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I would not say that the research requirement is something that is necessarily stated explicitly, however, the strongest applicants will have published papers or have been part of a research project involving a significant time committment. I wouldn't necessarily assume two months to be sufficient but it all depends on the strength of your other achievements relative to one another and to those of other applicants. Showing a committment to your community through volunteering is a hallmark of a great applicant and similarly a great doctor.

By Sillygiu (Sillygiu) on Friday, June 04, 2004 - 02:07 am: Edit

Does anybody know how many hours of volunteer would be concidered good enough for entering competitive BA/MD program.

(SAT 1580) vp of school club, 3 years in band

Thanks

By Sailorgirl1985 (Sailorgirl1985) on Friday, June 04, 2004 - 05:49 pm: Edit

Sillygiu-I think one of the most important things to recognize in applying for BA/MD programs is that there is no magic formula or number of AP/IB classes, SAT I/II scores, hours, research hours etc.. I had about 450 hours, I would think many applicants would have that many. I would certainly expect the avg applicant to be over 300. That's what I found from going to interviews at Rochester and Case. I think two of the biggest things programs are looking for is an intense interest in medicine, an ability to relate well to others (good communication skills) and a spark.

By Nyugrad (Nyugrad) on Saturday, June 05, 2004 - 08:05 am: Edit

volunteering is important. However, don't volunteer for the sake of writing it down-admsiions officers can see through that. Make it a worthwhile experience over a long period of time. Don't suddenly decide in your senior year that you will volunteer-it is obvious what you are doing.

If you are interested in research-then do research. If you like science(which I'd hope you do if you're applying to med school), spend some time doing research in an area that interests you. It does not need to be medically related, but it does need to be supervised.

By Amitabh (Amitabh) on Saturday, June 05, 2004 - 05:02 pm: Edit

where can i find a list of all the universities offering a bs/md program and their eligibility requirements

By Sjparent (Sjparent) on Sunday, June 06, 2004 - 06:03 pm: Edit

Sillyqiu,

My D got into two BA/MD programs at USC and UCSD.She finally picked UCSD because it has no MCAT requirement and has a better Biochemistry program. Besides, who can compare La Jolla to any other location ? She had a 1580 in SATI and 800/780/770 in SATIIs, around 200 hours of volunteering. I think what they look for is not just one thing but an overall academic excellence and good EC in the resume. My D was in Student govt, music, CSF President, couple of clubs and a straight A in all 8 semsters. She was ranked #2 in her school but the #1 ranked student did not get into either programs even though she did try for both of them. That tells you that what takes to get in is good academics, EC and above all how convincing you are in the interview that you really have in you what it takes to be a doctor. Hope that helps. Good luck. We do need some really smart kids like you to be our future doctors.

By Nobel (Nobel) on Monday, June 07, 2004 - 07:59 pm: Edit

Amitabh:

you can find the list at
http://services.aamc.org/currdir/section3/degree2.cfm?data=yes&program=bsmd

or

you can just type "BS MD" in Google and get this website

hope this helps.

By Jenskate1 (Jenskate1) on Wednesday, June 09, 2004 - 03:16 pm: Edit

That's a good list. Notably missing from it are the Rice/Baylor and Case Western Reserve Programs.

Good luck.

Jenn

By Ronlivs (Ronlivs) on Friday, June 11, 2004 - 11:23 pm: Edit

what if you really do not have time for volunteering because you are doing research. To be honest, i am more interested in doing research than volunteering; im not going to have as many hours as other applicants. even thought the general consensus is that admissions do not care about the number of hours. still, i would be competing with people who do have hundreds of hours. what do you suggest i do?

By Kewlkiwi102 (Kewlkiwi102) on Saturday, June 12, 2004 - 04:56 am: Edit

Hi! Ihave been reading through these posts for a while, and wanted to ask if maybe someone could evaluate my strength as an applicant to the pot 6-7-8- year programs?
Here goes...

