<p>hehe looks like my thread started a trend from jefferson to now a ucsd one : D</p>
<p>All right. Sorry that I am so late on the responses. All right. So…
@browneyedgirl13
It would be fantastic to elevate your research to a point where you can win something in a competition or get it published in a journal. That is pretty significant, because you have proven that this wasn’t some janky research that you did in your backyard, it was something that a national audience and a group of qualified individuals took an interest in. </p>
<p>In terms of matriculation rate, there have been 3 people in the fourteen years that this program has been around who haven’t completed it. 1 applied out to Harvard medical school, 1 switched fields entirely, and 1 dropped out of school to become a rock star. So it really is up to you.</p>
<p>Hospital volunteering is important, but if you have been around a hospital in some other non-personal capacity then you should mention that as well. A key, yet underrated aspect of medical experience is doctor shadowing. You should really get to shadow a doctor so that the admissions officers see that you are aware of what goes on behind the scenes, because every Tom, Dick, and Harry is an escort volunteer, getting to see the inside of a hospital, but not the INSIDE of a hospital.</p>
<p>@mml333 I will get back to you once I talk to her.</p>
<p>In terms of colleges, it’s split up like this.
3 in Revelle
4 in Muir
1 in Marshall
0 in ERC
2 in Warren
0 in Sixth</p>
<p>These six colleges are basically divided up geographically. They each have different GEs. For example, I am in Revelle, and @radiantrobot is in Muir. The Med School is closest to Revelle. #Biomedlibrary </p>
<p>If there are any other questions, please feel free to ask!</p>
<p>How/why did you decide Revelle? How is it different than Muir for bsmd students? Which one is recommended? </p>
<p>@browneyedgirl13 Regarding publications, don’t worry if you don’t have one. Publications are absolutely not necessary, but having one helps a lot. I had the abstract of my research paper published in a smaller medical journal and presented my research to professionals in the medical field at a national conference. </p>
<p>I applied to BS/MD programs 2.5 years ago (currently a junior in college, passed up 3 BS/MD programs listed below to go to a top college), and at each interview I had (UCSD Med Scholars, Caltech/UCSD, Case PPSP), it definitely came up. The interviewers wanted me to explain what I did, how I did it, etc. </p>
<p>However, not having publications does not hurt. Let me repeat that again. Not having publications does not hurt. I would say the majority of applicants don’t. Almost all the applicants I met at the interviews didn’t have publications. Having one is like having a hook in your app, comparable to being a recruited athlete or a legacy or something like that.</p>
<p>Hope that answered your question. Let me know if you want anything clarified or if you have any other questions.</p>
<p>How important do you feel are non-medical related ecs? Assuming that you’ve met the benchmark SAT/GPA and you have experience in research and shadowing, then do they really look at your other ecs or does it just come down to the interview and essays? I have some pretty unique ecs but they aren’t really related to medicine at all. </p>
<p>Also, would a lack of national awards seriously hurt my application? I have regional awards as well as AP Scholar with Distinction, but that’s about it. Sorry for all the questions, but I’m writing my application right now and it is very stressful :l</p>
<p>@lolz99 </p>
<p>If you don’t mind me asking, which medical journal did you publish it in, and also, what do you mean by a “smaller” journal? </p>
@browneyedgirl13 I apologize for the super late reply! Hope I’m not too late for the supplementary application!
How important do you feel are non-medical related ecs? Assuming that you’ve met the benchmark SAT/GPA and you have experience in research and shadowing, then do they really look at your other ecs or does it just come down to the interview and essays? I have some pretty unique ecs but they aren’t really related to medicine at all.
I’m pretty sure everyone in my year had cool, non-medical extracurriculars that they were really into. I’ve never been a part of the admission’s process, but I do know that the Med Scholar’s program is supposed to allow you flexibility to do things you are passionate about, so I would think they’d be looking for you to have interests outside of medicine when considering you as an applicant. For any concrete answer, though, you’d have to ask the med school.
I was wondering in regards to the other bs/md programs you applied to, was published/presented research seen as a big deal?
It’a obviously impressive to have been published, but while it’s a big plus, I don’t think not having been published is a huge mark against you. I presented but didn’t publish, and I think only a couple of people in my yearly UCSD published. Having done research that you can talk about intelligently is a plus all on it’s own; while publishing is great, it’s feasible to get into a program without it.
Also, would a lack of national awards seriously hurt my application? Short answer: no. Long answer: (Once again keeping in mind that I have no more knowledge of what goes on when making the admissions decisions than you do:) It’s easy to fall into looking at admissions as a checklist, but the diversity of interests and achievements in our program makes me think that we were accepted based on what we did do, not on having completed a set checklist of things (national awards, publishing, etc.). That being said, I think that being good at what you do, and competitive in it, is probably a big deal (I don’t think that means being #1 in the whole world, or in the whole country, is necessary, but I do think being competitive at a national level is one way to show that you’re good at what you choose to dedicate your time to.) But this is only one way that you can convey your skill. You can be amazing at what you do without having been awarded a national title/prize/etc., and you should just focus on conveying your passion/skill for/in your activities.
*in my year at UCSD
@radiantrobot, when do UCSD send out supplements approx?
@sm577501 According to the website, here’s a general timeline. I believe it mirrors my experience:
MID-FEBRUARY - Invitations to apply are sent out
Mid-March - Medical Scholar applications due
Late-March to Early-April - Interview notification
Early/Mid-April - Interviews (on and around UCSD Admit Day)"
Thanks @radiantrobot son got them last week.
@radiantrobot Thank you for starting this thread - it is very helpful! Do the interview notifications come by email or telephone?
The website said the notification for the interview was tomorrow March 24th, I believe, but I got it today via email this morning!
When do acceptances come out?
Interview is on April 4th, and decisions come out on the 10th.
@radiantrobot Can you share your interview experience?
^I second that!
So what’s up with interview alternate? Does anyone actually get an interview from the list?
@AcceptMeOrNot can you elaborate. What do you mean from the “list”
@pchu99 This is the email I got:
"We received over 500 applications this year from an exceptionally well qualified group of high school students.
I am pleased to inform you that you have been selected as an alternate for interview to the 2015 Medical Scholars Program. The Committee was highly enthusiastic about your application and wished that the Medical Scholars Program could accommodate all of the qualified students.
Students designated as alternates may receive an invitation to interview for the Medical Scholars Program should additional spaces become available. If you would like to remain as an alternate, please email somadmissions@ucsd.edu with your intentions. If you are ultimately invited, the interviews will take place on Saturday, April 4, 2015.
Thank you for your interest in our Medical Scholars Program."
So I assumed there’s a list 