BA/MD & BS/MD PROGRAMS

updated: 3 March 2008

There are a small number of programs which combine undergraduate studies with an acceptance to medical school. The advantages of combined degree programs are, for the most part, the security of an acceptance to medical school and a rigorous, challenging undergraduate career.

Usually, these courses of study last from six to eight years. In all cases there will be a definition of satisfactory undergraduate performance and a requirement that students meet or exceed these expectations.

Stony Brook has a combined program that takes eight years to complete. Called the "Scholars for Medicine Program," it is run through the Stony Brook's Honors College.

You could view application to Scholars for Medicine as a three step process:

• application to Stony Brook
• application to the Honors College (combined SAT score of 1300 or above required)
• application to the Scholars for Medicine Program (combined SAT score of 1350 or above required)

If you are thinking about applying to one or more of these combined programs, keep in mind that entry is usually restricted to students entering as freshmen. As a rule, you cannot transfer into a combined BA/MD or BS/MD program. The Association of American Medical Colleges has a page listing BA/MD and BS/MD programs. If you are seriously looking into this option, you might consider buying or consulting (at your local library) the most recent MSAR, Medical School Admissions Requirements, since as of this writing (07/15/03) some of the links on the AAMC web page are outdated, and the list of programs does not appear to be entirely complete.

In Stony Brook's library, the call number for MSAR is R745.A8. The book is located in the reference section of the main library.