Hey! I’m really interested in applying to BS/MD programs. However, if I wanted to do an MD/MPh or MD/JD (or whatever), does a BS/MD restrict my ability to do that?
Also, for a traditional route MD/PhD (or any combined degree program), would it matter what my undergrad major was? Because I’m thinking in majoring in music or something like that for medical school.
Thanks!
I’m sure you would be allowed to drop the MD part if you decided you wanted to apply to different programs. Just look into exactly how the dual degree works.
You can major in anything undergrad to get into med school. For PhD, it likely varies by program. You could certainly major in music and go to med school; you would just need to complete the required courses (what a pre-med track covers). What PhD program were you looking to do? If music-related, that would be a simple choice for undergraduate major. If something else, you may want to major in that and do music as a second major or minor. Just look at some programs you’re interested in and see what the requirements are.
@albertsax thanks for the info! Yeah, I think all the MD/PhD programs are programs in science (Bio, chem, biophysics, etc). And so, I was thinking of maybe double majoring or major/minor or some variation thereof.
A few years ago I read that music majors as a group have the highest admit rate to medical school.
You can do the prerequ’ for medical school in any post-baccaulaureate program. Many schools offer them. For one example, look at Goucher’.s.
I would not overplan the future because it can actually diminish opportunities if things are too set in advance.
Is the poster referring to the kind of MD/PhD programs that generally have free tuition for med school and take on average 6-7 years to complete? They are very rigorous and, regardless of undergraduate major, will likely require some quality undergraduate research to be a competitive candidate for acceptance. If you are interested in music performance, the dual time commitments may be difficult. You said “music or something like that” – are you really interested in majoring in music? You can always take lessons or play in ensembles as a non-major (should time permit) as it sounds like medicine is your goal.
@songbirdmama I’m not sure about free tuition, but yeah, I meant the combined MD programs (like MD/PhD, MD/JD, etc). I am really interested in majoring in music, but I was just contemplating to major in music or a language or major in a science. That’s definitely true. Thanks!
@avmigeek36
Some BA/MD programs allow students to apply outside the program; some do not. This is program dependent. Generally those BA/MD programs that don’t require a MCAT score for continuation on into med school do not allow students to apply to other programs. (In fact some of these programs, simply taking the MCAT voids your admission guarantee.) At many BA/MD programs, a student will lose their guaranteed med school seat if they apply to other programs and will have to go through the regular admission process at their home school.
BA/MD programs often have restrictions on allowable majors for BA/MD students. This is school dependent and something you will need to ask at every program you intend to apply to.
Some MD programs will allow internal applicants (students who have already matriculated into the MD program) to petition to join the MD/PhD program. However, funding may not be guaranteed for students who are not accepted through regular MD/PhD admission channels.
A music major will be at a severe disadvantage (if not a total non-starter) for MD/PhD programs. MD/PhD applicants are expected to have significant and extensive research experience in an area that is supported by MSTP grants. These areas include: biomedical engineering, biomedical technology, biophysics, computational biology, genetics and molecular biology, cellular and developmental biology, pharmacology, biological chemistry, physiology.
A limited number of medical schools offer non-MSTP MD/PhDs in humanities and social science fields that include epidemiology, medical anthropology, healthcare policy, healthcare economics, public health, human psychology, sociology of healthcare, history of medicine or bioethics. The number of these humanities/social science MD/PhD programs is extremely limited. Offered at fewer than 20 schools, most with 0-1 students accepted each year.
List of programs w/ allowable fields of study here–https://physicianscientists.site-ym.com/page/SSH
http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/pre-med-topics/2123201-what-type-for-pre-med.html#latest
You have started a number of threads on the topic of your undergrad potential major as it relates to medical school. I’m not sure exactly what you expect in terms of responses…by rephrasing the question.
The only difference in this one is the BS/MD option…please understand, these are extremely highly competitive programs for admissions. What medically related things are on your applications that you think will make you competitive for admissions to these programs?
@thumper1 yes I have created these two because they are different in terms of graduate level coursework. I’m not sure what the aspect of some may be from a BS/MD route and I wasn’t sure what an appropriate Major would be for a combined MD. Because you also have to apply to a PhD program (hence, the combined degree). So one cannot simply put the admissions logic of a medical school to that of graduate studies and expect the same results. So, I opened these two threads because they were different in terms of binding degrees.