@CantUseRealName Parent of a freshman who started in OU last week in the combined BS/MD program from CA. Here are few points though already folks have responded with incredible information.
- Prepare well for tests (PSAT/SAT) and become National Merit finalist. Yes, OU gives full tuition plus some more (not full ride but close to full ride). Very unusual, OU gives 5 years of free tuition. So you will get 1 or 2 years of medical college free tuition. So don't miss that opportunity. This year there are 275 National Merit Scholar (#1 university in terms of max number of national merit).
- Apply for the combined BS/MD programs in both OU and Tulsa (Tulsa started only this year). OU takes 6 and Tulsa 5 students.
- Tulsa also gives a great scholarship. FULL RIDE Presidential scholarship (My D got it but wait listed in their BS/MD and hence decided to go to OU)
- It is not uncommon some students may not be able to do Calculus in high school. But make sure you do at least 2 semesters of Math Calculus in college at least. OU Medicine has that requirement. Since you may have to apply to other medical schools (besides OU), they may need including some of Texas medical schools.
- Try to get involved any volunteer activities related to health care and shadow physicians or other health related professionals. That not only enables your application as a strong candidate, more it helps you to know and decide whether that is a career you want to pursue in your life.
GL.