***Official Thread for 2020 BSMD applicants***

[grtd2010]

@swuzy01

Hi I was accepted by Hofstra’s BS/MD program. The requirements are 3.6 GPA and 80th percentile MCAT on the first attempt. I also got accepted to Georgetown and am trying to decide between the two. Moneywise, I got a scholarship from Hofstra, which puts Hofstra’s cost way below Georgetown’s cost. Does anyone know anything about grade inflation/deflation at Georgetown or anything about the pre-med track at Georgetown? I am basically 100% sure I want to be a physician, but what if I don’t end up as a physician and have a degree from Hofstra? Any advice would be really appreciated!

If you work hard, you can easily get a UG GPA 3.6. You should be able to get 80% MCAT score (~511) easily if you prepare well. These are very close to the average GPA and the average MCAT score of matriculants to US medical schools.

[grtd2010]

@Vicky2019
Thanks.

[ohnjmom]

@srk2017, @SpeedSkater @Vicky2019 @NoviceDad
Thank you so much for all kind replies to my question. Different opinions are from different angles to see and analyze things. Every opinion is highly appreciated! Kids whose parents participated in active discussion in this forum are extremely lucky to have these parents to grow up with. I hope whatever my son’s choice is truly from him, then he won’t go wrong, doesn’t matter which option he pick.

[grtd2010]

@srk2017

@grtd2010

@grtd2010

Update on BS/MD linkage program between Temple PPHS /Temple LKSOM.
My D has a GPA 4.0 until now and is taking MCAT in Jan 2020. Did all AAMC practice tests 1,2,3,4 and UWorld practice questions (1900) during winter break and had excellent scores in all these practice tests.
My D already had a committee interview for getting a committee letter of recommendation from Temple Pre-med Office. Temple PPHS candidates who meet linkage requirements (GPA, min Grades) will be presented to LKSOM during Feb 2020 as a cohort. Both (3+4) and (4+4) candidates will be interviewed by LKSOM in March, 2020. They will submit MCAT score by March 2020 for (3+4) and mid- June 2020 for (4+4). In May/June 2020, those who meet all linkage requirements into LKSOM will be notified (after final Spring 2020 grades and MCAT score submission) . For (4+4), the official acceptance lettter comes in Fall 2020. Hope this clarifies this program.

After an interview with LKSOM in March 2020, D has received a letter of conditional acceptance to LKSOM subject to terms and conditions of the Temple Health Scholar linkage program between Temple University and Temple LKSOM. The last step will be to submit an official AMCAS application when it opens probably in June 2020.

Congratulations on clearing the final hurdle!

Thanks @srk2017.

[grtd2010]

@grtd2010

@bsmdoregularug

@novicedad @goldenrock @rk2017 @srk2017

hello all! following the thread for a long time. thanks to all the senior’s for their advice. much respect!!!

Our DD has narrowed choice to the following:

A) Upstate Medical (bs/md)

1. no mcat
2. total undergrad cost for 4 years: only 30k (commuting)+ scholarship for 12k
3. total medical tuition including books for 4 years: 190k + living exp (say 100K)
4. all undergrad summers involve courses at upstate medical
5. met quite a few traditional MD students at Upstate with undergrads from IVY’s like Duke, Cornell, Upenn who gave favorable feedback about prof’s, research and clinical
6. Upstate is allocating approx 85 seats of it’s 170 seats to BSMD. This means come 2024 the traditional MD seats would be halved making Upstate much more competitive for traditional route.

B) Cornell
a) traditional pre med - neuroscience
b) IVY degree
c) total undergrad cost: 320K
d) potential of being in T10 medical school - total medical cost another 320k
e) No guarantee so live the whole college experience all over again - EC’s, research, volunteer and then 17 apps with essays

DD leaning towards IVY as she feels it’s more prestigious than BSMD undergrad (SUNY Poly). Peer pressure is not helping.

As parents we see 640K (+loss of guarantee+ extra stress) versus 290K total cost.

Is it worth the difference and the extra stress for student and the family? Especially when we met quite a few IVY undergrad students (doing MD) who were very happy with Upstate? Also from what we have heard that doctor pay depends on specialty and residency.

If D is committed to become a doctor, go with Upstate BS/MD ( no MCAT as added bonus). Cornell UG does not guarantee a T10 medical school admission.

Cornell is a know grade deflator school. This will create an extra stress on your D to get A’s.

[priapat]

Hello All - My son got admitted into the Case PpSP and Brown PLME, both are 8 year courses. In Case he has a 50% scholarship for the UG part, in Brown of course nothing. Need some input and info on what to choose. Thank you.

[grtd2010]

@priapat

Hello All - My son got admitted into the Case PpSP and Brown PLME, both are 8 year courses. In Case he has a 50% scholarship for the UG part, in Brown of course nothing. Need some input and info on what to choose. Thank you.

