<p>I was discussing college options with parents when we came upon ascertain Dilema. My stats are decent enough to get into a lower level Ivy League school or a real solid public school ( UMich, UofI, etc.) however, I am also interested in applying to some of the integrated medicine programs around the country. While the Brown,WashU and NU ones seem out of reach, the SLU, UIC, Penn State, and maybe Pitt are possible places. However, other than Pitt, the medical schools of the programs I could possibly get into are not fantastic. So the question I pose is whether or not it makes sense to go to a good undergrad and work your way to med school, possibly worse or better, or take one of these integrated medicine programs and go.</p>
<p>It depends how much you care about prestige and how sure you are that you want to be a doctor. </p>
<p>If you are positive that you want to be a doctor, it makes sense to go to a BS/MD program. A doctor is a doctor, and the pay scale is relatively flat. </p>
<p>If you might change your mind, then go to the better school. </p>
<p>However, you shouldn’t worry too much about this now. Just apply to a variety of schools and then weight the advantages and disadvantages of where you are accepted.</p>
<p>See the thing is that I’m interested in going into research/professorship not private practice. How would that affect it?</p>
<p>Then you probably want an MD/PhD program, in which case you should not do a BS/MD regardless of prestige since that’s not the degree you want.</p>
<p>“maybe Pitt are possible places”</p>
<p>Pitt is pretty impossible to get into for medical school as a combined medical scholar.</p>
<p>SLU is no guarantee. Many of their students ‘fail’ the interview and are not recommended for admissions. Do some research before you committ.</p>
<p>^really? I heard most of them made it through, and yes Pitt is tough.</p>
<p>If you want to do research/professorship, don’t do a lower/mid tier bs/md program. You need to get into the best med schools in order to aim for that. However, such MD/PhD programs you might want to target are very difficult to get into and you would risk not getting into any med school via the traditional route. </p>
<p>Personally, i’ve elected to take mid-tier a combined program over ivy/ivy-caliber choices as I want to mitigate risk and have a more relaxed time. Others I know have done the same. But I want to practice medicine in which case med school prestige isn’t the biggest factor for my career’s success. </p>
<p>It seems like you’ll want the normal undergrad experience if you aren’t sure exactly what you want to do in medicine because then it’s still open for you, though it will be tough.</p>