Chances for next year?

Pre-Med & Medical School Multiple Degree Programs
1

<p>Hi Everyone,
I'm a Junior in Illinois, and I've been looking at med schools, but I'm a bit confused on where I could get in.</p>

<p>I initially liked the though of the accelerated programs at UMKC or NEOUCOM, but after reading some threads I'm not sure if its worth rushing and burning out.</p>

<p>But, if I were interested, what would be my chances of acceptance, and although its hard to measure, my success in those programs.</p>

<p>I've got a 4.34 GPA. I haven't taken the SAT yet, but of the 10 or so practice ones I've gotten 2100-2300. Top 3% of class (School is Naperville North (Illinois), they "removed" class rank last year, so all I'd be able to put is percentile rank)</p>

<p>AP's: AP Gov: 5; Jnr: AP Chem, AP Language; Snr: AP Calc BC, AP Bio, AP Lit
Sports: Varsity Cross Country(5th team place at State), Varsity Track</p>

<p>EC's: National Honor Society, Captain on Cross Country Team, Literacy Center Tutor (200+ hrs), Volunteering at Children's Museum, Hospital.</p>

<p>Planning on research during the summer, hopefully chemistry. I'm also in the process of setting up hospital shadowing with an anesthesiologist.</p>

<p>From what I've seen posted here, Northwestern would probably be a stretch, what do you guys say about UC or GPPA at UIC? NEOUCOM seems to only accept 1 or 2 oos applicants, and UMKC might be a little fast for me (let alone being really expensive for oos)</p>

2

<p>its still kinda early for us to give you an accurate chance thread, since we just applied and are waiting for the results to come back. Plus, SAT will be quite important since they have a minimum requirement for most bs/md programs. From what i heard, GPPA and Northwestern will probably be good choices to consider, since you are instate.</p>

3

<p>Well SAT wise I'll get a better idea next weekend, as I'm testing then.</p>

4

<p>Now that acceptances are coming in, does anyone have any advice for me.</p>

5

<p>you seem like a strong candidate, with good scores (preferably 2200+), I'd say you are a very strong candidate. If you are interested in applying to bs/md programs, I encourage you to find a med school that you think suites you. Don't just apply to any program just because it's giving you acceptance to a med school. Some programs are better than others, for reasons other than mere rankings. Search them out, and find a plan that works for you. Incidentally, you may want to investigate this issue further, but I've heard some negative things about UMKC's 6-year program. This is hearsay, but it was rumored that they were close to losing accreditation a few years ago.</p>

<p>So once again, it seems like you are a good student and with strong SAT scores, you are bound to become a strong applicant. Make sure you find a program that works for you.</p>

6

<p>Yeah, I've read a lot of negatives about UMKC so thats basicaly not my list anymore.</p>

<p>Northwestern is a stretch, so I'm looking at Case Western, Penn State. I'm also thinking about going to someplace like Wash U, doing undergrad and then applying somewhere good for med school.</p>

7

<p>going the traditional route isn't a bad plan either. Just remember that while everyone in high school seems to emphasize the fact that you need to go to a "good" college, for medicine, the undergrad institution has very little bearing over whether or not you'll get into med school. The MCAT is the great equalizer. My suggestion is to go a university where you think you'll have good opportunities for clinical exposure/research, and where you think you can maintain a high gpa.</p>

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<p>What were some of the negatives you guys heard about UMKC's program? That was actually one of my top choices...</p>

9

<p>you should check out some of the threads at studentdoctor.net Premed forum about UMKC's program. Some people have nice things to say about it, others have some not so nice things to say. Either way, it's worth going through.</p>

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<p>IMO, its way too rushed-6 years!!!
I heard you have to finish O chem in one summer.</p>

<p>7 year program makes more sense</p>

11

<p>UMKC has a lot of negatives and only one real positive. Positive being that its a guaranteed acceptance med school. Negatives being, its 6 years (organic chem in 1 summer), pretty crappy med program which almost lost its accreditation, ridiculous tuition for a less than mediocre state school.</p>

