Varun Srinivasan May 31, 2023 11 Brown University,Case Western Reserve University,Pre-Med,Seven Year Medical Programs

A Complete List of All BS/MD Programs in 2023

What’s Covered:

• What Are BS/MD Programs?
• Is a BS/MD Program Right for You?
• How Hard Is It to Get Into BS/MD Programs?
• List of All BS/MD Programs
• Top 10 BS/MD Programs

Are you interested in pursuing a career as a doctor? We have compiled a complete list of all BS/MD degree programs in the U.S. The list includes BS/MD programs offered at private universities, state universities, community colleges, liberal arts colleges, and other four-year degree programs (such as pharmacy or dental programs) where students are able to participate in dual-degree programs. Check out this complete list to kickstart your journey towards becoming a physician!

What Are BS/MD Programs?

BS/MD programs enable students to apply once to earn both a Bachelor of Science (BS) and a Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree. Typically, programs span eight years (4 undergrad + 4 med school), seven years (3 undergrad + 4 med school), or, less frequently, six years (2 undergrad + 4 med school).

Most often, the student gains both degrees at one university, but some programs pair degrees from two different schools. Be aware that the vast majority of the joint programs are small and have a very low acceptance rate, so they are not a guaranteed path for any high school student, no matter how strong a candidate the student is.

To learn more about BS/MD programs, watch one of our popular recorded live streams, led by a student in Boston University’s BS/MD program, or take a look at CollegeVine’s list of Best Colleges for Pre Med.

Is a BS/MD Program Right for You?

Many students are interested in BS/MD programs, which allow students to complete undergraduate and medical degree studies simultaneously. However, there are some pros and cons of this kind of program that you should consider before applying.

Pros

Guaranteed Admittance: Many applicants see themselves as competitive for admission into their school’s MD program. A BS/MD program is an easier path since you are guaranteed to be accepted into the medical school after your undergraduate degree.

Time Efficiency: Medical training can take up to 11 years, starting from four years of undergrad studies and then five years of medical school studies. If you are able to complete both degrees in six or seven years (and get a head start in your medical career), you will save both time and money.

Experience in Medicine: Medical school is extremely difficult, so the earlier you can get real-world experience, the better. You work with patients, doctors and nurses while completing your undergraduate training and gain valuable skills and knowledge that cannot be taught within the classroom alone.

Early Career Position: A BS/MD program offers the possibility to complete medical training one year sooner than students who pursue traditional undergraduate and MD programs. This can open doors for jobs that might otherwise be closed to you, such as working at a pharmaceutical company or becoming an attending physician at a hospital.

Cons

Less Freedom in Undergraduate Studies: You might have a very specific field of study that you enjoy and feel that is the best path for your career. A BS/MD program will require you to take requisite pre-med courses, which may not be relevant to your intended profession.

Greater Time Commitment: Not only are there more years required to obtain an undergraduate degree before medical school, but you will also be taking more courses than the average student at the same time. Many BS/MD programs require an extra course or two each semester, which can make it difficult to find the balance between work and play.

High Cost: Undergraduate studies and medical school are generally expensive on their own, so the six or seven years of a BS/MD program could cost even more. There are some scholarships and financial aid options available to students, but awards are often smaller than those in traditional four-year programs where there is still room for financial flexibility.

How Hard Is It to Get Into BS/MD Programs?

In a word, extremely. The BS/MD is the most sought after dual-degree program. Incoming classes are typically very small and acceptance rates very low, ranging from 1 to 10 percent.

Remember, many students mature and hit their stride in college, not high school. If your high school grades, test scores, and extracurricular activities are not stellar, the chances of you being accepted to a BS/MD program are much lower. If that description sounds like it could apply to you, perhaps you will be a stronger candidate for medical school after four years of college and on-the-job experience.

Also, most joint programs require interviews for students who make it to the semi-finalist stage of the process, so be sure you are ready to make your case for medical school as a 17-year-old high school student.

List of All BS/MD Programs

Study programs carefully. Note that some are targeted at specific demographics, such as students of color, first-generation students, or students from rural areas. Others pair undergraduate education in the U.S. with medical school in the Caribbean. Some programs do not guarantee admission to med school, but acceptance into the program greatly increases the likelihood of matriculation in the paired med school through exclusive opportunities for early application privileges.

