University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry

Introduction

The Rochester Early Medical Scholars program is an 8 year BA/BS/MD program. Rochester is a small town in upstate New York. Their medical school has a great reputation. About 10 students are accepted per year. 

Application Requirements:

- No score requirement is listed on their website

- Application deadline is 11/15

Pros

- No MCAT required

- Great medical school

Cons

- Expensive. The listed price tag on their website for undergrad is 78k per year. For undergrad it's 80k.

78k x 4 = 312k for 4 years for undergrad

80k x 4 = 320k for 4 years of med school

Total cost of attendance = 632k 

I'm glad I'm not your parent footing the bill for this. 

- Depressing location

- No accelerated option. Program is 8 years.

How Hard Is It to Get Into REMS Program?

8 out of 10

The small number of applicants accepted (~10) makes this an extraordinarily difficult program to get into. Their website mentions having an 3.95 unweighted GPA as well has being in the top 3% of your high school class. Both of which can be quite difficult if you go to a challenging high school. 

Conclusion

I will say that I did interview at Rochester for my radiology residency back in 2017. Their hospital is brand spanking new. The cost of living was cheap. They have a great reputation. But.... Rochester was cold af. The town feels incredibly depressing during those dark, cold winters. Or maybe I'm just getting old. My goal in high school was to get into ANY BS/MD program. Now I just want to be as comfortable as possible. Lol, oh how quickly things change. I'm sure most of you reading this will have the same fire inside you to go where your destiny takes you.

Prestige Rating

8 out of 10

(below was last edited on 9/9/2011)

Rochester Med has a program with its undergraduate school, University of Rochester. The program is called Rochester Early Medical Scholars (R.E.M.S.).

The program is extremely competitive. About 800 apply each year and only 15 are accepted. Research is strongly emphasized. Students without strong research extracurricular activities generally are not accepted.

Here is some opinion from a REMS student (stats included):

The Rochester Early Medical Scholar's Program is an 8 year guaranteed program. MCATs are not necessary, and you can apply out if you so choose. It offers a lot of flexibility, research opportunities, etc. I honestly think that what deters a lot of people from applying to the program is 1) weather (im from the west coast, so I'll be the first to say it's very different, but it's not actually that big of a deal to me) and 2) that they havent heard about it. I didnt think for a second that id be attending rochester until i visited the campus for interviews and had a great experience, so keep an open mind and ask questions!

University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

Guaranteed Admission Program (GAP) hasn't changed much. They have upped their score requirement to 1490 for SAT and 34 for ACT. Have to maintain a GPA of 3.75 (<-- this is no easy feat) in college. MCAT needs to be taken but score is only used for "advising" purposes, whatever that means (sounds shady). 

This was one of the schools that gave me a full tuition for their undergrad. Alas, I was not even given a chance for interview at their med school.

Their requirements

Applying for the Guaranteed Admission Program

Applying for the GAP is a multi-step process.  To be considered, applicants must submit a completed undergraduate application for admission on or before November 1 (applicants must be a US Citizen, Lawful Permanent Resident (not pending or conditional) or have Asylee Status. International students as well as applicants to the regional campuses of the University of Pittsburgh are not eligible for this program).  An applicant must indicate an interest in Pre-Medicine or Bioengineering on their undergraduate admissions application. Also, applicants must earn the highest grade point average available at your high school in the context of a curriculum showing the greatest academic rigor possible.  In addition, achieve a minimum SAT score of 1490 (combined Evidence-Based Reading and Writing and Math) or 34 ACT composite score. Due to the University expanding the Fall 2021 test-optional policy, the MCAT will be required prior to matriculation to the medical school only for test-optional candidates entering Pitt as first-year guaranteed admits in 2021.  However, the earned score will only be used for advising purposes following matriculation to medical school. The MCAT requirement does not apply to students admitted with SAT/ACT scores. 

After the initial review described above, students selected to continue in the process will be notified by the School of Medicine of their eligibility to apply for the Medicine GAP. Those selected will be asked to submit a supplemental application in support of their candidacy. The supplemental application will be reviewed by the School of Medicine’s Admission Committee. Selected students will be invited for an interview in the School of Medicine in March (no one is admitted to the medical school without an interview).

Selection for the interview is based on:

• Academic performance
• Medically related experiences
• Research Experience, if available
• Community Service
• Two letters of recommendation (1 from either a school counselor or and teacher and the other from a person who knows the applicant through their participation in the activities above)
• An essay

Requirements

If accepted into the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine’s Guaranteed Admission Program, students must:

• Maintain an overall GPA of 3.75 with a Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics  (BCPM) GPA of 3.75 as an undergraduate
• Complete the undergraduate degree within four years
• Continue to gain medically related experiences* during their undergraduate years
• Seek research opportunities in a medically related field
• Seek opportunities for community service 
• Meet with the Director of the Guaranteed Admit program once every semester to discuss their progress in terms of medically related activities, research and community service.
• Meet with the University Pre-Medical Advisor at the start of each semester in order to confirm that they are fulfilling the academic pre-requisites for admission to the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.   In addition, students will be given information regarding various research** and volunteering opportunities.
• Provide the Office of Admissions with an official transcript at the completion of their junior year

Please keep in mind, students must also meet with the advisor who was assigned to them by the University of Pittsburgh at matriculation.

*Students need to be HIPAA certified before they can be permitted to volunteer in any UPMC-affiliated hospital. The certification can be done online by:

• Visiting http://cme.hs.pitt.edu
• Clicking on “Internet Based Studies in Education and Research” and then
• Clicking on “HIPAA Privacy Awareness for Faculty, Students, Health Professionals and Trainees.”

**For those interested in Neuroscience Research visit the website of The Center for Neuroscience for the University of Pittsburgh.

(below was last edited on 8/28/2011)

UPitt Med has a program with its undergrad, University of Pittsburgh. The program is called Guaranteed Admission Program (GAP). There are many GAP programs, including medicine, dental, nursing, law, engineering, business, just to name a few. Pitt Med is a really great med school according to US News. Therefore its program is tougher to get in compared to others. The undergrad will give you at least a full tuition scholarship if you meet the criteria to apply to this program (actually, I think you need SAT score of around 1500). Therefore this program is one of the best deals out there.

Brown University Alpert Medical School

The PLME program is one of the most competitive BA/MD programs in the country. This program offers admission to both Brown University and Alpert Medical School. Unlike other programs, PLME does not restrict applications based on standardized test scores or state residency. It also does not require an interview. Admission to the program therefore relies heavily on the essays and extracurriculars of the applicant. Standardized testing scores still matter, but I don't believe they play as much an important as they do in other programs. According to the PLME website, the average SAT score is 2215, a competitive score normally but mediocre among medical programs. Therefore I deduce that students admitted must have done some extraordinary activities or written some heart-wrenching essays.

University of California, San Diego School of Medicine

UC San Diego School of Medicine (UCSD SOM) has a full eight year BA/BS/MD program in conjunction with UCSD or Caltech, called the Medical Scholars Program. This is a highly selective program. For the UCSD undergraduate, this program is available only to California residents. For the Caltech undergraduate, you just have to be a US citizen or permanent resident. But just as a heads up, don't think that this narrows the pool size down, or changes any probabilities in your favor. This is not an easy program to get into.

Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

HPME is one of the most competitive programs out there. It's not hard to see why. Feinberg is a great medical school. And so is Northwestern University. The program has no MCAT requirements. It is an accelerated 7 years program. I know you're all peeing your pants and awestruck at the greatness of this program. Well, good luck at getting in.

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

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.).

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)