Should I apply to BS/MD program?

[altamont850]

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I have a question I'm hoping someone can answer: I've been getting pretty good grades and I'm eligible to apply to a BS/MD program which would effectively save me a year of undergrad costs. Although the program has many benefits, I think I could really thrive at my current undergrad in that I've began making many connections and I'm becoming quite active in my department.

In addition, if I applied to the program and failed to be accepted, I'd be in college an extra semester. Should I jump into the unknown and take a change, or should I stay the course and graduate and apply normally?

 

[red doctober]

I have a question I'm hoping someone can answer: I've been getting pretty good grades and I'm eligible to apply to a BS/MD program which would effectively save me a year of undergrad costs. Although the program has many benefits, I think I could really thrive at my current undergrad in that I've began making many connections and I'm becoming quite active in my department.

In addition, if I applied to the program and failed to be accepted, I'd be in college an extra semester. Should I jump into the unknown and take a change, or should I stay the course and graduate and apply normally?

I think if you really want to do this, you should talk to someone within the admissions administration to get realistic input on your chances of acceptance.

 

[altamont850]

I think if you really want to do this, you should talk to someone within the admissions administration to get realistic input on your chances of acceptance.

How do you go about doing this without seeming obnoxious? I don't want to be "that" guy.

 

[red7]

How do you go about doing this without seeming obnoxious? I don't want to be "that" guy.

I don't know why someone would think you're being obnoxious. You're just trying to find out more about the program and whether it's well-suited/realistic for you.

 

[altamont850]

I don't know why someone would think you're being obnoxious. You're just trying to find out more about the program and whether it's well-suited/realistic for you.

I figured out an effective way to phrase my inquiry

Thanks everybody

 

[487806]

I have a question I'm hoping someone can answer: I've been getting pretty good grades and I'm eligible to apply to a BS/MD program which would effectively save me a year of undergrad costs. Although the program has many benefits, I think I could really thrive at my current undergrad in that I've began making many connections and I'm becoming quite active in my department.

In addition, if I applied to the program and failed to be accepted, I'd be in college an extra semester. Should I jump into the unknown and take a change, or should I stay the course and graduate and apply normally?

BS/MD programs aren't as good as you think they are, except for probably pitt and northwestern. If you want to apply there, go for it.

 

[TheShaker]

How do you go about doing this without seeming obnoxious? I don't want to be "that" guy.

Why not? It's part of their job! 🙂

Make sure you think about how much you like the school though. If you do well, then you can apply as a strong applicant in the future and get multiple offers so you'll have multiple options. If you do this program then you will only have one choice so make sure you like that school.

 

[altamont850]

Overall, I've been told that I'm a good applicant for a particular BS/MD program but I only have about a year to "beef up" my EC's. I'm involved in clinical volunteering, community serivce and research but I wonder how Adcoms evaluate EC's. Is the evaluation truly subjective?

I do truly care about all of my current EC's but I want to create a profile which is strong so I may be accepted (the program is good, I have family near the campus and overall I could thrive in this city).

 

[altamont850]

Any BS/MD program applicants/aceptees have any input or advice?😕

 

[Eon]

Any BS/MD program applicants/aceptees have any input or advice?😕

I applied to 2 directly and 1 indirectly. I think you should definitely call them up and see what stats get you interviews. I'm waiting for a decision on mine that's going to come out the first week in January. Hopefully I get an interview from either of the 2. The other one is a regular 4 year undergrad that has a 7 year so I applied to both.
Again, check your chances, if they seem realistic enough then go for it. Remember this is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Therefore, do it if you are 100% sure.

 

[kash money]

Which specific BS/MD program are you looking into? I'm a student at UIC as a BS/MD student and from my experience, the first thing that you must have is a high gpa and ACT/SAT score, especially relative to the kids applying to the program from your own school. Using this, they usually weed out the weaker applicants and then focus on the extracurriculars. Although someone with a lower ACT/SAT score has a small chance of making it to interviews and/or getting accepted, it's not that great (the average ACT for acceptance for the program that I'm in was a 34.5 my year). Your extracurriculars and essay are also extremely important. It sounds like you have those down pat, I also had a ton of volunteering experience at a hospital, as well as experience conducting research. Those two are of particular importance because BS/MD programs like to see that you have a particular interest in medicine, and that can be shown through involvement in volunteering and research while in high school. You want to sell to them the idea that they should save a spot in their medical school for a high school student instead of an undergraduate student, and that's the point you want to drive home in your application and your interview. By demonstrating that your activities have peaked an interest in medicine while in high school is key.

