<p>I am a rising senior considering applying to some BS/MD programs. I have good grades, lots of hospital volunteering and shadowing experience, and good SAT and ACT scores (2260 and 34). For my SAT II, I was planning on sumbitting my Literature score (730) and Math 2 score (TBD in Oct.). However, as I am looking through these posts and websites, I am seeing a lot of people taking Chem and Bio subject tests. I am not taking AP Chem until this upcoming year, so I figured I would be unprepared for the subject test and hadn't signed up for it. Would this put me at a significant disadvantage in admissions to these programs? Should I just buy a book and try to study it and hope for the best?</p>
<p>Also, I was hoping to major in something other than the typical sciences in college. Possibly Psychology or even English. Would this be possible in a dual degree program? Would you say that undergrad for a person enrolled in a dual degree program is more or less stressful than undergrad for someone who is planning on going the traditional route for medical school? Obviously, the major advantage is not having to worry about MCAT scores and being admitted into medical school, but what are the disadvantages? </p>
<p>Please help! I know very little about this process!</p>
<p>Check the requirements for the programs you are interested in. Chances are, you will either need Chem or Bio or both. Honors level classes are enough background for a subject test, just get a review book.</p>
<p>Accelerated programs can make it harder to do a major outside of chemistry or bio because of the way medical schol credits are applied, and some choose the major for you. 8 year ones usually let you do anything.</p>
<p>Check particular school for sat requirements. As for minoring it helps if you go in with high AP scores that may be used for credit. Again each school is different so check their minor websites and course catalogues to see if it works but generally combined programs have strict curriculums except for the 8 yr programs.</p>
<p>As for level of stress - there are many other posts discussing the stress of combined vs traditional. There are other pros and cons you should consider other than just stress &these are discussed in those threads as well.</p>
<p>you should not need AP chem for the SAT subject test in chemistry. i took the test after honors chem using the kaplan and barron’s book, and i got a 790.</p>
<p>i would definitely take either the chem or bio subject tests. it really looks suspicious if you don’t…i mean you are planning to go to medical school, so you should be extremely comfortable with both subjects.</p>
<p>at this point, you really need to man up and self study the ***** out of either bio or chem. you can easily do bio IMO. it’s not like any bio concepts are difficult to understand. chem can be very tricky and conceptual, but cmon you can do bio.</p>
<p>also, there is absolutely no disadvantage to being in a program besides the fact that you may get less scholarship from the medical school and you may not be able to apply out. if you are happy with your choice of school, then being in a program saves much valuable time as you do not have to do a ton of extracurriculars.</p>