Sunday, August 16, 2009

The Economy and Freshman Enrollment

What does the economic downturn have to do with freshman admission rates at colleges? As prospective students weigh more heavily on cost of attendance, colleges are admitting and waitlisting more to make up for flaky students. Daniel de Vise gives insight in his Washington Post article:
A spring survey of 142 institutions by the Chronicle of Higher Education found that private colleges hedged against recession by admitting 8.7 percent more students this year than last, and public colleges admitted 3.1 percent more students. The average freshman class is growing by about 2 percent.
Full article here.

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

7-8 Year BA/MD Medical Programs


Planning on being an MD? A number of schools accross the nation are now offering combined bachelor and MD programs, meaning if you're accepted, you don't have to worry about those dreaded medical school applications. These programs are great for students already set on going pre-med. There's a caveat though-- none of these programs are exactly easy to get into! Check out the list below.

Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) (7 year program) Provisional admission into medical school. Typical applicant has an average 2200 SAT score, 33-34 ACT score, 3.9 G.P.A., and three SAT II subject tests (writing, chemistry and math IIc) Students must take the MCAT (combined score of at least 28) and maintain a minimum 3.2 G.P.A average. Applications are due Dec 1 on the year prior to matriculation. International students: Eligible for this combined program (link) Contact phone number: Admission representative 617-353-2300

Brown Medical School (BMS) (8 year program) Guaranteed admission into the medical school. Applicants have an average 710 verbal SAT score, 730 mathematics SAT score, and graduated in top 2 percent of high school class. Three SAT II subject tests required (one should be in science). Applicants interested in Brown Medical School, may also apply to the following undergraduate campuses: University of Rhode Island (RI), Providence College (PC)

Drexel University College of Medicine (DUCM) (7 year program) Applicants require minimum SAT score of 1360, minimum 3.5 GPA, in top 10% of high school class, and maintain a minimum 3.45 GPA as an undergraduate (no grades less than a C), and a minimum MCAT score of 30. If interested in Drexel University College of Medicine, applicants can choose from the following undergradutate campuses: Wilkes University (WU), West Chester University (WU), Muhlenberg College (MC), Monmouth University (MU), Lehigh University (LU), Villanova University (VU), Rosemont College (RC), and Ursinus College (UC).

George Washington School of Medicine (GWSM) and George Washington University (GWU) (7-8 year program) Provisional admission into medical school. Each year a student's progress is monitored. Applicants require minimum SAT 1400, MCAT not required, and must maintain a minimum 3.3 GPA as an undergraduate. Students required to take SAT II in writing, science and mathematics. Students must have 100 hours of community service per year. 20 students matriculate into the program every year. Freshman scholarship options (FSO) available. International students: Not eligible for the combined program. Contact phone number: 800-447-3765

Northeastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine (NOU) (6 year program) Guaranteed admission into the medical school. Preference given to Ohio residents. To be admitted to the BS/MD Program, a student must first be selected for an interview. The selection of students to be invited for an interview is based on academic credentials, extracurricular activities and other information provided in the student application. Students need at least a 3.5 unweighted grade point average. While there is no absolute minimum for ACT/SAT scores, for the last several years only students with at least a 26-27 ACT or 1170-1210 SAT* total/composite score were offered an interview. Accept ACT or SAT scores and will use the highest total/composite score despite the number of times the exams are taken. We do not accept or use SAT II scores. International applicants: Must have a green card to apply. If interested in Northeastern College of Medicine, applicants can choose from the following undersgraduate campuses: University of Akron (UA), Kent State University (KSU) and Youngstown State University (YSU). Contact: University of Akron at 330-972-7880

Northwestern University- Feinberg School of Medicine (NUFS) (7 year program) Applicants require SAT I and SAT II subject tests in writing, mathematics level IIc, and chemistry. You must take a year of calculus, including differential/integral calculus and simple differential equations. Contact phone number: 312-503-8649

Temple University School of Medicine (TUSM) (8 year program) Provisional admission into medical school based on undergraduate performance at Temple. Must apply to the TempleMed Scholars program. Applicants require a minimum 3.2 GPA and minimum MCAT score of 9 on each section. International Students: Not eligible for the combined program. Contact: William Nathan 215-204-8669; Wiedener University (WU)

University of California, San Diego, School of medicine (UCSD) and University of California, San Diego. Applicants must apply to medical scholars program and provisionally accepted in the medical program. Applicants require California residency, minimum SAT score of 1500, minimum high school GPA of 4.0, and MCAT not needed. Contact phone number: 858-534-3880, somadmissions@ucsd.edu

University of Connecticut School of Medicine (UCSM) Connecticut residents receive special preference and 25 applicants chosen for interview. Candidates will present a high school grade point average of 3.5 on a four-point scale; a class rank in the top 5 percent of their class; and an SAT 1 combined score of 1300 or ACT composite score of 30. Additional factors considered include, strength of recommendations, maturity, range and depth of extracurricular involvement; and commitment to the health sciences. As an undergraduate student must maintain a 3.5 GPA and minimum MCAT score of 28 with no individual score less than 7. Contact: 860-486-3137.

University of Florida College of Medicine (UFCM) (7 year program) Applicants apply their sophomore year and guaranteed admission into the College of Medicine. Applicants must be Florida residents and non-Florida residents may apply, minimum SAT score of 1200, minimum G.P.A.of 3.5, secondary application must be completed. Contact phone number: 352-392-4569

University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine (UIC) (8 year program)
Guaranteed admission into medical school. Minimum composite ACT score of 28 or minimum SAT score of 1240, top 15% of graduating class, and applicant must be Illinois resident.
GPPA Scholarships available to deserving candidates. International students: Not eligible for this program. Contact phone number: 312-996-8365

University of Miami School of Medicine (UM) (HPME program; 6 year program) Guaranteed admission into the medical school. Applicants requires minimum SAT score of 1360, be in the top 10 percent of high school class, take SAT II by Jan. 15 of senior year in high school, must maintain a 3.2 science GPA and 3.4 cumulative GPA. International students: Not eligible for the combined program. Contact: Maria Fallon at 305-284-4323