18 and applying to med school??

[thefallqueen]

I still haven't done this 🙂 . However, I am hoping to accomplish it. I have obtained my Associates degree via the dual enrollment program at my high school. I am planning on taking physics, chem, org chem, and biology (including genetics and molecular) in my first year of college, and then take the MCAT right away (in around April.) I will be majoring in biochemistry next year ia.

If I get a 30+ on the MCATS and apply early admission to UMASS MEDICAL, can I get in?

EC (hopefully):

-60 hours of shadowing a doctor
-Research in the first year at my university
- Volunteer at hospital for around 200 hours
- Get certified as an EMT
- Work as an EMT or pharmacy technician.
- Help in some religious work

ANY ADVICE WOULD BE GLADLY TAKEN!!! Its been my dream since a fetus to become a doctor 😍
Also, does AP Biology count as a full year in biology? Thanks guys

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[NurWollen]

Also, does AP Biology count as a full year in biology? Thanks guys

No.

 

[thefallqueen]

No.

even if it is transferred? Wouldnt it transfer to a full year of general biology?

 

[monkeyMD]

I think you will be at a disadvantage in terms of maturity....the kind that comes with age. An 18 year old cannot compete with a 30 year old in terms of maturity, considering two individuals who are hopeful MDs.

 

[ilovemcat]

I'm not sure why you'd want to rush into med-school. It doesn't get any easier. Even after med-school you're constantly learning new things. Why not enjoy your youth while you still can.

Also, the MCAT is an entirely different ball-game. In the end, all your other specs could be fantastic (EC's, GPA, etc.) but if you don't have a solid MCAT score, you won't get it.

Either way, good luck with whatever you choose to do!

 

[alwaysaangel]

I still haven't done this 🙂 I am planning on taking physics, chem, org chem, and biology (including genetics and molecular) in my first year of college,

You will need to have physics labs with that physics, chem labs with chemistry and labs with biology (which is why your AP credit will NOT be sufficient for medical schools)

You will also not have a BS or BA degree. Many schools do not require one (they only require 3 years of college work) but almost all students admitted to medical these days have a degree prior to matriculation.

and then take the MCAT right away (in around April.) I will be majoring in biochemistry next year ia.

It may work, but if you are ill prepared it may backfire

If I get a 30+ on the MCATS and apply early admission to UMASS MEDICAL, can I get in?

Why would you only apply to one medical school? With your disadvantage of being young, without a BS/BA you will need to apply VERY broadly.

EC (hopefully):

-60 hours of shadowing a doctor
-Research in the first year at my university
- Volunteer at hospital for around 200 hours
- Get certified as an EMT
- Work as an EMT or pharmacy technician.
- Help in some religious work

EMT with those courses is a pretty heavy load for your first year of college. Don't overdo and bomb your grades. College vs HS and community college are a COMPLETELY different beasts! Lots of people struggle when they hit college. Be very careful about overextending yourself.

Otherwise, those ECs are pretty much average to below-average.

Its been my dream since a fetus to become a doctor 😍

Why? I have a feeling you will have a hard time explaining your reasons in your PS and interviews. Even when I ask my college mentees they usually have insufficient reasons until properly prepped. People are too idealistic about this process, you need to understand what you're getting into and be able to explain it to others.

 

[Danlee07]

First I'd probably look into why you actually want to be a doctor and what it takes to be one... that includes the politics part since many people who say it's their "dream" really haven't yet. Once you do that, reasons will be better suited. Being young is a disadvantage in medicine. Egos and politics are your obstacles.

Just make sure you're not just trying to rush through. Live life, aside from school, and do things as they come; as you do, you gain competence as what to do in different situations meaning you gain maturity and common sense.

 

[TwoPaddles]

I still haven't done this 🙂 . However, I am hoping to accomplish it. I have obtained my Associates degree via the dual enrollment program at my high school. I am planning on taking physics, chem, org chem, and biology (including genetics and molecular) in my first year of college, and then take the MCAT right away (in around April.) I will be majoring in biochemistry next year ia.

If I get a 30+ on the MCATS and apply early admission to UMASS MEDICAL, can I get in?

