RPI/AMC BS/MD

Pre-Med & Medical School Multiple Degree Programs
1

<p>Hi there,
I am currently a sophomore in high school and I really want to get into this program. I don't think I've ever wanted anything this much and am willing to work for it. (I like the Union program too but it's really expensive. Siena seems nice but I prefer a BS over a BA.) and RPI has research facilities, which really interests me. The problem is that it's competitive and I don't know what do to get in. I know I should do some research, but as a high school student I don't know how to get such an opportunity. (Advice?)</p>

<p>Academic info:
Taking 1 AP (World) this year and will take 4 next year.
Took Sat Bio (750)
PSAT: 195 (not that good, but I didn't study at all)
Student coordinator of program where we tutor ESL kids
Volunteered at library for a year but then got hired and not allowed to volunteer anymore
Class Rank: 14/850
GPA UW: 99 W:102 (approximate, can't remember exactly)
Yearbook
Interact, FCCLA last yr
HOBY Leadership seminar
Local science fair and won some awards
Volunteering at local hospital starting in the summer
Chamber of commerce Youth Leadership Program
French Honor Society
Varsity Tennis</p>

<p>So basically, I want to know how I can improve my chances of getting into the program besides improving SAT scores and grades (I plan to take the SAT 2s for World History, Math, and Literature). I really, really want this. What ECs can I do to improve my chances? Any tips on getting research opportunities? If anyone is part of the program, will you plz share how you got in? Also, any advice on how to get started with shadowing?</p>

2

<p>Bump… Someone must have some advice… Plz help. What kind of stats and ECs do I need? @DxSnake‌ I saw that in a post u said u got in, any advice would be helpful… Were ur stats really really good? Are mine too average? </p>

3

<p>Hi there,
Not sure if the price for Union program is really any different than RPI.
For RPI you won’t even be considered without research experience - get into a lab as soon as you can.
Try to get some leadership experience too.
Keep up with the sports
Volunteer at medical related fundraising things too.
There is no magic formula but keep your gpa real high and make sure you get at least the requirement for the sat test.</p>

4

<p>thanks @Midhelper what kind of leadership experience? i have the leadership seminar and program and I am a student coordinator. What other leadership experience should i have? and advice on how to get into the lab? and if you don’t mind me asking were you accepted into the program?</p>

5

<p>My D is in the program - as for lab it depends on your location & what is available to you in your area. Did you know RPI has summer research opportunities but they cost you about $5,500 to do and you stay in their dorms. There are other competitive ones that pay you some stipend or you just volunteer. Contact universities in your area.</p>

<p>Leadership in whatever - where you are leading others - president of a club or something. Not sure if it’s a requirement though but it seems to help.</p>

6

<p>ok thanks so much! Is there some thing specific your D did that helped her get into the program? Were her stats extremely high? Is my subject test low? What kind of research did she do?</p>

7

<p>Nothing specific. She didn’t even know about the combined programs until October of her senior year so it’s not like she planned specifically for it. Just applied with what she had. As long as you have the required stats you should apply without worrying about if they are too high or too low.
Yeah the research type can matter to a point. Her research was on cancer pathways with tissue culture etc.</p>

8

<p>Supergirl5, here are stats for my son, I hope this helps.</p>

<p>Class Rank: 1/1100 (school does not officially rank, very strong and competitive public high school, one of the biggest in the country )
Unweighted GPA: 4.0
Weighted GPA: 4.7</p>

<p>ACT:
Composite: 33</p>

<p>SAT II:
Math Level 1: 750
Physics: 640</p>

<p>AP’s (at the time of application to BS/MD programs):</p>

<p>AP Euro: 5
AP US History: 5
AP Spanish: 5
AP Physics: 4</p>

<p>Seniors Year AP’s:</p>

<p>AP Bio:
AP Chemistry:
AP Government:
AP Macro:
AP Calculus BC:</p>

<p>Major EC’s:
National Honor Society
Future Doctors of America club
Varsity sport: water polo team captain, last year team got 2 place in state
JV: swimming
State scholar
Fluent in 4 languages</p>

<p>Hospital Volunteering
ICU Physician shadowing
Dentist shadowing
Community service through church and school</p>

<p>Research Experience:
A brief description: cell research at the university medical center</p>

<p>Applied to the following BS/MD programs:</p>

<ol>
<li>UMiami HPME - interview & not selected for the program, accepted to UG with scholarship </li>
<li>Brown/Brown PLME - alumni interview, rejected from UG and PLME</li>
<li>UIC GPPA – no interview</li>
<li>RPI/AMC – interview and selected for the program</li>
<li>USF – accepted with scholarship</li>
</ol>

<p>Decision: deciding between UM UG and RPI/AMC. Now realized that should of applied to more schools.</p>

