What are my chances at an accelerated medical program?

Pre-Med & Medical School Multiple Degree Programs
1

<p>Hi! As you can judge by my name, I am very desperate to gather some information. I am a rising senior, and the Common Application is just a few days from opening up. Needless to say, I feel very pressed about my situation. My parents want me to get into an accelerated medical program here in the USA. If not, I will have to go to India and complete my medical degree. For me, I would much rather stay here in the USA because all of schooling has been done here. I know for a fact I would find it difficult to adjust to culture, language, and customs of India, mainly due to the fact that I have been away from home so long. It's not that I do not like India or anything like that! But, I would simply just feel more comfortable staying here. My parents prefer an accelerated fast track path over the normal route because I do not have the hassle of applying to medical school, taking the MCAT, etc. Basically, they want me to be guaranteed a spot in medical school so I can do the degree I want to. I also have the same opinion and would be so grateful if I got into a school in the USA. Below I've listed some of accomplishments from my high school career. Would anybody be willing to tell me if I can "make it or break it?"</p>

<p>GPA: 3.8/4.0 (I have a couple B's here and there, but I have mostly A's. I have never gotten a grade below a C.)</p>

<p>AP's taken by the end of High School
1. AP Environmental Science (sophomore year)
2. AP Statistics (sophomore year)
3. AP English Language & Composition (junior year)
4. AP Biology (junior year)
5. AP Chemistry (junior year)
6. AP Calculus AB/BC (junior year)
7. AP Physics (junior year)
8. AP Human Geography (junior year)
9. AP English Literature & Composition (senior year)
10. AP Government & Politics (senior year)
11. AP European History (senior year)
12. AP Psychology (senior year)</p>

<p>^Of all these classes listed so far, I have only received a B in AP Chemistry, AP English Language & Composition, and AP Calculus AB/BC. However, I suppose I cannot blame myself considering I had many more additional and challenging courses to endure.</p>

<p>Test Scores:
SAT Math-730
SAT Critical Reading- 650
SAT Writing- 710
ACT Composite- 34</p>

<p>^Between the SAT & ACT, I will most likely submit my ACT score. This is mainly because I unfortunately (irresponsibly) have not taken SAT Subject Tests. Would this be an okay score to get into an accelerated medical program?</p>

<p>Extracurriculars:
1. Swim Team
2. Basketball Team
3. National Honors Society
4. French National Honors Society (historian)
5. Multicultural Club
6. Environmental Club (treasurer and then vice president)
7. Captain of a Bollywood Dance Team
8. Volunteered at Cultural Events
9. Volunteered with Feed My Starving Children
10. Volunteered in a Soup Kitchen
11. Volunteered in a Hospital for 2 Years
12. Volunteered in a Rescue Medical Camp in Jammu/Kashmir, India
13. Tutoring Middle School & Elementary School Children</p>

<p>Awards/Honors:
1. Awarded Certificate of Success in the National French Exam (this occured twice)
2. President's Volunteer Award</p>

<p>Teacher Reccomendations: I have a really good reputation with a math teacher, a science teacher, and my French teacher. I believe my guidance counselor also appreciates me, as he says I am an excellent student.</p>

<p>Is there anything I missed?
I am just really concerned about the fact that I have a few B's here and there. I feel like that would potentially inhibit, or even prohibit, my chances of getting into an accelerated medical program.
Also, are there any schools you know of that have this program that you'd highly reccommend to me? I am always open to options anywhere.
Personally, I am eyeing Baylor's Program as well 3 programs in New York: Union/AMC, Siena/AMC, and RPI/AMC.</p>

<p>Thank you for your feedback!</p>

2

<p>Baylor is an extremely competitive program, I have yet to see someone on here get in. To be honest, none of your stats are standouts. 2090 and a 34, no Subject Tests (which will hurt you in comparison with other students), and no research. For the AMC programs, each has a different focus (Union: leadership, RPI: research, Siena: volunteering) and unless you have volunteered consistently at the hospital and have a standout experience to talk/write about, it’s not looking great. My advice: retake the SAT because all programs accept that while some don’t accept the ACT. Take the subject tests in Math II and Chem (at least). Finally, try to find some last minute research or an additional volunteering effort for the fall. Idk why your parents are giving you an ultimatum, plenty of people go through the regular route of med school admissions.</p>

3

<p>Isn’t the time where I worked in a Medical Rescue Camp at Kashmir special? I think it is; because it’s what inspired me to pursue and develop an affinity with the medical field. Seeing people in need really struck me and changed the way I thought. Is that a standout?</p>

4

<p>It’s only a standout if you can write and speak about it like it was a standout. Still, you won’t get to the interview stage without at least a 2100-2200 on the SAT. That should be your main concern right now, SAT studying for the schools and programs that require it.</p>

5

<p>Is there anything wrong with my ACT score? I am planning on retaking the SAT. However, if I don’t get the desired score and ONLY submit my ACT score, am I truly at a disadvantage compared to other applicants? I am also retaking the ACT in due time, and I hope to score higher than a 34, if possible. Is there any loss at that that might incur when applying? A 34 on the ACT does convert to about a 2280, I believe. Won’t they be using some sort of holistic scale?</p>

