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BS/MD Programs: The Definitive Guide to Getting In
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BS/MD Programs: The Definitive Guide to Getting In

Written by
International Medical AID
on April 5th, 2026

READING TIME
39 minutes

Here at International Medical Aid, we talk a lot about getting into medical school. It’s one of the main things we do as part of our pre-med advising and med school admissions consulting. Instead of discussing a single medical school, this guide focuses on a specific kind of medical school program that high school students and their families should know about.

Has your child wanted to be a doctor since they were little? Have you ever wondered if they could skip all the medical school applications? Have you thought of how great it would be if they could get right into medical school out of high school?

Well, it turns out, a medical school program like that does exist. It’s known as a BS/MD program, and selective schools across the country offer this program. Baylor, Brown, Drexel, and George Washington are just a few.

Enrolling in a BS/MD program isn’t for everyone, but it is for some students. In this article, primarily written for parents, we’re going to discuss everything there is to know about BS/MD programs in 2026, including updated acceptance rates, tuition figures, program changes, and what the application process looks like right now.

All About BS/MD Programs in 2026

  • What is a BS/MD program
  • Is a BS/MD program right for my child?
  • How hard is it to get into a BS/MD program?
  • How much does a BS/MD program cost?
  • Are there BS/DO programs?
  • What’s changed for 2026 applicants?

The Key Steps to Getting Into a BS/MD Program

  • Extracurricular Activities
  • Supplemental Essays (with Samples!)
  • Common Interview Questions
  • The CASPer Exam from Acuity Insights

Applying to a BS/MD Program

  • Application Timeline
  • Choosing the Right Program
  • Full List of BS/MD Programs

There’s a lot to cover, so let’s get started.

What Is a BS/MD Program?

A BS/MD program is specifically designed for a student who knows that they want to study medicine. It’s a direct medical program. This means that, immediately after earning their bachelor’s degree, your child will start their MD education without going through a separate admissions process. They won’t have to go through the regular application process that most MD candidates go through.

This might sound great. It will save you and your child a lot of time and anxiety! But it’s very difficult to get into a BS/MD program. Acceptance rates range anywhere from under one percent to about 10 percent, which is on par with, or even lower than, most Ivy League schools.

For the 2025-2026 admissions cycle, many top BS/MD programs reported acceptance rates closer to 1 to 5 percent. According to College Transitions, the most competitive BS/MD programs actually have lower acceptance rates than the regular undergraduate admissions process at schools like Stanford (3.9%), Harvard (3.6%), and Columbia (3.9%). The University of Rochester’s BS/MD program, for example, has a sub-1% acceptance rate. Brown’s PLME hovers around 2 to 3 percent. Florida Atlantic University’s program was reported at 1.86%. These numbers reflect growing interest in direct medical programs and an increasingly competitive applicant pool. Several schools noted that they received record-breaking numbers of applications, especially from students with near-perfect academic records and extensive clinical experience. With that in mind, it’s essential for applicants to go far beyond strong grades alone.

So, how do BS/MD programs work? A BS/MD program is formed when an undergraduate school and a medical school form a partnership. Some of these partnerships are kept in-house, meaning that the university has a medical school that partners with other colleges within the university. Other universities partner with an outside medical school to make this partnership a reality. This partnership gives your child simultaneous acceptance to both schools.

Now, while getting accepted into a BS/MD program saves your child from going through yet another admissions process, it’s not like a dual-degree program that condenses their education into five years. Most BS/MD programs take eight years to complete (four years of undergraduate study followed by four years of medical school). You’ll find the occasional exception. Seven-year programs, like those at Drexel and Boston University, compress the undergraduate portion into three years. Six-year programs exist at a small number of schools, including the University of Missouri-Kansas City and Howard University, which compress the timeline even further. You won’t find anything shorter than six years because there’s a lot to cover, and a program can only handle so much material at once. If your child is interested in accelerated medical school timelines, it’s worth understanding how these compare to traditional three-year MD programs as well.

