Chance for BS/MD please?

Pre-Med & Medical School Multiple Degree Programs
1

<p>I find in my junior year that I am indeed passionate about medicine.
I need advice as I am just about beginning to do Hospital Volunteer. I have about 9 months before I apply for 2015 admissions, can get as many as 100 hours of hospital volunteer. While I want this to validate my interest, I worry if the hospital volunteer duration less than 1 year, it may be a major disqualifier? I have already lined by 6 shadowing and I will have 9 months of nursing home volunteer (but playing violin).
Nevertheless, I run clubs in charity organization and teach kids for the last 2 years, that I am proud about. I am told that does not count since it is not medical experience.
I also worry that I will be taking AP Chem only in senior year (i did not have Chem in high school) and if that will be seen as a negative. I know I can self-read AP Chem in summer and take SAT Chem and get a decent score. Not sure I should go down that path to compensate any Chem concerns when I apply.</p>

<p>School Type: Public
Race/Gender: Asian male
Prospective Major: Bio-Medical
Unweighted - GPA: 4.0
Class rank: 1 out of 400ish
SAT I: CR 730, M 800, W 750 (Super Score);
SAT II: MathII 800, Physics 800, Biology: 750
APs: World History (5) Statistics (5) Biology (5), Calculus BC (5), AP Physics (5)
11th grade: AP Eng Comp, AP Spanish, AP Env Science, AP Physics C (both Elect and Mechanics)
Planned Senior Year Course load: AP English Lit, AP Chem, AP US History, AP Eco, AP Psycology..</p>

<p>Awards: none really, NM Finalist probably (225/240), AP Scholar with Honors (likely),</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
Played chess for ten+ years and a certified Nation Master in chess - a title from USCF that I hold for life. Highest rated player by grade in state for 4 years in a row, in top 20 nationally by age and 2nd place - World Open chess (U 2200 section).</p>

<p>President of Chess club and Math club. Ran state-wide Math competions attended by 100+ student from all over state and being a certified USCF tournament director conducted chess tournaments</p>

<p>Own chess blogs and published chess articles in magazines</p>

<p>Job/Work: Professional chess lessons
Volunteer: Hospital volunteer (planned for this summer)not many hours ~75 hours</p>

<p>Research at Physics Dept on NanoLithography. Taking it to ISEF, in the process of publishing the paper with mentor</p>

<p>Summer Activites:
before 9th grade: Chess tournaments
before 10th grade: Summer school at State University (UNR 4 college credits)
before 11th grade: Summer school at State University (UNR 4 college credits)
During 11th grade: Physics research ~400 hours
before 12th grade: hospital volunteer (100 hours), Shadowing (5-6), Planning Internship (400+ years)</p>

<p>Could somebody please give me their opinion if I have any chance at all in BS/MD due to my low hospital volunteering or chem? I do have great personal story - a true experience to relate to what I did that led me to my choice on medicine (although belatedly)?
I have researched some such as Brown PLME , Albany, Drexxel, UPitt, Baylor, Thanks!
Please advise!!</p>

2

<p>Brown’s program due to the sheer number of applicants is harder than Harvard UG biology.
Otherwise, you have the numbers you need for many programs but shadow a doctor or two since that is better than general hospital volunteer work.</p>

<p>The applicants for the top tier programs , however, have closer to 2400 SAT’s but you are ok for the mid and lower tier programs. Also don’t ever use the word “belatedly” when you discuss your interest in medicine.</p>

<p>I would only take the Chem AP test without taking the class first if I was positive I could get a 750 or 800. Otherwise just explain it as a school scheduling conflict and take it after you take the course.</p>

<p>I would apply to at least a dozen programs MINIMUM plus a few safety schools. That way you might get 4 or 5 interviews and a couple of acceptances.</p>

<p>You now have time to research them. If costs are a concern you can also research your state programs and the Ohio and Texas schools since they seem to have the best aid. You should also research medical school costs to get a complete picture of the costs of each program.</p>

<p>Good luck. Let us know how you do.</p>

3

<p>@AyeshaAkter, you are in pretty good shape in any of BSMD programs. You are better than my daughter in EC category. As Raycmr advised, please focus on shadowing doctor in your senior year. But don’t be discouraged even without any shadowing opportunity in comming summer. The most important thing is your commitment to MD. Good luck.</p>

4

<p>Thanks for the replies. I feel a bit hopeful. I could arrange shadowing in an ER setting for 8 hours and some more shadowing in a clinic outpatient setting down the line. I guess I will need to get something signed as I do these. There is this paid summer internship that I got selected ($1000 for the entire summer) and there are some research programs in biology, healhcare that I may be able to choose. I was originally planning to prepare for Chem and take SAT II Chem in October, besides some hospital volunteering for summer. This research is full-time 8-5 Mon-Fri and I do not think it will leave me time to self-study chem and take SAT II in Oct. It was indeed a scheduling issue that I could not take AP Chem this year. I do have SAT II in Math, Phy (both 800), and Bio (750). I have 400 hours of research on Research at Physics Dept on NanoLithography that I am taling it to ISEF, that I may not win as I still do not have great results of deriving nanostructures from polymers using AFM and base.</p>

