Vanderbilt ENGAGE

<p>Does anyone have any information about this program, apart from what the website gives? I've looked long and hard, and can't find any stats about the program. I wanna know if you have to take the MCAT's, what GPA you have to maintain and stuff if you're in the program. It's hard to find.</p>

<p>The program is very new. It just started this past year or so.</p>

<p>Basically you need a solid SAT...Shoot for above 1500...but I'd say 1550 and up...to be safe.</p>

<p>GPA--maintain a 3.7 in the program.</p>

<p>You must still apply to their med school as in doing the application.</p>

<p>MCAT--You will def have to take it if you're thinking of MD/PhD, MD/MPH, MD/MBA, etc</p>

<p>It's a difficult program to get into. There are about 10 total seats for the ENGAGE scholars divided amongst the various program according to the admissions officer I spoke to when I visited campus last Dec.</p>

<p>that program is terrible- i've been there... as i went to hs in nashville last yr
u still have to give mcats. u need atleast a 5.0 GPA to even think abt applying there and the med school acceptance is conditional</p>

<p>nurjahan...could you please elaborate some more on this program...it's kind of number 1 on my list</p>

<p>assuming that you get in...what mcat score, gpa, etc. do you have to get to matriculate to the med school, which is awesome....is it kind of like WashU's ridiculously strict program (36 MCAT and stuff)??? i REALLY need more info on this program</p>

<p>It's all on their app for the program.....and I reiterated a few things off of it...go read their app</p>

<p>WashU's program is whack...honestly, a 36?</p>

<p>How is it your #1 if you can't find any information about it?</p>

<p>vanderbilt undergrad=awesome
vanderbilt med=awesome</p>

<p>*seems like a good catch to me</p>

<p>southernaz girl/guy- post ur stats so that i/we can see ur fit to vanderbilt</p>

<p>honestly- if you want to apply to these combined programs including vandy., u need atleast a 5.0 GPA (weighted ofcourse) (according to my school in arlington, va- they assign 4.0 if an A in nonhonors and 5.0 if A in honors- you get it? similar to most va schools- if u go in VA) to apply here. they are also big about lib arts- they want atleast 5 years <em>continuous</em>(no frill like sp 1-fr 1-german 1) of foreign lang.
-They want extensive intense research 1 yr or more in math or medicine or sciences, or even liberal arts. dont just pick a mentor from school- that sounds silly.</p>

<p>-They want a person with good MORAL character. they will obviously see that when they will interview (if we even get it) you. they will also see that in the teacher recommendations- even though u might get all A , if u dont have good WORK ETHICS in school, that will reflect in teacher recommend- i have a friend (asian ofcourse)- who had the perfect GPA and SAT score (ya 2400) last yr, yet she slept thru all her classes, didnt take notes, so the teachers wrote it half heartedly and so she didnot even get an interview at both VCU and villanova (i mean come on..)</p>

<p>-personally, even though i've lived in nashville, i dislike the atmosphere and dont like vandy. the med program (whatever it is called) is amateur and new. </p>

<p>-the thing with these programs is that if you want to have a reasonable shot at it, most undergrad schools are less well known- but their programs are excellent- comparable to IVY LEAGUE schools. (i m talking just abt the program). Having lived in TN and VA, i prefer PLME, VCU BA-BS/MD program w/ honors college, drexel and pennstate</p>

<p>-o & by the way i read some of ur posts- and most intellectuals and smart ones dont go to college with the primary aim of looking for women. They have higher character and goals in life.</p>

<p>well nurjahan...ill start off by saying that one of the reasons i'm applying to vandy is of course, b/c the girls are amazing (A+ by college _____), and the greek scene is incredible </p>

<p>My Stats: (i'm a junior)</p>

<p>GPA: 4.62 (will be higher by next year; but there's a reason for this; my previous school had a different grading system and didn't have "honors"-level for ALL my middle school classes, and several of my high school ones; my guidance counselor will try and explain this in her recommendation next year; had i been in the district since middle school, you bet my GPA would be a 5.1 right now)
PSAT: 225 (will take the SAT March 10th)</p>

<p>Middle School Classes: French 1, French 2, Algebra 1, Geometry, Earth Science (all A's)</p>

<p>9th (Pre-IB Program): Alg 2/Trig, Biology, English, French 2 audit (didn't want to, but teacher made me b/c i was the only freshman and wasn't "prepared" enough for IB-level french), Health/PE, Keyboarding Apps., VA/US History (All A's, except for B in english)</p>

<p>10th (still pre-IB): Chemistry, English, French 3, Sports Medicine, IB Math SL 1, AP US Govt, AP Physics B, Health/PE (all A's, except for english again)</p>

<p>11th (moved to new city, enrolled in math/sci program): Art Aesthetics & History, American Lit, Research/Technology, AP Bio, AP Chem, AP Calc BC, AP World History, Life Sciences 101 @ VCU; self-studying for AP Psychology exam (all A's)</p>