The curriculum for most BS/MD programs requires pre-med science courses during your child’s undergraduate education. Some schools allow undergrads to pick any major, as long as they complete pre-med requirements. Brown’s PLME, for example, is well known for allowing students to major in anything from English to Engineering. Other schools require a science-related undergrad major to prepare students for the rigor of medical school and to keep them focused on their long-term goals. Drexel’s program, by contrast, is limited to majors in Biomedical Engineering, Engineering, Biology, Chemistry, and Psychology. If your child wants to be a Humanities major before going to medical school, they’ll need to apply to BS/MD programs that allow that.

Is a BS/MD Program Right for My Child?

The answer to this question will be different for every student. In this section, we’ll discuss all the factors you and your child will need to consider.

Avoiding the MCAT
If you’re selective enough, you can find BS/MD programs that don’t require your child to take the MCAT. The MCAT is required for 99.99% of all medical schools. The stress is almost completely unavoidable. Your child’s score on this test matters. So, avoiding it is a big deal. But keep in mind that avoiding the MCAT is a sweet enough deal to make those programs extremely competitive.

It’s worth noting that many BS/MD programs still require the MCAT, but set a minimum score threshold rather than using the score competitively. For example, the Baylor2Baylor program requires a minimum MCAT score of 508, with no section below 125. Drexel requires a minimum of 128 in each section. George Washington’s early selection pathway requires at least a 514. Meeting these thresholds is mandatory to continue into the medical school portion of the program. In other words, the MCAT doesn’t go away for most BS/MD students; it just plays a different role.

No Separate Application Process
Instead of having a separate application for medical school, the secondary essays and interview are rolled into the undergraduate admissions process. This means that your child will interview for medical school at the same time as they apply for their undergraduate education. Now, a high school senior doesn’t have the same maturity level as a twenty-something nearing the end of their degree. For this reason, the essay requirements aren’t quite as rigorous. If your child needs help putting pen to paper, reach out to us. We help students with their medical school essays every day. It’s part of our pre-med advising.

Less Stress Down the Road
Avoiding the MCAT isn’t guaranteed. Some BS/MD programs require the exam of all undergraduate students. For schools that require it, a minimum score is often required. While this can be stressful, your child can focus on studying for the exam and meeting that score requirement instead of trying to decide which medical schools to apply to. Stress will always be present when it comes to medical school, but it’s a lot less stressful.

Less of a Selection to Choose From
While there are pros to BS/MD programs, there are also cons. Part of the excitement of college is deciding where to go. Touring campuses, exploring different towns and researching curricular options are all part of the excitement. Not every high school student is ready to commit to spending their entire education at one institution.

Some BS/MD programs will allow you to apply to outside medical schools. But other schools won’t. If accepted, you must attend that medical school unless you drop out (which doesn’t look good). Even if your child doesn’t mind committing to a single medical school, the selection is still slim. There aren’t that many schools that offer BS/MD programs, and the landscape shifts from year to year. Several programs have been suspended or discontinued in recent cycles, which we’ll discuss below.

Deciding Too Early
Like we said at the beginning of this article, your child might know they want to be a doctor. But what if they’re not 100% certain? Being good at science doesn’t guarantee that they want to be a doctor. And what happens if, partway through their bachelor’s degree, they change their mind and don’t want to attend medical school anymore?

BS/MD programs are for students who want to become doctors. If your child isn’t sure if they want to become a doctor, they’re better off applying to regular, undergraduate programs. There are way more options, and the admissions criteria aren’t nearly as strict.

If your child thinks they want to be a doctor but they lack the commitment, we recommend shadowing a doctor. Seeing a doctor in action will help them decide if medicine is right for them. Pre-med summer programs for high school students can also give your child structured exposure to clinical settings before they make a commitment this significant.

How Hard Is It to Get Into a BS/MD Program?

So, exactly how hard is it to get into a BS/MD program? It’s hard. The acceptance rate for every BS/MD program is on par with, or more competitive than, the Ivy Leagues of America. Acceptance rates range from under 1% to about 10%, with most top programs sitting in the 1 to 5 percent range. That means that 90 to 99% of students who apply to BS/MD programs don’t get in.

To put this in concrete terms: Brown’s PLME admitted about 94 students out of roughly 2,650 applicants for a recent entering class, an acceptance rate of approximately 3%. The University of Rochester’s Early Medical Scholars Program has a sub-1% acceptance rate. The Baylor2Baylor program admits only six students per year.

