The BS/MD Application Process and Deadlines

BS/MD deadlines are so odd because of how BS/MD programs are implemented. We’re going to go through the most common implementations, and then explain how each impacts deadlines.

The first is that the program is a special program within the college that you apply to directly. This is rare, but allows you to apply to the program directly through the Common App, and results in a single application deadline, as you apply to both the college as a whole and the BS/MD program at a single point.

The second kind of program has the BS/MD track as part of or aligned with an honors college, and has you apply to it after your application to the school as a whole is processed. Thus you first apply to the college via Common App, and then gain access to the BS/MD application. Some of these colleges require you to be admitted before you gain access to the BS/MD application, which can add a few weeks to the timeline, depending on their admissions processes. 

The third kind of program requires you to apply to and be admitted to both the school as a whole, and the honors college, before you can then apply to the BS/MD program. This is rare, but some programs do require this, as the BS/MD track is a competitive pool within the broader honors college. This is the most challenging arrangement to deal with, as it leaves you with three separate deadlines for three separate applications. 

Finally, when you are offered an interview depends on the program as well, and is often entirely separate from any other deadlines. These can be offered at any point between November and March. If that sounds like there’s a complete lack of consistency between schools, you’d be right, but therein lies the fun of it, or something. 

When BS/MD Deadlines Are

Now that we’ve covered the various kinds of BS/MD deadline structures, we’re going to tell you when they are. Note that these can change year-to-year or at a program’s discretion, and you should always check a program’s website for the most up-to-date details on when applications are due. 

How You Should Approach BS/MD Deadlines

Looking over this table, a few things stand out, namely the truly wide array of approaches universities take to handling the admissions timeline for BS/MD programs. There’s nothing even close to consistency, and some seem to have made it unnecessarily complicated on purpose. 

Admissions officers aren’t going out of their way to confuse you, but colleges do not coordinate on these programs, with each acting in accordance to their own needs when it comes to evaluating students. The confusing patchwork that results can feel overwhelming, so we’re going to give you a proper roadmap to applying to BS/MD programs in such a way that you’re well ahead of the deadlines. 

Step One: Organizing and Planning

With all of our students, the first step to applying to colleges is determining where exactly they’re applying to. This is especially true for students interested in BS/MD programs; these have more moving parts to keep track of, and so the plans are even more important. 

Begin making your own application plan in the spring of your junior year. When we work with students, we create charts of all the schools they are applying to, each essay those schools ask for (on both the regular and BS/MD application), and the due dates for each part of the application. Just getting all of this written down in the same place helps keep plans and timelines on track. 

Step Two: Starting Early

We work with students whenever they come to us, but to give our BS/MD applicants the best chance, we begin working with them on their essays and applications in the spring and summer before their senior year. This is best practice for all applicants, but is especially helpful for students applying to these programs. 

BS/MD programs require more essays than standard college applications. Some only ask for one additional essay, some for up to three, but that’s always on top of the other essays the program requires, and possibly even more essays if they’re part of an honors college you need to apply to as well. We work hard to make the essay writing process as efficient and painless as possible, but more essays to write and edit means more time spent on the writing process. To do it well, that means starting early. 

Step Three: Applying Early

While there is a lot of variability in deadlines for BS/MD programs, they mostly range from November to December. These apps, especially for the base college application, generally open in August however. You don’t have to get your application submitted in August, but especially for the programs that require you to complete the college application before the program-specific application, getting that first application in early is ideal. 

We generally aim to begin submitting applications with our BS/MD students in September or October. The first round are the applications to the colleges which require an application be processed before letting you apply to the program itself. Starting early doesn’t mean ending early unfortunately, but it does mean that you won’t be overwhelmed over the course of the application cycle by all of your essays coming due the same week.

Final Thoughts

Applying to BS/MD programs is a lot of work, but that’s by design. These programs are an incredible commitment of time and effort, and the first bar to making sure you’re capable of dealing with that is by making the applications themselves difficult. While the shifting deadlines between programs aren’t necessarily part of this, you should be able to track and manage deadlines to succeed in a career in medicine. 

If you are looking for help managing all of this, or building the time management and scheduling skills you’ll need to succeed in college applications and beyond, then łÔąĎąŮÍř can help. Our mentors are skilled at helping students wrangle complicated admissions processes, and at helping them build these skills for themselves. Schedule a free consultation today to learn more about how we can help you. 

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This leads many students to ask whether or not BS/MD programs are still worth it; what value they really provide when compared to a standard pre-med experience in undergrad. In this article, we’re going to investigate these questions. We’re going to look at how BS/MD programs have changed over time, what benefits they provide (and which they don’t), whether they’re still worth it, and what alternatives are available to you. Many students are interested in medicine, so let’s take a look at the best ways for them to get there.

How BS/MD Programs Have Changed Over Time

There have been two major trends in BS/MD programs over time. The first is that many programs which were once mainstays have closed. Northwestern, Rice, Boston University; all of these schools previously had BS/MD programs, but have since shuttered them. There are still plenty of BS/MD programs available, but many top universities which once offered them no longer do. Brown is now an exception, even more so than it once was.

The other major trend is the requirement of MCAT scores for students in BS/MD programs. One of the major appeals of these programs in the past was that students got to skip the hassle and stress of the medical school application process, including the MCAT. There were always requirements and acceptance wasn’t guaranteed of course, but students who performed well in their classes and who fulfilled the program’s obligations wouldn’t need to worry about this additional test. 

Now, however, more and more BS/MD programs require students take the MCAT, and score above a certain threshold, in order to matriculate into the medical school. Of course, needing to do well on the MCAT is part of medical school applications for all students, but the whole point of these programs is to avoid the standard medical school application process. If you then have to take part in this anyway, what really are you gaining from the program? 

A third, though lesser trend, has been in the timing of these programs. Many of these programs originated as seven years, cutting off one of the normal eight needed for you to earn both your bachelor’s and an MD. Currently, however, the trend is for all of these programs to require eight full years of study, the same as any other med student. This is one more advantage these programs used to have that they have simply abandoned. 

The Pros and Cons of BS/MD Programs

There is no one-size-fits-all for college admissions, and what one student likes another hates. For that reason, we;re going to run down a list of general pros and cons for BS/MD programs, elaborating on each, so you can get a better sense if one of these programs will serve you well. 

Pro: Guaranteed Pathway

The largest pro of BS/MD programs is they give you a guaranteed path to medical school. You do need to meet certain grade and extracurricular requirements, and increasingly hit MCAT score targets, but you get to skip the entire med school application process. Given how stressful this process is, this remains one of the biggest draws for these programs: the surety they offer. 

Con: Structured Pathway

In most BS/MD programs, your choice of major is set, or at least limited. Brown is an outlier here; most programs require that you major in Biology or Chemistry. Now, most pre-meds want to do this anyway, but some wish to explore other topics in undergrad, ones that complement their medical ambitions or which allow them to explore other areas of interest. BS/MD programs largely do not allow for this flexibility. 

Pro: Solid Cohort

Part of joining a BS/MD program means joining a small and select group of passionate and dedicated students, all of whom have a common interest in medicine. At many schools, the BS/MD program is a subset of an honors college, or located within it, giving you access to a small and supportive community within the broader college, often with their own housing options and specialty classes. Even at larger colleges, this can make for a good experience. 

Con: Lack of Undergrad Options

There are some BS/MD programs at elite colleges, but many are instead hosted by regional or state universities, schools which many students wouldn’t consider applying to if it weren’t for the BS/MD program. This doesn’t make these schools bad; you can still get a great education at them, but they simply do not offer the same atmosphere or opportunities as some other institutions. Indiana University is a great school, but they aren’t Harvard. 

Hit and Miss: Price

BS/MD programs, in most cases, cost the same as four full years of undergraduate tuition and four years of medical school. There are some exceptions, such as Baylor2Baylor, which offer dedicated scholarships, but most have no or limited financial aid. 

Now, medical school itself is known for limited financial aid, so this is nothing new. Many undergrad opportunities, however, may have greatly expanded aid options compared to what BS/MD programs offer. This is especially true for top tier undergraduate institutions, which often have generous financial aid packages, even for middle and upper middle class students. 

