What chances do I stand for the BS/MD program or the accelerated programs?

Pre-Med & Medical School Multiple Degree Programs
1

<p>Let me tell you my situation: I was born and brought up in USA and studied there till 6th grade. For my 7th and 8th grade, I went to a boarding school in the southern part (Bangalore) of my native country India . From 9th grade to 12th grade (high school basically), I went to high school in my native city in western India. (would this academic history, by itself, in ANY way help me out? there is a good possibility that i might write my essay on this)</p>

<p>I did the IGCSE course (an international course similar to IB)in 9th and 10th grade achieving the following percentages in the subjects: </p>

<p>Maths - 98% ,
Physics - 97% ,
Chemistry 96 % ,
Biology 96 % ,
Computer Technology 94 % ,
English 95 % and
Economics 87 % .</p>

<p>ACT: 34
SAT Chem: 800
SAT Math: 800
SAT Bio: 770</p>

<p>Presently, I am a rising senior doing the IB Diploma Program. The predicted grades that would be sent to the college are :
Bio 7, - HL
Chem 7, - HL
Eng 7, - SL
Eco 7, -SL
Math 7 - HL
Hindi 5. - SL
That is supposed to be the most rigourous courseload available in my high school.</p>

<p>My extracurriculars include the following: </p>

<p>1.MUN x4 (vice chairman of commitee x1, chairman of commitee x2, secretary general (highest position) of whole meet x1)</p>

<p>2.School president (student council)</p>

<ol>
<li><p>State level Bball player - 11th</p></li>
<li><p>Varsity Basketball (captain from 9th to 12th) </p></li>
<li><p>Gold medal - 100m sprint, Gold medal -high jump - school events- 10th
Silver Medal – 100 m sprint – 11th</p></li>
<li><p>Manav Sadhna (NGO) -(community outreach program where I help underprivileged kids)</p></li>
<li><p>Bird welfare – (Uttrayan is a festival in India where we fly kites. The majority of the people do not know that are committing a heinous activity as they unintentionally cut the wings of birds and harm them. This bird welfare association helps the birds in need and helps spread awareness of the dangers posed to birds. I helped in the first aid department for Eagles)</p></li>
<li><p>Taught underprivileged students basic English and Math for a year (weekly once)</p></li>
<li><p>My English paper might get published in a journal. ( How much would this help? I personally think that I have put in A LOT of effort into it and that it is a substantial work of mine).</p></li>
<li><p>Black Belt 1st Degree. Was an instructor for a year at the ATA (American Taekwondo Association).</p></li>
<li><p>I have a hobby of showing magic tricks to people. I specialise in Close Up ( Parlour) magic. I have been doing this since I was young. Had a stage magic show when I was in 7th grade but stage magic did not appeal so I moved onto closeup magic with a special concentration on card magic. I find that I have overcome nervousness and have become more confident by doing magic.</p></li>
<li><p>I have volunteered extensively at the Blind People’s Association (BPA). I have been volunteering in the institution for 4 years now. I have my own article published in the BPA quarterly newsletter and plan to contribute more periodically. I had initially helped in writing records in the administration part of the institution. I have helped the blind people work with computers. I helped in soliciting of funds (fundraising) by writing letters that explain the salient features and roles the BPA plays in the betterment of the society to celebrities and dignitaries. I taught physiotherapy (thrice a week, one hour lectures) to blind students for a year. I am now currently helping manage the physiotherapy health department and do a few lectures every now and then. I have interviewed many blind people (informally) and plan to write a small report on it. I plan to do some public speaking activity (spread awareness?) over there too. I plan to write my essay on my experience in the Blind People’s Association and I think that this is a MAJOR component of my ECs.</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Medically Oriented Activities: </p>

<p>(I have interest in Medicine and plan to apply to the highly competitive PLME program at Brown)</p>

