In what light would medical schools look at a "young" applicant?

Started by Near
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Near

Near

Kung Fu Senior Member
10+ Year Member
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For example, would a 24 year old applicant be looked at better than a 20 year old? (Assuming all qualifications are the same)

The reason I'm asking is because I'm going to be graduating high school two years early. I don't have any current plans to take a gap year/s either; I'm going to continue with my college schooling.

I'm a bit concerned that medical schools will look at my age (I'll be finishing undergrad at either 19 or twenty years old) and reject me because they'll think I'm too immature.

How much do they really care about age?


EDIT: At this point, I don't know what in the world I would do if I took a gap year.
Also, I'll be going through college in four years like everyone else. I won't be "rushing" through it.
 
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Some med schools are okay with this. I've heard Harvard likes teenage uber-geniuses, although that is strictly hearsay.

Regardless of whether schools are likely to accept you, I would consider waiting. I don't know anything about you, so please don't take this personally, but there's a big difference in maturity between a 20 year old and a 24 year old. To this end, it's entirely possible that your patients will be somewhat uneasy with you during your clinical years -- especially if you look very young.

My college roommate was in your exact same position -- she actually graduated hs THREE years early (I have no idea how) and obviously when she graduated college she was very young (and she looked it). She didn't feel that people would take her seriously as a doctor at that age, so she did a master's program before applying to medical school (I think she's in her third year now).

I would advise doing something similar, not necessarily grad school but definitely take some time before applying. Med schools are increasingly feeling (I'm told) that even 22 year old college seniors are too immature/generally lacking in life perspective.
 
I'm 21 - traditional applicant. One school gave told me that the general comment about my app was "If only she had taken another year..." I think sometimes schools do appreciate time and experience, but its definitely not a rule.
 
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Duke recently accepted a 16 year old into their med school. Anecdotal sure, but there you go.
 
I applied as a 20 yr old and have 4 interviews (turned down 2) and 2 acceptances with a 31 Mcat. Just make sure you have life experiences that rival those of other applicants. Volunteering and such. It can be easily argued that some 20 year olds are more mature in life experience than a 24 year old.

I struggled with it too👍 Don't always listen to your older friends giving advice that "you won't be taken seriously." I got interviews over my 29 year old friends who frequently made such comments.
 
Stats play a huge role. However, if granted an interview a lack of experience will probably show through. It may prevent you from getting interviews. However, as shown above its not a definite. The reason "older" applicants are seen as the norm is because of enough time to accumulate "life experiences." To me, graduating from HS two years early and thus college, makes it seem that all you have had time for is school, school, school. School is great, but so are the experiences you get from maturing. Luckily, you more than likely won't be graduating college early so you'll have plenty of time to get the experience you need to apply.
 
Medicine is as much "art" as it is science. So work on the "art" part. One of my friends from high school graduated early and then went to a very competitive college. He was quite brilliant but he burned out after one year in college. His parents were obsessed with his academic performance and pushed school administrators so he could skip grades. He has been bumming around for the last five or six years, taking a few community college classes, but really not doing much.

If you are highly motivated, and not motivated by your parents ambitions for you, then it certainly is possible to graduate from college at 19 or 20 and get admitted. But frankly, you are going to miss out on alot of the "college experience" (like my parents won't let me live in the dorms because I am too young and they don't want me to be around all that sex, drugs, and rock and roll"), and some med schools will have some concerns about your youth. Sounds pretty dreary to me.

My advice is to slow down, grow up, and stop to smell the roses.
 
It's not so much about age as it is about maturity and experience. If you're a 19 year old with solid experiences and am interesting, you'll do fine.
When I interview people I tend to give older applicants better recommendations because they just have more experience and am able to build a better case for themselves.

Many younger applicants always wanted to be a doctor and did the cookie-cutter things in college (ER volunteer, school's premed society, fundraisers, etc) and just don't appear compelling.
 
It can make a difference, I'd recommend taking your time before applying (maybe wait til your senior year and then have a year off in between). Also anecdotal, but I believe there are a couple 18-19 year old applicants on SDN with killer stats (like 37+ MCAT and good GPA). Last time I checked on them, no acceptances.