SAT:1600, first try

SATIIs: 800 Chem, 800 BioM, hopeing for an 800 Math IIC (scores come back Thurs), still to take Writing

Grades: 4.5 on a scale where 4.3 is an A+ (very very high for my school)

Courseload: Most challenging of anyone at my school. APs, Honors classes, blah blah. Doubled up on sciences for the past 2 years, gonna triple up for senior year

ECs and Awards:
Science Bowl team captain and founder, 4th in the state
Biology Olympiad Semifinalist
Chemistry Olympiad Semifinalist
Outstanding Achivment Award from Chem Olympiad
Physics Team Member, and Captain next year
Baush and Lomb Science Prize
School Biology Prize
School Science Prize
1st place from NRC in 2001 County Sci Fair
Ntl Spanish Exam: 2nd place in state, 11th in nation in 2004, 2nd place in state in 2003
Mock trial
Model UN
Its Academic

Volunteering:
Local ER, hoping to get about 300 hrs (but will have to kill myself to get there, w/ a full time internship this summer). More reasonably 200-250 hours.
2004 Outstanding volunteer award (given by my school)

Jobs:
Worked in my dad's office for the past 4(?) summers. He's a doc. Lots of filing and escorting patients, but it gave me the opportunity to see all sides of the medical profession.
Summer 2004- Internship at NIH. Whoo! 40 hrs/wk, 10wks. (will make more hospital volunteer time tough...)

Please please be honest!!
Looking through these posts and seeing what qualifications are needed for schools like NW and Brown's programs really freaks me out...

By Nyugrad (Nyugrad) on Saturday, June 12, 2004 - 07:55 am: Edit

Calm down!You are on the right path. Remember to enjoy these experiences, don't just think of them as stepping stones to med school, but unbelievable experiences for learning.The interview is also important. On your interview you need to calm down and concentrate on your experiences and love for medicine rather than rattle off your (very impressive) list of grades. If you've gotten the interview, they already know about your grades. Now you've got to show what a wonderful person (I'm sure) you are and how much you've learned. But please! Calm down! You're doing fine.

By Kewlkiwi102 (Kewlkiwi102) on Saturday, June 12, 2004 - 12:05 pm: Edit

Ok, thanks! Sorry about that, it was like 5 am and I couldnt sleep. Not the best time to post .
I really really love medicine, and I have only taken part in ECs and things that I have loved...
Yay medicine!

By Whightknight (Whightknight) on Saturday, June 12, 2004 - 02:29 pm: Edit

Can someone tell me all the combined medical programs 7 year or 6 that DO NOT require the MCAT ???

By Papucutta (Papucutta) on Tuesday, June 15, 2004 - 10:48 am: Edit

rems brown northwestern rpi....those are the big ones.

By Whightknight (Whightknight) on Tuesday, June 15, 2004 - 06:06 pm: Edit

Brown is 8 year if I recall; Northwestern and RPI I have heard of, any more though?
Thanks for the reply

By Luda (Luda) on Tuesday, June 15, 2004 - 06:07 pm: Edit

rems and brown are 8 years. The other two are the most established 7 year programs. They are reach bs/md programs

By Bharath2007 (Bharath2007) on Tuesday, June 15, 2004 - 06:13 pm: Edit

rice and case

By Dreadpirate (Dreadpirate) on Tuesday, June 15, 2004 - 07:17 pm: Edit

Kewlkiwi: I gotta agree with Bharath--Rice/Baylor and Case, and I would add NW, are a cut above.

By Gangsta (Gangsta) on Tuesday, June 15, 2004 - 08:56 pm: Edit

case is 8 years. Rice is 7 years and is definitely at the top as well. It's more of a recent program and not many students have graduated from it. Both NW and RPI have graduated 100's so they are very well established. So you are guaranteed to do well if you go through the program. The problem is getting in and staying in which not everyone can do.

By Wobudong (Wobudong) on Tuesday, June 15, 2004 - 10:34 pm: Edit

Rice is an 8 year program and has been around since at least the mid 90's. According to the Rice/Baylor literature, even if you could finish undergrad in four years (everyone in the program arrives with a lot of AP credits) you would be expected to take additional undergrad or graduate courses to complete the full four years prior to entering med school. Few students have graduated from the program because only about 15 per year are accepted.