6

<p>What theBombingRange is saying is that some programs will take only the SAT and not the ACT, so in these cases, your ACT score wouldn’t be very helpful. That being said, you should take a careful look at the requirements of each program you want to apply to. I also agree with bombingrange that your medical rescue camp will only be special if you can really make it stand out, otherwise it will sound like something 90% of other applicants have done.</p>

7

<p>This is pretty sad- it seems like your parents are determining your future. I was born in India, am physician, and know all about parents who go overboard. In fact, I hope that my son doesn’t go into medicine. How in the world can they just make a blanket decision that you go to school in India if you don’t get into a BS/MD program. You may want to know that as an FMG, no matter how you look at it, there is discrimination when it comes to the residency process.</p>

8

<p>davidxavi-
Ahh, now I understand (the stress of applications is deterring my brain function, lol). In that case, I will take the SAT again. Many of the schools I am applying (I rechecked this just now) do accept the ACT as well. Is my 34 sufficient? Is it a good score?</p>

9

<p>PsychoDad10-
I know exactly what you mean, and I feel the same. I am going to try my best to get into a fast track program here. If nothing works out, then I have no qualms of doing a medical degree in India (as my parents have planned). They just do not want me to work for 4 years, and then not get a good score on the MCAT; that’s their biggest concern with going on a regular route. I do agree that there will definitely be complications if I complete my studies in India and come back here. How did you cope with that experience?</p>

<p>p.s.-Thank you all for the advice!! It means a lot!! :)</p>

10

<p>The bottom line is: schools have a WEALTH of applicants with grand 2300 PLUS scores with all the desired research,volunteer,EC condiments…if you come in below, you’d better mitigate the weaknesses in a grand fashion! You may be a great candidate in a sea of MAGNIFICENT candidates…the ACT, while accepted is not quite the same MUSTARD. 2300 plus beats a 35 any day(although it is a quiet determination)…some schools DO NOT accept ACT for BS/MD(Stony) but no school denies SAT performance!!!</p>

11

<p>If you’re a good enough student to get into a competitive institution, then you will likely be competitive for medical school. I don’t think the college experience in India will even come close to what you’d experience here. In addition their educational system does not encourage creativity or emphasize personal interaction the way it is done here.</p>

12

<p>Yeah to be honest the only school I know of not accepting the ACT was Stony Brook (which I will be attending this fall). I still don’t understand how your parents wouldn’t even want you to try out the MCAT to see if you score well on that.</p>

13

<p>TCNJ: will ONLY accept SAT AND a minimum 1480…they specify NO ACT substitution for SAT score. I think that there are one or two others but few and far…the point …the ACT is perceived as an EASIER test and less indicative of skills in the higher score echelon. Schools know this and may not broadcast its preference but I know a guy, who knows a guy, who knows a guy and HE gave me a wink/wink during an off the record discussion!</p>

14

<p>Your advices really helped me out guys :slight_smile: Thank you! I am going to apply to these schools, and try out my chances. If nothing works out, I’ll try to explain and convince my parents that going to India is not the best thing. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with going the regular route. Do you guys think I could get into a school which has the regular route? Also, Gannon University in Pennsylvania has a fast track program. Have you guys got any thoughts on that?</p>

15

<p>Just a few more details I forgot earlier</p>

<p>Class Rank: 17/533 ( top ~3%) </p>

<p>^this was from a while ago…errgh ranks are consistently updated, but I do think it’ll go up.</p>

<p>I also volunteered at a local library for 3 years.</p>

16

<p>Girl, have your parents pay for individual SAT tutoring . It’s cheaper than repeat transcontinental airfare.</p>

<p>Some schools have an honor system about also submitting all SAT and ACT scores (some ivies). Most schools that take SAT 's want 2 science subject tests. Does the ACT remove the subject tests requirement at most schools?</p>

<p>Siena loves public service which your ec’s reflect in abundance, and many kids who go to AMC from Siena are of Indian extraction. I would also include Drexel to increase your chances. Do as many apps as you can to get 3 or 4 interviews and 1 or two acceptances.
Just don’t apply anywhere you could not live for the next 7 or 8 years. Good luck.</p>

17

<p>P.S. convince your parents that if you can’t get into a combined , allow you to a UG program where 30 to 40 percent get into med school ( as opposed to the usual 20 percent) because your work ethic with that many AP classes shows me you will get there.</p>

<p>Like that doctor posted earlier, I know a grad from the Caribbean who took a year to find a lowly residency spot. Some states like New Jersey will not grant a license ever for some foreign schools . NY will for some foreign med school grads if they take a special 2 year mini medical school at NYU.</p>

18

<p>Are you from New York?</p>

<p>If you are serious about combined, you need to apply to about 20-25 to have any luck.</p>

19

<p>Wow! Applying to that many? Has any one ever tried applying close to that number? I am interested to know.</p>

20

<p>I saw one this past year (I think it was butterfli) that did like 25 obscure ones but only got into a few. I did around 14 and got into 4.</p>