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Hey,

Just how hard is it to get into this program? What kind of stats do you need and what stats for admission rates, etc?

By Mosquito86 (Mosquito86) on Thursday, July 08, 2004 - 07:25 pm: Edit

It's a competitive program to get into. The first thing you must do is send in an "HPME request for app card." They only send the app to people w/ certain stats. This "request for app card" only asks for your gpa, scores, and the number of aps, honors, etc.

To get sent an app, I think these are the stats you should be working for:

GPA: near/at 4.0 WEIGHTED
ACT: 34 and above (you can take this or Sat I)
Sat I Math: 750+
Sat I Verbal: 750+
Sat II Chemistry: 700+
Sat II Writing: 730+
Sat II Math IIC: 790-800
4 years of English (including senior year)
Up to Calculus in Math (can be taken senior year)
At least a year of chem
At least a year of bio
At least a year of physics
Some foreign language
Good variety of other classes
A decent mix of APs and Honors (you don't need to go overboard)

You have to take those Sat IIs. Those are the relevant ones.

If you get the app, I'd say the essay is the hardest. While the topic may seem easy (basically why you are interested in medicine and why you may wanna pursue a career in it), it's difficult to make it stand out. I've heard that about 700-2000 apps are sent in. How is your essay gonna be different than the rest (lot of people are gonna say they like science, wanna help people, want job stability, etc).

If they like your app and essay, you get selected for interviews. The interviews were relaxing..but you must do well in them. If you are good at this stuff..it shouldn't be too bad. About 140 people are selected for interview. I think 50-60 are selected. 40-50 end up enrolling.

By Underdog (Underdog) on Friday, July 09, 2004 - 03:44 pm: Edit

Wow, that's pretty tough. Would international students be at a disadvantage?

By Stanfordnualum (Stanfordnualum) on Friday, July 09, 2004 - 04:44 pm: Edit

Not really. Though internationals can be at a disadvantage in the sense that they have to take all these tests on top of their already busy A-level/IB schedule unless their schools are on American curriculum.

By Underdog (Underdog) on Saturday, July 10, 2004 - 01:48 pm: Edit

Do internationals have to fly in for an interview or have alumni interviews near them?

By Mosquito86 (Mosquito86) on Sunday, July 11, 2004 - 04:24 am: Edit

An international guy who made it in the program this year did his interviews by phone.

By Underdog (Underdog) on Sunday, July 11, 2004 - 10:08 pm: Edit

Wow. How many internationals are in the program, given only about 60 people are in it?

By Underdog (Underdog) on Sunday, July 11, 2004 - 10:08 pm: Edit

Wow. How many internationals are in the program, given only about 60 people are in it?

By Mosquito86 (Mosquito86) on Monday, July 12, 2004 - 02:38 am: Edit

I have no idea. I don't think there are that many. I don't think being an international works against you, though. Don't be scared and just apply.

By Underdog (Underdog) on Monday, July 12, 2004 - 10:39 pm: Edit

Thanks. Any acceptees who would like to comment on their admissions?

By Underdog (Underdog) on Wednesday, July 14, 2004 - 11:17 am: Edit

bump

By Underdog (Underdog) on Thursday, July 15, 2004 - 12:12 pm: Edit

bump

By Mosquito86 (Mosquito86) on Thursday, July 15, 2004 - 01:31 pm: Edit

Underdog,

You can email me at my address and we can talk.

By Happeepanda (Happeepanda) on Monday, July 26, 2004 - 04:04 am: Edit

Could you guys please evaluate my stats? I know that the SAT's are ridiculous but here we go!

SAT I: 660 Math, 640 Verbal, 1300 TOTAL (But I can get it up to a 1500, I'm almost sure of it. I have two more chances!)
SAT II: Math IIC- 600, Biology M-620, Writing-680
(horrible I know! and i will be taking the SAT II chemistry in a couple of months)
GPA: 4.4 Weighted, 3.8 Unweighted
Extra curriculars:
-Interact Club (10-12) - Community Liaison (12)
-Mock Trial (10-12) - Pre-trial attorney (10-12)
-Library Club (10-12) - President (12)
-Peer Tutor in Geometry, Algebra, English, Spanish, French (9-12)
-California Scholarship Federation (9-12) - Member
-Spanish Club (10-12) - Community service in Mexico twice (10-11), President (12)
-French Club (9-11) - Member
-Academic Decathlon (9,11) - Alternate
-Anime Club (10-11) - Magazine director, magazine editor (11)
-Yosemite High School Art gallery volunteer (10-12)
-Octuris (High School literary publication) (11-12) - Art Director (11-12)
-Writer's Club (unofficial club) (11-12) - Member

Out of school EC:
-Martial Arts (Tang Soo Do, Kajukenbo, Jujitsu) - 1.5 years
-Club-related community service - 200+ hours
-Cashier/Crew Leader - Burger King (6+ years)

Awards, etc:
-National Honor Roll
-IB Diploma Candidate
-High Honor Roll (all four years of high school)
-National Society of High School Scholars (nominee)
-National History Day - Honorable Mention (County Competition)

ARGH! Suppose I raise my SAT I scores, but I do not raise my SAT II scores and I get a 600 in sat ii chemistry. What are my chances?? Slim? Non-existent? Miniscule?

