Brown PLME Chances? How to Improve?

Colleges and Universities A-Z Brown University
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<p>Hi,
I’m a junior in high school right now and I’m very interested in the PLME at Brown University. I want to know how to increase my chances of acceptance. NOTE: I am still a junior, so I can and WILL do whatever is in my capacity to better my chances, and I understand that I can start applying as soon as I get my grades for junior year. This is what I am currently in and do:</p>

<p>I am a full IB DP candidate, my course is as follows for this year:
IB Biology HL
IB Spanish HL
IB English HL
IB Math SL
IB Chemistry SL
Physics
AP Government
Theory of Knowledge
Next Year I will take IB Economics as my third SL class, my school offers it as a one year-course, in addition I will add Anatomy and Physiology to my schedule next year.</p>

<p>I am a part of these clubs:
Key Club (community service)
National Honor Society
Environmental Science Club
“Power of 100” (against bullying)</p>

<p>I have participated in (sports):
JV Girls tennis
Summer Tennis camp</p>

<p>Volunteer work:
I volunteer every Saturday for 4 hours at the local hospital’s Emergency Dept.
I do various other volunteer activities such as food drives, and set-ups at school</p>

<p>Research:
I am also currently working with a nurse who is conducting a research on case studies–I am a part of this research and I assist in the process and actually do research on my own. It’s a great learning experience, and my name is in the credits (not published yet though)… I’m not sure if this is or isn’t something which stands out (?!)…</p>

<p>My ACT Score is currently a 28–I know this is low, I am working to fix that. I’m taking the ACT again in February and I’m almost sure I will score above the 30s as I’ve been consistently practicing and now I’ve been scoring like 32-34 on my practice tests!</p>

<p>My Unweighted GPA (my school doesn’t weight GPA’s, I hear colleges look at unweighted anyways…): 3.9 ( all freshman year I took honors and all sophomore year I took honors and AP, I took the hardest courseloads offered at my highschool)</p>

<p>What do you guys think? How should I increase my chances? Any suggestions would be appreciated!!! I just want to know how to improve because obviously improvement is always good no matter where I end up going!</p>

<p>Thank you guys in advance, I’m sorry I know the post is long!!!
BTW–I also posted a few months ago, the post is the same (apart from my improved ACT, sports, and reasearch) I added everything I have done though!</p>

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<p>Hi RehmaM,</p>

<p>There is no “typical PLME student,” so it is hard to advise you on what to do. Obviously the research and medical exposure through volunteering helps, but remember that PLME is the Program in LIBERAL Medical Education. They want students with a diversity of interests who will take advantage of the opportunities to learn, so be sure to get involved in other activities that show your love for non-science subjects as well. </p>

<p>Honestly, the best (and really, only) useful advice I can give you is to do what you love and pursue it to your highest potential/capability.</p>

<p>Good Luck and don’t stress too much!</p>

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<p>Hi LivelaughLearn, thanks so much for your feedback!!! I will concentrate on the liberal arts aspect! I’m actually very into literature and history so I will look into various opportunities in those fields as well! I’m actually doiing my IB Extended Essay in the English language A1 category, so maybe that would also help?
Anyways, thanks again!!!</p>

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<p>Hello LLL (LiveLaughLearn)</p>

<p>Congrats to your amazing feat which is a dream for any student. I have few related questions. See whether you can throw some light to it.</p>

<p>1)
I am a 10th grader in Raleigh. Scored 2260 in SAT-I. At this point I am thinking this should be good enough to get into any 6/7/8 year Combined-Medical pgms as well as any Ivy-League schools as long as l have other all around stuffs like GPA, Research, Dr.Shadow, Volunteering, Sports, ECs. Am I right in this approach. The reason why I am leaning to this side is;
If I have to take one more time SAT-I, then I need to spend time. Instead I thought I could focus on research and other ECs to make all around. Plus just in case if the SAT-I score goes below 2260 in 2nd attempt, it hurts big time. What do you think?</p>

<p>(2)
When you apply to these highly competitive pgms, does choosing “MAJOR” plays a part in selection. OR it is 100% immaterial what major you write in the application OR does it matter if I do not mention the major in the application.</p>

