<p>I recently found out that University of Illinois at Chicago's (UIC) GPPA program which guarantees admission into medical school has a catch that you must maintain a 3.5 GPA and I think it was a 30 on the MCAT. Is this hard to do? If that's the requirement then is it worth even trying for this accelerated program? Wouldn't it just be better to look at some other 6/7 yr programs that don't require you to take the MCAT?</p>
<p>i just went onto the UIC website and found this out:</p>
<p>"During the spring semester of the junior year, or the summer prior to the senior year, students must take the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT). Students must earn an average MCAT score of at least 10 with no score below 9 in any segment of the exam. If this condition is not met, student must successfully complete the College of Medicine Pre-matriculation program during the summer before enrolling in medical school. "</p>
<p>I don't know what any of that means. Could someone please clarify.</p>
<p>doesn't anybody know anything about this???</p>
<p>Dunno very much, but I think it means if you don't achieve that MCAT score you have to pass the summer course(s) before going to med school, not a HUGE deal...</p>
<p>Plus other direct admit programs at least have GPA requirements, etc.</p>
<p>It is telling you the threshold for MCAT scores and if not met what the remedy is.</p>
<p>The average scores of people admitted to med school (someone tell me if I'm wrong about this) from what I can tell are between about 29-30. There are three sections of the MCAT in which you can score between 1 and 15. There's also a writing section that's given a separate letter grade. So if the program is asking for a 28, that makes it a little easier than regular med school admissions. If they're asking for a 30, though, that's pushing it a little. They probably figure if you're good enough to get into their program, you'll probably score really well on the MCAT anyway.
Here's a question though: if you're accepted into the program, you'll probably be able to get a really high MCAT score, so why not just take the regular 4 years of college route and try to get into a more prestigious med school? That's a question a lot of people seem to be thinking about.</p>
<p>The thing is, there's no guarentee that you'll make it. I don't know what the stats are, but currently there are far more qualified applicants than there are seats in medical school. Taking the traditional route, you have to work hard in all your classes to obtain a high GPA, score high on the MCAT, plus be involved in numerous medically related extracurriculars. Also most people seem to apply to several medical schools (to ensure they get into at least one) and that costs a lot of money, as does attending interviews at the medical schools.</p>
<p>It sounds to me like the 6/7/8 programs are a far better choice. I think safety is the most important issue. If you're so stressed out all through undergrad about admissions into medical school, that will have an adverse affect on not only your grades but your health, and social life. Being accepted into the GPPA sounds like an amazing offer, because even if you don't score the required MCAT score, you are still guaranteed admission into the medical school, as long you take the summer course, which doesn't sound too stressful to me. As for taking the regular 4 year route and then trying to apply to a more "prestigious" school, this is pretty unsafe. I read on another thread, that the name of the medical school you go to is really not very important when it comes to practicing medicine. The prestige only matters if you don't want to practice but rather want to do research. Plus, like said above, there are many people trying to apply to medical school, in fact at UIC 's medical program is the most competitive combined program at their school. Also, a more prestigious medical school doesn't necesarily make the better doctor.</p>
<p>What's this about taking a summer course if you don't get the required MCAT score? Is that just specific to one program? Which ones have that option?</p>
<p>Read my second post above. I copied the quote directly from UIC's website. All I know is that UIC offers that option. I'm not sure about any other 6/7/8 year programs.</p>
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As for taking the regular 4 year route and then trying to apply to a more "prestigious" school, this is pretty unsafe.
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<p>Personally, I think an even better method would be to take the guaranteed route, and then STILL apply to other, more prestigious med-schools while you're in the program. Of course, this is predicated on whether they award you the BS in the middle of the program (some programs don't, and I don't know about UIC specifically). But if they do, then it seems to me that you can take that bachelor's and apply to other med-schools just like a regular premed student. If you don't get in anywhere good, you just stay in your current guaranteed program. In other words, you got a bird in the hand, and you still have the opportunity to get 2 birds in the bush.</p>
<p>^ Although you have to be careful with applying to other med schools while in a combined program. Some programs will allow you to do this and retain your position in medical school. Others say that if you choose to apply elsewhere, you forfeit your spot in the program.</p>
<p>I'm going to go for the GPPA prospective students, and I'll find out about the above.</p>