By Miluo (Miluo) on Monday, July 26, 2004 - 08:40 am: Edit

Practically non-existant. To be honest, if you can't get a 700+ on SAT II Chem and Bio I don't know what business you have being premed.

By Mosquito86 (Mosquito86) on Monday, July 26, 2004 - 06:59 pm: Edit

I hate to say this, but I don't think your chances are very high. You only get sent an application if your scores are in a certain range. I already posted the scores you should try to get in an above post.

I think 1300 is a great score..but I don't believe you can raise your score over 200 points. Maybe 100.

Your sat II math score should be near 800. Your Sat II writing score should be above 730. Your chem above a 700. Sat II Bio is irrelevant. Sat II scores are a better indicator of your knowledge than the Sat I.

Even if you are able to get an application, your ECs have nothing medical related.

I'm sorry if I sounded harsh. But I didn't want to give you false hope regarding this program. You have a lot to show for yourself. I think overall you have a good resume and should be able to get into some great colleges.

By Stanfordnualum (Stanfordnualum) on Tuesday, July 27, 2004 - 01:01 am: Edit

Happeepanda, it sounds to me you are more suited for pre-law rather than pre-med. The 600s in your math SAT I, math IIC, and bio seem to suggest your aptitude toward science isn't particularly strong. You seem to do better in languages and writing.

By Buckwald (Buckwald) on Tuesday, July 27, 2004 - 11:07 am: Edit

Hey, i was wondering what you think my chances were:

White Male.
SAT I: 710 Verbal 800 Math= 1510 Combined
SAT IIs: 800 Math Level IIC, 700 Writing, 720 Chem
GPA: 4.4 on 4.0 scale (top 5% of class)
APs: 12 APs including several in math and science
Volenteer in emergency division of Broward General Hospital 10 hours a week during school year, 20 hours a week during summer
Captain of Varsity Tennis Team that took 2nd in state of Florida
President of 3 Clubs- Asian, Teenegae Republicans, and Political Forum
Dad attendned Northwestern HPME so i have legacy in program.

By Mosquito86 (Mosquito86) on Tuesday, July 27, 2004 - 03:05 pm: Edit

Hey Buckwald,

The first thing you gotta worry about is receiving an application. You will receive an app if your scores and gpa are in the right range. I think you are pretty much there. Not sure about your writing score..(somehow I'm thinking 730+).

If you get an application, then definitely your extracurriculars are strong. However, you gotta write a good essay. I don't think your legacy is going to be a big thing.

By Buckwald (Buckwald) on Tuesday, July 27, 2004 - 06:13 pm: Edit

alrighty i can get a book and retake the SAT II writing this time studying. thanks for your reply mosquito86. got any more tips for me anyone?

By Happeepanda (Happeepanda) on Thursday, July 29, 2004 - 12:23 am: Edit

but see, I have no opportunities for any ec's related to medicine. I live in a semi-rural are in the mountains and I truly wish that I could volunteer, but the only places around here are Kaiser and Hoof and Paw veterinary clinic (i know it's not really medical, but it's better than nothing!) I'm just about to be a senior, so maybe once i get my license i can go to Fresno and do some volunteer work.

Also, I know my SAT II scores are really low, but I did not study at all for any of the tests. I have an SAT II Chemistry book and an SAT II Math IIC book with me and I plan to read them the whole way through and also borrow some kind of SAT II writing book from the library. I've been taking 10 real SAT's and I have taken 3 tests so far:
1.) Not timed, late at night (2am.) Just circled answers on page, did not bubble in.
1390(690V,700M)
2.) Timed test, no distractions, done in late evening.
1510(750V,760M)
3.) Timed test, some distractions, started around 9pm.
1410(670V,740M)

So, I am sure that with the correct preparation and calming techniques, I will be able to boost my SAT score higher and hogher with each practice test and eventually the real test in October and again in December if necessary.

Thanx for the info and opinions. But keep helping!

