Attention Texas Residents!

I just noticed how many Texas medical schools offer programs for high school students. Please take advantage of this opportunity. Students in other states aren't so lucky when it comes to their own public medical schools offering BS/MD programs.

I know when I was applying, I hated how Texas students were getting such a great deal. Their programs are restricted to only Texas residents. And the schools are PUBLIC, meaning probably half the cost of private schools.  My state had only two medical schools and did not offer any BS/MD programs. 

SAT and ACT Preparation

I'm sure that all of you have excellent test scores-as seen from the poll. But for those who need just a few extra points, here is my advice:

For SAT, do A LOT of practice tests. At least for me, this strategy worked the most. I'm the kind of person who needs to do practice questions in order to do well on tests. If I simply review stuff, I learn nothing. This is why the Official SAT Guide by CollegeBoard is THE book to get for the SAT. There's no magic behind improving scores. Just takes a lot of practice. If you exhaust the practice test material in the Official Blue Book, go to CollegeBoard's website and purchase the SAT Online Course. This gives you an extra ten tests. If you finished both the book and the online course, then you should do well on the real test.

Also, I feel that practice tests offered by other companies aren't realistic enough. They're not necessarily harder or easier, but just different. Don't buy any books by Kaplan, Princeton Review, Barron's, or any other test companies for SAT or ACT. They simply don't compare to the real thing.

However, I have to make an exception to this rule. There are two other books you should get. They were immensely helpful to me and I believe they would be for you too. The two books are: Direct Hits 1 and Direct Hits 2. Each book contains about 300 vocabulary words that would most likely appear on the SAT. It's not just a boring list either. Each word has a paragraph that helps you remember the word. I actually enjoyed reading this book. because the explanations that follow the vocab are so funny. Could you imagine enjoying memorizing vocab?

NOTE: I did not use any "strategies" during the test. There is no silver bullet for the SAT. Practice, practice, and practice. If you're preparing for a concert, you don't review strategies on how to do the staccato, you simply practice doing it. The same logic applies to these tests as well.

The MSAR is a MUST HAVE!!!!

When I was applying, I had these resources to help me out. I definitely recommend that you get these books. They helped me out a lot.

The MSAR book contains everything you need to know about medical schools. For every med school, the book devotes two pages of detailed information. It has every statistics you need to know about the med school and what kind of specific applicants they're looking for. For example, Drexel Med is very big on female physicians, so in your interview you definitely should mention that.

But the most valuable part of this book is that it has an almost complete list of all BS/MD programs in the US (by almost complete, I mean it's not as complete as mine. But don't worry about. It has all the major ones). Even better, it lists stats on like how many people applied to the program, how many got interviews, and how many got in eventually. This could help you narrow down the number of programs you apply to. For example, NEOUCOM accepted almost no out-of-state applicants. Therefore, you should not bother applying to NEOUCOM if you were OOS. Also, it also lists the average SAT scores for each of these programs. A definite buy if you're applying to BS/MD programs.

If you don't want to spend that much money, you could always buy the 2010 version, which is cheaper. I wouldn't recommend it though, because every year the AAMC updates its contents.

Another PLME essay

This is the second part of the PLME essay. Enjoy its greatness.

The Brown Medical School's mission states that our physician graduates will 'regard medicine as a profession, not just a trade, as a humanitarian pursuit, and unique lifetime experience.' What is your vision of a physician? How do you view your role as a future physician?