By Bharath2007 (Bharath2007) on Wednesday, June 16, 2004 - 12:09 am: Edit

I am planning on finishing Case in 7 (only possible for B.A candidates) and I have a friend at Rice/Baylor planning to do the same. Although Rice and Case are not typically 7 year programs, they can be finished in 7 years.

By Gangsta (Gangsta) on Wednesday, June 16, 2004 - 09:14 am: Edit

Yes this is all true. No, all I was saying as that it is a relatively new program in comparison to alot of the others which started in the late 60's and early 70's. All of these programs are great and it's tough to say that one is better than the other in my opinion. Some have more applicants, some emphasize different aspects in medicine. But whats true is that all will produce a successful doctor.

By Luda (Luda) on Wednesday, June 16, 2004 - 09:44 am: Edit

What do people think about this: Reading earlier posts from HMS, he says that if you get into any prestigous BS/MD program (Rice, Brown, NW, RPI, BU, Case, Rochester), it is better to take it over any school, but Harvard and Princeton. The reason for that is that Harvard and Princeton have crazy grade inflation so getting a relatively high GPA should not be too difficult. So I guess, it's better to take these programs even though schools like NW, Case, RPI, and BU are not in the same league as Cornell, Columbia, etc.

By Bharath2007 (Bharath2007) on Wednesday, June 16, 2004 - 11:12 am: Edit

Luda- I think there is truth in what HMS is says. However I know many people who attend programs to serve as a safety med school and a segue to another even better med school. For many people removing the MCAT completely from the process is a major factor for choosing a program.

By Papucutta (Papucutta) on Wednesday, June 16, 2004 - 09:14 pm: Edit

i've heard from program ppl that you should take mcats anyways because when it comes time for residency, how else will they measure you standardized test-wise??? high school sat scores??? nonetheless, the pressure is gone with the programs that don't require you to take mcats or require you to get like 9s on each section...

By Luda (Luda) on Wednesday, June 16, 2004 - 09:24 pm: Edit

Papacutta, the MCAT becomes useless the second you enter medical school. Residency programs look at USMLE for placement. As you go higher in education, what you have accomplished becomes useless. Once you're in residency, your medical school does not matter at all. Once you're in a fellowship, the medical school, the residency program you went to no one cares about. And once you get a job, all the stuff you did before does not matter. So, taking MCATs anyways is ignorant when you can get in w/o that hassle. Right now, I'm watching many, many people getting their MCAT scores back and in a very scary position whether they will gain acceptance or not. Some are taking a year off just delaying everything. The programs get you through everything on time or faster w/o a hassle. ALL the programs are great. The ones with "lower" medical schools can get you anywhere cause all the program students do the best as is seen from year to year.

By Takingiteasy (Takingiteasy) on Wednesday, June 16, 2004 - 11:54 pm: Edit

I have a friend who has gotten into RPI and also USC and has to decide where she shall go. I know most of you guys think that it is good that she knows where she shall go for med school but in both cases she will for sure apply out to a better med school or at least a different one. She is a top student and got into yale and harvard, but for many reasons(tution and scholarship money, ect...) she narrowed it to these schools. So really it becomes a question for her of whether to go to a pretty good school and finish in 4 years or a less than great school and finish in 3 for undergrad. What do you think?

By Floppydisk2 (Floppydisk2) on Thursday, June 17, 2004 - 01:36 pm: Edit

USC

By Whightknight (Whightknight) on Thursday, June 17, 2004 - 09:08 pm: Edit

Can someone please tell me the what most BA/MD combined programs have as their deadline for applications. Meaning: are the deadlines for most of the programs the same as regular admissions or are most of them required as early applications? Any specific program names that require early ??

