<p>joydad, your posts are so helpful! Great thread overall. D does not care to go to research, she wants to be a practicing doctor (at least it is a plan for now). So, it looks that it was a good decision to be in combined program. Her program is 4 + 4, not accelerated, which offers her great flexibility and enabled her to have college experience that she would have outside of program anyway (2 minors, sorority, volunteering, working…etc.). At the same time she is with very selected high caliber students. I understand that it does not matter for carrier, but it enhances college experience. It is nice to know that MCAT=27 is relatively easy to get. If she gets higher, she will apply out, with 27 she at least will have a spot at Med. school without application fees, interviews, etc. She had a choice of 3 combined programs, that accepted her. The one that she has chosen provided greatest flexibility and “regular” college experience. To top this all, big plus for us, parents, is that D’s tuition and part of R&B are covered by Merit scholarships. D would not get any at Ivy or other elite school.</p>