The interplay between moving forward and giving up, the struggle to hold onto hope, is what draws me in toward medicine. I love the field’s demand for expertise, skill, as well as an essential love for fellow mankind. Medical science, with the latest knowledge of the genome and molecular structures, is leading a revolutionary progression to better health care. Yet with all the advancements in technology, uncertainty remains-surgeries fail, people supposed to die live twenty years longer. I think the striving to beat the odds is quite sobering; it reminds that, in the end, man fights a losing battle against forces he cannot entirely control. But that is what makes medicine so beautiful. When one finally gets that win, the success of prolonging and improving life, something extraordinary happens. It all becomes worth it. Thoughtful and passionate humans, everyday people, have bonded to help other people in their time of need. Thus, it has become clear to me the difference between merely possessing medical knowledge and practicing medicine. The doctors I have observed and shadowed are so much more than repositories of facts and figures; most importantly, they care. Viewing themselves as humans first and doctors second, they put themselves not on a pedestal, but on the same level as the patient. Their compassion, comprehension, and shared decision making are fundamental to every patient-relationship. With massive malpractice insurance, sleep-deprived hours, and other stresses, physicians are constantly reminded of their fallibility-but they do their best with what they are given, because there is no other alternative. They must fulfill their purpose; it is their ever-satisfying calling. Working in the hospital’s trauma/neuro Intensive Care Unit, I have been cleaning up various bodily fluids, changing patients’ clothes, even brushing their teeth. These glamorous tasks have given me an appreciation of each and every component of health care, as I search for a calling of my own. I wish to jump right into this world of brains and hearts and stomachs, for the simultaneous critical thinking and consideration it requires is everything I cannot wait to pursue. The problem solving of determining diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment is of a vital nature, but equally as important is the art of being with people and understanding them. I hope to someday be a part of a new generation of doctors, aided by innovations of the 21st century, but still strongly cognizant of the social responsibilities of our newfound roles in serving humanity. It may take years to decode the PDR, MCATs, and DSMs of this environment, but something more universal is my focus and motivation—the role of doctors as experts, friends, and most of all, healers, which I believe transcends all languages and encompasses the beauty of human life.

Disclaimer: I do not own any rights to this essay.

PLME essay

This is an essay I found online. The person who wrote this essay was accepted into PLME in 2008. I thought it would be useful for those applying to PLME.

Most high school seniors are unsure about eventual career choices. What factors led you to decide on a career in medicine? And why did you choose to apply to the PLME in pursuit of this career?

When I was growing up, my parents would take me to the hospital where they worked, but all I remember is that it was a fun place for Christmas parties. As a fan of medical television like House, MD, and Scrubs, I decided in high school to explore medicine for myself. Volunteering in a local emergency department, I became privy to a different side of health care, past the science of blood gas measurements and pupil dilations. What fascinated me was the unique language in the hospital delineating a divide from the rest of the world. Turfing inconvenient patients, nurses soothing the most hysterical of people, and skeptical doctors sniffing out drug seekers-all highlighted medical terminology and knowledge not found in any textbooks. Part of this manipulation of language seemed, at times, cold and detached- for example, “practice,” which can mean allowing an intern to try CPR on a person long gone. Referring to the patient in room 11 by the diagnosis of “chest pain” instead of his name protected confidentiality, but it struck me still as lacking the warmth I thought health care was supposed to embody. Then I saw my first dead body. “FULL TRAUMA” sounded overhead, and a few minutes later paramedics hopped off the ambulance and wheeled the patient into the trauma bay, performing CPR the entire time. After they called it, I was left to stare at a nameless, lifeless person who had, an hour ago, been as alive as I. I don’t remember now what he looked like, but I’ll never forget the ER nurses and techs making jokes during the process, seemingly unaffected by the haunting specter of death that so disturbed me. Looking back, their behavior was far from callous, though. I have realized that people in the profession use euphemisms of language, dark humor, anything at all, in order to protect themselves. Even simple things like calling the dead “deceased,” dehumanize the process and let workers do their jobs, day in and day out. The special diction and use of language is a barrier guarding their own humanity. That is the basis of health care, the human relationship between two sides—patients and professionals, giving and taking, both in search of the elusive goodness in everyone. Thus I believe I have found a way of life that I wish to explore. This decision was not instant, but rather a culmination of my experiences in the hospital as a volunteer and intern. The euphoria I feel from helping a patient is an emotion I desire to sustain my entire life. And any opportunity to ensure me the privilege of entering this complex world, where life and death interact daily, is one that I value highly, especially a program such as the PLME. The years in undergraduate spent with a secure position in medical school would not be filled with complacency, however. My confidence in my future would allow for greater pursuits of a variety of activities, research and internships, and in the end, equip me to be a better student, doctor, and person.

Disclaimer: I do not own any rights to this essay.

Full Tuition Scholarships Part 4

Marquette University (BS/DDS)
Diedreich Scholarship
Burke Scholarships
Boys & Girls Clubs of America Scholarships
Engineering Dean's Top Scholar Award
Urban Scholars Program

Baylor University (BS/MD)
Regent's Gold Scholarship

University of Alabama (BS/MD)
National Merit and National Achievement Finalist Scholarships

Drexel University (BS/MD)
Presidential Scholarship
National Merit Finalists Scholarship

St. Louis University (BS/MD)
Presidential Scholarship

University of Tulsa
National Merit Scholarship

Vote in the Poll!

