<p>I am not 100% confident that I will get into Harvard/Yale. The chances are good. I will get accepted into for several in-state BS/MD programs in Florida and out-of-Florida. I want to become a doctor one day for sure. I am very confident about that. I understand that both approaches have merits and demerits. What would be the compelling reasons for me to forgo BS/MD and opt for Harvard/Yale? I am not going to graduate with a 4.0 GPA from Harvard/Yale. I may be in the top 50% of the curve. I am not sure how hard can I push myself every year for the next 7-8 years. Also, I need to reapply for all the medical schools when I come out of Harvard, meaning that I need to maintain a competitive GPA and MCAT scores, and strong ECs. Also, Harvard will cost me close to $100K for my four years of undergraduate degree. I am leaning towards the combined BS/MD program over Harvard at this point. Please share your thoughts and opinions. Thanks much.</p>
<p>I would say go for BS/MD because you’d save money and you already know what you want to do so you might as well pursue it now.</p>
<p>They way your describing it pretty much gives away your answer. I too am in the same situation as you. Well, HYP are longshots for me because I’m an international, but personally, I think if you find a good fit at a BS-MD program it is worth it.</p>
<p>Seriously, you stand a much better chance at Harvard or Yale than you do at the most competitive BS/MD programs.</p>
<p>Follow your ambitions. Don’t be prestige-obsessed.</p>
<p>"I am not going to graduate with a 4.0 GPA from Harvard/Yale. " - Why not?</p>
<p>I do not know ANY demerits in regrad to combined bs/md program. None. More so the ones that allow you any major and you can apply out still retaining your spot. It is a huge advantage to know that you have a spot befroe you apply to any Med. School while all other Med. School applicants have only hopes. … And good percentage decided not to apply, just stay in a program. This will save whole tons of money and time.</p>
<p>^The reason you don’t see any demerits in bs/md programs is because your daughter goes to one. There are pros and cons to everything, sir, and you should be aware of that.</p>
<p>DonÂ’t even worry about weather you want to go to HYPS until you get in. Apply to both types of programs and see what choices you have. If you do not get it to HYP, then you do not have any choices to make. If you do have the opportunity to go to Harvard ( or YPS etc) and you pass it up for the security of a BS/MD program, you are giving up the opportunity to spend four years of your life with other amazing people. This has a lot of intangible value, but only you can decide if it is worth it for you.</p>
<p>In general any one who gets into BS/MD programs and HYPS is so good that the medical school guarantee is irrelevant. If you are this good you will go to med school thorough either route, unless you really slack off. If you slack off you will not be able go to med school with either route.</p>
<p>
The rest of your post sounded like you were pretty sure you’re getting into Harvard. 
But I agree with northern: worry about where you’re going when you actually get accepted into HYPS.</p>
<p>bsmd11: so true.</p>
<p>northern: it’s not the fact that people are concerned that they won’t get into med school. it’s the fact that they don’t want to spend 2 years of their undergrad life preparing for it. It makes life simpler. Plus, you can expand on your interests in the meantime with all the extra time you save by not having to do mcats, apps, etc.</p>
<p>I think you know yourself where you want to go. From what I read the BS-MD route seems like your ideal. If you go to a BS-MD and pump out a 3.9 GPA and a solid MCAT (along with the research, volunteering, shadowing etc., which I’m sure the people at the university would love to help you with getting if you are in its BS-MD program) then you are set. You can apply to top med schools in this situation and still be very competitive.</p>
<p>if ur graduating hs in the year of 2012 then go for harvard. If ur not graduating that year thann apply bs/md.</p>
<p>If u can find the meaning behind this post u get a cookie:D</p>
<p>if ur graduating hs in the year of 2012 then go for harvard. If ur not graduating that year thann apply bs/md.</p>
<p>If u can find the meaning behind this post u get a cookie:D</p>
<p>Ivy league school students’ competition for med school is cut-throat. If you are good(GPA, MCAT, ECs…), you may be able to attend a medical school after all, but to get into a top 35 med school is not a guarantee. </p>
<p>If you only get mediocre score (GPA, MCATs. …), then you have a risk not getting any med school.</p>
<p>Yeah, don’t believe the stats that top schools post about acceptance rates. The ones who aren’t competitive enough to be a likely success are essentially forced to wait until after they have taken time off to apply.</p>
<p>lol, ive never read your stats, but how are the chances “good” that you will get into harvard/yale, or even a ba/md program? you should probably get in first. And honestly, if you do get into h or y, then your clearly extremely smart. If you want to go to a top med school, then why go to a lower tier undergrad/med school. Look prestige might not matter, but connections do. For residency, research, positions in hospitals after, a lot of ppl ive talked to (ranging from wayne state med, to suny in ny, to feinberg" say that it can make a differene. Miamidap, you are clearly biased in every single one of your posts, but besides that, satacer, if you are in that lucky position, revisit the question later.</p>
<p>I have yet to see a post on a bs/md forum by miamidap that DOESN’T mention the fabulous daughter.</p>
<p>^Exactly. Which makes me wonder why his wonderful daughter isn’t posting on this forum instead.</p>
<p>LOL!!! Kudos to chemwz and bsmd11</p>
<p>I’ve heard 50% of kids accepted to Brown PLME & Harvard take Brown PLME</p>
<p>^as well they should. What does Harvard have on Brown PLME? Connections? psshhhh…you got emma watson at Brown. Besides, a real man’s challenge is building his own connections from scratch rather than having the connections fed to him by some rich stuck-up school.</p>