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

[PPofEngrDr]

@grtd2010

@PPofEngrDr

@grtd2010

@PPofEngrDr

@grtd2010

@PPofEngrDr

@sgup10

Hi all, I’m deciding between SMED and some non-HYP Ivies. As an Asian applicant, what GPA/MCAT is needed to get into a t15 med school? I’m worried that I might feel guilty that if I were to score like a 520 on the MCAT, then I could’ve got into a better med school than BU.

If one thinks that they reached plateau in high school performance, better consider other profession as Dr journey is far tougher than 4 years of HS.
It is always boils down to calculated risk, kids are much more capable of absorbing that risk at this age than boomers, much risk averse.

@grtd2010

@sgup10

Hi all, I’m deciding between SMED and some non-HYP Ivies. As an Asian applicant, what GPA/MCAT is needed to get into a t15 med school? I’m worried that I might feel guilty that if I were to score like a 520 on the MCAT, then I could’ve got into a better med school than BU.

Take BU SMED if you are committed to become a doctor. Think about you have to do over again - all medical ECs again, maintain a high GPA >= 3.7, get great MCAT score, essays, secondaries and interviews. Try later for residency in t15 medical schools. Believe me you do not get paid more from for having a UG degree from Harvard/Other Ivies as a doctor by an insurance company or medicare. One gets paid by medical billing codes not UG or medical school of MD degree.

Disagree with bread oriented thought process because I am getting paid same, I don’t want to develop/groom myself to my abilities. I truly believe price doesn’t equalize quality of professionals. How many times we come across in our lives a good Dr vs bad Dr? What makes them good vs bad, certainly not some online reviews.

It is not about money but the incremental/marginal value as they say in economics - “Utility” function. People try to maximize their Utility function. How much you gain vs how much efforts you have to spend to achieve it.
Good doctors can come out from any MD school. There is no one-to-one correlation between good doctors and rank of a medical school attended. In fact, DO schools produce many good doctors.

Should Drs adopt that utility function in treating patients in current environment?
Good Drs come out from any MD schools just like bad Drs, difference is how other traits Drs are able to groom or have ample time to do that, rather than running for short sighted utility function. I even wonder how much teenagers even understand that utility function when committing to BS/MD program, when they haven’t even explore their full potential yet.

The point is that there is no one-to-one correlation between being a good doctor vs attending a highly ranked medical school. All accredited US medical school in US follow the same curriculum. Any US accredited medical school will satisfy the requirements of being a licensed MD. Rest is associated with prestige. There is nothing wrong with aiming for prestige but do not equate it with being a good doctor.

Ofc, prestige is not necessarily = good doctor either. however one is exploring their full potential before embarking on career that may alter lives of other people . Because it is licensed, academic process become to get that license at any cost, that is a wrong approach. License reminds me Step 1 score unintended use by PDs before it will be P/F. License does not equate to a good Dr either, otherwise every license Dr is a good Dr, which is not the case.

Getting and keeping one’s license is a pre-requisite of being a doctor. After that one can become a good doctor over time. Discussion on what makes a good doctor is a different topic altogether. We can leave that for future.

Well after license, one will become utility, “How much you gain vs how much efforts you have to spend to achieve it” as gain is static in relatively same practice at this point by payment standards.
Efforts/development/grooming should be upfront to be a ‘good’ well before license checkbox can be checked. I also leave it here.

[grtd2010]

@PPofEngrDr

@grtd2010

@PPofEngrDr

@grtd2010

@PPofEngrDr

@grtd2010

@PPofEngrDr

@sgup10

Hi all, I’m deciding between SMED and some non-HYP Ivies. As an Asian applicant, what GPA/MCAT is needed to get into a t15 med school? I’m worried that I might feel guilty that if I were to score like a 520 on the MCAT, then I could’ve got into a better med school than BU.

If one thinks that they reached plateau in high school performance, better consider other profession as Dr journey is far tougher than 4 years of HS.
It is always boils down to calculated risk, kids are much more capable of absorbing that risk at this age than boomers, much risk averse.

@grtd2010

@sgup10

Hi all, I’m deciding between SMED and some non-HYP Ivies. As an Asian applicant, what GPA/MCAT is needed to get into a t15 med school? I’m worried that I might feel guilty that if I were to score like a 520 on the MCAT, then I could’ve got into a better med school than BU.

Take BU SMED if you are committed to become a doctor. Think about you have to do over again - all medical ECs again, maintain a high GPA >= 3.7, get great MCAT score, essays, secondaries and interviews. Try later for residency in t15 medical schools. Believe me you do not get paid more from for having a UG degree from Harvard/Other Ivies as a doctor by an insurance company or medicare. One gets paid by medical billing codes not UG or medical school of MD degree.

