BSMD programs aren’t open to internationals for the same reason as above, i.e., med schools generally don’t accept international applications.
However if admitted to Schreyer you would be eligible for a summer medical program even as an international, look up Tumblr for aFrenchie36.
The best premed-with-planB major there is Infectious Diseases (if you like science, especially Bio&Chem) but they also have BioBehavioral Health (science&psych).
https://agsci.psu.edu/academics/undergraduate/majors/immunology-and-infectious-disease
https://hhd.psu.edu/bbh/biobehavioral-health-undergraduate-program
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This looks like it’s only part of the undergrad portion that is done at Penn State and it’s a different university for the rest and for medical school? Or is Thomas Jefferson also part of the Penn State system?
I stand corrected - thank you.
International applicants in the PMM program at Penn State are eligible for the Kimmel Med School part of the program, which is new.
The program used to run with the Penn State Hospital&Med School in Hershey, which did NOT accept internationals for their medical education but did accept them for the Summer Research program available to Schreyer scholars only.
If you wanted to qualify you’d need a 1600 SAT (or as close to that as possible, their average is something like 1580 for admitted students in general) and significant involvement in a woman’s clinic (assuming a regular hospital would be impossible), a pediatric health center, etc. Any health related certificate and experience would matter, even nurses aide. Volunteering at a shelter would also help but I’m guessing this would be illegal for a girl, even more so for a non Saudi girl. You’d need to show sustained care for others.
Since you spend time in the US you can see if you could gain that experience then. Use the fact you’re trilingual, this should come in handy in the area around the DMV.
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I stand corrected as well. But I would still inquire and ask.
And as noted, the acceptance into this program is more competitive than getting into an elite college. It is not something to be counted on…for any student.
But this is important as well:
Are International students eligible for financial aid?
International students are not eligible to apply for financial scholarships and loans. Contact the Office of Financial Aid for more information.
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I’m allowed to volunteer wherever here actually, it’s basically one of the only things I can do lol. Which do you think would be better, If I interned/volunteered at a local medical university + it’s clinic or a hospital (it’s an armed forces hospital if that helps)? I could also try to see if the offer nurse aid certificates, & I can get a couple certificates from the Red Cross (CPR, etc.). I have volunteered for a disabled centre & shelters before through my school as well.
&&&&& I could also try to win the full scholarship for this & attend.
Saudi’s center for gifted students also has a research program for both Saudi’s & Non-Saudi’s where they match you with a mentor professor & you do research on whatever you want
Yeah, I’m definitely not counting on it, but I’m just trying to assess all the options. What about Brown’s BSMD program? They give need-based aid, but I’m guessing it’s impossible to get in. A Grad Entry Program in the Middle East is definitely still my first choice, but it wouldn’t hurt to try.
My mom’s friend’s son that used to attend the same high school I do got into Vanderbilt with very minimal ECs (online internship, tutoring, reading, etc.) & super high test scores (1580 SAT). A friend of mine is currently attending the University of Manchester full ride & she only did ILETs, her friend is currently at UPenn, another at Penn State, & so many others. It’s not impossible, it would be stupid not to try
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If you’re allowed to volunteer at the army hospital and do anything to help healthcare professionals, do it and keep a record. It likely won’t be glamorous but that’s exactly why it’ll give you an advantage. Being a doctor means being vomited/peed upon on a daily basis, dealing with people&their relatives in pain or anguish and as a result reasonably irrational/impolite, etc. It’s really really hard and anyone admitted to a BSMD must show they understand these really difficult parts of the job.
Any 1st Aid certificate&related experience will also help (would the school nurse give you a title/role with official tasks once you complete whatever is to her satisfaction?)
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All BS/MD programs should be viewed as low probability of acceptance schools. They are more difficult to gain entrance to than elite colleges here.
While it is not an accelerated MD program, Brown’s unique structure allows them to complete both their undergraduate degree and medical degree in 8 years. With the extremely low Brown BS/MD acceptance rate of 3%, the application process is extremely competitive.
I think by now the OP has gotten the message that college/bsmd/medical school in the US is a difficult, low admission path.
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I am sorry, but your interests scream to me LAC. Not premed and not Engineering.
If you hate Chem you will not survive premed (if you do not like Bio, you can…)
Think about 2 extremely hard Org Chem, and then BioChem and probably two more Chem. Same with any Engineering. Any Engineering will require 3 Calcs, Diffirential Equations and probably Linear Algebra. Some may require Complex Analysis etc.
I am an engineer, have one daughter as engineering major and another as premed, so I know what I am talking about… You do not want to be miserable for many semesters hating every minute in the class.
Btw Olin is a wrong suggestion in my opinion. It is tiny only Engineering school. One of DD applied to it.
It would not give you opportunity to explore that you are looking for.
Also you have very interesting perspective. In my family it is vice versa. All 3 kids did not enjoy US system of 2 years mandatory studying of general electives that they hated. They all would rather take extra focus classes in their majors than wasting time in religious, history, extra English classes etc that they did not enjoy (often you need to take what is available and not what you would prefer…) Yes, they are ok with general education, but 2 years is a lot of wasted time. So actually 3 years of focused education for less money would be more attractive. But that is not an option in the US, and they do not plan to live in Europe, so they were in survival mode.
Not sure why the discussion is now focusing on BSMD if OP is still unsure that medical school is the way to go.
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Well, I schooled in the UK and UK-style university systems and my kids were/will be at college in the US, so I have experience of both systems, and there are pros and cons to both. A large part of it comes down to how much the student is convinced of the path they are taking, and how easy it is to change if they decide they don’t. One of my school friends actually became a doctor because by the end her third year when she decided she didn’t want to do medicine, she couldn’t bear the thought of having to start all over again with another degree (and remember we are taking about a ± 20 year old without the hindsight she has now). By all external metrics she is successful, yet almost 40 years later she still expresses regret at what she felt was a path she could not get off. By contrast, a close relative of mine in the US completed all her premed requirements but decided she didn’t want to do medicine and it was…easy to change.
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Perfect, I’ll try to set up a volunteer position at the hospital & some 1st aid courses.
I was talking about looking for CNA courses here (Certified Nurse Assistant) or like a junior version or whatever is offered here, but I definitely think I could help out our school nurse & get a title & certificate + service hours.
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Yep, I have!! Let me also just reclarify, because I feel like people are forgetting again. I’m not ONLY applying in the US, I’m also applying to universities in Cairo & Saudi & the rest of the Middle East, maybe even the UK or Europe. I’m here getting info for US universities since this is a US university forum.
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Thank you for your reply!!
Hmmm how so? What about my interests feel like I’d enjoy Liberal Arts over Bio or Biomed/Mechanical Engineering?
Even in a Bio/Biomed Engineering major? I knew it would require some Chem but I didn’t know it would focus on it
In my replies when I said that I hate Math & Chemistry I also stated that I still always pulled through in the end & got through it with straight A+s yearly. & the reason I’m applying to US colleges is to explore all the options, see what I can & can’t do, will & won’t enjoy, etc. then commit to the most favourable route.
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As you can see from this thread, I’m pretty indecisive & I have no clue what I truly want. I also generally like a rounded curriculum
Wanna keep all my options open, it was just a little side convo. I came here for advice on how to better my chances to getting into a university that will give me need based aid & opinions on whether or not I have a shot at the elite universities that are need-blind!! Still would love to hear your thoughts on that
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