PigletYorkie, my son has similar criteria for next year… Do you mind listing your 4 schools?
Just curious are NW HPME interviews running this week too?
@AdmissionsAdmin
I consciously only*** applied to 3 BSMD programs (got 2 interviews as the third one Brown PLME does not conduct interviews) which I would strongly consider if given the opportunity otherwise I prefer to follow conventional track (applied widely). ***No sense of perhaps taking a BSMD opportunity away from another candidate if I was not SERIOUSLY willing to accept the opportunity if given.
G (non-accelerated, 8yrs only, no rush).
F (minimize distraction from learning)
D. (Of course, it’s a major investment)
K (access to meaningful opportunities)
M (a measure of graduate success)
C. (Prep for graduate success)
It appeared to be the order my kid considered last year:
D) med school reputation
C) undergrad reputation
G) overall length of program
J) perceived happiness of students in the program
A) overall cost
Similar to @IfnousWHO, only 3 were applied to for the same reasons. However one is not a real consideration & was applied to only out of obligation/deference to family request.
O) my son only applied to BSMD programs with med schools that he’d be applying to anyways if he took the traditional route. The med schools were looked at however unlike answer D, selection criteria was not med school ‘reputation’ driven. And location of the schools were considered, but not due to proximity to home. It was more about region of the country he’d like to eventually practice & live. So in ranking potential acceptances, the same factors applied.
M) Residency match lists
J) Happiness factor. Student happiness was considered, but alumni happiness factor was more important. He looked at alumni happiness in practice as well as their satisfaction level of life in general also.
None of the other factors are significant rank changers.
@AdmissionsAdmin - Applied to only 3 BS/MD programs and would have applied at these schools, even if I went traditional route.
M)
A)
G)
J)
D)
@AdmissionsAdmin In order (top 2 are a virtual tie): A / B, D, J, M. Thank you for adding your perspective to this forum.
Here is the updated list of colleges and date, who have extended the BS/MD offers so far.
@Dadofhskid noticed the missed one Temple, thanks.
- UAB - 2/2 or that week
- RPI / AMC - 2/29 (Rolling admission)
- Union / AMC - 2/29 (Rolling admission)
- Sienna / AMC - 3/5 (Rolling admission)
- Temple/Temple - 3/3 (10 offers from 32 interviewed)
- PSU/Jefferson - 3/4
- Cincinnati - 3/7
- SLU - 3/7
- UR REMS - 3/7
@AdmissionsAdmin, in addition to your list of criteria, DD would like to know each BS/MD’s preferences. For example, I have heard, but not sure if correct, that RPI prefers research experience, certain programs prefers in states, etc…
@4beardolls
I won’t speak to individual program specifics, but generally speaking most all competitive applicants have some, if only limited, research experience they have participated in for joint degree programs.
In-state/out-of-state preference is, again, an institution-specific parameter that varies wildly based upon program philosophy and, perhaps, even controlling state laws. I don’t know that there is a general rule there.
@AdmissionsAdmin Here is the order from a parent perspective with comments/notes/questions. (But only my D made the decision to pursue medical path). I am just an admin doing all the spade work, logistics, chauffeur and last but not least the payer of the bills!
D) med school reputation
O) other factor (Safety and Health of students in both UG and MD schools)*
K) research opportunities for students in the program
H) shadowing opportunities offered during undergraduate years
N) something that happened during the campus visit (positive or negative) that influenced your decision**
A) overall cost***
G) overall length of program
F) no need to take MCAT****
I) proximity of medical campus to undergrad campus
B) proximity of institutions to home town
C) undergrad reputation
J) perceived happiness of students in the program
L) ability to major in specific subject
M) success rate of med students matching to residency programs
E) ability to apply out of program if desired
- - Why Safety and health is not considered a priority from your view point and not listed? We thought twice about NJMS and Temple because of this concern.
*** - Being in west coast, it is not that easy to visit each and every college and we did not visit any college. But it was an eye opener when we got interview in 3 places and had a need to visit. My D is not sure if she would like to join a school even if she gets an offer from 1 school and literally praying she gets the second school. As you mentioned even in 9 minutes of interview you can prune out students, we felt even in 2-4 hours of our visit played a big role to think twice about that school. It is critical how schools organize and conduct the programs and sessions during interview (similar to the way they expect students to be professional during interview, they need to reciprocate)
*** - though we are blessed, but I think cost will be a critical factor since not every one can afford half a million dollar to get a MD degree. The high cost, impacts both need based and merit based aid students. For example UMKC is outrageous from cost perspective. They charge UG at medical school rate and pretty much no aid.