<p>12th (planned courses for next year): AP Euro, AP English, Differential Equations & Advanced Math Modeling; Organic Chem, Anatomy & Physiology, Intro to Microbiology & Human Genetics, Scientific Research, upper-level Mathematical Biology class at VSU</p>

<p>Extra-Currics: Medical/Legal Society; NHS, Mu Alpha Theta, Hospital Volunteering (600 hours), Red Cross Club, member of health board @ church; Volunteering at Ismaili Center (church, 500 hours); volunteer at Science Museum (50 hours); shadowing a hematologist; enrolled in Human Genetics class at VCU (1 month program, saturdays 9-1); going to start Medical Society at my new school</p>

<p>Awards/Competitions: National Foreign Language Award; Presidential Service Award; Who's Who crap; will be an AP Scholar; Regional Science Bowl (2nd place freshman year; 3rd place this year); High school math modeling contest (regional outstanding); will probably be a merit finalist; hoping to get presidential scholars; HOPING TO GET INTO LIFE SCIENCES/MEDICINE GOVERNORS SCHOOL THIS SUMMER; some other stuff i'm too tired to mention</p>

<p><em>I know i haven't take 5 years of a foreign language, but I was more interested in taking AP sciences classes, so that's what i did; i also plan on doing a serious research project next year and enter it in the comps.
Just curious, why do u like VCU's program so much. The campus is *</em>*ty (i was there today for my class), and the academics aren't quite top-notch (so I've heard)
*Also, what do you think of UMiami's program?</p>

<p>well i never said i am a fan of vcu
it is just one of my choices for direct med besides Penn State , PLME, and drexel, etc etc.
the point i am making is that most direct med programs's undergrad institutions are ok or not that prestigious. HPME and PLME are certainly an exception- and they are super hard to get into...</p>

<p>i will find out more info abt vand. later</p>

<p>ok...well, what do you think of my chances at vandy or any other bs/md?</p>

<p>& also most colleges dont care too much abt middle school grades and level so dont fuss abt that much.</p>

<p>(parlez vous francais?)- if u can converse basic in french then u should take ap french instead of all sci classes (AP french is a breeze- i took it and got A+ and never studied and P.S- i didnt even talk french)
- just one suggestion- its just what i believe.---... u are gonna do med for the rest of ur life (or atleast thats what u wrote) so HS and undergrad should be a time to explore other things. I know I did not like english and history- but i -developed- interest in these fields and its not bad- infact it is interesting- Most doctors i know are not hard core science fans- they have other interests.</p>

<p>i have umiami and vand stuff- i will post it later.</p>

<p>i think u have good stats- and GPA is not the end of the world.
i will post chances at each program later- i gotta go.</p>

<p>also
the only reason i m stressing the including of Ap french/spanish etc. is because i went to PLME and drexel and met with the admissions officer/advisor- and they said that they receive many "sci- fanatic" applicants who take nothing but science/math- they said that shows the close-mindedness and the unwillingness to see other areas- which is what medicine is all abt.
- I went to the "regular" colleges of UVA and Yale- they said almost the same thing that they want to see well-rounded students.</p>

<p>this is why taking AP French/spanish helps...</p>

<p>southernaz: answer to ENGAGE:</p>

<p>MCAT is required- need to score ABOVE natl average- 36 or more
-need to maintain atleast 3.5 GPA- if it falls below that- u r autmoatically kicked out
-HIGH SCHOOL- need to be in top 1-2%- so need to have atleast 4.8
-the med program is BINDING- meaning you have committed to go to Vand Med School- if you apply elsewhere- the admission guarantee is revoked
-average SAT SCORE- <em>official</em>- 2150-2250/2400 or 1450-1550/1600
-however i have to admit that the application is kinda lame- only 2 short answers and doesnt even ask for volunteer and extracurricular stuff...</p>

<p>ALSO- you said u took 2 APS in 10th grade- what did u get on that-did u take the exam?</p>

<p>i got 4's...but from here on out...i'm gettin 5's all the way</p>

<p>another question- I just found out that I made it through to the state selection for the life sciences governor's school...but i'm also applying to caltech's yess, and cornell's nanobiotech internship..which one of these do you think is the most prestigious & will help me get into tough bs/md's like vandy and other ivies??</p>

<p>any other summer programs you think are more prestigious than these are also welcome</p>

<p>do you have to pay for YESS and Cornell?
I know abt them-they're quite competitive. although the deadline is like 1 1/2 week away.
In my opinion, any of the three (YESS,Cornell,Governor) will be outstanding- dont need to look further. </p>

<p>if worst befalls upon you, then do hospital volunteering.</p>

<p>now now- you shouldnt be that confdent abt getting all 5s.
a 4 is quite impressive though- considering that u gave them in 10th grade.</p>