<p>I am suggesting that it is not easy to get into UCSD after undergrad elsewhere even with high stats like having an MCAT score of 40. </p>
<p>This is a different issue than how hard it is to get into a combined program now.</p>
<p>@texaspg
Agree that it is difficult to get in to med program regular route, so Stanfordready should really weigh his/her options carefully now that he/she has an admission for the combined program.</p>
<p>close your eyes and take UCSD if u want to me a physician for sure. if that is not what u want then take columbia.</p>
<p>@stanfordready, the question you need to ask yourself is whether you are sure you want to be a physician and whether you mind having to go through all the application process again in a few years time if you go into an UG program at Columbia. If you are sure you want to be a physician and want to avoid having to “waste” the time doing application again, then UCSD is better. However, if you have the slightest doubt at all on your intention to be a physician, play it safe and go to Columbia. Obviously it would mean that you will have to go through the medical school application process in a few years if you eventually still decide to do medicine, but this way keeps your options open. You should not be so simplistic as to compare the ranking of the medical schools, especially once you are in a top tier medical school, whether you are in the #1 or #15, it does not make much difference among academics. In fact, we have preference for certain medical school and a #1 ranked medical school may not be the #1 in some other physician’s book. Remember, ranking largely depends on NIH funding for research in the whole university. Even within that, different areas of research rank differently within individual schools. Therefore, a #1 rank school for research overall may not always be the #1 for research in, say, cancer medicine.</p>
<p>agree with the two parents above. If you are going to be doctor for sure then its crazy to turn down that program. If you are not sure, then Columbia is a great fall back to leave your options wide open.</p>
<p>IMGDAD and OhioParent558 are giving some darn good advice here.</p>
<p>Baylor2Baylor has sent notifications. Has anyone heard anything? PM me if you like.</p>
<p>At a large research university like Stony Brook, how do you know how much funding they receive specifically from NIH?</p>
<p>@TheBombingRange [Ranking</a> Tables of National Institutes of Health (NIH) Award Data 2010](<a href=“http://www.brimr.org/NIH_Awards/2012/NIH_Awards_2012.htm]Ranking”>http://www.brimr.org/NIH_Awards/2012/NIH_Awards_2012.htm) this website ranks the amount of NIH funding given per category to schools but it only lists the top 50 or 100, depending on which one you’re looking at</p>
<p>@Thebombingrange, saxplayer123 got it. The website is [Ranking</a> Tables of National Institutes of Health (NIH) Award Data 2006-2010](<a href=“http://www.brimr.org/NIH_Awards/NIH_Awards.htm]Ranking”>Home | Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research) for the recent years. You will realize that for each of the area of research, different universities rank differently. Harvard, Johns Hopkins, or Yale do not always rank in the top.</p>
<p>@Amodeum i heard back from baylor as well!</p>
<p>I know there are a lot of non-seniors asking for stats, i guess everyone will post it in the final decision thread, but here’s a general outline of my results. Gives you an idea of the competition.</p>
<p>Applied to 22 individual programs.
(Some of these in the count includes individual feeders.)
Interviewed at VCU GMED, SBU GW 8yr, RPI/AMC
Accepted and attending SBU GW 8 year program</p>
<p>So basically, 22 -> 3 -> 1</p>
<p>Phew</p>
<p>Thank you so much everyone who commented on my post. I looked over the Columbia pre med stats of acceptance to med schools and it indicates that the top 5% of the applicants do get into top 10 schools. Unfortunately the other 95% seem to be scattered across med schools all over the country. I am leaning toward the UCSD med program given the uncertainty in the Columbia route. As mentioned earlier, UCSD is the only BA/MD program that allows you to opt out of the program after BS without forfeiting your seat. So in case I apply out, I still keep my seat should I not be accepted to other higher ranked med schools. I love CC, it has come to my rescue numerous times. Looks like UCSD for me…thanks</p>
<p>Good decision Stanfordready! Look like i’ll see you there 
Btw did u recently get an email from one of your interviewers?</p>
<p>@collegekid - No email. </p>
<p>Btw I just accepted ucsd and ucsd med scholars.</p>
<p>Hey college kid789, did you get a spot? Are you planning on accepting it?</p>
<p>congrats stanfordready! What are the requirements to keep your UCSD med admission?</p>
<p>Can you please post a link for Columbia to med school admission stats? I have not seen any before and it would be interesting to see such data.</p>
<p>@texaspg thx</p>
<p><a href=“http://meded.ucsd.edu/groups/med-scholars/prereqs.html[/url]”>http://meded.ucsd.edu/groups/med-scholars/prereqs.html</a></p>
<p>You can request the columbia stats directly from their pre health advising dept (the data is not publicly available).</p>
<p>Sounds like UCSD has 3.5 for both Caltech and UCSD. </p>
<p>Does Columbia provide the data only to admitted students?</p>
<p>And the 5-10% accept number does not include admits to their own med school. So overall acceptance would be higher than the 5-10%.</p>