<p>I agree with you 100%, that bit of info narrowed my college list down for those BA/MDs. Hopefully this thread would shed some light to other eastern staters think about ba/mds like myself.</p>
<p>anoore, this year (2007) the stats like SAT I: 760 Math, 640 Crit Read; APs: Calc AB - 5, Psych - 5, Hist - 4, Calc BC - 4, Stat - 4, Eng - 3, Physics - 3 would have given you a chance only at much less selective BA/BS/MD programs than Baylor or HPME, even if you are top of your class in very competitive prep school. I do not want to discourage you, since one year could be different from another, but I would apply to much wider range of combined programs if that is your goal and be prepared for any outcomes. I would be more concerned with that and plan according to that and not in respect to which program is better than another. Also, make sure to apply to some colleges w/o combined programs (regular route). The best of luck!</p>
<p>Thanks Miami, this I know. I am going to get those SAT's up for sure and I am applying to regular decision routes as well as other ba/mds. This post was a while ago so I didn't actually understand the extreme selectivity of programs like this. However, I think if I can bring my SATs up and own my SAT IIs (phys, bio, chem) I might have a decent shot. </p>
<p>Btw, are you in University of Miami's Ba/Md? If so how's that treating you?</p>
<p>anoore, not Un. of Miami, but Miami University (Oxford, Ohio). The program name is Dual Admission Program (DAP). It is with Un. of Cincinnati College of Medicine. Accepts 10. First week (freshman) went well. The choice was based on a fact that this program is NOT accelerated, actually DAPs are not allowed to have less than 4 years (5 in co-op engineering) in undergrad. There is no difference between DAPs and Regulars here, besides reguirements and priviliges. DAPs have to maitain 3.45 to stay in a program, MCAT reguirement is 27. DAPs with these stats have a spot in Cinci Med. School. You can apply to other Med. Schools, nobody is tying you here. Miami's % of acceptance to Med. Schools is much higher than national average. It is one of original 8 Public Ivys. Do not limit your choices, do a lot of reseach outside of CC! Good luck and you do have a decent shot!</p>
<p>"it' not a great move to go to TX for higher education. Not the best place to spend 7-8 years at all."</p>
<p>wow, please stop making ignorant statements, Baylor college of medicine is one of the best in the country.</p>
<p>anyways, to the OP, your stats are pretty weak to the Baylor program, especially if your going through Rice. I would say that it will be really tough for you to just get into Rice, and you do not really have a lot of medically related ECs, mostly engineering</p>
<p>I understand the extreme selectivity now. When first posted I thought it was a fairly easy program to get into, now I know any ba/md is extremely selective. And fyi to anyone else, I didn't post all my stats (like med related research i did) and sats and sat IIs are going to be much better (studied this summer). As for getting into rice alone, cmon with those stats and a good essay I think I can def pull that one off :)</p>
<p>Hi All,</p>
<p>Just wanted to clarify. When I said TX is not such a great place, I didn't mean academically. It's just as good as any top Northeastern place in academics.</p>
<p>I mean outside of academics, ie your non academic life. I did my Grad school in TX. The school was great but the life outside of school was crappy.
May be this could vary if you are a caucasian. </p>
<p>I found TX to be extremely discriminatory to non-whites. </p>
<p>Leaving TX was a blessing for me. I don't feel like a Martian in the Northeast.</p>
<p>Texas is a very large state. For every little, discriminatory town, trust me: there's a Houston or Austin to make up for it.</p>
<p>Sorry BDM,</p>
<p>I went to grad school in Houston, my friend!</p>
<p>I can't explain it in a cut and dried sort of way.
