<p>Does research counts?</p>
<p>What is stats of the person who got in HPME this year?</p>
<p>Chlorine21:</p>
<p>I think you are misunderstanding. Hospital volunteering and research are both good things to have, but the MOST IMPORTANT thing is to convince the admissions panel that you are very, very passionate about pursuing a career in medicine and that you can take full advantage of what HPME has to offer (a more balanced education, etc.). </p>
<p>All applicants in the program have excellent stats and many extracurriculars, but what is really important is the essays and the interviews. There is a reason why they insist that you come to Northwestern to do interviews!</p>
<p>I got in without any hospital volunteering/research. Again, very important to convey that you want to pursue a career in medicine.</p>
<p>Tough enough to do it after 4 years of college.</p>
<p>Those who can effectively do it as a high schooler are rewarded with entry into these combined degree programs.</p>
<p>As others have stated on this link, the MOST IMPORTANT thing is to convince the admissions panel that you are very, very passionate about pursuing a career in medicine and that you can take full advantage of what HPME has to offer (a more balanced education, etc.). You need to show evidence of this passion from your activities which include volunteering, work experience and research. </p>
<p>All applicants in the program have excellent stats and many extracurriculars, but what is really important is the essays and the interviews. Your stats get you the HPME supplement. In order to get the interview, you have to have great ESSAYS.
This year HPME interviewed over 110 applicants and gave admissions to 41.
The interviews are tough. As you can see from the numbers, not everyone who gets an interview gets admitted.</p>
<p>classof2013, jonthelin, or anyone else who might know…:
Does the HPME program give its students opportunities to participate in clinical research in Feinberg and also do physician shadowing? Is it also possible for Biomedical Engineering majors to participate intensively in research and possibly get published with their PI’s?
Thanks!</p>
<p>stillconfused:</p>
<p>It is definitely possible to get involved in research and HPME will help you find a professor that suits your needs. (Professors tend to like students in HPME and the HPME office will sometimes make phone calls on your behalf)</p>
<p>The only problem with doing research at the medical school is the commute. With a full load of classes, it is difficult to find time to take the bus to and from Feinberg. The Evanston campus has tons of medicine related research going on, however. Also, the HPME office has recently unveiled a program that links HPME students to physicians at Feinberg for shadowing. There is no real application required, only a few forms to fill out (a definite perk)</p>
<p>Getting published largely depends on the PI and how much time/effort you decide to put into lab.</p>
<p>After coming back to this site for nostalgic reasons, I just wanted to point out a few things that I’ve learned in the my years as an HPME and Feinberg Student. A lot of what has been said in this thread is true, especially that there is no tried true method of getting into HPME. </p>
<p>Northwestern has always been at odds with the program because it deflates their status in the medical school community (we told a top 20 med school ranking with almost 25-30% of our classes coming from undeserving HPME students who would not have gotten into Feinberg with their undergraduate grades/if they took the MCATs). Thus recently, they’ve been much more strict on who gets in and with what criteria. Furthermore, my class initially had a good deal of kids admitted (easily more than 60 kids, seeing how many accepted the admission); classes above me (I know the current M4 class had 60 kids accept admission, meaning at least 80 students were accepted). As such, as the years go on the number of students accepted have slowly decreased, which is exactly what the university wants: Less HPME kids = More quality kids matriculating from deserving colleges with good statistics and study habits, High scores, Better rankings. When people comment on Feinberg’s low rank and matching score, I often consider them highly deflated because of the damage HPME has caused.</p>
<p>In terms of admissions, Northwestern looks VERY highly on research and outstanding hooks. My year, nearly 20% of the class were ISEF, Intel Semifinalist, Westinghouse, etc. Majority of us made it into at least Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford, etc. I know of one student a few years younger who was admitted into almost a dozen accelerated premed programs (PLME, USE, Miami, REMS, etc) and came to HPME. Therefore, most students who enter have something going for them. Research is not a guarantee, but if you are applying to a heavy-researching university, expect that it wouldn’t hurt to have some experience.</p>
<p>For the process, your grades will pretty much only get you an application. How well you did on the SATs, ACTs, SAT 2s will get you from an information card to an application. From there on, people under a certain cut-off for grades/scores are automatically disqualified from admission (their applications are literally thrown away and not even reconsidered. Some exceptions apply-Read below). Those who show passion in their essays and display a maturity needed for a long-term commitment to medicine receive an interview. If you display a lack of passion or any “flags” (anything that will automatically will remove you from the process) appear, you won’t get an interview. I know of a lot of well-deserving high school applicants with phenomenal grades (much better than mine standardized) who did not get an interview because of their personality or aloofness to medicine.</p>
<p>Lastly, the most important–by far–part of the process is your interview. Some school don’t have them (PLME, for example) and accept people solely based on scores. I personally feel this gives them a one-dimensionality that doesn’t really gauge their success as doctors. The quality of students are thus lacking. If you are interested in applying for an accelerated medical school program, do your research and know what each respective school puts forth as a priority. </p>