To get in, your child will need to be at the top of their game. That means their GPA should be as high as possible (most admitted students have a 3.8 or above, often weighted above 4.0), their standardized test scores should be strong (SAT 1450+ or ACT 32+ as a starting point, with top programs seeing averages much higher), their extracurriculars should show commitment, and their application should be strong across every dimension. Drexel’s admitted BS/MD students for Fall 2025, for instance, had an average GPA of 4.26 and an average SAT of 1538 or ACT of 34.

How Much Does a BS/MD Program Cost in 2026?

There is no single answer for how much a BS/MD program will cost. There are too many variables to consider. In-state tuition can save thousands, while the prestige of a private university can allure the straight-A student who wants to make a name for themselves.

To give you a sense of range: the Scholars for Medicine program at Stony Brook University is one of the most affordable options if you’re a New York resident. In-state undergraduate tuition and fees at Stony Brook are approximately $10,931 per year for the 2025-2026 academic year. That’s a fraction of what you’d pay at a private institution. However, living in New York is expensive, so cost of living is another factor to consider. And the medical school portion at Stony Brook runs approximately $50,958 per year for in-state residents.

On the other end of the spectrum, the Early Medical Scholars Program at the University of Rochester costs approximately $67,080 per year for undergraduate tuition alone, and medical school tuition at Rochester runs about $75,690 per year for the 2025-2026 academic year. The total estimated cost for four years of medical school at Rochester is approximately $347,000. Brown’s PLME comes with an undergraduate cost of attendance of about $93,164 per year and a first-year medical school cost of attendance around $108,070. George Washington University’s undergraduate tuition for 2026-2027 will be $72,000.

Our best advice is to check with Financial Aid. Every BS/MD program will come with a Financial Aid office that has the information you need. Some schools will be in your price range while others will be too expensive. But consider scholarships, grants and student loans before nixing a school because of the price tag. Many students can attend schools they otherwise wouldn’t be able to afford because of financial aid.

Financial Aid Considerations for BS/MD Students

Because BS/MD programs span six to eight years, the total cost of education can be substantial. A student in an eight-year program at a private university might face total costs exceeding $500,000 by the time they finish. Even at a public university, costs can climb well above $200,000 for the combined undergraduate and medical school portions.

There are several things to keep in mind when evaluating the financial side of these programs:

Merit scholarships during the undergraduate phase. Some BS/MD programs come with scholarship packages tied to the program itself. Others don’t, but your child may still qualify for institutional merit aid based on their academic profile. Since BS/MD students tend to have very strong academic records, they are often competitive for the school’s top merit awards.

Financial aid recalculation for medical school. Even if your child receives a generous undergraduate aid package, financial aid for the medical school phase is calculated separately, often under different formulas. Don’t assume that an affordable undergraduate experience means the medical school portion will be equally affordable. Ask each program specifically about how aid transitions from the undergraduate years to the medical school years.

Federal loan limits. Federal student loans for medical students are capped at certain amounts per year. For the 2025-2026 academic year, the annual limit for Direct Unsubsidized Loans for graduate and professional students is $40,500, and the aggregate limit for Grad PLUS loans is based on cost of attendance minus other aid. Your family should understand these limits early so there are no surprises.

Loan forgiveness programs. After medical school, graduates who work in underserved areas or for qualifying public service employers may be eligible for the federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program. The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) also offers loan repayment assistance for physicians who serve in Health Professional Shortage Areas. These programs can significantly offset the cost of medical education over time, but they require specific employment commitments.

The bottom line: don’t let sticker price alone determine which programs your child considers. But do your homework. Ask detailed questions about aid during both phases of the program, and make sure you understand the total financial picture before committing.

Are There BS/DO Programs?

Yes, there are! There aren’t as many BS/DO programs as there are BS/MD programs, but they are out there. The competition isn’t quite as fierce. Of course, your child will need to be interested in osteopathic medicine to consider applying to a BS/DO program. If allopathic medicine is their interest, then this wouldn’t be a good route for them to take. If your child is still sorting out the differences, our guide on MD vs. DO explains the major distinctions clearly.

If your child would be happy practicing any kind of medicine, but they don’t have the grades they want, a BS/DO program would be a good choice. Their chances of getting in are slightly higher. We recommend having at least a 3.5/4.0 GPA to apply to a BS/DO program.

