Anyone applying to BS/MD programs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:VCU has under a 5% acceptance rate. One thing they do mention is the average accepted applicant has 450 hours of healthcare-related experience.

It's a way of seeing if the kid is genuinely interested in a medical career and has an idea of the commitment they are making.

This is crazy. How do you get these hours?

For the person I know who did a BA/MD, it was a mix of things over the 3 years of high school before applications:
* science research (through a class at school that got her into a lab at the local university for the summer...obviously not an option for every kid)
* EMT class/ambulance ridealongs with the local fire department
* part-time job during school year and summers as a pharmacy tech
* candy striper at local hospital

She had other ECs too, and high test scores and grades. Luckily went to a good suburban public school and had supportive parents, but she's the first doctor in her family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:VCU has under a 5% acceptance rate. One thing they do mention is the average accepted applicant has 450 hours of healthcare-related experience.

It's a way of seeing if the kid is genuinely interested in a medical career and has an idea of the commitment they are making.

This is crazy. How do you get these hours?

For the person I know who did a BA/MD, it was a mix of things over the 3 years of high school before applications:
* science research (through a class at school that got her into a lab at the local university for the summer...obviously not an option for every kid)
* EMT class/ambulance ridealongs with the local fire department
* part-time job during school year and summers as a pharmacy tech
* candy striper at local hospital

She had other ECs too, and high test scores and grades. Luckily went to a good suburban public school and had supportive parents, but she's the first doctor in her family.

What are age restrictions on these, does anyone know?

[Anonymous]

My child applied to one only because it was her safety that had one. 4.0uw/4.85w/1590, nationally certified EMT and lots of other top extracurricular. Full-ride named scholarship with research funds, no invite to interview for BS-MD. Another kid at scholarship weekend with full-ride also didn’t get invite.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My child applied to one only because it was her safety that had one. 4.0uw/4.85w/1590, nationally certified EMT and lots of other top extracurricular. Full-ride named scholarship with research funds, no invite to interview for BS-MD. Another kid at scholarship weekend with full-ride also didn’t get invite.

this is insane

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:VCU has under a 5% acceptance rate. One thing they do mention is the average accepted applicant has 450 hours of healthcare-related experience.

It's a way of seeing if the kid is genuinely interested in a medical career and has an idea of the commitment they are making.

This is crazy. How do you get these hours?

For the person I know who did a BA/MD, it was a mix of things over the 3 years of high school before applications:
* science research (through a class at school that got her into a lab at the local university for the summer...obviously not an option for every kid)
* EMT class/ambulance ridealongs with the local fire department
* part-time job during school year and summers as a pharmacy tech
* candy striper at local hospital

She had other ECs too, and high test scores and grades. Luckily went to a good suburban public school and had supportive parents, but she's the first doctor in her family.

I have a daughter who is an EMT and she was not allowed to enroll in the course until she had finished high school and was 18 in our state. I thought it was national

What are age restrictions on these, does anyone know?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My child applied to one only because it was her safety that had one. 4.0uw/4.85w/1590, nationally certified EMT and lots of other top extracurricular. Full-ride named scholarship with research funds, no invite to interview for BS-MD. Another kid at scholarship weekend with full-ride also didn’t get invite.

this is insane

We were surprised, not even an interview. The only thing we could come up with is her essays. There was a why this med school, super long word count, and she didn’t really want it so perhaps that came through. I can firmly say though that it wasn’t top stats that got in as the scholarship was for that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a Brown Pre-Med (denied PLME). I don’t get impression it’s doctor’s kids, strikes me as a curated group much like college admissions classes. The PLME are not necessarily the standouts in the class. Clearly very bright and capable, I think it was their stories.

This, this, this.

[Anonymous]

Kid knows that (a) it will be a miracle if they get in and (b) they have good options if they don't get in. I am actually very proud of how maturely they are handling the process.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Even at not super competitive schools, the BS/MD programs are super competitive. For example, Pitt has a 50% ish acceptance rate but BS-MD acceptance rate is around 6%. Almost all are single digit and some are as low as 2-3%.

Pitt BS/MD acceptance rate is less than 1%. Last year, there were over 6,000 who applied. 600 made it to the second round, which involves additional essays, recommendations, etc (on top of initial extra essays). From those, they interview 60 and accept 10.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:VCU has under a 5% acceptance rate. One thing they do mention is the average accepted applicant has 450 hours of healthcare-related experience.

It's a way of seeing if the kid is genuinely interested in a medical career and has an idea of the commitment they are making.

This is crazy. How do you get these hours?

For the person I know who did a BA/MD, it was a mix of things over the 3 years of high school before applications:
* science research (through a class at school that got her into a lab at the local university for the summer...obviously not an option for every kid)
* EMT class/ambulance ridealongs with the local fire department
* part-time job during school year and summers as a pharmacy tech
* candy striper at local hospital

She had other ECs too, and high test scores and grades. Luckily went to a good suburban public school and had supportive parents, but she's the first doctor in her family.

I have a daughter who is an EMT and she was not allowed to enroll in the course until she had finished high school and was 18 in our state. I thought it was national

What are age restrictions on these, does anyone know?

Can do at 16 with parent permission. Can also take national exam at 16 with parent permission.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Even at not super competitive schools, the BS/MD programs are super competitive. For example, Pitt has a 50% ish acceptance rate but BS-MD acceptance rate is around 6%. Almost all are single digit and some are as low as 2-3%.

Pitt BS/MD acceptance rate is less than 1%. Last year, there were over 6,000 who applied. 600 made it to the second round, which involves additional essays, recommendations, etc (on top of initial extra essays). From those, they interview 60 and accept 10.

I should add that while Pitt might be a safety for undergrad, it is one of the top medical schools.

[Anonymous]

I don't get this. We make it almost impossible for kids to become doctors, then we import doctors with completely obscure degrees.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:VCU has under a 5% acceptance rate. One thing they do mention is the average accepted applicant has 450 hours of healthcare-related experience.

It's a way of seeing if the kid is genuinely interested in a medical career and has an idea of the commitment they are making.

It’s a way of seeing if a kid has a doctor parent or family friend. Those hours are nearly impossible without connections

Eh- last year we were at FX hosp for a surgery and at check in was a TJ student. She volunteered most mornings checking in outpatient surgery patients. No connections, but also u paid. said she left home at 4:45 am and left for school I think at 7:45. She worked full time during breaks and summer. Even then she said she’d had all rejections.

My kid applied to one. Good grades, good ACT, two paid research internships, worked for years as a paid medical assistant, and was still rejected. A kid we know did get into Brown’s…and he was very impressive.