What are my chance of me getting into Brown PLME and CWRU BS/MD programs?

Chance Me / Match Me
1

Demographics:
Currently a senior.
Age: 16 years old. Will graduate at 17.
Residency: International student
High School: Public school in the U.S.
State: GA
Languages: Telugu (Native), Hindi (Advanced), French (Advanced), Spanish (Intermediate), and German (Basic)
Academic Stats:

GPA: 4.387 at the end of junior year; higher at the time of application
Class Rank: Top 5% (or specify rank, if known) or Top 10 out of 433
Standardized Tests:
ACT: 34 (First attempt)
APs: 15 AP courses (earned AP Scholar with Distinction and AP Capstone Diploma)
Dual Enrollment: 3 courses
Honors:

Qualified for National Merit Scholarship Program
AP Capstone Diploma recipient
Second place in Regional Science Fair
4th place in Regional Science Olympiad
French DELF B1 and Spanish DELE A2 international language certifications from the governments of France and Spain respectively.
National and state-level chess player (USCF 1315)
University of Georgia Certificate of Merit (Top 5% of class)

Research Experience:

AP Capstone Research Project (11th Grade): Conducted a year-long independent research study titled “The Effect of Norepinephrine Concentration on the Replication and Antiseptic Resistance of E. coli K12.” Currently Seeking publication in the Journal of Student Research.
Focus: Investigated how norepinephrine, a stress hormone, affects bacterial growth rates and resistance mechanisms when exposed to antiseptics.
Methodology:
Cultured E. coli K12 under controlled conditions with varying norepinephrine concentrations.
Monitored replication rates and antiseptic resistance using optical density measurements and agar diffusion tests.
Analyzed data to identify trends linking stress-related hormonal levels to bacterial adaptability.
Results: Demonstrated a measurable increase in replication rate and antiseptic resistance at higher norepinephrine concentrations, suggesting potential implications for infection management in stress-induced environments.
Recognition: Presented findings at school’s research symposium and earned an AP Capstone Diploma upon project completion.

Extracurricular Activities:

Orthopedic Surgery Shadowing (172 hours): Worked with an orthopedic sports medicine surgeon, observed surgeries, and assisted with patient care.
Hospital Volunteering (223 hours): Roles included central sterile volunteer, dietary volunteer, and service desk assistant.
Varsity Swimming (Bus Captain): Competed in individual and relay events, mentored younger swimmers, and participated in fundraising.
Science Olympiad State Team Member and Co-president: Competed in Anatomy and Physiology and other STEM-related events, securing regional placement.
Chess Player: National and state-level competitor; holds a USCF rating of 1315.
Blog Founder: Created a medical blog with over 109 posts and 2,804 views. Also created a Website.
STEM Outreach Volunteer: Renovated special needs classrooms and school gardens.
HOSA and NHS: Active participant in medical seminars
Rubik’s Cube Champion: Won school championship.
Furniture Builder: Designed and constructed furniture for personal and family use.

HS Courses: Taken every AP science class offered at my high school

Middle School (8th Grade)

Honors Algebra I/Geometry: A (94)
Physical Science: A (93)
Credits Earned: 2.0

9th Grade
Semester 1:
9th Literature/Composition (Gifted): A (90)
AP Environmental Science: A (90)
Biology (Gifted): A (95)
Honors Accelerated Geometry B/Algebra II: A (97)
Health: A (99)
Intro to Healthcare Science IA: A (92)
Scientific Research IA: A (93)

Semester 2:
9th Literature/Composition (Gifted): B (85)
AP Environmental Science: A (92)
Biology (Gifted): A (92)
Honors Accelerated Geometry B/Algebra II: A (99)
Intro to Healthcare Science IB: A (95)
Personal Fitness: A (99)
Scientific Research IB: A (92)
Credits Earned: 7.0

10th Grade

Semester 1:
10th Literature/Composition (Gifted): B (87)
AP Seminar: A (92)
AP Statistics: A (91)
AP World History: Modern: A (90)
Chemistry (Gifted): A (94)
Essentials of Healthcare A: A (95)
German IA: A (98)