<ol>
<li>Medical Counseling</li>
<li>Shadowing in summer after Junior Year in many doctors’ offices in America (radiologist, GI, nephrologist, infectious disease doctor and internal medicine doctor) </li>
<li>The bird welfare experience</li>
<li>Have finished a BLS (Basic Life Support) course and have been awarded a certificate by the American Heart Association</li>
<li>Have volunteered in a hospital.</li>
<li>Have seen a surgery.</li>
<li>Observer at a pharmaceutical company.</li>
<li>Have observed closely a few public health systems, including the one the BPA and at a Sickle Cell Anemia Center that promotes disease prevention, awareness and helps inflicted ones.</li>
<li>MIGHT conduct a (not-so-huge but still ) project at the BPA or do some rudimentary/basic research somewhere in a research lab. (or at the BPA physiotherapy center: maybe on blood pressure changes after exercise?) </li>
<li>I taught physiotherapy for a year at BPA.</li>
<li>Was a member at a blood donation camp.</li>
<li>Active member at the Red Cross.</li>
</ol>

<p>I shall be writing a general report on all the shadowing and observing activities.</p>

<p>I am also a US citizen with a Social Security Number. I am a legal resident of the state of Florida so I get a break at the public in-state universities.</p>

<p>I plan to apply to: </p>

<p>Brown ED (PLME) and if I dont get accepted, then to
Northwestern (HPME)
Albany Medical and Union College MD/MBA combined program.
Boston University Accelerated Program
FSU Accelerated Program</p>

<p>What chances do I stand at these colleges, especially Brown (ED) and Northwestern?</p>

2

<p>First off, I don’t know how anyone could say that yoy are going to earn a 7 in all off your HLs. I’m in IB, too, and that just doesn’t happen.</p>

<p>Next, I think your ECs are fine, but to be frank, shadowing, volunteering with hospitals, or observing things doesn’t matter much at all. Everyone cam observe a doctor. Not everyone can DO stuff with medicine.</p>

<p>That said, your EC about teaching fist aid is pretty good, on addition to the BPA stuff. But doing research on blppd pressure after exercise is not only completely established already, but also not related to the BPA at all.</p>

3

<p>You cannot doubt anyone’s ability without knowing much. I have been consistently getting 7’s in all the tests and mock exams that I have taken. THEY ARE ACTUAL IBO PAPERS.</p>

<p>I study in India and my area does not offer much opportunity, much less for research. I have done my best to show my interest in medicine. </p>

<p>Yeah, I rejected the BPA idea a few days ago. Forgot to take it off.</p>

<p>Edit: </p>

<p>I browsed through your posts, chemwz.</p>

<p>You seem to offer really good advice.</p>

<p>I see your point.</p>

<p>Can you suggest some other activities then? </p>

<p>In India, and especially where I stay, it is hard to find opportunities.</p>

<p>Could you tell me what chances I have for the PLME? ( ED )</p>

<p>I did the hospital and the shadowing becasue i had no reach to anything else! :frowning: No research opporutinies either. I have tried so much :(</p>

<p>Are my ECs strong?</p>

4

<p>My best advice is to create opportunities. If there isn’t something to do…then make something to do. That shows a) initiative, b)leadership, and c) UNIQUENESS. If you make an organization for something, or create a program, then no one else has it. More importantly, you are bettering your community which, as you have already stated, is lacking in opportunities.</p>

5

<p>T In terms of the quality pf your ECs, they are good, certainly better than the kid who thinks being the president of key club or nhs will get them into an ivy league school. However, none if them are linked. When I say that, I mean that none of them are tied together in any common theme. Creating am awesome resume is like writing an analytical paper: take two or more pieces of information, them TIE THE. TOGETHER in a beautiful combination. That’s the best way to show passion, which I see a bit of in your ECs.</p>

6

<p>You may wanna ED HPME instead. It is with a better med school and 1 year shorter (hence less expensive).</p>

7

<p>@ chemwz Thank you so much for you advice! :)</p>

<p>But don’t you think the medically oriented activities are ‘tied together’ or ‘linked’? :frowning: :(</p>

