<p>I think the poster meant that it was more of a way for the respective undergraduate university(usually the same as the associated medical school) to get students that would otherwise go to prestigious schools or even ivies for their four years of college since students could guarantee at least one medical school spot just in case by going to the combined program. Usually schools grant the degree in the interim, but there are some schools that withhold the bachelor’s degree until after the first year of medical school. Drexel University’s program is one example, I think Penn State’s as well but I’m not sure, I’m pretty sure that its more than just an isolated instance among combined programs though. It’s probably practiced more in less reputed programs rather than one such as Rice but I don’t know for sure where it is and where not. Lots of schools claim to be binding, like the head of the program at BU said that they dont let students apply out, but from a friend of mine that goes to BU I know that some still do although that requires extra work on high gpa, e/c’s, and mcat, none of which they’d normally have to do to stay in the program which makes leaving more the exception rather than the rule. At a few places(lesser-reputed programs that do grant degree in the interim), IIT/Chicago Med School is one example, up to half the class will leave after undergrad since they were aware they’d at least attempt to apply out when they enrolled in the program.</p>