Med School App Stats at BC?

bluebayou · 10-04-2009, 02:32 PM

anyone know where to find the "success" rate of the premed curriculum at BC? I realize that BC uses a Committee to pre-screen (and eliminate?) candidates, but does BC publish the numbers anywhere?

TheDukeofEarl · 10-05-2009, 12:50 PM

From what I recall reading elsewhere, something like 76% of BC pre-med undergrads get into the medical school of their choice. This may be partly due to the fact that BC does pre-screen who can be "pre-med". I can tell you that the support system for pre-meds at BC is top-notch, in fact it is UNBELIEVABLE. Seminars, ongoing advising, help planning your courses, hepl getting the right kinds of internships, and when the time comes you get help with the application process, etc.

worried_mom · 10-05-2009, 01:00 PM

I haven't seen anything recently, but this article from 2007 does give specific acceptance rates:

University Pre-Medical Program Enrollment Continues to Grow

Perhaps some else has the stats for last year's class.

roamingcooks · 10-24-2009, 09:10 AM

I can confirm DukeofEarl's comments. My D is a freshman and has already met with her med school advisor twice, and they have been at school for 6 weeks!! They have created a list of med schools based on her interests, state residency (state schools of course, being cheaper) and outlined a course curriculum at BC based on those med school requirements. Evidently theschool requirements vary slightly. So I would have to rate the advising as fantastic, D has a resource who is really engaged and accessible.

bluebayou · 10-24-2009, 10:56 AM

that's good to hear. Of course, the premed curriculum and timing is pretty basic, for 90% of the schools. And the rest just add English & Math and perhaps a language or additional science course.

It's my impression that liberal arts advising is poor at best -- lucky to find an advisor in your intended major -- and most of it is word of mouth from upper classmen.

worried_mom · 10-24-2009, 05:57 PM

bluebayou, what gives you that impression?

My son is a sophomore in A&S and his experience at BC has been quite the opposite. In addition to his freshman advisor (from his freshman topic seminar), he was assigned a Math Dept. advisor as soon as he declared his major. Admittedly, his freshman advisor -- who was from the theology dept. and fairly new to BC himself -- was not able to give him much help on choosing classes and other academic questions (although my son says that he was helpful in other areas). But he is very happy with his math dept. advisor and sees him frequently.

bluebayou · 10-24-2009, 06:49 PM

IMO, a college that prides itself to be a liberal arts college should be embarrassed by such a Frosh experience...but I'm afraid it's all too common.

Quote:

Admittedly, his freshman advisor -- who was from the theology dept. and fairly new to BC himself -- was not able to give him much help on choosing classes and other academic questions...

worried_mom · 10-24-2009, 07:09 PM

You're right, poor advising is all too common at many schools. Both of my nieces -- one is a senior at a top 20 "liberal arts university" and one is a junior at small LAC -- have complained about poor advising, not only in the schools overall but in their academic departments (English and music, respectively) as well.

BC probably should not have put that faculty member as a freshman advisor, but I imagine it came about because he was teaching a freshman topic seminar (which automatically makes him the advisor for all the freshman taking that seminar). But within his major, my son's advisor has been able to give him very helpful info on course selection and potential career paths.

tarkman · 10-26-2009, 08:34 PM

I note the comments here gloss over the fact that BC SCREENS who can apply as a premed..that's a BIG caveat there...and what, praytell is the GPA minimum? 3.5? That's what it is at most of these supposedly "great " premed programs. Whenever schools tout their supposed "fantastic" acceptance rates, that's when you know to turn off the volume. Look for the schools where they DON'T have GPA minimums for premed committees, there are a lot..generally,they are the top 15 USNWR schools..they don't HAVe to lie to get applicants. You could say, well yeah, someone with a 2.8 GPA shouldn't be applying ANYWAY..but that's not the point. You want to know the strength of the premed program..if a 2.8 can apply with letters of rec from the committee, that school must be pretty confident, right? I know from experience folks who got into med schools w/ 2.8s. ANd they weren't from BC .

ColdCase · 10-27-2009, 07:51 AM

I'm not sure if BC screens applicants like JH and others, but BC works pretty hard with individuals to get their GPAs up to the minimum needed for the med school of their choice, even post graduation. BC seems to care more about the student than stats, but they also may spin the stats to attract the best students.

bluebayou · 10-27-2009, 12:05 PM

tarkman:

all schools spin their data bcos it's to their advantage to do so. But the raw numbers themselves are meaningless without context, regardless of whether a college prescreens its apps or not.

For example, what's included in the definition of "med school"? Allopathic only? DO? Offshore? What about the denominator? Seniors only? What about grads 1-2 years out? Post-BAC students?

And, your anecdotes notwithstanding, is that 2.8 a hooked candidate?