EC (hopefully):

-60 hours of shadowing a doctor
-Research in the first year at my university
- Volunteer at hospital for around 200 hours
- Get certified as an EMT
- Work as an EMT or pharmacy technician.
- Help in some religious work

ANY ADVICE WOULD BE GLADLY TAKEN!!! Its been my dream since a fetus to become a doctor 😍
Also, does AP Biology count as a full year in biology? Thanks guys

Seems to me like you are trying to boost your ECs with a pre-planned schedule. Do you want to do these just to improve your chances of getting in or do you really WANT to do them? Working as an EMT just to improve your chances for getting in is such a disrespect for the profession, in my opinion.
I agree with the above posters in terms of maturity.

 

[thefallqueen]

No, I really do want to work as an EMT, it fascinates me. I don't mean to use it only as a way to get into medical school. I would continue it even after admitted (hopefully lol)

Also, I do feel like I know what I'm getting into. Both my parents are doctors, and I've been around doctors (in volunteering, work, etc..) and it really is the one profession that I am truly interested in. I know what it takes to get in, and what it takes once youre there.

I am just wondering if age would be a disadvantage, someone told me before it didnt matter.

 

[Danlee07]

that's good, but age is an underlying disadvantage from my experience. if you think about it, then you'll realize it too. Medicine is where the age is the ladder and the higher up means you're likely to be in more power & knowledge. Even 40 year olds are considered young. You have to show that you're responsible and mature enough since they're going to think that we're kids & don't know real life or be able to handle things.

i don't know if you're socially active or not, but if you were i'm pretty sure you would've found out about this. if you tell older people your age, most treat us differently than if you had not. of course, if we acted immature, then they would've spotted us out quickly. there are the few who know you and don't factor the age, but in reality, most people aren't that kind and patient to fully understand you... basically give you a very quick judgment.

if everything else goes well, then this is all that's left to prove.

 

[ilovemcat]

No, I really do want to work as an EMT, it fascinates me. I don't mean to use it only as a way to get into medical school. I would continue it even after admitted (hopefully lol)

Also, I do feel like I know what I'm getting into. Both my parents are doctors, and I've been around doctors (in volunteering, work, etc..) and it really is the one profession that I am truly interested in. I know what it takes to get in, and what it takes once youre there.

I am just wondering if age would be a disadvantage, someone told me before it didnt matter.

Considering both of your parents are doctors, I'm surprised they didn't try to steer you away from the profession, especially because of how stressful it can be. 😛 But anyways, I do think your age puts you at a serious disadvantage. I actually know someone who was declined at one med-school because of her age (Tulane). The dean straight up said, she felt the girl wasn't ready yet in terms of experience and maturity. It's nice to fill your resume with lots of EC's like volunteer work, research, shadowing, leadership positions, etc. Those definitely help you. But at the same time, cramming everything in such a short period of time just to get in early just makes you seem misguided.

 

[HK35]

1. I am pretty sure you need a bachelors degree to enter medical school, So when people usually apply in the summer after there junior year they don't know which medical school they will go to until after graduation.

2. Why are you in such a rush? Enjoy being a teenager, go out with your friends, make memories. I am not telling you to quit your studies but keep a balance. Your never going to get this time back in your life. Medical school will always be there, but the thing you will experience in college and the people you will meet, you will never get that time back.

 

[thefallqueen]

So do you think I should wait? Maybe take a year off to do research and apply when im around 20 or 21? it really is something I'd love to do, and I know Im capable

 

[ChemFreak]

The average of a medical school matriculant is around 24 these days, and the normal college graduate is 22. This means that people are taking a year or two off. Maybe because they need a boost in their stats but most likely because they want to explore other interests. If you look at top med schools only half of their applicants came straight from college. In college admissions your young age may impress but certainly not in medical school. They want mature individuals who are ready to handle the responsibility of medicine.

Why not spend 4 years at school? You sound like a very intelligent individual, i'm sure you can get a full ride somewhere if money is a reason for your rush. Enjoy college. Explore your interests whether they be research or volunteering or working as an EMT.

Another piece of advice. The ec's you have listed are very very very typical. It's a laundry list of EC's. Most people who do research to impress adcoms do it for two years and two summers if not more. Shadowing only shows that you've explored medicine, its great if you can get a rec from it. Not a disaster if you can't. Same with volunteer work. If you want to show a commitment to service, just 200 hours will not fly.

I don't mean to be a debby downer but the undergraduate experience is vital for medschool and why not relax and enjoy it?

