We have worked with hundreds of students applying to BS/MD programs and have had students admitted to almost all of the BS/MD programs in the country. So we wanted to give you some idea of who you are competing against for these very competitive programs with online soda pdf documenting our progress.
As I am sure you know, your grades and test scores need to be very strong. What does that mean? It depends on the specific program but generally those being admitted have an unweighted GPA greater than 3.9 and test scores higher than 1,450 on the critical reading and math sections of the SAT and above a 32 on the ACT. We have seen students with lower grades and lower test scores get admitted but it gets much more difficult with the lower stats. Our most successful students have a 4.0 unweighted GPA or something very close with a 34 or better ACT or a 2,250 or better SAT.
BUT, grades and test scores don’t get you admitted. It is the rest of your application that decides who is going to be admitted. Unfortunately, there is no magic formula to what will get you admitted. However, the strongest students tend to have something in their application that makes you go “wow”.
This could be volunteering or research. One student raised over $30,000 for the American Red Cross playing the violin at fundraisers. Another started a training program at their high school to train students in the use of AED’s. This was so successful that the student then went on to establish similar training programs at a number of surrounding high schools.
One student had 4 years of research with professors at various colleges all focused on malaria research. Another was an ISEF finalist 2 years in a row.
Don’t get me wrong. You don’t need to have activities like this to be successful in the BS/MD process. But these are the types of students you are competing with. And this is why we will sometimes see a student with good grades and good test scores not be successful gettting into a BS/MD program. They may have not had that something special in the rest of their application.
The problem with the wow factor is that it usually takes a long time to develop an activity like that. Starting late in junior year is usually too late. That is one of the reasons we encourage students to start working with us earlier so that we can discuss what the student might do to develop their background.
Finally, you must always keep in mind that the BS/MD programs are the most competitive programs in the country. Many highly qualified students don’t get admitted. There is nothing wrong with going the traditional route to medicine. The vast majority of physicians get there through the traditional apporach.
Still interested in BS/MD programs? What is your wow factor?
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