(READ THIS) Q&A of some of the most commonly asked BSMD questions on this subreddit
- What shoud my academic profile look like? (GPA W and UW; rank; AP scores)
Everytime I see anyone host a Q&A , the most common question is how high of a GPA do you need? But this answer, especially for BSMD programs requires a little more perspective.
If we are talking about class rank, in the larger context they probably have the least impact (unless if a BSMD has a specfic requirement). This is because of the fact that your class rank might serve as an indicator of where you stand, but does not factor at all the methods of studying how hard you worked, etc...
For example, in my school our valedictorian has a GPA (weighted) of a 4.83- which sounds impressive until you realize that this score was achieved by taking an incredible amount of dual enrollments and AP courses. Even more ironically, our val cannot recall much of what he learned and has openly admitted to taking classes just for the GPA boost and sometimes just BS through it. My point being that Rank 1 vs who understands/grew the most academically are very two different things. Even more insane is the distribution. While 4.83 might be the highest, I have seen people with 4.71. You would think that being close, the ranks are somewhat similar, but even a small gap has put these people around the Rank 15-20ish places.
Overall, ranks alone do not matter. Some OOS schools, merit scholarships, and SOME programs like to use them but do not overload yourself for the sake of your "class rank". In fact more and more schools are removing it simply because of the grade inflation it causes, which indirectly also increases cheating (this is a whole other tangent that if I went into, would make this post at least x3 as long). Work for your rank, but don't make it your entire profile!
GPA-wise most BSMD's want a minimum between 3.5-3.7 (UW) and weighted I'm guessing a minimum of (4.1-4.2). This also has some context as well. While BSMD's see these as minimum requirments, a lot of the people that get in are usually 3.8-4.0 (and an even higher weighted GPA). This doesn't mean that you shouldn't apply if your GPA is not insanely high, but it just means your going to have to work a little harder in your essays, interviews, and EC to justify a lower GPA
Unweighted-wise, you typically want to have no more than 2 B's throughout your highschool career. This is because (and this is not entirely confirmed but I have heard of similar things happening) colleges will call you an academic risk if you have more than 2 B;s, which won't mean a total rejection but once again you'll have to show more in other areas of your application. Likewise, throughout highschool you want earn grades in classes that aren't just barely (A's) or flat out 90's. Unweighted calculations like to see 93's and above (4.0) whereas bare 90's MIGHT be calculated at a 3.7 instead. Finally among grades, if you do happen to mess up a year in high school (IT IS OKAY) the best thing about messing up is that you have chances. If you can show an upward trend in grades with increasing rigor, it speaks more volumes than the B's you had initally.
So we've talked about grades and how much they matter but what about AP courses? The short answer is TAKE AP'S BASED on YOUR INTERESTS. I made the mistake of taking around 18 AP's in total. IT WAS HELL- I didn't like most of them; only a ocuple let me opt out of courses; and overall exam season had me sleep deprevied just for the rank/GPA boost. Taking anywhere between 3-5 AP's in your highschool career is great, and I think that spending so much time fighting for the top spot made me realize that 10 AP's and more is often insanely above average. AP's are meant to intrigue you and guide you into intro level colelge courses and while you may have to take some AP's to appear comp- IT IS NOT REQUIRED. In fact a lot of colelges, espiecally BSMD programs some prefer if you retook their bio and chem courses again from the start. My point is that do not take AP's and overload yourself to the point where it is unhealthy. Often times, taking around 1-3 a year is more than enough, shows you can handle rigor, and gives you some bonuses like opting out of intro classes. This equally applies to dual enrollments, although from my expierence they have been much easier than AP's
ACT and SAT? If you want to play it safe, 34+ or 1530+ because these are the top 1% of scores and doesn't matter after that. Minimum for BSMD programs, some like to take 32+ and 1450+ around these schools. Be CONFINDENT in yourself and decide whether to keep/take your score based on the programs and other parts of your app (although it doens't hurt to keep on trying)
And one more thing- BSMD programs (at least what I believe) barely reference your academic profile once you meet the minimum requirements. If you do- great now they look more into your EC's, essays, and your character as a whole because they know that if you applying to the BSMD, most of the time you are already academically-talent/gifted/hardworking enough that they won't challenge you/have to compare each and every grade with others.
- What should my EC's look like?
This question is kinda based off the same concepts as the grades in which you have to look at this differently because of the program your applying too.
