What is yoyr take on the Caltech UCSD med scholars program?

johnstoops
Sat, 12 Mar 2011 11:40:55 +0000

Caltech/UCSD is a great program! the WUSTL program isn’t discussed as much because it is not a BA/MD program in the traditional sense due to the high requriements to remain in the program (3.8/36).

The reason the Caltech program is not widely discussed is because it is a VERY small program (6/year I believe) and Caltech is already extremely hard school to get admitted to that looks for a unique pool of students that is different from what traditional big name Ivy League schools look for. Furthermore, Caltech is suited only for some specific types of students as well – at just 200-300 students per class, it offers something very different from a traditional large urban university.

As for ba/md programs, of course totally up to personal choice, but I know students who have turned down HYPS for ba/md and I know students who have done the opposite as well. And yes a good number of people will get into great med schools after HYPS for undergrad but no, not everyone at HYPS schools get into amazing medical schools or medical schools at all right after undergrad. Check out the med school websites for very “low-end” med schools and you will regularly see students from Ivy league undergrads in their class profile. I also know many students from top institutions who take a year or 2 off to do research and such before applying to medical school. Not a bad choice and definitely will help them be more mature and such in medical school, but for me personally, I would rather start medical school when I am at 20 rather than 25 (the average age of the starting medical student across the US is 24-25). Just some things I think people should consider before going with or against the ba/md route