Good luck!

 

[altamont850]

I already contacted the program and they said that given my stats I'd recieve an interview. In order to gain acceptance, I'd need to interview well.

 

[LovelyBRass]

I have a question I'm hoping someone can answer: I've been getting pretty good grades and I'm eligible to apply to a BS/MD program which would effectively save me a year of undergrad costs. Although the program has many benefits, I think I could really thrive at my current undergrad in that I've began making many connections and I'm becoming quite active in my department.

In addition, if I applied to the program and failed to be accepted, I'd be in college an extra semester. Should I jump into the unknown and take a change, or should I stay the course and graduate and apply normally?

I would unilaterally say do NOT apply to these programs. Ok, disclaimer - I applied and was rejected! So I must be bitter right? At the time, sure, who wants to get rejected - but I ended up going to my dream undergrad and am at a much better medical school.

So why shouldn't you apply? For one thing, at this point, you really just have zero idea what it will take for you to become a competent physician. You don't know what life as a physician will be like for you (I don't care if your parents are doctors, it isn't until YOU get a taste of real life that you really get it) and without even having met you, I know you are too immature at this point to make this decision.

For another (and most importantly), BS/MD programs don't encourage growth. You rarely choose your own major or coursework in an attempt to cut down on the amount of time it takes you to complete undergrad. In addition, you often have to maintain certain GPAs in order to remain in the program, which will only stress you out and make you resentful (esp since you didn't choose your major). You may be saying that I had to do that anyway in order to get into medical school but guess what? If I didn't maintain a good GPA, you know what I'd do? Something else. Because a normal college curriculum will prepare you for other things. You know what a BS/MD program prepares you for? Nothing else. This is because there are minimal requirements outside of your basic coursework for volunteering, research, and extracurricular activities. So why would you do those things? You get lazy. Why is that a problem? Because if you get kicked out for a bad semester or an unfair grader, you are prepared for NOTHING. Try entering the job market after essentially majoring in pre-med.

These programs encourage good grades and nothing more. When it comes to personal development, you'll decide there's no time for it or reason for it, because "all I have to do is xyz to become a doctor."

Source: seven different BS/MD-ers or BS/DO-ers - You can PM me if you want to learn more I suppose but I don't have too much more to say lol I'll come back and post more reasons later I'm sure.

 

[Bangersandmash]

I would unilaterally say do NOT apply to these programs. Ok, disclaimer - I applied and was rejected! So I must be bitter right? At the time, sure, who wants to get rejected - but I ended up going to my dream undergrad and am at a much better medical school.

So why shouldn't you apply? For one thing, at this point, you really just have zero idea what it will take for you to become a competent physician. You don't know what life as a physician will be like for you (I don't care if your parents are doctors, it isn't until YOU get a taste of real life that you really get it) and without even having met you, I know you are too immature at this point to make this decision.

For another (and most importantly), BS/MD programs don't encourage growth. You rarely choose your own major or coursework in an attempt to cut down on the amount of time it takes you to complete undergrad. In addition, you often have to maintain certain GPAs in order to remain in the program, which will only stress you out and make you resentful (esp since you didn't choose your major). You may be saying that I had to do that anyway in order to get into medical school but guess what? If I didn't maintain a good GPA, you know what I'd do? Something else. Because a normal college curriculum will prepare you for other things. You know what a BS/MD program prepares you for? Nothing else. This is because there are minimal requirements outside of your basic coursework for volunteering, research, and extracurricular activities. So why would you do those things? You get lazy. Why is that a problem? Because if you get kicked out for a bad semester or an unfair grader, you are prepared for NOTHING. Try entering the job market after essentially majoring in pre-med.

These programs encourage good grades and nothing more. When it comes to personal development, you'll decide there's no time for it or reason for it, because "all I have to do is xyz to become a doctor."

Source: seven different BS/MD-ers or BS/DO-ers - You can PM me if you want to learn more I suppose but I don't have too much more to say lol I'll come back and post more reasons later I'm sure.

