The Howard program only accepts a handful of students to the 6 year program. Don’t be fooled by the stats required to apply. Those accepted are generally tippy top students who turn down acceptances at Ivys, U of Chicago, etc. and come to Howard on a large scholarship with the 6 year program as an added bonus. We know one in it who told us that to get even an interview for the program, much less acceptance, you have to show extreme rigour of your high school curriculum, an ability to juggle a lot (leadership, sports, volunteering, etc.) while maintaining top grades (Cs in high school might knock you out) and top ACT/SAT scores. In addition, you need to show that it is not just about getting into medical school faster, but about attending Howard, an HBCU. No, you need not be african american, but if asked why Howard and why our program, you should have an answer other than ‘to do the 6 year program’.
Finally, once in she told our son (interested in Howard and the program) that you overload classes every term, take summer classes and need to be volunteering and doing other things…while also prepping for an taking the MCAT at the end of sophomore year. She has loved it and loved Howard and still managed to have great college experiences (which, she noted, continue to some degree even once in medical school as you are still there near your college friends though obviously have much less time than most of them do!). But she thrives on being busy, handling pressure and has embraced the very urban environment and all it offers.
In sum, understand that getting in is not easy at all, staying in is tough (some dropped themselves, one was asked to leave the program since her time in it) and then you still have the step of getting top grades and a decent MCAT score and interview so that you can in fact start the MD track. All of this while at the very intriguing, social active, politically active and urban environment of Howard pulling you in many directions.