UCSD's Undergraduate Medical Scholars Program

[Chuck1234]

I just got the invitation letter. They ask me to apply this program.

Did anyone get it?

If you get accepted in this program as a undergraduate freshman, UCSD Medical school is guaranteed without MCAT test upon finishing undergraduate. I didn't even know UCSD offers such program.

Note: UCSD is University of California, San Diego.

 

[AgentEL]

wow, if its real, that's such an awesome program. it's so hard to get into med school.

MCATs aren't even considered at all?

what are other req's?

 

[theNEOone]

Dood, what kind of med school accepts you w/o even checking out your mcat scores?

 

[Zebo]

The carriban schools don't care either. I would be very careful of a school like this come matchtime. you may end up intering as a GP for 3 years in the bronx.

 

[HokieESM]

Originally posted by: Chuck1234
I just got the invitation letter. They ask me to apply this program.

Did anyone get it?

If you get accepted in this program as a undergraduate freshman, UCSD Medical school is guaranteed without MCAT test upon finishing undergraduate. I didn't even know UCSD offers such program.

Note: UCSD is University of California, San Diego.

I would just check around. It might be a NEW program, and they're trying to attract people by offering not to take the MCAT (although, I will say, it wasn't nearly as hard as I thought it would be). But they might be VERY selective on other things... note that they just asked you to APPLY. Check into it!

 

[SubZeroX]

dude they don't require MCAT but you need to maintain a 3.5 (it could be higher...maybe 3.7, not sure) or something your entire undergrad career. That is pretty damn hard! Getting an "A" in any class in the sciences is pretty hard. I know coz I've been through it all. Imagine the pressure...if you don't get an A in just about every single class you're out of the program. I don't think I can handle that.

Heh, as a matter of fact, I'm at a Caribbean med school right now.

 

[glen]

Originally posted by: theNEOone
Dood, what kind of med school accepts you w/o even checking out your mcat scores?

Most American school have a program that does this.

 

[Chuck1234]

Originally posted by: theNEOone
Dood, what kind of med school accepts you w/o even checking out your mcat scores?

According to their letter, "During their undergraduate years, the medical scholars will be integrated into the medical school environment, with opportunity to attend specual lectures and classes, and participate in research with medical school faculty."

UCSD Med school is an excellent school. It is well known medical school.

Minimum academic requirements: SAT >= 1450 and GPA >= 4.0

 

[SubZeroX]

Originally posted by: Chuck1234

Originally posted by: theNEOone
Dood, what kind of med school accepts you w/o even checking out your mcat scores?

According to their letter, "During their undergraduate years, the medical scholars will be integrated into the medical school environment, with opportunity to attend specual lectures and classes, and participate in research with medical school faculty."

UCSD Med school is an excellent school. It is well known medical school.

Minimum academic requirements: SAT >= 1450 and GPA >= 4.0

Having a 4.0 and 1450 is not a big problem for high school students. Almost everyone single one of my classmates had those credentials when I was an undergrad. I'll say it again, once you're in, it's the undergrad work that is the hard part.

 

[weezergirl]

I would def. go for the program. Worse thing that can happen is you drop out of the program and have to apply to med school the normal way. I've heard of these programs though....they are usually very tough and about 70% don't make it to the end! UCSD is a highly respectable med school so i wouldn't worry about that.

 

[HokieESM]

Originally posted by: Chuck1234

Originally posted by: theNEOone
Dood, what kind of med school accepts you w/o even checking out your mcat scores?

According to their letter, "During their undergraduate years, the medical scholars will be integrated into the medical school environment, with opportunity to attend specual lectures and classes, and participate in research with medical school faculty."

UCSD Med school is an excellent school. It is well known medical school.

Minimum academic requirements: SAT >= 1450 and GPA >= 4.0

Aaaah... I thought you got this letter completely unsolicited. You GO to UCSD. This is relatively common--several schools do this: recruit undergraduates who they think MIGHT make it in med school--and run them through THEIR faculty and specialty courses--and "filter" them early. They can find out who will probably succeed earlier (med school is hard to get into; but a lot of people wash out in the first year or so, also).

If you're REALLY interested in medicine, it might not be a bad idea. It also gives you an "out" if you find out that you dont' want to go to med school--you can always leave the program and pursue a different major (as opposed to majoring in Pre-Med, getting into med school, washing out, and really being in trouble. )

 

[McPhreak]

When I was applying to undergrads, I got accepted on scholarship to the UC Riverside/UCLA joint 7-year Med program where you go to UCR for 3 years and then get transferred automatically to UCLA Med School and finish in 7 years total. Then I looked at the requirements: had to maintain a 3.5 GPA, had to submit a weekly progress report, had to attend these stupid weekly meetings. After a little thought, I suddenly realized that I was fvcked if I decided not to pursue med school (I'd be stuck in UCR fer God's sake! Sorry to those folks already in attendence. ) So decided on just going to UCB instead as a "regular" undergrad. Best choice I've ever made in my life.

 

[Chuck1234]

Originally posted by: HokieESM

Originally posted by: Chuck1234

Minimum academic requirements: SAT >= 1450 and GPA >= 4.0

Aaaah... I thought you got this letter completely unsolicited. You GO to UCSD. This is relatively common--several schools do this: recruit undergraduates who they think MIGHT make it in med school--and run them through THEIR faculty and specialty courses--and "filter" them early. They can find out who will probably succeed earlier (med school is hard to get into; but a lot of people wash out in the first year or so, also).

If you're REALLY interested in medicine, it might not be a bad idea. It also gives you an "out" if you find out that you dont' want to go to med school--you can always leave the program and pursue a different major (as opposed to majoring in Pre-Med, getting into med school, washing out, and really being in trouble. )

Yes, I did apply UCSD along with Berkeley, UCLA, and USC. I already got accepted by USC. I have to go UCSD if I go with this program. I might not want to go UCSD unless they give me full scholarship. But with this program, I could save lots of money (compare to private schools) and go to UCSD med school without MCAT. I have to think it over. I have to apply by end of March, interview with Med. faculty in early April, and notified in middle of April.

 

[SUBxWRX]

only like 12 people get in I believe out of a pool of 2000............ 2 people from my school out of the 10-12 got into it last year.

 

[fizmeister]

Originally posted by: Chuck1234
I just got the invitation letter. They ask me to apply this program.

Did anyone get it?

If you get accepted in this program as a undergraduate freshman, UCSD Medical school is guaranteed without MCAT test upon finishing undergraduate. I didn't even know UCSD offers such program.

Note: UCSD is University of California, San Diego.

That's awesome. I'd take it. There are people here at Rice who are in the Rice/Baylor program that turned down Yale, Stanford, Harvard, MIT, etc. to be here for that reason alone (of course, this is the best of the medical scholars program, because it gauruntees you admission to a top 10 med school, unlike any of the other ones; i think the closest other one is the Brown University PLME...but, then, you're still a doctor no matter where you go).

I'd take it, if I was interested in being pre-med. Although I'm surprised they specifically invited you (admissions are so competitive to some of these programs, that even 1600 SAT scorers get rejected; to be invited should mean you have something special in your app).

Good luck!

 

[Chuck1234]

Originally posted by: fizmeister


That's awesome. I'd take it. There are people here at Rice who are in the Rice/Baylor program that turned down Yale, Stanford, Harvard, MIT, etc. to be here for that reason alone (of course, this is the best of the medical scholars program, because it gauruntees you admission to a top 10 med school, unlike any of the other ones; i think the closest other one is the Brown University PLME...but, then, you're still a doctor no matter where you go).

I'd take it, if I was interested in being pre-med. Although I'm surprised they specifically invited you (admissions are so competitive to some of these programs, that even 1600 SAT scorers get rejected; to be invited should mean you have something special in your app).

Good luck!

I called the UCSD Med school admission office to find out more. They said they got the names from the UCSD undergraduate and just sent invitation letter to everyone in the list. The list was strictly based on GPA and SAT scores. So I wasn't any special to anyone next to me. I asked how many applied last year. They said total around 400 applied and they selected 23 for interview, then selected 12 out of 23. This is crazy.. But I am going to give it a shot. Requires social science AND science teachers' recommendation along with personal essay. wish me luck.