BS/MD Graduate (Almost) AMA

@atthejewel Thanks for your help.

@love2cheeses No problem!

@love2cheeses applying to MD/PhD programs is a different application process and would likely require you to forfeit your spot in the affiliated MD school participating in the BS/MD to apply. Otherwise, you may have the opportunity to join the MD/PhD track once you start in the affiliated MD school for which you will be assessed on what you accomplished during your undergrad years. In either case, whether or not you are in a BS/MD track is irrelevant since you will primarily be evaluated on how you preform in undergrad/where you go to school. In fact, it may be disadvantageous to go through a BS/MD if it’s accelerated since you would have less time to have the extracurriculars/experience necessary for a favorable consideration. Bottom line: Coming from a BS/MD program doesn’t really mean much if you plan on applying to MD/PhD programs but how you preform in undergrad does.

@dblazer Thanks. This is very helpful and confirmed what I have read so far.

@dblazer would you caution against writing a common app essay on medicine since its going to be addressed in your supplements? or should it be fine?

@aichoux it is possible that writing about medical experience in the common app and supplements (‘why doctor’ essay) may be redundant and, especially if you are applying to non-BS/MD schools, may show you as one-dimensional. I would avoid over-doing the medical angle, but if you truly felt that your medical experiences were the most significant/meaningful by far and what you write about in the common app is different enough from what you write about in the supplement, it may be fine.

@atthejewel hi, I have a more high school question. I really want to apply and go to a well respected BSMD program, but I was wondering…what is the kind of unweighted GPA they want and see? Also, do a lot of BSMD applicants and acceptees do siemens and Intel and such? If you don’t do it, does it lessen your chances?

Thanks so much!

@Alligator34 Hi there! It really does depend on the program. The most selective programs (UCSD Med Scholars, Brown PLME, Northwestern HPME, etc.) will probably want at least a 3.8 unweighted GPA. Some programs, like UCSD med, actually explicitly list minimum GPA requirements and others may even have pre-applications to screen for a certain level of academic achievement (I think Northwestern does this). The absolute lowest GPA I could see being accepted to a less selective BS/MD program would probably be around a 3.6 unweighted GPA.

Most BS/MD admits have some sort of research background, even if they did not win Intel/Siemens. That does not mean that you’ll never be accepted to a BS/MD program if you haven’t done research. The admissions committees at BS/MD programs are mostly looking for medicine-related activities and other indicators of your commitment to medicine (so that doesn’t necessarily have to be research).

@atthejewel In order to get in BS/MD program, do students have to volunteer or shadow at hospital/dr office? Is good research experience alone not enough? Thanks.

@love2cheeses No, you do not have to volunteer or shadow a doctor to be accepted to a BS/MD program. Any extracurricular activities that show a strong commitment to medicine/human biology should be sufficient. It can actually be even better if you have unique extracurricular activities in which you’ve really excelled, rather than the typical volunteering/shadowing.

@atthejewel Thanks, so you do not think colleges have concerns over kids not getting first hand experience at medical settings and want to be doc. At your program, do you know anyone was admitted without volunteer/shadow at a medical setting? Thanks.

@love2cheeses Yes! They just want to see that you have really committed yourself to any medicine-related pursuits, and these activities need not be volunteering at a hospital or shadowing physicians. I personally never shadowed a physician, but I did volunteer at a local hospital for some time. However, that was my least significant extracurricular activity by far. I think my strong research background and my unique medicine-related activities are what made me stand out. I do know of people who were admitted without shadowing physicians, but I think almost all of us have done some sort of community service related to medicine, patient care, or public welfare in general. Indeed, on the UCSD Medical Scholars website, this is listed as one of the requirements:

“Demonstrated strong extracurricular involvement, particularly in community service and leadership.”

I think this emphasis on community service is important because at the end of the day, practicing medicine is all about caring for people. But again, you do not have to volunteer at a hospital to show that you care about others. Hope this helps!

@love2cheeses while it technically may not be a requirement to have volunteering or shadowing, I would strongly recommend getting involved in either if not both or an alternative experience where you have patient interaction. You are trying to show that you have made an informed decision about medicine early on, but how can you do so unless you’ve had significant experiences in a medical environment? Top tier programs might give a little flexibility, since top candidates generally have exceptional extracurriculars which can easily obviate such a deficit. But shadowing/volunteering is standard for applicants shooting for middle/lower tier programs and not having either without another relevant experience may be to your detriment. Bottom line: Try to have more medically relevant experiences than just research.

@atthejewel Thanks so much! Can you give me some examples of medical-related activities? Like I am on the honors volunteer program at a very well respected hospital and I am probably going to go to UCSB Research Mentorship program or UCI Summer premed program! I am also a volunteer at the American Red Cross and am about to be on the executive board and am a CPR, AED instructor. I also do a lot of VERY rigorous other EC activities outside of school and all of them are atleast at a state level. Any advice would be appreciated to my question and otherwise:)

@love2cheeses Totally agree with what @dblazer said.

@Alligator34 Those seem like great medicine-related activities!

Is the red cross one really a big deal? @atthejewel

@Alligator34 Depends on how you’d define “really big deal!” lol but don’t worry, your activities are fine!

Congrats! Did you volunteer and shadow in high school? If so, how, when, and where did you start? In what grades would you recommend volunteering and shadowing, where (hospital or nursing home?), and how many hours? If you did research, how did you begin? Would you recommend BS/MD programs in general? Is it better to volunteer at a nursing home and be involved with patients or at a clinic/hospital and mainly do clerical work? Thanks!! @atthejewel @jayelectronica

Also how many BS/MD programs would you recommend applying to, and how many undergraduate universities (just in case)? I am also currently trying to decide between volunteering at a nursing home (with direct interaction with patients) and volunteering at a doctor’s office (clerical work), and am also not sure how many hours a week would be optimal (how many hours total is typical?). Any tips would be greatly appreciated! Thanks again!