3 year undergrad degree

[amberm4]

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Anyone get accepted to medical school who completed their degree in 3 years? Does it really matter as long as the ECs, MCATS and GPA are there?

 

[SuzieQ3417]

Technically it should not make a difference as long as you have all of the pre-reqs. Some schools like to see applicants take advanced courses in the sciences, so if graduating in 3 years means not taking any classes beyond the basic requirements you could be doing yourself a disservice. However, if you are not a traditional science major (like myself), chances are you will not have too many advanced science courses anyway.

 

[Reimat]

Anyone get accepted to medical school who completed their degree in 3 years? Does it really matter as long as the ECs, MCATS and GPA are there?

It's possible, but along the same lines as what Suzie was saying, having the minimum wont give you an advantage. Also, if you can graduate early, it's probably because you have a lot of AP credit. Some schools, especially highly selective schools will only take math AP credit for med school pre-reqs. Get a copy of MSAR and plan out your schedual to see if you'll be able to fit all required pre-med courses and major courses in 3 years.

 

[sdnManJo]

I'll be starting college in a few weeks and I don't have too many AP credits, but if I take summer courses I could possibly graduate in 3 years. I will be a science major and intend on taking as many upper level courses as possible and volunteering, etc. If I do graduate in 3 years but take the MCAT in the Fall of my 3rd year (so I would be in the same applicant pool as if I took 4 years to graduate) would this be bad? I would hopefully be working during that year (Biology Major, Business Minor), volunteering, or doing research. Would this plan hurt me at all or would I be better to take my time and graduate in 4 years (with less/no summer courses)?

 

[DrBowtie]

Take 4. I could have done 3 but was advised to take the full 4 and double major or take either higher level bio classes like histo or other classes of interest. Take the extra time to flush out the softside of your app (ec's and such).

 

[LanceP97]

I'm starting medical school next week and I finished my undergrad (BS Biology) in 2.5 years. None of the schools I interviewed at mentioned much about it, but a few interviewers did ask why I wanted to do it so quickly.. So as long as you can present yourself as being mature and can answer why then you'll have no problem at all.

 

[Sweetlill1]

I did a double major in three years (cell & molec bio and judaic studies), I had three interviews last year and it wasn't mentioned.

 

[Daichi Katase]

I'm starting medical school next week and I finished my undergrad (BS Biology) in 2.5 years. None of the schools I interviewed at mentioned much about it, but a few interviewers did ask why I wanted to do it so quickly.. So as long as you can present yourself as being mature and can answer why then you'll have no problem at all.

I am in the same boat. Hopefully it doesn't come up. If it does, I will just say I wanted to get to those exciting upper level classes quickly. 😀

 

[Law2Doc]

Anyone get accepted to medical school who completed their degree in 3 years? Does it really matter as long as the ECs, MCATS and GPA are there?

Depending on your age, there's the danger that by finishing early you become a very young med school applicant. I've heard (and this is totally anecdotal) that younger applicants are sometimes viewed with concern by certain adcoms due to a lack of demonstrated maturity, and the worry that the youngest of applicants will have more difficulty dealing with patients (by having had less life time to develop social interaction skills), handling life and death issues, etc. Maturity tends to be one of the big parts of your interview score if you get to that stage. While someone who graduates quickly is clearly up to the task in the academic half of med school, there might be some concern about the clinical portion. Thus it might make sense to do the whole 4 years, or pick up a masters before applying. But there are certainly a few youngsters on SDN who have had success in the process, so there is no hard and fast rule.

 

[C.P. Jones]

i asked an adcom last year if it mattered, he told me it doesn't matter as long as you do well and have all the characteristics, etc, etc

but i sure wish i had done 4...don't fly through college, ppl aren't lying when they tell you to stay

 

[Mediculous]

I'm getting my BS in 3 years, too. I think that academically it's a positive move but that you sacrifice your non-academic life. Taking huge courseloads while maintaining your target GPA and involving yourself in EC's takes a lot of time. A lot. I can't see why previous demonstration of the handling large classloads well would not be to your advantage, though. A 20 credits 4.0 semester is more impressive than a 15 credits 4.0 semester. Definitely not necessary, but more impressive. I don't think it helps that much, but it surely doesn't hurt(granted your life as a med school applicant with volunteering, research, clubs, etc. are taken care of, as well). I personally decided take 20 credit semesters and 9-10 credit summers because I took 3 years off in between high school and college. Once I realized how much I wanted to be a doctor and what I had to do, I just wanted to hurry and do it. With that in mind, I started volunteering and getting involved early on, so my EC's didn't suffer like some other <4 year grad's might. I think that if you have a butt load of AP credits or take on larger courseloads that let you graduate early, you have a huge advantage because you can either graduate early or use that extra year to get a job or do research or something else that not only would be a great life experience, but at the same time improve your application. Or you could travel the world or something...whatever. My point is that I think finishing your degree early can give you an invaluable asset---time.

 

[sunnyjohn]

It can be done in three years, but why shorten on of the best times of your life?

Ah, good times!

 

[OntheRoof55]

hey i just fininshed my ugrad in 3 years and started med school this week...don't do it...med schools a bitch...ugrad was the life

 

[cewall13]

I'm double majoring in Biochemistry and Psychology and am also graduating in 3 years due to a lot of AP credits, as well as heavy course loads and summer classes. Is it necessary to try and maintain leadership positions in the gap year I will be taking? I will continue volunteering, working in a research lab, and hopefully get a full time job in a medical setting.

 

[libertyyne]

Epic necrobump.

 

[Green_Goose]

It's like a museum in here

 

[Dr.Sticks]

I wonder how many attending are in this thread..
I think I was in kindergarten when this thread started? Lol

 

[Green_Goose]

I wonder how many attending are in this thread..
I think I was in kindergarten when this thread started? Lol

I'm not sure I was even aware of the Internet in 2005