BS/MD program vs Top colleges

[medicaldoc]

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So, I am stuck in a tough decision between a bs/md program and harvard, stanford, and MIT. I have made pros and cons for each and am thinking really hard about it right now. Ultimately, my life goal is to become a doctor, politician, businessman, live a happy life, and better the society for myself and others. I don't want to work so hard to the point of burning out, but I want to be challenged to grow. My work ethic sucks right now, but I think college will be a great time to really "find" myself and figure out my real strengths and weaknesses.

I am not extremely bright, but am fairly smart and have the potential to do much more by working hard. Academics was definitely not my STRONGEST point in high school (33 ACT, nothing big). So, please take that into consideration: I am no math, science genius. I work hard, but really love to get involved with stuff besides academics, although I am seeing I will have to switch up my gears a bit for college.


The BS/MD program is a 8-year program at Union College with Albany Medical College.

Requirements of the program:

-Maintain3.5 GPA every trimester. If unable to, student will be placed on probation for 2 trimesters and failure to bring it up with remove student from program.
-MUST major in Biology or Chemistry.
-MUST also do an interdepartmental major in the humanities or social sciences.
-MUST do a masters in science or MBA in the summer after sophomore and junior years through Union Graduate School. (Financial aid will cover MS courses).
-MUST go on a term abroad.


-NO MCAT required (I feel this is pretty big)
-cannot apply out of the program without losing medical school seat.

-I will be in about 20K - 30K in debt after graduating from Union College, assuming I get no other outside scholarships (which I might, so maybe the debt will be around 20K)


HARVARD or MIT, Stanford

-Awesome opportunities

-Even though I am 99% set on medicine, it will allow me to pursue my other passions like politics and business to a larger extent. Union College will allow me to do the same, but at Harvard there will be more internship opportunities.

-I will not have to major in Bio or Chem unlike at Union College (even tho I am probably going to major in Chem).

-I will have the true college experienece in a lively city.

-I liked the campus, but didn't LOVE it.

-90% of premeds get into medical school..

-If I decide to take some time off between med school and undergrad, I can expect to land great jobs and make a true difference in society.

-Practically Full Ride (cost me 2K a year)


Im in need of some advice from fellow high school, college, and medical students, even doctors etc.....

Should I take a guaranteed acceptance to Albany Medical College or go to one of the top colleges (Harvard, Stanford or MIT) and pursue pre-med, explore interests, have fun, learn to live, live to grow and thrive, and work as hard as I can to make it into "a" medical school (note: I aim to only get into a medical school, I dont care about getting into top 10 med school).

I feel like I will have a ton of stress at Harvard or Stanford, MIT, but less so at Union BS/MS/MD. I will know that I am already into medical school. But then again, I dont want to be in 20K debt when I can go somewhere amazing for free.........so, I am very stuck and since you pre-meds are/have gone through this, please give me some advice.

 

[Pills Of Soap]

This is a super tough. A lot of people will say do the bs/md and save time, stress, blah blah blah etc.

But I think going to a 4 year college def has it perks. I personally wouldn't trade my college experience for anything. It was just too much fun 😀

 

[TreeOfSouls]

From what you've said, I'd stick with Union College. You said yourself that your work ethic isn't great... and, while you might get really motivated in college, you might not. If you go to a school like Harvard, MIT, Stanford, you'll really have to buckle down from the start, you won't have much time "to find yourself" because you'll be busy trying to keep the grades high enough to get into medical school without guaranteed admission. If you really want to become a doctor, Union College is the best option because it will take the stress off and let you live the life you want to live while knowing you WILL be a doctor (unless you really screw up). The other schools will be really exciting for only as long as it takes for you to realize how competitive it is and how hard you'll have to work to keep up and you'll have the uncertainty of perhaps "not making it" hanging over your head all the time. Pre-med doesn't provide a fun lifestyle for those who are actually serious about getting into top schools. It's not a living hell by any means, but you will routinely need to make sacrifices... for 4 years.

On the other hand, if you're open to getting into some other major and not ultimately becoming a doctor, but rather just becoming "successful in some interesting field", then Harvard, MIT, Stanford might provide a wider field with lots of interesting majors and classes that you could explore. If you do well and still want to be a doctor great, if not, you'll have other options.

Bottom line: If you MUST be a doctor, choose Union; if you just want to be successful and have an interesting career, choose one of the others!

 

[Drrrrrr. Celty]

Just 20k debt after graduating from union? Hmm that sounds a little bit too low, I could have sworn it was 50k a year.
A 3.5 while doing a double major and then getting a ms all in 4 years? I'm sorry but if you have bad work ethic you'll be basically overwhelmed.
I'd definitely be going into Harvard honestly.

 

[TimothyRags]

DEFINITELY choose Stanford, MIT, or Harvard. You might be 99% set on medicine now, but why lock yourself into a career path (let alone locking yourself at a single institution for 8 years!) before really exploring your interests in college? As you said, the latter option would be cheaper, give you amazing experiences/opportunities you can't yet foresee, and the large majority of premeds at those schools (at least at S and H) get into med school.

 

[pingouin]

Thread closed- if you'd like to respond, please do so in this thread in the hSDN forum.