A BS/MD program at an in-state public university may still end up being cheaper for undergrad, but that is a somewhat specific scenario. It is impossible to say that the cost of one or another is a pro or con, but the total price you end up paying should be factored in, especially with how expensive medical school is.

To review, here’s the pros and cons of BS/MD programs in a handy table: 

Are There Alternatives to BS/MD Programs?

Based on the factors above you, like many students, may be reevaluating whether or not a BS/MD program is really the right choice for you. This leads inevitably to what the other options are, since the appeal of the BS/MD program is still strong. To that end, we’re going to go through them, and see how they stack up to the BS/MD program.

Undergraduate Pre-Med

This is the baseline program for students who are interested in medicine. Pre-med programs take a hundred forms at myriad colleges, but all boil down to the same preparatory coursework, and the same medical school application process. These programs are the most varied, as they depend entirely on the college you are attending; while the core curriculum and requirements stay the same, all else can change.

Generally, if you are interested in a BS/MD program, it is because you think it offers something that the standard premedical track does not. This is true, and there are certainly factors that advantage BS/MD programs, but we still encourage all students to consider the standard pre-med track, to see how it may suit them and their needs. 

Early Assurance Programs

Located somewhere between a BS/MD and a standard pre-med track, early assurance programs are in some ways the best of both worlds. These programs allow students who are currently undergrads at an institution to apply to that university’s medical school early, and begin classes early as well. This does often have all of the same components of a standard medical school application, but lets you begin (and finish) your time in medical school a year earlier. 

These programs are somewhat rarer than BS/MD programs, but are offered by a number of elite institutions: UChicago, Dartmouth, Georgetown, Northwestern, and others. You get the full undergrad experience at these schools, and full access to their often more generous financial aid packages, even if you do still end up on the hook for the cost of medical school.

These programs do lack some of the surety of BS/MD programs; there is no guarantee that undergrads in a school will qualify or be admitted through the early assurance program. Even those that don’t, however, get to benefit from the full pre-med experience at these universities, which does a good job of preparing students for medical school anyway (though you do still have to go through the whole application process in that case). 

Is a BS/MD Program the Right Choice for You?

This is the heart of the matter, and there is no single simple answer. We’ve gone through the various pros and cons of these programs in this article, with an aim of highlighting that while BS/MD programs are still excellent opportunities, they do not offer the same advantages they once did, and that many students are equally served by more common pre-med programs. 

Here, we’re going to look at a final question: application risk and chances of acceptance. While BS/MD programs are not as advantageous as they once were, they remain as popular as ever, with many having lower acceptance rates than any of the Ivy League schools. This doesn’t make getting in impossible, but does mean that you can never count on a BS/MD acceptance. 

All BS/MD programs are reach schools, though their attached universities are safeties for most students who are applying. This can lead to a somewhat unbalanced college list, and reduce the number of target schools, or non-BS/MD reach schools, you apply to. The Common App only allows for 20 applications through it; you can apply to more schools directly, but this is a major increase in the time required to apply (mostly because you need to enter the same information over and over). 

If attending one of these programs is your goal, then you should go for it. Many students, however, would not attend any of the attached universities if it weren’t for the BS/MD program they offer. These aren’t bad schools, but nor are they common first choices. You should earnestly consider this when building your list of schools. Would you be willing to attend any of these if they don’t admit you to the BS/MD program?

The answer can be no, and it can still be worth applying, but it’s worth considering the undergrad experience you’re signing up for, and what it entails. Your own situation, your own needs and desires, are your own. We’ve found, however, that the more thought students put into examining their options for where to attend university, the happier they tend to be, wherever they end up. 

Final Thoughts

BS/MD programs remain a remarkable pathway to get into medical school, even if they have lost some of their advantages and luster over time. With how many high school students dream of being doctors, however, it’s no surprise that these programs are as popular as ever. We hope that this article has given you insight into what they can and cannot offer you, and whether attending one of these programs is the right choice for you to pursue your dreams.

Whether applying to a BS/MD program or just the pre-med track at a top university, college applications are difficult and competitive, with many moving parts to keep track of. If you are looking for help with your applications, or personalized advice on what kinds of programs can best serve you, then łÔąĎąŮÍř can help. Our mentors have a long experience guiding students to the right programs to meet their needs. Schedule a free consultation today to learn more, we’re always happy to hear from you.

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This is because of how interviews for and applications to medical schools work, and what they look for in students. In this article we’re going to explore why this knowledge is important for pre-med students, and how they can best keep abreast of it while also dealing with the other important demands on their time. We’ll also briefly cover how this impacts high school students applying to BS/MD programs. Let’s jump right in!

Why Current Events in Healthcare Matter to Pre-Meds

There is the general sense that these events should matter because this is the field you’re going into, but there is a much more specific reason as well: many medical schools ask about current events specifically in either essay or interview questions. These can be more general, asking you to detail something currently going on in healthcare you find important, or specific, where they ask your thoughts on a particular issue.

In both cases, students are expected to be able to provide thoughtful and well reasoned responses, ones that show they have an understanding of the field of healthcare, and the various issues currently impacting it. For essays, you can just do the research while writing them; this does add to the writing time of course, but that’s how writing works. It is harder to stop and do meaningful research when you’ve just been asked a question at a live interview.

You will also find answering these essay questions easier if you have a general sense of what’s going on in healthcare, and don’t have to start from nothing. This, like so much else in admissions, is one of those cases where doing a bit of work early and over an extended period of time can save you a lot of work later down the line. 

Finally, the way the healthcare field is shaping up can help you pinpoint where you want to focus your efforts. Many actions taken impact the field of healthcare, from government regulations, to funding limitations, to what states decide to prioritize or the emergence of health crises like the Covid-19 pandemic. This may not impact your choices if you’re already well set on your path of course, but can impact where you choose to apply to medical school, or where you’d prefer to pursue residency. 

But Why do Medical Schools Care?

This is a reasonable question, and one worth exploring briefly. There are several different reasons, but at its base this returns to the same educational philosophy that makes them look for how you have volunteered during undergrad, and your commitment to service. 

Healthcare is about helping others, meeting them where they are, and improving often dire circumstances. This means they’re looking for students who really care, and part of that is students who are informed about the state of healthcare. There are many issues with how health services are delivered, and which ones are important to you speak to your values, and how you will go about helping others.

Medical schools attached to public universities also often have a mandate to recruit doctors to serve in the state where they are based, whether explicitly or implicitly. They may ask questions like this to check your commitment to that mission, and are more likely to ask questions related to healthcare in the area where the school is located.

How to Keep Up with Healthcare News

We’re going to say that keeping up with healthcare news should take two forms; the long duree and the short push. The first is the long duree, the idea of keeping up with healthcare news in the long term, just being aware of what’s going on in the field, and the major impacts world events are having on it. 

This can be found by browsing various news outlets with focus, especially if you can find specific journalists who cover health topics. There are plenty of writers who focus on healthcare developments specifically, and doing a half-hour of reading each week will give you good insight into the state of the field. You may not understand every issue in depth, but this will at least let you know what the issues are, and let you start forming informed opinions of them. 

If you find a particular issue that interests you, then we recommend spending some time learning more about it. This can also help inform your choices of where you want to volunteer or commit your time in your extracurriculars. If there is a particular issue which draws your interest, then focusing your efforts there both prepares you for these essays and crafts a narrative for your application.

In the short term, as you draw near to when interviews and essays are going to be due, you should spend an evening or two picking out a few particular issues that are of interest to you and doing more in-depth research on them is a good use of time. You want to understand both what the issue is, and have some suggestions for solutions, or at least ways to begin ameliorating it. 

You don’t have to have perfect solutions to all of the world’s problems, and they don’t expect you to. You should show that you have thought about the problem in depth, and any solutions you propose should be based on evidence; other programs which have worked or related scenarios which have been proposed or tried. 

Finally, if you are applying to medical schools attached to public universities with a focus on serving their local area, you should prepare for questions about the area. This is especially true if you are applying to schools in the state where you reside. Students in Texas, for example, should have a grasp on the issues facing healthcare in Texas for Texas residents, and be able to speak to them. 

How this Impacts BS/MD Students

As with many things in medical school admissions, this same phenomenon impacts BS/MD students in a slightly altered way. BS/MD students are high school students, but when it comes to the admissions process, they are often treated as pre-meds, and held to similar standards. This is because of how the admissions process works. For admission to a BS/MD program, the medical school must sign off, the same group which decides on the applications of pre-med students. 