Hi, because the application deadline for many programs are nearing, I've set up two very simple polls. They are two very simple questions and you should definitely vote to see what the competition is like for this year. The polls are in the sidebar of the homepage.

Good luck applying this year!

P.S. I've been really busy with college so I won't be able to blog very often.

BS/DDS

University of Detroit Mercy School of Dentistry
University of Detroit Mercy

University of Buffalo School of Dental Medicine
Canisius College
LeMoyne College
Niagara University
University at Buffalo
SUNY Fredonia
SUNY Geneseo
St. Bonaventure University
St. Lawrence University
Utica College of Syracuse University

University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey- New Jersey Dental School
Fairleigh Dickinson University
Stevens Institute of Technology

University of the Pacific Dugoni School of Dentistry (I strongly recommend this one)
University of the Pacific

University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine
University of Pennsyllvania
Villanova University
Lehigh University (scroll down the page)
Xavier University of Louisiana (I can't find the link)
Hampton University (Again, can't find the link)
Muhlenberg College

New York University College of Dentistry
Adelphi University

Tufts University School of Dental Medicine
Adelphi University

Temple University School of Dentistry
Moravian College
Temple University
Wilkes University

Marquette University School of Dentistry
Marquette University

Boston University School of Dental Medicine
Boston University

Virginia Commonwealth University School of Dentistry

Virginia Commonwealth University

Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis

As everyone knows, Wash U's Med School is extremely top-rated (at least on US News). So I know you're all excited to hear that Wash U Med has a BS/MD program with its undergrad, Washington University in St Louis. The program is called University Scholars Program.

Before you get too excited, you should hear about the requirements for matriculation into the med school. A 36 on the MCAT must be achieved. As if that isn't hard or ridiculous enough, a 3.8 GPA also has to be maintained. On top of that, you have to complete another interview with the med school.

When I saw this for the first time, my first thought was "What the heck?" These requirements are too high to be called a BS/MD program. A 36 MCAT and a 3.8 GPA will get you into a great medical school via the normal route. But apparently there are some benefits with this program. You are invited to special lectures and you have a mentor to guide you through during your undergrad years. Also, you could engage in research.

These benefits don't seem that special to me. I don't know what kind of lecture it is, but they probably won't help you on your MCAT or classes. I have a mentor in my BS/MD program too, and we rarely make contact. You could engage in research in any school, not just Wash U.

So the bottom line is this: Unless you are super highly motivated (which I doubt you are if you are reading this), do not apply to this program. Don't even think about it. Besides, from the picture on the website, they only have five spots.

Admission Requirements:
Washington University in St. Louis

• January 15th

No score cutoff, but I'm sure the average is in the 2300s. If you can get into this program, you can probably get into HPME or PLME. Choose smartly.

Full Tuition Scholarships Part 3

Boston University (BS/MD)
Trustee Scholarship
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Scholarship
Alexander Graham Scholarship
School of Education Presidential Scholarship

Ohio State University
Presidential Scholarship

Southern Methodist University
President's Scholar's
Hunt Scholarship

University of Maryland
Banneker/Key Scholarship
Regents Scholarship

Rutgers University (BS/MD)
Presidential Scholarship

University of Pittsburgh (BS/MD)
Not listed, but they offer full tuition to anyone with high (around 1500) SAT scores. I got one easily.

Northeastern University
National Merit Finalists Scholarship
Trustee Scholarship

University of Connecticut (BS/MD)
Nutmeg Scholarship
Day of Pride Scholarship
Presidential Scholars Award of Valedictorians and Salutatorians

Indiana University (BS/MD)
IU Excellence
IU Distinction

Full Tuition Scholarships Part 2

College of William and Mary
William and Mary Scholarship

New York University
AnBryce Scholarships
Paths to Peace

Brandeis University
Annenberg Scholarship
Hiatt Challenger Memorial Scholarship
Gilbert Grant
Fannie Pennikoff Scholarship
Norman S. Rabb Scholarship
Stroum Family Waltham Scholarship

University of Rochester (BS/MD)
Wilson IB Scholarship
(Don't know about others, but I know if you get a IB Diploma, you get full tuition)

University of Washington
Mary Gates Scholarships

University of Miami (BS/MD)
Issac Bashevis Singer Scholarship

Yeshiva University
Honors Programs
Anne Scheiber Scholarship Program

George Washington University (BS/MD)
Seven-year BA/MD students get a 15k discount

Tulane University
Deans Honors Scholarship

Temple University School of Medicine

Temple Med has programs with four undergrads: Duquesne University, Washington & Jefferson University, Widener University, and Temple University. The first three schools programs are called BA/MD, while the last one with Temple undergrad is called the Health Scholars Program.

