What are some good BS/MD programs in the US and how hard are they to get into?

Congratulations on some excellent stats! You've clearly worked hard, and whether or not you get into a BS/MD program, you have the potential for a very bright academic career. As far as BS/MD programs go, they are among the most competitive undergraduate admissions tracks in the country because they offer students a guaranteed spot in medical school right out of high school, and some even offer the chance for families to save an entire year of tuition through a 7-year program instead of the usual 8-year track.

A few of the most prestigious and recognized BS/MD (and equivalent) programs in the US include:

- Brown University’s Program in Liberal Medical Education (https://plme.med.brown.edu/)
- Case Western Reserve University’s Pre-Professional Scholars Program (https://case.edu/admission/academics/pre-professional-programs)
- University of Rochester’s Rochester Early Medical Scholars Program (https://admissions.rochester.edu/academics/rems/)
- The Penn State-Jefferson Accelerated Premedical-Medical Program (https://science.psu.edu/interdisciplinary-programs/premed-med-bsmd/admission-requirements)
- Stony Brook's Scholars for Medicine Program (https://renaissance.stonybrookmedicine.edu/admissions/scholars)
- George Washington's Seven-Year Dual BA/MD Program (https://smhs.gwu.edu/academics/md-program/admissions/dual-programs/bamd)
- The Northwestern Undergraduate Premedical Scholars Program (https://catalogs.northwestern.edu/undergraduate/dual-graduate-undergraduate-degrees/premedical-scholars-program/)

Competition for these programs is fierce, and is only growing more so as several programs have closed in recent years (including those at WashU and Rice). Even a few years ago, Brown’s PLME acceptance rate was below 3%, while many other BS/MD programs admit fewer than 20 students from thousands of applicants, with the highest acceptance rates topping out around 8%.

Your GPA (3.95 UW, 4.5 W) and science-heavy APs put you in a solid academic position. However, since most serious applicants have top stats, what truly distinguishes a candidate is the depth and uniqueness of their extracurriculars, and the admissions narrative that each element of their application comes together to form. You have hospital volunteering, a doctor shadowing experience, and HOSA involvement—these are strong foundations. They show that you are compassionate, dedicated, and community-oriented.

You have two options: you could either try to fill the hole of academic exceptionalism by acquiring some research experience, or you could build on your community experiences to deepen and enrich that aspect of your application. Honestly, if you can, it'd be ideal to pursue both approaches, and simply decide which one you want to put the most weight behind. Both approaches have merit, and your focus ought to depend on what your ultimate goal is and where your passions lie. Do you want to be a research doctor? Do you want to work in family medicine? Do you have a particular community you want to support through your medical work?

To stand out, try:
- RESEARCH: you are correct that this is a significant factor. In fact, all of the students I've worked with who've been successful in their BS/MD applications in the past three years have had at least one summer research position at a university or medical center. This doesn't need to be published, but it's valuable to just to show the drive and curiosity necessary to successfully participate in clinical or bench research.
- COMMUNITY SERVICE: continued and meaningful community service demonstrates why this school should give you this opportunity by showing them the good you plan to do with your degree. This is particularly helpful if you design and lead your own initiative (e.g., creating a health education program for local youth, organizing health fairs, or advocating for under-served communities).
- SHADOWING: This shows initiative and curiosity, and in some cases it can even lead to direct skills, depending on where and who you are shadowing. I recommend shadowing a variety of specialties and reflecting on those contrasting perspectives in your essays.
- CLUBS & LEADERSHIP: Deepening leadership in medical-related clubs (in your case, it'd be a good idea to transition to leadership role in HOSA, since you've already got some experience there).

Different programs weigh research and service differently. For example, Case Western loves research, while Baylor values a holistic, well-rounded applicant. It’s worth tailoring your application essays to each program’s stated values. If you can, talk to school reps at your local college fair to get an even more in-depth view of what that school wants.

These programs are not all created equal either; check out what requirements each program needs you to meet in order for you to maintain your acceptance to their partnered medical school. It's also worth looking into local schools, since many public institutions will give strong preference to local students. Then there are a whole range of medical schools that allow you to apply as early as your sophomore year of college if you attend a participating university, such as Boston University School of Medicine's EMSSP program or Tufts University School of Medicine's Early Assurance Program.

I cannot give you more specific advice on which programs to apply to without knowing more about your specific goals and application strengths.

One of my students who was accepted to Temple University’s BS/MD program focused on her long-standing fascination with pathogens; she conducted summer research on contagion patterns and wrote essays showing how she wanted to combine her love for computer science and public health through big data analysis, work that would only be possible if she first earned her medical degree. Her strong academics were necessary, but this unique angle helped her stand out.

Finally, apply broadly. The successful BS/MD applicant's profile often includes a 4.0 GPA (typically unweighted), top percentile SAT/ACT scores, and an extensive resume of healthcare-related experiences. Several students I've worked with have reached out to me early to begin preparing for BS/MD programs their sophomore year of high school. All of which I say not to discourage you, but rather to frame these applications as what they are: extraordinarily competitive to the point that there is no guarantee of admission, no matter what an excellent candidate you are. I would strongly recommend pursuing these applications as a desirable path forward, without setting your whole heart and soul on acceptance. There are other ways to become a doctor, and in several cases I've had students receive admission to a BS/MD program at a Tier 2 medical school, only to decide instead to attend a Tier 1 undergraduate school.

If you need more targeted advice on how to strengthen your profile for specific programs, it can help to look at each program’s admitted student profile or talk to recent admits. And make sure your essays and interviews clearly demonstrate not just your academic achievement, but the genuine reasons you want to pursue medicine from high school forward!