It seems to me that a really well rounded young applicant would be just fine. HOWEVER, a applicant at 20 might not be as good as they would be if they had waited until they were 22. If you can smush enough life experiences in, combined with growth emotionally, and most importantly can PROVE it to the adcoms, you would be fine. Longer is better, as long as you weren't just doing nothing.
 
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Interesting question... In other countries where medical school is entered immediately after high school, the average first year student is 18 or 19. So, are people in that age range mature enough? Obviously they are - as demonstrated by said students' abilities to handle the demands... Otherwise I think the above responses are pretty good answers.
 
I just want to make sure everyone knows that I (and other people posting on this thread) are NOT making blanket statements or sweeping generalizations about an individual's maturity level based on age. None of us know anything about the OP, and I don't think anyone's trying to say that he/she is immature. This is obviously something that varies from individual to individual. The key is getting people to look past age and appreciate that, and unfortunately, I think many people are unwilling to do that.

And Bacchus is right in that people who are older have had more time to have interesting experiences (I hope I am paraphrasing somewhat accurately). This is not a slight against younger applicants, it's just a fact. Younger applicants will just have to work a little harder to show that they are just as mature/experienced/grounded as their older counterparts.
 
Near said:
For example, would a 24 year old applicant be looked at better than a 20 year old? (Assuming all qualifications are the same)

The reason I'm asking is because I'm going to be graduating high school two years early. I don't have any current plans to take a gap year/s either; I'm going to continue with my college schooling.

I'm a bit concerned that medical schools will look at my age (I'll be finishing undergrad at either 19 or twenty years old) and reject me because they'll think I'm too immature.

How much do they really care about age?
Click to expand...

I couldn't help but notice that you've posted this (several times) before... all over the place. :laugh: Is there a reason you keep asking - all the answers have been the same!

Yes you have a shot, but don't rush through college like you did high school, or I guarantee you will regret it!
 
AdmiralChz said:
I couldn't help but notice that you've posted this (several times) before... all over the place. :laugh: Is there a reason you keep asking - all the answers have been the same!

Yes you have a shot, but don't rush through college like you did high school, or I guarantee you will regret it!
Click to expand...

Heh heh, basic story, just different questions each time! No major harm.
😀 I think I've had enough though.
 
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mmmcdowe said:
It can make a difference, I'd recommend taking your time before applying (maybe wait til your senior year and then have a year off in between). Also anecdotal, but I believe there are a couple 18-19 year old applicants on SDN with killer stats (like 37+ MCAT and good GPA). Last time I checked on them, no acceptances.

It seems to me that a really well rounded young applicant would be just fine. HOWEVER, a applicant at 20 might not be as good as they would be if they had waited until they were 22. If you can smush enough life experiences in, combined with growth emotionally, and most importantly can PROVE it to the adcoms, you would be fine. Longer is better, as long as you weren't just doing nothing.
Click to expand...
Don't I know it.
 
You should do what's right for you. If, when the time comes, you still want to apply without taking the time off, then do it. If you don't get any acceptances, then take some time off.

If I get accepted on my first cycle, I'll be 27 when I start med school. 31 when I graduate. If I go into, for example, a general surgery residency followed by maybe a 2 year fellowship, suddenly I'm 38. Will I be able to have kids if I want to? I honestly don't know. But I will say that at least from my point of view, I often wish I'd started down this path earlier. Maybe not all women who go into medicine worry about these things, but I do. You might too.
 
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I applied at 20 years old...I interviewed at 7 schools and turned down about as many others, and I was not asked once about my age or maturity.
Perhaps it varies by school, but I think your stats are much more important than your age.
 
It does seem like age is as important a number as the other numbers in many cases. Mid- to late-twenties applicants seem to be pulling acceptances with low GPAs and mid-range MCAT scores, presumably because they have been in the workforce and may seem more grounded/mature. I don't think they have better ECs per se, there is just something intangible that shines through in the older applicants. Remember, it's all about perception. Interviewers probably imagine how comfortable they would be if the applicant were doing some embarrassing exam on them, and the older applicants (or at least those who look older/more mature) probably have an advantage.
 
