Rejecting a BS/MD program?

<p>Shifting perspective to “getting out” rather than “getting in” to medical school, the process of applying to residencies can be very much like the process of applying to elite colleges. Residencies in competitive fields are looking for applicants with several relevant publications, Board scores over 90%, very strong letters of recommendation from well-known academic physicians in programs that nurture residency candidates throughout clinical years, and in many cases a year of optional cutting edge research is added to the medical school curriculum. There is a substantial difference in the ability of various medical schools to help a student craft a creditable residency application to some specialties. If you think you may end up applying to a competitive residency, the medical school you choose may matter a good deal.</p>

<p>^agreed, but rather than looking at the ranking/prestige of a med school you should look at the match rates. I feel confident that I would be a competitive applicant in any residency after gw (this is after quite a bit of research about the colleges), and i dont think picking gw over ucsf (which would be my top med school choice if i stay in-state; its free!) would make a difference on my matches. </p>

<p>im so excited for college! I started a countdown already :P</p>

<p>“If your D is at a school like Miami, then yeah, I would say that she doesn’t much (if anything) at all in terms of the college experience and the like.”</p>

<p>-I am not sure what my D. has missed. She is graduating in May, got accepted to few Med. Schools (some in top 20), was in sorority, has minor (got to record her own music on awesome equipment in recording studio, will have it performed by her friend), had great internship at Med. Research Lab (got it easily, just a matter of email), had great job as Gen. Chem prof assistant, traveled to NZ (lifelong dream to visit grounds of “Lord of the Rings”) as part of her college organized trip, had volunteering opportunities of her choice and organized others. Her school has campus in Europe, she did not care to go, since she has been to Europe before. Also her school is ranked #2 in undergraduate teaching nationally (whatever that means, it beats Harvard in this ranking). Profs are very dedicated to UG teaching and do it as priority #1, not because it is required as a part of their research deal as at some top colleges. According to her, she did not miss anything, except maybe paying tuition for all of these, since her tuition was covered by Merit Scholarships. If you say that she went to crappy school, maybe crappy schools are free tickets to top Med. Schools? We are very happy with outcome and the best wishes to you too!</p>

<p>I think that the UG experience can be enhanced greatly by the comfort of knowing you are already accepted into a medical school. That weighs heavily for me. Most people that I know have not gotten into medical school right out of UG and have had to either get a masters or get work experience to be accepted. Yeah, the BS/MD applicants are the cream of the crop in high school, BUT opting out of a BS/MD program means you must live up to some pretty tough and competitive criteria in UG to just get in to med school. If offered a BS/MD program, I’m in.</p>

<p>tennisdoc,
"I think that the UG experience can be enhanced greatly by the comfort of knowing you are already accepted into a medical school. "</p>

<p>-Yes, my D’s "UG experience " was “enhanced greatly by the comfort of knowing” that she has “already accepted into a medical school.” as long as she meets very reasonable requiremnts. Yes, some others were in panicky mode which did not help to sit thru 5 hours of MCAT. Actually, one of her friends got so much lower score on real MCAT vs test because of her emotions, that she ended up going to DO programs. And as I mentioned, since you are going thru Med. School interviews as a HS’s, if you decided to apply out, you have that experience behind you also. </p>

<p>Again, I would stress importance of program being good match for you. D. had 3 choices, she believes she’s got the right choice for her, we agree, based on outcome.</p>

<p>Well D’s “crappy” ug experience got enhanced further - G. Clooney and Leo DiCaprio apparently are shooting their new movie at her school, their gorgeous new Business school building. Very exciting to see your own school in some scenes of new movie. Now I will be looking forward to see this movie.</p>

<p>I am seriously thinking about going to Miami. I did not apply to their BS/MD program, but I have been accepted at Miami with a very, very nice scholarship. If both of the BS/MD programs that I applied to reject me, I am very likely to be a Hurricane. Love that school!</p>

<p>^We are talking about different schools though. I am glad that you found one that you love. It is very important to spend college years at the place that fits you and not too much money there. We have Redhawks and hockey is our main sport and bs/md has been cancelled at D’s school one year after she got accepted, it made her feel even more lucky to be in. Overall it was a great experience and wish you the same. Do not worry too much about being rejected. D. got into Med. Schools that originally rejected her from thier bs/md’s and another Med. School that she did not apply to bs/md because it is simply too selective. Stay positive, work hard and you will be fine.</p>

<p>Thank you! I feel that the right thing will happen, so I am really at peace with all of it. If one of my BS/MD apps comes through, great! If not, oh well, I have other great options.</p>

<p>I’m actually a college freshman who is in an accelerated BS/MD program, but, for the sake of anonymity, I don’t want to disclose what program I’m in.</p>

<p>I hate the fact that, many times, I am unable to go out with friends and simply live life. However, I realize that sacrifices must be made in order to achieve my goal to become a doctor. At the end of the day, I don’t regret my decision to accept my BS/MD program one bit.</p>

<p>modoc10, are you saying you have LESS time to go out than your other friends because of the fact you are in a BA/MD program?
I have found that most people, including me, find the opposite to be true, certainly compared to the traditional pre-med route. I suppose it depends on what program you are in.</p>