Semester 2:
10th Literature/Composition (Gifted): A (91)
AP Seminar: A (99)
AP Statistics: A (90)
AP World History: Modern: A (91)
Chemistry (Gifted): A (91)
Essentials of Healthcare B: A (96)
German IB: A (96)
Dual Enrollment: Medical Terminology: A (95)
Credits Earned: 7.5

11th Grade

Semester 1:
AP Chemistry: A (92)
AP Language and Composition (American Literature): A (90)
AP Physics I: A (90)
AP Precalculus: A (94)
AP Research in Life Sciences: A (95)
AP U.S. History: A (91)
German IIA: A (94)

Semester 2:
AP Chemistry: A (96)
AP Language and Composition (American Literature): A (90)
AP Physics I: A (92)
AP Precalculus: A (93)
AP Research in Life Sciences: A (94)
AP U.S. History: A (91)
German IIB: A (93)

Dual Enrollment & Online:
British Literature/Composition (Georgia Virtual): A (93)
Credits Earned: 8.0

12th Grade (In Progress)
Allied Health & Medicine. This class certifies me to become a Certified Clinical Medical Assistant (CCMA).
AP Biology
AP Calculus BC
AP Physics C: Mechanics
AP Physics II
AP Psychology
Dual Enrollment: American Government (A: 95)
Dual Enrollment: Economics (A: 95)

AP Courses Taken: 15
AP Environmental Science
AP Seminar
AP Statistics
AP World History: Modern
AP Chemistry
AP Physics I
AP Precalculus
AP Research
AP U.S. History
AP Biology
AP Calculus BC
AP Physics C: Mechanics
AP Physics II
AP Psychology
AP Language & Composition

2

If you are an international student, the chances of getting into med school in the US are very slim, and there is no funding available. Sure, go ahead and apply, but you’d do better to focus on a more realistic path to an MD and ultimately, practicing in the US.

I suspect that med school in your home country might not be an option, if you’re coming out of a US high school, but if it is, you should go to med school there, and then come to the US for residency. If it is not possible, then college in the US and apply to med schools here, but plan on going to an offshore medical school, then residency in the US.

If your family is unable to pay for college and med school for you, look into whether the schools that offer full rides for National Merit Finalists would be an option for you. Alabama, Tulsa, UT Dallas are 3 that may offer this.

3

Thank you for your insights. I understand the challenges associated with being an international student pursuing medical education in the U.S., and I’ve done significant research into this. However, my question specifically pertains to my chances of gaining admission to Brown PLME, considering my academic achievements, extracurriculars, and personal experiences.

While I appreciate the broader advice about med school options, I’m looking for feedback more directly related to my fit for this particular program. Any input on how my profile aligns with what Brown PLME seeks in applicants would be greatly appreciated.

4

Your application is very strong. Congratulations on having compiled an excellent record. Could it be stronger? Sure. You could be first in your class, and have a perfect standardized test score. And you could have won Regeneron with a biomedically-related research project, or have already had several papers published in Cell, with you as the first author, or both. Plus you could have solved homelessness in the US, in your spare time. Forgive me, it’s not that I mean to be snide. What I’m trying to convey is that short of a superhuman record, it is extremely unlikely for an international to be accepted to a BS/MD program in the US, because citizenship status counts for that.

Brown specifically states that dual citizenship or permanent residency with the US is very strongly encouraged. When they say this, believe them.

It’s as if you’re asking how an immigrant could become President of the US, and when told that it’s a requirement to be born a US citizen, replying, “Yes, but aside from that, how can I improve my credentials to become President of the US?”

Your energy would best be spent focusing on possible pathways to becoming a practicing physician in the US (if that is what you want), rather than on gaining entry to a program that quite specifically tells you that they’re only interested in those who have US citizenship or permanent residency.

If there is the possibility of your getting a green card through your parents’ employment in the US within the next 6 years or so, your best bet would be taking the free ride for undergrad, continuing along the excellent path of achievement that you’re already on, and then eventually applying to and attending med school in the US.

If there is no possibility of your getting a green card by the time that you want to apply to med school, you’re going to have to make options outside the US.

8 Likes
5

Any insights for OP @wayoutwestmom?

I assume not much has changed since this thread? BS MD accepting International students?

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6

I beleive the National Merit program is only for U.S. citizens.

7

NMSC made the qualifying language clearer sometime in the recent past.

