One of the things about a BS/MD program is that you're committing yourself to your future career in Medicine. One thing I've learned over the years is that many students enrolling in these programs do not understand the basic of the field of Medicine, and all that it entails - don't worry, I was like this too. You learn a lot throughout your journey within the programs.

But I think its incredibly important and beneficial to know this beforehand as it can give you more understanding of all the amazing things you can do in the future as a physician.

There is a new section on this website titled: "Medicine" whereby I briefly give an outline/oversight about the structure of your path as a physician. Check it out - and let me know what you think!

As always, if you have any specific topics you'd like me to discuss, I'd be more than happy to!

Finally, the interviews are rolling in!! You selected your dates, booked your flights, got all your ducks in a row. Only a few days left, and one subtle but BIG problem sets in your mind...what do I wear? Believe it or not, how you dress for an interview is one of many important components to your whole package. As an aspiring physician, it's essential to come off as a bright and engaging student, but also as a person who is well put-together. 
Quick Tips: 
1. Always choose professional colors: navy blue, white, black, beige and grey are the go-to options and need to make up the most of your outfit. 
2. Choose clothes that fit well. Half the battle is finding an outfit that fits your body frame, but this is the key to making any outfit look sharp. 
3. When it comes to patterns like argyle, stripes, and plaid, subtlety is key. First off, no two patterns should be used together, and second, ANY pattern that is used should blend well with the overall outfit rather than stand out like a sore thumb. When in doubt, solids are always the way to go! 
4. Stay professional. Looking sharp is more important than having a stylish and unique outfit. 
LADIES: 
Often, this is the hardest part of preparing for the interview, with every other website or resource or older sibling saying to wear something different. For the record, pant suits, skirt suits, and professional dresses are ALL acceptable. However, choosing a dress requires a careful selection for something both modest and professional. That being said, modesty is an important component to any outfit, so be sure to choose skirts or dresses that come to the knee even when seated. Also as a general rule of thumb, necklines should not come lower than one or two inches below the collarbone. And lastly the topic everyone dreads..shoes. For the record once again, flats and high heels are both acceptable. But in this case, ladies need to be as practical as possible. Most interviews include a tour of hospital facilities, undergraduate campuses, and sometimes dorms--shoes NEED to be comfortable. 
GENTLEMEN:
Guys, not too much extra to consider luckily! A sharp suit is your best accessory. Remember to learn to tie a tie well before the night prior to your interview. And when it comes to shoes, dress shoes are a must! 


Pack your irons and lint rollers, and be sure to prepare your outfit the night before the interview! Look sharp, and good luck!

It's a valid question - Why go the BS/MD route over the traditional pre-med route? (Thanks to Amy for the question). We'll go over some of the factors you'll want to consider.

The direct medical program route is for those that KNOW they want to become a doctor. These programs provide a strong assurance that you'll be accepted into medical school than the traditional route. With the combined BS/MD medical program route, all you need to do is maintain your program's requirements (GPA, volunteer hours, perhaps a minimum MCAT score) and then - like magic - you've gained admission into a medical school.

With the traditional route, you'll have to work extremely hard to make sure you have a great extracurricular experience (volunteering, research, leadership, etc) as well as a great GPA and awesome MCAT score - and even with that, you STILL  aren't necessarily a guaranteed spot into a medical school. So many people have to take gap years after their undergraduate to further boost their resume!

Let's face it - straight medical programs aren't known by many. Thus, the number of people applying are far less than the number of people applying to medical school. Even adjusting for the fact that there are less spots nationally in straight medical programs versus medical schools nationally, one has a higher chance of getting into straight medical programs over medical schools through the traditional route.

While we can go on and on about this - including whether or not an IVY league pre-med education is better than the BS/MD route (and we do in our 2nd edition of the BS/MD book we'll have available on this website) - just know that if you want to pursue a career in medicine, the BS/MD path is the most guaranteed way. Some would say the most guaranteed way is the best way.