<p>Congrats! Just wondering, but which other MD programs is she applying/ has applied to?</p>
<p>DesiGirl21, I looked at your link but still don’t see the score information.</p>
<p>Very nice.</p>
<p>I am seeing “lifeguard” as a medical activity, is it because of rescue techniques we learn during training?</p>
<p>“Medical activities would include being a Volunteer EMT or Ski Patrol or lifeguard, shadowing a doctor at a hospital or private practice, volunteering at a hospital or nursing home, and research with an undergraduate professor or through a program.”</p>
<p>Basically. You receive some medical training, and more importantly IMO are placed in a position of responsibility where you need to use or at least potentially use your training. It’s why just getting training alone isn’t worth much because it doesn’t constitute a medical experience by itself.</p>
<p>I had no idea that a lifeguard position would be considered as a part of a medical related program. Wow!</p>
<p>Thank you for the comprehensive guide related to BS/MD application.</p>
<p>I need some help regarding the application process and essays. So if I am applying for BS/MD programs, do I need all of the following in addition to any supplement essays.</p>
<ol>
<li>Common App essay.</li>
<li> Personal Statement.</li>
<li>Why medicine essay?</li>
</ol>
<p>I was under the impression that Personal statement is same as why medicine essay.</p>
<p>Can anyone please advice on this.</p>
<p>Thank you.</p>
<p>Bump. Any feedback on this please.</p>
<p>Thank you.</p>
<p>Typically that is correct but if you go through each college website they outline the process. Better even to call them to confirm. There are additional essays for scholarship in many cases. </p>
Good luck everyone!
I just graduated from high school two days ago and I think this will be a good place to post my resume/reflections for the next class of applicants. Feel free to PM me for any questions.
Class Rank: 2/228
Weighted GPA: 101.3
SAT:
Math: 760; Critical Reading 800; Writing 800; Total: 2360 (one sitting)
SAT II:
Math Level 2: 800
Chemistry: 800
AP’s (at the time of application to BS/MD programs):
1.Government and Politics - 5
2.English Lang Comp - 5
3.Chemistry - 4
Seniors Year AP’s:
1.Calculus AB
2.English Lit Comp
3.Biology
4.Physics C: Mechanics
Major EC’s:
1.Started Mentoring Program at my high school******(Done AFTER decisions were made ) (received board funding and involved 60 mentors)
2.BAPS organization youth regional core team member
3.Tennis, Varsity 4 years, Captain, 1st team in local conference
4.Future Business Leaders of America President, 2-time state champion, 10th place nationally
5.Cooper Medical School MEDAcademy (four-week med experience program)
6.National Honor Society Officer
7.Newspaper Editor in chief
8.Mock Trial attorney
Community Service:
1.AVID peer tutor (50 hours)
2.Hospital volunteering (100 hours, still cringing at this, read reflection for more info)
3.BAPS Charities non-profit organization volunteering (300 hours)
Research Experience:
None at all
Hooks:
Indian Male with modest but comfortable family income, brother attends TCNJ
Applied to the following BS/MD programs:
TCNJ BSMD-Invited for interview, ACCEPTED AND ATTENDING
Penn State BSMD- Invited for Interview, ACCEPTED
NJIT BSMD- Invited for interview, ACCEPTED
NEOMED BSMD- Invited for interview, WAITLISTED and ACCEPTED
Kansas City BSMD- Invited for interview, REJECTED
Boston University BSMD- Invited for interview, REJECTED
Pittsburg BSMD- Declined for interview
Ren Polytech BSMD- Declined for interview
George Washington University Honors Program BSMD- Declined for interview
Rutgers BSMD- Declined for interview
Drexel BSMD- Declined for interview
Other schools:
Waitlisted UPenn and Dartmouth, Rejected to Princeton and Harvard
Decision: TCNJ BS/MD
Reflection:
Wow, what an experience it had been. Every day I would come home from school exhausted from the classes and extracurricular’s, only to flip up my laptop and spend the next few hours working on applications.
