<p>then increase your standardized test scores, and get up to par.</p>
<p>easier said than done as of now 1380 (old sat) and 700 sat2writing, and 650sat2 ushistory (i plan on not counting this one at all, it was at end of sophomore year). took sat2chem today, didnt feel like it went so well, takign new sat next month.</p>
<p>jksbond007,</p>
<p>Man (or Girl), don't get down. Apply to HPME!! My test scores are terrible (most likely worse than yours) compared to most everyone else in hpme. The program is partially about getting great grades/test scores; the rest is passion. . .what you have to offer intellectually and holistically to the program and the world. I wasn't chosen because of my test scores, I was chosen because of what I want to do with my life as a doctor, my motivation, my drive, and my proven ability to succeed. It seems to me that you have the passion. Emphasize this on the app next year. You said, "all my hs i wanted to get into a combine med program." I didn't even know of the existence of these combined programs till I applied in the fall!! Don't get discouraged so soon! My advice for you is to think of why you're a "fit" for these programs/Ivies and what you have to offer. Be hopeful.</p>
<p>This is coming from someone who had little confidence in the college app process, but that didn't stop me from still being ambitious and still following my dreams/passion. I actually thought I wouldn't be able to go to college; I felt a lot like you do. . . cheated. Look where I am now. . .at my dream school in a BA/MD program. . . Damn. life is funny.</p>
<p>they look for scores in high 600s or 700s. You're fine. You'll get an application. After that, it's up to you to convince them that you should be in the program.</p>
<p>jksbond007,
I'm sorry to tell you this, but unless you raise your scores, have a lot of community service hours, or are considered an underrepresented minority the chances of making it to HPME or other such BA/MD programs seems pretty tough. And also, Maryland is not really the state you want to be from...Oklahoma could have been better. Maybe you didn't want to hear this...but who knows, luck always pull through.</p>
<p>yeah i know 222 was the minimum score for national merit, highest of all states. anyways im not really a "minority" (indian), but i have 403 community service hours, 50 of those from a hospital radiology department, and about 150 of those from volunteer at a childrens summer camp after 8th grade, and another 150 from an internship at walter reed army hospital/armed forces institute of pathology, and im working a paid internship this summer at NIH (xray crystallography). anyways, thanks for the support everyone, i'll keep working on these tests all summer.</p>
<p>Yeah, keep trying - that's the spirit. I'm Indian too...we're pretty much picked against unless we have top notch scores.</p>
<p>hydrogen3k. wow. . . I can't believe you said that. 90% of hpme is comprised of asians. They are sure "picked against". . . </p>
<p>these are just my thoughts:
I think it has to do with sheer volume. If there is a huge applicant pool of a certain group, of course they're going to choose the best of that group. Don't get upset with the system, get upset with everyone else in ones "race" for having better scores. I can't stand it when asians say they suffer from reverse discrimination. Anyway, I think AA should be based on economics.</p>
<p>hydrogen3k "my thoughts" were not directed at you or anyone else.</p>
<p>you know what. forget what I said. I have absolutely no idea what it's like to be asian, so I have no right to make comments. please accept my apology if i've offensed anyone. disregard what i've said. I would delete it if it was an option at this point.</p>
<p>while one's top notch stats, impressive ecs, well written essays, and passionate desire to be a doctor are important, so are one's ethnicity and geographical location when being considered for the combined ba/md programs.
the truth of the matter is that it is definitely more difficult for the outstanding east indian student, for example, from a populated state like california, for instance, to be chosen for these programs, mainly because of the huge number of these kind of applicants!</p>
<p>Hey, I have a quick question about HPME's entrance requirements. Is it absolutely necessary for applicants to have had one full year of high school physics? Because at my school, we have a trimester rotation-class called "Lab Science", during our freshmen and sophomores years, which covers 2/3 of the typical Biology I, Chemistry I, and Physics I classes by the end of sophomore year. Will it matter if I apply with only 2/3 of a year of physics (Waves, Sounds, Optics, Basic Newtonian Mechanics, Electricity) under my belt? Keep in mind that I will definitely completed AP Calculus BC (already taken), AP Biology (already taken), and AP Chemistry (senior year) by the time I enter university.</p>
<p>Thanks in advance to anyone who can help me with my dilemma.</p>
<p>Hi Lunknot!
I'm very sorry that what I said may have offended you. Sometimes things just slip out and I don't think that much either. I know that you are are a really nice, smart, kind-loving person, and I really didn't want to say anything that may have upset you any way.
I'm sorry...I hope we can still be friends.</p>
<p>goirulz, don't worry about physics. they say they want 1 year under entrance requirements, but they will understand.</p>
<p>hydrogen3k, you misunderstand. I wasn't offended at all. If anything, I was just incredulous. Being a rather impulsive person at times, I tend to react, so I instantly wrote my opinion. Anyway, it would be boring to have friends you never argue with. I wouldn't want someone to refrain from asserting their opinion in my presence. . .unless it's a pretty bigoted opinion. I know a few people (mostly asian) who are afraid of being "discriminated" against in college app process; interestingly one is white. There is even a forum on CC about reverse discrimination. I'm not saying it doesn't exist to a certain extent; I'm just saying, well, asians dominate the program. . .believe it or not, it was a pleasant surprise to discover this when I visited.</p>
<p>you can always be my friend, if you like. =)</p>
<p>omg! I got an awesome paid internship this summer. I'm going to be working in the pathology lab at a nearby hospital. <em>shiny tears of joy slide down my cheek</em> yay!</p>
<p>anyone applying for USS summer workshop??? I know not all of u will be science majors.</p>
<p>when do we sign up for classes/seminars? Do we have an advisor that we meet with to set up our courses so we can grad in 3 yrs? WHat about housing assignments?</p>
<p>eve veis said that we don't schedule our courses until we get to nu in september, even though everyone else does it over the summer. i think our advisors (special hpme advisors) are not available then. so she said not to worry about it till we get there. and housing stuff should be coming soon, or so i've heard.</p>
<p>can't wait</p>