Disagree with bread oriented thought process because I am getting paid same, I don’t want to develop/groom myself to my abilities. I truly believe price doesn’t equalize quality of professionals. How many times we come across in our lives a good Dr vs bad Dr? What makes them good vs bad, certainly not some online reviews.

It is not about money but the incremental/marginal value as they say in economics - “Utility” function. People try to maximize their Utility function. How much you gain vs how much efforts you have to spend to achieve it.
Good doctors can come out from any MD school. There is no one-to-one correlation between good doctors and rank of a medical school attended. In fact, DO schools produce many good doctors.

Should Drs adopt that utility function in treating patients in current environment?
Good Drs come out from any MD schools just like bad Drs, difference is how other traits Drs are able to groom or have ample time to do that, rather than running for short sighted utility function. I even wonder how much teenagers even understand that utility function when committing to BS/MD program, when they haven’t even explore their full potential yet.

The point is that there is no one-to-one correlation between being a good doctor vs attending a highly ranked medical school. All accredited US medical school in US follow the same curriculum. Any US accredited medical school will satisfy the requirements of being a licensed MD. Rest is associated with prestige. There is nothing wrong with aiming for prestige but do not equate it with being a good doctor.

Ofc, prestige is not necessarily = good doctor either. however one is exploring their full potential before embarking on career that may alter lives of other people . Because it is licensed, academic process become to get that license at any cost, that is a wrong approach. License reminds me Step 1 score unintended use by PDs before it will be P/F. License does not equate to a good Dr either, otherwise every license Dr is a good Dr, which is not the case.

Getting and keeping one’s license is a pre-requisite of being a doctor. After that one can become a good doctor over time. Discussion on what makes a good doctor is a different topic altogether. We can leave that for future.

Well after license, one will become utility, “How much you gain vs how much efforts you have to spend to achieve it” as gain is static at this point by payment standards.
Efforts/development/grooming should be upfront to be a ‘good’ well before license checkbox can be checked. I also leave it here.

Gains are not static but depend upon what do you practice. The billing amount depends on what specialty one practices.

[sguni_2016]

@ricesondad

My DC has gotten acceptances to BU and REMS. While we have done a lot of research comparing the programs, we would like your input as to what he should prefer. He has decent scholarships from both the programs . We are really thankful for having options and want to make the right decision.

Thanks for your input.

Do you know the size of their intake and waiting list?

[grtd2010]

@sguni_2016

@ricesondad

My DC has gotten acceptances to BU and REMS. While we have done a lot of research comparing the programs, we would like your input as to what he should prefer. He has decent scholarships from both the programs . We are really thankful for having options and want to make the right decision.

Thanks for your input.

Do you know the size of their intake and waiting list?

Boston University class size 174
University of Rochester class size 104

[sguni_2016]

@grtd2010

@sguni_2016

@ricesondad

My DC has gotten acceptances to BU and REMS. While we have done a lot of research comparing the programs, we would like your input as to what he should prefer. He has decent scholarships from both the programs . We are really thankful for having options and want to make the right decision.

Thanks for your input.

Do you know the size of their intake and waiting list?

Boston University class size 174
University of Rochester class size 104

Sorry I meant the BS/MD program.

[grtd2010]

@sguni_2016

@grtd2010

@sguni_2016

@ricesondad

My DC has gotten acceptances to BU and REMS. While we have done a lot of research comparing the programs, we would like your input as to what he should prefer. He has decent scholarships from both the programs . We are really thankful for having options and want to make the right decision.

Thanks for your input.

Do you know the size of their intake and waiting list?

Boston University class size 174
University of Rochester class size 104

Sorry I meant the BS/MD program.

Do not have that data. You can search it.

[grtd2010]

@Bunny75

Hi my D was accepted in UCF BS/MD, but due to the current situation, the College of Medicine Tour and Information Session was canceled. Anyone else who is planning to attend UCF for the Burnett Medical Scholars Program? And if so, what major would be best for the program (since the GPA requirement is a 3.8)?

Disclaimer: Not planning to attend UCF Burnett Medical Scholars Program but as a parent of a junior in a similar BS/MD program

From the website
GPA
(For the entering freshman class of Fall 2019 and later):

Year 1 End of spring semester: 3.600 UCF GPA and 3.600 Science (BCPM) GPA
Year 2 End of spring semester: 3.700 UCF GPA and 3.700 Science (BCPM) GPA
Year 3 End of spring semester: 3.800 UCF GPA and 3.800 Science (BCPM) GPA
Year 4 At graduation: 3.800 UCF GPA and 3.800 Science (BCPM) and Completion of Bachelor’s Degree with University Honors AND Honors in the Major

*BCPM GPA refers to the GPA for Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Math courses used for admission to medical schools

MCAT
For the entering freshman class of Fall 2019 or later: A minimum score of 514 with no sub-score lower than 126.

