<p>I don’t think you are making an argument that counters what I am saying. PACT has low minimum requirements but it is clear from the high numbers for those admitted that it is waste of time for all those low stat kids. How else can you explain 3.96 GPA and 35 ACT as the average. If you had a 3.85 GPA and 33 ACT you would be a low stat kid based upon the reported average for profile for PACT. I’m saying it is wrong for PACT to provide such low requirements when those kids don’t realistically have any chance.</p>
<p>@rlpak14, unfortunately the PACT program is not the only one that does so. I think nearly all the programs do that. Most of the programs ask for a high school GPA of >3.5 and SAT (CR + M) >1350 or 1400, but in actual fact, those admitted usually have far higher GPAs and SAT scores. Remember, every program will say that they assess the application in a holistic manner. Unfortunately, there will be many different members on the selection committee and ‘holistic’ means that it will be very subjective.</p>
<p>IMGDAD, I agree but most of the other programs there is a reasonable chance of acceptance even if it is relatively small. For example, UAB has the EMSAP and they require a minimum 30 ACT and 3.5 GPA but its average accepted profile is 33 ACT and 3.8 GPA. So there is wiggle room for low stat applicants. But in the PACT, there is no wiggle room with average 35ACT and 3.96GPA when minimum requirement to apply is just 27 ACT and 3.5 GPA. There is no chance in this case for low stat applicant. Just waste of time, effort, emotional capital and money.</p>
<p>I understand that the BS/MD programs are going to be difficult, but they shouldn’t be impossible like the PACT is. The PACT is just cruel to give all those low stat applicants any hope when in truth there is no chance of getting accepted into the program with anything but the top stats.</p>
<p>10% shot at acceptance is reasonable but <1% shot is unacceptable. The PACT should just raise the minimums so us normal folk can just pass on it without a second thought.</p>
<p>@rlpak14, actually the chance of being admitted to the PACT program is about 5% for last year and 10% for two years ago when the program first started. They received about 200 applicants in the first year and about 400 applicants last year for 20 places. </p>
<p>Based on what I have learned and my experience with choosing residents for programs etc, I suspect that the first round of selection would be to sieve out those who do not fulfill the minimum GPA and test score requirements. The second round would be to look for minority to ensure affirmative action so that if you are the only minority applicant, it is highly likely that you will be admitted if you get to round 2. After that, each member will be asked to select up to a certain number of their preferences out of the pool of applicants he/she is given. It is most likely that at this stage, the GPA and test score play a vital factor since this is the objective part of the selection and best done based on some objective parameters such as GPA and test score. Those who get on to the next stage will be subjected to the ‘holistic’ evaluation in which subjectivity and luck come to play, whether one is selected for interview or not.</p>
<p>Any idea how many people would apply to PACT this year?</p>
<p>@IMGDAD what kind of stats did your daughter have for BU SMED? Hows the program there?</p>
<p>@t14premed, idk how many will apply to PACT this year.</p>
<p>My daughter had a single sitting SAT score of 2240, with a GPA of 3.9 something (with nearly 70 college credit hours included in the GPA calculation), SAT II (Chem 790; Math 2 780; Bio 800), hundreds of hours of community work and shadowing, and 12 weeks of full time research internship. She was fortunate at BU because she was interviewed by a Professor who liked her research and who spent much of the time talking about her research, and another Professor in Political Science who liked my daughter for being conversant with politics and Obamacare. However, she was unlucky at her RPI/AMC interview because the whole interview was spent on discussion of medical ethics that she was not prepared for since she thought she would be questioned mainly on her research for the Physician Scientist Program.</p>
<p>She is enjoying BU very much and is doing research at Mass General. However, the course work is extremely tough at BU, especially BU is known for grade deflation. The class average for most courses is around 75%!</p>
<p>I agree. Most NJMS programs have ridiculous stats but my parents are forcing me to apply to those. I think the Drexel ones are fairly reasonable. In the end, they always pick the ones with the highest stats anyway. I applied to 24.</p>
<p>Grade deflation… boooo! I think it’s something I’ll definitely be looking more into when I’m making the final decision on where to enroll…</p>
<p>Hey everyone!
I just saw this thread and decided to join cause im applying to several combined BS/BA-MD programs this year as well as some top undergrad schools. Its gonna be a LONG admissions session. Where is everyone applying (both UG and combineds)?</p>
<p>@IMGDAD wow those are some really impressive stats!! I’m kinda surprised she didn’t get an interview for PACT 
are y’all from the Plano area?</p>
<p>@DocOfDaFuture, no, we are from Amarillo but she went to TAMS. Being in academic medicine, I must admit I was rather surprised she was not offered even an interview!</p>
<p>I figured I would get 3-4 interviews and get accepted to 2 programs since I applied only to bs/md programs that had average numbers close to mine.</p>
<p>I see. I was thinking along the same lines but I’m really paranoid about not getting into any and my parents aren’t exactly helping. I mean I know I’ll get into all the UGs im applying to. I’m just not as confident about the medical portion of course.</p>
<p>Wow…24…quite an essay task that was? Did you include Drew/Caldwell/Stockton in the New Jersey quest?</p>
<p>Who is confident? The whole BS/MD selection is a crap shoot. The only positive thing about applying to all the BS/MD programs is that the UG portion is giving great scholarships. Most are at least full tuition +, some are full rides.</p>
<p>@silverwad, I tried to recycle essays as much as possible and the medical supplement essay for drexel is the same regardless of the UG you’re applying through. And yes, I applied to all of those, except Stockton. I replaced stockton with UPitt at the last minute for several reasons. UPitt school of medicine is obviously far superior to NJMS. And I felt that I have similar chances at both places according to the minimum stats (relative to mine). Also a personal incentive being my bf just got admitted to the UPitt school of medicine :)</p>
<p>@rlpak14, you speak the truth! And yeah, at least we’ve all got full tuition or rides for most UGs for a premed track. This whole thing is ridiculous because your chances don’t always depend on your stats tbh. I mean I got called for an NJIT interview and i don’t even meet the minimum SAT requirement (a few points off). It’s not going to help me of course, but it’s just to point out that you really have no idea where you will get in at the end.</p>
<p>@doctor43, nope sorry! (What is FAME?, I have heard of the TexasTech one but not FAME)</p>
<p>Also, anyone here applying Rice/Baylor, Brown PLME, and/or WashU USPM? Especially since the rice/baylor app is all due tommorow and those essays are tricky</p>
<p>Pitt great Med School…one of the toughest MCAT stats 31-39(10-90 spread), which means 10% class score over 39!!! 4th HIGHEST in USA…behind WUSTL, Harvard, Yale. Oops…forgot VANDERBILT(32-39)</p>
<p>Yeah that’s some crazy stats and track record they got going on there! I might apply to Harvard UG (regular decision). Still not sure but I have a little time to decide I guess since the deadline is a month away :)</p>
<p>@IMGDAD did she apply to the other Texas bs/mds?</p>