<p>Thanks again! :)</p>

<p>@Sam Lee</p>

<p>I just called them like 5 minutes back (what a coincidence) and they said they do not offer ED for the HPME.</p>

<p>FYI, the acceptance rate is just intimdating: close to 1.5%</p>

<p>1200 fill in request forms for the special HPME application form.
800 receive it.
125 qualify for the interview
25 get accepted.</p>

<p>I got that directly from the HPME coordinator.</p>

8

<p>I believe that you have very good chances and I disagree with chemwz, shadowing MDs and volunteering at hospitals both are very important for combined program applicants. Apply widely, see what happens. Good luck!</p>

9

<p>I disagree with you MiamiDAP mainly because everyone does it. It doesn’t show anything if you can call up a doctor and shadow. And really, no one ever will use skills they see a doctor using. That’s what MED SCHOOL is for. Nitcomp, your ECs are good, but to be toed together would be like using two skills you’ve learned to start an organization or program that combines them. There’s a post on the chances forum about a kid suffering from a debilitating illness who has done plenty campaigning for money, founding organizations, volunteering with youth with the illness, etc. The SYNTHESIS part of this is that he is now writing a novel for national publication. In my opinion, I don’t care how how many hours of hospital reception work or doctor shadowing you have done - nothing is as toed together and impressive as that. Check my previous posts to see the actual thread.</p>

10

<p>D. has learned a lot shadowing and volunteering by acitvely observing and making certain conclusions for herself even in regard to some specialties. You really do not need to get out of your skin to stand out, you do not need to stand out at all. If you do not participate in medicaly related ECs, how do you know that you want to be in medicine at all? How others will know that after not expressing any interest learning about profession, you are all of sudden passionate about it? Some people do not feel comfortable in such environment and might rule it out completely. Well, D. got into 3 combined programs and it was enough for her to choose from. She is finishing off UG portion in one of them (she has chosen non-accelerated one) and has done lots of medical EC’s while in college, and continue learning great deal from them. Not everybdoy can write a novel, but anybody can shadow, volunteer and find out if medicine is not for them after all.</p>

11

<p>Which did she gets into and which is she attending?</p>

12

<p>She is with Cinci DAP. Program is very flexible, allowing to apply out and retain your spot. She has met GPA/MCAT requirements for Cinci and has a spot. She also has applied to few others. The other 2 were also at state schools but were less flexible and one was accelerated (NEOUCOM).</p>

13

<p>"I disagree with you MiamiDAP mainly because everyone does it. It doesn’t show anything if you can call up a doctor and shadow. And really, no one ever will use skills they see a doctor using. That’s what MED SCHOOL is for. Nitcomp, your ECs are good, but to be toed together would be like using two skills you’ve learned to start an organization or program that combines them. There’s a post on the chances forum about a kid suffering from a debilitating illness who has done plenty campaigning for money, founding organizations, volunteering with youth with the illness, etc. The SYNTHESIS part of this is that he is now writing a novel for national publication. In my opinion, I don’t care how how many hours of hospital reception work or doctor shadowing you have done - nothing is as toed together and impressive as that. Check my previous posts to see the actual thread. :</p>

<p>hmmm, chem whiz, i strongly disagree with you. First of all, generic activities arent all useless. If you take away things from these shadowing/volunteering activities and can talk about it in your essays, then it DOES matter. More importantly, i dont know a ton of people who shadow? but i see what your talking about</p>

<p>what i definitely disagree with you is about that ccer who you are talking about. Yes, she has done tremendous things and is VERY passionate about this. However, your analysis is flawed. We dont all have diseases/illness and therefore we cannot get involved like she did. A book agency would not sign someone who wants to write about autism for fun. Fox news would not interview some random kid who thinks autism is a problem, for example. You cannot claim that we are not passionate about volunteer, etc, just because it doesnt show up as passionate as someone who has personally suffered from the disease. Maybe nothing is as impressive as that, but unfortunetly, I cannot do something like that.</p>

