**HELP** Rice vs. Duke vs. (NJIT/TCNJ)/NJMS BS/MD vs. State BS/MD

College Search & Selection
1

So I’m in a bit of a dilemma. I’ve been accepted to

Rice ($0 need-based or merit scholarship),
Duke (1/4 cost of attendance need-based scholarship),
NJIT/NJMS 7 Year BS/MD (with full-ride undergrad scholarship, med school ranked 70),
TCNJ/NJMS 7 Year BS/MD (with 1/3 cost of attendance merit scholarship),
my state’s 7 year BS/MD program (the medical college is ranked ~85 in the country)

My question is, what should I pick? All of these options seem to have their pros and cons. My parents would like me to live close to them before I head off to med school/residency (because they are slightly concerned due to a health condition that could theoretically flare up).

For Duke, despite its prestige and amazing undergrad education and experience, I am concerned because of its difficult pre-med program (hard to maintain a high GPA, 75% of pre-meds take a gap year before applying to med school (I do not want to take 5 years to get to med school)).
Rice seems a bit more flexible and relaxed (easier to maintain a higher GPA, socially conducive, better environment for pre-meds), but then again, the cost and the stress of applying to med schools is always there. My parents would be able to pay for Rice and we may be getting aid from them in the future.
At NJIT or TCNJ, I can easily finish my undergrad in 2 years (or 3 years as well) and either go directly to NJMS (effectively making it a 6-year program) or take a gap year to do research, enrichment, etc. In this way the NJ programs are very flexible, but there’s concern about the distance and the fear of missing out on possibly getting into better med schools if I had gone with non-BS/MD.
My state’s BS/MD program is the most rigid (the course schedule is fixed and identical for everyone in the program over 3 years) and I am locked into the state med school, but I stay close to home and there’s relatively less stress for 7 years (I could focus more on research etc. and getting into a good residency). My state’s medical school is ranked lower than NJMS, but not sure how much that matters?

What’s the best course of action?

2

What is the cost of your instate option vs the others? where do you want to go? I would think less stress is a good thing for pre med :slight_smile: , is the state med school bad? you want to be a DR , does it matter where you go to undergrad vs your Mcats, GPA?

3

How sure are you that you want to be a Dr?

I love much about Rice but it is not an easy place to maintain a med school GPA, at least 50% of pre meds drop there and they are a super smart group to start with. It can be a good place for pre-meds, residential colleges great, but easy it is not. If you are on the verge of getting need based aid, save the money for med school.

Duke doesn’t seem to make much sense in your case either. If you are so very certain MD is your path, NJIT with free undergrad sounds like the ticket, but I am not familiar with the school so don’t know much about the experience.

I’d look at NJMS match day placements for the last few years, and be more focused on what you think of that list, vs a few spots higher or lower on a ranking list.

Med school is a slog, I wouldn’t be in such a hurry to get there, I’d try to enjoy the journey a bit.

Good luck!

4

For Rice and Duke, are you saying that you are full price and 75% COA?

For the BS/MD programs, what are the requirements to move to the MD part?

5

@noready Thanks so much for the insight! I’ve looked at the NJMS match lists; they look pretty good, but would any of these med schools potentially limit me as compared to getting into a potentially top med school going the non-BS/MD route? Pretty sure I want to be a doctor.

@Eeyore123 Yes that’s true regarding the financials. All of the requirements for the BS/MD program are somewhat relaxed, but the NJ programs are slightly more (no minimum MCAT, easier on GPA).