Hello all,
I went through the BS/MD application process the previous year (for the class of 2021). I will be starting school in the Fall of 2017 at UIC’s GPPA Medicine Program. College Confidential really helped me throughout my application process, and I hope I can be of some help to the future BS/ MD Applicants.
Overall, I would say that there is no one thing that determines whether you are qualified for the BS/MD programs. Each program has its own focus and mission; its most likely that you won’t be fit for all those programs.
I believe that if you are truly committed to medicine and really want to pursue your academic career through a BS/MD program, you can truly do it. I started off my application process by making a list of the BS/MD programs I would apply to (there are a lot of websites online that provide a full list of the colleges that have these kinds of programs). After filtering based on residency and average ACT/GPA, I narrowed it down to about 35 colleges. (I ended up applying to about 20 colleges - including undergraduate programs only)
Unweighted GPA: 4.0
Weighted GPA: 4.6
ACT Score: 34
SAT Subject Math 2: 800
SAT Subject Biology: 790
AP Classes:
AP Biology- 5
AP Chemistry-5
AP Calculus BC- 5
AP Macroeconomics-5
AP Microeconomics- 5
AP Art History- 5
AP Human Geography (self studied)- 4
I moved to the United States in the Junior Year of High School. I live in Naperville (West suburbs of Chicago). I had maintained all A’s in my 9th and 10th grade (completed in India), and continued to maintain straight A’s in my Junior and Senior years of high school in the US.
Professional Experience:
- Dr. Rubin's Mini Medical School- Student (winter of 2015)
- Teaching Assistant (summer of 2016 & winter of 2016)
- Research at the University of Illinois at Chicago in the Molecular Biology Research Building (2 months- Summer of Junior Year)
- Shadowing
- Dentist (50 hours)
- Gynecologist (20 hours)
- Non Invasive Cardiologist (20 hours)
Volunteer Experience: (throughout Junior and Senior year)
- Hospital- Emergency Room
- Vibha Chicago (Non Profit Organization)
- Buddy Break
EC’s:
- Model United Nations- Mentor
- Aspiring Medical Professionals Club - Executive Board Member
- HOSA- Executive Board Member
- Student Council- Executive Board Member
- Indian Instrumental Orchestra - Mentor and Harmonium Player
Awards:
- DPSSL Model United Nations Conference- Best Delegate Award
- Zeste Model United Nations Conference- Special Mention Award
- DPSN Model United Nations Conference- Special Mention Award
- Greenwave Model United Nations Conference- High Commendation Award
- Scholar Badge/ Academic Achievement Award consecutively for 9 years
- Wildcat Pride Award
- Honors Award
- Sandesh Speech Competition- 2nd Place
- Sandesh Music Competition - 3rd Place
Essays:
My essays were my ORIGINAL ideas and reflected my thoughts. and my own passion for medicine. I think your essay should have something that conveys something unique about you. My Junior friends often call me asking for help, and they always say, “…but I don’t have anything unique. I’ve never had anything unique happen to me.” Trust me, that’s what EVERYONE thinks during the essay writing time. Give yourself some time, and you will find the “unique and interesting” parts of your “mundane-seeming” life. I was sitting at a party, and the idea for my Common Application Essay just hit me. Look into the details of the big events of your life; you will find something that will make you smile, something that makes you unique.
Letters of Recommendation:
- My teachers absolutely loved my determination and passion that I displayed in their classes. No one ever felt that I had moved from a different country so recently. I seemed to fit in really well, and the teachers really appreciated the efforts that I put in to succeed in their classes. Multiple teachers nominated me for various awards at the school level within my first year.
- I also received a letter of recommendation from the professor with whom I worked with at the University of Illinois at Chicago.
- Another letter of recommendation was provided by Dr. Rubin.
- The dentist I shadowed also provided me with a letter of recommendation.
Interview:
- For the UMKC interview, the format was the MMI format, which involved 10- 11 short interviews with professionals and faculty at UMKC. I prepared for the MMI's by watching mock interviews online and reading and learning about medical ethics. I loved all the questions the interviewers asked me! I made sure that I left the "me element" in all the short interviews.
- At the UIC GPPA interview, I had a wonderful time! Most of our conversation revolved around my perspective on things and my values. I had a lot of funny stories about how I adjusted in the United States. I had so much to say in such less time.
Even though I applied to a lot of BS/MD programs, I only got accepted into 2 programs- UMKC and UIC. However, UIC was my number 1 choice from the very beginning as it is very close to home and is very well reputed.
I wish all of the aspiring BS/MD applicants a very good luck! BE YOURSELF throughout the application process! Let me know if you have any questions: I would love to help!