<p>A lot of threads touch on what's needed to get into a combo program. Most stress grades and SATs. Others touch on demonstrated interest such as shadowing and EMT. I haven't seen anything on a student's life experience concerning health care...their own and/or close family members. That also figures into a candidates chances to be accepted into a combo program. And certainly figures into essays and interviews.</p>
<p>So added up; good grades + Demonstrated interest + personal health care experience = prime candidate for a combo program.</p>
<p>From the point of view of combo selection committees I think this makes a lot of sense.</p>
<p>Comments? Personal experiences that support or refute this premise?</p>
<p>A comprehensive list I would say:</p>
<p>[ul]
[<em>]High GPA
[</em>]High rank (including out of how many students), definitely in top ten percent of class for sure (although this is not a hard and fast rule)
[<em>]Grades earned in high school, especially in math and science courses
[</em>]Difficulty of high school curriculum undertaken (many Pre-AP/Pre-IB, IB/AP, Honors courses)
[<em>]Standardized test scores: SAT, ACT and any SAT II Subject exams if required by that program
[</em>]Healthcare experience - Include the institutions with which you were involved, as well as the dates and duration of your experience.
[<em>]Community service - Include off-campus participation, indicating institution/organization/event names, dates, and duration of community service
[</em>]Leadership activities - Include offices held, and in which organizations.
[<em>]Honors received while in high school - Include awards, distinctions, and honorary societies.
[</em>]Extracurricular and team activities - Include athletic teams, academic teams (such as debate and quiz bowl), and other activities.
[<em>]Employment during school years - Include the type of employment and approximate number of hours per week.
[</em>]Summer activities - Describe the activity, and include relevant dates.
[<em>]Research and poster presentations/publications (if any)
[</em>]Quality of essay demonstrating your interest and commitment to medicine (and more than “I want to help people”) and why that specific program
[li]Strength of letters of recommendation supporting your argument that you are able to enter such a rigorous program.[/li][/ul]</p>
<p>Different programs will place more and less and emphasis on different aspects.</p>
<p>Essentially, you are doing the entire process of applying to medical school as a high school senior (without a university GPA, without an MCAT) instead of as a college senior.</p>
<p>Nice list MD2B2012. Candidates would do well to review each point and see how they stack up from a BS/MD Admissions Committee point of view. And of course the stronger the candidate, the better the chances of them being accepted and the more chosey they can be in selecting a combo program. And yes, of course some who apply get offered admission by more than one combo program. As we know, differences in the programs revolve around things like; strength of the undergraduate college, strength of the medical school, ability to “apply out” of the program without losing your seat in the program (within a reasonable period of time of course), the college GPA needed to remain in the program, the number of total years in the program, the ability to NOT have to take the MCATs and if you have to take them, what score is required.</p>
<p>Thanks BERN1943, I would also say in conjunction with what you said that it’s also good to have a variety of healthcare experiences - like what you brought up about doing EMT work - which definitely shows an active role and that you really are trying to get exposure to medicine.</p>
<p>Also, as you said THOROUGHLY research the program you’re interested in there are SO MANY (and I am including early assurance programs as well - where you do a year or two of undergrad and then apply to commit to a medical school). Some of these programs are associated with stellar medical schools, and at some of them students are miserable and at lower tier medical schools, so it’s good to research and investigate, before committing, not after (see my past post on my personal experience).</p>
<p>That’s right, after committing is too late. Before being accepted to a combo program it’s easy to think that you’d be lucky…and happy…to get into ANY program. It’s good to remember that students high enough up on the pecking order will generally (not always) get into medical school…combo program, early assurance program OR applying out of college. This is a quote from an Information Session just before candidate interviews for a BS/MD program. “We will be accepting over one-third of those students sitting here today. But you’re all qualified or we wouldn’t be interviewing you today. I’m saying this because those of you who are not selected shouldn’t be discouraged. As long as you continue on in school the way you have been up until now, I’m confident that all of you will eventually be accepted to medical school”. So, what I’m saying here is be careful that you are happy and comfortable with committing to a particular combo program. As long as you’re someone who gets interviews to combo programs, you’re very probably on your way to medical school one way or the other.</p>