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BS/MD programs are seen by many students as an inside track to medical school, trading in some extra work now for an easier path through undergrad and skipping the later stress of pre-medical applications. There was a time when this was true, but the nature of BS/MD programs is changing, and with it, so are the advantages they once provided. 

This leads many students to ask whether or not BS/MD programs are still worth it; what value they really provide when compared to a standard pre-med experience in undergrad. In this article, we’re going to investigate these questions. We’re going to look at how BS/MD programs have changed over time, what benefits they provide (and which they don’t), whether they’re still worth it, and what alternatives are available to you. Many students are interested in medicine, so let’s take a look at the best ways for them to get there.

How BS/MD Programs Have Changed Over Time

There have been two major trends in BS/MD programs over time. The first is that many programs which were once mainstays have closed. Northwestern, Rice, Boston University; all of these schools previously had BS/MD programs, but have since shuttered them. There are still plenty of BS/MD programs available, but many top universities which once offered them no longer do. Brown is now an exception, even more so than it once was.

The other major trend is the requirement of MCAT scores for students in BS/MD programs. One of the major appeals of these programs in the past was that students got to skip the hassle and stress of the medical school application process, including the MCAT. There were always requirements and acceptance wasn’t guaranteed of course, but students who performed well in their classes and who fulfilled the program’s obligations wouldn’t need to worry about this additional test. 

Now, however, more and more BS/MD programs require students take the MCAT, and score above a certain threshold, in order to matriculate into the medical school. Of course, needing to do well on the MCAT is part of medical school applications for all students, but the whole point of these programs is to avoid the standard medical school application process. If you then have to take part in this anyway, what really are you gaining from the program? 

A third, though lesser trend, has been in the timing of these programs. Many of these programs originated as seven years, cutting off one of the normal eight needed for you to earn both your bachelor’s and an MD. Currently, however, the trend is for all of these programs to require eight full years of study, the same as any other med student. This is one more advantage these programs used to have that they have simply abandoned. 

The Pros and Cons of BS/MD Programs

There is no one-size-fits-all for college admissions, and what one student likes another hates. For that reason, we;re going to run down a list of general pros and cons for BS/MD programs, elaborating on each, so you can get a better sense if one of these programs will serve you well. 

Pro: Guaranteed Pathway

The largest pro of BS/MD programs is they give you a guaranteed path to medical school. You do need to meet certain grade and extracurricular requirements, and increasingly hit MCAT score targets, but you get to skip the entire med school application process. Given how stressful this process is, this remains one of the biggest draws for these programs: the surety they offer. 

Con: Structured Pathway

In most BS/MD programs, your choice of major is set, or at least limited. Brown is an outlier here; most programs require that you major in Biology or Chemistry. Now, most pre-meds want to do this anyway, but some wish to explore other topics in undergrad, ones that complement their medical ambitions or which allow them to explore other areas of interest. BS/MD programs largely do not allow for this flexibility. 

Pro: Solid Cohort

Part of joining a BS/MD program means joining a small and select group of passionate and dedicated students, all of whom have a common interest in medicine. At many schools, the BS/MD program is a subset of an honors college, or located within it, giving you access to a small and supportive community within the broader college, often with their own housing options and specialty classes. Even at larger colleges, this can make for a good experience. 

Con: Lack of Undergrad Options

There are some BS/MD programs at elite colleges, but many are instead hosted by regional or state universities, schools which many students wouldn’t consider applying to if it weren’t for the BS/MD program. This doesn’t make these schools bad; you can still get a great education at them, but they simply do not offer the same atmosphere or opportunities as some other institutions. Indiana University is a great school, but they aren’t Harvard. 

Hit and Miss: Price

BS/MD programs, in most cases, cost the same as four full years of undergraduate tuition and four years of medical school. There are some exceptions, such as Baylor2Baylor, which offer dedicated scholarships, but most have no or limited financial aid. 

Now, medical school itself is known for limited financial aid, so this is nothing new. Many undergrad opportunities, however, may have greatly expanded aid options compared to what BS/MD programs offer. This is especially true for top tier undergraduate institutions, which often have generous financial aid packages, even for middle and upper middle class students. 

