Help needed for BS/MD programs

[Sir04]

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I have a few interview calls next two month for some BS/MD programs at Albany, VCU, UMKC, USA(Southern-Alabama), maybe Drexel

1. What should I actually look for when I go visit these schools other than tuition/scholarship? Provided I get selected in more than one college and have a choice, based on what factors should I make a choice?
2. Is there any stats on how many students get to good residency programs from each med school?

 

[tennisball80]

Weather
Girls hot or no
Easiness of program
etc...

 

[schrizto]

Things to look for in BS/MD programs:
-Read the requirements carefully. Some programs have reasonable ones and some don't.
-Quality of the student body in the college. Often BS/MD programs try to lure students who otherwise would have gone to a much higher ranked/more prestigious undergrad with the guarantee. Don't sell yourself short by ignoring the quality of the undergraduate institution.
-Fit and location. You'll be locked into staying in a certain location for 6,7, or 8 years. Make sure you want to be in Albany, Kansas City, Philly, etc for almost a decade.

You can usually find the match lists for the schools on the school websites, otherwise SDN does post match lists in a thread every year.

 

[WNT Signaling]

I have a few interview calls next two month for some BS/MD programs at Albany, VCU, UMKC, USA(Southern-Alabama), maybe Drexel

1. What should I actually look for when I go visit these schools other than tuition/scholarship? Provided I get selected in more than one college and have a choice, based on what factors should I make a choice?
2. Is there any stats on how many students get to good residency programs from each med school?

I'll through in my two cents here

I know people who did BS/MD programs at Siena/Albany, Brown, and UMKC. If you do a search for the UMKC program on SDN, and look back to 2006ish (I think) there were a couple of threads by UMKC students, most of whom had dropped-out of the program. A friend of a friend of mine from college was enrolled at UMKC for the 6-year program, and suffice it to say, he was miserable: he went to school year round and he felt that he did not have ample opportunities to get the true college experience. I also had friends when I studied abroad who were in the Albany/Siena program, and they truly resented how stifling the program was. On the other hand, my friends who were in the Brown program loved that it was so flexible: you could take the classes that you wanted to (and major in ANYTHING); if you needed to take time off, that was fine; if you wanted to apply to other programs, you were allowed to. Basically, if I were you--and I'm sure this will fall on deaf ears--I would only apply to Brown's BS/MD program simply because it is so flexible

 

[schrizto]

I'll through in my two cents here

I know people who did BS/MD programs at Siena/Albany, Brown, and UMKC. If you do a search for the UMKC program on SDN, and look back to 2006ish (I think) there were a couple of threads by UMKC students, most of whom had dropped-out of the program. A friend of a friend of mine from college was enrolled at UMKC for the 6-year program, and suffice it to say, he was miserable: he went to school year round and he felt that he did not have ample opportunities to get the true college experience. I also had friends when I studied abroad who were in the Albany/Siena program, and they truly resented how stifling the program was. On the other hand, the great thing about Brown is that there was A LOT of freedom: you could take the classes that you wanted to; if you needed to take time off, that was fine; if you wanted to apply to other programs, you were allowed to. Basically, if I were you--and I'm sure this will fall on deaf ears--I would only apply to Brown's BS/MD program simply because it is so flexible

I'd agree with the fact that Brown's program is one of the best because of its flexibility, but it is also very expensive, not to mention extremely difficult to get into. IMO Rice/Baylor is the best program in terms of quality, cost, and flexibility. But most students who are this fixated on medical school as high school students and thus applying to these programs would never apply to only PLME because it simply doesn't make any sense chances-wise.

 

[Sir04]

I didn't apply to Brown since I wouln't have made it.
Any comments on VCU or Drexel?

 

[WNT Signaling]

I'd agree with the fact that Brown's program is one of the best because of its flexibility, but it is also very expensive, not to mention extremely difficult to get into. IMO Rice/Baylor is the best program in terms of quality, cost, and flexibility. But most students who are this fixated on medical school as high school students and thus applying to these programs would never apply to only PLME because it simply doesn't make any sense chances-wise.