By Maud (Maud) on Thursday, June 17, 2004 - 09:13 pm: Edit

Hi! I was wondering if someone could evaluate my chances of getting into an accelerated med program (esp. at University of Miami, USC, RPI, Brown, Penn State, Boston U. )

SAT- 1460 (740V, 720 M)
SAT2s- Bio 750, 2C 750, Writing 800
ACT took in June, haven't recieved scores but predicting (based on practice tests) to be about 32 or 33
GPA- 4.5 weighted
I have taken 4 APs so far:
AP Gov't in 10th
this year: AP Calc BC, AP Bio, and AP Language and Composition
Next year I am taking (so far) AP Chem, AP stat, Multivariable Calc, AP Psych, AP Lit
(I had SO many schedule conflicts this year, and next year I can only take 4-5 classes because I am interning at NIH)

ECs:
Classical Indian Dance for 12+ years
Managing Editor of school newspaper
Founder and President of Mock Trial Team
NHS
Quill and Scroll
Lit Mag editor
School's Science Academy Vice President
I am planning to initiate a chapter of the Red Cross Club in my school (as part of an AP Bio civil action project I completed this year)

Volunteering:
200+ hours at local hospital (pediatric unit, IMCU)
other cultural activities through temple, etc.

Internships/Research Experience:
I attended a research program at the Walter Reed Army Research Institute for two summers

I was part of the Adventurers in Science Program at NIST for the past three years

I will be interning at the Clinical Center at NIH this summer, for approx. 8-10 weeks; I will be working closely with a doctor in his clinical research

As I wrote above, next year I will only have a half day schedule because I am interning again at NIH, specifically at the National Institutes of Mental Health (at least that's what Im hoping!)
I will be working with a scientist again and aiding in the research and analysis of the data they collect


I know my stats are run-of-the-mill but I'm hoping that my internship experiences will boost my chances of getting into the accelerated med programs.

I am very, very interested in becoming a doctor and I know that I will be able to show my passion for medicine in the essays and interview. I am just hoping my stats aren't so low that they will not consider me at all. (Do you think I should re-take the SAT I...I already took it twice and I don't know if I should risk taking it a third time, in case I don't do that much better)

I'm sorry for this really long post! Any advice/comments would be greatly appreciated! Thank you

By Nyugrad (Nyugrad) on Thursday, June 17, 2004 - 09:36 pm: Edit

Luda,
Princeton changed their grading policy. They now have grade DEFLATION. The students at the open house were told this year that if they got into an 8 year program, take it- because grading at Princeton will be tough.

By Bharath2007 (Bharath2007) on Friday, June 18, 2004 - 01:14 am: Edit

Nyugrad- True as that may be, I find it very hard to believe that the administration of a school would suggest potential students to choose another school.

By Happeepanda (Happeepanda) on Friday, June 18, 2004 - 04:55 am: Edit

maud, run-of-the-mill?? are you kidding? (Well, I don't think they are run-of-the-mill, they are amazing!!)

So, you do Bharat-Natyam huh? My cousin Khushboo does that! (or she used to when she lived in India, but her family cam to America 4 years ago)

By Maud (Maud) on Friday, June 18, 2004 - 07:40 am: Edit

yeah I do bharatanatyam...I realy enjoy it, and hopefully I can continue through college (i dont really know how that's going to work out lol but i'll at least try)

anyway about the run of the mill stats, its just that since so many of the applicants have like 1500+ SATs and like 300+ volunteer hours, I feel that I'm underqualified. I was just wondering if its possible to get in those competitive programs with comparatively lower stats like mine.

By Papucutta (Papucutta) on Friday, June 18, 2004 - 09:47 am: Edit

your research is mind-blowing!!! u will be applying next year i take it? yea, your research balances your sat i scores. plus, your sat iis are great!

By Luda (Luda) on Friday, June 18, 2004 - 01:04 pm: Edit

Maud, you have a very good chance at all the listed BS/MD programs. Although you are below 1500, it's not a big deal at all since all your scores are above 700. Your volunteering/research experiences are good so RPI will be no problem and your ec's are excellent which is good for BU and Brown. Feel free to ask any concerns/questions.