A BS/MD program at an in-state public university may still end up being cheaper for undergrad, but that is a somewhat specific scenario. It is impossible to say that the cost of one or another is a pro or con, but the total price you end up paying should be factored in, especially with how expensive medical school is.

To review, here’s the pros and cons of BS/MD programs in a handy table: 

Are There Alternatives to BS/MD Programs?

Based on the factors above you, like many students, may be reevaluating whether or not a BS/MD program is really the right choice for you. This leads inevitably to what the other options are, since the appeal of the BS/MD program is still strong. To that end, we’re going to go through them, and see how they stack up to the BS/MD program.

Undergraduate Pre-Med

This is the baseline program for students who are interested in medicine. Pre-med programs take a hundred forms at myriad colleges, but all boil down to the same preparatory coursework, and the same medical school application process. These programs are the most varied, as they depend entirely on the college you are attending; while the core curriculum and requirements stay the same, all else can change.

Generally, if you are interested in a BS/MD program, it is because you think it offers something that the standard premedical track does not. This is true, and there are certainly factors that advantage BS/MD programs, but we still encourage all students to consider the standard pre-med track, to see how it may suit them and their needs. 

Early Assurance Programs

Located somewhere between a BS/MD and a standard pre-med track, early assurance programs are in some ways the best of both worlds. These programs allow students who are currently undergrads at an institution to apply to that university’s medical school early, and begin classes early as well. This does often have all of the same components of a standard medical school application, but lets you begin (and finish) your time in medical school a year earlier. 

These programs are somewhat rarer than BS/MD programs, but are offered by a number of elite institutions: UChicago, Dartmouth, Georgetown, Northwestern, and others. You get the full undergrad experience at these schools, and full access to their often more generous financial aid packages, even if you do still end up on the hook for the cost of medical school.

These programs do lack some of the surety of BS/MD programs; there is no guarantee that undergrads in a school will qualify or be admitted through the early assurance program. Even those that don’t, however, get to benefit from the full pre-med experience at these universities, which does a good job of preparing students for medical school anyway (though you do still have to go through the whole application process in that case). 

Is a BS/MD Program the Right Choice for You?

This is the heart of the matter, and there is no single simple answer. We’ve gone through the various pros and cons of these programs in this article, with an aim of highlighting that while BS/MD programs are still excellent opportunities, they do not offer the same advantages they once did, and that many students are equally served by more common pre-med programs. 

Here, we’re going to look at a final question: application risk and chances of acceptance. While BS/MD programs are not as advantageous as they once were, they remain as popular as ever, with many having lower acceptance rates than any of the Ivy League schools. This doesn’t make getting in impossible, but does mean that you can never count on a BS/MD acceptance. 

All BS/MD programs are reach schools, though their attached universities are safeties for most students who are applying. This can lead to a somewhat unbalanced college list, and reduce the number of target schools, or non-BS/MD reach schools, you apply to. The Common App only allows for 20 applications through it; you can apply to more schools directly, but this is a major increase in the time required to apply (mostly because you need to enter the same information over and over). 

If attending one of these programs is your goal, then you should go for it. Many students, however, would not attend any of the attached universities if it weren’t for the BS/MD program they offer. These aren’t bad schools, but nor are they common first choices. You should earnestly consider this when building your list of schools. Would you be willing to attend any of these if they don’t admit you to the BS/MD program?

The answer can be no, and it can still be worth applying, but it’s worth considering the undergrad experience you’re signing up for, and what it entails. Your own situation, your own needs and desires, are your own. We’ve found, however, that the more thought students put into examining their options for where to attend university, the happier they tend to be, wherever they end up. 

Final Thoughts

BS/MD programs remain a remarkable pathway to get into medical school, even if they have lost some of their advantages and luster over time. With how many high school students dream of being doctors, however, it’s no surprise that these programs are as popular as ever. We hope that this article has given you insight into what they can and cannot offer you, and whether attending one of these programs is the right choice for you to pursue your dreams.

Whether applying to a BS/MD program or just the pre-med track at a top university, college applications are difficult and competitive, with many moving parts to keep track of. If you are looking for help with your applications, or personalized advice on what kinds of programs can best serve you, then ³Ô¹Ï¹ÙÍø can help. Our mentors have a long experience guiding students to the right programs to meet their needs. Schedule a free consultation today to learn more, we’re always happy to hear from you.