Finally, be aware that all programs require undergrads to earn specific GPAs and some also require certain threshold grades on the MCAT to move on to the paired medical school. This is a long-term commitment! Some may also require specific GPAs and test scores from high school applicants.

Top 10 BS/MD Programs

If you’re looking for the very best BS/MD programs out there, here are our top 10 picks. This list was created based on:

• Prestige and rank of the undergraduate school
• Prestige and rank of the medical school
• Program selectivity
• Caliber of accepted students
• Length of the program

To see more rankings, see our list of the top 23 BS/MD programs.

1. Program in Liberal Medical Education (PLME)

Undergraduate School: Brown University

Medical School: The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University

Length: 8 years

Brown University’s eight-year combined medical program, known as Brown Medical School in the Ivy League, is the only one of its kind in the United States. Brown is perhaps best recognized for its implementation of the Open Curriculum, which allows students at the undergraduate institution to only enroll in courses that appeal to them. PLME does not force its students to take the MCAT, so as to provide them with academic freedom. The only academic criterion is that a minimum 3.0 GPA be maintained in biology courses.

The Alpert Medical School of Brown University, one of the most selective medical schools in the United States, offers the Scholarly Concentrations Program, which allows medical students to pursue a subject outside of the regular curriculum. Aging, bioinformatics, integrative medicine, and medical ethics are some of the available disciplines. Alpert also offers multiple M.D. dual-degree programs, including M.D./Ph.D., M.D./M.P.H., M.D./M.P.P. and M.D./M.P.A. programs.

Learn more about Brown University and see your chances of acceptance.

2. Pre-Professional Scholars Program (PPSP) in Medicine

Undergraduate School: Case Western Reserve University

Medical School: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

Length: 8 years

CWRU is a private institution located in Cleveland, OH. Students in this CWRU School of Medicine program must have a minimum GPA of 3.63—both overall and in math and science specifically—throughout their undergraduate career to graduate. The MCAT is not necessary, and no summer coursework is required since PPSP is not accelerated.

Students may choose from three different medical degree paths at the CWRU School of Medicine—the University Program (conventional four-year training), the College Program (which integrates research and clinical work), and the Medical Scientist Program (which combines an MD with a PhD).

Learn more about Case Western University and see your chances of acceptance.

3. Guaranteed Admission Program (GAP)

Undergraduate School: University of Pittsburgh

Medical School: University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

Length: 8 years

The Guaranteed Admissions Program (GAP) allows students to be promoted directly to the Pitt School of Medicine. Applicants must apply by November 1st of their senior year and must have a 1490 composite SAT score or 34 ACT score to be considered. Undergraduates in the GAP must maintain a 3.75 GPA in their undergraduate coursework and must seek out medically related experiences throughout their undergraduate years to remain eligible.

Learn more about the University of Pittsburgh and see your chances of acceptance.

4. Baylor2Baylor Medical Program

Undergraduate School: Baylor University

Medical School: Baylor College of Medicine

Length: 8 years

This program is only open to six high school students a year, and all of them are eligible for scholarships ranging from $12,000 to $40,000. Prospective students must have a high school GPA of 3.8 or be in the top 5% of their class. Baylor states that most applicants with above a 1430 on the SAT or 32 on the ACT are accepted, though there are no required scores.

In order to confirm provisional acceptance, Baylor2Baylor undergraduates must maintain a 3.5 GPA and achieve a 501-507 MCAT score. Baylor2Baylor students must also finish all pre-med requirements while attending college.

Learn more about Baylor University and see your chances of acceptance.

5. Rochester Early Medical Scholars (REMS)

Undergraduate School: University of Rochester

Medical School: University of Rochester School of Medicine

Length: 8 years

The most competitive combined-admission program at Rochester University, Rochester Early Medical Scholars (REMS), enables students to get a bachelor’s degree in addition to an MD in just eight years. Students who enroll in the REMS program do not have to spend their summer studying and can instead concentrate on research, clinical experience, seminars, and social gatherings. Additionally, because there are no required courses, students may study a wide range of subjects and even double- or triple-major in the REMS program.

Learn more about the University of Rochester and see your chances of acceptance.

6. Connections Dual Admissions (BS/MD) Program

Undergraduate School: University of Cincinnati

Medical School: University of Cincinnati College of Medicine

Length: 8 years

The Connections Dual Admissions Program offers students the opportunity to be admitted to both the University of Cincinnati’s undergraduate college and the College of Medicine. The program is dedicated to enrolling underrepresented students and is not an accelerated program.