Thus BS/MD students may have fewer obligations in terms of what is expected of them, but they are expected to be playing the same game; pursuing the same kinds of extracurriculars, maintaining the same high grades, and demonstrating the same commitments to medicine and service as are expected from pre-meds. 

Thus, in BS/MD interviews and essay questions, the same subject of current issues in healthcare arises. Many of these programs are tied to public universities with the explicit goal of recruiting doctors for a particular region or state, and so are even more likely to ask about current issues locally. They may not expect you to have the same depth of knowledge and reasoning as regular pre-meds, but they are looking for more than a standard high-school level analysis. 

It is particularly hard for high school students to keep up with current events in healthcare, especially given all the other demands on their time (to say nothing of the demands on a student preparing for BS/MD applications). High school is by its nature a rather insulated space; while students often do have political views and keep up with events, it is to a far lesser extent than their collegiate peers. 

BS/MD students must then make an active effort to keep abreast of news in the medical field. We recommend keeping up with both a local news source, and something national. The Associated Press, for example, has a , which contains both national and international health stories. 

You won’t be able to dive into every issue and story with a great degree of detail, but you should have a sense for the trends and issues in the field. When applying to schools, you then know which issues are particularly relevant to you, and can research and expand on them further. 

Example: Current Events and the Baylor2Baylor Case Study

An excellent example of why this knowledge is necessary comes from the Baylor2Baylor BS/MD . The application, as is the case with many BS/MD programs, closely parallels that of the Baylor College of Medicine. Of note, however is, their , which perfectly highlights why pre-med and BS/MD students need to be up to date on current events. 

At this event, students are broken up into teams and tasked with presenting on an issue currently impacting healthcare, generally one which is specifically relevant to Texas. In most cases, the issue in question is one which has been popular in medical school admissions interviews in prior years. Specifically, it was on addressing healthcare disparities in rural Texas compared to the availability of healthcare services in urban areas.

This question is sent out ahead of time, and students are able to prepare before the event. Those students who already have a grasp on the current state of healthcare, however, have an advantage here, needing to spend less time in research, and already having the groundwork of how this problem has been discussed and solutions proposed in other states. 

Pre-med students who encounter questions like this in interviews are also well served if they already have some idea of what they’re going to say, and what points they want to highlight. Being able to think on your feet is good, but what medical school admissions is looking for is your deep seated knowledge of the field, and the various issues that impact it.

Final Thoughts

Applying to medical school is a long and complicated process, one with many moving parts. It’s easy for some of these to slip or be forgotten, especially if you aren’t aware of everything that medical schools look for from students. We hope that this article has given you insight into one such aspect, one which is often overlooked, and which can trip up the unwary.

If you are looking for help preparing for your own medical school applications, and keeping track of the myriad of requirements that it places on you, then łÔąĎąŮÍř can help. From helping you plan out your coursework and extracurriculars to writing the application essays themselves, our mentors are quite skilled at guiding students through this often overwhelming process. Schedule a free consultation today to learn more about how we can make your life easier. 

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In this article, however, we’re going to talk about how you can spend your summers, specifically by giving some options for summer programs designed for pre-med students to gain research experience at various medical labs. We won’t be able to list every program, nor are these the only ways to spend your summers, but we hope to give you a sense of the options that are out there, and a place to begin your own investigations. Let’s get started!

Summer Programs At Your University

The programs we are listing in this article are generally open to students across the country, regardless of what school you’re with. Your own university is likely to have its own programs, or you may continue research work begun with a professor or in a lab which you began during the school year. 

If you can parlay a part-time school year position into a full-time one during the summer, this is quite valuable. This might not always be possible; funding for these programs generally comes from research grants, and availability will depend highly on the lab you are working in and the work they are doing. Nonetheless, this should always be a starting point for your investigations. 

First, because you already know the lab and the people there, and are trained in necessary techniques. While it is good to gain experience in multiple disciplines at times, this does allow you to skip training and onboarding, and jump straight into doing work. 

Additionally, medical schools like to see devotion over time. They understand that this is not always possible of course, especially with funding as precarious as it is now, but dedicating yourself to a single lab over an extended duration shows the kind of commitment they like to see in students. 

Summer Research Opportunities for Pre-Med Students

We aren’t going to be listing these in any particular order. These opportunities all have their own strengths, and some may better fit your own interests, abilities, and ambitions. This is not a comprehensive list, but should give you a sense of what kinds of opportunities you can find.

These internships are run by various NIH offices around the country. You must be enrolled full time to apply, but college students and recent grads alike are eligible. The program provides a stipend, and free parking is available at all labs. Applications open in December and are due in February. 

Applications must be submitted . You will need a CV or Resume, a personal statement, and two references who can submit letters of recommendation. Note that applications are not processed centrally, instead the PI on each project reviews applications, and then chooses the interns they wish to work with for that summer. The exact start and end dates and length of the program varies based on the lab you are working in. You are expected to take the initiative when reading out to PIs; they provide a guide to doing this .

(SURF)

Around 180 students each year take part in this ten week program. You may apply to one of Mayo Clinic’s campuses, admissions are handled by each campus. You must have completed at least your sophomore year of college before you enroll in the program. You must also be considering a career as an MD-PhD, rather than simply intending to pursue a career as a practicing physician. They advise students interested in an MD alone to check out their .

The program runs from the end of May through the end of July. Applications open in November, and are due at the start of February. The application must be submitted . This requires a personal statement/cover letter, unofficial transcripts, and two references willing to write a letter of recommendation for you. If you are accepted, you will be matched with a PI in the research area of interest you indicated. A stipend is provided; there is some connected to the program for rent.

Run by the Cleveland Clinic, this is a ten week research internship open to current undergraduate students, though they have a for high schoolers. Applications open in December, and are due at the end of January; applications must be submitted online. 

The number of spaces available varies, and is dependent on the individual needs of each lab. In addition to the set summer internships, students may reach out to PIs directly to set up individual research internship placements. This is recommended for students who are not available during the summer internship period, or those who want to join a particular lab. This is also available during the school year, though that is only an option for students attending university within commuting distance of Cleveland Clinic. 

To apply for the independent internships, you must reach out to the PI you are interested in working with detailing why you are interested in working in their lab, an introduction of who you are, and your availability. You should include an updated resume and a list of academic contacts who can serve as references for you. 

A research hospital in Arizona, Barrow is the largest neurological disease research center in the world. Their summer internship is a paid ten week research program open to all undergraduate students, both domestic and international. Students spend their time working full time under a research mentor at Barrow, contributing to an ongoing research project. 

You must apply to this program ; the application opens in December, and is due in early February. You must choose which area you want to work in when you apply, there are numerous research areas of expertise, plus programs like publication and philanthropy. Housing is not provided. 

Run by UT Health, the BRAINS (Brain, Rejuvenation, Aging, Inflammation, Neurodegeneration, and Stroke) research group investigates a number of related diseases and medical issues. The summer internship is a paid ten-week program which pairs an undergraduate student with a researcher, allowing the student to assist in an ongoing research project. 

The program is designed to introduce students to the basics of neurology and neurological research. There are multiple projects ongoing at any given time. Applications open in December and are due in January; applications must be submitted online. Decisions come out in February, if you are admitted to the program you have a week to respond. 

The application is a form you must download, complete, and submit by email. In addition to demographic information and three short essays, you must also submit a CV and an unofficial transcript. You must have two recommenders send letters to the program by the application deadline. This is a paid program, though rate of pay depends on your prior research experience. 

(NURO)

Run by the University of Michigan’s College of Medicine, NURO is specifically aimed at students who attend colleges in Southeast Michigan. This is both a ten-week summer research program, and a year round part time research program; students begin in the summer, then continue working throughout the year. This is why the program is limited geographically, so that the only students who attend are the ones who can commit to the full year of in-person research. 

Students in the program join an existing neuroscience research project, working under a senior researcher. There is a stipend provided for the summer session, and work during the school year is paid hourly. 

You must have completed one year of undergraduate study already, be majoring in a related STEM field, and be a US citizen to apply. They prefer students with an interest in pursuing a PhD. Undergraduates at University of Michigan Ann Arbor are not eligible to participate in this program. Applications must be submitted online; applications open in December, and are due in February. Preference is given to underrepresented students, and those lacking other access to research programs. 

