"… Aspiring doctors who are committed to the path of medicine might choose to pursue a Bachelor of Science/Doctor of Medicine (BS/MD) program. Students accepted into a BS/MD program can finish their undergraduate studies and go directly into medical school thanks to a partnership between the two institutions. Students accepted into BS/MD programs don’t have to go through the arduous medical school application process, because as long as they meet the minimum program requirements, they are guaranteed a seat at the partnered medical school.
However, because of this guarantee, many students are drawn to BS/MD programs, making them very competitive. Each year, Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) receives approximately 650 applications for their direct medical program. Only 20 lucky students will be given a seat to this competitive program. The overall acceptance rate to VCU is close to 80%, whereas the direct medical program acceptance rate is significantly lower." …