Case PPSP(USN rank 24) with 50% scholarship over Brown PLME (USN rank 38) with full pay.

[srk2017]

@priapat

Hello All - My son got admitted into the Case PpSP and Brown PLME, both are 8 year courses. In Case he has a 50% scholarship for the UG part, in Brown of course nothing. Need some input and info on what to choose. Thank you.

Main attraction for PLME is the free wheeling liberal arts education. I would personally go to Case and be a star there. Case has one of the highest Orthopedics march % in the country. Half of brown MD students are from BSMD or their UG (and it’s called inbreeding on SDN).

I have access to MSAR and looked up the stats, both incoming classes have similar stats. Case class is 200+, probably due to 30+ Cleveland Clinic students.

[swuzy01]

@grtd2010 , @rk2017

Thank you for your feedback! I am not too concerned about the GPA or MCAT requirements. I think I will do fine on both those things. Do you have any input on Georgetown and being pre-med there? And whether I should go to Georgetown instead of Hofstra?

[grtd2010]

@swuzy01
If you go by USN ranking Gorgetown SOM is ranked 44 compared to Hofstra ranked 70. Did you talk to students at both universities ? Where would you like to spend 4 or more years ?

[srk2017]

@grtd2010

@swuzy01
If you go by USN ranking Gorgetown SOM is ranked 44 compared to Hofstra ranked 70. Did you talk to students at both universities ? Where would you like to spend 4 or more years ?

Isn’t Hofstra relatively newer school?

[grtd2010]

@srk2017
Yes, relatively new SOM.
Established in 2008, the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell on Long Island, New York, was founded by two equal partners: Hofstra University and Northwell Health. It was the first allopathic medical school established in Nassau County, Long Island, and the first new medical school in the New York metropolitan area in more than 35 years.

[NoviceDad]

@bsmdoregularug

Many folks have responded to your query.
I would agree with most of what they have indicated.

I am not sure 350K is worth the bragging rights of going to Cornell.
But if it is his dream school, it may be worth to explain to him that his dream could become a nightmare. Gap year post Cornell is a given - just to give yourself a fighting chance at med school applications.

You may have already explored this link but it is worth a look:
http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/cornell-university/1180462-10-tips-for-succeeding-as-a-premed-at-cornell.html

[Nvidia20]

@srk2017

@priapat

Hello All - My son got admitted into the Case PpSP and Brown PLME, both are 8 year courses. In Case he has a 50% scholarship for the UG part, in Brown of course nothing. Need some input and info on what to choose. Thank you.

Main attraction for PLME is the free wheeling liberal arts education. I would personally go to Case and be a star there. Case has one of the highest Orthopedics march % in the country. Half of brown MD students are from BSMD or their UG (and it’s called inbreeding on SDN).

I have access to MSAR and looked up the stats, both incoming classes have similar stats. Case class is 200+, probably due to 30+ Cleveland Clinic students.

@priapat

Hello All - My son got admitted into the Case PpSP and Brown PLME, both are 8 year courses. In Case he has a 50% scholarship for the UG part, in Brown of course nothing. Need some input and info on what to choose. Thank you.

Sticker price for PLME is around $660,000. Case PPSP, with the UG and PPSP scholarships, is a better value for the money, while also being a T25 med college with clerkship option at Cleveland Clinic and other major hospitals nearby. If your son does end up at PPSP, please let me know. My C will most probably accept PPSP.

[NoviceDad]

@swuzy01

From undergrad experience perspective, Georgetown will definitely be better than Hofstra.
However from a medical school perspective, Hofstra’s link with the Northwell system (and its 23 hospitals) gives you tremendous options. One Third of Hofstra’s med graduates match within the Northwell system.

Georgetown pre-med means you have to go the traditional undergrad route.
Are you ok with gap year(s)?

[srk2017]

@grtd2010

@srk2017
Yes, relatively new SOM.
Established in 2008, the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell on Long Island, New York, was founded by two equal partners: Hofstra University and Northwell Health. It was the first allopathic medical school established in Nassau County, Long Island, and the first new medical school in the New York metropolitan area in more than 35 years.

I worked near Hofstra until 2002 and my S born was at LIJ hospital.

[NoviceDad]

@priapat

Both are good options.
Is any school his dream school?
Does he like one over the other?

[smartfish]

My DS got admitted to BSMD from BU /UMKC and waiting for decision from TCNJ. WuSTL-USPM. Got UG from UPenn, Vandy,WashU,Emory. He is leaning towards BU SMED. Appreciate any feedback with the choice.

[GoldenRock]

@smartfish Go with BU. If you are NJ resident and get TCNJ/NJMS think again especially if money is in the equation.

[GoldenRock]

@priapat Go with CWRU if student is clear about medicine. If not Brown.