Chance for BS/BA MD/PhD Program?

Pre-Med & Medical School Multiple Degree Programs
1

<p>Hello guys, I'm very extremely interested in the field of medicine. I'm a rising senior and I am certainly looking into some BS/MD/PhD programs. I'd love working in the hospital, both as a physician and a researcher. I am particularly interested in the specialty of oncology or bioengineering.</p>

<p>Like many other CC-er's I have my highs and lows, so please critique with detail. If any of you are alumni of these programs or have previously considered these programs as a high school senior, please drop a response and give me your opinion on these programs.</p>

<p>Rank: 10 / 532 (Expected to jump by 1 or 2 spots)</p>

<p>GPA: 4.07W, 3.78UW</p>

<p>SAT I: 2000 - CR 630, M 720, W 650 (2nd take)
SATII: Math II 780, Biology 750, Physics 700</p>

<p>Curriculum - Combined IB and AP curriculum, Most rigorous curriculum offered on campus
APs: AP Euro (3), APUSH (5), AP Calc AB (5), AP Biology (5)
IBs: IB Biology (6) [IB exams are out of 7]</p>

<p>Dual Enrollment Coursework :
Human Anatomy - (A)
Macro-Economics - (A)
Public Speaking - (A)</p>

<p>Senior course load:
IB Physics HL (Year 2)
IB Theory of Knowledge
IB 21st Century World History
AP Literature / IB English (Combined Course)
IB Mathematics SL
AP Spanish/ IB Spanish SL (Combined Course)
AP Psycology </p>

<p>National Awards:
2012 Roswell Park Cancer Institute Scholarship Grant - $2100
2012 Carson Scholar $1000
2011 Best Buy @15 Scholar $1000
2012 Nordstrom Scholarship Semifinalist (selection process still undergoing)</p>

<p>2011, 2012 Science Olympiad Medalist in Anatomy and Physiology</p>

<p>Research / Shadow Experience:
2012 Roswell Park Cancer Institute- 300+ hours of research experience in radiation medicine. Under direct supervision of Senior Physicist. Will be presenting a poster presentation on radiation treatment later.</p>

<p>Extracurricular Activities:
Years of participation, final leadership position (Does not mean I was in the position for all years of participation)
11th - 12th School Site Council Chairperson
10th - 12th Science Olympiad Vice Captain, Biology Subject Captain
9th - 12th Math Club President
11th - 12th Biology Olympiad Organizer
12th National Science Bowl Captain
10th - 12th Mock Trial Forensic Scientist Impersonator
9th - 10th Marching Band
9-10th, 12th JV Golf Team
11th Church Choir Bass Singer
9th - 12th California Scholarship Federation Student Relations Officer</p>

<p>Volunteer Service:
11th - 12th City of Hope Cancer Research Center - 70+ hours
9th - 12th Food for Homeless
9th - 12th After school tutoring
9th - 12th World Community Grid (Donating my computer's processor power to cancer research)</p>

<p>Honor Societies:
National Honor Society, California Scholarship Federation</p>

<p>Race: Male Asian</p>

<p>A GREAT THANKS for everyone who read my long 'brag sheet!' I tried to make it as concise as possible. I certainly will value all opinions/comments/tips! </p>

<p>Union/Albany Medical Center Program
Stony Brook/ Stony Brook Medical Center
Saint Bonaventure program/George Washington
Brown PLME
UCSD Medical Scholars
Cal-Tech Medical Scholars
University of Colorado BS/MD Program</p>

2

<p>Research is great, but medical volunteering and shadowing is important for the programs. Ideally, you can do both. Volunteering at a hospital and shadowing a private practice will give you exposure to both environments.</p>

<p>You really need to pull your SAT up, 2000 is just too low. 2200-2300+ is what I think a good range is. CR+M counts more than writing too.</p>

<p>You’ll probably need the Chem SAT2 for some programs, and some also want one humanities one too. Check each progs requirements for this.</p>

3

<p>Thanks neoevolution! The thing I’m afraid of is the number of times I can take the SAT. So far, I have already taken it twice (Once during sophmore year for a scholarship) and I’ve heard if I take it too many times, they average out your scores instead of taking the highest one. If my 3rd score isn’t as well as I hoped for (around 2100?) should I risk taking it a 4th time?</p>

<p>Also, the chem program at my school isn’t the best. There is only basic chem ( no honors or ap) so I’ll really have to study on my own. Any tips on that?</p>

4

<p>There are SAT2 review books available. Some go overboard in the content you need to know and explain it poorly, check out the Amazon reviews by people who read the book and already took the test. You can also find official College Board SAT2s (book form or illegal internet PDF) to see how you’ll do, because test prep company SAT2s are way off on difficulty and “style.” </p>

<p>Not all programs average scores, and some even superscore, so a 2100 may be worth redoing. If you have relatively higher CR+M with that 2100 and don’t think you can do better, then it’s not really worth it, but 2100 is on the lower end for programs. </p>

<p>The shadowing and hospital volunteering are both pretty important, programs want to see that you know what you’re signing up for and the day-to-day of being a physician.</p>

5

<p>Oh okay. Thanks for the tips on the SAT :)</p>

<p>I have volunteered at a hospital so far, but I have not done any shadowing. For volunteer work, I know I contact the volunteer office and they will organize everything else for me to work. However, how do I apply to shadow a doctor? What is the best way to ask? Do I contact the volunteer dept. or do I directly contact a doctor? </p>

<p>Much thanks,</p>

6

<p>Some hospitals have shadowing programs run by their volunteer departments, but it isn’t as common. If you can’t find a hospital run one in your area, you can try cold calling or emailing doctors offices in your area.</p>