 

[Danlee07]

Don't wait just because we say to wait. Don't go to med school just cause you think it's normal to go straight into it. If you think you've been in a position where a brick ton is on you but you still truck forward, then go on. it's really up to you. but if you haven't enjoyed life, then I don't really think you're mature enough to realize that you're ready and i'd try to experience things.

 

[HK35]

but if you haven't enjoyed life, then I don't really think you're mature enough to realize that you're ready and i'd try to experience things.

+1, if you want to go than go, but I am pretty sure you need a bachelors degree. But college is real fun.

 

[thefallqueen]

Thanks so much guys, any other advice is welcome.

I think I'm going to give it a shot and apply to med schools early, and if i dont get in because of the age, I'll wait about two more years or so.

 

[vickpick]

its doable, but IDK if you'll get in.

 

[Danlee07]

Yeah, I'm gonna try as well, and just remember to always have back up plans to your main plan.

 

[alwaysaangel]

Thanks so much guys, any other advice is welcome.

I think I'm going to give it a shot and apply to med schools early, and if i dont get in because of the age, I'll wait about two more years or so.

Keep in mind if you apply and are rejected you will have to mark that you are a "reapplicant" on your next application. This puts you at a disadvantage as well. Not an extreme one but you will have to have changes to your application and explain how you have grown/changed.

Frankly you sound like someone who has just thought they were going to be a doctor because their parents were and have not yet formed your own reasons for wanting to go into the profession. Your age will not keep you out of medical school, your inability to explain why you want to be a doctor will (which incidentally is related to your age).

 

[FrkyBgStok]

i am confused. are you 16 and graduating high school with an associates degree and completing your bachelors in the 2 years when you will be 18? if so, keep in mind that you will be 18 in med school and everyone else will be 24, that age gap is large enough to make things pretty crappy for you.

or are you going to graduate from high school at 18 and apply early with ZERO college classes and none of the prereqs done (high school "college" classes don't count). if so, your chances of getting accepted are abysmal at best. if you are that awesome, enjoy high school and college and apply to a 3+4 program.

 

[iusesharpies]

/The title alone gave me anxiety 👎

 

[SteveJMarist]

/The title alone gave me anxiety 👎

me too

 

[Doodl3s]

Fallqueen, I have one thing to say...

PLEASE, PLEASE think about this, and IMO don't do this. If you're this smart, you will be able to get scholarships to college, easily get As with no stress, allowing you to have some of the most fun college years ever and you'll get into medical school without a doubt. I wouldn't want anybody to miss out on life.

in other words, as said by others, don't rush, live your life, I'm 22 and already saying "you're so young"

 

[Danlee07]

i am confused. are you 16 and graduating high school with an associates degree and completing your bachelors in the 2 years when you will be 18? if so, keep in mind that you will be 18 in med school and everyone else will be 24, that age gap is large enough to make things pretty crappy for you.

if you've found your identity and are not having identity crisis and/or social issues and/or still getting bullied, then you are a jedi and age won't be a difference. i'm in the same position but that's why i struggled my first two years, and i'm turning it around now. but if i could go back to before college, i'd totally not skip.

 

[thefallqueen]

I just wanted to clear up, I'd be 20 when I actually enter medical school. I want to apply at 18, because by then I'll (hopefully ia) have the academic standing of a junior and completed the MCAT.
I want to apply ED to Umass Medical because it is my number one medical school choice...

Idk..i feel like it is the one thing i wanna do in my life so why not just start early? I have a good social life, so I don't think I'd be missing out on anything in that area; I just want to know if age would be a problem at UMASS?

QUESTION:
Wouldn't recommendation letters and the essay help the school see that I would be mature enough?

 

[HK35]

I just wanted to clear up, I'd be 20 when I actually enter medical school. I want to apply at 18, because by then I'll (hopefully ia) have the academic standing of a junior and completed the MCAT.
I want to apply ED to Umass Medical because it is my number one medical school choice...

Idk..i feel like it is the one thing i wanna do in my life so why not just start early? I have a good social life, so I don't think I'd be missing out on anything in that area; I just want to know if age would be a problem at UMASS?

QUESTION:
Wouldn't recommendation letters and the essay help the school see that I would be mature enough?

ok hold up, i dont think your getting the application process correct.

If you apply in June 2011 (the earliest month you can apply) you have to go through interviews and stuff and you attend medical school in the fall of 2012 which means you will be 19 when you will attend medical school. You can defer but deferment isnt easy, medical schools want a good reason why you want to defer 1 year. and you do need a bachelors degree which means you cant just up and leave undergrad when your a junior.