The other reason to apply to a BS/DO program is if your child understands the difference between allopathic and osteopathic medicine, and wants to practice osteopathic medicine. In that case, they should be seeking out BS/DO programs.

For the 2025-2026 cycle, notable BS/DO programs include the New York Institute of Technology (NYIT) College of Osteopathic Medicine, which offers a seven-year combined program, and the Rutgers University-Camden/Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine seven-year BS/DO program. Nova Southeastern University in Florida also offers a combined pathway. Your child should confirm current availability directly with each school, as BS/DO program offerings can change from year to year.

What’s Changed for 2026 BS/MD Applicants

The BS/MD landscape is not static. Programs open, close, and change their requirements regularly. If your child is applying for the 2026-2027 admissions cycle, here are the most important things to know.

Program suspensions and closures. Several well-known BS/MD programs have been suspended or discontinued in recent years. Boston University’s Seven-Year Liberal Arts/Medical Education Program (FLAME) has been suspended. The University of Nevada-Reno’s BS/MD program has been paused for evaluation. The University of Florida’s program was discontinued after the 2024-2025 cycle. And according to the AAMC, the Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School combined program was set to continue for 2024 and 2025 only. If your child had a specific program on their list, verify its status directly with the school before investing time in an application.

Growing applicant pools. Across the board, BS/MD programs are seeing more applicants than ever. This trend has been building for several years and shows no signs of slowing down. The increased volume makes every program more competitive, even those that were already among the most selective in the country. Applicants need to bring more than strong grades; they need genuine clinical exposure, thoughtful essays, and a clear understanding of why they want to commit to medicine at age 17 or 18.

Standardized testing requirements returning. After a period during which some programs went test-optional, several have reinstated standardized test score requirements. Brown’s PLME, for example, reinstated the requirement to submit SAT or ACT scores starting in the 2024-2025 cycle. Students should plan to take the SAT or ACT seriously and aim for scores well above the minimum thresholds.

New situational judgment test requirements. George Washington University now requires applicants to take the AAMC PREview Professional Readiness Exam, a situational judgment test that assesses pre-professional competencies. This is separate from the CASPer exam and represents a newer approach some schools are taking to evaluate non-academic qualities in applicants.

The AAMC maintains an official list of combined baccalaureate-MD programs organized by state and program length, updated annually. We strongly recommend checking that list as part of your research.

The Key Steps to Getting Into a BS/MD Program

Now that we’ve looked at the details of BS/MD programs, let’s look at the key steps your child should take to get into one of these programs. Remember, it isn’t easy.

Extracurricular Activities

Extracurricular activities are very important for BS/MD programs. The admissions committees at the programs to which you apply will want to see dedication to the medical field. If your child applies with no volunteer or shadowing experience, that doesn’t show the necessary level of commitment.

Having said that, we don’t recommend dabbling in everything just to show interest. That shows that your child’s interests are all over the place, or that they’re just volunteering for the sake of their application. Those aren’t the right reasons. The admissions committee might decide that it’s premature for them to be applying to a BS/MD program.

Instead, we recommend having them find their passion. Once they find what they love, they’ll be eager to volunteer. Consistently volunteering for an entire school year shows the dedication needed to get into a BS/MD program.

Are you stumped? Not sure where to get started? Look at your child’s interests and consider how medicine could be related. If your daughter loves spending time with her grandparents, have her volunteer at an assisted living center or a nursing home. She’ll be within her comfort zone while also branching out. Our guide for high schoolers participating in pre-med programs has additional ideas for building meaningful experience early. You can also contact us. Our pre-med advising includes talking to parents about BS/MD programs.

What Admissions Committees Want to See Beyond Grades

Because BS/MD programs are admitting students who are essentially committing to a medical career before they’ve even started college, admissions committees look for something beyond academic excellence. They want evidence that your child has thought seriously about medicine and has the personal qualities to sustain that commitment over six to eight years.

Here’s what strong applicants typically demonstrate:

Sustained clinical exposure. This doesn’t mean your child needs hundreds of hours. It means they’ve had consistent, meaningful contact with healthcare settings. Shadowing a physician over several months, volunteering weekly at a clinic or hospital, or participating in a structured clinical observation program all count. The key word is sustained. A single afternoon at a hospital won’t tell an admissions committee much.

