***Thread For BS/MD/DO 2023-2024 Applicants/Parents ***

If I remember correctly, Drexel has requirements not to get anything less than a B or is that getting a C that can cause problems?

It is a no grade less than C. The MCAT is very doable but even its MCAT requirements are such that I have seen some kids not clear that.

Take from the Drexel website:
Drexel BSMD requirements:
While in the undergraduate portion of the program, students must:

  • Maintain at least a 3.6 GPA in all coursework, including all BCPM classes (all biological sciences, chemistry, physics, and math), without repeating a course and with no grade less than a C.

  • Complete at least 100 hours of service that is documented and approved by the advisor.

  • Complete one six-month co-op in research, clinical, or health informatics; health law; or bioengineering. A co-op of 20 or 40 hours a week is possible.

  • Complete 12 quarters of study, including no classes during the summer between their first and second years and a full course load in the fall, winter, and spring of their fourth year. One quarter of a Drexel-approved study abroad program may be considered on a case-by-case basis. Based on AP and/or transfer credit and completion of all degree requirements, graduation can occur after the winter quarter of the fourth year, but not sooner.

  • Complete a rigorous plan of study which includes at least 14 credits and two STEM courses each quarter.

  • BS/BA+MD Early Assurance Program follows a full four-year with one six-month co-op plan with the following schedule of classes and co-op terms. Students must follow this layout of full-time terms in class and co-op (see below).

  • The MCAT is required prior to matriculation into the College of Medicine. Students must receive minimum MCAT scores of 128 in three sections: Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems; Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems; and Psychological, Social and Biological Foundations of Behavior; and a score of 127 in Critical Analysis and Reasoning for a total score of 511 or a total of 513 with no section score less than 127.

About 80% of Hopkins take 1 gap year, and more than half about 2 gap years.
Hopkins is a grade-deflated school.
So, if you can maintain a >3.8 GPA (it will be difficult) and get an MCAT >520, you can take a shot at Harvard Medical or similar schools.
If your GPA hovers around 3.5-3.6, be prepared to do a Masters.

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Yes, only students from very rigorous HS survive at Hopkins. Kids from our school do well at Hopkins. I know one who finished semester early and is at Yale another is at Penn with no gap years.

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I have an interview with W&J Medical Scholars this week. Does anyone have any tips for the interview or input on the program?

Can you message me, would like to get some feedback.Thank you

Any idea when final Pitt GAP decisions will be out? I was told mid-April, but it’s stressful without a more specific date :sob:

Thanks, NoviceDad. Would love to hear what Brooklyn is thinking or what progress they are making with a new medical school. I can’t understand how anyone would commit to going there right now without knowing that a guaranteed medical school admission is a definite.

How much Med schools value undergrad college name? John Hopkins or IVY leagues with low stats Vs not very popular (less rigor, will have time to prepare MCAT and build good EC’s) under grad school with good Stats (GPA, MCAT, EC’s etc.).

I’ve been researching this a bit myself lately and learning about the LizzyM score. Hoping for Ivy and high gpa, but just in case. Seems with a lower gpa you put all your eggs in a very high MCAT basket to balance. The top med schools seem to favor one another when I look at white coat ceremonies, but not convinced undergrad matters much if just wanting into a med school and not gunning for that. I’ll be curious to read answers with the wealth of knowledge on here, I definitely don’t have it in this area. Glad you asked!

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Not much value is given for low stats from top schools. Remember there are enough premed students with high stats from all top schools including deflation schools like Hopkins and Cornell so med schools doesn’t have to give any extra consideration for low stats students.

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I am very grateful to be in a position where I need help deciding between these 3 schools!! Please give me some advice and literally ANY advice or insight you have for a public health/pre-med student in these/similar schools.

  1. In-state BS/MD with almost a full-ride. Not a highly ranked undergrad or med school.

  2. GWU Women’s Leadership Program in Science, Health, and Medicine as a Presidential Scholar.

  3. UPenn

Cost breakdown for all 3 schools?

What’s your instate BS/MD?

What are your pros/ cons for each?

Also, are finances a factor? If yes, what is the net pay for each one of these?

First one would be around $5k-$10k per year, GW would be $50k-$60k per year, and Penn would be $90k-$100k per year

I’d rather not say the school for privacy reasons, but their BS/MD program only takes students from in-state and it’s only 10 students. It’s also not a well-known school or program.

BS/MD pros: close to home, cheap, obviously guaranteed med school.
BS/MD cons: don’t want to stay in my state for so long, and not a good med school for competitive specialties that I want to pursue.

GW pros: love Washington DC, love public health/med/politics crossover, getting their highest merit scholarship, WLP SHM program offers med school networking with a small cohort of 10 women and intro to bio class is 10-20 students rather than 100-200, direct flight from home.
GW cons: not guaranteed med school, must commute between The Vern and Foggy Bottom campus, more expensive than in-state.

UPenn pros: Ivy League, will challenge me, direct flight from home, don’t have to apply for shadowing and research, pretty small class sizes for my major.
UPenn cons: expensive (can afford, but is it worth it?), possibly won’t get in med school.

First one would be around $5k-$10k per year, GW would be $50k-$60k per year, and Penn would be $90k-$100k per year.

What actually matters is neither undergrad or nor medical school but the medical school’s match list.

Go to Penn if you can afford and unsure about going into medicine. If you are sure about medicine and your instate med school match list covers all the specialties, it is the best option.

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Is there a way to look up current medical school match lists?

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Most medical schools publish them publicly (google “medical” school residency match list). There is usually a central thread for all schools created on SDN each year for both MD and DO schools.

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