Apply at 16 - almost 17 yo

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coucouloulou

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Hi everyone,

I'm currently in 2nd year of my B.Sc. and something's been nagging me : I'll graduate at 17, and if everything goes well I'll start med school at 17 (18 by the end of september). I'm keeping a low profile on my age because it wouldn't have helped in getting a job, etc, and I don't want to be treated differently by my classmates.
My question is : will it have negative consequences on my applications?
To specify a bit, I did all of high school and did 2 years in 1 in middle school, and went through primary school pretty fast. I have a full-course load (18 cr/semester), 27h/week job, about 100h in non-clinical volunteering (working on more at the moment), which I hope can prove to med schools that I'm "mature". The other problem is that I can't sign up for the regular hospital volunteering programs because it's 18+, so I don't really know where to get clinical experience...
My grades aren't ideal right now (a few accidents...), GPA is around 3.5. I've started studying for the MCAT and I'm aiming for a 520+ (let me dream!).
I've been wanting to post about this for a while, just never had the courage to do it haha

Thanks!
 
- you have no true clinical experience
- you yourself say your GPA isn't ideal
- you're super young (the maturity thing)

I would say wait to apply when: you have a solid number of clinical hours, you're completely done with college (aka at least 1 gap year) so you can have the highest GPA possible, and you're a bit older (so maybe a few gap years...)(a 22yo doctor doesn't sound appealing to many people)

Why rush into medical school if you don't have to? Take some time to enjoy yourself/explore the world.

Just my 2 cents though.
 
Work on your app, improve your gpa, study hard for the mcat, and apply in a few years. You are currently not an ideal candidate as you have little to no clinical experience, an average gpa, and you’re very young. If you take your time and get all the boxes checked, you’ll be fine and still well below the average age to matriculate. If you rush in, you will probably be looked upon as young and naive and find yourself as a reapplicant.
 
Well aren't you just high and mighty....graduating at 17. You're gunna have a hard time with the age thing, but hey good luck. I echo others in the fact that you need to wait for clinical experience before you apply. It's best to wait and get more experience in medicine.
 
With a lot of clinical experience, a great MCAT, and a strong support system I could be convinced to green light a 19 year old to start medical school. Can't imagine taking a 17 year old.
 
No clinical experience is rough on any applicant, regardless of age. Get some and shadowing and then decide on med school or not. What I wanted at 16 was different than I wanted at 21... and then medicine was goal when I turned 23.
 
You need to get out and live your life for a few years man. There’s no rush despite how it may feel right now.

I would sign up for an EMT course and work 911 calls or an ED for a year or two, that'll be a solid way to show exposure to medicine (The good and the bad) and show maturity.

Unfortunately, though, I feel like you won’t heed this and the above advice based on your current trajectory and the likely strong pressure to advance from your parents.

Edit: spelling
 
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Sorry Doggie Howser, but you are a child. And going to medical school and becoming a doctor is something for an adult. Can you even drive a car yet? No matter how smart you think you are, you almost undoubtably lack the maturity necessary to be a successful medical student. Just count your blessings that you somehow able to find a college to admit you so young.
 
I remember what it's like to be 16/17. I understand that you think you're mature and ready to get on with your life. All teenagers think that way. But the fact is, in a few years, you will look back and realize you were not as mature or prepared as you thought you were. For your own sake, take a few years off. Get a job, gain some life experience and maturity, and then apply to medical school.
 
What is your job title?
Do you have any bench research experience and/or other research experience?
What is your non-clinical volunteering? What population do you work with?
Do you speak a foreign language? Have you ever been out of your comfort zone with regard to language/culture (e.g. travel abroad, traveled alone within the US, etc)?

You'd be wise to plan on at least 2 gap years, maybe more. Get some bench research; only a small minority of applicants don't have at least some of that.
Get at least 2000 hours (one year full time) of work experience hands-on with patients before applying. Getting certified as a nursing assistant (CNA) or EMT would be the pathway for either of those jobs.
If you have not worked with the very poor or other vulnerable populations, you' be wise to get out of your comfort zone and work or volunteer in a setting with people different than yourself and in great need.
If you are not fluent in Spanish, that is a very useful language to learn. Depending on your target geographic area, there may be other languages that it would be helpful to become fluent in. There is data out there on major US cities and the number of people who do not speak English at home and who assess their English language skills poor.

