Brown PLME vs Columbia University (premed)

[doc_cm]

Hello all, I know that I would like to become a physician in the future and hopefully specialize. I am having a hard time deciding between Brown's Program in Liberal Medical Education (PLME) (8 year combined bachelors/MD) and Columbia University (premed).

I slightly prefer Columbia's undergrad program, but it might be harder to get a high GPA at Columbia due to grade deflation. With Brown, I am guaranteed a spot at Alpert Medical School, no MCAT, only requirement is to get a 3.0 or higher in two biology classes, and to take 2 semesters of inorganic chemistry, physics, and 1 semester or organic chemistry (these ones can be taken credit no credit). No scholarship for either.

Is it unwise to think about shooting higher for med schools and forgo a (virtually) guaranteed admission?

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[neuro1122]

PLME is one of the top BS/MD programs in the country. Go with Brown. If you decide against medicine, you will still have a ivy league brand name to leverage for job opportunities.

 

[longhaul3]

That's a pretty sweet deal. I am a BS/MD hater in general, especially for people who get into top undergrads, but Brown seems like the way to go here. Brown is a much better med school than most BS/MD programs offer. You won't really be limited by going there, and whatever minor limitations you would face compared to a top 10-20 school are nothing compared to the risk of not even getting into med school as a regular applicant.

 

[TBD3699]

Columbia. You will get a better undergrad education and, if you are serious, you will get into a far more competitive medical school. Just research the Columbia pre-med website and look at the medical schools they get into.