, however there is nothing on their website that indicates admission requirements for a homeschooler. The normal admission is this: average GPA of 3.89+ average SAT of 1420. But I’m not sure if since my transcript may not be standard, more weight would be placed on my SAT scores. Should I shoot for a much higher SAT score than the average (like shoot for a 1460-1500)? Also, if anyone has any recommendations for classes/SAT subject tests I should take next year, it would be much appreciated. Also should I send an email to their admission office asking about requirements?

I drafted an email to this BS/MD program but I’m not sure whether or not I should send it…if someone could look it over that would be great!

Dear Sir or Madam,

This is to request more information about _____ BA/MD’s program. I am extremely interested in this program and I am anxious to apply for it in your renowned university for admission in 2021.

I am currently a homeschooled sophmore in highschool, taking classes through an online academy that is college certified. I would like to inquire about admission requirements and in particular, could you please indicate if homeschooled/online high school is accepted for your program? If so, I would be grateful if you could indicate the academic entry requirements of _____BA/MD program for homeschooled students.

Second, I would greatly appreciate some information about how heavily my SAT scores would influence my chance of acceptance. I understand that because my curriculum (although up to state standards) may not conform to the traditional high school transcripts, and it can be difficult to understand my academic skill. I also would like to ask the following question: are there any SAT subject tests that would be beneficial to my application?

Thank you in advance for your attention to my request. I look forward to receiving your response.

Yours sincerely,

2

Having a higher SAT/ACT score never hurts. I rarely use “always” or “never,” but this truly is a “never” situation. It might not help, but it never hurts.

Otherwise, BA/MD programs generally want to see a ton of medical experience because so many pre-meds change their mind and they don’t want to “waste space” or have their students feeling locked in to something they just don’t have enough experience with to know if they really want to do it. How much medical experience do you have? Have you shadowed doctors? Volunteered in any sort of medical"ish" environment? Preferably more than one? Some medical missions trips will take along students interested in the field. You won’t get to do much, but it’s still something. Your local hospital might allow something. Same with any free clinics around. Nothing is guaranteed, but those in the field know youngsters need exposure.

I would not ask for academic entry requirements exactly. I would probably reword it to say something to the effect of, “is there anything as a homeschooler I should provide that differs from a public school student?”

I would drop the paragraph asking how heavily SAT scores influence acceptance (just assume they do), but keep the part asking if SAT subject tests would be helpful.

To offer encouragement, my lad never tried for BS/MD, but he found a great undergrad he liked and is now happily in med school. He homeschooled grades 7-12, though not with an online program. Even if you don’t get into a BS/MD program (they are super competitive even with high stats), med school is still out there if you put the effort in. Homeschoolers aren’t rejected simply due to homeschooling. Of course, they aren’t accepted due to it either. It’s a journey for all students.

Best wishes to you!