The environment I experienced in Houston was so completely different from the one I have experienced in my years at NY/NJ.</p>
<p>The "local Texans" are not particularly educated. The average level of education outside of Grad school boundaries is not probably far lower than that in NY, NJ, CT area.</p>
<p>Additionally, Texas experiences quite a lot of illegal Mexicans........perhaps this adds additional anxiety in locals.</p>
<p>Add to that the perpetual strife in the middle east between Israel and Palestine or now the Iraq war...... I went to school in Houston 25 years ago when the Iranian hostage crisis was fresh in their minds. I am originally from an upper crust, educated and liberal part of India (Bombay). It shocked me when I heard being called "Camel Jokeys". At that time, most locals thought we were Iranian.</p>
<p>Now, in the post 8/11 era, I bet all SEAs get assumed to be "Iraquis".</p>
<p>So, if you are a SEA or an Asian of darker/cappucino skin, you have no other friends but people who look like you.</p>
<p>Coming up North was a blessing, a chance to experience a true American spirit, that each one of us is created equal, that we are all born with an inalienable right for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness!</p>
<p>Oooops! didnt proof read again. I meant that the average education of the population IS far lower than that of NYorkers and Jersians.</p>
<p>Gosh! I am only half human until I have my coffe.....I meant 9/11. Sorry folks for my typos.</p>
<p>I figured Houston was the most likely place that you did graduate school, but then I thought to myself: "Wait, there's no way she can be talking about Houston. There's no way she can be talking about a city which:</p>
<p>-Has its own Chinatown
-Has a medical school (Baylor) which is 35% Asian/Pacific Islander, including 22% Asian Indian
-Has some suburbs which are predominantly Asian
-Has one of the biggest hospital complexes in the world, including world famous academic institutions like Baylor, the Texas Heart Institute, Texas Children's, and most famously M.D. Anderson -- places full of international scientists and patients from Europe, the Middle East, America's largest cities, and Asia
-Has not one but two international airports
-Has a large Mexican immigrant population."</p>
<p>If a city like this has un-overcome-able racial tension, then I think we're talking about problems other than geography.</p>
<p>Well there's racism everywhere, even in diverse cultural city's such as Houston. However, if Pharmagal said she experienced racism to that extent, despite the cultural diversity in Houston, the Texans there are probably more racist than New Jersey residents, which is definitely something to think about in making a permanent college decision.</p>
<p>
[quote]
definitely something to think about
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Sure, if you're picking not just a place (Houston) but an era, too (the 1970s).</p>
<p>I've lived in Texas for almost 8 years and have found it to be very friendly (I'm Asian-American) - more so than Arizona, at least. Yes, you do occasionally meet a stereotypical intolerant country cowboy, but those are mainly in rural areas. </p>
<p>In my many trips to Houston, I've never really felt any racial hostility. I do hear, however, that there are some racial tensions against African Americans due to the influx of Katrina refugees.</p>
<p>Hi again,</p>
<p>I went to grad school there in early to mid 80s. It's possible that things may have changed in 20 years. Twenty years IS a long time. That's why I mentioned that the environment within the academic institutions itself is quite fine. We had our annual outdoor Bar-be-ques and annual graduation parties at Prof's homes. </p>
<p>What I meant was that outside of the boundaries of school, I was unable to make any friends that were native Texan. I think mid-80s was also the time when TX was going through a rough depression period, which did not make things easy.</p>
<p>Some things may have changed now. I believe Houston's economy is no longer circumscribed to oil and has become significantly more diversified.</p>
<p>I have just one gripe with TX still - I think the local Texans are nowhere near as educated and liberal as compared to average Joe Smith in the Northeastern area.</p>
<p>In NY/NJ/CT, I have more non-Indian friends than Indian, which is quite contrary to my experience in Houston.</p>
<p>Certainly we know Texas is a less-liberal state than NJ.</p>
<p>And we know Houston is a Republican city.</p>
<p>If the complaint is that you can't stand Republicans, then I suppose Houston's not a great place. Although 90,000 Democrats don't seem to be too upset.</p>
<p>Now, why would you think that someone who has worked in Pharma for 16 yrs is a democrat? </p>
<p>Nope. I am neither a democrat nor a republican........I am independent.</p>
<p>
[quote]
I think the local Texans are nowhere near as educated and liberal
[/quote]
It sounded like "not as liberal" belonged on your list of bad-things-about-Texas.</p>