INTERVIEW & FACULTY EVALUATION
Students must provide UCF COM with a current CV every year during the first week of class in fall semesters, starting with the beginning of year 2. They must pass an interview at the College of Medicine in early fall (August/September) of the 3rd year. At the end of Spring semester of the 2nd year, students must provide 2 faculty evaluations.

---

These are some tough requirements. Certainly no major from College of Engineering is advised. Depends on your DC what does he/she excel ? May be anything in College of Arts and Sciences. It should be your DC’s choice.

[Bunny75]

@grtd2010 Thank you for the input! In general, she is currently between UF, UCF BMS, and Georgia Tech (OOS). She knows she wants to become a doctor. Would it be better to go the traditional route or through UCF BMS (considering the program has high requirements)?

[srk2017]

@bunny75 - Georgia Tech is not a good premed school according several non-premed students I know.

[GoldenRock]

@Bunny75

If your child is academically strong and good test taker, it is doable in UCF. Both GPA and MCAT are reasonable. We can not avoid every challenge. To play devil’s advocate if not sure about UCF GPA and 514, then why feel confident that either in UF or Georgia Tech will be able to reach these 2 numbers? What are her HS stats?

So if she is clear about medicine and studies well and ready to work hard, it is a good choice.

[mom2boys1999]

@Bunny75
What does she think of the schools, specifically UF and UCF? Are you Florida residents and would she qualify for Bright Futures?

This is a discussion we are currently having in our home. My son is a Junior (so applying next year), we have only lived in Florida 2 years and he isn’t sure he wants to go to school here. But financially it’s a hard thing to walk away from BF money.

Though he hates the UCF campus. He is leaning towards UF if he gets in as they have the 7 year MHP that can be applied to after sophomore year.

[mygrad2021]

Thank you all for your responses for CASE. @priapat, is your son in PPSP program? Is there any preference given to PPSP students for research than regular undergraduate students? My friend’s daughter is in regular route.

[helix8]

Waitlisted from FAU. I guess @PathophysiologyFTW was right. Maybe they do give preference to students that attended on Mon/Tue.

If anyone was accepted or waitlisted from FAU and decides not to attend the program, please email the BS/MD program and tell them you are no longer interested. It will help those of us who are waitlisted a lot!

[BSMD_mom]

We are in the same boat @helix8.
Yes I totally agree with you. Request to whom got offer or waitlisted at FAU and Hofstra Please communicate your intentions to admissions ASAP so people like us who are waiting get get their chance.

[itsgettingreal21]

Calm down y’all. Students have every right to take up until the deadline to consider their offers. Don’t try to selfishly guilt them into rushing. If you figure things out early, sure, turn offers down. But if you need the time to consider and weigh all options, take it.

[ParentDS]

My kid has the below status on BSMD programs. Need your help in making the right decision. This is the first experience for us going through College admissions. Appreciate your input.

University of Colorado - Accepted - MCAT, 8 years
Union/AMC - Under Consideration - No MCAT, MBA degree, 8 years
UMKC - Waitlisted - 6 years - No MCAT, 6 years

The kid is really interested in Union/AMC LIM program. The University of Colorado is in-state for us and less expensive compared to other programs. Want to consider UMKC also in making the decision. I understand we are still waiting on two colleges. But I would like to have your valuable input, so we are not taking too much time to decide when the decision from two other colleges comes in. Thanks again.

[helix8]

Did anyone here back from OU MHSP? They said they would release decisions today.

[srk2017]

@itsgettingreal21

Calm down y’all. Students have every right to take up until the deadline to consider their offers. Don’t try to selfishly guilt them into rushing. If you figure things out early, sure, turn offers down. But if you need the time to consider and weigh all options, take it.

Well said!

[priapat]

@mygrad2021 _ no my older son is in regular track, not PPSP.
There are plenty of opportunities for research even for undergrads. Just don’t expect them to pay you for it.

[srk2017]

@ParentDS

My kid has the below status on BSMD programs. Need your help in making the right decision. This is the first experience for us going through College admissions. Appreciate your input.

University of Colorado - Accepted - MCAT, 8 years
Union/AMC - Under Consideration - No MCAT, MBA degree, 8 years
UMKC - Waitlisted - 6 years - No MCAT, 6 years

The kid is really interested in Union/AMC LIM program. The University of Colorado is in-state for us and less expensive compared to other programs. Want to consider UMKC also in making the decision. I understand we are still waiting on two colleges. But I would like to have your valuable input, so we are not taking too much time to decide when the decision from two other colleges comes in. Thanks again.

Don’t remember reading about University of Colorado BSMD program before. Is it a new program? What’s the COA for this in-state program?