There are several research programs under this umbrella, but the ones that concern us here are a pair of neuroscience research programs. (Dynamic Experiences in Neuroscience to Diversify Research Internship Training Exposures for Students) and (Developing Access to Research in Neuroscience). Both of these are neuroscience research internships open to undergraduate students who do not attend UChicago. 

These are eight week programs, which pair students with research faculty to work on existing research projects. Both programs provide a stipend to participants. You must have completed at least one year of undergrad at the time you begin the program. Both programs are designed to help prepare students for future graduate studies. 

Applications to both programs must be submitted , they share a common application. This application requires a CV, a statement of your interests in this program and in research more generally, and an unofficial transcript. They ask that you list the names of three faculty members you wish to work with from their Department of Neurology. 

These are a collection of programs run by the Department of Biology and Biomedical Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis. Some of these programs are open to undergraduates from across the country, while others are limited to just undergrads at WashU.

These are ten-week paid programs, where students join in research projects and work under faculty. You may apply for all of these programs online, though each has a separate application. Applications are due in early February. 

Run by a private non-profit research laboratory, this summer program admits approximately 20 students each summer. The program lasts for ten weeks, students join in the work of an ongoing research project, and also participate in the community at the lab, learning what life is like for a biomedical research scientist. The program also offers career development opportunities, aimed at helping students grow as professional researchers.

A stipend is provided. Unlike many other programs, the program also provides housing, with students residing on the lab’s campus and eating in the dining hall there. The application for the program must be submitted online, through their website. International students are eligible to apply if they are enrolled full-time at a US university. 

Current sophomores and juniors are eligible to apply to the program. Prior research experience is preferred, but is not required. The program emphasizes the biological sciences, but students majoring in other STEM fields may also apply. The application opens in December, and is due in January. The application requires two letters of recommendation, a personal statement on your research interests, and unofficial transcripts. 

One of the largest private investors into biomedical research, HHMI also runs the Summer Undergraduate Research Experience to train the next generation of scientists. This is a paid, nine-week program, hosted at labs associated with HHMI across the US, both within partnered universities, and at their main campus. 

Students work full-time on ongoing projects being undertaken by HHMI staff. Students have a chance to present their research at the end of the summer. The program is open to rising juniors and seniors only. You must be a US citizen or permanent resident. You are in charge of your own transit and housing during the summer program, though the stipend is intended to help you meet these costs.

The application for this program is due in December, and must be completed online. Students are informed of admissions results in the spring. The application must be submitted online. 

This program is not aimed solely at biological research (though it supports it), but is instead intended for students of multiple academic disciplines to participate in high level research, and to prepare those students for graduate school. Students both work on a research project under the guidance of an MIT faculty member, and receive advising and counseling on applying to graduate school in the future. 

Many departments at MIT participate, everything from philosophy to biological engineering. They do have a for those students interested in the biological sciences however, due to the popularity of that field. The program offers housing and a weekly stipend to participants. 

Current sophomores and juniors majoring in a STEM field are encouraged to apply. You must have a GPA of at least 3.5 to be eligible. MIT undergraduates may not participate in this program. You must have prior research experience to apply. The application must be submitted .

Final Thoughts

There are many ways to spend your summers during college, and no matter what school you attend, they will have their own summer options, both set programs, and ones you can arrange through labs you encounter. These programs, however, show the range of other possibilities, ones which can give you novel experiences and connections, which are especially valuable for students considering pursuing research at a higher level.

Being a pre-med is both challenging and stressful, and some of that is intentional, to make sure students unable to handle the stress of being a doctor never need face it. If, however, you would like help with your own career as a premed, then schedule a free consultation with us today. Our mentors are experienced at keeping you on track, and helping you connect with the opportunities that best suit your wants and needs.

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Understanding the Houston Premedical Academy

The is a three way partnership and is likely unique for that reason alone. It is difficult enough to get two universities to align to create a BS MD program, and adding a high school into the mix demonstrates an impressive level of administrative alignment. The program combines three distinct components.

The first is DeBakey High School for Health Professions, a specialized magnet high school in Houston devoted specifically to the medical field. It offers significant specialized coursework and opportunities not normally available to high school students.

The second is the University of Houston Honors College. This is a strong honors program where students complete a full suite of premed coursework along with advanced seminar courses and enhanced opportunities to pursue research.

The third is Baylor College of Medicine. Students admitted to this program are offered conditional acceptance to Baylor. If they fulfill all program requirements, they are admitted.

Students apply to this program during their senior year at DeBakey. While at the University of Houston, students are treated like any other Honors College students, though they must complete specific course prerequisites.

This program accepts six students each year. Students must maintain good academic standing within the Honors College and complete the honors specific minor in Medicine and Society. They may major in any program available at the University of Houston. Many choose biology or chemistry, but this is not required as long as all premedical coursework is completed.

Applying to the Houston Premedical Academy

As with all BS MD applications, this is an intense process designed to ensure that applicants are fully qualified and committed to the long path ahead. Applicants must complete four separate applications.

The University of Houston application
The University of Houston Honors College application
The Houston Premedical Academy application
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid or FAFSA

The University of Houston application is straightforward and may be completed through the Common App. It does not require supplemental essays beyond the personal statement. The Honors College application requires a writing sample, ideally a three to five page paper written in high school. DeBakey students typically have several strong options to choose from.

The FAFSA must be completed regardless of whether financial aid is needed. It involves a significant amount of paperwork but is required for the application to be considered complete.

The Premedical Academy application is its own separate form. It must be completed in full and is due by the end of January. Applicants must be admitted to both the University of Houston and the Honors College before the application is considered complete, so early submission is strongly advised.

Completing the Houston Premedical Academy Application

The first section of the application is demographic and requests basic identifying and contact information. Applicants must provide their University of Houston ID number, which is issued after submitting the UH application.

Parental information is also required. This may repeat information from the Common App but must still be completed accurately.

Official transcripts from DeBakey must be submitted directly by the school counselor. Applicants must also self report GPA and standardized test scores exactly as they appear on official records.

Honors, Awards, and Activities

Applicants must list honors and activities, much like the Common App. There are no strict word limits, but responses should be concise. Brief context may be provided for awards or activities that are uncommon.

Applicants must list five significant honors or awards, four important organizations or service activities, and up to six total activities. While organized slightly differently from the Common App, the total number of entries is similar. Reusing Common App responses where appropriate is recommended.

Short Answer Questions

The program requires four short answer responses of up to 500 words each. These essays are typical of BS MD programs and are used to assess motivation, values, and readiness for a medical career.

The first asks what aspirations, experiences, or relationships have motivated the applicant to pursue the eight year UH Baylor Medical Scholars Program. Applicants should discuss concrete experiences with medicine, including clinical exposure, shadowing, research, or personal experiences that confirmed their interest.

The second asks applicants to describe who they are and what background or story is central to their identity. This functions similarly to a diversity essay and may focus on any aspect of identity that has shaped the applicant and is not fully addressed elsewhere.

The third asks applicants to list three issues confronting medicine today and explain which is most important and why. There is no single correct answer. The focus is on reasoning, values, and the ability to support an argument.

The fourth asks applicants to describe an adversity they have faced, how they dealt with it, and how it affected them. The emphasis is on resilience, problem solving, and personal growth rather than the severity of the challenge.

Letters of Recommendation

Applicants must submit three letters of recommendation. Two must come from DeBakey teachers. The third may come from another teacher or an adult mentor such as a supervisor, research mentor, or faculty member. Family members may not serve as recommenders.

Recommenders should always be asked in advance to ensure they are willing to write strong letters.

Interview

After applications are reviewed, selected applicants are invited to interview with Baylor College of Medicine admissions officers. This interview follows a format similar to medical school or BS MD interviews and is a critical factor in final admissions decisions.

Final Thoughts

This program is limited to students who attend DeBakey High School in Houston. Due to the small applicant pool, it likely has a higher acceptance rate than many BS MD programs, though exact figures are not published. DeBakey students interested in becoming physicians should strongly consider applying.

Students who do not currently attend DeBakey but are interested in medicine may also consider applying to DeBakey itself. Its specialized curriculum provides an excellent foundation for a medical career.