 

[Danlee07]

Pretty sure the letter can help, but I think the interviews would be more. The letters are used after the interviews (i'm pretty sure).

 

[alwaysaangel]

I just wanted to clear up, I'd be 20 when I actually enter medical school. I want to apply at 18, because by then I'll (hopefully ia) have the academic standing of a junior and completed the MCAT.
I want to apply ED to Umass Medical because it is my number one medical school choice...

Idk..i feel like it is the one thing i wanna do in my life so why not just start early? I have a good social life, so I don't think I'd be missing out on anything in that area; I just want to know if age would be a problem at UMASS?

QUESTION:
Wouldn't recommendation letters and the essay help the school see that I would be mature enough?

Yeah you need to look into a lot of stuff and be more informed. You don't even know how the process works if you want to apply "ED to Umass."

Slow down and live life and become informed about the process of becoming a doctor. Then apply after you've been in college for a few years like everyone else.

But to cover the process clearly:
1) You are applying to medical school, not residency. You do not apply for a specialty. You just enter medical school. If you still want to do EM (Emergency Medicine) then you would apply for the residency during your 4th year of medical school. With parents for docs I'm really surprised you don't know how the process works.
2) You would not apply to just one medical school if you realistically wanted to get in. You would apply broadly
3) As others have said, many schools require a bachelors degree so you couldn't just start when you were done with 3 years worth of college work
4) You apply 16 months before you want to start attending medical school.
5) You will need several letters of recommendation including some from physicians, volunteer coordinators, 2 science professors and 1 non-science professor. Not sure when you would expect to line those up if you think you're goign to apply your first year of college.

Go onto Amazon and order the MSAR. Or order the SDN Applying to Med School book. You are currently very ill-informed about the process, which to me implies you are also ill-informed about the profession.

 

[thefallqueen]

@ alwaysaangel

Thanks. And my parents are foreign doctors, they took the USMLE step 1,2, and 3 tests and did their residency here. They did not attend medical school in the USA.

And I would be 20 (if) when I enter because I'd apply in 2012 and attend 2013

but thanks so much guys. If there's any more advice, keep them coming.

 

[HK35]

You are currently very ill-informed about the process, which to me implies you are also ill-informed about the profession.

Listen to alwaysaangel or you will waste time and money.

 

[ModernAlchemist]

alwaysangel and others on here are giving you amazing advice, but I just wanted to add something. You mentioned it's the only profession you're interested in and how you always wanted to be a doctor, but how do you know? Which other ones have you had real experience in? I only pose the question to make you think about it. I advised a great many first year college pre-med students who were 18 years old and were certain about being a doctor... until they did research or studied immunology or psychology or they realized that it wasn't what they thought after doing clinical work. I think the interviews will destroy you if you haven't had any other life experiences. Imagine that you and a 26 year old who spent 3 years doing clinical work and research as well as spent time teaching and had other work experience are both interviewing the same day. Confidence and maturity aside, I honestly cannot think of anything you could say that would lead an adcom believe you are more qualified to matriculated at their school. I'm not trying to be negative but it's important to be realistic.

 

[alwaysaangel]

I honestly cannot think of anything you could say that would lead an adcom believe you are more qualified to matriculated at their school. I'm not trying to be negative but it's important to be realistic.

Exactly.

And its not even that there is nothing she could say. Its that she really has no clue what to say or how to explain because she doesn't know why she wants to be a doctor.

The people with 40MCATs and 4.0s who cured cancer but get rejected from every medical school in the country - that is why they get rejected, because they cannot coherently explain why they want to be a physician other than "its just always what I've wanted to do."

When I was a student interviewer and someone said that with absolutely no follow-up - it didn't matter what else they said, they were checked "not recommended overall" on the evaluation form because they clearly had no clue what they were doing.

 

[kb1990]

I agree with the majority of the advice on this thread. I just wanted to jump in and say that at some medical schools you only need 90 hours of coursework, not a Bachelor's degree. That's what I'm doing. 🙂 So a Bachelor's degree isn't always a requirement, just usually.

 

[getright]

At some schools, it may not be a requirement, but you'll notice that 98% of matriculating students do have a bachelor's.

