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This article is from the Medical Education
FAQ, by eric@wilkinson.com (Eric P. Wilkinson, M.D.)with
numerous contributions by others.
3.10) Should I enroll in a combined BS/MD program?
BS/MD programs, or, more appropriately, college/MD programs, allow a
high school student to apply to both college and medical school
during the college application process. If accepted, the student is
assured a place in a medical school class, assuming she performs at
an acceptable level. While many of these programs only allow
specific majors, some will allow any major, including those which
award the BA.
Thirty-six of these programs currently exist all across the United
States, in sixteen states and the District of Columbia. Program
length generally varies from six to eight years, although the
University of Wisconsin-Madison does allow extension to nine years.
Admissions guidelines vary widely. Some schools specifically state
entrance requirements (e.g., the University of Medicine and
Dentistry at New Jersey (Newark) expects that their applicants will
be in the top five to ten percent of their class with a minimum
combined SAT of 1400). Most schools require program students to
take the MCAT during their junior year of college. Many require
particular SAT II/Achievement tests, particularly those in chemistry
and mathmatics.
In essence, these programs are appropriate for the student who has
already explored the field of medicine and is positive that it is
appropriate for him. While admissions criteria vary widely, they
all insist that the student be academically superior. As not all
programs allow students to leave once they have matriculated into
the program, the student must be sure that medicine is the right
choice; those with any doubts are advised to consult their college
or guidance counselor and consider applying to medical school
"normally" in college if they then decide it is the correct choice.
For more current information about combined college/MD programs,
browse the Association of American Medical Colleges' web site at
<http://www.aamc.org/students/applying/programs/collegemd.htm>.
Students may also wish to read the AAMC's guide for high school
students considering medical careers at
<http://www.aamc.org/students/start.htm>.
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health, medical education, school, MD, DO, MCAT, review, admission, specialities, medical school curricula, interview
