Junior worried about BS/ MD programs

Pre-Med & Medical School Multiple Degree Programs
1

Hello! I’m a high school junior looking to apply to some competitive BS/MD program in a couple months, but due to the covid, I’m not sure if I will still be a competitive applicant.
I have a 4.0 GPA, and I’m in all honors and AP classes.
I am ranked first in my class
My SAT score is only a 1300 (keep in mind I took this sophomore year before I had even finished geometry or algebra 2). My score has improved since then and I am still studying, but I’m not sure when I’ll be able to take it.
I’m not sure if I will even have time to take SAT subject tests either, so I feel like this will keep me from applying to many programs.

Extracurriculars:
Vice President of French club
Sophomore and junior class officer of key club ( I most likely will be President senior year)
A two year club that promotes diversity in my community.
Art club
National Honors Society
Academic Team (Quiz Bowl)
Rehabilitation hospital volunteering (125 hours)
Hospice volunteering (60 hours)
Doctor shadowing (only 9 hours. I had other doctors that were willing, but I’m not allowed anymore because of covid)
I was accepted into two competitive and free summer research programs with stipends, but they both were canceled and moved to virtual programs due to covid. I plan on doing both.
Worked my sophomore year summer and fall of junior year.
In a club that helps disabled and special needs students feel included in our school.
Actively involved in my church, and I have done a few other volunteering projects outside of hospitals.
Awards:
No major awards.

I am an URM (African American/ Nigerian)
Single parent household bring in approximately $50,000-$60000 a year.
I live a fairly small and uncompetitive suburban area. We don’t have many people apply to Top schools. Basically everyone goes to our local college.

Are my chances at applying completely gone at this point? If so, I am going to start looking at other competitive colleges I am interested in without bs/md programs. Please excuse any grammar or spelling errors, this was typed fairly quickly.
Thank you!

2

@Neurorocks03

You are a competitive student. Wish you get an opportunity to take either SAT or ACT before it is too late for app cycle. Take time and identify what BS/MD programs you would like to apply and regular UG programs. Meantime start the prep for PS, Essays primary & secondary etc.

Nothing to be worried since Covid-19 impacts every one and not just you. So every college will come up with some mechanism to evaluate students with or without test scores.

Post or PM if there are any questions or input needed.

After the current cycle dust ends, will create the yearly discussion thread by June 1st.

3

No, you are in a decent shape. Go through at least the last few weeks of the below link to get some idea (or have your parent or friends do that). There will be a new link created pretty soon for the upcoming cycle.

http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/multiple-degree-programs/2143599-official-thread-for-2020-bsmd-applicants.html

Be sure you cover what you will be doing this summer in your essays. Also mention about any missed opportunities, let the programs know your drive and initiative. As mentioned in the last few pages of the above link, some of the programs you may want to consider applying to, Wayne State, Howard, Sophie Davis and BU SMED (Boston).

4

First of all, I agree with the others that your profile is pretty strong. The only thing that I would like to add some information on testing -

Don’t give up on testing. You still have Aug thru November to attempt your tests. Be on look out and don’t forget to register …

If tests are not possible before application date - the colleges are likely to give more time…so December/January dates might work as well.

However, if none of the above is possible - remember you are not alone.

Some students feel more comfortable with ACT compared to SAT. Have you tried ACT? At least work on 5 mock tests before attempting the test. The key is to develop patience to sit for long hours!

You should plan to take SAT subject tests in two subjects that you are most comfortable with -
Math level 1 is a little easier.
your favorite between - Chem or Bio or Physics (has different levels. try the easiest)
You can also take both the tests at one sitting.

Do your best! Wish you the best with your application cycle.

5

@Vicky2019

Just want to add on top what you mentioned, Math level 2 is advised for many of these programs, some of the programs in fact mandate it as one of their requirements. Normally since a lot of strong students take this test, it is difficult somewhat, with more than 20% scoring perfect score.

However not sure how many times these subject tests are given. May not be as frequently as regular SAT or ACT. Perhaps they will administer more times this year? Can contact college board and ask them. Also many of the programs may relax the requirements of having these tests taken, but agree with you, one should try to sit for them if possible.

6

Both College Board and ACT will administer tests. ACT, at least, will almost certainly be able to administer home tests by the fall, so it might be a good idea to study for that too. I am very sure there will be several chances to test before all apps are due. I also think colleges will extend app deadlines to accommodate everyone.