For students seeking guidance on applying to DeBakey, BS MD programs, or medical school more broadly, łÔąĎąŮÍř offers mentorship across every stage of the process, from activity planning to essay development. A free consultation is available for those who would like support.

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While all medical schools have the same general purpose, they are not the same. They have different foci, provide different levels of support to students, and often specialize in different areas. They can also see varying levels of success helping students land the residencies they desire. We’re going to go through the medical schools in Texas, break them down, and help you evaluate which are the best to match your goals. Let’s jump right in!

The Medical Schools in Texas

Our ranking here is based on US News rankings. Now, in 2024, US News moved to using a tier-based system to rank medical schools, instead of exact ranks, due to an increasing refusal by schools to participate. Schools are listed in the order they were ranked on US News the last time granular rankings were assigned. For each school, we will give you their acceptance rate, and some information about their program, so that you can evaluate it. 

With a 4.02% acceptance rate in 2025, BCM is quite competitive; this is understandable, as they are generally considered the best medical school in Texas. Note that they are not affiliated with Baylor University. They are part of the Texas Medical Center, and are associated with a number of other large clinical centers as well, giving students significant access to a diverse set of patients. 

While Baylor is a private medical school, they do get funding from the state of Texas for in-state students, allowing them to keep tuition prices relatively low. This also causes them to somewhat favor Texas students for admissions; around 80% of their student body are Texas residents. 

With an acceptance rate of around 4%, UT Southwestern is known for both its strong clinical education and as a major center for medical research. As the name suggests, they are associated with the University of Texas system, and are a public college. Their curriculum is a bit atypical, being divided into three phases; an 18 month pre-clerkship, an 18 month clerkship, and a 12 month post-clerkship. 

The school is associated with Parkland hospital, a very large teaching hospital in Dallas. As a public school, they are significantly cheaper for Texas residents, and also advantage Texas residents in the admissions process. 

Based, as the name suggests, in San Antonio, this is another medical school in the University of Texas system. With an acceptance rate of around 4.2%, they are quite competitive; though most medical schools are. This is the largest medical school in South Texas, and many graduates of the school remain in this region to practice. 

The school does have a strong focus on research; but their main thrust is community service, especially in the South Texas region. Texas residents are advantaged in the admissions process, and receive discounted tuition rates at the school. Approximately 88.4% of the students at Long are Texas residents.

Located in Houston (unsurprisingly), McGovern has an acceptance rate of approximately 4.2%. This is the largest medical school in Texas, and the 9th largest in the country. It is, like Baylor, part of the Texas Medical Center in Houston, granting students access to significant clinical and research opportunities. 

The school is pass/fail in its first semester, to help students acclimate themselves to medical school and its rigors. As a public school, they are cheaper for in-state students, and advantage Texas residents in admissions; approximately 95% of their student body are Texas residents. 

Associated with Texas A&M, this school has an acceptance rate of approximately 3.5%. While it does not directly advantage Texas A&M students in admissions, there are some pathways for existing students to get in early, though primarily through an association with their Corps of Cadets. The school’s main campus is in Bryan (near College Station), and all students begin there, before travelling to satellite campuses to train in different specialties. Despite having five total campuses, this is all a single school. 

The school does have a focus on rural health primarily, but one of its campuses is part of the Texas Medical Center, for students who want a more urban atmosphere. Students spend one and a half years on pre-clinical training, and two and a half years on clinical, more than the average medical school. They do have an additional track for students interested in entering military service as physicians. As a public school, in-state students are advantaged for both tuition and acceptance rates; approximately 86% of students are Texas residents.

Located in Lubbock, alongside Texas Tech’s main campus, TTU’s School of Medicine has an acceptance rate of approximately 3.7%. This school was founded with the express intent of addressing a shortage of physicians in West Texas, and has maintained that regional focus. This is a multi-campus system; students spend their first two years in Lubbock, then the next two at one of their satellite campuses throughout West Texas.

The school has a focus on serving rural populations; as their main campus is the only level 1 facility in the region, students have the chance to see a wide variety of cases. They also have a shortened three-year track to residency specifically for students interested in ; residencies for this are all in Lubbock. This is a public school, and in-state students are advantaged on tuition and in admissions. Approximately 90% of students are Texas residents. 

Note that this school offers a DO program, rather than an MD program; you can find more about the difference between these in our article here. Located in Fort Worth, this program is widely considered to be one of the top DO schools in the US, and is highly ranked by US News for both primary care education and research. It is also one of the oldest DO programs in the country. 

They have an emphasis on serving under-resourced populations, and around 60% of graduates go on to enter primary care. They do have a specific track for students interested in pursuing rural medicine, but have both urban and rural venues for clinical learning. This is a public school, and Texas residents are advantaged in both admissions and tuition. Around 93% of students are Texas residents. 

As the name suggests, this is also a DO program, rather than an MD. Located in Huntsville, this is a relatively new program, having only been established in 2019, though already seeing many positive results. One of the primary goals of the school is to educate physicians who will serve the eastern part of Texas, and so they have a focus on both primary care and rural medicine. 

Clinical training for the school occurs in both community hospitals and rural clinics, giving students a range of opportunities. While they are a public school, they have chosen to forgo state funding, instead relying solely on tuition dollars. This does make them slightly more expensive than many other public medical schools, with tuition rates comparable to their private counterparts. In spite of this, the majority of their students are still Texas residents; approximately 96% of students come from Texas. 

Part of Texas Christian University, this medical school is located in Fort Worth. This is a relatively new program, having only been established in 2015, though it is already showing strong results. This program is notable for requiring students to complete a research project under faculty guidance, and for a curricular focus on communication in medicine. 

This is a private college, and tuition prices are higher than many of their public counterparts. This is one of only two schools in Texas to use the AMCAS for admissions (the other being Texas A&M), instead of the TMDSAS. They recently opened a new 100,000 square foot campus in Fort Worth. They do not advantage Texas residents in admissions or for tuition; approximately 26% of students are Texas residents.

Located in El Paso (as the name suggests), this is another medical school in the Texas Tech system. It is unrated by US News, but is known for having a strong clinical studies program. They have a focus on working with underserved populations, and their location on the US-Mexico border in El Paso allows students to access a wide variety of patients and cases. 

Foster’s curriculum is pass-fail for the first two years, and all students are required to take a public health component. In addition, students begin clinical experiences in their first year, and have the option to volunteer at a number of student-run clinics. This is a public university, and in-state students are advantaged on tuition and admissions alike. Approximately 94% of students are Texas residents.

As the name suggests, this program offers DO degrees, rather than MD. It is part of the University of the Incarnate Word, a Catholic university located in San Antonio. This is a faith-based school, and Catholic teachings do inform their philosophy and outlook. Despite this, students of all faith backgrounds are welcome, and there is no religious studies component to medical school. 

The school focuses on an integrated curriculum and case-based learning. The school has a number of community service initiatives students participate in; the concept of giving back to the community is a core part of their mission. UIW is the only medical school in Texas to use the AACOMAS application system. This is a private university, and in-state students have no advantage in terms of tuition or admissions. That said, approximately 73% of students at UIW are from Texas.

Located in Houston, this is a relatively new medical school, founded in 2019. The goal of this was to increase the number of doctors in Texas, and lessen health disparities in both urban and rural areas. The curriculum focuses on integrating clinical experiences beginning in the first year. Students take part in weekly clinical experiences at primary care clinics, working alongside other medical professionals.

Another aspect of the curriculum is household-centered care; students are sent out to help in home health, with a goal of understanding systemic challenges to healthcare. This is a public university, and in-state students have an advantage for tuition and admissions. Approximately 96% of students are Texas residents.

Located in Austin, this school is part of the University of Texas system. It is relatively new, having just been founded in 2013. They have some curricular quirks, including compressing science curriculum to a single year, allowing the third year to be spent pursuing research or another independent project. 

The school’s purpose is to improve access to healthcare in central Texas, especially among underserved populations. They are one of the smaller medical schools in Texas. As a public university, in-state students are advantaged in the admissions process and for the cost of tuition. Approximately 90% of students are in-state.