True, but Brown is needblind and offers fantastic financial aid

I've never heard of the Rice/Baylor program; if you like Texas, I'm sure it's a fantastic program

 

[Physicalmusic]

Unfortunately, Brown just changed its policy this year. You are not allowed to apply out of the PLME program without forfeiting your spot at the Warren Alpert Medical School. You can still take all your classes P/F, and you are still guaranteed a spot at WAMS, but it is slightly less flexible now.

 

[schrizto]

True, but Brown is needblind and offers fantastic financial aid

I've never heard of the Rice/Baylor program; if you like Texas, I'm sure it's a fantastic program

Anyone middle class and up generally won't get that much financial aid. They're very generous however if you're low income. I know that of those who turned down programs like PLME or Northwestern's HPME (and yes it sounds crazy, but some people do turn these programs down) the reason is almost always cost.

I mentioned Rice/Baylor because Rice's tuition is significantly lower than other private schools of its caliber (~10k/yr less in tuition last time I looked) and it offers merit scholarships on top of that, which R/B students always get. BCM is also obviously a fantastic medical school.

 

[RapplixGmed]

I didn't apply to Brown since I wouln't have made it.
Any comments on VCU or Drexel?

I went to VCU's combined program for undergrad. They are very flexible as well. You have to maintain a fairly easy GPA (I think it was like a 3.4), get a 29 on MCATs and get above a 3.4 in "4 out of 6" classes that included physio, histo, anatomy, biochem, and a few others. You could also apply out without losing your seat at the med school. The honors program has a summer study abroad at Oxford that a few people I knew went to. I went there for 3 years of undergrad and I'm a 1st year at WashU now.

 

[schrizto]

Any comments on VCU or Drexel?

VCU I've heard is actually a pretty good program. Drexel has a lot of programs linked with different undergrad schools and my high school always sent a handful of students to Drexel's BS/MD programs each year (small magnet school). The requirements at Drexel are a bit higher than other programs (30 MCAT with a minimum of 9 on each section and a 3.5) and I get the feeling they aren't super selective.

 

[Sir04]

Thanks very much on Drexel/VCU feedback.
Now my 2nd question-

Is there any stats on how much % students get to good residency programs from each med school?

 

[Beta Cell]

Things to look for in BS/MD programs:
-Read the requirements carefully. Some programs have reasonable ones and some don't.
-Quality of the student body in the college. Often BS/MD programs try to lure students who otherwise would have gone to a much higher ranked/more prestigious undergrad with the guarantee. Don't sell yourself short by ignoring the quality of the undergraduate institution.
-Fit and location. You'll be locked into staying in a certain location for 6,7, or 8 years. Make sure you want to be in Albany, Kansas City, Philly, etc for almost a decade.

You can usually find the match lists for the schools on the school websites, otherwise SDN does post match lists in a thread every year.

Save for the Caltech, Northwestern, and Brown BS/MD (perhaps more)programs, I would certainly agree with that statement.

 

[Beta Cell]

Thanks very much on Drexel/VCU feedback.
Now my 2nd question-

Is there any stats on how much % students get to good residency programs from each med school?

If you're interviewing for BS/MD programs, you aren't a medical student, btw. 😀

 

[Sir04]

You're right Beta Cell! I'm not a medical student right now. But I do not want to make wrong decisions from the beginning. That's why seeking your guidance.
Why did you say save Match lists for High end schools? Is it that the students produced by the schools under discussion don't produce competent students? I'm lost!

 

[schrizto]

You're right Beta Cell! I'm not a medical student right now. But I do not want to make wrong decisions from the beginning. That's why seeking your guidance.
Why did you say save Match lists for High end schools? Is it that the students produced by the schools under discussion don't produce competent students? I'm lost!

Beta Cell was talking about the status under your username. Also, you misunderstood another statement of his. He doesn't mean to save the match lists of schools, he meant that he agreed with my statement with the exception of those programs.

 

[MilkmanAl]

Moving to hSDN.