<p>Thanks.</p>

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<p>BTW, My SAT-I break up is M 780; CR 760; W 720</p>

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<p>Newgalaxy: no need to take the SAT again. 2260 is high enough for anything.</p>

<p>As for your second question, I have no idea for other BS/MD programs. You may want to ask in that forum. For Brown PLME, I’m sure it plays a role as the adcom is interested in what your intended major is, but there’s no inherent benefit to choosing a science vs. non-science major.</p>

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<p>Thanks Bruno14. That 2nd SAT-I attempt should free up 1-3 months of time/effort for other things. Thanks again for the advise. </p>

<p>I do not think any one will have correct answer for the below. Please use your guesstimate to answer based on your experience and/or instinct.</p>

<p>(1)
Let us say, in Brown, there is a room for only 500 Biology major seats and 500 Math major seats. What happens if, out of the selected students, let us say 999 mentioned
Biology as major? Only one mentioned “Math” major. Will this increase the chances for anyone who said “Math Major” in their application? In other words “How would Brown pay for those Math faculty”.</p>

<p>(2)
Does it increase my selection chances if I say “NO” for financial aid since Brown will save $$s if I am selected, assuming I have exact same profile as opposed to other candidate who said “Yes” for financial aid?</p>

<p>(3)
Let us say I am applying ED for PLME-8 yr. Interested in binding ONLY if I get PLME-8yr.
Not interested in binding if I do not get PLME-8yr. This is purely based on my need for financial aid. Does it reduce my selection chances? Will the selection committee reject me thinking that I am NOT FULLY committed to Brown?</p>

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<ol>
<li><p>I suppose it’d raise the chances for math concentrators, but it’s an unrealistic question. As long as the numbers are reasonable, Brown doesn’t care - they realize that many students change their concentration, anyway. I applied as a Bio concentrator, but ended up doing music instead.</p></li>
<li><p>Brown is only need-aware for international students. This means that as long as you’re not international, they won’t see whether you need aid or not until after their decision is made. If you have any chance of needing aid, you should apply for it.</p></li>
<li><p>If you absolutely need aid, you shouldn’t be applying ED to any school. I don’t know if PLME admissions is “blind” to whether you’ve chosen the binding thing or not, but I know ED students who did and others who didn’t, so I doubt it changes your selection chances. If you’re only interested in Brown if you are accepted to PLME, that’s just fine.</p></li>
</ol>

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<p>Your SAT score is “high enough” if you have the other components, which are more important. So yes, spend your time primarily on 1. grades (in the toughest course you can take). and 2. Medical related EC that show you understand what the medical field is about. (research > hospital work> short term medical shadowing or anything short term). However since both of your “weaker” (relatively) scores are in “English”, I would like to see challenging writing classes, and of course, incredibly written essays. It seems to me that Brown in particular puts more emphasis on the essays than some other 8 yr programs. This maybe because the PLME committee sees only the applicants who already have been sorted out to be “stellar” in the other criteria, so those criteria have a smaller “distinguishing” factor at that point than the essays or recs. may.</p>

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<p>Many thanks Bruno14 and BrownAlumParent. Very good insight. I have been working so hard to get research opportunities, but everywhere I go they say they select only college kids. I applied to NIH and Monell, whose results will come sometime early May. I was told those chances are very remote. In the meantime, proactively want to see whether I can find other things. Contacted few college faculty in NCSU, UNC, Duke, Princeton etc., So far nothing is +ve.</p>

<p>I would appreciate any help you can provide to grab some research opportunities. </p>

<p>I am very interested in biological research, in particular, stem cell research and cancer genetics/oncology. My goal is to do a research project in biology for the Siemens and Intel Competitions. I would like to know if any one could possibly mentor me for a research project. I have some ideas, but I could also work on something you have been working on in the lab. Thanks for considering me.</p>

<p>Here are just a few key things excerpted from my resume:

