Is it competitive?

[DrStraggler]

Advertisement - Members don't see this ad

I heard about this program where humanities/social sciences majors get a guaranteed spot at Mt. Sinai Medical School.

One of my two majors is History, so (seemingly) I fit into that category.

I'd probably be at around a 3.7-3.8 GPA coming from a lesser-known (yet still wonderfully awesome) university in the lower end of the National Universities US News List (we're still ranked though!!).

I'm not like "dying" to go to Mt. Sinai, but it sounds like a great program, but there seems to be like....1 webpage's worth information about it.

Do you guys know anything about application numbers? Is it like all ivy League/top 20 kids that get in?

Thanks !!

 

[SellerAl]

I heard about this program where humanities/social sciences majors get a guaranteed spot at Mt. Sinai Medical School.

One of my two majors is History, so (seemingly) I fit into that category.

I'd probably be at around a 3.7-3.8 GPA coming from a lesser-known (yet still wonderfully awesome) university in the lower end of the National Universities US News List (we're still ranked though!!).

I'm not like "dying" to go to Mt. Sinai, but it sounds like a great program, but there seems to be like....1 webpage's worth information about it.

Do you guys know anything about application numbers? Is it like all ivy League/top 20 kids that get in?

Thanks !!

I think I can speak for most of SDN when I say theres no such thing as a "guaranteed spot" anywhere

 

[Stumpyman]

Hey,

the program's called "Humed".... Here's a link to a thread of this year's applicants: http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=823677&highlight=Humed

In short: Yeah, it's pretty competitive. Most guaranteed acceptance programs are tough to get in, but you never know 'till you apply!

 

[ozzi22]

I think I can speak for most of SDN when I say theres no such thing as a "guaranteed spot" anywhere

It's guaranteed if you complete their requirements.

 

[Stumpyman]

I think I can speak for most of SDN when I say theres no such thing as a "guaranteed spot" anywhere

Well, there are over 1000 guaranteed spots in the nation...

 

[medsky]

i'm pretty sure you have to apply for the program while you're in high school.

 

[ozzi22]

i'm pretty sure you have to apply for the program while you're in high school.

or sophomore year of college

 

[Starlightembers]

You apply to the HuMed (Humanities in Medicine) program in the beginning of your sophomore or junior year of college.

If accepted, you only need to complete one year of Biology, one year of Chemistry and one semester of Organic Chemistry (all with B+s or above, I believe); in essence, you cut three classes out of the required premedical work. You are not permitted to to complete two semesters of Physics -- even if, for some reason, you wanted to. You also do not need to take the MCAT.

The average GPA and SAT (which they look at) are on their page. I do not know how hard it would be coming from a lower-ranked university; however, I have heard that they do love/prefer kids from Ivies and top-ranked LACs. High school grades are also looked at.

You mention one of your majors being History. If you are double/triple-majoring in a science, you are not eligible. They stress that they want to find students who truly do love the humanities and social sciences and, as a result, would prefer to spend less time in a lab; they do their best to pick out and reject those who just want the guaranteed admission for the sake of having it. Consequently, if you have done science research -- especially basic science research -- you may get an interview; but you are at a disadvantage.

Art and music activities are a major plus.

It is very competitive. A few years ago, the NYTimes decided to run an article on it. Every one and their second cousin now applies.

If you get in, you are required to do two Summers of academic and clinical enrichment activities.

If you wanted to take a year off between college and medical school, it would be very easy with the program; they, in fact, encourage it.

If accepted, you cannot apply out and retain your guaranteed admission.

Also, it is worth noting that, on the average, HuMed students are on par with their non-HuMed peers. They do score slightly lower on Step 1; however, they also score higher on Step 2 and are more likely to get AOA status (prestigious medical school honor society).

Hope that helps!

[Program Website]

 

[wanderer]

According to the same NY Times article, a lot of people have an in to that program, so yes it's super competitive if you're just a random person applying.

 

[Starlightembers]

According to the same NY Times article, a lot of people have an in to that program, so yes it's super competitive if you're just a random person applying.

What do you mean by "an in"? Though I have not read it in quite some time, I do not recall any mentions on the connections of students in the program.

 

[scarshapedstar]

What do you mean by "an in"? Though I have not read it in quite some time, I do not recall any mentions on the connections of students in the program.

Haha. I know a kid at Mt. Sinai. If his uncle was not a bigwig at Mt. Sinai, he would not be at Mt. Sinai. I also know a girl who's the fourth in her family to graduate from Tulane Med. Ain't news.

Not that connections always imply nepotism, mind you - it's also possible to do good work and get someone to put in a good word for you behind the scenes.

In any event, it's not that much of a mystery why an Ivy League-educated journalist working at the Paper of Record isn't going to be writing any hard-hitting exposes on clubby elite behavior. 🙄

 

[wanderer]

Oh yea, I have no idea if the nepotism is any worse than it is for their regular admissions or worse than med school classes overall. I remember there was one school I interviewed at where it seemed like a third of the students or faculty had a relative that was a med student or alumnus at that very school. It happens at every school; the question is to what degree.

 

[Espadaleader]

The program is changing too. It now requires one semester of Physics. Also, instead of the summer program covering Organic/Physics, it will cover Biochem/Physio etc.

 

[MegMurry]

I heard about this program where humanities/social sciences majors get a guaranteed spot at Mt. Sinai Medical School.

One of my two majors is History, so (seemingly) I fit into that category.

I'd probably be at around a 3.7-3.8 GPA coming from a lesser-known (yet still wonderfully awesome) university in the lower end of the National Universities US News List (we're still ranked though!!).

I'm not like "dying" to go to Mt. Sinai, but it sounds like a great program, but there seems to be like....1 webpage's worth information about it.

Do you guys know anything about application numbers? Is it like all ivy League/top 20 kids that get in?

Thanks !!

The two people I know at Mt. Sinai Med who went straight came from Duke and Harvard ug. no "ins" whatsoever.

You should be "dying" to get an acceptance to any med school of Mt. Sinai's caliber, let alone into a feeder program. As tap said, nothing is guaranteed when it comes to med school admissions.

 

[DrStraggler]

The two people I know at Mt. Sinai Med who went straight came from Duke and Harvard ug. no "ins" whatsoever.

You should be "dying" to get an acceptance to any med school of Mt. Sinai's caliber, let alone into a feeder program. As tap said, nothing is guaranteed when it comes to med school admissions.

I mean, I don't think anyone should be "dying" to go to a school just because of it's rankings. Honestly, I'd rather go to my state school, which is in the lower 70's, because I absolutely love the campus, than go to Columbia, or another school in the city, an environment that I don't like as much.

So nope, not into the rankings craze as much as other people are, like to see a school for it's entire picture, not just a number!!

And I have no idea if this preference thing has any merit, but I'd like to think that our current academic institutions are above just giving out spots to their friends or family.

 

[scarshapedstar]

The two people I know at Mt. Sinai Med who went straight came from Duke and Harvard ug. no "ins" whatsoever.

Any Harvard grad can get into Mt. Sinai, and any Andover grad can get into Harvard, and any... hey, wait a minute.