QUOTE: In what light would medical schools look at a "young" applicant?



Well if it was sunny, and you were outside... then i would have to say - natural light.
 
I really don't care how old I am as long as I can complete my goals in a timely manner.

my goals:
Go to a top med school
Open up my free clinics for undeserved community
Get all the honeys (sorry, but I couldn't help not putting this here)
Win a nobel prize or two (joke but not really)
Teach High school for a while




Age is just a number.
 
WannaBePreMed said:
I really don't care how old I am as long as I can complete my goals in a timely manner.

my goals:
Go to a top med school
Open up my free clinics for undeserved community
Get all the honeys (sorry, but I couldn't help not putting this here)
Win a nobel prize or two (joke but not really)
Teach High school for a while




Age is just a number.
Click to expand...
Your goals are not really in sync. The last four can all be done without medical school.
 
I think it's too early to worry about this, lol. If I'm reading you correctly, you aren't even in college? That being said, I'd say wait until your junior year, look at your application and your life in general, talk to your older med school friends, take your school advisor's recommendations with a grain of salt, and then decide if you think a year off is a good idea.

I graduated from college in 3 years (wasn't the original plan, it just happened), and was offered a job right afterwards as a clinical researcher at the place I was volunteering. I thought it would be a great way to boost my application, and it meant I could hang around school during my friends' senior year and party it out with them 🙂 So instead of applying at 19, I applied at 20, and I think I definitely made the right call. I'm currently in a school I LOVE with a great group of classmates, and my year off was a blast and gave me an edge.

So who knows, maybe you'll be presented with a great opportunity during your year off, of maybe you'll realize that "wow, I really really want to go teach english in Korea" or what have you. I think it's just a bit early to be worrying about that stuff when you don't really know what your application might be missing or how you'll feel when it comes time to apply.

Also: do you really want to NOT be 21 starting med school? 😛 You'll miss out on a lot of orientation events!
 
I dont think age matters..

Most people (if they dont know me) think that I am a fifteen-year-old, but I am actually twenty-three...

I guess I look immature...
 
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AdmiralChz said:
Havn't you learned that you can't use sarcasm around here - the people here are WAYYY too serious for that 🤣!
Click to expand...

Lol I thought the whole winning a nobel prize or two would have hinted towards sarcasm haha :laugh:

o well

I actually meant for the last 3 to be a joke not four.
 
Personally, I am drawing the line at 4th graders. If any 4th graders, or those in the earlier primary grades, come onto this forum seeking advice about medical school, I will simply make a cocktail, consume it, and ignore them. As a matter of principle.
 
Near said:
For example, would a 24 year old applicant be looked at better than a 20 year old? (Assuming all qualifications are the same)

The reason I'm asking is because I'm going to be graduating high school two years early. I don't have any current plans to take a gap year/s either; I'm going to continue with my college schooling.

I'm a bit concerned that medical schools will look at my age (I'll be finishing undergrad at either 19 or twenty years old) and reject me because they'll think I'm too immature.

How much do they really care about age?


EDIT: At this point, I don't know what in the world I would do if I took a gap year.
Also, I'll be going through college in four years like everyone else. I won't be "rushing" through it.
Click to expand...

Applied at age 19 this year. It's the things you DO that count. You graduated HS early, but you have 4 FULL YEARS of college to do things just like EVERYONE else who applies during their junior year. AMCAS only asks for you activities post-high school!

- My age was NEVER brought up once.

- 16 interview invites and several acceptances here

I honestly don't get the whole "being 28 makes you better" argument. Sure it may be true all else being equal. But what's the point of mentioning that in this thread? Also, at what cost? The applicant is 28, 7 years older than the typical college grad. How is this info. useful to the OP?

Point being: Don't waste time doing extra stuff after college if you don't need to. Do research, do clinical stuff, own the MCAT, get good grades, and the adcom won't even question your qualifications. Several non-trads are older because they had other interests, pursued other jobs.. or didn't get in the first time.

Why even consider doing any of that if you know you want to do medicine? If you're worried about life passing by you too fast (between the ages of 20 and 22)... get into med. school first. Then defer a year 😀
 
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