<p>Hmmm....I'm not sure where to start here.....</p>
<p>A friend of mine is looking at premed programs for her son (a current Sophomore at a highly competitive public HS) and asked me what I knew about them (which is very little, since neither of my little darlings are interested in Med School). </p>
<p>Basically, she's looking for 7-8 year undergraduate combination programs in which you can enter as a first year and finish with the equivalent of the "regular" path to med school (i.e. undergraduate degree + 4 years med school). She thinks that with this path it is not necessary to take the MCATs? Seems to me Brown has something like this and University of Missouri, but my knowledge here is quite limited.</p>
<p>Anyone have any suggestions? I always thought you needed the MCAT for med school. I've kind of told her that one of the top LACs and then Med school would be a better route (I do push the LACs!) but she seems convinced on the larger U's.</p>
<p>I don't know enough about the programs to answer any of your questions. But you might want to repost this in the premed forum--there are several people on it that could help you out.</p>
<p>Do a google search for 7 year medical programs and it will bring up a bunch. I think you will find the MCAT is still a requirement for most, if not all, of them.</p>
<p>Does it occur to your friend that (a) it's way too early to be making decisions like this, and (b) if her kid eventually does well enough on his SATs to be accepted to one of these programs, the MCAT probably shouldn't be a big barrier?</p>
<p>swimcatsmom and JHS, thanks for the suggestions!</p>
<p>JHS - yeah, of course it's too early for this stuff, but that never stops any of us! :) Also, her family is very competitive (2 nieces/nephews in med school already) so that's probably part of it.</p>
<p>Those links are only to the medical schols, it turns out. It's a challenge to find the BS/MD programs. As far as I can tell, they aren't in any standard format, but most don't seem to require the MCAT (which makes sense). They all have pretty high minimum SAT requirements, though (and I suspect the minimums are nowhere near good enough to ensure acceptance).</p>
<p>Interestingly, Drexel has joint programs with a number of eastern PA LACs. I wonder if there are others like that. (Drexel seems to have three separate types of programs: 7-year joint degree programs, 8-year joint degree programs, and really, really early admission programs.)</p>
<p>The University of Chicago has a seven year program, I believe. Also look into Nothwestern and Boston University; I think both of those have programs. You may want to look at the University of Michigan. I know that they have a similar deal with their business school, so they may have the med school program, too.</p>
<p>They do vary quite a bit, it's important to check out cost (Brown's PLME and Northwestern's HPME are very expensive), who can participate (some are for in-state students only), gpa requirements, if MCAT's are required and whether or not you have to commit as an undergrad (Vandy). WUSTL has something called the University Scholars in Medicine program they are trying to push, but it requires the student to:
Participate in the finalist weekend in 2007
Maintain a 3.8 grade point average (GPA) as an undergraduate student
Complete an application to the School of Medicine the year before entering medical studies
Achieve a total score of at least 36 on the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)
Interview with the School of Medicines Committee on Admissions.
Sounds like applying to med school to me!?!</p>
<p>Also check out the Multiple Degree Programs forum right here on CC. Seems that the key to getting into one of these programs (besides high grades, test scores and rank) is being able to show strong dedication to medicine through ec's like research, job shadows, community service, etc. All of these programs are highly selective and most, if not all, require an intense application and interview process. My D is planning on applying to one of these programs, so maybe I'll have more information next spring. :)</p>
<p>Many schools offer the combination, in Wis it's UW-UW med school and UW-Milwaukee-MCOW. As a physician I would recommend a regular 4 year college experience just to get the non-medical/non-science courses you can't get in medical school or later. Once in college one can get into med school after 3 years of college if the requirements are met, the advantage of the combined programs is knowing you are in unless you screw up (I know physicians who have gone both routes). Ditto on the last paragraph of entomom.</p>
<p>Another physician here who would also recommend the regular college experience rather than the 7 year program. With a few notable exceptions, they tend to be restrictive in some way - ie very expensive, or very selective, or have many requried courses with little room for electives, or like the WUSTL program mentioned still require application to the med school. Or maybe some combination of all 3. Like many other things, they are set up to benefit the college not the student.</p>
<p>2nd year medical school student adding a 3rd co-sign for going the regular route. </p>
<p>I was actually accepted into the 6 year program at UMKC, and luckily was advised not to pursue it by several doctors. I was in anatomy and phys in HS and a retired ENT that helped us with dissections was very adamant in his dislike of accelerated programs. The Orthopedic Surgeon I was shadowing at the time was also very opposed. </p>
<p>Biggest issue I have with them is possibility of burnout (the attrition rate of pre-meds is extremely high), along with what has already been mentioned by cangel and wis75.</p>
<p>A friend of my D was offered the BS/MD (I believe with no MCAT requirement later) to UCSD (he turned it down to go to Stanford). I think it's offered to a small number of applicants and they require very high credentials. I believe there's also an agreement where some CalTech students can enter the UCSD med program with no MCAT as well.</p>