Located in Galveston, this is the oldest medical school in Texas, the first founded by what became the University of Texas system. It has a strong reputation, but is unranked by US News. They have a number of long-standing partnerships, and leverage these into unique clinical experiences for students, including working with incarcerated individuals and a partnership with NASA for an aerospace medicine track. 

The first two years of curriculum are offered pass-fail; for the next two years students rotate through a wide variety of clinical experiences in both Galveston and throughout Texas. The school also has a strong reputation for research, including a level 4 biocontainment lab. This is a public institution, and Texas residents are advantaged for tuition and admissions. Approximately 94% of students are Texas residents. 

Located in Edinburg (the one in Texas, not Scotland), this is another member of the University of Texas system. It is another relatively new school, having only been founded in 2013. Based near the US-Mexico border, it has a focus on the unique health disparities and challenges faced by many of the border communities in Texas. Many of the physicians who train here stay in this region of Texas. 

One very notable factor of this school is their exceptionally low tuition by medical school standards, one of the lowest in the nation at $21,532 for in-state students, and $34,632 for out of state students. In spite of this low cost, they offer an excellent student experience, with a focus on clinical experiences helping underserved populations. Approximately 96% of students at the school are Texas residents. 

Located in Tyler (as one might expect), this is yet another University of Texas system school, and is the newest medical school in Texas, with the first class entering the school in 2023. The goal of the school is to address a physician shortage in East Texas, especially primary care providers. This is still a relatively small program, though it intends to grow, and we anticipate further developments over time. 

The school has a particular focus on rural health care in its clinical experiences. All students also take an 18 month long course on population health, with a focus on the region they are in. There are research opportunities, and as a new school, many of these are just getting started. This is a public university, and in-state students are advantaged in admission and tuition. Currently nearly all students are Texas residents, but we anticipate a slight increase in out-of-state interest as time goes on and the program finds its footing. 

Final Thoughts

Texas is a big state, and has many excellent medical schools. Indeed, it has added a number of these recently, as they seek to proactively solve a shortage of physicians by training more of them. This is something we support, as more of these facilities is good for both patients and students alike. While some of these programs are still developing, they all offer excellent opportunities; we hope that this article has given you a clear sense of what your options are, and which of these medical schools may suit you best. 

Of course, all medical schools are competitive for admissions, even those that are quite new. Finding the right schools to apply to, and crafting your application to match each of their needs, however, can greatly improve your odds. If you are looking for advice on finding the perfect medical school for you, or on perfecting your application, then schedule a free consultation with us today. We have a deep understanding of what these schools are looking for, and are always happy to hear from you.

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In this article, we’re going to go over the MCAT; what it is, why it matters, and how you can prepare for it. Doing well on the MCAT is a key component of preparing for medical school, and all aspiring physicians will need to grapple with this exam (with a few notable exceptions). Let’s get started!

What is the MCAT anyway?

The Medical College Admission Test () is a computer based exam for students interested in medicine. It is required by both MD and DO programs, for schools in the US, Canada, and some parts of the Caribbean. The test is administered by the Association of American Medical Colleges () a nonprofit organization composed of medical schools, teaching hospitals, and scientific societies.

The MCAT has been reformatted numerous times in its history, most recently in 2015; with the current form of the exam projected to be used until 2030. While the number of sittings varies each year, it is generally more than 25. The test is only administered at official testing centers.

The exam consists of four sections. These are: 

• Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems (59 questions, 95 minutes)
• Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills (53 questions, 90 minutes)
• Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems (59 questions, 95 minutes)
• Psychological, Social, and Biological Foundations of Behavior (59 questions, 95 minutes)

Each of these sections is scored from 118-132, yielding a total combined score of 472-528. The average score of all test takers is 500-502, while the average score of students who enroll in MD programs is 511-512. The questions are multiple choice for all sections, and the passages used are predetermined. Unlike the GRE, the difficulty of the test does not vary in response to your performance on it. That said, the grading on the exam is scaled; some questions are harder than others, and are worth more if you get them correct, or cause lower penalties if you miss them.

The test takes seven and a half hours in total. Scores are released after a period of approximately thirty days after taking the test. If you feel you are performing badly on the test, you may cancel it at any time during taking, or for a five minute period after you finish. The test will not be scored, and your results on it are not reported. 

You may take the MCAT a maximum of three times in a year, and a maximum of seven times in total. You may only register for a single testing date at once, and must wait two days after taking a test to register for another sitting. There is no cost to see your scores, or to send them to a medical school.

Accommodations

As with all other standardized tests, medical accommodations are available for the MCAT. AAMC has on how to apply for them. To sum it up: submit your requests early, be certain what accommodations you will need, and have documentation from a medical professional to submit supporting your request.

What the MCAT Covers

Overall, the MCAT is meant to test your knowledge of specific scientific concepts. This is a test of knowledge, focusing on the core concepts you will need in order to succeed in medical school. Each of the four sections covers slightly different material and concepts, and we’ll go over each in turn. 

Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems

This section, as the name suggests, covers how physics and chemistry provide the foundations for biological systems and interactions. Note that includes both stricter physics and chemistry questions, and questions which directly relate to biochemistry. You will also need an understanding of research methods and statistical analysis for this section.

Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills 

This section is one of the harder ones for many students, as it is the least content based, instead focusing on reading comprehension and passage analysis. Passages can come from a range of disciplines, and many will have no relation to science. The passages are generally chosen to be on topics unfamiliar to the reader, and may be biased. All of the information needed to answer the questions is in the passages, but deep analysis of the passages may be needed.

Biological and Biochemical Foundations of Living Systems

This section has some overlaps in material with Chemical and Physical Foundations. It mainly tests biology and biochemistry, but some questions also deal with organic and inorganic chemistry. Questions will cover biomolecules, biological processes in living systems, and research methods and statistics.

Psychological, Social and Biological Functions of Behavior

This section, as the name suggests, mainly tests concepts of psychology and sociology. The goal is to have you demonstrate an understanding of the behavioral and societal factors in health. Questions cover behavior, perceptions, and how cultural and societal differences influence health.

All of the sections besides the second are designed to make you work with concepts you have learned, and to test whether you can draw connections between related concepts. They also want to test your ability to draw conclusions and understand experiments. Some questions will require you to parse graphs and other figures, and to use the information in them to draw conclusions.

When to Take the MCAT

Most students take the MCAT during their junior year, usually in fall or winter. That said, when you should take it depends on when you plan on applying to medical school. You need to have your MCAT scores before you apply, both to understand your chances and to ensure your application is reviewed promptly when you submit it, without schools needing to wait for your scores. 

In general, we recommend taking the MCAT the year before you apply, studying in the fall and taking it in the winter. We recommend taking the test as few times as possible, and making sure you are well prepared before you sit for the exam. 

How to Prepare for the MCAT

The general concepts you will need to know for the MCAT will be covered by your science courses at college. Indeed, this knowledge is what is covered in the courses required to be a pre med student. Thus the first way you prepare for the MCAT is by mastering the material covered in these courses, specifically biology, physics, and chemistry.

Of course, you should also prepare for the MCAT itself. The MCAT is one of the most important components of your medical school application, and doing well is very important. You want to have a mastery of all of the concepts you will need, and familiarity with the format of the exam as well. 

There are of out there to help with content mastery, and we suggest you begin there. As with the SAT, you want to master the content covered by the questions first, because without that mastery, you can do nothing more than guess. Once you have done this though, we suggest moving on to testing strategy. 

The MCAT is a very long and involved test, and requires a measured approach. We suggest beginning with a solid study schedule, and a systematized approach to your preparations. This ensures you cover all the material you need to, and do so in time before the testing dates. The schedule can and should be altered if certain sections prove to be more or less challenging for you. 

We suggest taking full practice exams. This does not have to be constant, but does offer you the most accurate assessment of where you stand in terms of preparation, and what sections you need the most work on. It also lets you know where you stand in regards to timing, something many students struggle with. 

Finally, even as you are preparing, don’t let it consume all your time. You still have other coursework and obligations to take care of, and that includes an obligation to yourself. The risk of burnout is real, and is something to avoid. We recommend building days and times into your preparation for the MCAT to relax and blow off steam.

Do You Have to Take the MCAT?

