StonyBrook BA/MD

<p>Hello, I'm a senior wondering about SB's 7 year ba/md program. Has anyone been through it and how was your experience? What are my chances of getting in? Here's a little info:</p>

<p>SAT I
math: 740
verbal :600</p>

<p>SAT II
Chem:650
Physics:680</p>

<p>GPA: around 3.0 unweighted</p>

<p>EC's: volunteer services 100+ hours
Out-of-school swim team (9th grade)
Cricket team (11th)
Spend 11th grade summer designing a website for a company. Up and running currently.
Play the guitar
Lifeguard training (red cross)
And some other smaller stuff.</p>

<p>You kind of need to specify which combined degree that you’re talking about as there are different ones. There are combined Computer Science degrees, Business Degrees, etc. I’m going to assume that you mean Scholars for Medicine, though. Scholars for Medicine is extremely exclusive, and requires that you’re accepted to either the Honor’s College or WISE (which in itself requires around a 92 average and 2000 SAT). Then, you have to have at least a 3.4 college GPA and maintain decent MCAT scores. I’m not sure if you can apply for it out of HS. </p>

<p>If you’re talking about Computer Science or Business, or one of the other combined degree programs, you’ll first need to apply to Stony Brook and then be admitted to the respective departments. For instance, the Computer Science department requires something like at least a 2.8 the core courses (CSE 214, CSE 215, etc). </p>

<p>With your stats the way that they are now, you can probably be admitted to Stony Brook. You “might” be able to get into University Scholars, and there’s a chance for the Honor’s College if your % GPA, written SAT score and HS rigor meet at least the minimum standards.</p>

<p>Based upon my experience with individuals in the program, you will need higher scores to gain admission into the Scholars in Medicine program. It is extremely selective (at one point there were only 10 slots). However, there’s no harm in applying.</p>

<p>Your unweighted GPA should really be 3.5+ at minimum for accelerated 7 year program. You will need to rely on academic credentials as your specific extracurriculars will not distinguish you from the mass of applicants.</p>

<p>I’m currently attending a prestigious high school, listed around 30 in national best high schools gold by U.S news. I’m looking into medicine though, are there any things you could recommend me if I choose to attend Stony brook. I hear they have a university hospital as well.</p>

<p>If you are interested in medicine, you do not necessarily have to go through a 7 year program. The majority of medical students pursue their education through the conventional route, earning a BS/BA/BE first and then applying for medical school route.</p>

<p>For example, even though I am not in medical school yet (I am currently pursuing graduate education first), I majored in Biochemistry at Stony Brook, which satisfied all prerequisites for medical school.</p>

<p>You can major in any subject as long as you satisfy those prerequisites.</p>

<p>Stony Brook’s hospital is actually very widely known and the major trauma center for the area, but unless you are doing research or major in health science you will rarely venture there during your undergraduate years.</p>

<p>Ah, thank you for the info. So my current grades and scores and ECs have a good shot at a place at Stonybrook?</p>

<p>Yes, you should be able to gain admission into the general pool at Stony Brook.</p>

<p>How is the campus like? I haven’t actually visited SB yet. Which quad is the best/worst?</p>

<p>I enjoyed my stay at Stony Brook. The campus is well planned and classes centralized within the academic mall, with residential housing located around the outside.</p>

<p>The University has placed a well recognized effort into drastically improving the campus property and facilities itself. It looks virtually different from when I arrived in 2006. Unless you live in a botanical garden, you should be pleased with the University campus.</p>

<p>I have lived in Roth and Tabler quads and West Apartments. </p>

<p>Roth - excellent proximity to academic mall; air conditioned; small rooms; only science & society and WISE/honor college first-year students are permitted. Upperclassmen do not have any requirements in terms of housing location. </p>

<p>Tabler - further from your class locations, but an excellent quad. It’s not air conditioned but all buildings were renovated last summer. Decently large rooms with large windows.</p>

<p>West - reserved for juniors and seniors (U3/U4) with 3.0 GPA or higher. Either double or single capacity rooms (4-6 rooms per apartment). It’s decently far from campus but the facilities are decent and if you seek privacy, the single room option isn’t bad. However, as a freshman or sophomore you cannot live here. Prices are more expensive than regular dormitories.</p>

<p>If I had high aspirations for going into the field of medicine and becoming a physician, would you recommend StonyBrook? I’ve done my fair share of research about it but I have no personal experience with the classes and degrees offered. Thanks for the responses</p>

<p>Absolutely.</p>

<p>Stony Brook is renowned for biological and clinical sciences. In fact, a great amount of students you will meet during freshman year will, at least preliminarily, be pre-med. </p>

<p>There is no better alternative within the SUNY system if you want to wholly prepare yourself for the rigors of medical school.</p>