- Joined
- Mar 28, 2020
- Messages
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Hey guys, I was recently admitted to both Rice University and the Stony Brook BS/MD Scholars For Medicine program. I have made a pros and cons list for the two schools below:
Rice (undergrad)
Pros:
Cons:
Stony Brook BS/MD
Pros:
Cons:
*** I know I want to become a physician due to my extensive medical experiences in high school, but I also feel like I may be sacrificing something else in return by committing to a BS/MD. Thank you guys so much for your time! I just want to hear people's thoughts, especially for those who decided to undergo the BS/MD route.
Rice (undergrad)
Pros:
- Close to home: strong support system with family and friends
- Strong connections with some research professors and doctors from the Texas Med Center (can continue my research in the lab from HS)
- Strong community and support system at Rice (highly collaborative; know a lot of upperclassmen and Rice grads)
- Close proximity to Texas Medical Center
- Excellent reputation for Texas med schools (TMDSAS in-state TX resident advantage)
- Better overall college experience?
Cons:
- Must go through traditional pre-med route (maintain high GPA, MCAT, ECs, etc)
- Cost: 45k annually (when compared to Stony Brook)
- Uncertainty of handling Rice's academic rigor (basically working harder/more stress)
Stony Brook BS/MD
Pros:
- Full tuition scholarship for undergrad: 20k annually (less undergrad debt)
- Conditional acceptance into med school
- Low stress (maintain a 3.4 min. GPA and min. MCAT)
- More time to focus on hobbies/research (maybe a co-authored publication?)
- Earlier start/motivation to do med-related activities for personal interest instead of for "pre-med requirements/ECs"
Cons:
- Lower ranked undergrad school at #91
- Community setting (heard SBU is a large commuter school)
- Location (never been to that side of NY)
- Commitment to the same location for the next 8 years
- Consideration of applying to other medical schools at the end of undergrad (especially with TX in-state med schools having super low tuition)
- Losing the traditional college experience??
*** I know I want to become a physician due to my extensive medical experiences in high school, but I also feel like I may be sacrificing something else in return by committing to a BS/MD. Thank you guys so much for your time! I just want to hear people's thoughts, especially for those who decided to undergo the BS/MD route.