Generally, yes, if you want to be a doctor. There are a few exceptions however. The primary one is BS/MD programs. Some of these programs will allow you to enroll directly in medical school without having to take the MCAT. Others, however, require you to take the MCAT, and score within a certain range, or at a certain percentile. There is no consistency in these programs on these requirements however, and you should research whatever program you join carefully to make sure of what you will need in regards to the MCAT. 

Final Thoughts

While applications to medical schools are holistic, considering many different factors, the two most important remain your undergraduate GPA and your scores on the MCAT. This single test is therefore a constant source of stress for students preparing for medical school, who must spend long hours studying and preparing for it. 
We hope this article has covered what you need to know about the test, when to take it, and how to go about preparing for it. This is a long process, and you don’t have to do it alone. If you want to hear how our test prep services can help you study for the MCAT, schedule a free consultation today. We’re always happy to hear from you.

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Extracurricular Hour Requirements for Pre Med Applicants

Here are the four main extracurriculars that medical schools look for, and the hour requirements for each:

Note that these hour requirements are over the course of four years of undergrad, or beyond if you are taking a gap year. Note that the more gap years you take, the more they will expect to see; medical schools expect you to make full use of the time you have. 

These are the general recommendations for the number of hours you spend. Top 20 medical schools expect even more from applicants, as you might expect. Here are the recommended hour requirements for these schools:

Caveats to These Hour Requirements

As with all recommended rules, there is a degree of nuance to these hour requirements. The first, and possibly most important, is that quality tends to be more important than quantity. What this means specifically is that spending a significant amount of time on one high quality research project or volunteering opportunity is better than spreading yourself across four or five different ones.

In part, this is because showing you can commit yourself to a single opportunity over a significant duration is good evidence you will be able to do the same again, and medical school is a significant time commitment. Working at something for a long time also gives you a chance to increase your involvement and responsibilities, and gain a more detailed understanding of what you are doing. Working in a lab for a year may see you doing some techniques; working there for four and you will have some expanded responsibilities. 

The next caveat is that shadowing should be spread across six or seven different physicians, and across multiple different specialties. This should be done so that you have a sense of which specialities in medicine you wish to pursue, and can speak to that. Finally, you should focus your shadowing on the kind of medical school you are applying to, allopathic or osteopathic. 

You should begin your involvements early in your college career, ideally as soon as you are setting foot on campus, but no later than spring of your freshman year. You can theoretically hit these hour requirements in a year or two, but this both risks burnout, and greatly lessens your ability to show long-term commitment. Medical schools prefer to see you start early, and then carry on throughout your undergraduate career. 

Finally, you should look for leadership roles in your involvements if possible. You can’t be president of every club of course, but you should look to take on responsibilities, and actively seek to improve the organizations you are part of. What this looks like will depend on the activity, but you should show a clear pattern of leadership. 

Hour Requirements and You

These requirements may seem daunting, and difficult to approach. They are extensive, and will require consistent and concerted effort on your part to achieve. Thus, we recommend that when you are making your plan for your time in college, you look not just at what courses you will take, but which extracurriculars you will involve yourself in. 

Colleges generally have a specific pre med advising office, to help students who intend to apply to medical school stay on track, and to connect them with opportunities (as an example, here’s ). You should use this to find opportunities on and around campus for clinical experiences and shadowing, and to get a sense of pre med student groups on campus. 

You should also begin delving into research opportunities on campus now, to see which ones fit your interests. Note that these do not need to be directly related to medicine (though they certainly can be), but should be in the sciences. Most labs on campus will take on undergraduate students, but these spots are often first-come, first served. If you see an opportunity you are particularly interested in, you can even reach out to the professor before you have even arrived on campus, to express your interest and see if you can contribute. 

Final Thoughts

Applying to medical school is always a challenge, especially since some of the requirements are simply assumed, rather than fully stated. Medical schools want you to have involved yourself in these extracurriculars, and do express that, but the exact amount of time they want is left vague, unless you happen to know ahead of time what they’re looking for.
An insider’s perspective is always helpful when it comes to preparing for and applying to medical school, and that’s exactly what working with łÔąĎąŮÍř gives you. Our mentors have a long experience helping students apply to medical schools, and know exactly what admissions wants to see from you. Schedule a free consultation today to learn how we can make your life easier; we’re always happy to hear from you.

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We’ve also taken time to cover some exciting BS/MD opportunities before, and today we’re going to do that again, looking at program. We’re going to cover what this program is, how it works, and how you can apply. We’ll also discuss whether or not it’s the right choice for you, and some other joint degree programs Tulane offers. Let’s get started!

This is an automatic acceptance program; students who enroll in Tulane and meet the requirements of the program for their full four years of undergrad are automatically enrolled in Tulane’s School of Medicine. They do still need to fill out an application and take the MCAT, but these are formalities.

The program has the following requirements to remain eligible:

• They must maintain an overall GPA and a science GPA of 3.5 or above. This is the primary requirement of the program.
• They must take two semesters each of general biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, and general physics.

It is expected, but not required, that students will also partake in the standard pre-med activities; gaining research experience, working in a clinical setting, volunteering, and generally honing the hard and soft skills they will need in medical school. While these are not strictly required for admission, it will only help you in the long run to do these things. 

We will discuss admissions requirements more in the next section. This program, like all pre med programs, coordinates best with a major in the sciences, but you may major in any subject at Tulane. You are still expected to complete the full pre-med track of courses at Tulane.

Unlike some programs, this one does not shorten your time in school at all. There is also no direct financial benefit from enrolling in this program; the primary benefit is the guaranteed admission to medical school, which is quite good. 

How to Apply to Tulane’s Pathway to Medicine

Unlike many BS/MD programs which are open to applications broadly, Tulane’s program is only open by invitation. They review applications they receive, and then send out invitations to apply solely to students who they believe would be a good fit for the program. These invitations are sent out in January, and are based on applications reviewed to that point. This means that in order to be considered for this program at all, you need to apply to Tulane early action or early decision. (For more on how those programs work, see our article here).

In order to be considered for this program, you must have selected your primary major interest in one of the sciences, engineering, or public health, or indicated interest in the pre-medicine or pre-health track. Their goal is to only consider students for this program who seem likely to go to medical school. It is possible to major in a subject outside of these (or pursue a double major), but you should apply as one of these majors if you want to be considered. There is no separate interest form you may fill out to indicate interest in this program.

There are no firm academic requirements, but students selected show a strong record of academic performance. These include scores of 1540+ on the SAT, or 35+ on the ACT (though Tulane notes that students who apply test-optional are also considered for the program). 

Once finalists are selected and notified, they are interviewed directly by the Tulane School of Medicine. This interview is facilitated by Tulane Admissions, but as with most BS/MD interviews, is carried out by the medical school, and more closely resembles a medical school interview than a standard undergraduate one. For more information on how these interviews are conducted, and the kinds of questions they ask, see our article here. 

If you are admitted, you are required to enroll immediately in Tulane as a freshman; you may not defer your acceptance to take a gap year. This program is also only open to freshmen applicants, transfer students are not eligible for this program. 

Tulane’s Other Joint Degree Programs

Pathway to Medicine is not Tulane’s only joint degree program worth noting. These other programs may also appeal to you, or have other benefits. 

This is an early assurance program for medical school. These allow students to gain acceptance to medical school early, but not while applying as freshmen. Instead, this program is open to current Tulane students in the School of Liberal arts who want to apply to medical school. Specifically, this is for students who want to major in humanities, arts, or social sciences while still pursuing a pre-med course of studies. 

You must apply to this program in the spring of your sophomore year. The program has the following eligibility requirements if you want to apply:

• Have a GPA of 3.6 or above
• Complete 60 credits of work by the end of sophomore year (or rather be on track to do so when you apply)
• Complete the course requirements with a B- or better in each; these may be taken at Tulane, over the summer, or as transfer credit from another institution (though transfer students are not eligible to apply).
  • General biology with lab
  • General chemistry with lab
  • Organic chemistry with lab
  • Physics with lab
• Plan to earn a BA or a BFA in the School of Liberal Arts. Students majoring in the Business School, Engineering School, School of Science, or School of Public Health may not apply for this program (though you may if you are minoring in one of those schools).

These are minimum requirements to be eligible; simply meeting them does not guarantee you will be accepted to this program. If you have completed more than two years of undergraduate coursework, or have transferred into Tulane from another school, then you are ineligible to apply to this program.

