<p>CONGRATULATIONS RESPECTXSOCCER!</p>
<p>Still no news in Northern CA. Hoping for Saturday.</p>
<p>Make it #4 here. My S got the admission letter yesterday morning. I have been kept following this thread. Thanks Athene for all the information that let us prepare for the coming of the letter that day.
We are Asian Americans. I asked for financial aid when applying. I did not send in any information until now, because I learned from other schools that we will not be qualified for any aid. So, these two did not stop us getting in the program. USC together with most of the other UC have very high percentage of Asians. Even the one who is hosting the interview day is Asian.
It is hard to say one kid is better than the other by just looking at their states. 50 points higher in SAT, few tenth higher in GPA, more ECs, or more volunteer hours does not make much difference when comparing kids at this levels. Every parents think their kids are the best. I am not an exception until I met many BS/MD applicants/interviewees over few schools with my S. I realize there are great, I mean really great kids, out there. And is not just one, but many many.
Essay, in my opinion, is most important one that could stand you out from the elite group. In the end, why these 30 kids are elected out the 800 pool. You just need very good luck. If run the same process with the same 800 kids through another program, except few super stars, I bet the out come would be so different.</p>
<p>Hi everyone, </p>
<p>I’ve been following this thread for some time, and anxiously awaiting a letter from USC. Today, the big news arrived in Norcal - ACCEPTED! Congratulations to the other four students accepted! I look forward to meeting you all soon! GO TROJANS!</p>
<p>To help future Bac/MD students, here are my stats:</p>
<p>Major at USC: Neuroscience</p>
<p>Stats:[ul]</p>
<p>[li] SAT Total: 2260 M: 740, CR: 720, WR: 790,</p>[/li]
<p>[li] ACT: 33</p>[/li]
<p>[li] SAT Subject Tests: Math II 780, Chemistry 770, US History 710</p>[/li]
<p>[li] GPA-UW/W: 4.0/4.75</p>[/li]
<p>[li] Rank: 1/500</p>[/li]
<p>[li] Medical Experience/ECs: Volunteer shift supervisor at local hospital throughout high school, President of Science Alliance (helps elementary school students complete science fair projects) and National Honor Society, Tutoring, Cross Country/Track (led to a severe running injury and several surgeries, which is an experience that has strengthened my conviction in attending medical school)</p>[/li]
<p>[/ul]
General Comments: Other than my running injuries, I emphasized the other events in my life that led me toward pursuing medicine: Dad’s diagnosis with diabetes, family history of alzheimers and cancer, childhood friend’s diagnosis with a brain tumor at age 3. The important thing was that they all tied into a common theme, which I think gave my interviewers a better picture of the person I am today and the doctor I hope to become. </p>
<p>Parents/students, feel free to PM me with any questions. I’d be happy to answer anything about the application process and interviewing.</p>
<p>Thank you for all your contributions to the thread guys. I am sure future Bacc MDers will find this thread valuable. For all of you waiting for the mail… best of luck! And everyone who gets in, please join the Facebook group! </p>
<p>I also found a page for USC Baccalaureate/MD. “Like” that too!</p>
<p>This is really amazing - FIVE of you here! Fingers crossed that MyAlex makes it six tomorrow!!! (AND all the others waiting, of course!!!)</p>
<p>CONGRATS EVERYONE! Got the letter today in NorCal (well, technically yesterday, lol) and I’m in too :D</p>
<p>Can’t wait to meet everyone! SO EXCITED FOR NEXT YEAR!</p>
<p>Congratualtions It just gets amazing-er and amazing-er! 6/30 so far - who else??? There are so many of you now, Athene will have to start a list to keep track :)</p>
<p>Great idea alamemom! </p>
<p>As of current:
Athene
dorktastic
respectxsoccer
Frank251
chelsealynn
gchadrox</p>
<p>I hope more CC members will be on this list!</p>
<p>the wait in new jersey is so suspenseful!</p>
<p>Finally got my acceptance. (I live in Washington state.)</p>
<p>Not much to say other than that… unless someone wants my stats.</p>
<p>:)</p>
<p>CONGRATS! 7 of 30. Wow! Maybe we have all 30 right here on this thread :)</p>
<p>Haha adriennevaughan, grats! Post your stats for future Bacc MD’s!</p>
<p>Currently we have:</p>
<p>Athene
dorktastic
respectxsoccer
Frank251
chelsealynn
gchadrox
adriennevaughan</p>
<p>Objective:
SAT I superscore (breakdown): 2190 (R 740, M 750, W 700)
ACT superscore (breakdown): 35 (Sci 35, R 34, W 34, M 35)
Unweighted GPA (out of 4.0): 3.98
Rank: 1/538ish<br>
AP: Bio 5, Eng.Lang. 5, World 5, US History 4, Calc AB 4, Stats 3
Senior Year Course Load: (all AP) Eng. Lit., Calc BC, CompSci (Java), HumGeo, Gov, Physics C</p>
<p>Subjective:
Extracurriculars (place leadership in parentheses): Academic Coaches (Peer Tutoring Club) (Secretary), Knowledge Bowl (Captain), Honor Society
Taekwondo: State Champion (multiple years), Competed at international level, Certified instructor, 3rd degree blackbelt
Job/Work Experience: Teaching at taekwondo school
Volunteer/Community service: Library and tutoring –> at least 200 hours </p>
<p>Writing:
Essays: Very strong.
