<p>@theanaconda, name one program besides Brown that requires AP scores for admission… what’s that? You can’t find one? Well of course you can’t, because it is not a requirement… oh my god, so much misinformation on this thread.</p>
<p>What is your unweighted GPA, Alwayssona? </p>
<p>I know I am not abswering your question, but why an accelerated program?
( IIRC, I started out in one, but I don’t remember it being guarenteed. )</p>
<p>That is an excellent question, most people who fulfill the requirements for guaranteed BA/MD programs throughout the course of their time as an undergrad would get in to medical school somewhere anyway so it is kind of dumb unless you want to stay at the same place for eight to ten years which for me would be boring after the sixth or seventh year.</p>
<p>@PSC2IVY … Yes, because the fact that programs like Brown’s PLME allow you to take a variety of other courses that aren’t necessarily med-school prerequisites, thus allowing you to explore your other passions besides those in medicine, is totally irrelevant. Also, the fact that you don’t have to worry about things like the MCAT definitely doesn’t hold a candle considering you’ll (maybe, depending on the program) be staying in the same place for med school as well. Hm.</p>
<p>As it happened, I stayed at the same school, but by year two decided I was in no hurry. I am not sure it was a concious decsion, but rather reflected in the choices I made. </p>
<p>@Capitalamerica, all PLME program participants have to take the medical school prerequisites but Brown allows them more leniency with explorations of non-scientific majors and areas of interest. Although a good point, I fail to see how that would be an “irrelevant” aspect to you? What you said about the MCAT concerns me, so you would choose an undergraduate institution simply because you wouldn’t have to take one lousy test? Hopefully the OP isn’t as lazy as you and values the importance of the MCAT in the medical school admissions process. Stop trying to pick pointless fights because you are bored.</p>
<p>@PSC2IVY
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<p>I was being sarcastic and pointing out that accelerated med programs aren’t “kind of dumb”. </p>
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<p>This statement coming from you makes a lot of sense, considering you seem to be against the idea that research is necessary for a competitive applicant. Instead of spending time studying for the MCAT, one could easily engage in additional research, get work experience, and get their life in order with the additional time they have. Of course, these benefits are clearly just “kind of dumb”… that is, “unless you want to stay at the same place for eight to ten years”. </p>
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<p>The irony in this is that you’re the one making assumptions about me. It seems that you do not want to even listen to any qualified argument against yours and instead become a sort of bigot on an online forum. “Stop trying to pick pointless fights because [I’m] bored?” I would like to say the same to you.</p>
<p>Okay, you are being argumentative for the sake of it. The people who get into B.S./M.D. programs are the kind of people who would get into medical school anyway so yes it is dumb to apply to a crappy undergraduate just so you can be guaranteed a spot in a medical school that you would have earned later on while going to a undergraduate school of your choice. Also, there are plenty of medical school applicants who gain admission and have never done research. Please stop filling this thread with misinformation. I’m not going to respond to anymore nonsense that comes off your keyboard.</p>
<p>I’ve been a pre-med for a while and know how the system works. It irritates me when high school students think they know more about how this process works when they haven’t set foot in college yet.</p>
<p>Listen, OP. If you really have your heart set on this BA/MD or BS/MD program, go do it. But in the end, most of these programs require that you eventually take the MCAT and get a 26 or higher, take all the pre-requisites, be a science major, and do things that almost all regular medical school applicants do. Brown is an exception to this rule. Go somewhere that will stimulate your mind and challenge yourself because you might be interested in medicine today and in the future, discover that you’ve lost the passion and are stuck in a program you have no desire in completing. You may fight all the way through undergrad and grad, and become a doc, but entertain the idea that many pre-meds lose interest not because they are unintelligent or lazy, but because medicine isn’t for them. I’m not saying that it isn’t for you but you have top 25 college stats and you would be wise to take advantage of your position.</p>
<p>@PSC2IVY Yes, because institutions such as Brown and UCSD are totally crappy. Oh, whoops, there’s me being sarcastic again. Let me rephrase it like this: Brown and UCSD are not crappy undergraduate schools.</p>
<p>What I don’t understand is why you feel the BS/MD programs are dumb. You say that they are because those that are accepted would have gotten into those respective medical schools anyway. Cool. So why not work a little more now to be relaxed later? That’s the entire point of it being accelerated. If, in the end, the result is the same, then how is one approach dumb while the other is not? </p>
