BS/MD program chances...? (and other questions and concerns)

Pre-Med & Medical School Multiple Degree Programs
1

<p>Let me start by saying that I am a BS/MD hopeful in the state of New York, and I was hoping that maybe some of you would have advice regarding my current situation at this moment. I am currently a junior, and I am doing pretty well in school for the most part. Here is my schedule along with current grades:</p>

<p>Chemistry Honors - 91
IB History HL I - 91
IB Psychology SL - 93
Choir - 100
Integrated Algebra 2 w/ Trig (regular level...I hate math...) - 85
IB English HL I - 92
Health - 99</p>

<p>My current GPA is an unweighted 3.7. My school doesn't weight it until the end of the whole year, and weighted averages don't show up on the report card...only the transcript. </p>

<p>SAT Scores:
1st time - 2050/2400
2nd time - 2280/2400 (after LOADS of tutoring)
I am taking the ACT in April and the SAT II's in June (in Chemistry, Math IIc, and Literature)</p>

<p>Now here's the embarrassing part: I'm in resource room and I have extra time for all of the tests that I take. I was able to get extended time from the ACT and Collegeboard as well, which helps, but I don’t know if this is considered bad for BS/MD programs. I'm dropping resource room next year, but I am keeping the extra time. </p>

<p>*Would this be a deterrent for the BS/MD programs that I apply to (showing them that I had to take resource room at one point along with having extra time)? *</p>

<p>*Also, are my current classes not 'rigorous' enough for BS/MD programs? I've heard that they really only care about your junior grades, not necessarily your senior grades. *</p>

<p>With that said, this is my schedule for next year:</p>

<p>IB English HL II
IB History HL II
IB Math Studies
IB Music
IB Philosophy
IB Physics SL
Human Anatomy and Physiology
Sports Medicine</p>

<p><em>Another question here is: are there too many 'electives' in my schedule for next year? I know that most of them are IB, but will classes like Philosophy and Music really have any bearing towards admission to BS/MD programs? Also, since I am (technically) taking three science classes, will this very fact alone help with admissions to BS/MD programs? (Again, I'm only taking one science this year...the year that matters the MOST apparently)</em></p>

<p>Now here are the programs I am applying to (14 in total):</p>

<p>6 year BS/MD programs
1) Penn State / Jefferson
2) Howard
3) NEOUCOM
4) UMKC
<em>Yes, I know the last two are far reaches, but there’s no way I’ll know if I had what it takes unless I apply…right?</em></p>

<p>7 year BS/MD programs
1) Drexel University / Drexel University College of Medicine
2) The College of New Jersey / New Jersey Medical School
3) RPI / Albany
4) Northwestern University / Feinburg School of Medicine
5) George Washington University / George Washington University School of Medicine (which I heard just got off of probation! Awesome!)</p>

<p>8 year BS/MD programs
1) SUNY Stonybrook / Stonybrook University Medical School
2) Brooklyn College / SUNY Downstate
<em>These are my top two choices since I am a NY resident, regardless of them being 8 years. Plus, the surgeon I shadow works at Downstate, and I have a LOR from him already</em>
3) Rice / Baylor
4) Wayne State MedStart
5) Siena / Albany</p>

<p>-In closing, I know this is a lot to ask. If somebody out there can help me though, my gratitude would be beyond grateful. I'll list EC's if needbe, but just so you know, I have A LOT of Hospital Emergency Department Volunteering (nearly 200 hours), more physician shadowing hours than I can count (both clinical and surgical which is around 350 hours), and the LOR department is accounted for.</p>

2

<p>WOW your stats look good, I bet you’ll be fine.
But, do you know the average stats for Howard’s BS/MD program?</p>

3

<p>Thank you, but no, I don’t know the average stats for Howard’s program. I can imagine them being extremely higher than the stats for when you apply to the undergrad alone though.</p>

<p>What about the fact that I have extended time and take resource room…? What will they think about that?</p>

4

<p>Don’t quote me, but I believe The Americans with Disability Act prohibits any college from knowing that you had extended time. I’d research it if I was you.</p>

5

<p>don’t think i’m being racist here or anything, but you should take into consideration that Howard University and the Howard School of Medicine are historically and predominantly black schools. take into consideration the diversity stats</p>

6

<p>That is the first thing I looked up for myself when I began considering howard’s 6 year program. Honestly, all of the 6 year programs I am applying to are right for me.</p>

7

<p>Your disability should not impact you. Don’t bring it up tho. All colleges will give you the extra time/test accommodations you require if you can show you’ve had them & have updated testing in place. First get in. Also be sure to tell your LOR writers, including your GC, not to mention your disability. It is private. And you would like this fact not to impact your chances for interviews/acceptances. This info will not be on any of your school documents so the colleges/med sch will not be aware until you register for disability services once you’ve decided where you’re attending. BTW there are plenty of students w learning disabilities in college & med sch.</p>

8

<p>Thanks for the advice, oreo. </p>

<p>Heh, only my teachers know of my disability, but nobody else does (especially the doctors that I’ve shadowed. :P), and I took good care to let them know to not mention it in their letters.</p>

9

<p>If you are honestly looking for advice, I would suggest dropping NEOUCOM and adding U of Toledo. NEOUCOM allow only 5 spots for OOS (out of 105 total, 35 in each UG) and historically had accepted even less than 5 OOS. U of Toledo is higher ranked and also is less known and has no official restrictions for OOS.</p>

10

<p>Miami: I’m a bit confused about their “BS/MD” program and “Bacc/MD” program. The BS/MD is 8 years…but is geared towards Bioengineering, while the Bacc/MD is 7 years and actually focuses on the natural/hard sciences…but it looks like it is only open to College Freshman. I don’t like, nor do I want to learn about engineering, but is the BS/MD program the only option with Toledo that is open to High School Seniors? </p>

<p>And also…I’m thinking about dropping IB Philosophy from my schedule for next year so that I can have at least one free period. Do any of you think this is a good idea, or should I keep it in my schedule?</p>

11

<p>I recently heard that taking SL courses are pretty useless unless you take the corresponding AP exam. Is this true? ARE my classes for next year not really good choices for wanting to go into a BS/MD program?</p>