 

[alwaysaangel]

I agree with the majority of the advice on this thread. I just wanted to jump in and say that at some medical schools you only need 90 hours of coursework, not a Bachelor's degree. That's what I'm doing. 🙂 So a Bachelor's degree isn't always a requirement, just usually.

as someone else already said. Its not an outright requirement but you are less competitive without one. We have 4 students in my class who are younger. But all of them just finished their bachelors in 3 years. We have no one without a BA or BS even though its not an outright requirement

 

[kb1990]

as someone else already said. Its not an outright requirement but you are less competitive without one. We have 4 students in my class who are younger. But all of them just finished their bachelors in 3 years. We have no one without a BA or BS even though its not an outright requirement

I just wanted to reiterate that it's possible, since a few posts (not yours) made it sound like it absolutely isn't. Definitely not arguing with anyone. 🙂 I know it's highly unlikely that someone will be accepted without a Bachelor's degree, but when I was in the process everyone was discouraging me from even attempting it. Yet, I'll be starting med school in August without a Bachelor's. The same thing happened with another student I know. So now when I see students wanting to do the same thing, I like for them to know that it does happen sometimes.

 

[anbuitachi]

maturity came up during my interview at one of the schools. im 21 and the interviewer said his general impression of 21 yr old medical students is that they are immature

 

[Wakesc]

I would say the maturity thing is big. I know I have matured significantly during college. I however didn't have a desire for medicine until my sophomore year. Best of luck if you do pursue it though! Just remember that college is always said to be the best time of your life.

 

[MicA]

It seems that the main issue that everyone is bringing up is maturity. What about 6 year programs elsewhere is the world? I am only 20 and in my third year of university and am already allowed to examine patients. So it certainly isn't an issue in the rest of the world. If they want to go for it then they should.

 

[concretebomber]

A friend of mine told me his buddy graduated from Johns Hopkins a year early with a 3.9 GPA and received a 39 or something ridiculous on the MCAT.
The dude was rejected from every single medical school for the main reason of him "being too young". This guy was 21.

 

[alwaysaangel]

It seems that the main issue that everyone is bringing up is maturity. What about 6 year programs elsewhere is the world? I am only 20 and in my third year of university and am already allowed to examine patients. So it certainly isn't an issue in the rest of the world. If they want to go for it then they should.

Its cultural. I would suggest that in general a lot of American kids are less mature than other countries because of the way we are raised and the point at which we are expected to support ourselves.

 

[omgyou8myrice]

Go to college, be a normal person. No one would take an 18 year old seriously in a professional setting like that. Furthermore, at 18, you have a good amount of maturing that you need to go through. I don't care who you are, at 18, you're immature.

 

[Celinefan2008]

You do have to have a certain number of hours to apply (typically includes a full year in intro bio with labs, a full year of gen chem with labs, full year of ochem with labs, full year of physics with labs, 1 or 2 semesters of math, 1 year of college english (some ask for 3 semesters), some require 1 to 2 of biochem, and some othe rupper level bio courses. The reality is that at most schools you will not be able to take them in 1 year, as the lower level courses serve as prereqs for the upper level courses. At most colleges you have to take gen chem first year and then o-chem your second. Then think of all the science cources which have labs. Each of those labs on average is a 3 hour time commitment and not all the courses that you want to take will work out for your schedule as some may/will overlap and then you have to choose. Also, it is one thing to be accepted but in order to actually start medical school you must have graduated from an accredited institution with a BA or a BS. And they will ask to see that transcript which says so and so was awarded a degree...
And lastly... while there are people who were accepted at a younger age, those people represent a tiny percentage of the incoming class, regardless of their stats. Those interviewers will be scrutinizing you under a microscope for maturity and the older a person gets, the more he /she has.
Having said all this, I wish you the best of luck but also would like to say that you should enjoy your college experience and not kill yourself with an super class load and all the EC's on top of that. Quality matters more than quantity🙂

 

[kb1990]

Also, it is one thing to be accepted but in order to actually start medical school you must have graduated from an accredited institution with a BA or a BS. And they will ask to see that transcript which says so and so was awarded a degree...

I agree with basically everything you said. I just wanted to point out though that the above quote isn't true for all medical schools. Some only require 90 hours at matriculation. Just wanted to clarify in case other students were as confused about the process as I was before I started applying. Great advice though! 🙂

 

[803]

Why would you want to shorten the 4 most fun years of your life. No matter what some of these anti-social people say, no job is worth hurrying into if it will shorten your undergraduate days.