14

<p>Will this guy be considered an international student? If so, he may want to check which schools allow internationals…</p>

15

<p>Kbbm24, of course I know that not everyone has a disease like that or could have those opportunities. But if everyone volunteers in a hospital, how can people be differentiated? Yes, maybe if you are applying to lower tier schools, these activities are good. But how does one show passion for shadowing doctors? What are they contributing? I don’t know, so please tell me.</p>

<p>Yes, I picked a bad example. Frankly, not too many people agree with me on the forums. But yoy have to realize, we’re talking about some of the most competitive programs - 1.5 percent Os hard to beat. And for every "very competitive resume on cc, there are probably 2 others that are better who don’t choose to post.</p>

<p>Take my advice with a grain of salt, because you guys definitely have a different viewpoint.</p>

16

<p>also, I disagree with most people who say that everything is a crapshoot at the top programs. To me, that’s a way of saying that they don’t have the stats or have already been denied to that School. I believe that admissions are sometimes unreliable, but you can do more to make yourself unique and different and increase your chances.</p>

<p>Miamidap, I really doubt that your daughter only shadowed and did hospital volunteering to get into 3 programs. Of that were the case, everyone would get into the top programs.</p>

17

<p>hey chemwiz, yea i see what your saying. All i meant was that you cant really point that out as a universal example of showing passion. Oh, your right about that shadowing, but I dont actually think a lot of kids who apply to direct programs shadow a ton. Anyways, thats not even a focus on my app.</p>

<p>I mean, do what you do, be passionate ,and be good at it is my view. I agree that volunteering/shadowing is very generic, but there are twists and various programs that show you put in more effort-which is something i have done.
But, chemwz, something I definitively agree with you about is the whole its a huge crapshoot. Sure it is very hard-the acceptance rate is lower than harvard-but if you focus your ec’s on medically related things and get good grades, sat’s, etc, then you will have a solid chance at at least one program</p>

18

<p>chemwz,
“Miamidap, I really doubt that your daughter only shadowed and did hospital volunteering to get into 3 programs.”

  • I never said that these were the only things that she did. But she was very regular “average” bs/md applicant who had taken care of her stats, did volunteering, shadowing and med. research, like the rest, was rejected from few places also. Sorry to dissapoint you. She did NOT get published, did NOT save humanity from Aids and malaria, did not organize major fundraising or anything else that would make her to “stand out”. She did not care to stand out, she was doing what she greatly enjoyed and learned great deal about medical field from prospective that you cannot gain in academics. She was very passionate about all her experiences while talking about them with me. I bet, that this passion came accross thru during her interviews, as she got acceptance to all programs that invited her to interviews, while rejections came before them. The spots are very limited, her UG had only 10 spots in bs/md. To fill these few spots with people who never cared to get involved in medically related EC’s to find out how they feel about proffession seems to me a waste of precious resources. I believe that these is type of thinking that leads admissions to consider medically related EC’s in applications very highly.
    I am not trying to convince anybody one way or another, I am just providing an example of successful applicant who also took care of applying widely and stayed flexible and open to all opportunites in every step.</p>
19

<p>MiamiDAP,</p>

<p>You didn’t disappoint me. All I was saying was that I couldn’t imagine that an applicant could get into three programs with only shadowing and hospital volunteering. You just confirmed that for me.</p>

20

<p>You have the stats, test scores and the extra curriculars. What a lot of people don’t realize with college admissions, and especially these combined 6/7/8 year programs is the fact that after a certain GPA/Test Score those don’t matter anymore. Think about it.</p>

<p>You need to realize that every (or almost every) kid applying to the Brown/USC/Northwestern programs have an SAT/ACT/SAT2 in the high 90 percentile. Of course they are taking every IB and AP course known to man, and of course they are doing a lot of extra curriculars.</p>

<p>What really matters is how you portray yourself. The personal statement and essay are a huge factor, and so is the content of your r</p>