  • In top 1% of class
  • Scored 2260 in SAT on the very 1st try
  • Played in the 2012 State High School Tennis Championship Game
  • Science Bowl: 4th in State
  • Science Olympiad: 2nd in regional, 3rd in state
  • KMO Quiz Bowl tournament: 8th place in the world
  • Doctor shadowing with an orthosurgeon, pediatrician, orthodontist, and a cardiologist
  • American Red Cross volunteer
  • In the process of starting a scientific research club at my school</p>
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<p>I can’t really provide any help except reminding you to use every resource you have. It’s difficult for a high schooler to find research, but it’s not impossible. I ended up using the connections that a family friend had to get my foot in the door at the location where I ended up doing a summer project.</p>

<p>People to contact

  • Family friends in the medical/bio industry
  • Old teachers, current teachers
  • Guidance counselor
  • Smaller local hospitals</p>
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<p>The first place to contact would be a medical school if there is one within driving/day distance of you. You will be likely to fare better if you look now,and can volunteer regularly after school, preferably minimum one afternoon a week, 2 even better. If you wait until summer, you are unlikely to find any openings. (This is general advice for anyone.) As above, if you have a friend of the family, friend of friend contact, that is best. There are summer programs at many places reserved for rising or just graduated HS students. Those also tend to have very high numbers of applicants, and often are (unfortunately?) reserved or first preference to minority students. Be prepared to not be paid. (If you say you are very willing to work unpaid, then there are many more likely opportunities.) If there is not a med school close to you, consider if there is one in someplace you could live free for a summer? (relative in a different city?) Also if looking for a summer spot, be prepared to spend the whole summer doing this. Having a 4 week program etc unless it is a special intensive program, is not going to look as good, yield the closeness for a rec letter, and are scarcer.
Next possiblities that are interesting: Look in the paper etc for local research being done by local MDs (often drug studies). These don’t seek out students but might love to have a volunteer to help do paperwork,computer entry etc. Not going to be something with a paper published etc., but it will have you doing something with an MD. (make sure it is something that has gone through IRB credentialing to have some cred as on the up and up, not a disguised sales program.)
Another thing I have seen really help students looking for admit to MD programs, (whether 8 yr or regular med school) is to work part or full time summer (or even no pay) for an MD office. Since most are paperless now they don’t need the “file clerk” as much, but many still like bright young students who are interested to just be the fill in helper, receptionist, etc. Not glamorous, but sometimes/often some pay, and particularly these days lots of schools are very interested in someone who can demonstrate primary care interest or exposure. Definitely look early and into areas that are not advertised. Cast your interest widely, send out cover letters and “resumes” and “beat the bushes”. Like most jobs, often the best opportunities are never advertised.</p>

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<p>Thanks again Bruno14 and BrownAlumParent. Very useful tips. Let me dig deeper accordingly and hope to come up with some research opportunity. Go Brown.</p>

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<ol>
<li>Be awesome.</li>
<li>Don’t be unawesome.</li>
</ol>

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<p>@newgalaxy</p>

<p>Hey, I’m not on here much so I just saw your post. Here’s my input:</p>

<p>1) To take the SAT again or not? </p>

<p>2260 is good enough. There is really no “need” to retake it when your score already makes you competitive. Personally, I retook a 34 ACT (34.25), because I was relatively confident that I could improve my score with minimal effort (I did). The reasons that I did that were 1) i knew it wouldn’t require too much effort (a couple practice tests and 3 hours on a saturday), 2) i’m a perfectionist, 3) i knew even the littlest things could help given how competitive the places i wanted to get into were (especially as an ORM). I’m not saying you should retake it, but it’s not something you should rule out entirely right now. You’re a sophomore; who knows, by october of senior year, your vocabulary/writing skills might improve tremendously and the CR and W scores might just jump without any tremendous time investment. After all, a 2350 is a more competitive score than a 2260. </p>

<p>2) Indicated Major</p>

<p>As far as I know, Brown doesn’t have a specific # of reserved seats for each concentration. The major you indicate on an application likely won’t be the one you graduate with, and admission officers tend to know that. This might be different if you’re applying to a separate school within Brown (something that requires additional essays… say, engineering), but i don’t know. </p>

