Insights From The 2022-23 BS/MD Admissions Cycle

By Brandie Erickson • May 5, 2023 • BS/MD Admissions Consulting College Application Press

As the application cycle winds down, students likely have already started committing to their top choice schools. This cycle has continued to change from the past years, particularly for students applying to BS/MD or direct medical programs. These programs, typically seven or eight years in length, allow a student to secure a spot in a medical school while still in high school. Ulta-competitive, these BS/MD programs aren’t offered at every university, but instead at a select few universities around the country. 

 

Because of the competitive nature of these programs, the smallest changes in requirements can determine whether or not a student is qualified for the program. This cycle brought about many changes as schools continue to navigate the pandemic. Here are the insights from the 2022-2023 direct medical school admissions cycle.

 

Some Schools Remained Test-Optional

BS/MD programs typically have stringent requirements for GPA and standardized tests, but some schools have broken with tradition and don’t require students to submit an SAT or ACT score. As students make their BS/MD lists, they should carefully review the application requirements for each BS/MD program because they could change from year to year. Just because a school is test-optional doesn’t mean that a student can apply to the direct medical program test-optional. 

 

The BS/MD and BS/DO programs at the following schools did not require students to submit an SAT or ACT score:

 

  • Brown University
  • Case Western Reserve University
  • Massachusetts College of Pharmacy Health Sciences 
  • Pitzer College
  • Penn State University
  • Temple University
  • University of Arizona
  • University of Connecticut
  • University of Pittsburgh
  • University of Rochester

 

New Programs And Program Cancellations

Each year, we see new programs popping up while other programs have been discontinued. One program that accepted its inaugural class was the University of California-Merced’s SJV PRIME+ | BS to MD Pathway. This program, which gives preference to applicants who are residents of and have ties to the San Joaquin Valley, California, will consider high school seniors with a minimum GPA of 3.6 and have selected a major in Biological Sciences, Bioengineering or Chemistry. 

 

Another new program will open its doors in 2024: “Pathway to Medicine” with Indiana University-Indianapolis and IU School of Medicine. The BS/MD program will have seven- and eight-year options for students. 

 

Conversely, two popular programs discontinued or paused their programs: Rice University and Boston University.

 

The full article can be found here.