<p>I applied to the University Scholars Program in Medicine. Did anyone else? Students who are in it now, what is your overall impression? It looks like a great program but I just want to hear more. :)</p>
<p>bumpbumpbump!</p>
<p>Another thread was just bumped on this. Honestly, most would agree the program itself is completely not worth it.</p>
<p>I looked at that forum but it seemed to focus more on the requirements for the med school admission guarantee rather than the program itself, which I wanted to hear more about. If I’m wrong, please correct me!</p>
<p>All the university scholars program seems to do is slightly lower the admissions criteria for the med school. You still have to take the MCAT, do really well GPAwise, and even interview for the position. Despite the fact that it says you are admitted to both undergrad and med school at the same time, you also still have to complete an application to the med school the year before you would graduate. Not to disparage the schools, both of which are fantastic, this particular program is pretty much worthless.</p>
<p>just to clear things up - I am currently in the USP program. There are a lot more perks than simply the medical school admissions. In addition, if you are accepted into the program you are never “kicked out” even if your GPA and MCAT scores do not match the requirements. The med school wants you - that is why you are in the program - and they will work with you to get you there.</p>
<p>Applying to the program and getting in has completely shaped my college experience for the better. USP is amazing!</p>
<p>And the perks are?</p>
<ul>
<li>the best pre-med advisor possible - who wants to see each individual usp student do whatever is the best for him/her and is willing to drop anything to help you. keep in mind that this advisor has wait lists that are months long in order to sit down for one meeting with her and anyone in the usp program meets with her constantly, has her personal phone number and email, has dinners at her house, etc. She knows everything there is to know about med school and the application process, and what you need to do to get there. there is simply no comparison. </li>
<li>a great community</li>
<li>personally knowing the chairman of the med school</li>
<li>connections - for research, internships, jobs, other med schools, etc.</li>
<li>priority housing</li>
</ul>
<p>In comparing USP with similar programs at other schools, the greatest difference to me is that at Wash U you are not constricted and you will never feel constricted. If you choose you don’t want medicine, that’s fine. If you choose you want a different med school, that’s fine. You will be supported no matter what.
The USP program also has the unique ability to guarantee you admission to not just any med school - but one of the best med schools in the country. I have not heard of another program (which, may I say, does not mean one doesn’t exist) that similarly offers admission to a med school of the same caliber as Wash U.</p>
<p>You don’t get priority housing.</p>
<p>everyone is guaranteed to live in the modern dorm closest to campus. but you’re right, it wouldn’t be considered “priority housing” necessarily.</p>
<p>Has anyone on here even received an interview/been accepted to the program?</p>
<p>So students that are not in the University Scholars program have to wait months to see their pre-med advisors? </p>
<p>That doesn’t sound like the kind of attention that admissions officers and alumni are promising to parents of prospective students…</p>
<p>wash u has the best advising of any school I have come across. everyone is assigned a four year advisor. if you are in the usp program, you all have the same four year advisor - who happens to know everything there is to know about the process of applying to medical schools. if you would like to talk to another advisor, you are more than welcome to. because of her insight, many pre-med students seek out her aid - so many students, in fact, that there has to be a wait list to accommodate people. this is something that admissions should be proud of - that advisors are so knowledgable and insightful that so many people wish to see them.</p>
<p>I want to stress that every student has an advisor who they can always talk to. Other advisors are great too - this is my experience with ONE advisor - the USP advisor. while she is wonderful and has truly added to my experience at wash u, that is certainly not to say other advisors are not wonderful as well. My point is simply that for those interested in medicine, which clearly anyone in the usp program would be, having such a coveted advisor as your own four year advisor is certainly a perk to being in the program.</p>