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Insider Updates from BS/MD Program Representatives

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BS/MD Summer Intensive Workshop | Registration June 27–30th, 2025 ​ Register Now

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Good morning students and parents,

Our advising team just returned from two major higher-education admissions conferences, where we met one-on-one with representatives from several combined-degree programs. Below is a short briefing on some of the important BS/MD trends and school-specific changes for the 2025–26 cycle. Feel free to share with friends who may find this helpful!

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For a comprehensive, detailed breakdown of all updated requirements for each BS/MD and BS/DO program in the country, we maintain a complete spreadsheet for students enrolled in our one-on-one BS/MD advising services.

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What Colleges Privately Track for “Demonstrated Interest”

Metrics Schools Report Tracking:

• Log-ins to your application portal
• Every click in institution-run emails/newsletters
• Time spent on program webpages

School-by-School Updates

George Washington University (GW) – BA/MD

• Applicant Pool: ~1,000–1,200
• Selectivity: 20 interviews → 10-15 admits → ~10-12 matriculants
• Key Takeaways:
  • Authentic patient-facing service is stronger than just “stacking" research abstracts
  • Demonstrated global & community health engagement; most successful applicants have significant clinical exposure abroad or locally
  • Geographic yield bias toward the Northeast (DC/Mid-Atlantic proximity)

Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) – PPSP

• Class Size Cut in Half: Moving from 10-15 admits to just 5–6 per year. Contact our team to learn why.
• Interviews: Down to roughly 20–30 for ~3,000 applicants.
• Rep’s advice: “Stop trying to be the perfect pre-med. Be a great high school student.” You can position yourself most effectively by demonstrating your unique personality and genuine community impact, not résumé padding.

Penn State – PMM (Premedical-Medical)

• Standardized Tests are Back: SAT/ACT required again for this cycle.
• Key Date: Application must be submitted by October 14, 2025.

Temple University – Medical Scholars Program

• No substantive updates reported; policies remain consistent with last year.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) – Physician-Scientist Program

• No substantive updates reported; policies remain consistent with last year.

University of Cincinnati – Connections Dual Admissions Program

• No substantive updates reported; policies remain consistent with last year.

Key Takeaways for Applicants

1. Depth over breadth. Every representative reiterated that long activity lists without meaningful reflection do not impress. Highlight the human story behind your service and research experiences.
2. Leverage official channels. Because Slate/Salesforce log every internal click, treat the portal and college-branded emails as part of your application.
3. Global/Community Health is heavily valued. Especially at GW and other urban med schools, real-world exposure to underserved communities carries weight.
4. Testing continues to matter. For Penn State (and likely others soon), a return to requiring SAT/ACT scores follows the importance of excelling in these exams. Contact our team to learn about our few trusted SAT/ACT coaching partners.

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Action Items This Month

We'll continue to relay details as programs finalize their 2025–26 instructions, for students enrolled in our one-on-one BS/MD advising services. If you have questions or are looking for one-on-one strategy support, reply to this email or book an initial call with our BS/MD coaching team.

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Yours in success,

Rishi Ray

Outperform BS/MD Coaching

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Our team at Outperform BS/MD Coaching is dedicated to guiding you through the BS/MD application process. Schedule a free 15-minute consultation to discuss strategies tailored to your unique situation.