Thanks for your help in narrowing BS/MD programs

[greatlakes]

Hi, I am a Junior in HS & am planning on applying to various BS/MD programs. I need you help in ranking them based on:

1. Likelihood of admission
2. Overall cost (including Med school)

I want to attend a school that will likely provide me grants / scholarships for my UG, and which has a lower med school COA, since I do not want to carry much debt upon graduation after 7-8 years of schooling (Max. debt < 150K).

I am currently a Michigan resident. I hear that at some med schools, it is easier to obtain state residency after the 1st year.

Not a member of URM (S Asian American, male).

Here is my stats:

GPA 3.94 (School does not rank)
ACT 36 (Writing 9/12)
SAT 2290 (CR+Math = 1530)
SAT (AP) – Chem 5
SAT II – Chem 790, Math II – 800, will take Physics B in May.
Current APs – Physics B, Calc BC, Econ (Macro + Micro)
Planned APs (Senior Year) – Biology, English, Physics C


Health / Medical ECs: Volunteer: By Oct. 2010, I expect to have about 100 - 120 Hrs at Red Cross, 100- 120 Hrs at local hospital.

Will be doing research at a local medical college lab during summer (roughly 200-240 Hrs), either helping post docs or doing my own summer project (subject to approval).
I may also shadow my family doctor for 30 – 40 Hrs & other doctors, based on their availability.

BS/MD programs under consideration:

1. Ohio State
2. Wayne State
3. South Alabama
4. Toledo
5. Kentucky
6. Alabama (B'ham)
7. Miami (FL)
   
8. Northwestern
9. Baylor
10. Virginia Commonwealth
11. Case Western Reserve
12. Penn State
13. St. Bonaventure / GWU
14. NEOUCOM
15. Pittsburgh
16. Drexel

Thanks in advance for your assistance.

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[schrizto]

It looks like you have a lot of BS/MD programs in Ohio on your list, so you might want to add Cincinnati's program on there.

You will definitely get merit scholarships for undergrad at many of these schools based on your stats. Case I believe would award $27500/yr, Pitt full tuition, the others (Drexel, Bama, etc) I'm not too sure how much their merit awards are but I know they give them. At private schools such as Northwestern, it is hard to predict how much FA they will give you without knowing your financial situation.

Overall, a pretty reasonable list. It's actually not as top heavy (in terms of the hardest programs) as many BS/MD applicants' lists. Don't forget to consider some top schools without BS/MD programs too, as you have the numbers for them.

 

[greatlakes]

Thanks, my EFC is around $11000. Also, I forgot to add that I am likely to be named as a National Merit semi finalist in September.
Also I am told that USC might be a good fit.

 

[JPevzner]

bro, you have nothing to worry about. Your stats are ridiculous! mad props!

 

[vhstudent]

I'm not too sure about many of these schools, but I do know, since I live right here, that Northwestern is an excellent school. And considering your astounding stats, if they are true, you will not have much trouble getting into Northwestern, as my friends brother got in with a 33 ACT and 4.0.

But yeah, go to Northwestern, awesome campus, great football.

 

[greatlakes]

^^ All stats are true.

In talking to many of the BS/MD admission folks, I am told that my stats are within the ball park of admitted students. However, many HS weight their GPA while mine does not. In a few cases, the admitted students had GPA greater than 4.0!. My GPA, though being within the range, may be a handicap, considering that perhaps 10-20 students/yr/univ. get admitted at many of these programs. Also, I was told that I need to work on shadowing Drs & performing research. Don't know if 30-40 Hrs (of shadowing) is enough.

So far, I think I may get close to a full ride at colleges that offer merit aid to National Merit finalists, assuming that I get to be one of the chosen ones (hoping my essay & HS sponsorship etc. are OK.).

Univ. of Kentucky's med school's COA will be quite burdensome since I heard from their admin folks that getting state residency is extremely hard. I also heard that U of Alabama (B'ham) will be difficult for getting in-state tuition for their med school; just don't know how difficult though. This info is hard to come by & Admin folks can't seem to offer straight answers (guess there may be other factors in determining state residency).

I am hoping that folks (on this forum) who have experience with obtaining state residency for med school can offer some guidance.

 

[Thisjatti]

I'm a Virginian Resident and have known about VCU BS/MD for my entire life. It's really not worth it. The constituencies to stay in the program are crazy. You have to take courses that really have nothing to do with the MCAT (2 years of physics based calc). You have to have a 3.3 GPA in all courses or you are out. VCU BS/MD isn't even that great. I mean, if you're looking for a prestigious residency, forget about it, because VCU MS/BD isn't a Tier 1 or 2 college.

The worst part about it is that it's extremely hard to get into. I think that the entirety of VA applies there. I'm not even looking at it.

Your stats are awesome, I would go for Northwestern or Baylor. Apply to all of them, and see where you get in!

Best of luck!

