<p>I know quite a few med-school direct admits. All of them are very very focused students. Most did research in biological sciences in high school, were in RSI or stuff like that. If the student does not think he/she is upto it, then it is probably true. Even being admitted to these programs is very tough. For example, the program at Brown, you have to have tippy-top credentials including research experience probably.</p>
<p>If you want to have some fun (not too much) then a 7 year program probably isn’t the way to go. At least with a traditional 4 + 4 route, the student has some down time.</p>
<p>My son is a pre-med Chemical Engineering major, and while he does have <em>some</em> social life and he will attend some home football games this fall, he does dedicate a good amount of time towards his studies. If he was in an accelerated program, he’d probably have no free time.</p>
<p>Wow so a 7 year med program means ZERO fun?
I’m dedicated to being a neurosurgeon as early as possible. Don’t get me wrong. But the people who take the direct MD routes must have some fun? It’s not like they’re all robots.</p>
<p>One of the students who graduated with my D in 2008 is in the b.s./m.d. program at U of Rochester. This is a student who has always been interested in a medium amount of fun. I cannot imagine that this student has given up all fun for seven years!</p>
<p>^well that’s a relief!</p>
<p>*Wow so a 7 year med program means ZERO fun?
I’m dedicated to being a neurosurgeon as early as possible. Don’t get me wrong. But the people who take the direct MD routes must have some fun? It’s not like they’re all robots. *</p>
<p>There’s a difference between “zero fun” and “not much fun or free time”. My son has some free time and some fun time, but he does have to dedicate a lot of time to his studies and homework.</p>
<p>*One of the students who graduated with my D in 2008 is in the b.s./m.d. program at U of Rochester. This is a student who has always been interested in a medium amount of fun. I cannot imagine that this student has given up all fun for seven years! *</p>
<p>We can guess that this student is having a good amount of fun, but do we know for sure? What is a “good amount” anyway? 
And…does anyone know what the student’s grades have been? Maybe the student has not been studious and has a GPA that isn’t as good as it should be? </p>
<p>Also…the student is only starting the 3rd year of the 7 year program. No one knows at this point how much fun the student will have to give up to complete the program.</p>
<p>I know that my son is very busy maintaining his straight A’s, and he’s not in a 7 year program…but he is a pre-med Chem E major which might be more demanding. Again, he does have some free time. He has a girlfriend at another school, so he tries to see her once a month or so. But, he’s a lot busier than he was at his prep school (which was demanding as well).</p>
<p>Most people have some fun in college. (Some even find their academic activities to be fun as well, believe it or not…)
But I’ve yet to meet a premed who made it into a medical school for whom BIG social life in college was a top priority.</p>
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<p>Please PM me with you name so if God-forbid I need a neurosurgeon someday, I know who to avoid.</p>
<p>I’m afraid to ask, but why pray tell the big rush? What you should have said was that you want to become the best neurosurgeon possible. Kids with that attitude get into medical programs, kids with your attitude, not so much.</p>
<p>the big rush? </p>
<p>I would like to be a neurosurgeon before the time im in my late 30’s…</p>
<p>And WHO DOESN’T WANT TO BECOME THE BEST NEUROSURGEON POSSIBLE??? That is implied in everybody’s thinking. It doesn’t need to be mentioned… It’s better to become the best one at a younger age, than at a normal age.</p>
<p>I think people are misunderstanding the OP (or maybe I am…LOL)</p>
<p>I don’t think he’s in any hurry. It sounds like his parents have set these parameters. It sounds like they don’t want him to have any fun.</p>
<p>There’s nothing wrong with wanting some social life in college. My friend’s son is at an ivy med school right now, and he was a frat boy at a so-called party school. But… He was not in a 7 year program.</p>
<p>well, i dont think that you should put any of your hope into getting into PLME-since even kids who get in dont expect to.
Anyways, I am a little surprised from others posts saying that a 32 means you have literally no chance. I kind of disagree, but not entirely. You are an over rep. minority, and your sort of blend in with the other kids who do research. good luck though, and seriously, this is funny, bc my parents are pretty much the EXACT same-lol or at least said the exact same thing about BS MD programs, except mine are encouraging me to apply to other schools…good luck bro</p>
<p>Just tell your parents that you’ve decided that you’re not going to college anyway and that you have the opportunity to become a trainee tattooist.</p>
<p>They’ll come around.</p>
<p>A person with your goals and achievements needs to apply to a variety of places and keep all options open. So, apply to some of the combined programs that your parents are in favor of, apply to your in-state options as admissions safeties and financial safeties, and apply to some of your dream schools too.</p>
<p>You are asking your parents to make a huge investment in you. So, when you talk with them, you need to show that you’re a good investment! Show that you’re mature, respectful, aware of the huge financial burden this will be. The more you focus on all the fun you “deserve” after working so hard, the more your parents worry that you’ll party too much, or that you don’t want to work hard any more after you you get into some competitive program. </p>
<p>This is not a question of who’s right and who’s wrong. This is a question of finding options that in April will be satisfactory to all. You have 7-8 months to prove to your parents that you’re ready for the rigor of college and the responsibility of living independently away from home. </p>
<p>Very few parents want to spend 200,000 just for undergrad if they have doubts that their child is mature, or if they feel that their child doesn’t respect them or isn’t grateful for their financial support. Would you go to a bank and ask for that sum of money and say how much fun you want to have with it? Would you tell the loan officers that they really don’t know anything? You’re a smart kid…use your brain when you talk to your parents!</p>
<p>How old is the OP right now?</p>
<p>I have not read this entire thread, but if it has not been suggested the OP may want to look into the guaranteed and accelerated medical school programs at Tulane University, which is also known for providing very nice merit awards. One of the programs requires the student not be a science major. Others do not. I understand there may be some fun lurking in New Orleans.</p>
<p>I am not directly involved, but based on my friend who’s son got in the USC BS/MD program, the USC program does not require an UG science major. You must meet some gpa and MACT requirements to continue the MD portion, but you can take anything in USC UG.</p>