<p>are these types of programs worth and are they tough to get into? which school's have the best BA-MD programs? thanks.</p>
<p>Depends, extremely, depends</p>
<p>Tough to get into? The competition is extreme…but if you can get in, you have a guaranteed/provisional admission (by satisfying some minimum requirements) to med school, which is cool. I personally think the idea is dreadful, though 
The worth of the program depends, honestly. Whether they are actually worth it or not is a raging debate that’s been going on for a long time.
As for the best, Brown’s 8 year one certainly takes the cake. It’s the only Ivy League/Ivy League equivalent that offers one. Rutgers is very good, as is BU’s. Here’s a list of ba md programs, all of which are more or less prestigious:
[BA-MD</a> Programs](<a href=“http://www.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/BA_MD_Programs.html]BA-MD”>http://www.■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■/BA_MD_Programs.html)</p>
<p>The best of the programs will offer a great undergrad experience, a great location (tastes will vary) to spend 8 years - a long time, an exit strategy if medicine turns out not to be your thing, and no onerous requirements to advance to the med school (e.g. Wash U requires you to maintain a 3.8 GPA and achieve a 36 on MCAT, ridiculous). The most important consideration when considering “quality” is the reputation of the med school - no one will care one iota where you went undergrad when applying to residencies/fellowships. While Brown is a great program, its med school is still a tier below Northwestern and Baylor though I would include it in a “top 3.” Northwestern is probably the most selective of the bunch with median SAT sections of ~ 770 among students entering. Once there, you can pretty much pick and choose whatever you want to do, complete the program in 7 or 8 years, take that 8th year to cure cancer - eliminate world hunger - or teach heli-skiing. They ask you maintain a 3.0 GPA undergrad overall, 3.2 in the sciences. It is a pretty unbeatable package when considering that you graduate high school already accepted to a top 20 med school.</p>
<p>Thank you. Really good information and gives me definitely a lot to think about. Thank you for the list. Any more information about BU, that’s a school I’m interested in.</p>
<p>Just so you know - BU is known for NOT offering a lot of aid/merit money. And it’s one of the most expensive cities in the US. You should pretty much prepare for paying well over $50,000 per year…</p>
<p>Thanks. Their website and other things i’ve read about BU suggest otherwise but once again i’m not set on it, just looking.</p>
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<p>The exceptional candidate to BU can receive an exceptional aid package - no one will argue that. But the average candidate will most often get a less-than-average aid package. BU uses its money for the candidates it wants the most - as [it</a> readily acknowledges](<a href=“http://www.bu.edu/finaid/apply/incoming/freshman-receiving-scholarships/]it”>http://www.bu.edu/finaid/apply/incoming/freshman-receiving-scholarships/). Apply only if you are prepared to walk away if you can’t afford it.</p>
<p>A more relevant forum to post this (and get more answers) would be Multiple Degree Programs - College Confidential Forums.</p>