The first three programs are more straight forward. You are required to maintain a 3.5 GPA and score a 30 on the MCAT. That's pretty standard. But to get into these three programs, you have do two interviews: one with the undergrad, and one with Temple Med. To me, this is a pain in the ass. For someone not from the area, this can cause great inconvenience. Also, note that Widener gives a preference to residents of Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey, and Maryland. Don't apply if you're not from these states. It would be a huge waste of time.

For the Temple Health Scholars Program however, it's a little bit different. To remain in the program you have to maintain a 3.5 GPA and do another interview during your junior year. MCAT is also required, but I don't know what the required score is. This Health Scholars Program doesn't sound as safe as the BA/MD programs.

From what I heard, the location of Temple Med is a huge negative. It's located in North Philly, not exactly the safest spot in Philly. However, the quality of education at Temple Med seems to be very solid. They were on probation a few years ago but have gotten back on track.

Admission Requirements:
Duquesne University

• Apply by November 15th

Incoming freshman with SAT scores of 1350 or higher, at one sitting, in the math and verbal sections (no single score below 600, this includes the new writing section) or a minimum composite ACT score of 31 are eligible to apply to this program in advance of matriculation. Qualified candidates will first be interviewed by the Pre-Medical Professions Program (PMPP) and then by members of the Admissions Committee from Temple School of Medicine. Students must indicate their interest in the program by checking the Duquesne Medical Scholars Program (DMSP) code on the Duquesne University Admissions application.

Washington and Jefferson University

• Apply early in the fall.

Requirements are the same as above.

Widener University

• Apply by December 15th

Requirements are the same as above.

Temple University

• The Scholars Program invites applications from candidates with strong high school academic records and demonstrated interest in their professional field.
• Typically, candidates have four (4) years of high school math and science classes, a GPA of 3.8 or higher, and an SAT score of 1320 or higher (ACT of 30 or higher)
• Have a demonstrable commitment to volunteer or service activities, at least one of which is a health-care related experience.
• Apply by January to be considered for an interview in February.

Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine

VCU Med has a program with its undergrad, VCU. The program is called Guaranteed Admissions Program. There are three big Guaranteed Admission Programs: Medicine, Dental, and Pharmacy.

To remain in the program, you have to maintain a 3.5 GPA. MCAT is waived.

To be admitted, you have to have done a lot of extracurriculars. I noticed that the profile for 2010 GMED students has extremely low stats. Unweighted GPA of 3.85 and SAT score of 2150? Come on! But then it says that each student has 450 hours of health care related service. That is A LOT. This program is similar to the Siena/AMC program. They don't really care about your stats, but they do care a lot for your extracurriculars.

The GMED program is also for current VCU Honors students. This program is called the Preferred Applicant Track. I thought this was also quite interesting. It is similar to SLU's Medical Scholars Program. Only that you don't have to get into the program as a freshman. You just apply at the end of your second year. If you get in, you only need a MCAT score of 26. This sounds like a really good deal. Even if you don't get into the program as a high school student, you can apply again in college.

Admission Requirements:
Virginia Commonwealth University

• Apply by November 15th
• Minimum SAT score of 1910 or ACT score of 29
• Unweighted GPA of 3.50
• References

Full Tuition Scholarships Part 1

Johns Hopkins University
Charles R Westgate Scholarship

Washington University at St. Louis (BS/MD)
Arthur Holly Compton Fellowship Program
George E. Mylonas Scholarship Program
Florence Moog Fellowship Program
Arnold J. Lien Scholarship Program
J. Stephen Fossett Pathfinder Fellowship
James W. Fitzgibbon Scholarships
Conway/Proetz Scholarships
Dean’s Scholarships in Business
Alexander S. Langsdorf Fellowships
John B. Ervin Scholars Program
Annika Rodriguez Scholars Program

