@ucbalumnus yes there is still some GPA pressure (overall and BCPM) but less than if he wasn’t in the program. The certainty is awesome.
Noted too that if you have a 4.0 in your first semester (and every subsequent one), the GPA pressure gets progressively lower, so by year 3 you could presumably swing at any course and not worry as much about a single B or even one of those nasty Cs.
Agree on meeting requirements of the assured school option. I believe all of the choices spoken of in post #18 would be beyond those requirements. Question is whether the extra rigor could enhance chances at more competitive schools where it is essentially a lottery.