Seeking Advice: BS/MD Programs

[PV15]

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Hey all!

I'm a junior and I'm thinking about applying to some BS/MD 7 or 8 year programs. I just wanted to put out some activities I do, and see if I should expand on them and see if I'm in a good spot.

- Free Health Clinic – Shadowing/Intern
Shadowing several medical students and physicians every week. Tasks involve observing physicals, as well as observing appointments and medical practices. Services are provided regardless of financial background. Learning medical terminology as well as practices.

There are some other volunteering/awards things I did, but I didn't want this to be a thread where I boasted my academics for a "chance me". I'll add it in if any replies suggest that I do.

And that's about it! It would be greatly appreciated for the help!! I thought of doing more research and volunteering at hospitals but most of them did get canceled due to COVID-19.

 

[EdgeTrimmer]

What's your UW GPA? you can do well in SAT II chem without AP chem if you self study. Try a practice exam. Do you have any in-state BSMD programs? As you know most BSMD programs are very expensive and less than 5% of medical school admissions are thru BSMD route.

 

[EdgeTrimmer]

Hey,

Our school doesn't do a UW so I don't exactly know. My state has a BS/MD program at BU, however, like you said it's very expensive.
Here's a list of programs I plan on applying to.

Case Western (BS/MD)
Rutgers (BS/MD)
Penn State (BS/MD)
UConn (BS/MD)
UPitt (GAP)
RPI/Albany College (BS/MD)

And ofc, pre-med colleges. Do you think I have a relative chance?

Without SAT II and details about your research and medical ECs hard to give a recommendation. If you have 750+ SAT IIs and you badly want to BSMD, apply broadly. Given that most take 10-25 students only it's hard to predict.

 

[EdgeTrimmer]

Ah ok thank you!
I have a shadowing experience but I can add some others.

Awards (these probably mean nothing):
- Finalist in Oratorical Declamation at George Mason University Patriot Games National Speech and Debate Tournament
- State Champion in Multiple Reading for Massachusetts Speech and Debate League
- Double Octofinalist in Dramatic Performance at 46th Annual Harvard National Forensics Tournament
- 7th Place in Oratorical Declamation for Massachusetts State Speech and Debate League
- 1st Place in Oratorical Declamation for Needham Speech and Congress Tournament
- Varsity Letter in Shrewsbury High School Swim and Dive Team
- President of Junior States of America School Chapter
- Highest Honors in School Honor Roll

Medical Related:
- Free Health Clinic – Shadowing/Intern
Shadowing several medical students and physicians every week. Tasks involve observing physicals, as well as observing appointments and medical practices. Services are provided regardless of financial background. Learning medical terminology as well as practices.

Volunteering:
Mustard Seed – Soup Kitchen Volunteer
Volunteer every Friday for people who are impoverished. Serving food and drink.

Whitney Place – Organizer, Pianist, and Vocalist
Volunteer for a singing program every month alongside little kids. Singing for elders in senior centers.

Middle School Speech Team – Coach
Coach for the Oak Middle School Speech Team. Training done every week for middle schoolers

Can you volunteer at free clinic?
RPI/AMC is a physician scientist program so you need to have research experience.
Speech and Debate experience should help with interview skills
Get 750+ in SAT IIs.

are you an ORM?

 

[EdgeTrimmer]

Yeah, I’m an ORM. I mostly shadow at the free clinic so I have a lot of hands on experience

shadowing means observation not hands on.

 

[EdgeTrimmer]

oh lol my bad. But yeah I have that. Is there anything else?

Clinical volunteering i.e. interaction with patients.

 

[longhaul3]

Hey,

Our school doesn't do a UW so I don't exactly know. My state has a BS/MD program at BU, however, like you said it's very expensive.
Here's a list of programs I plan on applying to.

Case Western (BS/MD)
Rutgers (BS/MD)
Penn State (BS/MD)
UConn (BS/MD)
UPitt (GAP)
RPI/Albany College (BS/MD)

And ofc, pre-med colleges. Do you think I have a relative chance?

I don't know much about BS/MD programs, but I know that if you're smart enough to get into one, you're smart enough to get into med school the usual way (that's the whole point). Therefore I wouldn't recommend committing to any BS/MD program that isn't affiliated with a really good med school that you would be excited to attend if you applied normally. Pitt is a great med school. Case is a really good med school. The rest on your list are kind of so-so; if you can get into them now, you're likely to be able to get into them if you apply normally.

By taking the BS/MD, unless it's one where you can apply to other med schools, you're shutting yourself out of top-tier med schools (Pitt is the only one on the list that I would say is really outstanding). Even if you end up at a program that allows you to apply out, you won't be at a premed powerhouse school that you could probably get into for college without the BS/MD. Then you'd be competing against people from the Harvards of the world.

What are you thinking college-wise aside from BS/MD?

 

[EdgeTrimmer]

Yeah, I oftentimes interact with foreign patients because of the language barrier and I usually help around with them

so you are an interpreter? You can show that as clinical volunteering.