<p>What shoud I pick for summer - research or Chem? </p>

<p>What would be viewed favorably for BSMD?</p>

<p>Thanks in advance</p>

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<p>My D and I think research is the way to go. Did you take gen chem earlier in HS? Taking AP Chem. will help you in Gen Chem first year of college since you most schools will not allow you to place out of Gen Chem.</p>

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<p>Looking at your physic/bio/math subj, you can get Chem sub score easily over 700. If you put more effort, you could have 800. But there are many applicants with 800 Chem but not so many with a good research experience in HS. So, my recommendation is very clear as Raycmr advised. Please keep in mind that Northwestern and BU require Chem subj test. And BU needs additional language subj. My daughter didn’t apply to neither of them since she didn’t take Chem subj.</p>

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<p>Thank you for replies. Looks like internship is the way to go. I have to choose from the three below as I want it to be related to medicine. The internship can be research from the three below or some kind of nurse shadowing (also described below) for the entire summer. It’s either or. I know I will be able to arrange 4 to 5 doctor shadowing in the coming days… </p>

<p>What choice will help the BS/MD admission?</p>

<p>Research choices: (all three are fine for me)
1.Biological Research Assistant for Parkinson’s Disease Study at VA Medical Center
2.Postural Motor Learning in People with Multiple Sclerosis at Oregon Health Science University Hospital
3. Modeling Blood Flow and Function in Diseased Hearts at Oregon Health Science University Hospital</p>

<p>Nurse Shadowing:</p>

<p>The Role of the Infection Control Nurse Specialist (CNS)
Location: Portland VA Medical Center (Portland)</p>

<p>Main Discipline: Health or Medical
This position is in the Infection Control Department at the Portland VA Medical Center which is responsible for prevention, identification and control of infections in medical center patients, staff and visitors. The apprentice will shadow an Infection Control Clinical Nurse Specialist to explore the clinical nurse specialist role and learn about nursing in general. S/he will learn about the complex care required by patients in all areas of our healthcare system, including hospital, long term care, and outpatient settings. Activities of the apprentice may include conducting literature searches and creating a bibliography, participating in surveillance activities (including hand hygiene and isolation requirements), using and creating databases, and assisting with special projects. The apprentice may also have the opportunity to shadow nurses in the surgical intensive care unit, general ward, and in nontraditional nursing positions.
The apprentice will need to wear professional clothing and comfortable close-toed shoes. A student who is interested in any aspect of the health sciences, particularly the rewarding field of nursing, will enjoy this position.</p>

<p>Both are paid positions. I have done research but not exactly in medical science and I can arrange atleast 5-6 doctor shadowing with one starting next week.</p>

<p>Also I am considering BS/MD with BioEngg/Biomedical. I was looking at Toledo (not sure if it is only for in-state). Is Toledo a low-end/mid-end BSMD program? How would I find other low-end/mid BS/MD programs?</p>

<p>I am so thankful for your help.</p>

<p>Thanks in advance</p>

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<p>Does taking SAT two times matter for BS/MD? Do they take the highest in one sitting or the superscore?</p>

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<p>Research! You’re putting yourself in a good position for rpi/amc physician scientist program :slight_smile: if you have questions about that program feel free to ask me.</p>

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<p>Depends on the school. Many state schools ask for highest in one sitting unless they have all changed in the last two years.</p>

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<p>Thank you for the pointing me of the good position for rpi/amc physician scientist program. My hospital volunteering only begins in my junior year. I am concerned that I will not have even a full year at the time of my application. Is that disqualifier for too less time (about 10 months until I apply)? The thing is I vounteered at Boys and Chess Club teaching kids chess for close to 2 years. When I was a kid, I did not get a chess coach who was qualified or atleast a National Master Title. I traveled 360 miles once a month to learn from a very good coach. After some 7-8 years of active play, I became a National Master. I was flooded with coaching request from kids in my town. I told them to join Boys and Girls club where I taught them free. I did this as I could relate to the hardship that I myself faced. But this I am told does not count as it is it not medically related or in a hospital setting. I do play violin with my group at a nursing home.</p>

<p>I do have my credentials at the top of this thread. Do you think I may have a chance for an interview? What must I concentrate on to improve my chances?
I have no doubts about my future in medicine - be it BS/MD or traditional. I know I could not hit the 2300 mark in SAT . I will take AP Chemistry class in 12th grade and that will be the only I would have taken in HS. Is that an issue? Historically I have taken teh AP classes straight (AP Cal BC adn AP Bio in 9th grade - got 5 on both), AP Phy, AP Stats, AP World Hist (5 on all).</p>

<p>Please advise.
Thanks</p>

12

<p>Three SAT sittings are considered the limit. You should really read A is for Admission by Hernandez. Just borrow a copy from library. If you aced your SATs you would be in the running for HYP and their tremendous need aid or even for Brown combined which normally is next to impossible due to the number of applicants. I would consider a tutor for the SAT’s.</p>

<p>The upper tier schools and joint programs consider 4.0 a reflection of your study habits and and your SATs your intellectual horsepower. They also love research and Siemens science participants.</p>

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<p>SAT score is important, but so are EC. I’m at rpi with only 1440/2160, but I was an intel finalist, which sort of sealed the deal for me.</p>

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<p>Correct me if i am wrong! i thought most BS/MD schools looks for the highest SAT one sitting in CR + M. W you can use superscore. </p>