<p>In essence, when you look at such multiple degree programmes, they end up saving you just about a year or two. With such devotion (that is obviously necessary to earn your degree) do you think it is worth saving a year of your time for all of the extra effort?</p>
<p>Feel free to comment on programmes that do not accelerate the time but are also time-intensive and enriching (i.e. Brown’s PLME)</p>
<p>no offense, but this thread is essentially useless because that is what this forum is for. to discuss the ins and outs of specific program, why the effort might be worth it, etc.</p>
<p>if you want to know people’s opinions about something very specific then you should start a new thread but your poll is basically asking someone to repost all the comments they ever made about these programs.</p>
<p>perhaps you should look under each thread that interests you and you’ll get most of the answers to this “poll” you put forth.</p>
<p>you’re ■■■■■■■■ secretchords…its not just saving a year or two, its the fact that you are guaranteed into a medical or any other program graduate school…most programs, like mine, dont even require an MCAT score, but instead ask that I simply maintain a certain gpa…so “in essence” its obviously worth it</p>
<p>how is he ■■■■■■■■…half of these programs have pitifully pathetic rankings and are filled with clowns who wouldn’t go to that school the traditional way and only doubt their own abilities to make it through “the normal way”. its only right to question these programs…</p>
<p>like somebody else said in another thread, it really is an easy way of wearing a white coat and getting to be called ‘doctor’</p>
<p>I wouldn’t say that it is really the “easy” way. You are actually being smarter than other people because, well, if you were to go through it the normal way, you would have to face it in university when you really don’t have lots of time for all the ECs and things. In highschool, though, it’s a different story. You at least have a better chance of doing everything right because first of all you have the time and second of all highschool is easier than college. In addition, applying to medical school is not a one-shot thing anymore if you apply for it in highschool first, by applying to one of these programs, and then apply for it in university if you happened to get rejected. I mean, you would have to face it sooner or later, so why not face it in highschool, when you are younger, and when mistakes and failures don’t cost as much?</p>
<p>im not saying its a bad thing, but it is a topic worth discussing and not just something to be shot down by darealfoo, the self-proclaimed master of the "obvious"ly worthwhile med programs.</p>
<p>i would say these med programs are worth it because they not only save a year or two or give an extra degree (like the union program) but because of the guaranteed admission</p>
<p>however all these perks are only useful if you are COMPLETELY sure that you want to do medicine
so to put it all together- the programs are worth it only if you are sure you will continue to become a doctor, and not drop out of the program</p>
<p>I think it’s worth it even if you do drop out of the program. I’m not 100% sure about medicine anymore, I’m still 50/50. But I feel like I’ll have adequately explored the field and I’ll feel good about my decision to go to medical school or to go into a different profession and at least I’ll have a B.A. in Biology to show for it.</p>
<p>woah there aa6590 hold up, i wasn’t being disrespectful or anything and i have yet to proclaim myself master of med programs…anyway, there isn’t anything wrong with the programs, especially if you end up in the better undergrad schools, like northwestern, brown, rice, or even RPI/Penn State etc…you have a career path set for you, and like ppenguin said, you don’t have to continue the program if you feel its not right for you. Many programs are also non-binding (I know SBU/GWU is non-binding), therefore, you can apply traditionally to any program in the world, but still keep your guaranteed seat at the medical school you got into while in high school…the positives undoubtedly outweigh the negatives…</p>
<p>the only problem is that with the 6 year or even some 7 year programs- you DONT get the BS/BA degree if you drop out while in medical school. So if you do drop out at all, you have to do it while in the college</p>
<p>I personally think they are worth it because you aren’t required to take specific courses that might be required for the MCAT or for medical school admission, so you can explore a little. That’s not to say you aren’t ready for med school - the programs help you prepare, and students are highly motivated. But I want to be a doctor with skills beyond Molecular Biology or Organic Chemistry; I want to be able to truly interact with my patients. </p>
<p>By the way, the programs easily root out people who apply just to avoid medical school admissions. They are looking for students who will take advantage of the programs to enrich their education, not avoid it. Anyway, that’s how I look at it :)</p>
<p>snm35 you just gave me a thread of hope ! I thought that you had to be focused wholely(I can’t spell) on medicine to get into the program. But your point of view makes more sense. Maybe they do want students who are open to diversity.</p>
<p>bs/md programs worth it since they guarantee a spot at med. school. There are plenty of non-accelerated programs which sometime is a preference. They allow to experience regular colleg life without stress of thinking are you going to make it into med. school or not. there are about 50% of applicants to med. school who are not going to get into med. school at all despite their good grades, scores and all other efforts. bs/md is one way to avoid being in this 50%.</p>
<p>Here’s the proof on % of applicants that get admitted by each state via traditional route. Actually, it’s way way lower than 50% for some schools. ~2% for NYU if you round off.</p>
<p>Check out NYU for example - 11,000 applicants and only 187 got accepted.</p>
<p>[AAMC:</a> FACTS Table 1: U.S. Medical School Applications and Matriculants by School, State of Legal Residence, and Sex](<a href=“http://www.aamc.org/data/facts/2008/2008school.htm]AAMC:”>http://www.aamc.org/data/facts/2008/2008school.htm)</p>
<p>I think MiamiDAP meant the odds that you will get into at least one med school (not any specific med school). I think right now, the percentage is around 43% (meaning most people applying to med schools will not get into a single one). The acceptance rates to individual med schools will generally be under 10% as you noted (although the NYU figure is for matriculants, not for acceptees). NYU probably needs to admit around 350 kids to fill up its class so it’s acceptance rate is probably closer to 5% (which is not much more optimistic than 2%).</p>
<p>edit: and also the 11,000 figure is for NYMC, not NYU Med.</p>
<p>NCG. OK. But I am totally shocked to see how low the acceptances are… 5% is outrageous! Especially since so many kids are pursuing undergrad at expensive schools assuming they will get accepted in big name Ivy league med schools. </p>
<p>Are these numbers worsening over time?</p>
<p>Well ivy league colleges have acceptance rates of about 9 percent I think, so for medical schools to have similar acceptances isn’t too surprising. </p>
<p>And as for if the numbers are worsening over time - it sure seems like it. I remember a few years ago the average stats to get into a medical school were a 3.5 gpa and 30 MCAT. If you look at the new stats it seems like it takes at least a 3.6 and 31 MCAT.</p>
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<p>I think the difference is that only 5 or 6 colleges out of thousands have acceptance rates under 10%. Meanwhile, at least 40 out of the top 50 ranked med schools have acceptance rates under 10% (according to US News). There’s only around 120 med schools in the entire US and many of the lower ranked med schools actually have lower acceptance rates (since they receive more applications) than the top ranked schools.</p>
<p>BA/MD programs vary so much in quality, requirements, etc. So a person has to individually find out if the BA/MD program is worth it for him/herself.</p>
<p>Some have MCAT requirements, some don’t, some are 6 year, some are 7 year, some are 8 year, some require you to do volunteering / research as an undergrad anyway, some require you to major in a certain subject, etc.</p>
<p>My preference would be for BA/MD programs that are 8 year. That way, you can have a traditional undergrad experience. Besides, what’s the rush? (Unless you have monetary issues and you want to avoid paying an extra year of tuition).</p>
<p>BA/MD programs are worth it if you are sure you want to become a doctor, and if the program fulfills your needs. You have to make sure you want to become a doctor especially if the program is 6 or 7 year, because in such a program, you may not be able to receive a traditional college degree. Also, make sure you want to become a doctor if it’s binding.</p>