BA/MD programs: UCSD's vs NU's

[littlelimabean]

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So, a family friend has gotten into both UCSD's 8 yr BA/MD program, and Northewestern's 7 yr BA/MD program.
Can anyone give pros and cons to each, and what factors to take into consideration and what to recommend?

I heard UCSD med is extremely challenging (some story about a girl who went there and came out with white hair), but challenging is all relative. Plus it's in Cali, and is cheaper for instate.

NU's is a yr shorter, but it is a private school, so will be hundreds of thousands dollars more expensive...

 

[Newquagmire]

from the little i know about it, a plus (or minus, if you're worried about the reality of the boards) about ucsd's program is that you don't have to take the mcat. any major you want, any course of study, as long as you spend 4 years before med school and get above a 3.5. i hear there's a guy who finished his ugrad in 3 years and spent a year abroad for fun.