Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
2007-2008
General Information
1.
What are the goals of the BA/MD Program?
-
There are two main goals of this program:
I. Help address the critical physician shortage in the state
by providing educational opportunity to those
students who are most likely to return to the state to practice
medicine. (The majority of NM counties are federally designated
as being medically underserved.)
II.
Provide a greater diversity of students trained as physicians.
*(See
School of Medicine (SOM)
Admission Policy)
-
Students who accept a position in the BA/MD
program are required to attend the UNM School of Medicine and to
sign a Statement of Commitment to these goals.
2. How long is the BA/MD Program?
-
Most students will complete the undergraduate
program in four years. (However, accommodations may be possible for
those who finish in three.)
-
Medical school portion is four years.
3.
Once accepted into the UNM BA/MD program, are students
allowed to apply to other medical schools?
-
No; students are required to sign a Statement
of Commitment to attend UNM School of Medicine.
4.
How many spots are available?
-
Twenty-eight
-
An applicant waitlist remains active until the
first day of the UNM fall semester.
5.
Can I transfer into the BA/MD Degree Program?
-
Given the specialized curriculum of this
program, we cannot accept students from other two or four year
institutions.
6.
What are the benefits of the BA/MD Degree Program?
-
Supportive undergraduate experience that
offers opportunities and seminars specifically designed for BA/MD
students.
-
Reserved seat at the UNM School of Medicine –
consistently recognized by US News & World Report as one of the top-ranked programs in
that nation.
-
Unique degree program that addresses the
healthcare needs of New Mexico.
Admission
7.
What is the application deadline?
-
BA/MD application must be submitted by
November 15 at midnight.
-
Application materials (i.e. 6th
semester transcript, ACT or SAT scores, letters of recommendation)
must be postmarked or submitted electronically by November 15.
-
Applicants must also complete a UNM
Admissions
application
and Scholarship application
by November 15.
-
This program is only open to Current New Mexico
high school seniors planning to begin college in the fall of
their graduation year.
8. Do I need my ACT or SAT scores turned in by November 15?
-
Yes, applicants must have taken their ACT or
SAT tests prior to November 15 in order to be considered for
BA/MD Program. Late scores (i.e. from tests taken after 11/15)
will not be accepted.
9.
What factors are considered for acceptance to the program?
-
The Combined BA/MD Degree Program considers
all aspects of an applicants background, experience and academic
progress including:
-
Admittance to the University of New Mexico
-
Submission of a UNM Incoming Freshman Scholarship
Application (by Nov. 15th )
-
Academic excellence (Demonstrated by a ranking in the top
15% of the senior class and a Math ACT sub-score of 22 or Math SAT
sub-score of 510 or higher)
-
Commitment to practice medicine in New Mexico
-
Honors and Awards
-
Extracurricular activities
-
Letters of Recommendation
-
Personal statement
-
Interview for final candidates
10.
What
classes should I have taken in high school?
-
Take as much math and science as possible.
(Students must be ready to take Math 121 which is college algebra or
higher.)
-
For high school juniors: It’s important to
take challenging courses.
11.
Will
there be interviews?
-
The BA/MD Admissions Committee will select top
applicants to be interviewed in January – March of the admission
year.
-
Final decisions will be made by the first week
of April.
Undergraduate Curriculum
12.
What
are my undergraduate degree options?
-
There are three options available
I.
Arts & Science Major (choice of any major, i.e.
Biology, English,
Anthropology …)
II.
Pre-Medicine Major with a Health, Humanities and
Society
concentration
III.
Pre-Medicine Major with a Biomedical Sciences
concentration
13.
Do I
have the option to earn a Bachelor of Science degree?
-
Yes, with Option I and coordinating with the
BA/MD Advisor.
14.
Do I have to take the MCAT?
- Yes, all admission requirements of the UNM
School of Medicine must also be met by the BA/MD Program students.
- The minimal acceptable levels
are an undergraduate GPAof 3.0, with a C or better in all prerequisite
course work, plus a total numerical score of 22 on the MCAT examination.
- Curriculum for the BA/MD students includes an MCAT prep
course to prepare them for the test.
Student Support Services
15. Are there scholarship and financial aid
packages available?
-
Yes, during the undergraduate portion of the
program. Students are required to apply for the UNM incoming
freshman scholarships and any additional scholarships for which they
are qualified. All students must fill out the FAFSA application.
Once their scholarship and financial aid package is known,
additional BA/MD funding will be added to cover the students’
“basic” educational undergraduate costs (i.e. – tuition, fees, book
allowance, and housing). This funding total does not include
extra/spending money.
-
Medical school costs are not part of the BA/MD
scholarship and financial aid package.
16. Will BA/MD students be required to live
on campus?
-
Students live on campus (in the same dorm) for
their first two years.
17.
Who
will be my mentor?
-
A School of Medicine faculty member is
assigned to each BA/MD student.
18. May I participate in extracurricular
activities in college?
-
Yes! While the curriculum will be
challenging, we want students to have a fun and engaging
undergraduate experience.
19.
May
I work?
-
Students in their 1st year are not
allowed to work.
-
Students may be required to work in subsequent
years as part of their financial aid package.
20. What
kind of support services are provided?
-
Academic Advisor specifically assigned to
BA/MD students.
-
Faculty mentoring.
-
Specialized tutoring and supplemental learning
through Center Academic Program Support.
-
Seminars open exclusively to BA/MD students.
-
M-CAT preparation course.
Medical Education:
21. Will
I be required to do my medical residency training in
New Mexico?
-
Students will be encouraged to apply for
residency in New Mexico, but it is not required.
22.
Is
there a required medical specialty?
-
Students are allowed to pursue any area of
medicine that interests them.
23.
How
long do I have to practice medicine in NM after
I finish residency?
-
The goal of the program is to find students
that are committed to staying in NM to practice medicine,
particularly in the rural and/or medically underserved communities.
Revised
11.30.07
Web-Author Michelle Durham