Genuine reflection on what they’ve seen. Your child should be able to talk about specific moments from their clinical exposure that shaped their thinking. What surprised them? What was harder than they expected? What made them more certain, or less certain, about medicine? Programs want students who are reflective, not just students who checked a box.

Leadership and initiative. Admissions committees like to see students who have started something, led something, or taken responsibility for something meaningful. This could be founding a health-related club, organizing a community health event, or taking a leadership role in an existing organization. It doesn’t have to be medical; it just needs to be real.

Research experience (for top-tier programs). Some of the most competitive BS/MD programs, particularly at research-intensive universities, value research experience highly. This could include participation in a science fair, a summer research internship at a university lab, or an independent project supervised by a teacher or mentor. If your child has published findings or presented at a conference, that’s a significant differentiator.

Maturity and self-awareness. This is the hardest quality to quantify, but it matters. Admissions committees are essentially asking: “Is this 17-year-old ready to commit to becoming a doctor?” Your child needs to convey that they understand what they’re signing up for, that they’ve thought about the alternatives, and that they’re choosing this path deliberately. If your child is still building that understanding, the role of mentorship in pre-clinical programs for high schoolers is worth reading.

Supplemental Essays

Even though BS/MD programs allow your child to bypass the traditional application process, they still have to write the essays. But a high school senior will have more limited experience than a college senior. So, the essay questions will be geared toward a high school student.

Here are some examples of the types of questions you’ll be asked.

  • Why our school?

    With how selective and competitive BS/MD programs are, it’s important to research the schools to which you’re applying. After researching a school, you should have an idea of whether it would be a good fit. So, for this essay, discuss what the school is known for and how your interests make you a good fit. Talk about how the school can help you realize your dreams, but also how you can contribute to the school.
  • Why medicine?

    This might seem like a tricky question because of how simple and straightforward it appears to be. Your child might feel like they have to come up with a fancy answer to impress the admissions committee. But that’s not at all the case. Your child just needs to give an honest answer for why they want to study medicine. It could be the inspiration of a mentor in their life. It could be their love of all things biology. It could be a career path where they think they can thrive. There are a million different reasons they could give. None of them are wrong.
  • Why osteopathic medicine? (for BS/DO applicants)

    This is a question you’ll see for BS/DO programs. The admissions committee wants to make sure that your child understands the difference between osteopathic and allopathic medicine. The approaches between BS/MD and BS/DO programs are very different, so it’s an important distinction to make from the start. For more on how these pathways compare, see our overview of MD vs. DO pathways for pre-health students.
  • What experiences in high school have encouraged your desire to become a doctor?

    This question seeks to explore how your child’s education has impacted them. Were they in a science club at school? Did they ace biology? Did they lead a group project? There are many ways to go about answering this question. We recommend picking a couple of different experiences and discussing them.

Sample Essays

Why medicine?

I’ve wanted to practice medicine since eighth grade when my grandma was diagnosed with breast cancer. She had taken all the right steps. She never missed a mammogram. She checked herself for lumps every single day. And she followed dietary and exercise advice from her physicians. But she still got breast cancer, and there was no “answer” for why.

I want to practice medicine so that I can better understand “why” for myself. I doubt I’ll find the cure for cancer during my career as a doctor. But I believe that my understanding of medicine will help me cope with diagnoses like my grandmother’s.

Thankfully, Grandma beat breast cancer and has continued taking the same proactive approaches she always has. She always tells me, “If the cancer comes back, I’m ready to attack.” I want to attack cancer, too. That’s why I want to become a doctor.

This answer isn’t nearly as in-depth as some of the sample essays we’ve provided in our medical school guides. That’s because this is a high school student talking to an admissions committee. The student lacks the experience to go into more detail.

Why not go the traditional route and apply for medical school later on?

I know I want to be a doctor. I’ve known for several years now. It started with examining microscopic cells in ninth grade. I was fascinated by how cells interact, and what the result of those interactions are.

