The idea that LACs can’t produce MD/PhD candidates is a fallacy. More might come from major Research Us since they attract more students to begin with, but it’s not a “must.”
When my guy was an undergrad I recall reading about one of U Rochester’s MD/PhD current students in their magazine as he had just won some prestigious award. He came from Hope College. I remember it because I didn’t really know much about Hope College (odd name, no?). I just googled Hope and came up with this page:
"The award will support LaFrenier, who is majoring in neuroscience, as she conducts collaborative research with Dr. Phillip Rivera, assistant professor of biology. She will work full-time with Rivera for 10 weeks during each of the next two summers and part-time during the academic year in between.
Hope is the only college or university in the nation to have had an active award from the foundation since the grant program began in 1998, and was one of only 12 to receive new awards earlier this year. The college’s latest award will support a total of four students across the next three years as they conduct research collaboratively with faculty mentors."
…
“Since the program began, Hope has named 31 students as Beckman Scholars including LaFrenier. The recipients have subsequently received a variety of major external honors through the years, including Goldwater Scholarships and Honorable Mentions; Department of Defense National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowships; and National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships. A total of 19 have continued to graduate school, five to medical school and three to MD/Ph.D. programs.”
If small, relatively unknown Hope College (approx 3000 students, private, Christian LAC) can do such things, I’m pretty sure other LACs can too.
Students should choose their own fit. Many will want research universities if interested in research, but if someone prefers an LAC (many do), just check into the research available, what their recent grads have done, and choose where you prefer to study. Doors certainly aren’t closed!