By Whightknight (Whightknight) on Friday, June 18, 2004 - 02:51 pm: Edit

Repost:
Can someone please tell me the what most BA/MD combined programs have as their deadline for applications. Meaning: are the deadlines for most of the programs the same as regular admissions or are most of them required as early applications? Any specific program names that require early ?? This is important to me because it will determine whether I will have to take the SAT I or IIs in october and then the other in november.

By Nyugrad (Nyugrad) on Friday, June 18, 2004 - 06:34 pm: Edit

The administration did not declare it, only those who asked were told that it would be a good idea.

By Maud (Maud) on Friday, June 18, 2004 - 07:48 pm: Edit

Thanks Papucutta and Luda for all your help!
I appreciate it very much.

Are you guys going to apply to some Med programs too? If so, which ones are you interested in? As I posted before, I'd really like to get in the PLME at Brown, but even if I do get in I know money will be a big factor. Other programs im focusing on are RPI's and Miami's. Just wondering where you guys would like to go/or are going.

Again, thanks for all your help!

By Jenskate1 (Jenskate1) on Friday, June 18, 2004 - 10:11 pm: Edit

whightknight- why rely on us? go directly to the websites of the programs you are interested in and look up the deadlines yourself.

By Whightknight (Whightknight) on Saturday, June 19, 2004 - 12:16 am: Edit

That is the problem, hah, I am overwhelmed with information/programs. Once I get some energy I'll do it. :P

By Yellowrose (Yellowrose) on Sunday, June 20, 2004 - 04:01 pm: Edit

Hi, my name is Pree and it would be great if you guys could evaluate my chances at bs/md programs, and give me some feedback about which programs would be a good match for me. Will be a senior in the fall.

SAT

1450
750 Math 700 Verbal

SAT II's
Math IIC - 710
Writing- 740
Chemistry- 800

Rank 6/375

GPA 4.305 weighted, about a 3.9 unweighted

AP's taken junior year:
AP Chemistry
AP Physics C

AP's to be taken senior year:
AP Bio
AP Calc BC
AP English

EC's--
--currently 240 hours of volunteering at local hospital
--Operation Smile
- Vice President 10th grade
- President 11th grade
- President upcoming 12th grade
-- "Leader" for the school newspaper
-- Member of National Honor Society
-- Member French National Honor Society
-- Class of 2005 Executive Board
-- Debate team
- Co-Caption 11th grade
- Co-Caption upcoming 12th grade
--Math League
-- Peace Petals ( help garden school courtyard)
-- Student of the Piano
-- Locks of Love donation 15inches of hair

Honors/Awards-
-- Honored at the Rotary Honors Dinner the past three years ( dinner for top ten ranking students in each grade )
-- Received the Service About Self Award in 11th grade at the Rotary Honors Dinner for service in and outside of the school
-- School and County Finalist for Governor's School in the Sciences
--National Honor Roll- 10th grade
--High School Honor Roll for all of H.S.
--Honored with the Smith Book Award from Smith College
-- will be National Merit Commended Scholar in the fall ( PSAT score 208 )

Any feedback would be great, whether I should take the SATs again, or the Math SAT II, or any additional action i could take to improve my chances. Thanks for your time, I really appreciate it.

By Papucutta (Papucutta) on Monday, June 21, 2004 - 09:51 am: Edit

anyways, i'll be applying in the fall to a LOT of programs in hopes of getting into any. lol. i live in s. pa, so my top choices are lehigh, psu, and gw, but i'm also applying to places like brown (lots of seats!!!), northwestern, boston, and then probably drexel and vcu. i'll be frank: the research part of my resume is not very strong......but my test scores/gpa stuff are high and my ec's and community service are my strongest assets. what programs value ec's and community service more than they do research???--that'll be where i guess i should focus my apps. thanks a lot!

By Iqbu7 (Iqbu7) on Monday, June 21, 2004 - 01:16 pm: Edit

Hello all. I was wondering if you could match me as well. Your input is much appreciated.

