<p>Hi there!
I'm at the point in my life where i've got to start considering my college options and these combined bs/ba-MD programs sound wonderful--aside from the fact that they are extremely competitive. </p>
<p>To any graduates of these programs--how rough were they in terms of school load? Is it hard to maintain the GPA averages?</p>
<p>The answer would vary by program but in general, but in general, committees choose students who would not have difficulty maintaining the program req. so almost all if not all of the students end up matriculating into med school. Plus, the gpa reqs. are generally below the minimum gpa required for one to be a succesful med school applicant. So all in all, the gpa requirements for most of these programs shouldn’t be an issue.</p>
<p>Thanks!
Just one other thing-- are there any graduates/current students out there that would care to describe their experience at one of the programs? (and please be honest–as in, don’t hesitate to say the hard aspects about your experience) Also, where did you go?</p>
<p>My D. has graduated from UG in her bs/md at state school and has applied out. Currently is finishing first year in Med. School outside of her bs/md.
She did not have it any harder than any pre-med outside of bs/md in her UG. Her bs/md was NOT accelerated. She was accepted to couple accelerated ones, but wanted regular college experience, so she choose non-accelerated 4+4 or 5+4 (in case of engineering in UG). Big advantage of her program was that it allowed to apply out while retaining your spot in a program. Another (surprizing!) advantage was REQUIRED MCAT. This requirement has forced my D. to take MCAT, which has led her to decision to apply out. You cannot apply out of the bs/md without taking MCAT.
So, any program as any regular route to Med. School is NOT walk in a park at all. Prepare to work much much harder than ever in HS, while maintaining very high college GPA and being involved in various EC’s and working (most UG are working). However, D. did not have any additional push coming specifically from bs/md. She was in the same situation as all other pre-meds outside of bs/md at her UG. She graduated with Music Minor, was in sorority, went abroad, had a great job on campus did all her EC’s during school year, almost none summer time, no single summer class, garduated Summa Cum Laude (Phi Beta Kappa) and was acccepted to 3 additional great Med. Schools. She had hard time deciding which to attend, but is very happy with her choice. She was told by Med. School dean during regular review meeting that she is doing well.
My D’s experience is very different from those who were in accelerated bs/md. So, your experience will depend a lot on specifics of the program.</p>