<p>Argh, I'm jealous of your amazing stats, jcr. ;] lol. Congrats on all of your achievements!</p>
<p>the language requirement depends on whether you're pursuing a BA degree (completing a major) or pursuing a BS degree (studying abroad your third year instead of taking classes in your major). Foreign language proficiency is only required for your BA degree and entails either getting a 5 on an AP language exam or two years (6 courses) of a language at Northwestern. However, if you want to study abroad, many programs require proficiency anyway.</p>
<p>So Has anybody decided yet?</p>
<p>im still trying to decide between hpme and yale. Yale just gave me more money, so it makes my decision even more difficult, especially after bulldog days! Does Northwestern pay for you if you study abroad?</p>
<p>oh, and for language, is ther ea placement test I can take to place out of easier language courses if I didn't take the AP?</p>
<p>no, NU doesn't pay you to study abroad. However, there are scholarships.</p>
<p>Yes, there are placement tests.</p>
<p>Well, now comes the time of the year when students accepted into HPME have to make a hard choice: HPME or HYPS (or Public Ivies at a reasonable price). I hope I can offer some suggestions on this topic (I am neom3x11's classmate). Yes, I like having fun and need to work, but this is 12:11 am, so posting on CC doesn't reduce my productivity. </p>
<ol>
<li><p>Cost of undergrad: this shouldn't be too much an issue, since NU and HYPS offer pretty much the same financial package (for middle-income families at least). </p></li>
<li><p>Prestige of undergrad: well, NU is as good as HYPS in academic rigor. In addition, let's be honest, undergrad classes aren't really that different from school to school (we often joke about taking orgo during summer at Harvard, cuz it's easier). True, NU is not as well-known as HYPS, because we don't have many Nobel Laureates, didn't host the first Google server, haven't had an alumnus becoming US President, didn't have Einstein coming here....etc. Yes, there is a difference. However, since you want to be a doctor, it doesn't really matter. </p></li>
<li><p>Cost of med school: This is the real issue, and I know people who are considering applying out (at least trying). My suggestion: come to NU for undergrad. Be as hard-working as most pre-meds on the campus, and perhaps do some preparation for MCAT. If you decide to stay, good. If not, then take an extra year to apply to other med schools. For those in McCormick, HPMEs in BME will take as many classes as regular BMEs, so you will get a "real" degree. Neomx311 may be able to offer his information on WCAS.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Or you can try doing MSTP, which is competitive too. </p>
<p>Bottom line: if you want to save money, you have to work hard. </p>
<p>And Reno: there is nothing wrong with doing all the pre-med things just with the assurance of med school. </p>
<p>and as for molecular bio, etc: if you are simply learning the material, it won't make any difference. How good the professor is as a lecturer matters more than how much NIH funding NU gets. If you are interested in research, there are some eminent professors here. For instance, check out Prof. Richard Morimoto (one undergrad in his lab got her name on a paper in Science !!) </p>
<p>Hope that helps</p>
<p>I still firmly believe that if you get into HYPS, it should be your first choice.
There are plenty of undergrads at HYPS, who have their name on papers.
I am not undermining HPME, however do not under estimate the power of HYPS.</p>
<p>Power? LOL! Is this still 1906?</p>
<p>While the stats is impressive relative to most other schools', the admit rate for any of the top-20 med schools is still low. Going to HYPS hardly gaurantee you anything as far as med school admission goes. </p>
<p>goconway is looking at this in the right way. I would also like to add that going to NU would probably give you a better undergrad experience when you no longer need to deal with the pressure of premed.</p>
<p>more random questions:
-to pass out of chemistry, do we need to take a placement test? If so, how hard is it? If I choose HPME, should I be studying for it this summer?
-I'm kind of interested in HPME demographics. In general, what's the guy/girl ratio like (obviously this fluctuates every year)?
-do any of you do hospital volunteering? Do most pre-meds volunteer in hospitals around Evanston, or are there opportunities to shadow at the teaching hospital downtown?
Thanks for your help!</p>
<p>you have to take organic chem no matter what. you can place out of inorganic if you got a 5 on the AP exam. otherwise there is a placement test that you take in late august, early september. i don't know how difficult it is but i'm sure it doesnt require more than a few hours worth of studying, so i wouldn't worry about it.
as for demographics, this year there are 17 girls to 28 guys, i don't know about past years but i haven't noticed a vast majority of one gender over the other
as freshmen, i don't know anyone who is volunteering in hospitals. i know some students who are doing research with professors and also at the med school, however i know there are more than enough opportunities for any type of volunteer work you would desire.</p>
<p>Somebody did this a long time back through the thread.. I'm going to post my stats, could some of you tell me how to best strengthen them? I'm a junior right now. </p>
<p>GPA: 4.06 - AP classes don't count for more, but A+'s do. Unweighted, 4.0
PSAT - 94th percentile
ACT - 32 (first/only time I took it)
SAT - 1400 (700 both M/V; plan on retaking)</p>
<p>AP Classes: Took US History last year, scored a 4; taking US Gov, Comp Gov, & Chem this year; taking Bio, Calc, and English next year. </p>
<p>I will have 4 years of English & French, 2 years Chem, 2 years Bio, 1 year physics, 3 years social studies + electives</p>
<p>ECs-
Current hospital volunteer, volunteer 4 hours/week, started in February this year. Currently in the Gift Shop, but becoming an Assistant Nurse's Aide in the next few weeks.
Current section editor of the yearbook, next year's editor-in-chief
Been horseback riding since I was 7, been on the school's Equestrian Team all through high school
Will probably hold position as Publicist in NHS next year
Quill & Scroll</p>
<p>Taking all of my SAT II's this year (Chem, Math II, & Lit)</p>
<p>Definetly retake SAT</p>
<p>who here went to Preview NU? Was there a special HPME meeting? If there was, what happened at the meeting?</p>
<p>Absolutely. Nothing. Stupid to stay three days for. Eve Veis commented on the program. Very vaguely. Anyone who applied pretty much knew what she was going to say. And she commented on not knowing what the future GPA of HPME will be (3.2 or 3.5 for class of 2010).</p>
<p>does that mean the potential GPA change won't affect us? (would we be the class of 2009?)</p>
<p>No, it will affect us... We'll be the first year if it goes into affect. SOO. Who's going to HPME! :]</p>
<p>When were you at Preview NU? (like what dates...)</p>
<p>(that was for sphybrid)
(also...is your user name from orgo? It it is, i only just realized it. And if it isn't, I'm dumb)</p>