In an earlier blog posting I talked about applications to BS/MD programs. If you are accepted by the undergraduate college, your application is sent for consideration to the medical school. If you look like a strong candidate, most medical schools will then schedule you for an on campus interview. Typically, these interviews with be with professors from the medical school and often students currently in the program.
Unlike most college interviews, these medical school interviews are critical for acceptance into these programs since everybody considered has top grades and top test scores. The interview gives the medical school some insight into who you are beyond your grades and test scores. Depending on your interviewer they may also test your ability to handle pressure.
You must be prepared for these interviews if you are going to be competitive for admissions into a BS/MD program. I will generally do mock interviews with students I am working with to get them ready for these interviews.
So what types of questions will you likely be asked in a BS/MD interview? There are many possible questions but the most important ones will generally be questions regarding your desire to become a doctor and why you are considering a BS/MD program. It is also common to be asked what your plans are if you are not accepted into the BS/MD program.
These scheduled interviews will often involve interviews with several different people or groups of people and the process can take the better part of a day. There may also be group interviews where you are asked questions along with other applicants. The cost of getting to these interviews can be substantial if you are applying to a number of the BS/MD programs.
These interviews are for a professional program so you will want to wear appropriate clothing for the interview. Jeans and t-shirts may be appropriate for many college interviews but for interviews at a medical school you will want to dress up more. Suits for men and suits or dresses for women would be considered professional.
Finally, getting asked to interview at one of these programs indicates that you are a strong candidate. However, remember that they ask many more people to interview than there are spaces available so getting an interview is not the same as getting accepted into a program.
Want more information about BS/MD programs? Check out the Guide to BS/MD Programs.
Hi,
you have an awsome website.
my daughter is interested in bs/md program.but being a non citizen with no permenant residency,what are our options to do so.she is a high school sophomore.do any of these programs allow international students.our green card is in process but we are not sure of getting it by the time she is ready for college.any advise is gratly appreciated
Tulja,
The programs generally have a very strong preference for US citizens and in many cases say specifically that they will not consider international students for BS/MD programs.
However, students that are strong enough to be considered for such programs are generally very strong candidates for some excellent colleges that have very good medical school placement rates.
Given the unlikely chance that your daughter will have a chance at a BS/MD program, I would strongly advise that she start the investigation of good colleges that have strong placement of students into medical schools. These are often the small liberal arts colleges because the students have more personalized instruction, better access to undergraduate research and get to know professors better. One of the criteria used by medical schools are the recommendations from professors and students from small schools often do better in this area because of their better relationship with professors.
I hope that helps.
I would like to get into the BS/MD program in Illinois. I currently am working on my Assoc. in Criminal Justice. I am an older student. What schools are in the Chicagoland area?
Lisa,
There are several programs in the Chicago area. Northwestern University has a BS/MD program, known as HPME. Illinois Institute has a BS/MD program with Rush University Medical Center and a BS/DO program with Midwestern University’s Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine. Finally, the University of Illinois at Chicago has a BS/MD program.
However, you should be aware that all of the programs that I am aware of limit admission into these programs to incoming freshman only.
What kinds of questions do they ask at bs/md interviews (like penn state)?
Lisa,
As I indicated in the article, the focus is one why you wish to become a a doctor and why you want a BS/MD program instead of the regular route to medical school. There will often also be questions about your resume and in particular your experiences shadowing a doctor and any research experience you have.
It is also common to have questions asked that relate to current topics in medicine and in particular medical ethics. Questions may be asked about what you think about stem cell research or end of life issues. Whether you are for or against a particular issue doesn’t generally matter, it is your ability to articulate your thoughts and to be able to provide a reasoned argument that is important.
I hope that helps give you a little more insight into the BS/MD interview.
Hello,
My name is Jatin and I am currently a sophomore in high school. What can I do in high school that will improve my chances of being accepted into a BS/MD medical program?