Here are the entry requirements:

To enter the 2026 National Merit Program, a student needs to meet all of the following requirements. A student must:

  1. be enrolled as a high school student (traditional or homeschooled), progressing normally toward graduation or completion of high school by 2026, and planning to accept admission to college no later than the fall of 2026;

  2. attend high school in the United States, District of Columbia, or U.S. commonwealths and territories; or meet the citizenship requirements for students attending high school outside the United States; and

  3. take the 2024 PSAT/NMSQT in the specified year of the high school program and no later than the third year in grades 9 through 12, regardless of grade classification or educational pattern

#2 is the key statement (my bolding above)…any student attending HS in the defined areas can qualify (regardless of their citizenship). OP can contact NMSC to verify, but that is my understanding.

https://www.nationalmerit.org/s/1758/interior.aspx?sid=1758&gid=2&pgid=1876

That is also the understanding of the peeps at Compass (but again, OP can contact NMSC and confirm):

Do I have to be a U.S. citizen to participate?
NMSC has made this part of the process easier to understand than it was in the past. Students at high school in the U.S. or in U.S. Territories are eligible. Period. Students studying abroad are eligible as long as they are U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents of the U.S. (“green card”) or or have applied for permanent residence (the application for which has not been denied) and intend to become U.S. citizens at the earliest opportunity allowed by law.

8

The acceptance rate into this program is VERY VERY VERY low. Divide that acceptance rate in half as you are an international student.

9

Thanks for the information!

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10

I think that this is the only weakness in your application. You are clearly a very strong student, and are academically qualified. You have significant experience in a medical environment. Being multi-lingual is a significant plus for any medical professional who deals directly with patients.

Admissions as an undergraduate student at top universities in the US is in general very competitive. Top universities such as Brown are pretty much a reach for all international students. However, you are such a strong student that I think that you have a chance for admissions. I would nonetheless consider just admissions as an undergraduate student as a reach.

Admissions to a BS/MD program is quite a bit more difficult.

If you do not get accepted to a BS/MD program, then another option is of course to first get your BS, and then see what graduate programs are available. Generally MD programs are very difficult for admissions for anyone, and even more difficult for international students. Looking for a PhD would be another option, particularly since you are interested in medical research. One issue is that admissions to MD programs requires a lot of experience in medical situations, and admissions to PhD programs requires a lot of experience in research situations, and it is tough to get both – although you have already made some effort in both areas.

If you were to get permanent resident status in the US at some point prior to applying to MD programs that would change things very significantly in your favor.

11

Nothing has changed regarding US BS/MD admissions for internationals. Or MD/DO admissions for internationals.

About the only change is that Israel is no longer accepting non-Israeli students into any of their med schools so that pathway has been shut down.

I would like to comment on this

I would be very cautious about mentioning this because it’s outside your scope of practice and will raise red flags among medical professionals.

As a high student, you should not be hands on with patients even under supervision unless you have earned the appropriate certifications (like CNA or EMT)

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12

CWRU is one of the universities listed that considers international students for their Bs/MD program. Brown is not on that list (from the linked thread).

@WayOutWestMom i would guess that this student has a better chance of acceptance in the CWRU program than Brown…but none of them are slam dunks.

13

Brown PLME page say that international students may apply, but

For international applicants, permanent U.S. residency or dual citizenship is strongly encouraged

IOW, without PR or citizenship status, an international student is profoundly disadvantaged, if not completely eliminated from consideration.

Alpert SOM says it will consider international students who have completed their undergrad education in the US for admission, but warns they will not be offered any financial aid-- including merit scholarships-- and must be able to pay the full cost of their medical education.

Alpert SOM COA is over $100K per/year currently and can be expected to be even higher by the time the OP will have completed their undergrad education.

Alpert SOM has less than a 2% acceptance rate for US citizen applicants.

14

CWRU accepted 10 students/year into its BS/MD program. International applicants have additional requirements beyond what US applicants have.

15

Didn’t I read that Brown accepts ONE international student for its BS MD program. That’s ONE student from anywhere in the whole world.

16

I see NMF is possible for him, since he took it through a US high school he is attending.

17

Yes, that’s already been covered.

18

Congratulations to the OP on attaining NMSF status. But this isn’t going to guarantee an acceptance to Brown PLME or CWRU BS/MD.

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