21-22 credit hours/semester?

[Xelb]

So I was thinking that maybe it might be possible to graduate one year early. By the end of my freshman year, I will have accumulated 35 total credits. My institution requires that I earn a total of 120 credits for graduation. With this in mind, I'll only need 85 more credits to graduate. However, if I wanted to graduate in only two more years (4 semesters), I would need approx. 21-22 credits each semester instead of around 14-15. Now I would normally just go ahead and put my plan into action but...

...I'm a Biochemistry major in a BS/MD program, so getting into medical school is not so much of a concern for me as it would be for a typical applicant. However, if something happens and I decide to apply out (thus forfeiting my guaranteed acceptance), then I may be at a disadvantage if I do the accelerated route. In addition, I would not have time to take elective courses. Just straight up requirements for my major.

With that said, I am in a pickle. However, I still have plenty of time to figure this out (several months worth).

Overall, would taking 21-22 credits/semester be a good idea in the long run with my goals of medical school in mind?

P.S. For all intents and purposes, money is not an issue. Factor that out when reading this please. Thank you!

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[Stumpyman]

your choice.. you're in a bs/md program, so your gpa can take a slight hit. Why not just enjoy college though? unless you have some other plan you need to get off your chest before med school.

 

[bassvp]

So I was thinking that maybe it might be possible to graduate one year early. By the end of my freshman year, I will have accumulated 35 total credits. My institution requires that I earn a total of 120 credits for graduation. With this in mind, I'll only need 85 more credits to graduate. However, if I wanted to graduate in only two more years (4 semesters), I would need approx. 21-22 credits each semester instead of around 14-15. Now I would normally just go ahead and put my plan into action but...

...I'm a Biochemistry major in a BS/MD program, so getting into medical school is not so much of a concern for me as it would be for a typical applicant. However, if something happens and I decide to apply out (thus forfeiting my guaranteed acceptance), then I may be at a disadvantage if I do the accelerated route. In addition, I would not have time to take elective courses. Just straight up requirements for my major.

With that said, I am in a pickle. However, I still have plenty of time to figure this out (several months worth).

Overall, would taking 21-22 credits/semester be a good idea in the long run with my goals of medical school in mind?

P.S. For all intents and purposes, money is not an issue. Factor that out when reading this please. Thank you!

Take summer classes.

Also, 21-22 cr/sem makes any sort of extracurricular a little more difficult.

 

[StoicJosher]

Take summer classes.

Also, 21-22 cr/sem makes any sort of extracurricular a little more difficult.

BS/MD is guaranteed acceptance given you get the MCAT cut off (which is usually low).

If you have any particular reason for doing it in 3, go ahead. Otherwise, take you time - enjoy college and have fun.

 

[V5RED]

Is your school going to be okay with you changing the year you will be entering medical school? You might want to ask them if this is allowed before you try to figure out if it is what you want to do.

 

[Xelb]

Is your school going to be okay with you changing the year you will be entering medical school? You might want to ask them if this is allowed before you try to figure out if it is what you want to do.

True, true. I will ask them about this, though there was not anything specific in the contract I signed that said I couldn't. So, while I will still ask them, in all likely hood I will be able to do it.

BS/MD is guaranteed acceptance given you get the MCAT cut off (which is usually low).

-I need a min. score of 24 (this is the national average, yes?)
-I need a GPA of 3.5 by the time I graduate. I finished my first semester with a 3.75.

 

[StoicJosher]

-I need a min. score of 24 (this is the national average, yes?)
-I need a GPA of 3.5 by the time I graduate. I finished my first semester with a 3.75.

Maybe for BS/MD applicants. Last years average matriculating MCAT was around 32. We need 30+ for a good shot.

Edit: The avg MCAT for applicants was 28.2 and matriculants was 31.1.
Source: https://www.aamc.org/download/161690/data/table17.pdf

 

[PantherPride]

If you really wanted to graduate early you should have taken some AP/IB/CC classes during high school to get your core classes out of the way. Now, I say you should just graduate on time and enjoy the last few years of having lots of free time and less responsibilities.

 

[Xelb]

Maybe for BS/MD applicants. Last years average matriculating MCAT was around 32. We need 30+ for a good shot.

Edit: The avg MCAT for applicants was 28.2 and matriculants was 31.1.
Source: https://www.aamc.org/download/161690/data/table17.pdf

I meant the national average for everyone that takes the test (those who do make it to the application process + those who don't), not the average for applicants who apply and matriculate to medical school.

If you really wanted to graduate early you should have taken some AP/IB/CC classes during high school to get your core classes out of the way. Now, I say you should just graduate on time and enjoy the last few years of having lots of free time and less responsibilities.

I know, I know. I just didn't care about high school though. I cruised in high school, just going through the motions in normal level classes, and really didn't start thinking about my goals in life until the middle of my senior year (which is how I somehow got into a BS/MD program).

 

[Bartemius]

Unless you really don't like college for some reason and/or really want to get started with med school, I'd stick it out the full four years. College = awesome. Simple really 👍

 

[StoicJosher]

I meant the national average for everyone that takes the test (those who do make it to the application process + those who don't), not the average for applicants who apply and matriculate to medical school.

Either way, you get the easy route in with the BS/MD. If you want to apply somewhere else, you will have to step up the score for the MCAT.

 

[PantherPride]

I know, I know. I just didn't care about high school though. I cruised in high school, just going through the motions in normal level classes, and really didn't start thinking about my goals in life until the middle of my senior year (which is how I somehow got into a BS/MD program).

I'm a freshman too and I could graduate early w/ 15 hours semesters and a couple summer courses, but I feel like I wouldn't be doing myself a favor by doing that. We are already going to work our asses off in med school AND residency, so I feel like we should enjoy the time we have now. I don't know how you would function under 21 hour semesters but I feel like I'd be burning myself out before med school even began.

