<p>Would I stand a chance at getting an interview for the Penn State BS/MD program?</p>
<p>I KNOW THIS IS BAD:
Weighted: 3.98
UnWeighted: 3.6
Barely top 10%: Rank 126/1308</p>
<p>HOPING THIS WILL MAKE UP FOR BAD GPA:
PSAT: 229 (NMF)
SAT: 2310
SAT II: 780 US History, 770 Chemistry, 800 Math</p>
<p>Course Schedule: (10 AP's)
AP Geography, AP English III & IV, AP US History, AP Psychology, AP Government, AP Economics, AP Spanish IV & V, AP Biology, AP Calculus BC</p>
<p>EC's:
Trumpet (2 years)
Percussion (7 years)
Drumline (Average 12 Hours/Week)
PanCats (Carribean Music Group where we go to bookstores, mall, etc. and play)
Boy Scouts (Eagle Scout, Patrol Leader)
Hospital Volunteer (200 Hours): Worked in Recovery/Rehab
Kid's Summer Camp Volunteer (120 Hours)
NHS
Psychology Club
Spanish Club
High Finance Club (Vice President)</p>
<p>Hook (I guess?): Started an AIDS Awareness program in India, EMT Basic Ceritifcation</p>
<p>I hate to break it to you, but your GPA is extremely bad for such a competitive program such as this. The first thing they look at is your class rank and GPA. For this reason, you may not get accepted into the program. Primarily, GPA and class rank shows a long term dedication to academics. However, your SAT scores are good, and therefore you have a mild chance of getting in. However, from personal experience (Through my cousin and sister villanova and PLME), I know that SAT scores can you get in, but your GPA can ruin you.</p>
<p>You're GPA is not bad, it's just your ranking that kind of sucks...being 126th. However, there are 1308! people in your grade...so being 126th is not that bad after all. Write very good essays and do well at your interview...then you will make it. Your test scores should be able to make up for your GPA...however, maybe you should take some online courses and some some summer courses for credit to boost your ranking and GPA...also do some research. Rutgers University has a very good summer research program I think.</p>
<p>Penn State sucks... it is out in the middle of nowhere. Why would you want to go there anyway?</p>
<p>Your GPA doesn't suck--it's just not the greatest. You've definitely gotta boost it, though, especially if you're looking for somewhere better. Apply to Drexel--its SAT scores are pretty low, so you'll look good in comparison. Oh, and like sickofflorida said, do some research over the summer. I think as far as volunteering goes, hospital work is OK, but everyone does that. Become an EMT instead and use that certification; most programs let people 16+ volunteer. It'll make you stand out a lot more because hospital work is generally paper shuffling or doing really basic things, like bringing patients their magazines and food.</p>
<p>Like I said before, Drexel is one you should consider. If you are truly worried about your grades and such, try going for some of the less competitive combined programs that require MCAT scores. You seem to test well, so the MCATs should not be a problem. Drexel seems to give more leniency because they have a lot of spots to fill--they're quite large.</p>
<p>I would consider the 7 year at Penn State because you've really got to have EVERYTHING to get into the 6-year program; it is that competitive. Other good options are the Temple program, the Union/Albany program, and I believe there's one at GW that's good, but not quite the caliber of say, University of Miami or Brown's PLME.</p>
<p>That being said, I don't think you should completely give up on the reaches. If you have the $$, apply anywhere and everywhere. I know a kid who did 30 apps, at least 12 of them being for combined programs. Save a few spots for the reaches, because you never really know.</p>
<p>I'm starting the Penn State-Jefferson 6-yr program this summer. Peachykeen, the acceptance to the 6-yr and 7-yr options aren't seperate. You get in, and you choose which route you want to take. Also, 6-yrs can switch to being 7-yrs if they like. </p>
<p>Also, peachykeen, you don't have to have EVERYTHING to get into the 6-yr program. Getting the interview is the biggest part; Once you get the interview, if you present yourself at least semi-decently and can carry on an interesting conversation, you have a gd shot.</p>
<p>As someone who also got into Drexel's program, even though Drexel's scores are generally lower, I don't think Drexel is necessarily any easier to get into (although PSU-Jefferson is by far the better prog in my opinion) b/c they decreased the number of seats this yr (because progs are taking up rm at the med school). As a matter of fact, I know a couple people that got interviews for both but then got into the PSU program but didn't get into Drexel's program. To increase your chances, however, I would apply to all three programs that end up at Drexel Med school (Villanova, Drexel, and Temple).</p>
<p>And CC24, your gpa is low, despite your competitive SAT scores. However, don't let this dishearten you. Write awesome essays and try to be unique. One of the things that the PSU-Jefferson program values is diversity.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, take a couple easy online classes to boost your gpa.</p>
