<p>I have heard that residencies like diversity in education, so they don't want you to do something like PLME at Brown. But I'm wondering if this is true or not. Thanks!</p>
<p>Not necessarily, but sometimes you have to look at the requirements for the program before applying. Some bs/md programs require fairly high MCAT scores (like in the 97th percentile) to get into the md program so it probably isn’t worth it since you could get into a pretty decent medical school with that type of score (kind of ruins the point of the 8yr program when you have to take/do well on MCATs anyways)</p>
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<p>I have never heard that and if you look at Brown’s impressive match list you will realize that it can not be true.</p>
<p>The decision of attending a 7 or 8 year program should be based on other factors - do you want to live in the same city for 8 years? What happens if you do not like your school the first year and then feel like you are stuck there? Is the student body mature enough? What is the quality of the program?</p>
<p>Those programs are very competitive for the most part. Brown in particular is reducing the number of PLME spots and increasing the numbers of regular MD applicants they accept, because they are interested in raising the profile of the program.</p>
<p>^^One other serious consideration is total cost. Brown will cost you $50+ times 8 years (and then some); total could be a half million $. In contrast, a student with stats for Brown (and PLME) could earn a full/half ride to a less selective school, or state Uni, for undergrad.</p>
<p>Are you considering bs/md route or strictly Brown PLME?</p>
<p>My D. is finishing UG portion of 8 years bs/md at state school. The program is very flexible, any major(s)/minor(s) combo, can have it longer in UG and can apply out while still retaining a spot at Med. School in a program. But it requires certain MCAT score. D. feels that being in a program is a huge advantage, while pre-meds around her are in a panicky mode, she can relax, she got at least one spot and she did not need to apply to 30 schools either.</p>
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<p>The OP’s concern is true but not very significant. It is slightly advantageous to have multiple institutions, but it’s not a very big deal.</p>
<p>The reasoning quoted above is wrong. After all, maybe it’s all of Brown’s non-PLME kids pulling up the curve. Or maybe the PLME kids are smart enough that they’re doing pretty well, but could be doing even better. Or any of a number of other things. Post hoc, propter hoc, you know the drill.</p>
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<p>Actually, I think the reasoning quoted above is wrong. After all, until a couple of years ago almost all the students at Brown were PMLE and there were very few that came from the traditional route. It is not likely that the small group of non-PMLE would be pulling up the curve and making up what I referred to as an impressive match list.</p>
<p>The OP’s concern is that “residencies don’t want you to do something like PMLE at Brown”, because “they like diversity in education” and that is simply not true. Also, I am not sure why, whether the PMLE kids are “smart enough” or not would change the fact of what the OP believes residencies “like”. Smart or not, they are still coming from an 8 year program that would lack “diversity” and that is the variable we are discussing here.</p>
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<p>Fine, I’ll edit for clarification:</p>
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<p>I wonder where you get this from. Are you aware of any specific residency programs that would look down at a med student coming from an 8 year program?</p>
<p>It’s the obvious extension of networking and interviewing benefits. If your interviewer or would-be boss has attended the same school as you, or lived in the same city as you, or has a child who went to the same school as you, there’s a connection there.</p>
<p>And the more places you have, the more connections you can draw. Is this a big advantage? Of course not. But it’s a slight one.</p>
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<p>I do also think there is some actual preference for diversity in and of itself. It simply “looks better” to have multiple institutions if you can. That’s based on my own judgment and common sense, but it also seems fairly obvious to me.</p>
<p>MiamiDAP, what is the advantage of your daughter’s 8-year if she still has to take the MCAT?</p>
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<p>I completely agree with you here. I also feel that connection is important at all levels. I also share with you that it would “look better”, but based on my own exposure it is not an established parameter that becomes a factor in the selection, which is what the OP was referring to. For instance, speaking another language (Spanish) could be in fact a written preference for some programs, based on the community they serve. </p>
<p>The decision of attending an 8 year program or not should not be based on concerns about how that will be perceived by a future residency director.</p>
<p>chemwz, some 8 year programs make you take the MCAT, but the required score to remain in the program is not as competitive as the score one would have to obtain as a traditional applicant.Think of it as something attainable. At that point, the schools are not interested in getting rid of students, but instead retaining them (there should also be a minimum GPA), however, they do want the students to continue to perform well academically.</p>
<p>The beauty of the 8 year program is that you know you are pretty much in med school right after you finish high school. The downside, is that a lot of high schoolers change their mind in college and choose not to become doctors as they become interested in other areas. The lack of maturity is what becomes a hindrance.</p>
<p>I think some 8 year programmes don’t even require you to take the MCAT. Also, statistically, is it easier to be admitted in a 7/8 year med programme or being admitted in a university for pre-med with whatever major? Or is it really the same considering you still have to be accepted in med school after completing your pre-med reqs’, or how it really comes down to your grades and the school you are applying to?</p>
<p>^^^ It is more difficult to be admitted in a 7/8 year med program than at a university for premed with whatever major. Those programs are very competitive.</p>
<p>Her daughter needs only a 27, which is incredibly easy to get for anyone that can get into a BS/MD program.</p>
<p>Strongly agree with bluebayou. Med school is expensive enough. Not having additional undergrad debt is very, very nice!</p>
<p>"MiamiDAP, what is the advantage of your daughter’s 8-year if she still has to take the MCAT? " -
The required score is low. Her actual score was way higher. She met requirements for her spot, and she has also applied out because of decent MCAT. She has applied only to additional 6 schools at her chosen locations, she could afford to be choosy. Some people are applying to 25 - 30 schools all over the place. Combined bs/md has been great for her, maybe it is not for everyone. By the way, we did not pay any UG tuition and good portion of R & B was also covered by Merit $$. So, another benefit for her - we are paying for Med. School, no loans.</p>