You’re a strong applicant. I do not think you should give up hope. You should aim high, but also ensure you have a balanced list of colleges to apply to, including match and safety schools. Keep doing what you are doing. Don’t worry too much about extracurricular activities. Everyone is in the same boat.

Keep posting here on CC for advice. I’m going to book mark your thread.

7

@Neurorocks03,

Great ec credentials. I have some kids do ACT well, try that out as well. You have a few more months before testing will open.

Testing is used as a baseline for many of these programs, so do your best, try it out a few times.

Look at all the programs and make careful choices, apply wide-spread. My son has ACT 34 and well-rounded, he was able to make it to a few good BS / MD / DO programs.

It looks like you are a dedicated and passionate person, I am sure you will be a fantastic candidate going the undergrad (traditional) route also for medicine.

Good luck!

8

@Neurorocks03

You have an impressive profile.
If the BS/MD programs make it test optional, it will work in your favor.

However, if they don’t do that, then while you have the key ingredients of a competitive candidate, I do want to highlight your current SAT score of 1300 is less (even for URM).

If the last year’s cycle, we had an Afghani-American student with a similar profile but with a SAT score of 1420 and he did not make it any BS/MD programs.
This is not meant to discourage you but share a data point.

So, when college board starts administering the online version of SATs, please take them and raise your score.

9

Thank you everyone for all the advice! I will continue to study for the SAT and aim to take it in September.

10

I am currently in the CUNY school of medicine BS/ MD program and made a yt video about it! Feel free to check it out to get a raw view of BS/MD programs! Channel name: Sunflowers & Stethoscopes, video title: Is going to a BS/MD program worth it?!

11

@kollegechic - Very nice video. I liked it

12

For Temple Premed Health Scholars, you will see when the application opens for the next cycle. You can always do a google search for all these one at a time.

13

For UMKC medical school
2019-2020

There is no secondary essay or prompt to be submitted

2018-2019

There is no secondary essay or prompt to be submitted

But this may not be the case with UMKC 6yr program.

14

Some of these will be available via Common Application when you apply to these schools.

15

This may not be Union/AMC secondary.
AMC secondary application ) Albany Medical College via regular route

2018-2019
If you are interested in obtaining the MD/Ph.D. or the MD/MBA degrees, please check the corresponding box. The application for the Ph.D. is submitted after the second year of the MD program; the application for the MBA is submitted after acceptance to the MD program. Please note that admittance to the MD program does not guarantee admittance to either of these programs.
MD/Ph.D. MD/MBA

If you have previously applied to the Albany Medical College, indicate the year(s) and the disposition of your application. (Check all boxes that apply)

If you have previously applied to medical school, but were unsuccessful, how have you spent your time since then? (1,000 character limit)

Describe yourself: (1,000 character limit)

Please explain any inconsistencies in your university, graduate, or professional school academic performance and/or MCAT scores. (1,000 character limit)

Has your college or university, graduate or professional school attendance been interrupted for any reason? If yes, please explain. Also, please explain any gaps in your post-graduate history. (1,000 character limit)

Tell us one thing about yourself that would help the Admissions Committee determine if you should be admitted to our program. (1,000 character limit)

EXPERIENCES

In the “Work and Activities” section on your AMCAS application, you provided the following list of experiences. Please select the experience that you feel has been the most meaningful in influencing your desire to pursue a career in medicine, explain why, and also describe what aspect of that experience best equips you to make an impact in the medical profession. (1,000 character limit)

  • additional personal info/ letters of rec info

This school requires CASPer (Computer Based Assessment for Sampling Personal Characteristics) as part of the medical school secondary application.

16

The PLME prompts will show up with the Brown Common APplication.

17

I would say you are in very good shape and you still have time to take standardized tests. Even then, there will be areas on the Common App to write about your circumstances so I wouldn’t worry.

19

First concentrate on SAT and SAT II. You need to improve from your practice score of 1100.

20

How were you able to do virtual shadowing?

21

@r2100122

I want to help you out a bit:

I had to be induced with both my sons. When I was a student I was inducted into three different honor societies.

Induced v inducted- BIG difference. Just make sure you use the right one on an application for medical school.

Also are you sure it’s Sudum cum laude? Sudum means fine weather in Latin so that’s a bit oddly paired since cum laude means with honors.