Jatin,
Like most highly selective programs, grades and test scores are the most important. Most BS/MD programs have minimum requirements of top 10% of your class or a 3.8 or better GPA. The most competitive students will be in the top 1 or 2% of the class. Most BS/MD programs also require around a 1,400 on the SAT critical reading and math portions. Of course those are minimum requirements. Many programs also want to see SAT subject test scores as well. The higher your test scores the more competitive you will be. Keeping your grades up and preparing for the SAT and SAT subject tests will be very beneficial.
To strengthen your application you should also have experience shadowing at least one physician and several would not be a bad idea. Ideally, you would also have research experience at some point during high school. Most successful BS/MD students do some research at a local college during one of the summers of high school. Very often this is in some health related field.
If you do this, you should be competitive for a BS/MD program. However, these programs are so competitive that even the best prepared students are often not admitted. But, if you have the basic qualifications to apply to a BS/MD program you will also put yourself in a very competitive position for a regular undergraduate program in case you don’t get admitted to a BS/MD program.
Haha…got into penn state’s program…one of the best…and not to mention USC’s Bacc/MD…my stats…i believe u guessed it? yup its harder to get into these programs than harvard
Hey, I’m a freshmen in highschool and I was sort of wondering how to find programs in my area that will allow me to shadow a doctor or do research. (if not now then in the future) I’ve managed to find some pretty good volunteer opportunities for the summer but I couldn’t seem to find any shadowing or research opportunities. Also any other advice you could give me would be very much appreciated. Thank You.
Madison,
Good for you in starting the process at this point. I will make it much easier to accomplish all that you need to do to be the strongest possible BS/MD candidate.
For doctor shadowing you can start with a family doctor to see if that person would allow you to follow them around. Most doctors enjoy helping young students if they know you are interested in becoming a physician. Even if your family doctor can’t let you shadow, they may know someone who can get you this experience. Also, if your parents have any friends that are doctors or if any of your friends have parents who are doctors, that can be a way to find someone to shadow.
For research, again if you or your parents know someone who works at a local college or university you can see if they can get you in touch with a professor doing research. Most of the students I work with do their research at a local college.
The other option, and one that many students take, is to find professors, typically in the biology or chemistry departments or at the medical school if there is one and just call and ask if you can volunteer in their lab. Research experience is typically done in the summer when everyone has more time to spend on the research. Let them know you are interested in science and research, you are a strong student and that you are looking for experience. You should start looking for this type of experience usually in January for the following summer. Some professors will prefer to have older students so it might be easier to get a position the summer before your senior year. Don’t get discouraged if you can’t find something the first few years. On the other hand, if you can find something, that can work out very well.
I hope that helps.
Love you website! You book must be even better. I’m going to order it. My son is a high school freshman. We are looking at options of BS-MD and traditional colleges. Can you name a few liberal arts colleges that are good for premed. Thank you!
Linna,
There are a variety of liberal arts colleges that do a good job of preparing students for medical school. I always hesitate a little to name colleges because it depends on what the student wants in a college but a few colleges that historically have strong medical school placement include Carleton College, Reed College and Hamilton College.
I do start working with students in 9th grade and it often is an advantage to begin early to make sure that all steps to be successful in BS/MD admissions are met.
Hi! I wanted to know when the interview dates are generally scheduled. I live in the Middle East and I was wondering whether or not these programs schedule their interviews around the same times.
Turki,
Medical school interviews are generally scheduled between mid January and late March. It just varies from program to program.
Dear Mr. Todd,
My son has an interview for the BU SMED program on Friday Jan 24. I would like for him to be well prepared for the interview.
Do you have any suggestions?
Do you prepare and/or do mock interviews?
Sincerely,
Ragini Shah
Ragini,
We only work with students on interview prep if we have been working with them on all aspects of the BS/MD process. We don’t have time to work with all students that want our help so we must focus on helping those who are a full students. Sorry we couldn’t help.
Take care.
Todd