FAQ
What is the B.A.-M.D. program?
The B.A.-M.D. program is an eight-year combined bachelor's/M.D. program. Students in the program must complete four years of undergraduate studies at Brooklyn College, followed by four years of medical studies at SUNY Downstate's College of Medicine.
Who is eligible to apply to the B.A.-M.D. program?
High school seniors currently attending high school in any of the states in the United States and are either permanent residents or U.S. citizens are eligible to apply. High school graduates and transfers from other colleges are not eligible.
When does the application process open and close?
The online application opens around September 1 and closes around December 15. Consult the Honors Academy website for exact dates for the application cycle.
Can paper applications be submitted?
No.
Can a student apply to other Honors Academy programs at Brooklyn College, in addition to the B.A.-M.D. program?
Yes. Students can also apply to Macaulay Honors College and the Scholars Program. Students are permitted to be members of both Macaulay Honors College and the B.A.-M.D. program, or the Scholars and the B.A.-M.D. programs.
How many applicants are there each year for the B.A.-M.D. program?
There are usually between 250 and 300 applicants.
How many applicants are invited for an interview?
Between 120 and 140.
How many applicants are accepted each year?
Fifteen.
What criteria are used to judge B.A.-M.D. applicants?
The program seeks academically strong students with a wide range of interests. Academic strength criteria include high school GPA, AP courses completed or in progress, Regents scores, etc. Applicant should also submit a well-organized résumé that captures a diverse breadth of interests.
Is the B.A.-M.D. program a scholarship program?
The program provides participants with a scholarship that will cover a portion of their annual in-state tuition. This situation is subject to change. B.A.-M.D. students who also join the Macaulay Honors College or the Scholars Program will receive their scholarships through that program, so if their Macaulay or Scholars affiliation changes, their scholarship will not continue.
Are B.A.-M.D. students guaranteed a seat in SUNY Downstate's College of Medicine?
B.A.-M.D. students are required to maintain a 3.50 overall GPA and a 3.50 science GPA. In addition, students must take the MCAT for the first time during the summer following the junior year and must achieve a score on each section and a total score that meets the minimum requirements set by the College of Medicine. If a B.A.-M.D. student cannot maintain a 3.50 overall GPA or science GPA or cannot achieve the minimum scores on the MCAT after three attempts, the student will be dismissed from the program.
Do B.A.-M.D. students attend classes together?
Not necessarily. Each student has a unique program and may or may not be in class with other B.A.-M.D. students. Even though the science courses taken by each B.A.-M.D. student in the freshman year are the same, a particular student may be in a problem-solving session (recitation) or lab that does not contain any other B.A.-M.D. freshmen. In later years, the programs of B.A.-M.D. students diverge even further, because each student has chosen a specific major that may differ from that of the other members of his or her class. In addition, general education courses can be taken in any order, so, again, the programs of members of a particular B.A.-M.D. class may differ.
Once students receive an acceptance offer from the B.A.-M.D. program and confirm their acceptance, can they defer their start date in the program for a year or two?
No.