Counselor Rec: Glowing
Interview: Very good.</p>
<p>Other
School Type: Large public
Ethnicity: Asian (Korean) (obviously, my screenname isn’t my real one)
Income Bracket: Lowest (Applied to USC stating need for FA)
Hooks (URM, first generation college, etc.): First generation, QuestBridge Finalist</p>
<p>Reflection
Strengths: Interview, Essays, Class rank, Taekwondo
Weaknesses: Lack of specific experience in regards to medicine (ie volunteering at hospital, doing research, …)
Why you think you were accepted: Because I am a people person. At my interview I emphasized that though I might not have experience doing research or volunteering, those are skills you can learn but being personable is not.
Where else have you been accepted/rejected: Accepted: Princeton, Northwestern (Medill), MIT, Vassar, NYU,… Denied: Brown, Yale, UPenn, Columbia
What would you have done differently?: Nothing :)</p>
<p>General Comments/Congratulations/Venting/Commiserations, etc: I felt like I was at a disadvantage since I had no actual experience with research not did I even know what I specifically wanted to do. But my essay was definitely a strong factor since it was well-written and well-researched, as was my interview. I also got the Trustee Scholarship. :)</p>
<p>No news…again in the suburbs of the CA state capital. I am beginning to wonder if we are on the pony express delivery line? </p>
<p>Looking for some advice…should we contact the office on Monday? How successful have phone contacts been? Are rejections also notified by mail? What exactly do acceptance letters look like…big or small envelope?</p>
<p>MyAlex, I am so sorry to hear that you have not received the letter yet. The letter came in a regular- sized envelope. Like you, I fretted about not receiving the letter even by Saturday and had to go trough another agonizing day before Monday. I had called USC office a few times these days, requesting another form of notification. Unfortunately, the answer is “no.” I just want to post here to tell you that I totally sympathize with you.</p>
<p>MyAlex, </p>
<p>I totally freaked out when my letter came in a normal-sized envelope. Don’t worry. I think the only difference is that there are two pieces of paper if it’s an acceptance (letter and a form to accept your spot in the program) versus one if it’s a rejection. Best of luck!</p>
<p>Thank you, Fuzzy and Chelsea for your responses. This website has been so helpful over the course of this process. </p>
<p>We are still hopeful for Monday, although thoughts of rejection have crept in. I have not read of any rejections thus far. We assume that acceptances/rejections have been mailed at the same time? We certainly don’t want to be the first, but I am committed to announcing, one way or the other, once word is known. I do believe this site is helpful for future BA/MD students. </p>
<p>I do want to say that USC was the only choice for my son. He has adored this school for several years now and couldn’t even apply to UCLA (due to cross-town rivalry). We have red/gold filled closets, key chains, cupboards, etc. Upon our insistance, he applied, as back-ups, to UC Davis, UC Berkeley, and UCSD. He was awarded the Reagent Scholarship for two of those schools. </p>
<p>He will attend USC regardless of acceptance/rejection from BA/MD. USC has treated us well in every interaction.</p>
<p>Here are my son’s STATS. We are still waiitng for news of acceptance or rejection.</p>
<p>Accepted to USC January 24: Applied before December 1</p>
<p>Major at USC: Accepted to College of Letters, Arts, Sciences-Biology</p>
<p>SAT Total: 2310
ACT: 36
SAT Subject Tests: Math II 800; US History 770; Physics 720
GPA-UW/W: 4.68/4.0
Rank: 1/454 CA Public High School (Very Diverse)
AP Classes: US History 5, English 11 5, Calculus A/B 5, Calculus B/C 5, Physics 5, Chemistry 4
7 more AP scores to post after May’s test dates.</p>
<p>Medical Experience/ECs: Over 500 hours volunteering in Family Practice Residency Program at local hospital (everything from filing and translating (Spanish) to literature searches on specific cases for residents to Grand Rounds; accompanied residents on patient visits in clinic); certified basic CPR, 4 years Mathletes/Math Club/Math tutor; 4 years GATE Club; 4 years clarinetist with community college concert band (15 years piano); Editor-in-Chief of school publication (4 years writer, 3 years editor); Life-Time CSF; 2011 U.S. Presidential Scholar Candidate</p>
<p>General Comments: Completed 15 semester credit hours at Community College over four years of high school (astronomy, differential equations, technology, anthropology, music).</p>
<p>Participated in USC Summer Program Future Physicians for month of July 2010. Observed at LA Children’s Hospital; had lectures in everythng from medical ethics to pharmacology to anatomy. Is featuered on the USC Summer Program Website in a video advertising their program.</p>
<p>Invited to attend USC in junior year of high school as part of the Resident Honors Program. Invited to apply for USC Honors Science Program in February 8. </p>
<p>Awarded Dean’s Scholarship January 24</p>
<p>Essay on BA/MD application was designed around a CNN documentary for end-of-life issues facing a terminally ill patient.</p>
<p>Letters of Recommendation from the Chief of Staff at local hospital where volunteered, Director of Family Practice Residency Program, Journalism Teacher, Math Teacher (who also coordinated Mathletes/Tutoring program)</p>
<p>Race: Hong Kong Chinese/White</p>
<p>Financial Need: Did not qualify; father is physician; mother is public school teacher. No affiliation with USC.</p>
<p>Interview: March 9 4:00p.m. Lasted 35 minutes. Went well. Relaxed. Interviewers included the adminstrator in charge of the BA/MD program, an admissions counselor, and a USC resident. Was asked no questions relating to his volunteering experience or why he wants to be a physician. It was obvious that they had read his file extensivley. Was asked about his favorite jazz artist and style of jazz; was asked about his ethnicity and if he has ever been to Hong Kong; was asked if he could travel anywhere what would the location be and why, was asked about his definition of success; was asked what three qualities a physician must possess; was asked to provide an example of a time he had demonstrated compassion towards others.</p>
<p>does anyone happen to know the requirements for matriculation to med school of the program? i don’t remember ever hearing/seeing these anywhere…what are the MCAT and GPA requirements to continue on to Keck?</p>