Who Turned Down HPME For an Ivy League?

bluedevilmike
Fri, 27 Apr 2007 04:17:44 +0000

investment bank specializing in healthcare over the summer

I have a ton of friends who do work in healthcare consulting firms as non-HPME premeds. As many as work at the NIH? No, but a sizeable group.

I’ll concede coursework freedom.

I do not concede the dual degree argument. In fact, I think a dual degree basically nullifies the advantages a HPME gives you.

Think about it: a normal premed needs high grades and premed courses. A normal prelaw needs high grades. If you’re going MD/JD on a normal route, you need high grades and premed courses. An HPME removes the high grades component from being a premed, but it doesn’t remove them from being a prelaw – so you still need high grades and premed courses.

Business school needs high grades and good interviewing skills. MSTP programs require high grades, killer research, and a brilliant MCAT score. Etc. In other words, the admissions requirements imposed by this second degree basically remove the freedom that you’re exulting in as an HPME.