<p>Well, I disagree dcircle. You were a plme right? I know just gads of people who dont dislike plmes. Its not just jealousy. Its because a lot of them sort of carry a "mightier than thou" attitude when they arent any better (or any more than marginally so) than any other brown student. Obviously its some, and not all, but I think its a higher percentage than average. Applying out to other med schools only adds to this. And a lot of plmes seem cliqueish. </p>
<p>Brown also treats them special...dinners, talks, etc. Why can't there be talks for other premeds about being doctors? </p>
<p>I mean, I have nothing against a plme. I didn't apply for it, though I realize I should have because I am very sure about wanting to be a doctor. What does annoy me is when it goes to their head. And also when they totally dont take advantage of the program....like a few people I know who have refused to take a single humanities course yet. Thats exactly the reason you were supposed to be a plme.....so you could become liberally educated....not a science nerd....oh well. Whatever. </p>
<p>Yeah, going to law school I can see why Brown might save your med school spot. But thats totally different than applying to Harvard med. Applying out to other medschools is like kick brown in the balls. You are certianly expected to attend Browns med school.</p>
<p>Holding it above other students heads that you only have to take 1 semester of orgo, and you are taking it pass/fail, doesnt make many friends for you either....</p>
<p>yikes...i'm sorry to hear that! When I visited Brown, I talked to a lot of current PLME's, as well as other students who knew PLME's, and not one described the sort of animosity that you're talking about. My host said that there might be the occasional person who dislikes them, but that she personally had never known anyone to do that.</p>
<p>I think some people have their own personal reasons for applying out. One 08'er that I met wants to live closer to home and to her dad, so she's planning on applying to the NJ med school.</p>
<p>Also, I think it would make sense that PLME's stick together ("cliqueish") and have functions together. At other schools that offer combined med programs, the students in the programs room together and do everything together. It's supposed to foster a sense of community since these kids are going to be classmates for the next 7-8 years. Actually, out of the other programs that I looked at, Brown was the one which offered the most integrated undergrad experience. </p>
<p>This is weird, I'm not even in the program yet, and I'm defending it. Hopefully I didn't come off as pretentious :(</p>
<p>PLME's aren't cliqueish at all--as i'm sure you know by know, your closest friends at Brown are the people you live with, are involved in specific activities with, or at the very least are in your concentration. </p>
<p>PLME's comprise ~300 kids (in all four years) dispersed among 5700 undergrads, in hundreds of living arrangements, in hundreds of concentrations. although there are plenty of opportunities for PLME's to congregate, different people are attracted to different events--so in reality, many PLME's meet for the first time in med school. the PLME class as a whole doesn't become close until the med school years</p>
<p>on the flip side, most undergrads aren't aware of who is PLME and who is not. you might know a couple, but it's not like they wear a PLME brand, or do anything in particular to advertise their membership.</p>
<p>hey, I got into the PLME program--the "demi-god" description is a misnomer. In fact, I'm just an average joe. I don't consider myself any better than any other Brown student. In fact, I often worry that I'll be behind. I come from an extremely small school in Alaska that doesnt' offer very much in the way of academics. </p>
<p>I think they key to getting into the PLME is as others have noted--a strong desire to become a doctor. However, I think this is not all it takes. I feel like one must demonstrate their desire to become a doctor and couple that with why it is important to recieve a liberal education in the process. </p>
<p>I'm tired of people dogging on PLMEs. I would never dog on any other person in another program. The way I see it, we're blessed with a great opportunity and we'd do well for ourselves to be humbled by it, and grow from our experiences.
Peace, Rory</p>