<p>Nonsense implies that there is no logic. Ironically, those very statements you present as to why BS/MD programs are “kind of dumb” are inherently nonsensical in themselves.</p>
<p>You say I’m being argumentative, yet you bump my 2 month old thread, digging it out from the depths of the forum’s posts to prove… what, exactly? The epitome of hypocrisy, are you not? Though you may not respond to my posts any longer (be it due to cowardice or self-denial), your statements are discouraging, not necessary, and, as I mentioned, unsubstantiated.</p>
<p>Edit: I’m also sorry that I actually thought that one could have more time and opportunity if they didn’t have to study for the MCAT. Clearly, I am misinformed. </p>
<p>I DO have first hand experience with med school admissions, so I am intimately aware of how the game is played. </p>
<p>It appears that you live close to Philly. Unless you live out in the boonies, not having some sort of research experience on your list of accomplishments will definitely make it difficult for you to compete.</p>
<p>Not all medical research has to be done in a lab. It sounds like you are shadowing some physicians. Why not ask if you can get involved in some research that they are doing (non-lab) related stuff. Lots of things are done based upon patient-chart reviews, epidemiological research, clinical trials, etc that don’t require access to a high tech lab. </p>
<p>@PSC2IVY Wow so much going on here lol! I don’t know what my GPA is unweighted, bc for some reason my HS doesn’t reveal that until October of senior year. Go figure. Anyway, it’s pretty cool that you’re pre-med, so you must have a lot of experience with med school stuff? You wouldn’t mind if I PMed you would you? And also, I did look into DO programs and I’m applying to all of the accelerated programs in MA, PA, NY, CT, NJ, and VA. There are about 20 and I’m cutting the list to 15. The reason I want an accelerated program, is bc I know I’m capable of the heavy workload and I can’t see myself as anything other than a doctor. If I have a chance to finish my education earlier, without sacrificing knowledge why not do it? I’ll have an extra year or two to help save lives. I’m very passionate about medicine and I’m not doing it to simply skip the MCATs. I don’t care if I have to take the MCATs bc regardless of whether or not I have to take them I know that I will strive to be an excellent doctor. Thanks so much for your advice!!!</p>
<p>@capitalamerica I agree that not having to take the MCAT gives you a huge amount of time to do other things. I would love to do research or anything like study abroad. The only way this is possible is through the accelerated program. As I mentioned to another member, I don’t care if I have to take the MCAT, bc the MCAT doesn’t determine if you are a good doctor in this case. I think the accelerated program is evidence enough that the students in it are diligent and dedicated to the medical field. And definitely! The accelerated approach is not dumb, bc I think I have a logical reasoning. If I can finish my medical education a couple years earlier than normal without sacrificing any knowledge or experience, why not take advantage of the opportunity? It doesn’t only help me, it helps the patients that I will treat in the future. I will be able to help so many patients in those 2 years, and I think that’s very important. Thanks so much for all of the info!!1</p>
<p>@sgopal2 Wow, I thought you meant lab research. So do you think the physicians I shadow would let a high school student assist them with research? Also, do you think they would even be open to the idea of me shadowing them? I just feel like they think high school students aren’t worthy enough or something. That’s what some of my friends (in undergrad for bio) told me. Also, could you elaborate on the type of research you were talking about? I didn’t exactly understand you too well.</p>
<p>@Shrinkrap The reason I want an accelerated program, is bc I know I’m capable of the heavy workload and I can’t see myself as anything other than a doctor. If I have a chance to finish my education earlier, without sacrificing knowledge why not do it? I’ll have an extra year or two to help save lives.</p>
<p>Sigh. Consider that you will be “saving lives” for the next 30-40 years! Now is your chance to live your own! I look back and think being in school was the best years of my life; the last time it felt like it was all about me!</p>
<p>@Shrinkrap This is true as well, but I have the passion and this is what it’s based on. It seems like this is motivation enough to become a doctor for me. And I see my friends struggling with trying to decide if they really want to be doctors. I think that I should use this motivation before I lose it. Some programs even let you take a year off (6 year into 7 year) to take time for yourself, so I think that’s pretty good if I need it.</p>
<p>If taking an “extra” year or two in undergrad might make you lose your motivation, you might want to “slow your roll”. It is a journey that never really ends. </p>
<p>But whatev. Good luck! </p>