Mistakes:
The first thing I would say is to focus your energies on a few essays that are of high quality, rather than to churn out a brand new essay for each prompt. If you chunk your essay and insert sections where they can fit, it will save you a lot of time–and it will probably be a lot better writing since you have thoroughly edited it. I wrote nearly 16 different essays, which took part of my soul and disintegrated it through the very pores of my fingers. Sorry for the imagery, but it was very draining, especially amidst the other commitments that high schoolers face, on top of the fact that I wanted to enjoy my senior year with friends and join the school’s drama shows (which I do not regret doing).
Next, I did not apply to enough regular program schools, such as more ivies and schools such as John Hopkins, etc… If I had received admission to any one of those prestigious universities, I would have chosen it over the bs/md pathway (though I would still plan on attending medical school after).
I also did not start my application process soon enough and spent a few weeks near deadlines cramming in whatever I could.
Weaknesses of application:
Research- I had no research whatsoever because I honestly had no idea that research for high schoolers even existed. Coming from a small, blue-collar town, I had no exposure that there were lab research opportunities possible for me. If you haven’t done research already, please find something now! I am sure that this was the sole reason for some of my rejections and lack of interviews.
Extracurriculars- My extracurriculars were, for the most part, banal and useless. Of course in the school sphere I was an all-star student, holding leadership positions in a various and diverse group of clubs and activities. But from the admissions perspective, my extracurriculars mimicked if not stood behind those of each and every student that applied. I had nothing that I could say was unique and extremely meaningful. Looking back now, those 100 hours at the hospital, though awesome as they were, could have been utilized (from a college admissions standpoint) a lot better. The best thing I did was start the mentoring program, which was a HUGE hit at our school and took so so much effort–but sadly, it was after decisions were made, and only in the process of my ivy waitlisting.
Essays- Boring and bland. Used a bunch of cruddy adjectives that sounded like I had something jammed up my you know what. Emulated standard reasons for joining medicine and why I applied to a certain school etc. Would highly suggest that write about a one-of-a-kind experience of yours in the field of medicine instead. Be daring.
Strengths:
Test scores: SAT scores were very, very solid, as were SAT II. SAT took a lot of studying but SAT II came with a few weeks of cramming. AP scores were good and I had a decent quantity of them. I would highly suggest taking as much as you can handle, and starting as early as you can. I think I would have peaked at 9-10 classes if I had the foresight I had now.
Interview: I’m going to say this out front-- I wasn’t a very attractive dude, especially not up close. I was struggling badly with acne during interview season, and though you may think that it had no influence on decisions, it MAY have had a subtle subconscious influence on SOME of the interviewers, though very minuscule at that. Other than minor setback, this was my strongest asset. I absolutely crushed most of the interviews I attended, especially Penn States, but I do believe that my application restricted me from receiving far more acceptances.
Conclusion:
Overall, I am a little disappointed I didn’t get into an ivies, which was my goal (especially Penn), but am happy of my bsmd acceptances. Penn State tuition was 50k a year, so I had to forgo that program for TCNJ, which was more than half as cheap. I made a lot of mistakes that made me a average applicant, even with exceptional test scores and academics, so I plan to learn from these experiences and focus on residencies, starting as early as today! Good luck to everyone and remember all the rags to riches stories in the world! Took me some time to fully understand that the college doesn’t determine your success, it simply gives you a staircase that you can choose to climb or not. Some staircases are carpeted, others are steeper, others have missing steps, but all point upwards!
congrats on TCNJ! that’s incredible, you are so fortunate to be in such a fantastic program. You will be very very happy
@dkistheway First congratulations and wish you the best on your future education and career. Second, thanks for posting your stats and reflections. (would you please post it in this thread: http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/multiple-degree-programs/1857339-bs-md-results-for-class-of-2016-p2.html). Finally your last para of reflection is so true and beautiful. Some are naturally talented and motivated but for some, others life stories inspires, whether it is Benjamin Franklin or Sam Zell or Mother Teresa or Mark Zuckerburg. You are darn right, on the second point, learning does not stop and you need to keep climbing. GL.
"Good luck to everyone and remember all the rags to riches stories in the world! Took me some time to fully understand that the college doesn’t determine your success, it simply gives you a staircase that you can choose to climb or not. Some staircases are carpeted, others are steeper, others have missing steps, but all point upwards!
"