Applications must be submitted to the pre-health office by April 1st. The application requires the following components: 

• Two waivers, to allow the admissions officers to access confidential documents and evaluations. 
• Two letters of recommendation, one from a science professor and one from a non-science professor. 
• A resume
• The application form; this requires answers to the following essay questions:
  • Write about an activity, job, or volunteer experience that best reflects you as a person.
  • If you had to choose an honors project today, what would it be?
  • What is a creative medical scholar? How are you exemplary of your definition?
  • If you could invent any course of study for yourself, what would it be? What would be its mission and goals? How would you know if you’ve reached them?
  • What do doctors do?
  • This wraps up your application to Tulane Medical School. What else would you like the selection committee to know about your application?

Top ranking candidates are invited to interview with the committee at the end of April. Students who are selected for this program are notified by mid-June. If you are selected, you must carry 15 credits per semester, and maintain a 3.6 GPA. You are also required to complete an honors thesis during your senior year.

This is a program for eligible Tulane students; during their junior year they apply for admission to Tulane Law School. During what would be their senior year, they begin taking law courses alongside their standard courseload; they receive their BA or BS at the end of this year, then go on to complete their Juris Doctorate. 

This does still require a standard application to the Tulane Law School; there is no special form required. You do need approval from your college advisor in order to be able to apply for this program. 

Are These Programs Right for You?

These are three different programs, aimed at three different kinds of students. That said, they all offer a similar benefit; getting into graduate school early, and being sure of a place there. Since the application process for graduate school is quite difficult, and quite competitive, getting an early assurance of admission is something many students will benefit from, just as a way to reduce stress. 

If you are interested in medical school, then this may be a good choice for you. Due to the nature of the program however, we only recommend it if Tulane is one of your top choice schools anyway. Because early decision programs lock you into attending a school if you are admitted, and the program only admits students by invitation, there is even less of a way to know your acceptance odds than at other schools. 

If you want to consider this program, but don’t want to be locked into attending Tulane, then we recommend applying Early Action. This can also allow you to apply to a large number of other BS/MD programs, and not be locked into attending Tulane. The other programs are worth considering if you want to pursue these graduate options, and also have Tulane as one of your top choice schools. 

Final Thoughts

We’ve written before about how you can gain early access to medical school; through both BS/MD programs and early assurance programs. These are great options to avoid the stress that comes from applying to medical school, and can be a great choice if you are already certain of your desire to become a doctor. 

We hope that this article has given you full insight into how this program at Tulane works, and who will benefit from taking part in it. As with all BS/MD programs, this is very competitive for admissions, even if they are only looking at your Tulane application. If you are looking for help with this application, or in finding the right BS/MD program to match your needs, then łÔąĎąŮÍř can help. We have a long history of helping students along the road to medical school; schedule a free consultation today to learn how we can assist you. 

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One thing you can do during this wait is send letters to admissions officers, but what these letters are, when you should send them, and what they should contain varies. In this article, we’re going to examine letters of intent, letters of interest, and update letters, and explain how you should use each. Let’s get started!

Letters of Interest vs Letters of Intent

The fact that both of these abbreviates as LOI adds to the confusion for students, but these are very different letters, and should be used in different circumstances. Both can and should act as update letters, letting admissions officers know what you’ve been up to since you originally submitted your application. 

Letters of Intent

A letter of intent is, as the name implies, a letter you send to a medical school to indicate that you will attend there if you are admitted, and to clearly state that they are your first choice school. While these letters are not legally binding, we still suggest you only send a letter of intent to only one school. Telling more than one that you will attend if admitted leads to an awkward situation if both admit you. This is generally considered bad form.

You should send a letter of intent after you are interviewed, but before you hear back (if it’s been a month or more), or after you are placed on a waitlist. This letter should express the following clearly:

• That this is your first choice school, and that you will attend if admitted. Medical schools care about yield, and they enjoy clear signals such as this. 
• Any updates to your extracurriculars since you last contacted them. You should only include substantial updates, such as if you published or presented research.
• An expression of thanks for considering your application. This shouldn’t be effusive, but should clearly express your appreciation. 
• You should express all of this in around a single page; more words does not a better letter make.

Remember that not all schools accept letters of intent; make sure any schools you contact do before sending one. Schools have different means of accepting these letters as well; via email or their web portals, and only certain file types accepted. Make sure you meet all of their requirements when sending your letter.

If a school explicitly says they don’t accept letters of intent, don’t just send one anyway. If their policy is unclear however, due to vague phrasing on their site, call the admissions office and check. The worst they can say is no.

Are Letters of Intent Legally Binding?

As we mentioned above, letters of intent are not legally binding; and technically you are free to send one to multiple schools. That said, ethics is a major part of being a doctor, and while sending letters to multiple schools is not illegal, it is ethically dubious at best. Send a letter of intent to only one school; send letters of interest to the rest.

Letters of Interest

A letter of interest is, as it sounds like, a letter you send to medical schools to express your continued interest in attending if you are accepted. You can send these to any medical schools you are interested in; unlike letters of intent, there is nothing wrong with sending these letters to many schools. We do caution that these letters should only go to schools you would attend if admitted, but if you built your list well, then that will be true of every school you applied to. 

Generally, you should send a letter of interest after you’ve had your interview; whether you’ve been placed on the waitlist or not. Schools like to know you’re still interested, and while these aren’t quite as much of a commitment as a letter of intent, admissions officers will still make note of them. 

These letters should generally contain the following:

• A clear statement of your interest in the medical school. This should ideally be backed up with a brief discussion of why, and how their program fits your interests. 
• Any substantial updates on activities you are involved with. You don’t need to include minutia, only things which are notable. 
• An expression of thanks for their time and consideration of your application. This is just good manners to include.
• These letters should be around a page long; any longer and you want to look at what you’re including, and whether it’s really necessary or relevant.

Not all schools accept letters of continued interest; check before sending them whether a medical school will accept them, and if so, how you should submit it. While you can use the same general outline for the letters you send to each school, these should be personalized. Just as with your essays, you can reuse most of the work, but change the details to be specific to individual schools and programs.

How Much Do These Letters Matter?

This is a topic which is hotly debated by students, mostly due to the opacity of medical school admissions. There are persistent rumors that these letters do nothing, and are discarded unread, or the reverse, that these letters can and do provide a significant boost to your application chances. 

Sadly, it is impossible to do a proper double-blind study on the effects of letters of interest and intent on your chances of medical school acceptance. From experience though, it seems that while sending these letters may not always help, not sending them can be a detriment. 

Medical schools care about their yield, and want to admit students who are eager to attend. The clearest way to signal your continued interest is by sending one of these letters; not doing so may lead medical schools to question whether you’ve lost interest, and to consider other candidates. 

This does not mean you should send letters endlessly; generally one letter is enough. Some students are tempted to send further letters to their top choice schools, but this is rarely worth the effort. Generally, these will serve no purpose. 

In some limited cases, you will have extracurricular accomplishments significant enough to justify sending further letters to schools. While there are exceptions, generally the following qualify for this:

• Academic updates where you have majorly improved your GPA, or fulfilled prerequisites for entering that medical school.
• Research updates, such as publications or presentations. Acceptance to publish or present counts as well; since these are long processes they may not be fully resolved in time for an update otherwise.
• If you are promoted in a job which is related to healthcare, giving you more experience in the field.
• Other significant updates; getting awarded a major scholarship or other accolade, for example. 

Beginning a new activity, such as a research project or clinical job is generally not worth an update on its own. These can be included alongside the more major ones listed above, of course. The exception is if you were lacking in one of these areas when you initially applied; see our article on activities for medical school to see how these institutions want to see you spending your time. 

Your first letter of interest or intent can be sent without major updates, but secondary letters should not be sent without something significant to share. 

Final Thoughts

Medical school applications are a long and involved process, and the work sadly isn’t over when you hit submit. That said, we do find that doing something is infinitely better than the wait to hear back. In either case, we hope that this article has given you a solid introduction to letters of interest and intent, and let you know how you can best compose and use both in your medical school applications. 

Of course, composing the perfect letter can be difficult, as can knowing what to include. Each situation is different after all, with its own quirks and concerns. If you want to discuss your own letters with us, or any other aspect of the medical school admissions process, schedule a free consultation today. We’re always happy to hear from you.

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