Sounds like a good thing you were rejected from the BS/MD program you applied to, because all BS/MD programs are not like you described. People who often post disclaimers are usually lying about their disclaimer.

OP - I am a 7 year BS/MD student who has been accepted into my undergrad's med school and will be attending next fall. I don't know where you are at in your schooling career, but if you know you want to do medicine, a BS/MD program provides a very good opportunity. It depends on your situation, but contrary to the previous poster, I think you may already know it's what you want to do. If you have any doubts about medicine or have not been exposed enough, ride out your undergrad experience.

The next aspect you want to look into is your program's requirements. I came into college with enough credits to be able to double major. This allowed me to fulfill my university's BS/MD requirement and pursue an education in Classics. My program also requires documented volunteering/shadowing hours, a minimum of one year of research and a competitive MCAT score and GPA. I did more than this, but their requirements let you stay competitive if you decide to apply regularly. MOST IMPORTANTLY, at no time did my program REQUIRE me to commit. I was doing things I would have to do no matter where I applied. Even now, I still have the option to dropout of the program and do four years of undergrad.

It's a lot to take in early in your studies, so think about it for a while. Just make sure you have an out.

 

[LovelyBRass]

The group of the the most intelligent, well-rounded, interesting, and mature people in a medical school class just don't include any BS/MD-ers.

Ouch how did you know my disclaimer was a farce? I should hide these things better. And they were programs <-- plural. That's right, I sucked that much lol

 

[Praefectus]

If you managed to get in, you'd cut out a lot of stress involved with taking the MCAT, applying, and traveling for interviews. However, you will miss out on a lot of the undergrad experience. This could include exploring subjects that interest you as well as going out and having a fun social life.

 

[NickNaylor]

IMO combined programs (especially ones that are binding or otherwise lock you out from applying to other schools) offer very little to the applicant. Life is stressful. Frankly if you think the admissions process is so stressful that you're willing to sell your soul to an institution to avoid it, I worry about your ability to operate under pressure. It isn't that bad. No, it's not particularly fun, but missing out on the opportunity to see many different schools and choose among them for the sake of not going through the regular process is ridiculous. I don't care how mature you are, as a high school senior it is highly, highly unlikely that you have the capacity to make good, well-informed decisions about things 4-8 years down the line. And the reality is that if you can get into these programs, then you have the work ethic to do well in college and be successful in the general process - probably even more successful than you would be on the combined program admissions process. I would tell any applicant considering these programs - especially those that have a great chance at getting into one - to avoid them at all cost. They just offer you nothing. Programs that allow you to apply out while retaining the spot in the class, however, ARE helpful to you, and I would definitely take that if I had the chance.

Just my two cents.

(sent from my phone)

 

[kash money]

I agree with NickNaylor. OP, you should check to see if the program you're interested in lets you apply out. The program that I'm doing seems to be a lot more lenient than what others have been referring to. No major requirements and I can apply out if I choose to.

 

[Bangersandmash]

The group of the the most intelligent, well-rounded, interesting, and mature people in a medical school class just don't include any BS/MD-ers.

And why is that? Because they might be a year or two younger than other matriculants? You've got a chip on your shoulder man.

 

[altamont850]

IMO combined programs (especially ones that are binding or otherwise lock you out from applying to other schools) offer very little to the applicant. Life is stressful. Frankly if you think the admissions process is so stressful that you're willing to sell your soul to an institution to avoid it, I worry about your ability to operate under pressure. It isn't that bad. No, it's not particularly fun, but missing out on the opportunity to see many different schools and choose among them for the sake of not going through the regular process is ridiculous. I don't care how mature you are, as a high school senior it is highly, highly unlikely that you have the capacity to make good, well-informed decisions about things 4-8 years down the line. And the reality is that if you can get into these programs, then you have the work ethic to do well in college and be successful in the general process - probably even more successful than you would be on the combined program admissions process. I would tell any applicant considering these programs - especially those that have a great chance at getting into one - to avoid them at all cost. They just offer you nothing. Programs that allow you to apply out while retaining the spot in the class, however, ARE helpful to you, and I would definitely take that if I had the chance.




Just my two cents.

(sent from my phone)

Thanks for your response NickNaylor!

