<p>The question of which program is “best” is very subjective. If one is judging based on rank alone, WashU (12&3) has the highest combined Undergraduate and Medical School Ranking, respectively. After that, it would be Northwestern HPME (12&19) and Rice/Baylor(17&17). Moreover, WashU also has the highest ranked Medical School (#3). In the same scope, all three medical schools have extremely high match percentages (in terms of 1st selections) and are all considered “top tiered” medical school. In my opinion, rank is often not the best criteria to base which school is best because all of them are equally good (this statement only reflects WashU, Baylor, HPME; and excludes, PLME, Case Western, Union, etc. which are at a different echelon of ranks). Also, ranks change through time (a note about this below).</p>
<p>If one judges based on selectivity, many of the other programs are more selective than WashU and HPME, but are not as well known. One, for example, is REMS (Rochester University’s), which has a very few students allowed to matriculate. The selection percentage is another category that is very hard to access. Brown’s PLME has an open application for anyone that even wants to remotely try, thus has an incredibly large applicant pool. However, this also allows for many students to be accepted that–in my opinion–are under-qualified or lack the same passion for medicine. Furthermore, to complicate the matter even more, Northwestern HPME has a three/four tiered “weeding out” system (application request card, undergraduate application/acceptance, medical school application, medical school interview). When determining the acceptance percentage, which number of applicants should be used: The number of applicants requesting an HPME application or those who receive the application? I would say REMS has the fewest number of applicants and HPME has the lowest acceptance percentages.</p>
<p>Also, it is important to remember special criteria and demands from each program. USC is extremely difficult to enter out-of-state. Likewise, CUNY Brooklyn Honors Program essentially only accepts from NY State Residents. While the applicant pool may be small, the selection criteria will be stricter (because they can only accept 2-5 students each year, each one with FULL ride and stipends). Each program thus becomes unique. I believe programs willing to give all students (all states, nationalities, and international status) an equal chance are the hardest.</p>
<p>I believe the rank should be based on the quality of the students and the process. Overall, I would place Northwestern HPME as the highest because of which schools matriculating students will turn down to go there (pretty much all acceptances have multiple admissions to HYPSM). After that, I would say Rice/Baylor, Case Western, WashU, REMS, and PLME; in order. Although I am impartial towards HPME, I can say that I turned down all other colleges (All 8 Ivys) and programs (as listed in this post) to come here. </p>
<p>Lastly, be careful not to get caught up with rankings and matching. I know a recently entering PLME student who chose to enter simply due to a good matching report and what other people told him or her. But, in the end, things constantly change. Everyone applying now has 3 or 4 years until even entering medical school. It is the rank and prestige that matters when you graduate from medical school.</p>
<p>In terms of the process for HPME, a few select number of students are chosen directly by Dr. Green based on impeccable scores, application, essay, legacy, and interview. These students are often those with some connection to Feinberg (parent, sibling, incredible donation) and/or have an unique hook (cured cancer, USAMO/BO, Intel finalist, etc). After that, the decision lies primarily on the interview. Faculty, M4, and M2 interviewers will give their evaluations on each student in a written report. M2 interviewers will go even farther to be part of a committee solely to run the process: they will weed out bad applicants and meet with Dr. Green directly to decide. At the end of the interview process (and sometimes, meetings in between), all the M2 interviewers will come together and argue for their respective applicants. They will essentially debate each other on behalf of their applicants. Many times these will get heated as interviewers will personally feel strongly about their interviewees. Moreover, they will compare each applicant to one another, such that all applicants who interviewed with M2-X will be ranked accordingly. This evaluation by the M2 along with an agreement with Dr. Green will decide a bulk of the admissions. Lastly, a very select number of students (1-2) each year will be accepted SOLELY based on passion for medicine. These are the students with sub-2000 SAT scores, week essays, but mind-blowing interviews. Often, they have done something medically relevant in the past as an extracurricular to bring perspective into what medicine is really about. Some things of notes, from what I have heard from the past, are starting a national non-profit organization raising millions a year during high school, creating a EMT service and assisting the fire department, and sitting on a government public health committee making decisions affecting countless children. These admissions are special because it looks at potential instead of solely application stats. And yes, all decisions are made final by Dr. Green that Admissions Director; albeit a lot of input is from others.</p>
<p>The process is long and arduous on both sides. We want you to come to Feinberg and represent us well. One day, we will all be from the state institutions of medicine and would like you to reflect well on us. </p>
<p>Also, to all the interviewees sitting in Method Atrium, nine in the morning waiting with your parents, cheer up! It’s not that bad. We won’t bite, I swear.</p>