Rice University (BS/MD)
Engineering Scholarship

Vanderbilt University
Ingram Scholars
Cornelius Vanderbilt Scholars
Chancellor's Scholars

Emory University
Goizueta Scholars
MLK Scholars

University of Southern California (BS/MD)
Trustee Scholarship

University of Virginia
Jefferson Scholars Program

Wake Forest University
Nancy Susan Reynolds Scholarship
Guy T. Carswell Scholarship
Joseph G. Gordon Scholarship
Graylyn Scholarship
Dr. George C. and Lila C. Bradford Scholarship
O.W. Wilson Scholarship
Bobbie Fletcher Memorial Scholarship

Wayne State University School of Medicine

Wayne State Med has programs high three undergrads: Wayne State University, Northern Michigan University, and Michigan Technological University. The programs are all called the MedStart program.

This program is a really good deal because they give out lots of scholarships. Lots of people in the program are on a full tuition scholarship. Also, Wayne state is a public medical school, so if you are a resident you save a significant amount of money.

To remain in the program, you must maintain a 3.30 GPA for the first year and 3.50 for the years after that. An overall 3.50 science GPA is also required. MCAT must be taken. A score of 9 on each section for a minimum of 27 is required. Also, a monthly MedStart journal has to be submitted. And you have to attend lots of required events.

Admission Requirements:
Wayne State University

• Apply by January 15th
• Submit application to Wayne State University
• Indicate a 3.5 GPA (including weighting for AP and Honors classes)
• Submit ACT scores (a minimum of 25 is required)
• Complete MedStart application
• Detail honors received in high school
• Detail explanation of experience (e.g. describe the amount of time devoted to the activity) in:
  • Health care
  • Community service
  • Team activities (e.g. athletics, debate)
  • Leadership
  • High school extracurricular activities
  • Employment
  • Summer activities
• Prepare a one-page essay “Why Pursue MedStart” and why you should be accepted
• Request letters of recommendation – one from a high school/teacher/counselor/administrator – another from a non-family member to address activities as listed above
• Submit copy of high school transcript within MedStart application package

Northern Michigan University

• Apply by February 1st
• Complete and submit Application for WSU MedStart at NMU form
• High School GPA of 3.50 (recalculated in academic core courses, including weighting for AP/IB/honors classes)
• ACT composite score of 28 or higher or SAT combined score of 1240 or higher
• Explanation of experience (e.g. describe the amount of time devoted to the activity) in:
  • Health care
  • Community service
  • Team activities (e.g. athletics, debate)
  • Leadership
  • High school extracurricular activities and/or employment
• Submission of a one-page typed essay describing why you are pursuing MedStart and why you should be accepted
• Two letters of recommendation
  • One from a high school teacher/counselor/administrator who is familiar with your extracurricular activities, team and/or leadership skills
  • One from a non-family member who can address your health care experience, community service, and/or employment

Michigan Technological University

• Apply by March 19th
• Admission to Michigan Technological University
• High School GPA of 3.5/4.0 or higher
• One-page essay
• Letter of recommendation from your high school
• Letter of recommendation from a non-family member

George Washington University School of Medicine

GWU SOM has BA/MD program with two schools: George Washington University and St. Bonaventure University. The program with GWU is seven years, while the one with St. Bonaventure is eight years.

GWU SOM was on probation a few years ago, but they got rid of the problems and now everything has returned to normal. It is the most applied to med school in the US. They receive 10k+ applications each year.

Each program accepts about 15 people each year. The GWU/GWU program is much more competitive than the Bonaventure/GWU program. GWU is considerably more expensive (tuition is at 42k a year,one of the most expensive in the country!) than Bonaventure.

To stay in the program, you must maintain 3.6 GPA and a minimum of grade of B in courses required for admission to medical school. MCATs are not required for matriculation.