<p>Why is everyone being so effing condescending? Yes, if you are trying to be realistic, let the kid down easily; don't you remember when you were starting to think about college and the chances of getting in? In response to the question, I think you have a decent shot. PSU seems to accept kids from a range of different stats, ECs, and figures. Sure, I'll admit, you don't have the strongest GPA and school standing, but in a competitive field of over a 1000, top 10% is still a considerable percentage. But, your SATs and SAT iis will definitely get you an interview, in my opinion. Think about applying to places like HPME which first screen kids solely based on their Chem, IIC, and SAT I scores. It will help eliminate a lot of your great competition. Write an amazing essay that has to do with a strong EC (India AIDs thing, possibly?), then you are a shoe-in for the interview. If you are a good interviewer, stats don't matter anymore. I'd say you have a decent shot for PSU program; just dust off your stronger aspects and try to polish that gpa up. In a rank of 126, you should have a strong possibility of bringing that average up considerably before January. Nail 100s in classes, take hard APs, and etc. An upward trend is a lot better than a solely standing GPA (I was one of those kids who had a sub-80 avg, brought up to a 99 uw avg; it got me into my schools). My only other advice would be that your hook isnt really a hook. No offense. It would be better if you tried to increase your volunteer hours or try to find another research opportunity. NHS is good, but a paper or a more elitist competition will greatly help. Shoot for the moon man, you have great potentials, even if you miss, you'll still land amongst the stars.</p>
<p>Why would applying to all those undergrads that feed into the Drexel med school do anything? Isn't the med school's decision final, meaning it wouldn't really matter what undergraduate school you got into? As far as I know, it's equally easy to get into Villanova and Temple as it is to get into Drexel. I always had the impression it was like the UMDNJ combined plan (if you apply through TCNJ and didn't get in, you are also denied from the Rutgers/UMDNJ program).</p>
<p>Besides, I never said Drexel was easier to get into--I know two other people with amazing stats who didn't get in, whereas I did.</p>
<p>I stand by my old advice--apply EVERYWHERE, some relative safeties (ie, Drexel) and some better programs. As I said before, you never really know. But PSU never was my cup of tea.</p>
<p>I'm not saying apply to all three undergrads just for the sake of it. I'm saying that applying to all three programs (which are three seperate programs btw even though they all feed into drexel med) increases your chances. This is one of the things that they told us in the talks before the interview this year actually. Each program (Villanova-Drexel, Drexel-Drexel, and Temple(?)-Drexel) has a general # of seats, with Drexel-Drexel having the most. So, if you apply to all three progs, you increase your chances of accepted. (Also, each undergrad doesn't know that you applied to the other two progs, so applying to all three doesn't effect you adversely.)</p>
<p>Oh, and I had no intention of being condescending. As a matter of fact, I'd like to point out (once again) that PSU/Jefferson values diversity, they accept people with all different kinds of backgrounds. To be honest, stats-wise, I didn't think I was up there compared to a lot of the other people, but I pulled through in the interview.</p>
<p>Thanks for the replies guys. Online classes in my district only count for credits, not GPA. Is the third program Lehigh/Drexel? What exactly is a hook?</p>
<p>I can't answer the first question (in regards to Leigh/Drexel); however, I'll take a stab at the second. A hook is essentially something you have that will have certain colleges (or target colleges) wanting you. An example is that if you are an RSI student, almost any university in the nation will want to enroll you. The better the hook, the greater the possibility of you getting into the college of your choice. Few things that have repeatedly come up are: Intel Finalist, Research Papers (A lot), RSI, TASP, USAMO/IMO, Westinghouse Finalist, 20+ 5s on APs, Internationally credited musician/sports player, etc. Mind you that having any of these is extremely difficult (hence the uniqueness of a "hook") and that having one doesn't necessarily mean you'll get into the college you want (Many sports players, Chad Hendrick for example, can have a gold medal in the Olympics and still get rejected from Harvard). For multiple degree programs, the hooks usually have to do with research, volunteer, or (obviously) something that has to do with medicine/science. It is not necessary to have a hook to get into a superb college; however, having one is your best "guarantee" shot if anything. Hell, anything close is amazing. :] Gluck, once again.</p>