Hey guys, I'm really interested in doing a combined BA/MD program and I'm wondering if anyone knows any good ones in California? Any advice or experiences with these programs would be super helpful too!
Hello! California indeed has a few BA/MD programs that you might find interesting. Some of the notable ones include:
1. UC San Diego Medical Scholars Program: This program allows UCSD undergraduates to gain conditional acceptance into the UC San Diego School of Medicine and complete their BA and MD degrees in seven or eight years.
2. University of Southern California (USC) - Keck School of Medicine: The Program in Medical Education (PRIME) is an eight-year combined BS/MD program for a select group of students who are committed to pursuing a career in medicine. This program guarantees admission to the Keck School of Medicine at USC upon successful completion of the undergraduate portion.
3. University of the Pacific (UOP): This program offers a seven-year combined dental (DDS) and eight-year combined pharmacy (PharmD) program, but no BA/MD program. However, if you're open to pursuing careers closely related to medicine, this could be an option worth exploring.
Regarding advice and experiences with BA/MD programs, keep in mind that these programs are highly competitive and usually require excellent high school credentials. Students in such programs are often very driven and focused on a medical career from the start. If you're confident in your desire to become a doctor and have a strong academic background, pursuing a BA/MD program can be a great way to streamline your education and reduce the stress of applying to medical schools later.
However, it's essential to research each program thoroughly and understand their requirements, as they often have specific prerequisite courses and minimum GPA or MCAT score requirements in college coursework for guaranteed medical school admission. Being part of a BA/MD program also means less flexibility in terms of major choices and extracurricular activities, so if you're also passionate about other areas outside of medicine, consider if a combined program is the right fit for you. Good luck searching and feel free to ask if you have more questions!
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