Chance for lower-tier BS/MD's? - Page 2

MiamiDAP · 07-09-2012, 01:40 PM

"As for the low GPA, my high school is very rigorous. Getting a 3.64 is actually pretty difficult."

-Well, if you are ranked #1 in your class, then 3.64 is NO problem. If you are ranked top 2%, I would still say that 3.64 is not a problem. Anything below might be a problem. Consider that even for those who are #1, getting into ANY combined program is relatively close to winning a lottery, even for many who are coming from well known private prep. HSs. D. was accepted to half of the programs that she has applied after graduating #1 from private prep. HS She has applied to wide range that included several state publics (in-state). Not sure what outcome would have been if she applied only to very well known programs. However, getting into Med. Schools regular route is easier than getting into combined programs. So, you might consider that also.
There is no such thing as being overqualified for combined program or when applying to Med. School regular route. There are simply way too many applicants even to the lowest ranked schools.

inthelab · 07-09-2012, 03:09 PM

My graduating class consists of roughly 70 students, and I'd estimate my ranking to be 7th or 8th. My ranking would be higher, but there are a lot of really bright kids in my school. For example, of the 70 students, roughly 20 took the AMC, and of those 20, 7 qualified for the AIME. Of those 7, two qualified for USAMO.

My school usually sends many grads to top schools, if that helps.

Can anyone suggest a few BS(A)/MD's that are of a lower caliber or that don't weigh too much on GPA?

And I'd like to offer a tremendous thanks to everyone that has posted on this thread. It's been a huge help, guys.

neoevolution · 07-09-2012, 03:23 PM

They all use GPA and rank as a way to cut applicants from their pool. Acceptance rates are so low that they will ignore ECs if the numbers aren't up to par. In the northeast, easier programs IMO are AMC, UMDNJ, UConn. Even those will be very hard though unless you have a high class rank. If you aren't in the top 10%, it might kill your application. Some top colleges publish percentiles of their accepted students. They usually want top 5% and 10% is the lowest acceptable for those UGs, and programs will be similar.

MiamiDAP · 07-09-2012, 04:34 PM

Yes, they all are very selective. Try U of Toledo - it has 2 programs. One used to accept 10 and another 5. I do not think that they favor in-state too much. It might have changed from 5 years ago.
Do not stress too much. Although my D. was in a program, she has applied out "regular route". Believe me, it is easier to get accepted "regular route" than to get accepted to combined program. She is currently at Med. School that was originally her number one choice ever since HS and that originally rejected her pre-interview from its bs/md despite the fact that she was accepted to college with huge Merit award that was close to full tuition. Do not get discouraged, get high college GPA, decent MCAT, EC's and apply. As for the Med. School in D's program, it was also fine, but she did not like location of the school and ended up to be the only one who applied out.
Best wishes! Have great UG experience with lasting memories, it is the most important, happy person will have "happy" result at the end.

dineroman13 · 07-10-2012, 01:14 AM

@ilovelost, how am I troll? I never even said that inthelab was lying. I was merely pointing out the extreme discrepancies between his academic performance and his extracurriculars

ilovelost · 07-11-2012, 12:18 AM

The last word in your post was lie...

How are there discrepancies? He got a 34 on his ACT. How do you know how rigorous his school is? Maybe he can explain that in his interviews.

dineroman13 · 07-11-2012, 03:15 AM

Taking people out of context; cute. If you would actually read my post, you would see that I said
"That's either amazing, or just a flat out lie"

That comment was in response to inthelab saying he had done 500 hours of research/shadowing last summer

Seeing as summer break is around 10 weeks, this means he researched 50 hours a week. This is an extremely high amount and thus, I was skeptical

Yes, his academics and extracurriculars are very different
He was published, and yet he only managed to pull a 3.64
I don't care how "rigorous" or "hard" your school is. If you can get published, there should be no reason you're only pulling a 3.64

Also, how can one be "too good" for BS/MD programs? We're talking about the cream of the crop here. A 3.64 gpa with a 34 act is not "too good" for these programs. I'm sure inthelab will be accepted in to some, if not many of these programs, but by no means is he "too good"
That implies that he is applying to some of these programs as safeties, and, as we all know, there are no safeties in BS/MD programs

neoevolution · 07-11-2012, 01:04 PM

A 3.64 appears to be a lower GPA than 10%, but if it is on that mark or above it it can make a huge difference for your application. If you aren't top 10%, combined programs might not be possible for you, unless you have an instate program.

ilovelost · 07-12-2012, 12:52 AM

With your tone, it seems as if you don't believe him. First of all, inthelab how long is your summer vacation? How long did you work everyday?

Have you seen his AP scores? Even if he has a 3.64, his lowest was a 4. That was for like one or two of the ones he's taken. He's running out of APs to take. If this is the case, there has to be a reason for why his GPA is what it is. This kid isn't a joke and his test scores make that very evident. And how does having a 3.64 prevent a kid from getting published? Last time I checked, most journals don't ask for your high school GPA. No need to get riled up, but don't break him down because he wants to go somewhere. He will go somewhere because he's got a lot of what's required.

UMKC can be a safety. SLU can be a safety. If you have the stats, you can make certain schools your safety. Ask many in BS/MDs right now. They would say the same thing.

ilovelost · 07-12-2012, 12:54 AM

My apologies: his only 4 was in APUSH. Forgive him.
And his SAT scores? Those are just okay. -_-

dineroman13 · 07-12-2012, 01:50 AM

He said he worked 50 hours a week- thus I was extremely skeptical

I was skeptical at his post, I never said he was lying

inthelab was bright enough to get published in the journal of nuclear medicine. Surely he is smart enough to manage more than a 3.64 gpa?

While he has amazing extracurriculars, he does not have the stats to have BS/MD programs as safeties. With a 3.64, nothing is guaranteed with these programs

That being said, I'm sure he'll get in somewhere

sienabound · 07-12-2012, 10:31 AM

If you want to know for sure if your GPA will affect your chances, just call your admission reps at each school and explain to them about your high school's rigor. They're usually very friendly, will answer your questions, and may end up being one of the people interviewing you (can't tell you how happy I was when I walked in the room)

neoevolution · 07-13-2012, 01:23 AM

The 3.64 and potentially not being in the top 10% make it hard to say any program is a safety. Many use GPA to filter their apps, and the ones that really care about ECs like research still expect a high GPA. I think he'll get in somewhere too as long as he applies broadly, but calling any program a safety is tough.