<p>Tux08902,</p>
<p>I would apply to the top schools of your choice, a couple of 2nd tier schools, and a few BS/MD programs. How can you be so sure you will get in at Dartmouth or Cornell? Or the kinds of financial support packages each school will offer you? Admissions are a crapshoot despite having excellent stats at Ivys.</p>
<p>If you get in several colleges, then of course, you could make decisions on where you want to go. Before you have acceptances, you should hardly rule out other choices.</p>
<p>It’s great if your parents can shell out $40,000 to $50,000/ year for 4 years of Bachelors at an elite Ivy + another $140-$250,000 for 4 years of Med school. Alternatively, you can incur an enormous debt to get your BS+MD. </p>
<p>But if you don’t have parental finances to back you, or if you don’t want to use up your parents’ retirement accounts (they are for their retirement afterall!), and you don’t really want to sink in loans, then Ivy is not a viable option.</p>
<p>Even if your parents are doing well now, there’s no guarantee that in next 8 years their healths and jobs can support such an expensive plan. A fact, many teenagers don’t factor in.</p>
<p>Of course, if you are from an extremely wealthy family and have the resources and you DO get accepted, then Ivy is OK as a choice.</p>
<p>Otherwise, state funded BS/MDs are more well funded and most insured programs in the long run.</p>
<p>If it’s the Ivy name you want attached to your name, you can always try to get in Ivys for residency or fellowships later on.</p>