LSM or PPSP?

Pre-Med & Medical School Multiple Degree Programs
1

Hi I was accepted into UPenn’s Dual Degree LSM program which gives me admission to the Wharton School and CAS which has been a dream of mine to combine my main interests, science/medicine and business. Life would not be easy in that program, especially if I went through with my goals of taking the MCAT to get into med school, but I also have an alternative route and/or a distinctive quality as a med applciant being accepted into the #1 undergrad business school. I was also accepted to another dream of mine, the Case Western Reserve PPSP 8-year guarantee med program, which gives me a relatively easier road to becoming a doctor in a relatively good med school. I’m really conflicted on which program to take because I know I want to become a doctor without a lifetime of stress but I also have another amazing route that could lead me anywhere. Please let me know your experience, thoughts, suggestions!

2

@PPSPorLSM, I would do the UPenn program if your interests truly are in combining business with healthcare, which will be more and more applicable in the years ahead. Oh and as far as, “I know I want to become a doctor without a lifetime of stress” – major LOLs. Definitely do the UPenn program, in your case.

3

I think in your case it’s not even a debate – LSM is the clear choice. It will expose you to an entirely different sphere (business) while still keeping your options open. Yes, it is no doubt that having to go through the regular medical school admissions process is considerably more work, but if you are committed to medicine you will pull through and quite possibly end up at a medical school better than Case Western. The educational and social experience at Penn is probably more dynamic as well. The one thing I will warn is that many (probably most) kids who come in to LSM as pre-med get lulled by the allure of Wharton and short-term benefits of jobs like investment banking and consulting. Those who are genuinely committed to medicine do stick through with it and do well, but if you fear you may find yourself easily swayed by things like money an prestige then the program may or may not be right for you based on your goals. Good luck with the decision and pm me if you want to discuss further.

4

Here are some points not as a student but more as a parent.

LSM:

  1. It gives an option to select as you mature, whether medicine is your calling or go with business career. There is nothing wrong with both careers and there are plenty of opportunities and you will be successful and can live comfortably.

PPSP:

  1. If you are absolutely clear that medicine is your passion. It is one of the top tier program. Also case has an option to do MBA if you are interested in both medicine and business. Though Case and Penn business school are not same, when you are going to have a management career in medicine (with MD) the difference is not that great as opposed to management carrier in general.
  2. Though you are top of the cream, it is hard to predict MD admission, especially for top tier schools later. It depends on so many factors, which you have not provided (like URM, need based)

Here is an example, though it is just 1 sample the point is unpredictable nature of MD admission. A known person last year graduated from the very same Penn with dual degree (not LSM) but in engineering and pre-med/bio and got outstanding MCAT 39 and high GPA and presented paper in international conference and applied to close to 20-25 top MD schools, did not get into MD. Was wait listed in Penn and another top 10 school but never got it. This person is Asian.

Whatever decision, stick with it and do your best (and don’t regret about it) since both are outstanding options. GL.

5

I honestly couldn’t say it any better than @breaker746. There is a LOT of delayed gratification in medicine (probably more than necessary), which might come with regrets in terms of your honest interests.

6

I would like to comment as a parent:

  1. Follow your interest and heart, but keep in mind your interest could change later on, and your heart could be placed somewhere else.
  2. Based on what you are interested in, the hardest part is to get knowledge in medicine, so getting MD is the top priority. You can always go to a MD/MBA program, MD/MPH, or MBA after MD later in your career. Without MD, I am not so sure how you can combine medicine with anything at all. Credential is essential in science, medicine and business. Dual degrees in Bachelors will not carry much weight, even from Wharton.
  3. You may want to check that Dual Degree program past student profiles. I remember I looked into several student profiles several years ago on their webpage,and noticed that one graduate went to Wall Street (naturally from Wharton), one worked in some NGO foundation related to healthcare policy, one worked as a technician in a research lab and preparing for medical school application.
  4. CWRU medical school is a GREAT medical school and there is absolute NO guarantee you can get in after you are out of Wharton. There are many many pre-med drop out the track in Penn. In the Dual Degree program, you may not have enough time to do research, volunteering, etc. for medical school application. It does indeed make sense to hit on Wall Street after graduation.

Good luck.