Then again I'm not in a bs/md program and I have to worry about mcat/ECs more than you do, so its your choice. Keep in mind that upper level science courses will be more difficult than the courses you're taking now, and an increased volume of courses in general would make it even more difficult.

 

[neuro nephrons]

at first I thought you were just asking for the next semester, to which I would say sure. You are talking about four semesters in a row this will be suicide for your resume/GPA. Sure you are showing that you can handle 22 credits a semester, but you'll likely show that you won't be doing anything other than school work. Don't do it. It's a terrible idea. You'll burn out.

 

[Xelb]

I'm generally the kind of person that needs to be busy. If I'm not busy, I'm usually on the computer browsing FB or something like that. Even with my current 17 credit schedule, I feel like I should be doing more, otherwise I start to feel incompetent. As weird as it sounds, I feel like I'll burn out if I'm not doing more work. I don't know, I guess I'm just one of those people who needs to be busy, otherwise I feel I won't get anything done. EC's and stuff like that I take care of during breaks (got 36 hours of shadowing done during winter break + I'm hoping I can work as a CNA or EMT during all of my summers).

 

[Xelb]

So I just found out that my parents would support me in the decision to take CC courses to get my Gen Ed's out of the way (courses pertaining to my major are not allowed to be taken outside of the institution), so I can save at least 1 semester without taking 22 credits. Thing is, I haven't a clue how this process works, and I don't know if I'm already too late when it comes to registering for CC classes. >.>

 

[PetPony]

I need a GPA of 3.5 by the time I graduate. I finished my first semester with a 3.75.

How many credits did you take your first semester? Do you think you'll be able to keep a 3.5 if you have a high course load? There'll be much more work and you won't have as much time to focus on every class like before because you have to divide that time between more classes. If you think you might get a lower GPA than you need, then I wouldn't risk it.

 

[Hotshy]

Be careful OP. People in my school's BS/MD are currently trying to do enter shave a year off of their undergrad and have come under serious scrutiny from the admissions people at the medical school. It was their intent for the students to do all 4 years of undergrad, so they may not even be accepted this cycle despite having stellar GPAs and MCAT scores above the low requirement for people in the program. They may even have to take a gap year. I encourage you to contact the people at the medical school that handle admissions with regards to your BS/MD program and see how their views on this issue. A good number of admissions committees frown upon students starting medical school just three year after finishing high school, it can be an issue.

EDIT: I'm actually in my last semester of a 3-year undergrad experience as well and will be starting medical school in August. So I feel like I know where you're coming from, if you have any questions on how to handle this feel free to message me.

 

[lunt]

In addition, I would not have time to take elective courses. Just straight up requirements for my major.

Are you sure about this? You're still doing 120 credits in total, just in a shorter period of time. There shouldn't be an increase in the number of required courses.

As PetPony said, I don't think you should try this. Having a 3.75 GPA (at 15 credits?) doesn't seem safe enough to guarantee a 3.5 at 21 credits.

Use your summers sessions instead. That's what I did to complete my minor and it was much easier than trying to overload myself.

 

[FattySlug]

Just out of curiosity: how did you get in that programs? Requirements? Thanks.

 

[Hotshy]

Just out of curiosity: how did you get in that programs? Requirements? Thanks.

They are usually for students entering undergrad so you apply during senior year of high school. Strong SAT/ACT scores and a good HS GPA. Then your typical shadowing/volunteering and other EC's from high school. At my university nearly all my friends in the program were valedictorians of their high school classes and scored 1400+ on the math and critical reading portions of the SAT, in addition to the ECs I mentioned.

The minimum requirements for the program I am talking about are 3.5 or higher high school GPA, 1300+ on SAT or 30+ on ACT, in addition to exposure to medicine and the accompanying ECs.

 

[Xelb]

Be careful OP. People in my school's BS/MD are currently trying to do enter shave a year off of their undergrad and have come under serious scrutiny from the admissions people at the medical school. It was their intent for the students to do all 4 years of undergrad, so they may not even be accepted this cycle despite having stellar GPAs and MCAT scores above the low requirement for people in the program.

-Past BS/MD students in my program have graduated in three years, but all the examples that the adcoms gave me were of students who came in with many AP/IB/Dual enrollment credits from when they were still in high school. So, I don't see why they would have a problem with a student wanting to graduate in three years, but instead of earning those credits in high school, I would earn them by taking 22 credits/semester and/or taking CC courses during the summer. It's the same thing, as far the end result matters.

They may even have to take a gap year. I encourage you to contact the people at the medical school that handle admissions with regards to your BS/MD program and see how their views on this issue. A good number of admissions committees frown upon students starting medical school just three year after finishing high school, it can be an issue.

-Yes, I will do that, for sure.

EDIT: I'm actually in my last semester of a 3-year undergrad experience as well and will be starting medical school in August. So I feel like I know where you're coming from, if you have any questions on how to handle this feel free to message me.

-So I take it then your BS/MD program was alright with your case for wanting to graduate in three years? I'll keep the bolded in mind. 🙂

 

[Hotshy]

-

-So I take it then your BS/MD program was alright with your case for wanting to graduate in three years? I'll keep the bolded in mind. 🙂

I wasn't in their BS/MD program. It worked to my advantage that I had to apply as a regular applicant 🙂.

Also this program had previously accepted student in 3-years as well, but their philosophy behind it suddenly changed this year. Again be really informed when you go through with this process.

Edit: They respect the fact that you can graduate in 3 years, the major concern is over "life- experience", which for their purposes boils down to your ability to relate to people and emotional maturity.