7 year BA/MD or 8 Year

[Brown429]

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I have the option of completing medical school by the time I am 25. Or take some more time in undergrad. to take worthless classes(stuff that may help me in medical school biochem, immuno, anat)...enjoy it and graduate when I am 26. or just graduate early go to medical school and come out a year earlier. I just hate the fact that medical school takes up so much of your youth...and a year is nothing afterwards but I would rather be doing a nice residency (lifestyle wise) from 25-29. Advice?

 

[bgreet]

Take the extra year and enjoy yourself

 

[Astrocyte]

I have the option of completing medical school by the time I am 25. Or take some more time in undergrad. to take worthless classes(stuff that may help me in medical school biochem, immuno, anat)...enjoy it and graduate when I am 26. or just graduate early go to medical school and come out a year earlier. I just hate the fact that medical school takes up so much of your youth...and a year is nothing afterwards but I would rather be doing a nice residency (lifestyle wise) from 25-29. Advice?

Take extra 2-3 years and enjoy yourself. You won't regret it.

 

[Law2Doc]

I have the option of completing medical school by the time I am 25. Or take some more time in undergrad. to take worthless classes(stuff that may help me in medical school biochem, immuno, anat)...enjoy it and graduate when I am 26. or just graduate early go to medical school and come out a year earlier. I just hate the fact that medical school takes up so much of your youth...and a year is nothing afterwards but I would rather be doing a nice residency (lifestyle wise) from 25-29. Advice?

Just do college the normal speed. You may even find you like something better than medicine, but will never know if you funnel yourself sole-mindedly down the road to a career so early. College is supposed to be the best 4 years of your life -- don't squander it trying to get to something else sooner. There is no prize for finishing a year early, unless you consider being prematurely gray from the stress a prize. This is not a race. And residency isn't something you really want to rush to get to -- letting it come to you at the normal pace is smarter.

 

[logos]

I took the short road. Maybe it wasnt the best idea. Back then that one year sounded like a lot of time, now I dont think so quite as much. I was kinda apathetic my first year because I felt like I had accomplished my goal (medschool) and deserved a break...but medschool is not conducive to that.

I like being ahead, but if I got the opportunity to do it over, I would probably lean more toward 4 years ugrad with a light senior year (probably mostly consisting of research credits for me...) with a lot of relaxation. I think if I had done that I wouldnt have resented the work so much last year.

But, cant complain too much...i'm on my way to what I wanted.

 

[logos]

Then again, the people in my class that were in the 7 year program with a garenteed medschool spot seemed to do pretty well. Probably because its pretty low stress compared to fitting all of a normal ugrad into 3 years....no MCAT, no pressure to keep a very high GPA...just get a B avg or better.

If you have one of these spots my thoughts above might not be as applicable to you.

 

[obbyjobby]

I don't know, I think it depends on the person. I did a 7year BA/MD program at another school and had a great time. I majored in Fine Arts, took dance and photography classes, studied abroad. 'course, this is all stuff you could do on the regular undergrad course, but it helped to not worry about finishing that bio major or acing the mcats. I was very happy and really enjoyed college. Med school was a ton of fun too, and I liked having the "extra year" later. I always planned to take a year or two off down the line somewhere else to do a research fellowship, which I did, and it was great.

Also, don't just be drawn in by the idea of a guaranteed med school spot. You're bright and you'll get into med school without it. Make sure you love the college and the program too. My program was great, let people do a 4th year if they wanted to, v. flexible about deferring, etc. In short, you've got to find the best fit for you.

 

[Dr. McDreamy]

take an extra 2 or 3 years. travel, explore, and find out what your all about. the people who have never existed outside the "bubble" of school are less mature when they get to medical school. if you have never not been a student, you dont know much about life.

 

[Law2Doc]

take an extra 2 or 3 years. travel, explore, and find out what your all about. the people who have never existed outside the "bubble" of school are less mature when they get to medical school. if you have never not been a student, you dont know much about life.

Plus you have the added benefit of actually being genuinely excited about the notion of being back in the classroom.

 

[Brown429]

i would love to travel, but I come from an average income family...so i can only do so much. I have traveled to many countries growing up with my parents. Some parts of me really wants to just finish medical school at the age of 25 and get life started...I am hoping to get a nice residency...lifestyle will be a major factor @ the time to choose. I have looked into study abroad but that is so much money...

Currently, i do not like my undergrad. institution...and the light classes i will take will only prepare me for medical school during my senior year. Its just everyone is getting thier lives started. I realize this when entering medicine, but when you see friends/family starting it just is different...

no mcat, no stress...and i am a junior...what to do...hmmm

this is a tough decision...😕