How To Improve Chances for Brown's PLME Program

Colleges and Universities A-Z Brown University
1

Hey everyone,

So medicine, especially in the field of oncology, is my decided career path. I am looking at several BA/MD, BS/MD, or combined medical programs like that of Brown PLME. Any advice is very much appreciated!

Here are my stats thus far in my junior year:

SAT I: 2080 (I know I really need to raise it up) (630 CR, 730 M, 720 W)
ACT: N/A
PSAT: 1430/1520 (maybe commended scholar? idk)
SAT II: N/A (Planning to take in math level 2, biology m, and chemistry by the end of the year)
Unweighted GPA: 98.2
Rank: Definetly top 1%
AP:
Freshman: None
Sophomore: APUSH (4), AP Physics 1 (4)
Junior: AP Chem, AP Enviro Sci, AP Calc BC, AP World History, AP English Lang (taking currently)
Senior: AP Stat, AP Bio, AP Physics C, AP Macro/Micro, AP Spanish (planning to take)

Major Awards:
FBLA Regional Awards for four different comps to qualify for States
1st place in regional robotics competition
Nominated to apply for governors school in sciences
Several taekwondo invitational tournament awards
Volunteering Excellence recognized by Mayor (4x)

Subjective:
Treasurer of FBLA Chapter (4 years)
Secretary of Robotics (4 years)
Education Committee Head in Youth Council (6 years)
Taekwondo Black Belt Instructor (11 years)
(New Clubs)
Science Research
Red Cross
National Honor Society

Job/Work:
None

Volunteer/Community Service:
Hospital Volunteering at Nursing Unit (en route to 60+ hours)
Youth Council (200+ hours)
National Honor Society Tutoring (10+ Hours)
Junior Achievement High School Heroes Volunteering (60+ hours)

Summer Activities:
Took 2 CTY Courses (Honors Bio and Intro to Java both for enrichment)
Took Geometry over the summer to accelerate one track ahead
Attended an Oncology Summer Camp

State: NJ
School Type: public, suburban
Ethnicity: asian
Gender: male
Income Bracket: No financial aid
Hooks: None

2

I don’t usually respond to these, but I’ll bite, for you and everyone else who wants to know.

You’ll be filling out your application in 10 months. That doesn’t give you much time to “improve your chances,” since realistically, what can you really do in less than a year that could dramatically change things?

You already know you have to improve your SAT scores or try the ACT.

Look at the ECs you are already doing. Don’t add anything new. Try to think what you can do at your existing ECs to really make an impression, to change your community for the better. For example, you’re volunteering at a hospital – what can you do there to improve the lives of the patients or visitors or doctors or whoever it is you are working with?

You say you know that oncology is your career path. Spend the next few months really thinking about the why? Look at the PLME essays, don’t write anything yet, but come up with some really good reasons why you want to be a doctor, and why getting a liberal arts education will make you a better doctor.

3

Thank you very for your advice @fireandrain

4

You will have to improve your test taking skills. You have little chance for the BA/MD, BS/MD programs with those SAT scores. Those programs are harder to get into than most of the Ivies. So, when you do apply make sure to also include undergraduate safety schools.