Definition of "Traditional"?

[vc7777]

I was having an off-line discussion about what is a "Non-Traditional Applicant" this past week.

It occurred to me that instead of trying to define "Non-Trad", perhaps it is easier to define "Traditional"?

With a clear definition of "Traditional", everyone else could then be considered "Non-traditional". Right?

Any thoughts on this approach?

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[Nasrudin]

I was having an off-line discussion about what is a "Non-Traditional Applicant" this past week.

It occurred to me that instead of trying to define "Non-Trad", perhaps it is easier to define "Traditional"?

With a clear definition of "Traditional", everyone else could then be considered "Non-traditional". Right?

Any thoughts on this approach?

I too have thought about the uselessness of these words. Tradtional. Non-traditional. They describe very little if anything at all.

I think we should just "older people" vs. "younger people." That's about the extent of the factual content of our two groups. But the coining of words and phrases have a life of their own. No clock can be turned back on them. So there we are.

I once raged a personal crusade against the word "post-modern" in literary study. I lost. They ramble on about it today as if it means something. One can fight the tide of such things. As an exercise in absurdity. If nothing else.

 

[gman33]

In the strictest sense a traditional applicant is someone who went directly from HS to college to med school.

Given that around half the applicants don't follow this route, it's not really a good defintion anymore.

I think of it more as someone who has spent a significant amount of time doing something else before applying. Like 5 years +.

In any case, it really has no bearing on your application.

 

[sindadel]

I think people are non-traditional if they self-identify that way.

For example, someone who has a child at 18, but still goes straight through college and gets into med school is neither going to be old nor have a technically unusual path, but they will certainly have a high probability of being non-traditional in their outlook on life.

 

[ForrestG]

My u/g institution actually did define nontraditional.

The criteria was someone who:

Commutes 10 or more miles to campus;

Is a parent of dependent children;

Is married;

Is a veteran;

Has had their academic career interrupted for at least 6 months by compulsory military service; or

Is 3 or more years older than classmates.

I fit #2 and #3 when I was a u/g student, even though I was the same age as a traditional student. Now I would fit all of the above, except the military-related ones.​

 

[QofQuimica]

I think of a trad as someone who goes straight to med school from college, not married, no family--basically along the lines of what sindadel said.

My school defines nontrads as being over age 30. It's pretty arbitrary, but it's an easy and objective standard to apply. That being said, I do think that people who are younger but have nontraditional life experiences get viewed differently than people who are stereotypical trads.

 

[theWUbear]

I'm gonna bring this thread back to ask a personal question:

I am taking 3 years off before starting medical school. Does that make me a non-trad? Does the fact that I am spending all that time (1st three semesters: post-bacc, 4th through 6th semesters: SMP) in school raising my GPA (in addition to working in a clinic) detract from my ability to call myself a non-traditional applicant, instead making me a traditional applicant who just needed to raise his grades? I'd like to know your opinion

 

[teddy bear doc]

My u/g institution actually did define nontraditional.

The criteria was someone who:

Commutes 10 or more miles to campus;

Is a parent of dependent children;

Is married;

Is a veteran;

Has had their academic career interrupted for at least 6 months by compulsory military service; or

Is 3 or more years older than classmates.

​

Oooooo....
Check
Check
Check
Check
Not check (compulsory military service, which means the draft in my mind, isn't generally something that happens in the US these days)
And.... Check.

So I guess I am officially nontrad?

 

[futureboy]

From the "What is the purpose of this forum?" sticky:

Myth #2: Nontrads are limited to a particular age group.While it is true that most of us are or were older than the average applicant, it is *not* the case that this is an inherent part of the definition of a nontrad. Nontrads come in many varieties besides just older ages: single teenage moms, political refugees from other countries, high school dropouts, and so on. Basically, if you think of yourself as a nontraditional student for any reason, then you are a nontrad. Period

 

[Quik]

I too have thought about the uselessness of these words. Tradtional. Non-traditional. They describe very little if anything at all.

I think we should just "older people" vs. "younger people." That's about the extent of the factual content of our two groups. But the coining of words and phrases have a life of their own. No clock can be turned back on them. So there we are.

I once raged a personal crusade against the word "post-modern" in literary study. I lost. They ramble on about it today as if it means something. One can fight the tide of such things. As an exercise in absurdity. If nothing else.

I consider reading the drivel you just spewed above in response to a very simple question, while making an even more generalized and inaccurate conclusion, "an exercise in absurdity."

Young and old, that's all that defines the difference? That's the cleanest line you can draw? So what do you consider old? Is it the same as what I might consider still young? Isn't there an age that could be considered neither young nor old, but between the two?

To get back on topic, I'd consider "traditional" a student who, regardless of major, has a general idea they want to matriculate immediately or soon after completing their undergrad. How do identify these? No major career change pre or post bachelors, no established career to speak of (if taken time off), and finished most MS pre-req's while in their undergrad.

Non-traditional is harder to define, but it's like pornography, you know it when you see it.

 

[LifeTake2]

I'm gonna bring this thread back to ask a personal question:

I am taking 3 years off before starting medical school. Does that make me a non-trad? Does the fact that I am spending all that time (1st three semesters: post-bacc, 4th through 6th semesters: SMP) in school raising my GPA (in addition to working in a clinic) detract from my ability to call myself a non-traditional applicant, instead making me a traditional applicant who just needed to raise his grades? I'd like to know your opinion

Just my opinion but I would not consider you a non-trad. It sounds like you intended to go to medical school and are still doing so, you just are taking longer due to grades. Thus you are what you called yourself "a traditional applicant that needed to raise his grades".

Now if there is another reason you are apply later, ie needing to work to support yourself, or a young family, then you are more non-trad.

I personally like the definition that says if you did something non-Dr's prepping during the process you are a non-trad. But from what you describe you have not stopped or wavered in the Dr-prepping process, you are just taking longer...in theory. Since the average age at matriculation is 24 (which would imply 5-6yrs post HS) you are not more than a year or two behind the average.

Again, just my 2 cents.

 

[vc7777]

I'm not sure we will every agree, as a group, on the definition of "traditional" (let alone "Non-traditional" ). When I opened this thread over a year ago, it was to stimulate general discussions, but I didn't intend it to become a "Am I a nontrad?" thread or a place to bash other peoples ideas.

Listen, I agree 100% with Q on this one:

Basically, if you think of yourself as a nontraditional student for any reason, then you are a nontrad. Period.

Everyone is welcome on this forum if they are civilized.

Closing my thread.