<p>Hey guys. I have always wanted to become a doctor and HPME at Northwestern seems like a great place to begin that track. Would you mind chancing me? I will give any information that will help.</p>
<p>Asian-Indian/Male/Junior from Michigan</p>
<p>GPA: 4.0 (unweighted)
ACT:35
SAT: 2300, 800M, 770CR, 730W
PSAT: 223 (will most likely get semi-finalist)
SAT II: Math II-800, US History-760, taking Bio M this June and Chemistry in the Fall
Completed AP classes- US, Calc BC - 5 on Both
Current AP classes- Bio, Stats, Lang
Planned APs for next year: Physics Mechanics, Physics E&M, Chemistry, Psych
I've also taken Spanish up to the 4th year</p>
<p>Extracurriculars/Awards:</p>
<p>School Awards in Chemistry, Biology, Civics, Orchestra, Spanish, Calculus
USABO Semifinalist
Received award from local Optimist Club
Tennis Team (since 10th grade)
MENSA Member
Orchestra (9th and 10th Grade) received Most Valuable Musician Award and also highest score of 1 at statewide performance competition
HOSA (since 10th grade)-Regional Finalist and State Finalist both years, Regional Gold Medalist and State Silver Medalist in Medical Terminology Competition, National Qualifier
Presidential Service Award Gold Qualifier
Worked for ACT company since May of Sophomore Year
Developed my own website
Started my own Freelance Tutoring business
President of Humanitarian Club
President of Biology Club
NHS Board Member (Secretary this year and maybe President next year)
HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America) Board Member
Student Senate (Student Council Representative)
Captain of JV Tennis Team
Orchestra Section Leader
Set up a fundraiser that helped give sleep kits to a classroom of students
Helped start up a school in an Indian village
Organized fundraiser to donate to Heiffer International ($100)
Organized event at Forgotten Harvest which provides food to the poor</p>
<p>600 Total Hours of Community Service
250 Hours of Volunteering at the Hospital
Research at University in Immunology Lab
I have not shadowed any physician yet but I plan on doing that over the summer. Correct me if I'm wrong but shadowing is very important for direct medical programs right?</p>
<p>Also, what would you guys recommend that I do with this upcoming summer (other than study for the Chem Subject Test) in order to further my chances for HPME?</p>
<p>Thank you so much! :)</p>
<p>Hey there.</p>
<p>I am one of two people from our school attending Northwestern this fall (2018!!!) and the other dude - who is also a friend - got into HPME. </p>
<p>Stats-wise: test scores, gpa, all very similar to his.
Extracurriculars: You seem to have more than him (of course I don’t know everything he did), but I will mention that most of his extras were related to medical/biology in some way i.e. science olympiad, medical careers club, mechanisms of human health and disease summer program, etc, etc. And btw, he didn’t shadow a physician from what i know. That’s not necessary. Your other specs will be fine (especially USABO)</p>
<p>Basically since a lot of your extras are connectable to medical/biology, show you’re hard working, etc, etc, you’re fine in terms of having a good profile stats wise.</p>
<p>Just work hard on your essays, and you’ll be fine. Don’t fret too much, even though you should to a certain degree. From this point on, you as a person will count, too. </p>
<p>Again, your specs are fine, they don’t really need that much more polishing.</p>
<p>Oh and btw. Mensa? Interesting…very interesting…</p>
<p>P.S since you wanted a chancing… assuming your essays are 7/10, I would say you have a fairly decent chance at getting in. It chooses so few people that no one’s chances are perfect. Good luck!</p>
<p>Your stats look amazing, but you have to remember that BSMD programs are not looking for you to have done amazing things…they want you to have experienced amazing things. Experiences are nothing more that things that are supposed to help you define yourself. I think what separates top tier med programs from mid and lower tier med programs is that the top tier programs look at how the person has used activities to define themselves. Just my two cents though, I’m not an admissions officer of course</p>
<p>cpraf104, First of all, Congratulations on getting accepted to Northwestern! You must be so excited for this fall! I just wasn’t sure if my extracurriculars demonstrated my deep interest in the medical profession. That’s why I felt that shadowing would indicate my interest and also give me experience and some talking points that might prove useful in an interview (hopefully I get one). My dilemma was whether to engage in more research this summer or to shadow because both are very appealing to me. </p>
<p>NUHPME, I heard that it’s not what you’ve experienced but rather, how you have experienced it. Would you agree?</p>
<p>NUHPME and molbio323 I agree with you guys completely, and I suggest that the “experiencing” be expressed through the essays</p>
<p>You have wayyy a lot of stuff to pad your resume with. I’ll be attending HPME in the fall, and my scores, AP classes, volunteering hours, etc. weren’t as extensive/high as yours, so in that regard, I think you’re qualified. I only shadowed a doctor for one day, for a few hours, so I wouldn’t say that shadowing is that important actually (I personally didn’t find too much to learn from it, since I had already had exposure to medicine from getting my CNA license and working in nursing homes). I see that you are involved in a lot of activities, so what I’d recommend for your senior year is to follow one up in depth. HOSA and independent research were my personal choices for in-depth stuff, but I see you like volunteering and non-profits, too. Maybe this summer you could put together a project that you’ve always wanted to do, like a big step for a non-profit or even an independent project, or you could extend your tutoring business. Even an independent research project would be cool, and if you find a local research group to help you, even better. Looks pretty good. Good luck next year, and if you would like advice over anything, you can PM me</p>
<p>Edit: I just realized this - while shadowing wasn’t important for HPME for me personally, for some of the other combined programs it is very important, and it might help give great insight into the medical field. I meant that you don’t have to give up something else just to go shadow,. It can be important, but it isn’t necessarily.</p>