How can I get into a 7 year medical program?

NewJerseyGirl3 · 04-01-2012, 08:49 PM

I'm an incoming freshman and I'm really nervous about entering high school because I dream of getting into a great medicine program and I know it'll be very difficult. Next year I will be taking Honors Physics, Algebra 2 Honors, Mandarin 2 or 3, Honors US History, English Honors and band. What extracurriculars would look really good on my application? What would make me a shoe-in for these programs? What should my main priorities be in High School? I'm very interested in either joining the tennis team or marching band, Which one would look best? Would science olympiad help? I was on the middle school team and we almost made it to Nationals.

Und3rC0ver · 04-01-2012, 09:27 PM

Though I am not really fully qualified to make these suggestions as a mere high school Junior, I do have a friend who entered the Brown PLME program last year and was also accepted to the 8-Year one at Rice and the 7-Year one at Northwestern, and I know her pretty well.

#1: You are an incoming freshman!
In terms of activities... Do what you like! It shows! My friend started an Eco Club and cut down our school's carbon footprint by 35% while also being a Girls Scout. If you like tennis, play tennis (I play it and love it). If you like Science Olympiad, by all means try and excel in it. Do what you want, but just try to excel. If there is something you can do to help the team, do it; take leadership;become the best.

#2: Keep your grades up.
Your class schedule seems on par; try to schedule AP classes your Sophomore and Junior years, and get A's. These programs are HIGHLY COMPETITIVE. The acceptance rates are comparable to those of the Ivy Leagues, and one can only be a "shoe-in" if they have done something absolutely world changing.

#3. Don't Worry
You are just a freshman. Through high school you'll make many mistakes and have many good successes as well. If you just try your best and stay focused you will definitely get into a great school. Also , remember that 7 and 8 year programs aren't the only option. There are many people who go to a regular undergrad, do well, and go to med school anyway.

Your opinions will change, your career paths will turn over like leaves in the evanescent wind. But you seem like a very determined person, and those are the kind of people who succeed in life, which is a lot more than just college admissions.

tropicalfruits · 04-01-2012, 11:25 PM

Simple:

Keep your grades high
Get a pretty decent score on the ACT, like 30-36
Do some extracurricular that you enjoy, with some medical stuff as well

and..relax. Just work hard.

neoevolution · 04-02-2012, 12:01 AM

Take all the Honors and AP classes you can without hurting your GPA, do very well on the SAT and subject tests, try to find research, try to work as a volunteer EMT, shadow a physician, do some research, volunteer at a hospital.

I got around 7 interviews of 13 progs and got into BU 7-year and 2 other progs, and still was rejected from the 6 Ivies I applied to except for UPenn, so competitiveness cannot be directly compared to them.

NewJerseyGirl3 · 05-29-2012, 09:29 PM

Thank you all! This was very helpful

MiamiDAP · 06-06-2012, 12:41 PM

Pursue your personal interests in HS and make the top grades. Make sure to have good friends around you and spend time with them. Everything else in HS is secondary. If you have stats to apply to combined programs, do it. If not, try even harder at college and apply to Med. School regular route. Both ways are just fine. It is much easier to get into specific Med. School than bs/md that includes this Med. School. As couple of examples, it is much, much harder to get into PPSP at Case and HPME at Northwestern than to Case or Norhtwestern Med. Schools when applying regular route. However, there are advantages of being in the combined program. It is just way to early for you right now to focus so much on college. Do not miss out in your HS years, they will not come back.

Princess'Dad · 06-10-2012, 10:57 AM

Do you want to be a Doogie?

Seven year programs are great for those who want to go into research. But to be a doc, you really need to be a person. Go to a 4 year college and have fun and learn stuff outside of medicine!!!

MiamiDAP · 06-11-2012, 06:40 AM

^There is another option. There are bs/md programs that are 4 + 4. They allow regular college experience, including absolutely everything, minors, Greek, trip abroad, job, sport....whatever your heart desires to experience at cololege. But at the same time you have a guaranteed spot. Better yet, if program allow to apply out and retain your spot in bs/md, then you have the best of each world, bs/md and regular route.

neoevolution · 06-11-2012, 05:16 PM

I think a program should give me an easier time enjoying college. Getting a 3.2 GPA and 30 MCAT is a lot less stress than what I've seen traditional premeds get put through. Graduating a year sooner saves money and the general perception is that 3 years give you the bulk of the college experience and you have 4 years after anyway.

My prog requires premed classes, but I have more flexibility because my degree has no requirements other than those and Gen Ed, I don't need to take any classes for a bio or chem major for example.