<p>I'm not sure if the "College Admissions" forum is also for graduate school admissions, but here's my questions anyway. I'm a high school rising junior right now, and I had a couple of questions regarding medical school. I've been more of a proponent of taking 4 years of undergrad and then 4 yrs of med school as opposed to these accelerated 7 year med programs I've seen people enrolling in lately. What are the pro's and con's of both paths because I should be making such a decision soon (this is assuming that I know I will be pursuing a field in medicine in my future)? For example, I've heard it is much easier getting into a residency of your choice (aka more competitive ones like derm) by going the 4 yrs undergrad/4 yrs med route because it allows you to enroll in more prestigious programs. None of the great medical schools offer accelerated med programs.
Also, I've seen a large number of people going out of the country to be foreignly educated for medicine because they could get their degrees in 4.5 yrs except 8. They have a year of residency there and then come back to the US and finish up their residency in a couple more years. All together, they finish up their education much quicker than the US route. I am not willing to go outside the country for an education, but do people really have an advantage this way. Don't they have a harder time getting into competitive residencies or what not. It's not like money's the problem because most of the more affluent families I know are choosing this route as opposed to others.</p>
<p>I'm moving this to the Pre-Med topics forum.</p>
<p>Go the standard way, four years of undergrad followed by four years of medical school. There are a lot of discussions on both topics. You can start with post #4 here:
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/pre-med-topics/213924-why-go-better-med-school.html%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/pre-med-topics/213924-why-go-better-med-school.html</a></p>
<p>And the entire threads here:
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/multiple-degree-programs/265546-chances-plz-plz-plz-zomg.html%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/multiple-degree-programs/265546-chances-plz-plz-plz-zomg.html</a>
<a href="http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/multiple-degree-programs/465520-why-so-many-people-desperate-get-into-combined-program.html%5B/url%5D">http://talk.collegeconfidential.com/multiple-degree-programs/465520-why-so-many-people-desperate-get-into-combined-program.html</a></p>
<p>As far as I know, it is NOT a good idea to go to a foreign medical school simply to get the degree more quickly.</p>
<p>Are combined programs offered at elite schools? I haven't seen any. Although I understand that the prestige of your med school doesn't really matter for private practices, I'm not sure I'm going to follow that path. I may opt for academic medicine or try to get into one of the ROAD residencies. Also, are combined programs more beneficial if you are sure that you want to go to med school? I am not saying that is the way I feel now, but I just want to know if would be better than going the standard route under such circumstances. Like besides the obvious pro's such as not having to take the MCATs and not having to worry about med school applications, along with finishing up your school a little early, does it help/hurt your chances of getting into certain residencies, especially a ROAD one? And is more likely to hurt your chances of getting into a competitive residency just because premier schools don't offer combined programs?</p>
<p>--A couple. Baylor and WUSTL each offer one, but they're very competitive at the admissions level, and WUSTL's is still relatively hard throughout college.
--The point of the thread was the commentary on foreign schools in post #4.
--No. They give you a guarantee at one particular school (which you effectively have anyway) at the cost of the ability to choose your own undergrad.
--Most programs require the MCAT anyway.
--It hurts, since you lose flexibility in choosing your school and come into medical school underprepared.</p>