I went to a private school in high school, and I had the opportunity to go on a field trip to a doctor’s office. While there, they showed us how they tested mucus samples against different bacteria to see if a patient had, say, strep throat or RSV. That piqued my interest because it was so similar to what I had done in the lab. I realized that my fascination with the microscope could be applied in a real-world setting.

I’m applying to BS/MD programs and regular undergraduate programs because I want to get through the admissions process as quickly as possible. It would be incredible to know that I’m accepted into medical school when I begin my undergraduate studies. It would give me peace of mind and allow me to focus on studying Biology and learning about everything I can under the microscope.

This is another example of a great essay. The student displays confidence and a direct understanding of science. These two elements form a strong reason for why they want to get into a BS/MD program. This student is also very smart. He’s applying to BS/MD programs and regular programs because he knows how important a safety net is.

So, what will an admissions committee expect of a high school student? The essay should be high quality. It should be free from typos, sentence fragments and comma splices. It should demonstrate a solid understanding of the question being asked and should contain a complete answer.

If your child needs any help writing their essays, we can help. IMA offers pre-med advising and med school admissions consulting to help your child make their application as strong as possible. We offer both hourly consulting and tiered packages. Get started here.

Common BS/MD Interview Questions

While not every undergraduate program requires students to interview to secure their spot in the program, most BS/MD programs do. You’re bypassing a separate admissions process down the road. Because of that, some of those requirements are combined with regular undergrad requirements. It requires more effort than some non-science undergraduate programs.

So, how do you prepare for an interview at sixteen or seventeen? Knowing the questions in advance is the first step. You might not know the exact questions you’ll be asked. But it’s like studying for the SAT or ACT. The more you study, the more familiar you become with the types of questions you’ll be asked. That studying prepares you by helping you anticipate what’s to come. There’s an element of uncertainty, but you’re as prepared as you can be.

Here are some of the interview questions you might be asked:

  • Why do you want to become a doctor?

    This question is another spin on the “Why medicine?” question. It can be approached similarly. Instead of focusing on why medicine interests you, focus on why you want to practice medicine for your career. Maybe you said that you were fascinated by how cancer cells metastasize. Now you can say that you want to become a doctor to keep those cancer cells from metastasizing. You want to learn a skillset and gain knowledge that will help you save lives.
  • Describe the medical experiences you’ve had thus far.

    These experiences could range from volunteer time at a nursing home to helping organize a blood drive. If there’s a medical aspect to anything you’ve been involved in, it’s fair game. Your child could talk about getting vaccinated as a high school student, describing the experience and why they chose to be vaccinated. Your child could talk about donating blood with the Red Cross to help save other peoples’ lives. Everyday experiences can be turned into meaningful answers.
  • Why are you applying to BS/MD programs? What interests you?

    This question basically asks why your child isn’t going the traditional route: undergraduate studies first, then applying to medical school. An honest answer is all that’s needed. Applying to medical school later on might feel daunting; they want to get the whole process out of the way if they can. Or perhaps they know what they want to do for a living and it just makes sense to them to apply now. Whatever your child’s reason is, they just need to explain it.
  • Tell us what specifically interests you about our program.

    This is another one of those questions where knowledge of the program is essential. Before your interview, you should have researched the school you’re interviewing with; you should have detailed knowledge of what the program offers. If the program doesn’t have what you’re looking for, then it’s best to look at other schools.
  • Why not go through the traditional medical school route?

    This is a valid question. Application to a BS/MD program can almost seem like a special pass exempting your child from a ton of stress in four years.

    At the same time, not all students should bypass the traditional route. Thousands of students successfully go through the traditional route and go on to become wonderful doctors. So, this is a question that deserves some thought. Having said that, don’t overthink it. If your child wants to apply to a BS/MD program, it won’t hurt them. Receiving a rejection letter is the worst that can happen.

Preparing for MMI-Format Interviews

In addition to traditional one-on-one interviews, some BS/MD programs now use Multiple Mini Interviews (MMIs) as part of their admissions process. MMIs are structured like a series of brief, timed scenarios that assess a student’s ethical reasoning, professionalism, empathy, and ability to think under pressure.

Unlike traditional interviews, which are conversational, MMIs simulate real-world clinical and ethical dilemmas. Your child might be presented with a scenario where two ethical principles conflict, such as patient autonomy versus public safety. They’ll have a short time to read the prompt, think through their response, and then discuss it with an evaluator. Each station is independent, so a weak performance at one station won’t necessarily sink the whole interview.