By Stanfordnualum (Stanfordnualum) on Thursday, July 29, 2004 - 02:35 pm: Edit

Glad you got great scores on practice tests. There's no need to worry about "chance" for now; it will become a lot clearer to you once you get the final scores back for all these tests. Good luck! You should also check out Case Western and Brown which offer similar programs (though NU's med school is ranked higher currently).

By Buckwald (Buckwald) on Friday, August 13, 2004 - 10:41 pm: Edit

hey, when did you guys apply for the HPME, and when did you get your applications?

By Simba (Simba) on Friday, August 13, 2004 - 10:53 pm: Edit

what is HPME?

By Buckwald (Buckwald) on Friday, August 13, 2004 - 11:46 pm: Edit

Honors Program in Medical Education- its a 7 year program where u go right from college to med school without mcat assuming u mantian a certain gpa and do a certain amount of community service.

By Mosquito86 (Mosquito86) on Saturday, August 14, 2004 - 07:34 am: Edit

Buckwald,

You have to send in your Request for HPME App card by Dec 1. I sent mine a few days before then. I literally got my app 3 days later. They were very quick about it. Just remember, they don't send the app to everyone.

By Neom3x11 (Neom3x11) on Monday, August 16, 2004 - 11:07 pm: Edit

That's weird...I have all the correct stats and sent in a request card, but didn't get an app yet. It's been two weeks. Maybe it's too early? I filled it out as soon as I got it. Should I send it again?

Here are my stats - I'm pretty sure that I should at least receive an app (not trying to be presumptuous, just comparing mine to what's been posted):

800 Verbal
760 Math

800 Math IIC
800 Writing
760 Chem

4.7 weighted GPA, rank 2 out of 760

6 years of math (hnrs AlgIITrig/PreCalc, AP CalcBC/Stats, Calculus III)
4 years english (hnrs I/II, AP III/IV)
4 years foreign language (AP Spanish)
4.5 years social studies (AP Euro/US Hist/Psych)
5 years science (hnrs bio/chem/physics, AP bio/chem)

Volunteer at two hospitals, office assistant for 3 plastic surgeons...

Any advice or comments? I'd appreciate it!

By Buckwald (Buckwald) on Monday, August 16, 2004 - 11:44 pm: Edit

Here are my stats - I'm pretty sure that I should at least receive an app (not trying to be presumptuous, just comparing mine to what's been posted):

-don't be so sure u got me beat. i got more things going for me then u could ever imagine.

By Neom3x11 (Neom3x11) on Tuesday, August 17, 2004 - 12:54 pm: Edit

I meant I compared my stats to Mosquito86's first post and the HPME website. I didn't compare mine to other people's stats.

Your post sure was cocky.

By Zcat18 (Zcat18) on Tuesday, August 17, 2004 - 01:52 pm: Edit

There are relatively 1,500 applicants for HPME each year, with about 40 being accepted in the end. It is a very competitive program.

By Yz16 (Yz16) on Tuesday, August 17, 2004 - 06:35 pm: Edit

that's pretty darn competitive.
So let me confirm -- I apply to HPME via its app...is the admission process completely indepedent of the rest of the University? What if I do/don't also apply 'normally' to northwestern?

By Stanfordnualum (Stanfordnualum) on Tuesday, August 17, 2004 - 08:30 pm: Edit

Hey Zcat18,

Have things changed since I was at NU? I thought there are about 60 HPME each year. Assuming 75% yield, the # accepted would be around 80?

Either way, 80 out of 1500 is still very competitive. Neom3x11, I think you should at least be able to receive an application.

Sam

By Buckwald (Buckwald) on Tuesday, August 17, 2004 - 11:45 pm: Edit

Stanfordnualum- When my dad was in the program their were also 60 kids= 30 from Illinios and 30 from out of State. However, now they take 40 from anywhere including foreign countries. This year, the person who does the admission told me she accepted 50 kids for her 40 spots.

By Neom3x11 (Neom3x11) on Tuesday, August 17, 2004 - 11:53 pm: Edit

Well, I emailed NU and they said I'd get an app, they just weren't printed yet. I'm just grateful for that. Yeah, the program is very competitive...good luck to all that are applying!

By Stanfordnualum (Stanfordnualum) on Wednesday, August 18, 2004 - 02:10 am: Edit

Buckwald,

I went to NU 96-99...they were already taking students from anywhere. The change from 60 to 40 spots must be pretty recent though.

By Buckwald (Buckwald) on Wednesday, August 18, 2004 - 01:08 pm: Edit

They changed it in 2000, the same year the changed the core GPA from 2.75 to 3.00 overall

By Mosquito86 (Mosquito86) on Thursday, August 19, 2004 - 05:24 pm: Edit

Yz16,

You have to apply to NU and HPME. I believe the admission processes are different (one app has no bearing over the other), however you MUST apply to both.