<p>As for traditional vs. accelerated. It would seem that I'm almost on the border, depending on essays, and summer work I could be in contention for a spot on an accelerated program somewhere (I hope).</p>

<p>But, if I do go the traditional route, the only fear is that I might not get into med school (I've heard that 80% of applicants get denied, but I'm pretty sure this can't be true).</p>

<p>Also, if I do go the traditional route, where would CC'ers suggest. I'm in Illinois, so UofI is a definite safety, other than Wash U, what are some other maybes?</p>

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<p>lol it's not 80%... more like 50%</p>

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<p>If you're in Illinois, I would definitely try UIC-GPPA and NU. check for other programs for illinois residents only as well, since that would be close and cheap for you.</p>

<p>If you can get over a 1450 M + CR on the SAT, you're in good shape.</p>

<p>The GPA is good, the class rank is a little low though (I know UPitt's requirement is top 1% of class, or 4.0 GPA)</p>

<p>You have 6 APs throughout high school; I would suggest taking a little harder classes (if your school offers them) to show colleges that you like to challenge yourself. Ex: instead of taking honors US history, take AP instead. You may get a B, which isn't worth it GPA wise, but a rigorous schedule helps to show college you are ready for the big-time workload.</p>

<p>Your ECs are decent, the research you plan to do this summer along with the shadowing of an anesthesiologist will help immensely towards your acceptances. </p>

<p>Someone earlier suggested that you limit the number of programs you apply to, focusing on a fit in medical school. I disagree; I wish I had applied to more programs than the 10+ I did. Apply to every program you can. so you can pick and choose after you get your acceptances.</p>

<p>As for 80% of applicants getting denied, it's less than 50% get denied, over 50% get in (but still, it is VERY difficult)</p>

<p>U of I is a decent school; however, I'd take U of Chicago instead, just on prestige (not necessarily great advice for undergrad). I'm interested why you want to go to Washington University for UG?</p>

<p>I'd even try northwestern for UG, and maybe apply to an ivy or two (usually applying to all of them isn't advisable)</p>

<p>Good luck, and let me know if you have any questions.</p>

14

<p>Wanted to update the thread with some real test results. Took the ACT on April 14th, 34,35,35,33. So 1 point from a 35, I'm retesting in June so I can hopefully pull of a 35 then.</p>

<p>As for the lack of AP's, here is my schedule for next year.</p>

<p>AP Calc BC
AP Biology
AP Us History
Anatomy & Physiology / Application in Chemistry
Enriched Essay Writing / Humanities
Spanish 4</p>

<p>In this schedule, I could swap out, the Anatomy & Physiology for AP Stats, and the Enriched Essay Writing for AP Lit. But, I feel as though Anatomy & Physiology would help me more than AP Stats. Also, Enriched Essay Writing is a class that is specifically made to help students to write great college app essays, so it'll probably help more than AP Lit.</p>

<p>I'm shadowing this summer with a cardiologist at Northwestern. One issue I have now is with the research, the professor I initially set it all up with has received a job at Oxford so he's moving this summer. How would I go about setting up another research position? (The first position was set up due to my parents personally knowing the professor)</p>

15

<p>I respect your decisions not to take AP Stats and AP Lit; I would try talking to people in your community and see if they know anyone you can work with/shadow/etc. CHeck things outside of doctors as well; researchers and the such are very helpful as well.</p>

<p>Anatomy and PHysiology will help you immensly on the AP Bio test.</p>

<p>Only thing I could suggest (since it looks like A and P and Essay writing are half-year courses) is take ANatomy and physiology 2nd semester, enriched essay writing 1st semester, and then take AP Lit. having 4 years of solid english (with the last 2 years being AP) looks good.</p>

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<p>I'm not sure how much of the UMKC stuff you guys heard is true, but looking at the lists of residency matches over the past few years, UMKC students seem to do fairly well. Your scores on the board exam and your performance are way more important than the school itself. It has some bearing, but not nearly as much as how well you do.</p>