Additional minor OR Finishing undergrad in 3 years + research + clinical experience + volunteering?

[PreMed2006]

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Hi,

Greetings.

I would like to get some opinion/input from the Adcoms and anyone who can pitch in.

I start my PreMed journey as a freshman in fall 2024. My major is biological sciences. I am going to college with 46 credits between AP and dual enrollment.

So, I was planning to take only around 12 credits per semester with the maximum of 2 science classes to distribute the workload and purse other opportunities like doing research or gaining clinical experiences and building my resume.

So, while trying to come up with a 4 year plan, I was facing the following challenges.

1. I learned that to keep my merit scholarship, I must take minimum 15 credits per semester. Prior credits cannot be used.

2. My honors program dictates me to take one upper level science course each in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd semesters and one humanities class in the 4th semester. No flexibility there.

3. I am planning to take the MCAT at the end of junior year summer, devoting the entire summer for mcat prep. So, I would like to take classes that would help me with the mcat, like intro to neuroscience, research methods, general microbiology, general endocrinology , physiology, molecular genetics, and biochemistry I and II (2 semesters) by the 6th semester. (There is a one semester biochemistry option but it condenses all 2 semester topics into one, which seems extremely hard).

4. Because of #1, #2 and #3 and the pre-requisite conditions, I can only have 2 science classes in the 1st semester and must take 3 science classes each in all other semesters.

Considering all the above, I have come up with a detailed plan which shows that I can graduate in three years. In this regard, I have the following questions and would appreciate if the Adcoms or anyone could offer some advice.

1. Is there any downside in graduating early in three years? I am thinking of doing research, volunteering, clinical job, part time Americorp etc in the 4th year. Also, I can take more time for mcat prep and take it in January of my 4th year.

2. Another option is that taking an additional minor in a non science area. Will this look more impressive than #1 ? Because of reason #3, I can only push down one science class to the 7th semester. I would still have to take 3 science classes each in four semesters. So, there is not much relief.

3. Also, I was very fortunate to get into a cancer research program which I like a lot. I would have around 600 research hours before I start college. I plan to continue with this program till I graduate because it is close to my college, and would potentially allow me to have 3-4 years of research by the time I apply to medical schools. Would multiple years of research in one lab be impressive or should I pursue one more?


I am sorry if this was too long, but I look forward to your response. Thank you for your time.

 

[PreMed2006]

@gyngyn , @Mr.Smile12 ,@Faha , @LizzyM , @Goro .. I apologize to tag you. Would appreciate it greatly if you could respond.

Thank you

 

[eigen]

There are very, very niche cases where a minor will ever matter at all. This is not one of them. In 98.5% of all cases, no one will ever care that you have a minor or what it's in.

Have you verified with the school that you will be able to transfer all 46 credits? Many schools cap the number you can bring in if you're entering as a first time freshman.

like intro to neuroscience, research methods, general microbiology, general endocrinology , physiology, molecular genetics, and biochemistry I and II (2 semesters)

Of these, only biochemistry is likely to help you signfiicantly with the MCAT. Have you looked over the MCAT and how it maps onto class content?

Number of labs doesn't matter for research, what matters is what you do, what comes out of it, and the skills you learn. Most important is that you've been in a position where you've taken some ownership over a project that you can confidently discuss.

Time to graduation doesn't really matter: schools aren't going to look at how long it took you, they're going to look at what you've done.

I think it's great that you're engaged to this degree, but most first years I see that have this much planned end up very, very frustrated with reality. Courses may not be offered when you think they will, they may fill up and you don't get into them, they may be offered with conflicting times. Your interests may change.

Have you talked to a pre-health advisor at the school you're entering in yet? What about an academic advisor in your major of interest? Have you verified that all of the schools you might want to apply to will accept AP credit?

 

[Mr.Smile12]

Clear your intended curricular schedule with honors program, academic, and prehealth advisors as @eigen suggested. With that many incoming credits, you can plan for a rather interesting college experience, including a second major in a different area if allowed. (Note: medical schools don't care about second majors either, but if you want an academic career, why not.)

If your scholarship covers 4-year full-tuition/COA, don't leave money on the table. You are allowed to have (safe) fun in college. You must play by the rules and conditions of your scholarship, but hopefully, the access to resources will help you in the long term.

 

[chilly_md]

I am thinking of doing research, volunteering, clinical job, part time Americorp etc in the 4th year.

Doing 2 of those in 4th year is more realistic. More than that, and it is highly unlikely to actually work out.

 

[LunaOri]

Plan your schedule around taking the minimum 15 credits per semester, and focus on doing well in them for the next 4 years. Spending the full 4 years in school will let you take advantage of opportunities that are only available in school: interesting courses, premed advising, access to college resources. You can spend your free time having fun (and volunteering, and studying for the MCAT). Adcoms don’t see graduating in 3 years as a plus.

 

[LizzyM]

My only advice is NOT to take organic chemistry in your first year, even if you have met the Chem pre-req. I see too many students who are in a GPA hole at the end of freshman year because they were sunk by o-chem. And you have less time to recoup if you intend to have a college GPA covering only 90 credits.

Okay, other general advice. Join or create a study group of other like-minded students. It is find to talk things out but don't share notes, lab reports, laptops or other materials with others. If you help someone who turns around and steals your work can result in you being slapped with an institutional action for cheating.

Go to office hours. If you understand the material, ask questions showing that you can go beyond the material to higher level ideas. If you don't understand the material, office hours are the chance to get clarification. In either case, it is another opportunity to engage with faculty who you might ask for letters of recommendation.

Be mindful of deadlines and requirements. Read your emails, online handbooks and other materials provided by your department, the school and the university.

Have (safe) fun!

 

[eigen]

My only advice is NOT to take organic chemistry in your first year, even if you have met the Chem pre-req. I see too many students who are in a GPA hole at the end of freshman year because they were sunk by o-chem. And you have less time to recoup if you intend to have a college GPA covering only 90 credits.

As someone who teaches OChem, I strongly second this. I have an occasional student who manages it successfully but they're (a) rare, and (b) would have probably still done a lot better if they'd waited.

 

[PreMed2006]

Thank you all very much for all the most valuable information.

@eigen, yes, I ran the “graduate audit” report, they have accepted 43 credits, 12 of them from dual enrollment. AP biology is the only premed related science credit I took. The Honors College associate director said, to make the honors college schedule I work , I must take AP biology’s 8 credits, because it is fixed and there is no flexibility. Most of my AP credits go towards GenEd requirements. But thank you for warning/reminding, I will check out the individual medical school’s requirements. I met with my academic advisor during the orientation, but we mostly discussed about first semester courses. I have exchanged a few emails with my premed advisor.

@Mr.Smile12, yes, I have come up with two alternate complete 4-year schedules, will surely sit with my academic advisor, honors college advisor and premed advisor, get their input and finalize. After reading what you snd @Lunari have said, staying in college for the 4th seems more appealing. Fortunately, my home, the research lab, university, the medical center where I volunteer are all within 30-45 minutes of commuting time.

@LizzyM, yes. That’s why I didn’t take the AP Chemistry credit. I am going through “organic chemistry as a second language” by David Kline now. I intend to finish it before the college starts. Planning to go through the second semester topics as well next summer before the classes start . The other points you have give me are most valuable indeed.

Thank you all once again for the kindness.

 

[PreMed2006]

Doing 2 of those in 4th year is more realistic. More than that, and it is highly unlikely to actually work out.

Yes. Probably, medical assistant job and research during 4th year and Americorp during the gap year.