Northwestern HPME vs. Undergrad

<p>Hey everyone, I just wanted to get your input on whether I should choose to go to a program, or if I should matriculate into a regular undergrad school. Here are the programs I've been accepted into and am now considering:</p>

<p>Northwestern HPME
Boston University Accelerated Program
Brown University
Princeton University
Cornell University
Duke University </p>

<p>I defintely know I want to become a docter--the main reason I even applied to the BA/MD programs. But now that I have these choices, I'm hesitant to lock myself into a specific med school.</p>

<p>Thanks,
Conflicted</p>

<p>Northwestern; if you want to apply out, then do so. Next: Princeton.</p>

<p>5-yr med school admission data for Princeton:</p>

<p><a href="http://web.princeton.edu/sites/hpa/handouts/admit_stats.pdf%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://web.princeton.edu/sites/hpa/handouts/admit_stats.pdf&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p>

<p>Pay attention to what the odds of getting into med school as good as or better than NU's med school are. :)</p>

<p><a href="http://web.princeton.edu/sites/hpa/handouts/2006Statistics.pdf%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://web.princeton.edu/sites/hpa/handouts/2006Statistics.pdf&lt;/a>
last year 50 people from princeton applied to Northwestern's Feinberg School of Medicine and only 12 got in. Feinberg is one of the top medical schools in the country. Chances of getting in a better med school, even from Princeton, are extremely slim. And since you definately know you want to be a doctor, go to HPME!</p>

<p>Actually 12/50 is higher than their usual norm. They were particularly successful last year to get people into NU.</p>

<p>HPME over all of those. feinberg is an amazing med school, and VERY difficult to get into.</p>

<p>if you really want to apply out after 4 years, go ahead.</p>

<p>I had previously thought about applying out if my stats were good enough junior year as an undergrad at NW, but the only thing is because NWU's program is so structured, will I miss out on vital college experiences? Also, will it be somewhat looked down upon if I apply out?</p>

<p>what type of college experiences are you talking about? HPME is designed to be flexible for NU undergrads to pursue whatever field of study and ECs they want in order to enrich your undergrad experience.</p>

<p>Conflicted,</p>

<p>Hmm...I am not sure what you meant. The undergrad portion of the HPME program virtually has no structure. Other than allowing you to place out some of the courses (so you can leave the college in 3 years), there's no restriction whatsoever. It's like a regular undergrad program. You can pick any major you want.</p>

<p>Sam Lee, sorry my mistake; I had been thinking about a separate program that I also got into, but now am not considering anymore. Today I spoke with several different doctors, and have been able to narrow my choices down to Princeton and HPME. </p>

<p>I know that you lose your spot in the program when you decide to apply out. When other medical schools see that you are applying out of the program, do they view you with a different perspective? I'm just afraid that if I lock myself into the program, and I do manage to do well in many aspects, I won't be on the same field as if I went to Princeton. </p>

<p>Also, with the admission rates to other medical schools, where does Northwestern stand in comparison? Is it considered a "top tier" medical school? And would that be in primary care or in research?</p>

<p>I've also looked at the residency match list for Northwestern. I'm interested in surgery right now (but who knows that might change), and correct me if I'm wrong, but the hospitals that graduates have been matched with are not the "most competitive" residency programs out there for surgery. (see <a href="http://www.infoplex.northwestern.edu/class/alumni/match/2007match.php#General%20Surgery%5B/url%5D"&gt;http://www.infoplex.northwestern.edu/class/alumni/match/2007match.php#General%20Surgery&lt;/a&gt;)&lt;/p>

<p>Thanks for the advice guys! Keep it coming!</p>

<p>Conflicted,</p>

<p>Medicine is completely not my field and I know very little about medical residency match. </p>

<p>But many do end up staying at NU affiliated hospitals and I'd think that's easily one of their top choices because they wouldn't have to relocate. If that's the case, then wouldn't that be impressive? I'd better let someone else address your concern before I write more wrong stuff...lol!</p>

<p>usnews.com's best graduate schools section says that Feinberg is one of the best med schools in the nation (top 20). If you know you want to be a doctor, you should go there because you will not have the hassle of applying to med school in the future and are guaranteed a spot.</p>

<p>I don't think you can go wrong. I guess Princeton could give you a slightly better shot at HMS, Penn, and similar schools, but not having to worry about the application process because of HPME would also be nice.</p>

<p>Thanks so much for the advice guys! I think I'm leaning towards Princeton, but I have yet to see it on either this Tuesday or Wednesday. If you're a current Princeton undergrad fulfilling pre-med requirements, PLEASE im me, my aim is CL9589. Thanks again!</p>