To qualify for admission, applicants must achieve a minimum score of 1300 on the SAT or 29 on the ACT in a single sitting. After being accepted into the Connections Program, undergraduate students are required to maintain a minimum GPA of 3.5 and must take the MCAT exam.

Learn more about the University of Cincinnati and see your chances of acceptance.

7. Penn State Premedical-Medical (PMM) Program

Undergraduate School: Penn State University

Medical School: Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University

Length: 7 years

The PMM program is a seven-year joint program between Penn State University and Thomas Jefferson University’s Kimmel Medical College. The MCAT is a requirement for all PMM students—they must achieve at least a 504 composite on the MCAT (no lower than 126 on each component) and have a 3.5 GPA—to maintain high academic rigor.

Other colleges don’t offer a pre-medicine major; instead, they have separate pre-medical programs. Penn State, however, offers a Premedicine major that is meant to provide prospective medical school students with a wide-ranging interdisciplinary background.

Learn more about Penn State University and see your chances of acceptance.

8. Seven-Year Dual BA/MD Program with GW Columbian College of Arts and Sciences (George Washington University)

Undergraduate School: George Washington University 

Medical School: George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences 

Length: 7 years

Rather than a bachelor of science, the seven-year combined medical program at George Washington University offers students a bachelor of arts. The program requires students to apply in their senior year of high school. A small number of applicants will be selected to submit a second essay about their motivations for medicine and their interest in GW. Finally, selected applicants will participate in an interview.

Admission into the MD program is provisional rather than guaranteed. To be accepted to the MD program, students must maintain a minimum 3.60 overall GPA, have no grades of C or below in any science courses, provide an MCAT practice exam score from an online MCAT review, and participate in medically related service experiences during their time as an undergraduate at GW.

Learn more about George Washington University and see your chances of acceptance.

9. Temple University Pre-Med Health Scholar Program

Undergraduate School: Temple University

Medical School: Temple University School of Medicine

Length: 8 years, possibly 7 years (see website for more info)

Temple University’s Pre-Med Health Scholar Program can be completed in either 7 or 8 years, depending on your preferences and performance. Accepted Health Scholars can request consideration for the 3+4 accelerated track during their first undergraduate semester.

To be accepted to the Pre-Med Health Scholar Program, high school students must have four years of math and science classes, have an unweighted high school GPA of 3.8, and have demonstrated commitment to service/volunteer activities, as well as time as a volunteer in health care settings.

The program is test-optional and there is no stated SAT/ACT minimum for those who submit test scores. However, undergrads in the program must maintain a GPA of 3.6—both overall and in science courses—and earn a score of at least 509 (with no section less than 126) on the MCAT to confirm their provisional acceptance to the Temple University School of Medicine.

Learn more about Temple University and see your chances of acceptance.

10. Guaranteed Admission Program at Virginia Commonwealth University

Undergraduate School: Virginia Commonwealth University

Medical School: Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine

Length: 8 years

The Medical Program is VCU’s best-known Guaranteed Admissions program. VCU offers an eight-year program with provisional admission to the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine after four years of undergrad at VCU. High school applicants must have a minimum 3.5 unweighted GPA and an SAT score of 1330 or ACT score of 29. In the past, successful applicants have had an average of 450 hours of experience in medically related fields.

While in undergrad, Guaranteed Admissions Program students must maintain a 3.5 GPA and earn a score of 508 on the MCAT. VCU is also committed to making sure its students have relevant experience, requiring hours of community service and “healthcare related experiences” every semester.

Learn more about VCU and see your chances of acceptance.

Do You Have a Balanced College List?

It’s important to have a balanced college list to maximize your chances of getting into a school with a good fit for you. We recommend that students apply to 8-12 schools, with 25% being safety schools, 40% being target schools, and 35% being reach schools. Since all BS/MD programs are highly selective—and, therefore, reach schools for everyone—you should include some schools that are less competitive on your list.

CollegeVine’s free chancing calculator is a useful tool for gauging your chances of acceptance at over 1,500 schools. Using factors like GPA, test scores, and extracurricular activities, our chancing engine can not only help you assess your odds of acceptance, but also highlight areas for improvement.

While we can’t yet estimate your chances of getting into BS/MD programs, we can help you understand your chances of getting in as a regular undergrad, which can help you build a balanced school list.