by Mary Mahoney
Is a BS/MD Program Right for You?
Do you have a very clear picture of where you want to go with your career? Is medical school calling your name? If this is the case, then a combined BS/MD degree program might be for you! In this post, we explore the pros and cons of such programs and provide tips to help you determine whether to pursue the BS/MD pathway.
Most students who apply to college don’t have any idea what their long-term goals are and plan on using their undergraduate careers as a springboard for thinking about their futures. Some students, however, have a very clear picture of where they are going. Becoming a doctor, for a few, is a goal that’s evolved and solidified over the course of many years, maybe even from their earliest memories. As high schoolers, these students likely focus on the sciences and work toward accumulating as much exposure to the medical field as possible. Some might refer to their desire to become a doctor as a calling. Highly competitive BS/MD programs were created for these students. If you know (or are pretty sure, at least) that you want to enter the medical field, and you’re a motivated, hard-working, goal-oriented high school student who has earned high marks in your coursework and on relevant achievement tests (e.g., SAT, ACT), then a combined BS/MD program might be perfect for you.
Choosing a Major
“I’m going to be pre-med,” is what many students aspiring to a career in medicine say when asked about their anticipated major. However, there are multiple pathways to a major for students with medical school aspirations. At many colleges, pre-med is not a major; it is a series of courses that students must take to sit for the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) and apply to medical school. Many of these classes dovetail with university requirements for a biology-related major, but you don’t need to major in science to apply to medical school. Generally, according to the AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges), the MCAT requires introductory biology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, physics, and first-semester psychology, sociology, and biochemistry. Research methods and statistics concepts are often prerequisites to science classes and labs, as are introductory psychology and sociology courses.
As long as you have the prerequisites for the MCAT, you can pursue any major you wish. In fact, some medical schools encourage applicants with majors outside of biology or chemistry. Consider the value of a major such as English, anthropology, or sociology, for instance, and what that brings to the table about understanding health, illness, health disparities, and social determinants of health. Be honest with yourself about where you stand with multidisciplinary perspectives toward healthcare, because healthcare is multidisciplinary. Are you interested in biomechanical engineering? Health policy? Sports medicine? Human nutrition? Economics? It’s all good, as long as you can talk about the connections meaningfully, and you have strong grades in the med school/MCAT prerequisites.
If you are considering a pre-med path in college, your opportunities to explore medicine and healthcare start in high school. Spend time shadowing a physician. Gain bench research experience, if possible. Spend part of a summer with a nonprofit mission focusing on bringing healthcare access to those who do not have it. Volunteer in a hospital, clinic, or shelter. Participate in a community-based, educational outreach program – anything that makes sense. Meanwhile, enroll in demanding high school science courses. Participate in health-related volunteer work. These activities will further enhance your profile and help you understand and articulate your desire to become a physician.
Advantages and Disadvantages of BS/MD Programs
If you are committed to the idea of pursuing a medical career, a combined BS/MD program might seem to offer the best of both worlds – an abbreviated amount of time as an undergraduate while having a guaranteed seat in medical school without having to apply. With one BS/MD or BS/DO application, you can assure yourself a future medical career and eliminate uncertainty and stress during your undergraduate years. And not having to complete the full medical school application process, which is daunting and time-consuming, can potentially save you thousands of dollars. With so many benefits, it’s easy to see why these combined programs are so highly sought after. Admission to many of these hybrid programs is more competitive than for even the most selective colleges. These programs do not obligate you to attend medical school, but with such competitive applicant pools, universities do not want to waste resources on students who are not committed to a career in medicine. If you have top-notch high school credentials, including a high GPA and test scores, a track record of challenging curriculum, and demonstrated interest in medicine (through volunteer service, research, and clinical shadowing), one of these programs might be a good fit for you.
For other applicants, following the traditional route of pursuing a bachelor’s degree and then completing their pre-medical requirements before applying to medical school makes more sense than attending a combined BS/MD program. Consider this: The additional few years of undergraduate education and life perspective can truly help you determine which educational environment is best for you. Is there an area of the country that you prefer? Are you interested in serving a specific population? Some medical schools emphasize family practice, while others focus more on scientific research, academic careers, or medical innovation (e.g., technology). If you choose to pursue a combined program, be certain that you are doing so with your goals in mind while assessing the undergraduate experience they offer.
Gaining Admission to BS/MD Programs
Early planning is essential to being accepted to BS/MD programs, which vary in their admission requirements. Here are three tips that can improve your chances of being successful with your application.
Consider your math and science curriculum.
Outstanding grades are a must, as is a commitment to maintaining them in college. Many BS/MD programs will look carefully at your entire transcript, paying extra attention to your math and science preparation
Plan for standardized testing.
Test requirements vary by school. Find out what the programs you’re considering targeting require. If you need time to prepare for the SAT or ACT, allow for it, and research your test prep options.
Focus on research or health-related experiences.
Your exposure to the healthcare field is paramount in confirming your commitment to the field of medicine. Volunteer experience and physician shadowing are two ways of gaining experience in a healthcare setting. Scientific research will give you the tools you’ll need as a medical student to understand changes in the field of medicine. While many science fair projects will guide you through the scientific method, a more complex, longer-term project under the mentorship of a local college professor will offer more exposure to the type of scientific study you’ll do in medical school.
If you’re applying to medical school this season, the year ahead could change your life forever. Get started right, and stay on top of things, and you’ll be able to make sure the year is both enjoyable and momentous.
Dr. Mary Mahoney, PhD, is the medical humanities director at Elmira College and has more than 20 years of experience as an advisor and essay reviewer for med school applicants. She is a tenured English professor with an MFA in creative writing from Sarah Lawrence College and a PhD in literature and writing from the University of Houston. For the past 20 years, Mary has served as a grad school advisor and essay reviewer for med school applicants. Want Mary to help you get Accepted? Click here to get in touch!
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