<p>I have to complete the main requirements of my bachelor of science degree in three years, so my course load is uncommonly intense. None of my pre-med friends are cramming all of their science courses into three years instead of the usual four.</p>

<p>modoc10,
You are in accelerated BS/MD program because it was your choice. My D. has been accepted to accelerated program as well and decided that it is not for her. She choose to be in one that actually does not allow to graduate from UG in less than 4 years, and if you choose engineering major than it is 5 years. There was no problem to take even longer. Her UG experience was no different in any aspect than other pre-meds at her school except that she was not worrying about not getting to Med. School after 4 years of hard work. </p>

<p>During bs/md application process and several interivew trips, we have met with many families, and manyof them prefer kids to be in accelerated program for various personal and family situation. It was their choice #1. My D. wanted to have regular college experience, including unrelated minor (music) and possibly another one, trips abroad and no summer classes…and many other things. </p>

<p>Again, if you decided to be in bs/md, it is very important to be in one that fits you the best. It is also important to be at college that matches your personality and interests.</p>

<p>I am in a accelerated 7 year program as well. But I’m required to take fewer science classes overall than the typical pre-med. We take 9 semesters of science courses total (I’m at the BU program), which is basically just the basic pre-med reqs. I’ve also had room to minor in a social science and take classes in various other departments, including the School of Management, Philosophy, Psychology, etc.</p>

<p>I suppose the intensity of the acceleration depends on the program itself.</p>

<p>But yeah, for me, my choice to go to a BS/MD program was definitely the right choice, but to each his or her own.</p>

<p>This is from another thread under premed:</p>

<p>Quote from BDM:
“One of my friends scored a 30 (11/10/9, maybe?) and then a 36. He didn’t get into a single school out of seventy-three applications when he had both scores. (He also made a lot of other extremely foolish mistakes.) He waited a year or two, after which the first score expired. He then got into several top-ranked schools.”</p>

<p>This is why the whole thing is so scary. One would have to have super GPA, EC’s and LOR’s to make it up (may be). That is one more reason why the BA/MD route may not be that bad.</p>

<p>^He must have applied to some super selective top schools. Check with kristin…on CC, I believe she got 30 and she is accepted. I do not think she has applied to 73 schools. I know other examples of 30 and being accepted.</p>

<p>However, I do not know single person who is unhappy with reassurances that bs/md provides. Removes tons of pressure and worries from your college years so that you can focus on things that are personally important to you.</p>

<p>I am currently in a 7-year program, and I am loving it. I also know people who are in different programs around the country. The people that I know of feel the same way I do. It really reduces a lot of the stress that I know many of my pre-med friends go through. Because I would like to maintain some anonymity, please message me if you have any questions about life in a program</p>

<p>@emeraldrose92
Agreed. My thoughts exactly. I have never met anyone who regretted it. Even those who gave up Ivys - and many of us have done just that.</p>

<p>As someone who passed on the NU HPME 6 year program to go the traditional UG route I can say it was one of the best decisions of my life. I never had doubts about going to medical school and ultimately had more “prestigious” degrees which may have helped in residency selection. I’m glad to see these programs give up some of their acceleration. You have your whole life to be a doctor but only four short years to be a college student. The idea that the combined programs are less stressful because you only have to do “well enough” to stay in them contrasts with the reality of medical training and life as a doctor. Medicine requires hard work and effort long after you forget about the application process. No one only motivated to do “well enough” is going to see my referred patients.</p>

<p>I’m surprised no one has mentioned the only advantage I see in a 7 year combined program. You save $60K in tuition and if you work until the same age you have an additional year of earnings at the peak of your career making up a financial difference of perhaps $300K+. It is a luxury to have parents willing to let you go the traditional route when you could get into a 7 year program. I’m glad my parents did.</p>

<p>I am more neutral about an 8 year option. For the top students who get into these programs they can often do better but a “bird in the hand” and the avoidance of another application process may be worth it. It is clear what motivates a high school student to choose a combined degree program but what motivates a school to offer one? Attracting students who would otherwise go to a different institution everything else being equal is the only answer I can imagine.</p>

<p>Fortunately like emeraldrose92 and working, most people are pleased with whatever choice they make.</p>

<p>@emeraldrose92: I love my BS/MD program too, but I just think it’s stressful to cram the main requirements of a bachelor of science degree into three years; however, taking an extra class or two more than the average premed is certainly not as stressful as having to go through the med school admissions process.
@John and Emerald: Do you guys have to take the MCAT? I still have to take it, but I don’t have to obtain a high score.
@Miami: Your daughter got a pretty sweet deal. My program requires that we major in a science.
I also encourage anyone who has specific questions about my BS/MD program to contact me through messages. The BS/MD program I’m in is very small, and I would like to retain my privacy.</p>

<p>Thank you for the positive comments! I don’t feel very stressed putting my requirements into three years. I am not required to do summer sessions, and I am allowed to do whatever major I’d like, as long as I complete the program’s required courses. I definitely feel that a guarantee can make you actually enjoy your college years, instead of stressing of getting to the next step.</p>