<p>@jelly765 Well, research is always a plus if you decide to apply out to a more competitive medical school. </p>
<p>@thalamus your background definitely looks good. I think the biggest thing you’re missing is research, which is very helpful at every med program. You probably don’t have to worry about retaking the SAT unless you really want to</p>
<p>@onlythebest13 I live in northern NJ. I’ve only been looking at programs in the Northeast so that it’s not to bad to drive home on weekends with easy workloads.
@davidxavi I come from a relatively underfunded school so we dont have any programs for research or anything like that at all. I have 3 1/2 to 4 months until i have to apply, are there any research programs I can still get into?</p>
<p>Also, for a few of these programs, one of the requirements is that you live in a suburban area in NY. Because I’m living in NJ, would I be able to apply? would I be at a disadvantage to others?</p>
<p>the vast majority of schools don’t have formal research programs for their students. Finding research opportunities is mostly just about finding a local professor whose research interests you. 4 months isn’t much time to really engage in significant research though, so while that may be one thing that will hurt you in comparison to other applicants, each applicant is unique, and I would advise just doing what you’re passionate about and letting that shine through your application</p>
<p>how critical is having research experience in high school for admission to a BSMD program?</p>
<p>There was someone last year who got in with no research. However, most programs consider research, medical volunteering, shadowing, your high school preparation in sciences etc as indicators of your interest in medicine and you have some idea of what it might take and whether you are suited for it.</p>
<p>Is volunteering in a hospital really necessary, assuming that I’ve already done research, shadowing, and AP science classes? The wait list for local hospitals in my area is over a year long, I kid you not. To me, hospital volunteering is something that so many students already do. Therefore, would it hurt my application if I decided not to pursue hospital volunteering and decided instead to spend my time doing some other science-related ec? Or will it make my app stand out in a bad way?</p>
<p>Also, how important are non-medical related ecs? For example (and this is certainly not my case), if I performed in a national dance competition, which has nothing to do with medicine at all, should I still list that on my app? Or should I focus on my more medicine-related ecs?</p>
<p>I think healthcare volunteering can be a valuable way to get clinical interaction, but it’s certainly not the only way. It’s certainly not a requirement anywhere, but I would try to get some active clinical experience in some other way if you can’t volunteer.</p>
<p>Non-medical ECs are great, and I would definitely put it on there. Programs don’t want all the same cookie-cutter applicants</p>
<p>@davidxavi Doesn’t shadowing function as clinical interaction too? If so, then why do people feel compelled to do both shadowing and volunteering? </p>
<p>hey there, can i become a general surgeon if i get into sophie davis? i have heard they prepare you to become a primary care physician only? :/</p>
<p>@onlythebest13 Shadowing shows that you understand the daily workings of the profession – the good and the bad (hint hint)
Volunteering is SERVICE - you giving of your time to others. This does not have to be in a hospital. Just anywhere that you are serving others is excellent for volunteering.</p>
<p>I would think an experience other than volunteering at a hospital would be more than fine. Might make you different than the other applicants.</p>
<p>@onlythebest13 - It’s funny that you used Dance competition as your example because my D was accepted in to a BS/MD program last year having no (real) research experience, and her non-medical EC was Dance. Her Dance team has performed with a national group, opened for a national event, and won a national championship.
So, any ECs are important, especially if you can demonstrate that you’re committed, excelled in it, and passionate about it. </p>
<p>@davidxavi is right that “Programs don’t want all the same cookie-cutter applicants”.</p>
<p>She did have some shadowing experience and many hours of (non-medical) volunteer work.</p>
<p>@DrillMom Congrats to your D by the way. What do you mean by “no (real) research experience”? I thought you either have research experience or you don’t? Also, if I may ask, did your daughter attend one of the BS/MD programs that heavily favor in-state residents, for example, NEOMED? I live in a state with few BS/MD programs, so I’m primarily applying out of state.</p>
<p>My D did research for classes but had no research experience to list on her resume.
She’s attending a program at a private school that doesn’t favor in-state; she’s an OOS student. </p>
<p>I’m in my junior year but I’m interested in to getting into these programs. I’m worried if I’ll even get accepted anywhere. In my freshman and sophomore year, my gpa is bad because of issues with my mental health that I was sorting out. Because of my issues my gpa is around a 3.2 (or worse, ughhhh) after my sophomore year. I’m confident I can do well my junior year however. Is there still any hope for me? My grades previously didn’t represent my intellect whatsoever prior to this year. I have 5 or more extracurriculars, and I have over 100 hours volunteering at the hospital. I also had a team leadership at the hospital, and the director said he can give me a letter of recommendation (I did a good job there). Next summer I think I’m going to shadow at my parent’s hospital. By the way, do the Lehigh and Drexel university bs/md programs give preference to instate students? What about the PSU/Jefferson? I’m not as interested as going there, but my sister is actually in that program and is graduating PSU next spring (she didn’t have as much trouble as I did). Just wondering, does her presence in that program increase my chances?</p>
<p>I am currently in the Stony Brook University Scholars for Medicine Program. I also got into a few other BS/MD programs, so check last year’s result thread for my stats. If you have any questions, feel free to PM me. I’d love to help because I know how tough this process was!</p>
<p>When submitting the application to BS/MD programs can I report my Oct 2014 SAT results after they are declared on Oct 26th. Since it would probably take 2 -3 weeks for the colleges to receive/process. I don’t want to send the results until I see them. Last date for many colleges is Nov 1st, Nov 15th.
Will the colleges accept my application while I have submitted the request to collegeboard for SAT score report.</p>
<p>I don’t want to use Oct 2014 SAT results unless they are better than my existing score of 2160.</p>
<p>Anyone ere applying to umkc?</p>
<p>I am. also, is everyone applying to all the undergrads associated with the drexel bs/md program, or just one?</p>
<p>MedDude,
I’m applying to UMKC too.</p>
<p>onlythebest13,
I’m only applying to one program associated with the drexel bs/md program.</p>
<p>MT9799,
I asked my counselor the same question since I am also retaking the SAT in October. She said that since many colleges don’t begin reviewing applications until January, they should accept new scores if you send them.</p>
<p>Also, out of curiosity, what constitutes as a “hook?”</p>