 

[schrizto]

I think since many of the responses in this thread are by high school students they are being overly positive about Northwestern HPME and Rice/Baylor (what you probably meant by Baylor). Many applicants to HPME or Rice/Baylor will have stats like the OP's, and during the interview stage you'll need to distinguish yourself in a way other than numbers.

I'm a Virginian Resident and have known about VCU BS/MD for my entire life. It's really not worth it. The constituencies to stay in the program are crazy. You have to take courses that really have nothing to do with the MCAT (2 years of physics based calc). You have to have a 3.3 GPA in all courses or you are out. VCU BS/MD isn't even that great. I mean, if you're looking for a prestigious residency, forget about it, because VCU MS/BD isn't a Tier 1 or 2 college.

The worst part about it is that it's extremely hard to get into. I think that the entirety of VA applies there. I'm not even looking at it.

Your stats are awesome, I would go for Northwestern or Baylor. Apply to all of them, and see where you get in!

Best of luck!

If you're saying that, I don't think you know anything about medical school admissions. Even for the traditional route, you have to take lots of courses that have nothing to do with the MCAT. And going to VCU med will not hurt you in getting a competitive residency.

 

[Thisjatti]

I mean I'm not trying to knock VCU BS/MD, but I do know many many people that are in that program, a few that are seriously dissatisfied with it.

If the OP's stats are that great, why not go for a better BS/MD program? VCU is not a great school, and that's widely known. Their Medical school is by no means "bad" but it's "average" in the med school world.

And though there are many people that say that school prestige has nothing to do with residency program, to a certain extent, I'm sure it does.

In the end it's up to them, but that's my two cents.

 

[greatlakes]

I am trying to collect information on:

% of medical graduates (of schools in my list) admitted to their first choice (or one of their top 3 choices) residency program

I could not find it in US News' latest premium online edition. I looked up a couple of med school's web sites & could not find it either. Any suggestions where this information can be found? Thanks.

BTW, my stats are nothing great as compared to some of the cohorts who apply to such (BS/MD) programs. I am beginning to realize that many state schools prefer their own state students, which makes admissions even tougher.

 

[Thisjatti]

I am beginning to realize that many state schools prefer their own state students, which makes admissions even tougher.

Couldn't be more true for VCU! But I'm not knowledgeable on the rest.

 

[schrizto]

I could not find it in US News' latest premium online edition. I looked up a couple of med school's web sites & could not find it either. Any suggestions where this information can be found? Thanks.

You paid for the US News premium online edition for medical schools? IMO, waste of money. If you really want a useful guide to BS/MD programs, buy the latest edition of the MSAR. It doesn't have % getting first choice residency stats though.

 

[greatlakes]

I agree MSAR is a great reference book.

Also, I think Thisjatti may have a point about % graduates admitted to their choice of residency program as perhaps one of the factors to consider in ranking MD programs. The others that are important for me are (i) the probability (or chance %) of (my) getting admitted to BS/Md programs listed and (ii) net COA. Is there anything else I need to consider at this point?

 

[greatlakes]

Hey guys, I still need your help / suggestions in ranking the following schools so as to come up with a manageable list.

Is it reasonable to apply to, say, 6-8 BS/MD programs so as to get into at least 1 of them?

Please note that I also need to apply to other regular colleges too.

The current list (not in any order of preference)

1. Ohio State (legacy)
   
2. Wayne State (in-state)
   
3. South Alabama
4. USC
   
5. Toledo
6. Kentucky
7. Alabama (B'ham)
8. Cincinnati
   
9. Miami (FL)
   
10. Northwestern
11. Baylor/Baylor
    
12. Virginia Commonwealth
13. Case Western Reserve
14. Penn State
15. St. Bonaventure/GWU
16. NEOUCOM
17. Pittsburgh
18. Drexel

 

[schrizto]

Hey guys, I still need your help / suggestions in ranking the following schools so as to come up with a manageable list.

Is it reasonable to apply to, say, 6-8 BS/MD programs so as to get into at least 1 of them?

Please note that I also need to apply to other regular colleges too.

It's pretty common for BS/MD applicants to apply to a lot of schools. Usually applying to 14, 15 colleges is reasonable (disregard the people who say "OMG THAT'S SOOOOO MANY!" to anyone who says they applied to more than 10 schools). Just make sure it's a number you can manage, which may be different for different people.

 

[greatlakes]

^^ Thanks. I have to figure out how many recs will my GC & teachers be willing to send. In addition, all those essays!. Plus the regular colleges for admissions. May have to whittle this list down.

 

[schrizto]

^^ Thanks. I have to figure out how many recs will my GC & teachers be willing to send. In addition, all those essays!. Plus the regular colleges for admissions. May have to whittle this list down.

Some GCs do balk at a certain number of applications from one person. As for teachers it doesn't really matter, at least at my hs. The teacher wrote one rec and gave it to the guidance office to photocopy.