SAT 1500 - 800 Math 700 Verbal
SAT II's
Math IIC - 800
Writing- 630 (yeh i know...ouch)
Bio-M - 700

Rank 5/769

GPA 5.745 weighted, 3.7 unweighted (as of junior year)

AP's taken sophomore year:
AP Euro
AP Chem

AP's taken junior year:
AP Biology
AP Physics B
AP US history
AP Calc AB
AP Computer Science
AP English Language

Classes to be taken senior year:
AP Govnt/Economics
AP Calc BC
AP English Lit
AP Human Geography
AP Stat
Two internship periods (6th and 7th)

EC's--
-currently 100 hours of volunteering at local hospital (yeh i know, another crutch)
-President of Math Honor Society
--A couple Awards from math competitions
-Vice President of the Chess Club
--awards from Chess comps
-Member of Science Honor Society, Math Honor Society, National Honor Society, English Honor Society, Social Studies Honor Society, National Forensic Honor Society, Model UN, and SECME
-- Plays the guitar and clarinet.
-- On the a fencing team
-- Plays tennis (though not really team worthy...but they dont need to know that)
-- captain of my youth group basketball team.

-- Started "The Mathematician" - a little project I started utilizing the Math Honor Society, we go around to local elementary schools and teach kids magic through the use of math.

Honors/Awards-
-- placed in top 10 science students when I was a freshman (usually the award goes to juniors)
-- Received the Bausch and Lomb science award
-- Won 5th place in regionaly competitions for algebra 2 and calculus.
--High School Honor Roll for all of H.S.

Research Experience
-I spent one summer researching the effect of maltose accumulation on the freeze tolerance of Arabidopsis thaliana. (wrote a paper)
-Spending this summer and the entire senior year researching experimental cancer chemotherapy.

and that's about it. thanks for your help.

By Onsomethinj (Onsomethinj) on Tuesday, June 22, 2004 - 12:03 am: Edit

iqbu looking aiight

By Whightknight (Whightknight) on Thursday, June 24, 2004 - 01:36 am: Edit

What are the few 6 year combined medical programs in the USA ? As far as I know, UMKC and Penn/Jefferson are the only 6 year BA/MD programs I can think of. Are there any more I forgot?

By Bharath2007 (Bharath2007) on Thursday, June 24, 2004 - 12:02 pm: Edit

NEOUCOM, St. Louis University?

By Erica0828 (Erica0828) on Thursday, June 24, 2004 - 07:39 pm: Edit

all the BS/MD combined programs seem really hard to get into..

can someone list the programs in order of difficulty of admission (from the easiest to get into to the hardest)?

thanks alot

By Kunal3pat (Kunal3pat) on Wednesday, June 30, 2004 - 12:12 am: Edit

I want to know if i am still capable of doing the GPPA program for medicene

I am going to be a sophmore in high school

I am at the 96th percentile for a 800-900 class

I am planning on taking plenty of AP classes in my junior/senior year

I am just starting to study for SAT/ACT

I am trying out for tennis next year

I want to volunteer at local hospital ( I could use suggestions for other places to volunteer or to do research)


If possible please email me with your input at kp103088@aol.com

By Papucutta (Papucutta) on Wednesday, June 30, 2004 - 09:57 am: Edit

kunal (patel?): i assume gppa is a ba/md program...yea definately start volunteering! hospitals are best (and easiest). that's a good start. sat scores? u'll need sat iis also. what are your ec's? any leadership positions? we need more info to give u an honest answer.

By Woocollege (Woocollege) on Wednesday, June 30, 2004 - 10:00 am: Edit

If everything else on your app looks good (volunteering, grades, classes, clubs, etc.) what kind of ACT score do ba/md programs look for? Also, about how many people get accepted into NW or Brown for this program every year-out of state.

By Kunal3pat (Kunal3pat) on Wednesday, June 30, 2004 - 12:31 pm: Edit

i really do not have any e/c i am planning on seeing my conseler next fall for stuff to join i did not do much my freshman year... i tried for a leadership position but was not accepted..

what clubs and stuff are good to join