Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DD graduated from VCU BS/MD program in 2014. She is now doing her neurosurgery specialty in FL. She is so tired of everything now and wished she could have studied something else. BS/MD is hard on a person physically and mentally. It is not for everyone.

That describes most residents in a grueling speciality, regardless of whether they did a combined program or the more traditional route.

I think PP's point is that it makes it even more difficult.

Why/how?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My DD graduated from VCU BS/MD program in 2014. She is now doing her neurosurgery specialty in FL. She is so tired of everything now and wished she could have studied something else. BS/MD is hard on a person physically and mentally. It is not for everyone.

That describes most residents in a grueling speciality, regardless of whether they did a combined program or the more traditional route.

I think PP's point is that it makes it even more difficult.

Anonymous wrote:My DD graduated from VCU BS/MD program in 2014. She is now doing her neurosurgery specialty in FL. She is so tired of everything now and wished she could have studied something else. BS/MD is hard on a person physically and mentally. It is not for everyone.

That describes most residents in a grueling speciality, regardless of whether they did a combined program or the more traditional route.

I have 2 classmates from high school who did this. They did SUNY Downstate in NY. They both always knew they wanted to be Drs. [One we called Dr as a nickname in High School]

I know for both, finances played into the equation.

My DD graduated from VCU BS/MD program in 2014. She is now doing her neurosurgery specialty in FL. She is so tired of everything now and wished she could have studied something else. BS/MD is hard on a person physically and mentally. It is not for everyone.

Accelerated programs aren’t less credits or class hours, you simply attend each summer. That can be intense.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Advantage: you’re a solid 3-5 years ahead of your peers. Done with residency before you’re 30. Residency won’t conflict with starting a family (a huuuuuuuge issue for women doctors).

Disadvantage: extremely difficult to get into these programs.

It’s two years ahead

Also being done with residency by 30 is not necessarily true. Many fields now require 5-7 years of training unless you do primary care

Anonymous wrote:Advantage: you’re a solid 3-5 years ahead of your peers. Done with residency before you’re 30. Residency won’t conflict with starting a family (a huuuuuuuge issue for women doctors).

Disadvantage: extremely difficult to get into these programs.

It’s two years ahead

Generally these combined programs has stipulations. You have to maintain a certain GPA and in some cases you need to get a certain score on the MCAT. So look at the fine print.

Anonymous wrote:Ugh. Previous poster. Sorry for all typos. Should read "my physician husband had always wished he took time off between college and med school"

I agree but it won't stop some of these crazy parents from pushing their kids. It's another bragging right for them - a trophy horse!

Ugh. Previous poster. Sorry for all typos. Should read "my physician husband had always wished he took time off between college and med school"

My physician phi and has always wished he had taken time off between college and med school. Many people do. Think about it: Once you get on that intense conveyor belt: college-->med school-->residency-->fellowship-->intense job, you never get off. There's something to be said for having a year (or three or six months) to travel, or a few years in a different job or just be less in a less INTENSE environment in your young adulthood then on the go, go, go track the entire time.

This is a great fit for some (type A, intense or whatever) but not as great a fit for others. My husband always wished he had "lived a little" in his early 20s. he saw many around him (in medical school/residency) who did this and seemed much happier.

Anonymous wrote:Op, wait and see if your student has a choice
- then, you can debate the best decision. When there exists an actual decision

Yeah, it's always best to do no research in advance and make last minute decisions.

Op, wait and see if your student has a choice
- then, you can debate the best decision. When there exists an actual decision

^^that is the BA/MD program at Brown.