Help me with my list!

College Search & Selection
1

Hi guys, my list is seeming a little long and I’d like some help narrowing it down. My list is organized into tiers, in loose order of preference

BS/MD Programs (super high reaches)-
Northwestern HPME
Brown PLME
UMiami BS/MD

Ivy league/high reaches-
Harvard
Dartmouth
Northwestern
Duke
Stanford
UC Berkely
UCLA

LACs (reaches/high matches)-
Pomona
Wake Forest
Tufts
Middlebury
Bates

Safeties-
CU Boulder
University of Denver?
UT Austin (I have automatic admission)

Quick stats: high enough test scores and GPA to be considered at most schools (2300/2400, 102.0/100), took the most rigorous schedule possible in high school, highly ranked in class (top 1%, could be valedictorian/salutatorian) essays should be pretty good, I’m a good writer and starting very early so I can do my best work, teacher recs should be great. 4 years of varsity sports, unique EC’s (play in rock band, pursuing pilots licence).

Hook: moved around a lot, including middle of high school, white student at a 96% hispanic high school? I don’t know if that counts but it seems unique to me. Other than that I have no hooks, besides being a legacy at Tufts.

I’d like to go into medicine, and I am interested in a dual degree path (MD/MBA, MD/MPH) to apply medical science to public policy (obviously these plans are tentative and contingent on many factors). It’d be cool to be near skiing, I like small classes in general, I like collaborative, relaxed communities without cutthroat competition, and want a very well rounded, holistic education. If anyone could suggest schools, reclassify reaches/matches, or help me eliminate schools I would really appreciate it!

2

You have no hooks except the legacy and that’s only considered at Tufts (so a tip). http://provost.tufts.edu/institutionalresearch/files/CDS_2014-2015.pdf Since you have autoadmit to UT you must be in-state for TX. Can your parents afford CU and UD? A safety must be affordable. [I would guess so since you are pursuing a private pilot’s license]

3

Some BS/MD Programs you don’t have to apply before starting your Junior year .

4

@“Erin’s Dad” Yes I am in state TX, family is high income plus GI Bill so my safeties are all affordable

@NASA2014 What you are referring to are programs generally known as “early assurance” programs. These offer acceptance into a Med school associated with the university as a sophomore or junior in college. A BS/MD program is distinguished from these programs by requiring application as a high school senior, and offering either acceleration or enrichment in the undergrad to med school process.

5

You’ll have to take the MCAT and apply to grad school.

6

@NASA2014 most bs/md programs exclude their participants from needing to take the MCAT- all 3 I am applying to would not require an MCAT. Most early assurance programs have relaxed MCAT score requirements for matriculation-CU’s early assurance program requires only a score above the 50th percentile.

7

You may want to also post in one of the Med School forums for some additional input.

8

Rice would be an obvious suggestion. There is not a lot of information on who gets into programs like Brown’s PLME program but wouldn’t it be helpful if you had a ton of ECs involved with medicine in one form or another? Being in the minority at a predominantly hispanic high school is not considered a hook.

9

Rice is a great school but I am trying to leave the south/humidity, so it’s not on my list. Thank you though. And I do have med related EC’s that I didn’t mention although my application is definitely weak in that area. If you’re interested in my full info, here is a thread I posted in the chance me section! http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/discussion/comment/18718907#Comment_18718907

10

You’re another who might want to take a look at U Rochester. You’d have a good potential for decent merit and and they do have BS/MD opportunities (both competitive). They also have skiing nearby.

FWIW, my middle son is currently starting his senior year there - pre med along with two majors and two minors. He loves the school.

11

If your high school is lower-income and has a lot of first gen students (students whose parents haven’t graduated from a 4-year college) this is a hook. Your guidance counselor will need to mention the profile of the school’s students and how yours compares on the SSR but if not too many students apply to the programs you’re applying to but rather stay in TX, you may want to make sure your GC understands how important that section will be for you. Of course, being higher income yourself means you’re in a privileged situation.

Do NOT go to CA from TX for premed. As a TX resident you do not qualify for CA med schools, so cross out UCLA and UCB. You can replace them with Occidental and either Pomona or Pitzer (Pitzer would “fit” more someone interested in health and public policy due to their commitment to social issues.)

Add Colby, Skidmore, Hamilton for low reaches, Colorado College if the block system interests you.
A true safety near good slopes would be UVermont Honors.

12

WUSL has the dual admission program for UG and Med School, and the Med School is outstanding.

Not sure if St. Louis is too humid or hot, however. :slight_smile: