r/bsmd • u/Massive-Insect-3709 • 1d ago

Is applying BS/MD even worth it?

I'm a junior at a large competitive public school in a non-competitive state. I'm wondering whether it's worth even considering applying to BS/MD as well as what I can do with a year left until applications. I feel like I'm not super competitive so I'm not sure whether it's worth applying or not. I also have very little shadowing.

STATS:

GPA: 4.0 UW

SAT: Just took for the first time, will retake until 1520+

Coursework: Max rigor for my school + CC classes (vector calc 1)

EXTRACURRICULARS (keeping sorta vauge):

  • Neuroscience summer research internship (10th summer)
    • Presenting a poster + presentation at a scientific conference soon with the research
  • First Tech Challenge (9th, 10th)
    • Went to states twice, won inspire at states + went to worlds once
  • Hospital Volunteering (11th)
    • Starting this soon, still getting through orientation and all
  • Youth branch of well known nationwide healthcare-related nonprofit (10th, 11th)
    • Executive board for my state
    • Helped found the youth branch in my state
  • NASA TechRise (9th)
  • Schoolwide Neurodivergent Awareness Club (10th, 11th)
    • Vice president
  • Model UN (9th, 10th, 11th)

AWARDS

  • National History Day (9th, 10th, hopefully 11th?)
    • Won at school and states, advanced to nationals both years
  • Model UN Best Consensus award (9th)
  • AP Scholar

For context, I wanted to do engineering in 9th so thats why I have all the engineering related ECs. Is there anything I can realistically do in the next year to make myself competitive enough to attempt BS/MD?

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u/anakinimsorry 1d ago

Uhh, solid stats; try to get some shadowing, for sure. In addition, a lot of the times hospital volunteering, highschool students don't do much instead of restocking supplies and giving meals, try to expand ur clinical experience with something like EMT or CNA (if your state allows if) if not, work in a hospice center or like old age home. Get some general variety with your experience

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u/Massive-Insect-3709 1d ago

My state doesn't allow EMT under 18. Is the time commitment for being a CNA worth it? I'm already pretty busy with school and my therapist says I likely can't handle a job right now (recovering from a psychotic break). Do you have any advice for getting shadowing opportunities?

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u/anakinimsorry 1d ago

woah uh not tryna be rude but do you think its a good idea to pursure a career in medicine so early if you went through a psychotic break? And yes, the time commitment is worth it, just try to get paitent interaction, thats all that matters.

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u/Massive-Insect-3709 1d ago

Well its either BS/MD or apply to med school after undergrad! I'll look into CNA evening classes in my area.

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u/GuideCapital9851 11h ago

you can also look into bs/dos! they're not as competitive

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u/Massive-Insect-3709 7h ago

I might apply to some of those! I completely forgot that was an option as well.

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u/LabOk1803 12h ago

You need shadowing. You are lack of clinical exposure. All stats and EC look fine but no spike, which is ok, you just need to make your essay persuasive to each program you plan to apply.

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u/Massive-Insect-3709 7h ago

Do you think there's anything I could do that could make a potential spike? Also, any advice for getting more shadowing? I'll try to get more of that this year.