Admission Requirements:

The George Washington University

• Apply December 1st
• SAT II in science and math
• Submit the Honors, Accelerated, and Special Programs application

St. Bonaventure University

• SAT of 1300 or higher (critical reading + math sections only) or 29 or higher on the ACT.
• Successful completion of a SAT II subject test in a science; molecular biology is preferred (Bio-M), chemistry is also acceptable.
• High school average of 90 or higher as calculated by the St. Bonaventure Admissions Office.
• Community service is evaluated and taken into consideration.
• At least two letters of recommendation from teachers, at least one of which should be from a science teacher. Letters from non-teachers (employers, volunteer coordinators, coaches, etc.) are also encouraged. Brief letters that comment on areas in which the letter writer has personal knowledge or experience with you are preferred.
• Essay(s), to include a personal statement detailing your interest and experiences in the medical/health field, and also your specific interest in SBU and GW. These topics may be included in a single essay, or in two separate essays.
• A resume that organizes all of your extracurricular activities in one place (church, clubs, sports, hobbies, volunteering, clinical exposure, employment, etc.).

Boston University School of Medicine

Boston Med has an accelerated med program with Boston University. It is called the Seven-Year Liberal Arts/Medical Education Program or SMED by some people.

Note: They DO NOT send you a rejection letter if you don't get an interview. They do tell you, but they don't do it separately. The rejection letter comes with your acceptance to the undergrad in April. So if you don't get an interview notification by late February, assume that it's a rejection.

To remain in the program, you have to score a 30 on the MCAT and maintain a 3.5 GPA. This program is a great deal because Boston is a great location. It provides you with immense opportunities for research in places like Massachusetts General Hospital (affiliated with Harvard), Brigham and Young (Harvard), Beth Israel (Harvard), NEMC (Tufts), and BUMC (Boston). Also, Boston Med has a pass/fail system for the first two years. This alleviates the stress level by a whole lot.

Admission Requirements:

• Apply by December 1st
• Submit SAT or ACT with Writing
• SAT II in Math II and Chemistry. Foreign language is recommended
• Submit a separate Accelerated Programs Teacher evaluation

Albany Medical College

AMC offers three programs. Each program has a specific focus. The Physician-Scientist Program with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute emphasizes research and is a 7 year program. The Leadership in Medicine Program with Union College focuses on leadership (as the name implies). The Science, Humanities and Medicine Program with Siena College focuses on volunteering.

All three programs don't have MCAT requirements. However, the RPI program requires students to do research the summer before entering AMC. The Union program requires students to spend two to three summers (depending on the degree they wish to obtain- MS or MBA). The Siena program requires students to spend a summer working in developing countries.

Admission Requirements:

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

• Apply by November 1st

Selection for this program takes place during the senior year of high school. On graduating from high school, applicants must have completed four years of English; a year each of biology, chemistry, and physics, and four years of mathematics. SAT I and SAT II scores in mathematics (level IC or IIC) and one of the following three science subtests are required: physics, chemistry, or biology. Alternatively, ACT scores may be submitted. Laboratory research experience is also important.

Union College

• Apply by December 1st

The most important credential for admission to the Leadership in Medicine Program at Union is academic excellence. The admissions committee considers only those applicants who have taken the toughest courses and received the best grades. Applicants are required to have completed courses in biology, chemistry, and physics in high school. From high schools which rank their students, ranks in the top ten percent are expected.Applicants for the Eight-Year Leadership in Medicine Program are required to complete and submit the scores for SAT and two SAT II Subject Tests. The SAT IIs should include one science and one mathematics test. The ACT can replace the requirements for both the SAT and SAT II. Testing requirements for the Leadership in Medicine Program are a combined 1950 or better on the SAT and a 650 or better on each of the SAT IIs. If a student chooses to submit the ACT, he or she must have a composite of 30 or better.

Siena College

• Apply by December 1st

Academics: Students must have a minimum SAT of 1950 (minimum of 1300 in critical reading and math) or an ACT composite of 30+ and rank in the top 10 percent of their graduating class. Once these threshold values are met the committee focuses on assessing the candidates' strengths in the following areas:

• Scholarship
• Leadership
• Communication Skills
• Commitment to Service
• Potential Contributions to the Siena College Community

Volunteer Activities: Letters of recommendation, personal essays and demonstrated service to the community then become the determining factors. Any student considering medicine should have health related experience. In the past successful candidates have been involved in a variety of human service activities:

• Worked in soup kitchens
• Cared for individuals with disabilities
• Worked with children with special needs
• Tutored inner city youth
• Worked in homeless shelters
• Volunteered in developing nations
• Initiated a variety of community projects
• Volunteered with the elderly

Baylor College of Medicine

Baylor has several medical programs. I am most familiar with the program with Rice University and Baylor University (not affiliated with Baylor College of Medicine), therefore I will only list these two programs.