I'm actually a college student and I've done a little research and I honestly could find no drawbacks if I were to be accepted. The college is close to many relatives and the college is quite good. Does the lack of option truly make BS/MD programs poor choices? I've explored other careers/professions and I'm pretty confident that I would gladly pursue medicine.

 

[notbobtrustme]

Go BS/MD if you want to be that gunner *******.

Do the normal route if you wanna get drunk a lot, do a bunch of drugs and bang bitches for 4 years. Maintaining a high GPA isn't really that hard.

 

[Bluto385]

OP, I was in your same shoes 4 years ago and now am very glad I did not take the BS/MD route at my undergrad institution. Here's my short story:

As a HS senior, I got into my university and was invited to the honors program. Then they sent me the BS/MD info in the mail encouraging me to consider that program as well. Though the idea of a pretty much guaranteed acceptance seemed pretty awesome, I had no substantial reason to even apply. I had never set foot into a clinical setting as a worker, and I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. I suspected medicine, but had nothing concrete to back it up. Who the hell can at that age, anyway. So I turned it down and enrolled in the undergrad program.

What happened next is pretty ironic and a pretty familiar story on SDN. I did all of the things on the checklist for a typical pre-med, and in the process I actually discovered an immense enjoyment for performing clinical work and learning. Had I not done these things, I would have much less confidence about pursuing medicine, and I also would have missed out on a lot of personal growth that I have received from my volunteering and leadership experiences. And four years later, I just got accepted to the same medical school (top choice) that offered me the BS/MD program four years prior. And I do not regret going the regular decision route for one second.

On another note: The undergrad years are ****ing awesome, and in the words of Todd Barry, anyone who wants to shorten these years through special academic programs in order to get to the working world faster is ****ing ******ed.

 

[Bangersandmash]

Thanks for your response NickNaylor!

I'm actually a college student and I've done a little research and I honestly could find no drawbacks if I were to be accepted. The college is close to many relatives and the college is quite good. Does the lack of option truly make BS/MD programs poor choices? I've explored other careers/professions and I'm pretty confident that I would gladly pursue medicine.

If the program is binding at this stage of the game, it's not a good thing. I don't know what school you're at or if you're required to take the MCAT, but you might find that the med school isn't a great fit or you want to apply somewhere else (or leave medicine altogether). It seems a lot of people in this thread are missing the fact that you know you want to do medicine. BS/MD programs are great options if you're sure it's what you love. However, being locked in as a freshman or sophomore could be very regrettable. Even as a junior 6 months away from entering med school, it is quite a relief to know that I can still drop out of my BS/MD program any time until May to pursue another medical college or career. I think about the options quite often at this stage in the game and I think not having an out would put a lot more pressure on my decision making that I wouldn't enjoy.

 

[NickNaylor]

Thanks for your response NickNaylor!

I'm actually a college student and I've done a little research and I honestly could find no drawbacks if I were to be accepted. The college is close to many relatives and the college is quite good. Does the lack of option truly make BS/MD programs poor choices? I've explored other careers/professions and I'm pretty confident that I would gladly pursue medicine.

If you see no drawbacks then by all means go for it. Don't let me try and convince you to do something you think is right. My primary point was that you are making a decision based on little to no information. I didn't even know what I wanted in a medical school - hell, even what to look for - until I had already attended several interviews. It just makes no sense to me as to why you would commit to something when you likely have spent almost zero time truly exploring other programs. It's like buying a $100k car without test driving or even looking at other cars. Who would do that?

And the point still stands that if you can get into an early admissions type program, you will almost certainly get into a school (likely multiple schools) if you go the regular route. Sure, maybe you save a few bucks and some time, but that seems to be a good trade-off to be able to make a well-informed decision confidently.

Again, you should make the decision that is best for you. However, my advice based on my experience would be to not rush into things for the sake of getting an acceptance and not undervaluing the ability to see what different schools are like before you make your decision. Even after I submitted my AMCAS but before I started interviewing I knew very little about what set schools apart and what I wanted in my future institution. I'm glad I had the chance to sort that out. Maybe you can do that without seeing schools - I dunno. But I would find it very difficult to do that.

(sent from my phone)

 

[LovelyBRass]

And why is that? Because they might be a year or two younger than other matriculants? You've got a chip on your shoulder man.

I'm sorry, everyone is equal and med school is roses.