9

<p>@DoctorBarguz why is he not pouncing on RPI/AMC? If he wants to do med then he really should take it. My D also got accepted into UM Engineering with a huge scholarship but the odds to get into med school later on are so stiff. But my D said she knew she wanted med more than an UG experience or engineering so she went for RPI/AMC and she is VERY HAPPY with her decision.</p>

10

<p>Midhelper, he is debating, he liked UM a lot and was not very happy with Troy/Albany area and climate. I guess when you live in Chicago you want to move somewhere with nicer weather :slight_smile: We are not putting any pressure and letting him to decide, but he is getting a lot of feedback from teachers and doctors pushing him towards RPI/AMC. We still waiting on his scholarship/fin aid decision from RPI. I was promised today that it should be ready by next Wednesday(calling them daily). We really want him to be happy and not to regret whatever decision he makes. </p>

11

<p>@DoctorBarguz I agree with you that it has to be his choice as long as he knows the long term possible consequences of both. Yes we totally agree with you about the Troy/Albany area and we too are from near CHI.</p>

12

<p>Thanks a lot, Midhelper, you are really helpful. We just had a serious conversation and wrote down pros/cons on paper. Looks like i will ask your permission to PM you to get contact info for your daughter on FB so my son can ask her about dorms, etc :)</p>

13

<p>Sure no problem. For freshmen Barton is the best one - it’s the only one with air conditioning - recently remodeled. It’s also called “Barton Hotel” because it is in much better condition compared to most others. Some of the other ones I heard are pretty dumpy. My D had asked to be in the environmental focused residency and then wanted Quad next because Quad is closest to classes but she got her 10th choice - Barton…go figure…she gets the best one.</p>

<p><a href=“http://rpirooms.■■■■■■■■■■/”>http://rpirooms.■■■■■■■■■■/&lt;/a&gt;
This site has some layouts and pictures. Barton is a triple room but it has soooo much space - more than your typical double allows for 2 people.</p>

14

<p>OMG, you are the best!!! Thanks!</p>

15

<p>thank you for all your help guys. @DoctorBarguz thank you for providing the stats! they are really helpful. </p>

16

<p>@Supergirl5 you really shouldn’t worry about other people’s stats. There is so much more to this than stats. If you have the required stats to apply then you should.</p>

17

<p>i understand that @Midhelper but i feel as if they wont even consider me for an interview if my stats arent impressive. And you were right about RPI being as expensive as Union. i dont know why i thought for some reason RPI was less… i hope i can get some sort of a scholarship lol</p>

18

<p>RPI is 3 years while Union is 4 and that is your cost savings. It is stupid not to go to a school because its combined program is a BA not BS because you are going to Med school not getting a PHD in biology.</p>

<p>MD trumps BA. You should be looking at your debt load for UG and med school and where you fit in better.</p>

19

<p>PS if you have the money go to a summer program like Cornell ( see if they still have spots open.) When the time comes get SAT classes or SAT tutoring since it is just as important as your GPA and even the low tier programs are as competitive as the lower ivies.</p>

20

<p>@Supergirl5‌ </p>

<p>Your GPA is fine and also ECs are fine as well… Try to get more research opportunities by e-mailing as many professors as you can (>40) until you receive a positive reply from them, but make sure you study their research projects and express your interest in them. Do them NOW!!!</p>

<p>For shadowing opportunities, you should reach out to your and your parents’ physicians. You might want to offer some volunteer work in their offices as well.</p>

<p>Other health related ECs might include volunteering at your local community ambulance corp. and becoming a volunteer life guard if you are a swimmer.</p>

<p>SAT scores are important- the average entering class of 2013 at RPI/AMC was 2206. Your SAT Bio score of 750 is fine. You also need to take SAT subject test in math, and I recommend to take math 2 since the grading scale is much easier than math 1. High SAT scores can help you get a merit scholarship at RPI, ranging from $15K to $30K per year.</p>

<p>For SAT test, I am pasting my recommendation from the previous post:</p>

<p>To “ace” your SAT’s, do ALL of the practice exams from the blue official SAT book under the simulated condition with a timer and without any distractions or interruptions except short breaks( 5 min.) after completing 2 or 3 sections from the practice test. Then you need to check your answers using Tutor Ted’s SAT Solutions Manual or other solutions manual and try not to make similar mistakes on next practice test. To get the best result, you need to repeat this process till you finish ALL of the practice exams. I recommend start this process during the summer between Soph. and Junior year with the intent of taking the test on Sept and Jan of Junior year. By doing this, you do not need to study for PSAT which is important for the merit scholarship opportunity if you are selected as a national merit finalist. For now, start reading either New York Times, Wall Street Journal or Economist to improve reading comprehension and to accumulate vocabulary cards every day… you only need to find 2-3 words daily. By the time you are ready to take SAT test… you will be ready !!! For SAT subject tests, take one test per year during June. If you taking a class on Chemistry that year, then take SAT Chemistry and so on… Try to take SAT subject tests on Chem/Bio/M2.</p>

<p>Good Luck!! </p>