At the bare minimum, most BSMD just want to see some volunteering, shadowing, and well rounded activities. THEY know that you are just a high schooler so they DO NOT expect the average applicant to have research (I'll make another rant/post about this dw) nor do they expect them to do anything crazy. I hate buzzwords like "passion project" and "having to impact our community to seem like an ideal applicant"
Obviously beyond the bare minimum "shaodinwg' and "volunteering" do EC's that work for you because the number 1 thing colleges look for is character and how well you carry yourself. For example, this is unrealted to medicine in any way, but I am a freelance animator, and I've been working as one for years (it's always been a small dream of mine). I've always found out that(in interviews and whatnot) that both my interviewer and I love to talk about this EC. It was never about some "cracked medical EC" but more of "why did I do it?" "what has it taught me". Thats what EC's are all about, doing one shouldn't work like a checklist but should
Actively challenge and grow you
Make you feel more curious/insighted into a topic
Makes you feel passionate
(Not required) but gives a sense of responsibility and an urge (werid word) to help others (not just for the resume but genuinely)
As a highschooler (graduating!!) I am extremly happy that alongside doing theaverage checklist medical EC's I was able to explore my passion (building, animating, and music production) through my highschool years. I've ALWAYS, ALWAYS had friends (graduating, or graduated) that have always wished they could do that but they never did because they were scared that if they never had a related EC to what they were applying too, they would get rejected. Get creative with how you spend your time, and follow your passions! Of course every now and then you will have to follow some basic checlist, but don't let that be what makes you ordinary. I know that everyone has sometime unique within them, and part of highschool is finding out what makes you special. Even if your a junior rn or a rising senior and thinking "oh its too late for me" NO! Part of changing yourself for the better is starting now, it doesn't matter if you cant fit it onto a resume or college app (you have essays and interviews) because at the end of the day, when you pursue something for the sake of a personal goal and without the influence of everyone, it builds you far more than anything else. That being said, if you feel more comfortable following a checklist, go ahead but please PLEASE open your eyes and be open to everything every now and then.
- How do I write my essays? Why medicine?
Writting your essays solely depends on the expierences you have had and who you are. The best thing I can say for essays is to be brutally honest and be yourself. Don't change your vision/goals just because a school has a slightly different mission. Believe me, Admissions can see right through that BS and you don't want to be on the recieving end of a fat rejection. Speak your mind (at a legal standpoint of course) but don't feel like you have to "think one way or another". When writting essays the biggest rule to udnerstand is that most of the time, there is no wrong answer. Questions like "tell me about yourself" or "future goals" or "name a conflict/resolution" all rely on elements of good story telling and writting, but the answer for everyone else should be different. There is no correct answer.
For example one uestion I've always een is tell me about your biggest achievement
What NOT to do is to boast about some "insane name title" or whatnot but talk about something that you genuinely worked for, and forced you to grow as a person. Some of the best writting from essays comes from self reflection.
Who are you?
Why do you waant to do this?
Why did you choose this topic?
How has it changed you?
How can you explain this to others?
Questions like these that force you to think deeper are the ones you should be asking. BE VULNERABLE but don't throw out a sob story. Your essays are a reflection of who you are and in BSMD admissions are one of the most importance parts of your app that will be consistnetly looked back and compared.
So what if your mission doesn't align with a school? BE HONEST and BRUTAL
So what if you never had an insane EC to talk about? BE down to earth and describe ANYTHING
So what if you think you're never interesting? If you were never interesting, then you wouldn't be a different person entirely. Everyone has their qnie goals and expierences
One thing I liked to point out, is that the poeple reading your essays are sometimes 20's y/o. They know exactly what you mean by writting and livd through the same essay writing epxierence before. Don't be afriad to be relatable, humuorous, and happy just like you would be with them in person.
That being said some of the most common essays are things like
- Tell me about yourself
- Tell us about a activity/award your proud of why?
- Tell us about a time you had a conflict/how did you resolve it
- Tell us about a time yout ried something new...etc..
- strengths/weaknesses
- diverity (in my opinion this is the essay that requires the most self relfction)
(I will probably make future posts breaking down these questions, if I have the time my fingers are getting tired man)
Finally (sorry for the wait) the Why Medicine
This answer entirely depends on a couple of things
- What was the first spark? How did it make you feel? How did it impact you
- Instead of why medicine? Are you enirely sure that this is the route for you? Your a kid, how do you know that another career is/is not better for you?
This answer is 100% unique and personal to you. The why medicine can only be answered through YOUR words. Answering it means that you have to look at what exactly pushes you to feel curious andpassionate about medicine? What excites you about it? What do you look forward too? What do you hate (remember HONESTY!)
It's okay to initallu start with " I want to help people" or " I like science" but DIG DEEPER
- I want to people people
- Well, WHY?
- What gave you this spark?
- Was it family traditions, your culture, history with something that gave you this trait? Not everyone wants to help each and everyone they see, so obviously something must havehappened that pushed you to become who you are
- HOW? THere are so may ways to help people both agreed and disagreed upon. Where is your stance? How do you fit?
Your why medicine should be a mix of a love letter and a statement of dediation (I like to phrase it that way) It should represent what exactly you did/went through to like a feild that while it pays well (sorta) has a high suiicide rate/mental problems rate.
your young, so why?
Keep ASKING these questions 24/7 was it a physican that helped you? was it seeing a physican help someone else in a way that connected the dots? Was it a funny moment; was it a sad moment; was it something unreleated but somehow pushed you to it?
There are hundred of answers, and it all starts with you. Before answering why medicine answer why are you, you? Why are you like this? Why do you think like this? Why are your actions like this? What happened in your upbringing that made your character?
It's hard, I know it is. I've been through it, you've been through it, everyone has. But its these questions, self reflection that You need to have to grow and know yourself.
Conclusion
Yeah so I wrote this in one sitting and my finges are aboslutly shot lmao. I will be making future posts about EC's, breaking down essays and whatnot just to give a little more context
Of course if you have any questions/want more elborate feel free to dm or ask a question here in this forum. As per BSMD counseling- I do it for free, yes. HOWEVER, I won't write your essays or amke your profile. I]ll be here to point you in the right direction mainly because I want to reiterate that I am just a senior and while I may know some things about these programs, I have no idea what 100% got me in and what didn't so I won't charge and infringe too much into anyones application
GL yall!