<p>I think the concentrations you indicate are more a part of trying to get to know you and your interests, especially in the case of PLME. For instance, I indicated both health/human bio and public policy and used that to tie back into my own research interests/passions & how the open curriculum would be a perfect fit for me. </p>

<p>Anyways, Bruno is a current student and is indefinitely more knowledgable than me on this aspect, so don’t just take my word for it. </p>

<p>3) I’m not too familiar with Brown’s financial aid policies, but I know they’re need blind with the exception of international students (what Bruno said). It will not hurt you in admissions if you indicate that you’re applying for fin-aid. </p>

<p>As for the second part of this question regarding the impact of indicating that you only want to be bound if given PLME versus wanting to be bound to Brown regardless, there has been a lot of debate on whether this impacts admission into college itself. Personally, I indicated that I only wanted to be bound if I got PLME+Brown, but I have no idea if/how that impacted my decision. And as much as we might want to speculate, no one knows other than the adcoms themselves. </p>

<p>Hope this helps and let me know if you have any more questions!</p>

<p>Also, jw, what school do you go to? (I’m from NC too)</p>

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<p>Hello LLL: Thanks for the input. In terms of my school, I will PM you for privacy reasons.</p>

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<p>Hi LLL, Bruno14 and BrownAlumParent. Thought I should report back to you since you guys have helped me to achieve this. </p>

<p>Colleges sees this as -ve or +ve? 2 Subject Research?</p>

<p>Would appreciate your advice. I am now a 10th grader. Planning to do the combined BS/MD route as option#1. HYP as option#2. Everything else option#3. Long way to go, but taking one step at a time.</p>

<p>Facts: Per your advice I nailed a good research (outside of school) during the 2013 Summer(and also likely in 2014 Summer) with a good university in Biology/Cancer-area. On top of it, this week I got admission into a very good Residential High School where I also have option to do research in either Chemistry/Biology/Physics/Math as part of the school curriculum in 11th and 12th grade. So I am thnking of doing Chemistry research in 11th and 12 grade as part of school. That way I have a feel for both Biology and Chemistry research.</p>

<p>Question: Do colleges(like Brown-PLME, Baylor, NW, BU, “HYP”) sees this as -ve or +ve. I mean researching in 2 subjects instead of focusing just one subject. Thank in advance for your response.</p>

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<p>No issues with that. I don’t see it as negative, but I don’t see it as particularly positive either - it’s just a different way of going about doing research.</p>

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<p>Thank you Bruno14 for feedback.</p>

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<p>I got into the PLME years ago and can share with you that many candidates who apply for PLME will have resumes filled with volunteerism, internships, research stints in the sciences, particularly the medical sciences. Their grades and test scores will be every bit as impressive as yours. Sorry for this news, but the number of highly qualified candidates far outstrips the number of openings available for PLME. One reason this is so is that Brown’s combined program is one of the few in the country that encourages undergraduates to broaden their development in a variety of disciplines and to take chances on classes outside of their comfort zone. As long as you do a reasonable job on your MCAT and undergraduate GPA, you’ll have a spot in medical school waiting. This is not the case in many other combined programs. For example, U of Pittsburgh requires high GPA (3.7 plus I believe) and MCAT to continue into medical school. In contrast, Brown’s PLME encourages undergraduates to develop broadly as humanitarian physicians.</p>

<p>I recall studying just one afternoon in preparation for the MCAT’s and doing well enough to continue into medical school. None of my friends in other universities vying to gain entry into medical school could afford such a modest effort preparing for the MCAT’s.</p>

<p>So this is one reason competition is so fierce for admission to Brown’s PLME.</p>

<p>One question I have not yet heard your answer: why drives your interest in a career in medicine? Can you tell your story with authenticity and freshness. The stories of family members who succumbed to illness as the motivation for medical school are plentiful. So how might you distinguish yourself?</p>

<p>Your past accomplishments while impressive, are not very distinctive amongst the candidates for PLME. Imagine yourself as a humanitarian-physician 20 years in the future. What are you thinking of? What gives you joy? What surprises you? What are you most grateful for?</p>