<p>How does it compare to rice baylor and the likes?</p>
<p>in my opinion, its not nearly as strong as R/B or NU-not only based on reputation-but based on the opportunities. Its a really small program, but is actually fairly good-and for some reason I dont think as many peopel apply to it-i think if your interested in research/MD-PHD then its really strong.</p>
<p>I’ve heard they’re going through some issues with the program, but I don’t have enough information to tell you about it. Just be aware of this and look into the program a little closely.</p>
<p>kbbm24, why do you say the reputation is not as strong as Rice/Baylor? Caltech is ranked ahead of Rice (for undergraduate schools) and UCSD is ranked ahead of Baylor (for medical school research rankings). Maybe I am missing something though.</p>
<p>bsmd11, it would be great if you had any more details. I’m sorry to press, it’s just that the “issues” could really be anything.</p>
<p>684149, where else have been admitted already? ABout various programs, some programs are not that popular regardless of ranks – e.g., WUSTL</p>
<p>toughyear, I haven’t been admitted to any BS/MD programs yet, I’m still in the process of interviews. Why do you think some of the programs w/ better schools (ig. Caltech, WUSTL) aren’t as popular? I’m trying to find out if there is some inherent flaw that I am missing.</p>
<p>^ bs/md programs are so small that it just does not make a statistical sense for open discussions in an open public forum. it is like helping your opponents in a sports game with tips and information. also, as some folks said in other threads, this bs/md combined program appears to cater to a single ethnic group predominantly (indians – r u one?). This is a very peculiar phenomenon. some programs are not popular because there really is not much ‘benefit’ for being in the program than the more free, premed course of undergrad education — for the psychological loss of freedom that the rigid requirements place on the students, there really isn’t much of a benefit – if you are so committed to medicine, wouldn’t you not be ‘naturally’ passionate and active about clinical experiences and volunteer services and medical researches etc.? some programs are too small such as 5 or so to 10 or so to even mention them in a public forum. if you go to harvard or yale where the average gpa is 3.6 or higher, an average gpa there basically puts youin a qualified pool of applicants, gpa wise, to good medical schools. why would you limit or sacrifice your top notch undergraduate experience for this so-called ‘security’? there is good reason why kids through premed route will tend to perform better in the long run … if you consider this: the same kid – will he do better in college after going through a compettive high school or after attending a sleepy rural high school where he is val working only fractionally as hard as he would had he been in a competitive school? Well, my post became long without addressing your question, but in a way answered it already tho – that some of these programs are way way too small for an open public discussion. some programs kids will be highly qualified for regular, prestigious premed schools where one can get the ‘quality’ undergraduate experience AND attend a top notch medical school.</p>
<p>toughyear, thanks for sharing your views. No, I am not Indian (are you?) Defiantly, if o get into Harvard, I would go there. Still, Caltech is a pretty good school. At Caltech UCSD allows you to apply to other medical schools. I don’t plan to slack off, its more for peace of mind. Also, most programs are done with interviews, so there is not much need to be worried about the competition.</p>
<p>Caltech/UCSD is a great program! the WUSTL program isn’t discussed as much because it is not a BA/MD program in the traditional sense due to the high requriements to remain in the program (3.8/36). </p>
<p>The reason the Caltech program is not widely discussed is because it is a VERY small program (6/year I believe) and Caltech is already extremely hard school to get admitted to that looks for a unique pool of students that is different from what traditional big name Ivy League schools look for. Furthermore, Caltech is suited only for some specific types of students as well – at just 200-300 students per class, it offers something very different from a traditional large urban university.</p>
<p>As for ba/md programs, of course totally up to personal choice, but I know students who have turned down HYPS for ba/md and I know students who have done the opposite as well. And yes a good number of people will get into great med schools after HYPS for undergrad but no, not everyone at HYPS schools get into amazing medical schools or medical schools at all right after undergrad. Check out the med school websites for very “low-end” med schools and you will regularly see students from Ivy league undergrads in their class profile. I also know many students from top institutions who take a year or 2 off to do research and such before applying to medical school. Not a bad choice and definitely will help them be more mature and such in medical school, but for me personally, I would rather start medical school when I am at 20 rather than 25 (the average age of the starting medical student across the US is 24-25). Just some things I think people should consider before going with or against the ba/md route</p>
<p>684149, let me clarify. When you think of the top combined programs, caltech/ucsd isnt really ever in the discussion-because it’s so small. Obviously, both institutions are great, but the program doesnt have as big of a reputation. Like, for example, the program isn’t even in the MSAR book for combined programs. This program seems really appealing for students interested in an MD-PHD bc both are great research institutions. But I still think even though the ranks might be just as good/better, NU HPME and rice/baylor are far better programs. The opportunities HPME provides and the program itself is extremely solid</p>
<p>684149, did you have interview or did you get admission, or how did your interview go? did you also have interviews at other combined programs? according to other posts on this board, some programs already sent out decisions (such as AMC and Rochester), some yet to have interviews (RPI-AMC) and some in the process of interview/decisions (NU). How was your experience in the interviews you already have?</p>
<p>yea, I already had my interviews. I think they went well, the questions weren’t too hard. Anyways, I still have yet to find out about if I get invited for Rice/Baylor interviews. I’m trying to find out if it’s worth the money to fly out there (to Baylor) if I get into Caltech/UCSD. How about you?</p>
<p>^684149, my last child has yet a few years to go before applying … and thus i have been reading posts in this board with interest, including yours. i believe rice/baylor is pretty comparable rank wise, but perhaps with a different emphasis — research vs. primary care. please post back when you hear the decision and perhaps, if it is ok with you, with some stats and experiences.</p>
<p>Toughyear, I couldn’t disagree with you more. As the son of a Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) alum who switched out of Brown PLME after three years of med school because it was too research and theory based, I can personally attest to the fact that BCM will emphasize bread and butter medicine over research. My father’s first day at BCM was in the ER, and there was a patient who had a gunshot wound who needed to be sewn up after surgery. My father didn’t know how to suture, so his supervisor told him to go to the butcher shop and buy a pig’s foot, take a suture kit, and practice sewing it up. There’s just a different feeling there than there is at a place where the most hands on you will get is an electronic dummy which simulates what a patient will be like, and I strongly believe BCM is one of the places which still passes the experience to med students.</p>
<p>Great program, but very hard to get into.</p>