**** Would classify this item, not just MCAT, more of conditional guarantee. Most of these kids are very intelligent and smart and taking MCAT is ok (not discounting the efforts needed by any means). The main benefit is getting that psychological happiness and peace for their inner heart that they got admission in MD and does not have to go thru the rat race, interview, high score in MCAT etc. That benefit outweighs everything else. On this front SLU comes short.
@AdmissionsAdmin D,M,J,K/H
Son received acceptance from REMS and RPI. Catching up with the discussion thread.
@AdmissionsAdmin, @GoldenRock thank you and appreciate your valuable contributiion to the BS/MD community. Great discussion topic!
Congratulations, @88Mom88
For the record, the running totals are:
RANK
2 A) overall cost
10 B) proximity of institutions to home town
11 C) undergrad reputation
1 D) med school reputation
14 E) ability to apply out of program if desired
6 F) no need to take MCAT
3 G) overall length of program
9 H) shadowing opportunities offered during undergraduate years
12 I) proximity of medical campus to undergrad campus
8 J) perceived happiness of students in the program
5 K) research opportunities for students in the program
14 L) ability to major in specific subject
3 M) success rate of med students matching to residency programs
12 N) something that happened during the campus visit (positive or negative) that influenced your decision
6 O) other factor (please elaborate)
It was great to see how to select a program (when you have choice).
Ranking (My Perspective):
2 A) overall cost
1 B) med school reputation
14 C) ability to apply out of program if desired
10 D) proximity of institutions to home town
11 E) undergrad reputation
6 F) no need to take MCAT
3 G) success rate of med students matching (First choice) to residency programs
9 H) shadowing opportunities offered during undergraduate years
8 I) perceived happiness of students in the program
5 J) research opportunities for students in the program
3 K) overall length of program
12 L) proximity of medical campus to undergrad campus
14 M) ability to major in specific subject
12 N) something that happened during the campus visit (positive or negative) that influenced your decision
6 O) other factor (please elaborate)
Few more attributes that we are considering:
- Retention rate
- Safety / Neighborhood
- Competition among kids (Environment Cut Throat / collaborative)
- Diversity
- Research Funding/Research/ internship/ Travel Abroad opportunity
- Flexible course Scheduling Options
- Intensity of EDU - Curriculum
- Student to Professor ( Ratio )
- Campus Facilities
- Class Size and method of teaching (like recorded lectures etc…)
- Housing Facility / Dorm Life
- Career Services /Placement
@What???!! Sure. I applied PLME, GAP, REMS and PPSP. It’s a tough decision to not apply to NJIT/TCNJ/Drew since I am an NJ resident.
Received VCU Guaranteed Admission Program for Medicine admission. Email came in 10 minutes ago.
Congratulations! You have been accepted into The Honors College Guaranteed Admission Program for Medicine.
In order to ensure your success, the Honors College, in consultation with the School of Medicine, has developed a program of study and a set of expectations which we believe will prepare you for medical school. I want you to review them before you make a decision about the offer of admission.
Please read the attached document entitled “Guaranteed Admission Program Requirements -Medicine." Once you have read this, if you wish to accept the offer, be sure to sign the attached acceptance form and submit it to me no later than May 1, 2016. If you have any questions or concerns about either of these documents, please feel free to contact me via phone at …
If you accept the offer of admission to The Honors College Guaranteed Admission Program, you should sign and date the 2016 statement of acceptance and email it to me. If you are not yet 18 years old, a parent or legal guardian must also sign.
Again, congratulations on being accepted into our Honors College Guaranteed Admission Program for Medicine. I very much hope you will choose to come to VCU this fall, but most of all, hope that you have an exciting and meaningful college experience wherever you decide to go. If there is any assistance I can give you, or questions I can answer, please let me know.
Sincerely,
@PigletYorkie, wow, PLME no interview needed. Your EC and probably essays must be exceptional leading to the GAP interview invited
Here is the current status as of 3/8/2016 3 pm PST - College admissions announcement for BS/MD.
- UAB - 2/2 or that week
- RPI / AMC - 2/29 (Rolling admission)
- Union / AMC - 2/29 (Rolling admission)
- Sienna / AMC - 3/5 (Rolling admission)
- Temple/Temple - 3/3 (10 offers from 32 interviewed)
- PSU/Jefferson - 3/4
- Cincinnati - 3/7
- SLU - 3/7
- UR REMS - 3/7
- VCU - 3/8