The more popular program is the Rice/Baylor program, called the Medical Scholars Program, mainly because it is simply more well known and accepts more students. This program is also very competitive, on par with HPME. It has no MCAT requirements. Great university, cheap and great medical school. What more can you ask for?

The Baylor 2 Medical Track, or the Baylor Squared Program accepts only 4 people per year. There are two interviews required. You have to interview at Baylor University first. Then they select a few for the interview at BCM. In my opinion, do not apply to this program unless you have some serious connections at Baylor University. I went to the interview to find that I was one of the 96 who was also being interviewed. I was not selected for the next interview. Needless to say, I thought something fishy was going on. Why? the interview lasted 10 minutes, but we spent the whole day taking a tour Baylor University. The interview was merely a tool to get students to visit the school. Seriously, if you don't have any interest in attending Baylor unless you get into the program, then don't go to the interview.

Admission Requirements:

Rice University

• Apply by December 1st

There doesn't seem to be any specific requirements. But I can assure you that this program is crazy hard to get into.

Baylor University

• Application for admission to Baylor University must be submitted by the early deadline date of the year of matriculation. (Earlier applications are encouraged and will receive more favorable consideration.);
• Be accepted by Baylor University for admission by January 15;
• Achieve a minimum 1400 SAT (one setting using Verbal and Math) or a minimum 32 ACT score;
• Rank in the top 5% of high school graduating class or possess a minimum 3.7/4.0 GPA.
• This program is open to U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents.

Interesting note: Rice and Baylor had merger talks back in 2009. The talks collapsed in January 2010. After the talks collapsed, Baylor University became the new suitor. The students at BCM, though, seemed to not like the idea very much. Here is their petition. For now, BCM remains a free-standing institution.

University of Missouri Kansas City School of Medicine

The UMKC 6 year BA/MD Program is an accelerated program. Students obtain the MD degree in six years. However, this program does require certain sacrifices. Let's talk about the positives first. First, there is no MCAT requirement. And you graduate in six years versus the normal eight.

Now let's talk about the downsides, in my opinion. There are no summers. Once you're in the program, you go to school for six years with no summer breaks. I think this is quite taxing on the human mind. Also, you're taking four years of undergrad classes in two years. This means that your course load is significantly tougher.

There are also concerns about the quality of UMKC as a med school. If you look at the match list, you will see that most students match in primary care. If you are a student aspiring for the field of plastic surgery, then UMKC might not help you achieve that goal. That said, it is still entirely possible. I believe that the outcome of the match depends on the student. The name of the med school plays only a minor part.

This program is the one that gets the most negative vibe among all other programs. People bash it. There are very few positive reactions when you look at CollegeConfidential's thread on UMKC. But I think UMKC is treated unfairly. Many of the negative opinions come from students who have dropped out (the dropout rate is rather high). Looking at the ACT average, I'm not surprised why so many students couldn't handle the program. It's only 30. Other programs easily have averages around 34-35. I was accepted to the program and would have easily gone here if not for acceptance to another program.

So, are you right for this program? Think carefully at what I wrote. Ask yourself, "Can I handle this program? Can I afford it? Can I handle the course load?"

Admission Requirements:
UMKC

• Fully admissible to UMKC (17 core requirements)
• Missouri residents: top 20 percent of class; ACT of 26 or above
• Non-Missouri residents: top 10 percent of class; ACT of 28 or above OR SAT composite of 1200 (critical reading and math)
• Must be U.S. citizens or awarded permanent resident visa status by application deadline
• Students under serious consideration are invited to interview

• Mathematics - four units (unit = one year of high school)
• English - four units
• Science - three units (must include Chemistry and Biology)
• Social Studies - three units
• Foreign Language - two units
• Fine Arts - one unit (visual arts, music, dance, or theater
• Students are encouraged, but not required, to take courses for college credit (AP, IB, dual credit)

University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine

USC offers a 8 year program with its undergrad. The program is designed to enrich, not to accelerate. From what I heard, many people in the program choose to apply out. I don't know why, or whether this is true.

The interview notification comes around late January.

Admission Requirements

University of Southern California

• Apply by December 1st

Interested students should submit a general undergraduate application to USC as well as a separate application to the Bac/M.D. Program. Program applications (available at the web site listed below) and USC general applications must be received by December 1 to be considered for admission the following fall.