It’s no secret that junior year in high school is a monumental year as students not only balance rigorous courses, but also gear up to apply for college applications. Unlike regular undergraduate admissions, BS/MD applications require a lot more careful planning given the competitive nature of the admissions process. If you don’t know where to start, check out our BS/MD Starter Guide. If you want to work with Dr. Darlene during the application process, click here to get started.
Assess your chances for BS/MD
Before you start even thinking about applications, it’s important to sit down and scrutinize your shot at BS/MD programs. One of the craziest things that I see browsing forums (and getting ads) is how much companies will charge for consulting for the “potential” of BS/MD that is never actually attainable. If you don’t have a strong BS/MD profile, then your chances of getting admitted is quite low. BS/MD are not just looking for good grades and high SAT; each BS/MD looks for something particular in their candidates.
One thing that I usually assess for in students that work with me is passion. Usually if I cannot tell what the student is passionate about, I will not work with them. This is a different model than perhaps most consultants pitch, but as a physician, I understand that the process is beyond just getting my students a BS/MD acceptance. It is, in fact, to ensure that they will make it through the training to become a physician. Passion, however, cannot be demonstrated overnight, or simply in volunteering or research. It takes years of thought and action to show admissions committees that you are passionate about something (and it doesn’t have to just be in the medical field).
When assessing your chances for BS/MD, you should consider multiple factors, including grades, SAT/ ACT, significance of activities, awards, leadership, life experiences, and more. While the emphasis is usually on many of tangible achievements, life experiences tend to be forgotten. Many of my students who had successfully gotten into Case Western, UMKC, REMS, or any other competitive programs had described several experiences that had shaped their personal development. They were undoubtedly all high achieving, but given that many programs have a slim chance of getting in, I believe these stories set apart my students.
If you’re applying to BS/MD and want to discuss your profile, check out the Strategy Consultation service, which is designed to help families get a better understanding of whether BS/MD is right for them.
Scoring Well on the SAT
To be frank, “scoring well” is subjective. I’ve seen a lot of questions like “If I have a 1570, do I need to retake the SAT?”. As a consultant, I usually suggest that a comfortable spot for BS/MD is 1500.
I have seen many students over 1550 who have not gotten in. Conversely, I have seen students with a 1450 SAT who got into their dream BS/MD (and was not underrepresented as I am sure many people are wondering). BS/MD take a wide variety of people with various profiles. There is not a formula for getting into BS/MD. Therefore, if you have a decent score and are wondering if you should retake it, only retake it if you are confident you can do at least 30-40 points better.
Doing marginally better is not worth the time that would be spent studying (and if you plan to retake it, please actually study for it). You could instead spend that time working on improving your activities, working on a passion project, or even writing your essays. There is only so much time left prior to application deadlines– use that time wisely.
As you establish your own application timeline, I do not recommend taking the SAT past June. Every year, I have students who delay starting applications until September because they want to retake the SAT. Very rarely do I see students actually excelling in the August exam. This is usually because students are also doing numerous activities on top of trying to study. Like many of my recommendations, if you plan to studying in the summer for the SAT, make sure to have a strategy to score well.
Summer Planning
The summer between junior and senior year of high school is critical for BS/MD applications. Not only is it an opportunity to be productive in resume building, but also the time when a majority of your applications should be written.
For extracurriculars, I suggest using this time to build up your profile based on how you want to present yourself to the admissions committee. Extracurriculars typically fall within the domains of shadowing, research, volunteering, community service, non-medical internships, or passion projects. While it is important to be well-rounded, your application should have an obvious theme that showcases your passions and interests. For example, if you have done quite a bit of advocacy work but don’t have any research experience, you don’t need to feel pressured to secure a last minute research internship. I never recommended following the typical “premed checklist” as it will make your profile look just like every other applicant’s. If you’re not passionate about research, you should not try to force the narrative of your research interests. Instead, focus on authenticity. Following this same example, I would suggest that the summer should be spent pursuing a new advocacy endeavor or building upon a prior activity.
In tandem with your extracurricular activities, you should plan to write your personal statement and supplements. While many students unintentionally defer college applications until August, this doesn’t give adequate time to brainstorm, edit, and polish quality essays. Grades and high SAT scores can ensure that your application will be give serious consideration, but essays that are poorly written can make you come across as disingenuous or unprepared for the rigor of BS/MD programs.
Research Schools You’re Interested In
When I first meet BS/MD applicants, my first question is always what their dream school is. Unsurprisingly, the majority say “Brown PLME”. When I ask why Brown is their first choice, it immediately becomes clear that this dream is quite superficial. When you create your college list, don’t just add schools without understanding how this program will complement your goals. Take the time to look up opportunities, culture, school programs and activities, and other factors that are uniquely offered at each school. Particularly for BS/MD programs, I suggest researching their curriculum, in-state/ out-of-state preference, and values. This can save you a lot of time (and money) from writing applications for schools that you would never be considered at.
Check out our Complete List of BS/MD Programs
College Visits and Demonstrated Interests
If it is within your means, I always recommend college visits. Reading about schools versus experiencing the campus culture in person is completely different. I had one student who said he would be happy at any BS/MD. However, once he visited Newark, NJ, he quickly realized that NJMS would not be right for him. Similarly, another student shared the same initial sentiment of going wherever he was accepted. Once again, he too changed his opinion once he visited Indiana.
College visits can give such an important perspective of how your next 3-4 years could potentially be. College is an amazing period of growth and development. As each school offers different opportunities and experiences, these visits can help you distinguish what factors are important to you.
At this point of preparing for applications, demonstrated interest is another factor that is often forgotten. While not every school considers demonstrated interest, connecting with a program through college visits or emails can potentially garner some brownie points. Make sure to use the same email that you will applying with on Common App.
Preparing for Applications
As I mentioned in my BS/MD Starter Guide, there are several things you can in preparation of applying to BS/MD programs. As a junior, here is a list of what I would recommend:
- Making a college and BS/MD List
- Brainstorming your Personal Statement and Why Medicine essays
- Creating a Resume
- Drafting your Activities List
- Asking for Letters of Recommendation
For each BS/MD program, I would recommend researching their specific requirements for application. For example, some programs may want 2 letters of recommendation, while others may require 5 letters. Some schools may want a math or science teacher, but others may leave it up to your discretion. If you don’t follow the directions, it could jeopardize the status of your application. I actually met a student this year who thought his application at UPitt BS/MD was pending, only to find out that he never actually sent in the score as directed. Take this time now to start researching schools slowly. By the time summer begins, you should have created an organized list of application requirements for each program.
Final Thoughts
As senior year quickly approaches, planning early is essential in navigating the BS/MD application process. This is going to be one of the busiest times for incoming seniors, so taking the time to map out a solid plan during junior year can help alleviate some of that burden. If you have any thoughts or questions, feel free to drop a comment below or send us an email to chat.
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