BS/MD program admissions

Pre-Med & Medical School Multiple Degree Programs
1

<p>Hi guys! I am a senior about to apply for a buttload of BS/MD combined degree programs (about 25- I know, I’m desperate). But, I have good reason. I am not the “perfect 2400” student or even close to it. But, I have this passion for medicine that I’ve had since I was a kid and my brain just can’t grasp the fact that I’m not special enough to get into these programs. Anyway, I was hoping you guys could give me some advice on how to stand out to the admissions committee (especially on the essasys). Any small bit that you could contribute would be appreciated! Even any experience you’ve had with BS/MD admissions!</p>

<p>Here are my creds:</p>

<p>Rank: 1/200
GPA : 4.0, unweighted. weighted is not calculated at my school </p>

<p>ACT: 32
SAT: Math 700, Reading 650, Writing 600 = 1950
Math 720, Reading 640, Writing 620 = 1980</p>

<p>AP Calc AB as a sophomore score: 5
AP US history, AP Calc BC and AP Chem: TBA next week
Senior year classes: AP bio, AP physics, AP English, AP government, AP Statistics</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
Gifted student program
Spanish Club VP
Students against destructive decisions VP
Show choir selective ensemble
Phoenix Magazine editor
Concert choir selective ensemble
Treble Chorus ensemble
Math Club
Math modeling team captain
Moody’s mega math challenge
MAA American mathematics competition
Physics club
Academic games team captain/national academic games competitor
Prom committee</p>

<p>Volunteering:
75-100 hours at hospital- heart center, outpatient surgery
Prom committee active volunteer
Academic games teacher/mentor
Dance/singing camp volunteer counselor
Earth Day fest volunteer
Guidance office Aid – entire academic year, 1 hour a day. </p>

<p>Laboratory research with a college professor, grad student, and my chem teacher. Studied the effects of certain bacteria in local river affect health. </p>

<p>Scheduled to doctor shadow in cardiology dept, and ENT specialist.
Awards:
Math modeling competition second round finalists
Bauch and Lomb award in science, $7000 scholarship
Top student in physics award
Top student in Biology, Chemistry, and Physics overall award.</p>

<p>On average, I make the cutoff for scores with my ACT quite nicely, on the dot or above. As of now, I can’t improve my volunteer hours (my hospital has a max when it comes to teens). I'm hoping to get into the low tier colleges, at least.
Any advice is appreciated! Thanks guys!!</p>

2

<p>25 is waaaaaaaay too many. They say that 15 is pushing it. Don’t stress yourself out and apply some of the not-so-well-known-but-easier-to-get-into ones (i.e. don’t apply to Case’s program or Northwestern’s). Your ECs and rank are great. Your SAT is on the lower end, but your ACT score makes up for that (I’m not the biggest expert on the ACT though). However, many of these programs set cutoffs that are surprisingly lower than what they expect from applicants. For example, a program may have an SAT cutoff of 1950, but they accept students with scores from 2100-2400.</p>

3

<p>Thanks risubu. I cut down my list since yesterday to 13. I let go of the top-tier ones, like you said. Do you have any advice to improve myself? Or any experiences in the admissions process?</p>

4

<p>Doing well on subject tests would help since your ACT is low for many programs. October might be the only available test date for you, ask each program for their subject test cutoff. Retaking the ACTS would help too if you think you can do better. </p>

<p>You can start arranging LoR and putting your essays together now. Starting over summer makes it much easier, many programs have very early deadlines.</p>

5

<p>Thanks neo. I took your advice I wrote down all the essays I need to write. Hope some colleges are okay with recycled ones! I plan to take the SAT Math II in Sept. Hoping for >750.</p>

6

<p>You will likely need Chem and Bio-M as well, most programs require a specific science SAT2 and some want two. You can take all 3 in Oct. They aren’t as hard as the ACT/SAT and are on a HS Honors level. You have enough time to study and get 750+ on them all.</p>

<p>If you do recycle essays, you can try and personalize them slightly for each program. Some have mission statements about research or primary care that you could alter your essay to focus more on.</p>

7

<p>I took Chem and got a 690. I knolw this isn’t great, but it satisfies the requirements. I feel like SAT definitely isn’t my thing.</p>

8

<p>anything above 600 is fine</p>

9

<p>I definitely wouldn’t say 600+ is fine. 690 isn’t really worth retaking, but having 700-750+ is what I consider the minimum for the programs. Having multiple SAT2s below 700 really wouldn’t look good.</p>

10

<p>yeah i agree with neo. but thanks for the input fallpsat. i see that i fall in the 57th % ranking with that score. I guess I just need to show my passion for the sciences in a different way …still trying to figure out how</p>

11

<p>How did your APs turn out? You can still do very well on Bio and Math2, so it’s really not a big deal, aim for 750+ on both.</p>

12

<p>The only thing holding you back are the scores. Beyond that you should be able to get in to these programs. Since it seems to be stronger for you, focus on the ACT and aim for a score of 34 if possible. Also, 700+ on subject tests is good enough although 750+ is definitely ideal. For the rest of the application I think your passion is and/or will be conveyed through your activities, essays and interviews, the latter which probably matters the most.</p>

13

<p>I’ve heard rumors that some of the lower tier and relatively large programs weight SATs and GPA a lot, possibly more than the interview. I had a poor interview at a large program and others reported the same, and still got in. Not that they don’t care about ECs, essays, and the interview, just that they might use numbers at every step of the process and consider them a lot more.</p>

14

<p>Neoevolution’s is right. you must raise yout SAT’s . if you can swing it get a tutor.</p>

15

<p>@neo - for APs i got 5 in calc AB and BC, 4 in chem, 3 in us history (i dont even know why i took that test lol). I’m trying to make my volunteer and shadowing numbers look good, if those count :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:
@breaker - There’s only one school on my list that asks for SAT II subject scores and it asks for one in chem and one in math. so…I think I’m set. I just have to shoot for over 700 (I don’t think 750 is possible for me…)
@raycmr - I’ve used the blue book for SATs, but i just don’t think it’s the right test for me. </p>

<p>I have started applying and have written nearly 9 essays already. Cross my fingers that I’ll get into the bs/md programs that ask for a 24 on ACTs…hahhahaha. I wish I could show them that I really am soooooooo passionate about this. More so than others that just want to become doctors quickly. I mean, my essays are decent at delivering this message, but I really want to show them that it’s not just about getting into med school, it’s about what I get to contribute to the community AFTER i graduate</p>

16

<p>32 ACT is on the lower end, but you still have a chance at admission IMO. I’m surprised SAT2s aren’t required at all of your programs, I thought they all looked at them. But seriously, raising your standardized test scores is the best thing you can do for your application. Essays, LoRs, ECs, can make up for scores somewhat, but other applicants will have the scores and everything else.</p>

17

<p>Okay, thanks neo :)</p>