Admission to medical school is highly competitive, but at Ball State University we have developed a direct path to success through our partnership with the Indiana University School of Medicine - Muncie.
Once accepted to Ball State University as an incoming freshman, you can apply for the B/MD Pathway. Designed for motivated students with a passion for the medical profession, this program reserves your place in medical school and provides exceptional mentoring, networking, and research experiences to help you develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence to thrive as a future physician.
“The IU School of Medicine itself is guiding you to admission. You’ll have a support group with you while you’re doing your undergraduate work. When you start as first-year medical student, you already know what to do. It’s not a big surprise, a big change.”
—Derron Bishop, PhD
Associate Dean of IU School of Medicine – Muncie
How the B/MD Pathway Works
Registering for the B/MD pathway means you will have a provisional seat in the IU School of Medicine – Muncie when you start your freshman year at Ball State.
After you complete your bachelor’s degree, you will then become automatically eligible to enroll into the medical school as long as you’ve completed all the requirements of the B/MD program.
Important!
The B/MD is a guided pathway that will prepare you for medical school through academic advising and extracurricular opportunities. It is not a degree on its own. You will need to earn a bachelor’s degree in one of Ball State’s 120 undergraduate programs.
See our majors.
Additional Benefits of the B/MD Pathway
During your time in the pathway, you will:
- receive academic advising tailored specifically for aspiring medical students
- partner with a mentor who is already in the medical field
- network with medical students and professionals
- have access to research opportunities as an undergrad that are often reserved for graduate students
- attend clinical experiences that give you a first-hand look at the profession
How to Apply
See below for application instructions and link. In order to apply for the B/MD pathway, you must first be admitted to Ball State.
Timeline
The priority deadline to apply is December 15. The final deadline to apply is January 15.
Selected applicants will be contacted for interview in February. Final decisions are made in March/early-April.
Apply to the B/MD Pathway
1. Review the Admission Requirements
You will need to meet the following requirements to be considered for the pathway. The B/MD has limited spaces available, so admission is competitive.
At least one of the following scores or higher:
3.5 cumulative GPA or higher on a 4.0 scale
Within the application, you will be asked to include information about your involvement in school and community organizations, honors you have received, an essay, and references.
- Essay: Submit an essay discussing your interest in medicine and long-term goals in the profession of medicine (5,000 character limit)
- References: Provide names and email addresses of individuals who will be sent an evaluation form to provide a reference for you. This information must be provided for:
- Your school counselor
- Your principal
- A teacher
- A personal reference (not a relative)
Applicants must be Indiana residents. Students from other states are not eligible.
2. Apply.
Complete the online application. Applicants must be admitted to Ball State prior to applying.
3. Attend an interview.
The B/MD pathway’s advisory committee will review your application after you submit it, and if the group decides you are qualified, they will invite you to an interview, both through email and postal mail.
You will meet with the committee to discuss in more detail your interest in medicine and what you see as your future in the profession.
Completion Requirements
Once you begin the B/MD pathway, you will need to meet set requirements in order to remain in it and ultimately enroll in the IU School of Medicine after earning your bachelor’s degree at Ball State.
See the Requirements
Questions?
If you have questions or would like to learn more, please feel free to call or email Ball State’s pre-medical advisor.
Contact Advisor