<p>I didn't see any discussion on the MSP, is it because the high requirement on GPA and MCAT?
My son just got interview notice, any one know how many candidates are invited for interview each year? And how many will be finally accepted?</p>
<p>The requirements are indeed very high. I do not know about 3.8 at WUSTL, but getting MCAT=36 is not that common and very hard, including top kids.</p>
<p>Is competition for this program less tougher than other BS/MD program because of this reason?</p>
<p>It’s because it’s not a real BS/MD program. In reality, a BS/MD program wouldn’t have such high requirements - really, any requirements at all. If you look at schools like Northwestern, Rice/Baylor, or Case Western, they only have very minimal GPA requirements, but not high ones, not an MCAT requirement, and certainly not an MCAT requirement of 36 - very, very high. That’s not a guarantee, in my mind.</p>
<p>“really, any requirements at all.”</p>
<p>-I disagree. I know that most (all?) have resonably high requirements for GPA. Some do not require MCAT at all, some do. Yes, requirement for MCAT usually is not that high. However, specifically for PPSP at Case, while MCAT is not required, if you take it, you need to get 32 (not that low at all). If you do not take it at Case, you are not considered for Merit scholarship. So, here you go. Most (all?) have requirement for GPA. It is not that high, but resonably high. In the program that D. is in, it is 3.45 with MCAT requirement of 27 (very reasonable). These are for comparison, if you curious. With 3.8 / 36 you can apply and get accepted at any Med. School in the USA (that’s not a guarantee, but very reasonable assumption). These are very high.</p>
<p>Is it true that the med school only look at GPA and MCAT? Do they look at research and other ECs? </p>
<p>From the med school statistics, WUSTL is the highest, GPA 3.89, MCAT 38.
<a href=“http://www.startmedicine.com/app/medstatistics.asp?iMD=Y&iDO=Y&iSO=MC&iST=&iCO=&cSU=++Refresh+School+Info++[/url]”>http://www.startmedicine.com/app/medstatistics.asp?iMD=Y&iDO=Y&iSO=MC&iST=&iCO=&cSU=++Refresh+School+Info++</a></p>
<p>Compare to those statistic, their BS/MD has lower requirement. But still harder than other school.</p>
<p>It’d definitely the high gpa and mcat requirements. The point of a bs-md program is to reduce stress and secure a spot at a medical school at the age of 17 or 18. The 36 MCAT and 3.8 at WUSTL (which is a solid university) don’t reduce stress or guarantee a spot. </p>
<p>That’s why the program isn’t as popular. Of course, if a person is brilliant then this program could be an amazing way to secure a spot at a top 5 medical school.</p>
<p>pitt requires 3.75 gpa, no mcat, medical school’s rank is ok, but UG sucks (i mean rank)</p>
<p>I was accepted into WUSTL’s program last year with a half-scholarship. </p>
<p>I didn’t attend, but I was very impressed by the program during my stay during the interviews. I know the others who had also gotten in felt the same as well. It’s definitely a very unique program run by top-notch people. It should not be dismissed as “not a real BS/MD program”.</p>
<p>Answering your question, the numbers they disclosed to us were:
1700 applicants
20 interviewed
6 or 7 accepted</p>
<p>Hope that helps.</p>
<p>celery,</p>
<p>Which school are you at now?
Are you in BS/MD program?</p>
<p>Thanks</p>
<p>"Of course, if a person is brilliant then this program could be an amazing way to secure a spot at a top 5 medical school. "</p>
<p>-it is very hard to get 36 including “brilliant” persons. These requirement does not secure a spot at all. Nobody could be sure that they get 36. 3.8 is a bit more reasonable, but again it depends on school, and 3.8 at WUSTL might be just as hard as MCAT 36. However, it is personal decision.</p>
<p>Celery, thank you for giving me the info. I am also curious which program you finally chose?</p>
<p>^HPME 10char</p>
<p>Yes… What ViggyRam said.</p>
<p>On a similar note, why isn’t there much discussion on the Caltech/UCSD med school program in this subforum? They don’t have a MCAT requirement.</p>
<p>celery, can you tell us your strong status for HPME?</p>
<p>celery, if you do not want post stats, can you point what most important achievement let you in HPME or Case?</p>
<p>Normally Case will give lots meri scholarship, did you get any meri scholarship from northwestern?</p>
<p>People who knock WashU’s program because of its “high requirements” don’t understand the nature of admissions to top medical schools.</p>
<p>For applicants to top tier med schools, GPA and MCAT are usually not the barriers. There are plenty of people smart enough to get a 3.8 in college and a 35+ on the MCAT who can’t get into a top 5 med school. The barrier is that they have to excel in the subjective portions of the application: the essay, interview, personal statement, recs, and extracurriculars. I have classmates who were Division 1 athletes, Rhodes Scholars, founded their own companies, published books, etc. Living in an remote African village for two years as a Peace Corps member is a lot harder than getting a 36 on the MCAT. </p>
<p>What the WashU program does is eliminate that subjective portion of the admissions process. It mandates that you are done after you get a 3.8 and a 36. While those requirements seem high, as someone who got into 5 out of 25 medical schools (applying to mostly top tier schools) with a 3.9+/37, I would’ve begged to have such a number-focused way to get into med school.</p>
<p>So, don’t knock the WashU program. Very few BS/MD programs feature a chance to get into such a top notch med school.</p>
<p>Is there anyone going to the interview in March?</p>
<p>norcal, are you kidding me? its the exact opposite in my opinion. For several people, gettinga 36 and maintaining a high GPA while pursuing these activities is hard. The majority of ppl who dont apply to med school dont apply bc of their grades/mcat, not becuase of EC. not only that, but for me, at least, ba/md programs are attractive because you can focus on things you would not pursue otherwise-things like political science, history, etc. Washu’s program, in my opinion, is nothing compared to something like HPME.</p>