The best way to prepare for MMIs is to practice responding to ethical scenarios under time pressure. Have your child read a short scenario, take 60 to 90 seconds to organize their thoughts, and then explain their reasoning out loud for about five minutes. The goal isn’t to give the “right” answer; it’s to demonstrate thoughtful, structured reasoning and genuine empathy. Medical ethics case studies, which are widely available from organizations like the American Medical Association, are excellent practice material.

The CASPer Exam from Acuity Insights

Getting into a BS/MD program is mostly about your child’s grades, scores and extracurricular activities. But it’s not all about that. Who your child is and how they’ll work with others in a healthcare setting also matter. That’s where the CASPer exam from Acuity Insights (formerly known as Altus Assessments) comes in.

CASPer is not the kind of test your child will study for in the traditional sense. It’s a situational judgment test. Your child will watch video scenarios and respond to typed and video prompts within a limited amount of time. Their responses should reflect what they would do in a real-life setting.

Important changes for 2025-2026: The CASPer test has been shortened by approximately 20%. The total test time is now 65 to 85 minutes, down from 90 to 110 minutes in prior years. The number of scenarios has been reduced from 14 to 11. Each test now consists of 4 video-response scenarios and 7 typed-response scenarios, with 2 questions per scenario. Additionally, the Snapshot video component has been phased out and is no longer required for the 2025-2026 application cycle.

Some, but not all, BS/MD programs require students to take the CASPer exam. If your child is applying to one of the following schools, they’ll need to take CASPer:

  • Drexel University
  • Hofstra University
  • Marshall University
  • Texas Tech University
  • University of Illinois at Chicago

Note that George Washington University now requires the AAMC PREview exam rather than CASPer. PREview is a separate situational judgment test developed by the AAMC that assesses pre-professional competencies. If your child is applying to GW’s BA/MD program, they should register for PREview instead of (or in addition to) CASPer, depending on their full school list.

Always check each program’s current requirements directly, as testing requirements can change from one admissions cycle to the next.

Applying to a BS/MD Program

Application Timeline

Your child will start their education as a freshman undergraduate, like any other student. Because of this, you’ll want to prepare them for college applications during their junior year of high school. There will be added pressure knowing that your child is applying to a highly selective program. But approaching it with a normal timeline will help everything go more smoothly.

Most BS/MD applications are due in the fall or early winter of your child’s senior year of high school. For reference, the Baylor2Baylor program required a completed application by November 1, 2025 for the 2025-2026 cycle, with in-person interviews held in late January and early February 2026. The Rutgers-Camden BS/DO program opened its application on November 1 with a December 1 deadline for the same cycle. Deadlines vary by school, so check each one individually.

We recommend checking the admissions timeline and requirements for each BS/MD program you’re considering. This will further ensure that your child is on the right track.

Choosing the Right Program

You’ll want your child to apply to several BS/MD programs. Having said that, that’s not all they should apply to. Because the BS/MD programs acceptance rate is so low, applying to any BS/MD program is like applying to Yale. You want your child to apply to Yale. But you also want them to apply to other “safety schools”. You want them to put eggs in multiple baskets, not just one.

The term “safety schools” refers to schools that closely match your child’s performance in school. There’s a stronger chance of getting into a safety school than a dream school. And you want to ensure that your child follows their dreams and gets into a good college.

So, what does this mean? It means you should apply to several BS/MD programs while keeping the BS/MD programs acceptance rate in mind. Encourage your child to also look at traditional undergrad programs. That way, if they don’t get into a BS/MD program, they won’t be stranded. Think of applying to regular undergraduate programs as your child’s backup plan. They’re laying their eggs in multiple baskets!

In the best-case scenario, your child will be admitted into the BS/MD program of their dreams. They’ll be able to focus on their undergraduate studies and enjoy their experience without the dreaded notion of studying for the MCAT (at most schools) or going through the interview process.

In the worst-case scenario, your child will go to a traditional, four-year college. As they near the completion of their undergraduate studies, then they’ll go through the traditional medical school application process. It won’t be the end of the world if they end up going this route. Remember, many great doctors have. If you’re wondering how to help them prepare for that path, our resource on what to know before getting into medical school covers the essentials. You can provide support for them in the future just like you’re supporting them now.