<p>During the interview, it is important to show maturity, passion, and intellect. Most of the administrators and interviewers will be your advisers, professors, and deans. You will see them repeatedly in your 7 years in HPME. Therefore, if you do not do well with them now, they fully expect you not to do well with them in the future; thus rejecting your application. Moreover, remember to have class, a sign of maturity. There are stories of lore of how applicants are overheard cursing or not helping someone who had dropped papers on the floor, and are automatically told by a dean who witnessed these events to simply go back home without a single interview. Show that you are someone who can handle the stress of college, can motivate yourself to continue medicine in the future, and also was brought up right.</p>
<p>Remember, once again, that for this process you must impress your interviewers. In the end, there are a set number of admitted students based on stellar grades, activities, and interviews (and/or legacy). For the last few spots, interviewers will argue in your behalf to get you in. If you don’t “wow” an interviewer, they simply won’t back your application. Don’t discount your student interviewer–They have a lot greater say than people expect them too. They know kids in their age range, know how they fake interviews and act, and can recognize kids with potential.</p>
<p>Lastly, few students are usually selected each year based on their passion alone. Kids who may not have amazing research and perfect scores across the board. I’ve heard of students doing 3000+ hours of community service in a hospital and 1000+ hours working in a lab. Students who started their own community ambulatory service to help with minor medical emergencies. Others who have began their own non-profits (and eventually recruiting other HPME students to make a huge international success). So, for those who are fixated on grades alone, please realize that this is not all there is. For those who feel their grades are lacking but truly have a passion for medicine, apply!</p>
<p>Good luck to all you future applicants. I’ll stick around a bit, then check back on this site in another few years. I will not post any personal information of myself or my (now outdated) grades, so please don’t ask. :)</p>
<p>I really appreciate the advice you both gave me. I do love the HPME program; after visiting the campus, I am bent on going there. I can see how much passion counts from both of your responses and I will keep it in mind. Again, thank you so much for your help; there are few people out there who are willing to do this. I hope I do get in when I apply next year. This really helped :)</p>
<p>just sent u a private message.
nothing private but thought u might get it, bec u said u may come back only aftr a yr!
don’t know how cc sends it; does pvt message go via email?</p>
<p>^^^the new ranking is out; Feinberg has moved up one spot (19th). But the average GPA/MCAT increased quite a bit from the year before. They are listed as 3.79 and 11.7 (per section). These averages probably put NU in the top-10 in the “selectivity” category alone. So now there could be even more pressure and justification to downsize the program.</p>
<p>Good news and bad news
^.^
:-/</p>
<p>Where did you see these rankings?</p>
<p>How does one pay the hefty NU/HPME fees? Won’t most of the HPME students have huge loans when they graduate? I don’t qualify for fin-aid, but my parents don’t want to pay. Is there any other way? Work study? Sell my kidney?
Please post anything you know that can help me accept.
Has anyone dropped out from HPME due to financial situation?</p>
<p>^ Well actually, since its a 7 year program, instead of the traditional 8 years it would take you (4 years of undergrad and 4 years of med school) to gain your MD, you are saving a years worth of tuition and other hefty fees</p>
<p>There is no “HPME” fee. In fact, during my three years of undergrad, as someone on finaid, I received a few scholarships because I was HPME that took out chunks of my student loan. There is nothing different between going to any other school then any other medical school and doing the HPME process (besides the aforementioned 7 year track that saves you 45-50k for the extra year off). Most medical schools look down on taking only a 3 undergraduate years, so chances are you aren’t going to save that money else where. </p>
<p>If your concern is about having 7 years of straight schooling and loans, without any breaks between the two institutions to make money, HPME is more than willing to let you take a few years off (in between undergrad and med school) to work in the work force or do any side endeavors you want to without being penalized (this is, at least, when I was in undergrad). </p>
<p>Lastly, the medical school gives a lot of aid to those who need it. I’ve heard of more than 110000 dollars given away for four years. Moreover, the undergraduate is slowly going entirely need-based in order to offer more finaid. If you are someone who would not qualify for finaid, there is still a lot of on-campus work study and loans that you can take out.</p>
<p>I recieved my SAT 2 scores- I took Bio and Math 2C in May:
Bio M: 720
Math 2C: 800
Chem: 780</p>
<p>I would like to apply for HPME next year. My Biology score is lower than what I would like for it to be. Do you think that I should retake the SAT 2 Biology to improve my score in June? I am in AP Bio right now, and to be honest I am sort of surprised with my Biology score- I was expecting to do better than I did. </p>
<p>Would retaking the SAT 2 Bio, affect my chances of getting in? I know there is Scorechoice is available for tests now, but does it apply to my situation? Thanks.</p>
<p>lol retake it i got an 800 just by studying kaplan after freshman year bio. im sure you can do it too. you might want to consider taking the E option…its more conceptual but its still easy. i remember when i took it i was planning on doing M but i flipped to M and saw something i didnt know so i was like ***** it and did E.</p>
<p>yeah. . . I also recieved SAT scores recently.
I’m kind of upset about them though. . .
for those of you who are experienced with the HPME program
do I have a chance with a
2270 SAT score? (Writing=780, Math=800, CR=689)
I’m taking SAT 2 Subject Tests soon and my SAT 2 Math 2 = 800.
I’m really worried and I really like HPME.</p>
<p>I am retaking the SAT II bio M, can this hurt my chances of getting into the HPME program or any 7 year med prgram? Is it ok if i retake the SAT II bio because i recieved a 720 only.</p>
<p>are you also in seven year program? thanks for your input</p>