<p>I don't understand the benifit of applying for this program. The website says USP students still need a 3.8 GPA and a 36 on MCAT to get into WASHU med school. I think with those stats, students can apply anywhere else they like. USP is not even a 7yr program , neither does it gaurantees a med school admission like some other comparable programs ( HPME, PLME, Rice/Baylor etc.) . So, what's the benifit of this program?
I think I may be missing something here. Please someone who is in this program enlighten me. </p>
<p>You are not missing anything. There is a very similar discussion just a few weeks ago on this board.</p>
<p>You have to remember that it isn't joint admission to just any med school, but one of the top 5 in the country. Even with those stats, getting into Wash U will be a challenge. So if you are that academically focused, and Wash U is your dream med school, then I suppose it is worth it.</p>
<p>But you are correct, that if there are many other med schools you would be happy to attend, there seems to be little point in placing that kind of day-today pressure on yourself. You would need stats close to that to go to most med schools, but at least you would not be constantly on the edge of falling out of the program.</p>
<p>I thought it does guarantee admission if you have the stats you've mentioned... Whereas without this program, you'd still need those stats, but could be rejected anyway...</p>
<ol>
<li><p>If you are pretty confident that you can maintain at least 3.8 GPA while taking courses that challenge you intellectually and that you can get 36 on MCAT, then this program is great for you because like others said, even with those status, getting into WashU med school is still a challenge through regular route.</p></li>
<li><p>If you are not confident you can meet that requirement, you should go to other combined-med programs. You don't want to spend your 4 years at WashU just trying to pick courses with easy A (though you can't escape the premed requirement). That's not what your undergrad education should be about. On the other hand, other programs, due to their much reasonable requirements, allow you to take risk by taking challenging and interesting courses without the usual stress other premeds have. </p></li>
<li><p>If you think the requirement is ridiculous then, obviously, you don't want to be in the program.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>I was unclear. You are correct that if you have these stats and are in the program, you are guaranteed admission. My point was that if you are NOT in the program, then it is still tough to get in even WITH these stats. So it is a good program, if you are the kind of person who is comfortable having to make almost straight As for 3+ years.</p>
<p>it just gives you an extra shot. basically, if you apply for this program, you essentially have 2 shots to get into med school.
and... if you keep your GPA up and MCAT 36, you don't have to apply to a bunch of other med schools, which is really nice.
I agree that other programs have less crazy requirements. GPA 3.5, not even required to take MCAT. Now that is very nice.</p>
<p>"So, what's the benefit of this program?
I think I may be missing something here."</p>
<p>Unfortunately, you're not. I graduated from one of the 3 "other" programs you mentioned in your post and would still heartily recommend it to anyone certain (or as certain as one can be) of their commitment to a career in medicine. My other requirement would be certainty that that university is a place you would happily choose to attend EVEN IF the combined program was not around to serve as a draw. </p>
<p>I was lucky to be able to spend my undergrad years taking advanced courses, often with waived pre-requisites, in both the sciences and humanities without fear of compromising my medical school acceptance. Grades simply never entered the equation. Several of my former classmates are now department chairmen/chairwomen at prestigious medical schools around the country. Im senior faculty at such an institution. I dont think a single one of us graduated with a 3.8 GPA. </p>
<p>Ive never understood why Wash U put together a program of this kind with uniquely onerous requirements to advance to their medical school. Obviously, it guarantees a consistent crop of high achieving HS applicants to the college each year that may not have otherwise applied. It also guarantees that poor GPAs and MCATs dont pollute the entering stats profile of the med schools entering class and compromise US News data. But, Im sure Im just being overly cynical about this whole process.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone for the insightful responses.
First of all, I am a mom as my screen name suggests :) I am researching this topic because my daughter just applied to Wustl and we are debating the benifits of the program. I am aware that wustl is a great medical institution and getting into such school is very hard. I started this thread as a mere observation of the USP program rather than criticising the program. I know every institution has its own policies and programs to suit their needs.
As Bala said, the objective of this program seems to be gathering a "right pool" of students for med school and guide them through their undergrad years.I suppose being in this program gives an edge over those who are on the regular track.
Thanks once again.</p>
<p>USP is a relatively new program. I don't think it's more than 10 years old. This is my guess as to how this started: WashU undergrad saw how other programs attracted top students who would otherwise not apply or go to HYP and they want to imitate that. But at the same time, the med school, being a top-5 in the nation, is too good and afraid this would "dilute" their student body. So they come up with this requirement to make both sides happy. Certainly, the "guarantee" to WashU med school is sweet, but what's lost in the process, though, is another important benefit other programs give--the academic freedom you enjoyed as an undergrad.</p>