Previously, a bachelor's wasn't required for med school. You just needed to knock out the premed coursework. In fact, a few years ago, I saw one Osteopathic medical school that still allowed you to apply without a bachelor's as long as you met course requirements. Patch Adams is probably one of the more famous examples of a physician who didn't complete an undergrad degree before going to medical school. So, I think the whole darn system needs to be revisited. If doctors don't need a full 8 years of college and can do it all in 6 then that's something we should look more closely at. And if those two years don't actually help prepare you for the four years of medical school then perhaps those warrant another glance as well. I used to base my doctor selections on medical schools. Then it was pointed out to me by a close friend, and physician, that the residency really matters more than the med school in terms of professional competence. A graduate of SUNY Upstate Medical who completes a residency at MassGeneral or NYU Langone may be a better choice than a Harvard Medical grad who completed their residency at an unknown little hospital in rural Oklahoma. Aside from the quality of their training and the facilities available to them the fact that they landed a highly competitive residency over a much less competitive residency is likely more relevant than which diploma they have on their wall. So...it sounds like the whole system could use a revamp. Of course, I can choose a fantastic doctor with impeccable credentials and only ever see their physician assistant who is able to treat me at nearly the same level with "only" a Masters degree.
I have been told by a few people (MDs and med school students) that the hardest part of medical school is getting in. Once you're in it's almost impossible to flunk out. You might not get the greatest internship/residency but you'll get through it and actually become an MD.
