Is This Crazy Insane & Futile?

Pre-Med & Medical School Multiple Degree Programs
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<p>S was invited to apply to the Guaranteed Admit Program At Pitt Medical (offered Honors College and Full Ride)</p>

<p>He is interested in becoming a physician and is most interested in pediatric oncology or child psychiatry. He was diagnosed with Juvenile Diabetes Type I at age 7 and has some first hand knowledge of oncology becuase of my case during his high school years.</p>

<p>BUT. His work experience is not medical. Period. It is in child counseling -3 years of day camp counseling, some of it with ill kids (celiac and diabetic) but just a straight ahead camp NOT a speciality camp. He has had exxcellent community service experience; 200 hours of weekly tutoring inner city kids in math. </p>

<p>Is he wasting his time? He wrote the Assistant Dean and expressed his interest and concern, actually asking directly if his application would be summarily dismissed. The answer was yes we do ask for medical experience to indicate commitment, but if you want to write about your experience with diabetes and living with a cancer patient, we would welcome the application and read it thorughly.</p>

<p>He is planning on completing the essays but then needs to chase down the recs too. He told us last night he wants to go through with it. On one hand we were pleased that he wants to take it on knowing the crazy odds. And his intimate patient experience makes crafting both essays (why a doctor and what changes in the med system?) and his passion dead-on.... But then ....</p>

<p>Has anyone here EVER heard of someone being accepted into the Pitt or any other MED/Conbined program without the hospital/direct med experience?</p>

<p>I have not read of any such student yet.</p>

<p>Thanks for any feedback folks!</p>

2

<p>sorry for the typos! typing with a broken finger…</p>

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<p>Wasn’t the deadline for applying Dec 15th? Can he still submit an application? What form of invitation was it? What type of community service did your S do?</p>

<p>From what I read/hear, this type of programs want students who are pretty committed and with medical related experience (but I also heard volunteering in nursing home counts). If he is interested and meets the qualifications, the only way to know is apply but no high expectations. I do not think any dean or admission officer would discourage anyone from applying as long as they meet their published requirements.</p>

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<p>The deadline for the undergraduate application (to be able to be invited to apply for the GAP) was Dec 15, but the deadline for the GAP program application itself is near the end of January.</p>

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<p>SCHRIZTO is correct. The deadline for the GAP is Jan 29. Well his teacher said he will write the rec so he might as well put in the work–good experience anyway. He has the essays written in his head given his constant encounters in the medical system. My husband told him not to be disappointed if it does not pan out, and S is a very calm person around anything monumental.</p>