A Note for Parents on Safety and Readiness

Because BS/MD programs involve minors making a major commitment to a professional pathway, parents naturally have questions about structure, safety, and whether their child is truly ready. Here are a few things worth thinking through.

Emotional readiness matters. The academic bar for BS/MD programs is high, but so is the emotional bar. Your child will be entering a program where the expectations are greater and the stakes feel higher than a typical undergraduate experience. Some students thrive under that structure. Others feel constrained by it. Only you and your child can assess that readiness honestly.

Campus support systems vary. Before committing, ask each program what kind of academic advising, mentorship, and mental health support is available to BS/MD students specifically. Some programs have dedicated advisors for their combined-degree students. Others fold BS/MD students into the general undergraduate population without much additional support. For students who are committing to eight years at one institution, the quality of that support matters.

Clinical exposure during the undergraduate years should be supervised and appropriate. BS/MD students are not practicing medicine during their undergraduate phase. They may observe clinical settings, shadow physicians, or participate in structured health-related experiences, but they do so under supervision and within defined boundaries. If a program describes clinical activities during the undergraduate years, ask about the level of supervision, the nature of the activities, and how student safety is prioritized. For parents thinking about how medical programs handle these concerns, our FAQ for parents addresses many of the most common questions.

Get Started with Your BS/MD Application

At International Medical Aid, we support students and families through every step of the BS/MD application process, from creating a balanced school list and brainstorming essays to preparing for interviews, MMI stations, and the CASPer exam. If your child is applying to a direct medical program, our team of experienced consultants can help. Schedule a free 30-minute consultation with us today and start building your strategy together.

We hope this guide has thoroughly explained how BS/MD programs work. We hope all your questions have been answered. But if you or your child have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. Answering questions is part of our pre-med advising and med school admissions consulting.

If you’re not sure where to get started, we’re providing you with a list of BS/MD programs in the United States. You can get started by going through this list of schools with your child and picking out the ones that look promising. You can narrow down your search from there by researching each school.

Schools that are partnered with other schools mean that they don’t have both colleges within the university. Your child will have the opportunity to attend two different schools. Schools that aren’t partnered mean that they have both the undergraduate program and the medical school. Your child will stay at the same university for all eight years. They’ll simply switch which college they attend within the university when the time comes. Both have their pros and cons. We recommend discussing both options with your child and seeing what they would prefer.

Important note: The BS/MD landscape changes every year. Several programs listed below have been suspended, discontinued, or modified in recent cycles. Before investing time in any application, confirm directly with the school that the program is still accepting applicants for the current cycle. The AAMC’s official list of combined baccalaureate-MD programs, updated annually, is a reliable starting point.

BS/MD Programs

And since we recommend applying to regular undergrad programs for your child’s bachelor’s degree, check out these traditional medical school programs that might interest them down the road.

Helping Your Child Make a Smart Decision

It’s great that you’re taking the time to learn what your child’s options are. As difficult as it is to get into, a BS/MD program is perfect for some students. The students who benefit most from these programs are the ones who are genuinely committed to medicine, who have done enough clinical observation to know what they’re getting into, and who are ready to make a long-term commitment at a young age.

If your child isn’t quite there yet, that’s perfectly fine. The traditional route works well for the vast majority of doctors, and a strong four-year undergraduate experience followed by a focused medical school application can be just as effective. There is no single “right” path into medicine.

If you or your child need any help on the road to medical school, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. International Medical Aid is here to help. You can get started here.

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About IMA

International Medical Aid provides global internship opportunities  for students and clinicians who are looking to broaden their horizons and experience healthcare on an international level. These program participants have the unique opportunity to shadow healthcare providers as they treat individuals who live in remote and underserved areas and who don’t have easy access to medical attention. International Medical Aid also provides medical school admissions consulting to individuals applying to medical school and PA school programs. We review primary and secondary applications, offer guidance for personal statements and essays, and conduct mock interviews to prepare you for the admissions committees that will interview you before accepting you into their programs. IMA is here to provide the tools you need to help further your career and expand your opportunities in healthcare.