*** BS/MD Results For Class Of 2016***

Roentgen
Fri, 12 Aug 2016 18:47:21 +0000

Hey guys, I wanted to post an applicant result from this past 2015-2016 cycle who was kind enough to type this out and for contribution to the College Confidential forum. Some really great advice was given on really doing your research into the medical schools that are involved and take part in these combined programs.

State: California
Gender: Female
Ethnicity: Asian-American (Taiwanese)
Income: >150k
Hooks: I stood out a bit because I didn’t do typical BS/MD applicant stuff, such as research or academic ECs, but instead focused a lot of my time on community service. Also I had good grades despite not as great test scores, which probably made them do a double take.

GPA: 4.0 (UW), 4.9444 (W)
Class Rank: No ranking (but unofficially 1/550)

ACT: 33 Subscores: Science (34), English (31), Reading (35), Math (32), Writing (36)
SAT: 2180 (highest in 1 sitting… superscore 2220 only)
SAT Subject Tests: Chemistry: 730, Math 2: 720, Chinese: 800

**AP Exam scores/b:
U.S. History - 4, Chemistry - 4, Psychology - 5, Language & Composition - 5, Human Geography - 5, Chinese - 5

Senior Year AP courses taken:
Physics 1, Calculus AB, English Literature & Composition, Statistics, Macroeconomics, US Government

Teacher Recommendations:
Really great! My Psychology teacher knew me very well due to club stuff and he said he wrote the best rec letter he has ever written in his entire career. My English teacher also wrote a good one.

Major ECs:

[Organization to help children with physical deformities] SoCal Region: Chair

[Organization to help children with physical deformities] National: National Leadership Council

[Organization to help children with physical deformities] Club: Treasurer, Activities Director

California Scholarship Federation: President, Treasurer

Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA): President, Vice President

Chinese/JTASA Club: President, Treasurer

Autism Youth Ambassadors Club: President, Secretary

National Honor Society

Paid Tutor

Community Service:

Volunteering through ECs (Autisms, disability center, [Organization to help children with physical deformities]) - 300+

Medically related activities:
-Physician Shadowing - 100+ hours
-Medical Mission to foreign country - 2 weeks
-Intern at Medical Clinic - 100+ hours
-Hospital Volunteer - 300+ hours
-Disability center - 50+ hours

Applied to the following Bachelor/MD programs:

1. Brown PLME - rejected (no interview)

2. Northwestern HPME - interview - ACCEPTED

3. Penn State/Jefferson - rejected pre-interview

4. Wash U - rejected pre-interview

Applied to the following undergraduate programs:

1. Duke - accepted

2. UC (B, LA, SD, I(honors), R(regents), D(regents)) - accepted

3. USC - accepted

4. Stanford - rejected

5. Dartmouth - waitlisted

6. Washington U- waitlisted

7. Caltech - rejected

8. Pomona College - rejected

DECISION: Northwestern HPME!!

Reflection:
Do your research and JUST APPLY! Honestly, you really never know. Put bluntly, my SAT score is not the norm, especially in the programs I applied to (high tiers). It really came down to what I consider luck and also showing true passion for medicine. Scores are merely a starting point for programs to even look at you, at least that’s what I think, and the rest comes down to interview (or so I have heard…). Pass that score threshold and it shouldn’t count against you a lot!

Also, find a program that FITS YOU. There are multiple bs/md programs and all of them stand for different ideals and are looking for different candidates. That is something you shouldn’t compromise in this process. This is also where doing your research comes into play! I can say that I didn’t do enough research before I applied and, in retrospect, I could have spared myself from applying to some programs that I couldn’t see myself in no matter the circumstances. Lastly, GOOD LUCK!