Once you have some research experience, you might consider staying in school for a second major or for a graduate degree. If you love bench research, you might be a good candidate for MD/PhD. That takes longer, is often fully funded so you don't graduate with a huge debt, and you would not be into your clerkships (seeing patients on a daily basis) until your fifth year after graduation which would mean that you'd still be young but not so young that patients would feel concerned that they were being examined by a teenager.

I'm going to be honest. Your maturity will be called into question and you will have a tough slog if you apply at 17. If you apply at 20, you will have a far stronger application and be a much stronger candidate, a better medical student and a more successful physician.
 
OP, I don't know why you didn't mention you're Canadian in your original post.

Canadian medical schools are notoriously hard to get into -- harder to get into than schools in the US.

Some of the advice from other posters obviously doesn't apply, since I assume you're looking to practice medicine in Canada (e.g., LizzyM's recommendation to learn Spanish).

Good luck!
 
Thanks for your replies everyone, it's what I was worried about.
I travel a lot, but I really don't see myself taking that many gap years. I already completed about 78 credits (30 HS credits) which technically puts me in 3rd year of my HBSc, and I'm taking a minor in law next semester because I think that it'll teach me critical thinking, etc.
@LizzyM I work in the media, starting research next semester, and I volunteer mostly for clubs raising funds for cancer, mental health... I speak French and Spanish. As to clinical experience, I'm applying to be a volunteer EMT (that would be about 48h per month). I know that it's far from enough but it's a start...

I also have access to European med schools being a European citizen.
I've been wanting to become a doctor since the age of 5, and I'm not saying that I never questioned it, but I am sure that being a doctor is what I want to do.
I'll probably take a gap year to get as much clinical experience as possible.
But now I can at least see what issues I'll be faced with...
 
Hey, I get you’re in a weird situation. I’m applying to med schools at a younger age than average and can answer any questions you have or give some advice.
I can’t give any advice regarding Canadian med schools, but I think there are a lot of support and created threads you can read on sdn.
I do agree starting med school 16/17 is a bit too young, but you know yourself best. In college, people were older than me at least 2 yrs. But I felt like I performed academically in the top of my classes, worked 30hrs/wk in addition to being a FT student bc of family financial reasons, took on several clinical/ non-clinical volunteering and leadership positions. It was hell being so busy, but now me vs. 16 y/o me were pretty different and I learned and few up SO MUCH through my older peers, work, etc.
What really helped me was having mentors/older peers/working ppl to keep me on my toes and sometimes they helped me see things from a more ‘mature’ perspective.
As for finding volunteering, I totally know it’s a pain in the butt bc of the age thing. I just emailed/called/ met with the volunteer coordinators dressed nice and spoke professionally. You need to portray that you are already half way finished with college and really passionate about medicine, and this opportunity would help me blah blah. You need to show and don’t tell you are ‘mature’. You should always be ready to be let down, bc it is hard for people to trust younger ppl. Another thing I did was start with volunteering at the front desk or ‘bottom of the totem pole’ and showing them that I can be dependable, on time, respectful, handle conflicts, etc. I then asked for volunteering in departments, bc they knew me and trusted me than some youngster stranger.

For med schools, be ready to be let down bc you are competing with 26/27 year olds and I constantly felt like I needed to go above and beyond to ‘prove my maturity.’

At the end of the day, be thankful that you are years ahead of your peers and you get more time for gap yrs or if you aren’t sure what you’re doing; be okay that your peers might be jealous and don’t want to help you; find support systems and do have fun along the way.

Age is just a number of yrs you’ve lived, experience+how you carry yourself is more important. But then again age and experience go hand in hand.

PM me if you have any questions and keep that chin up
 
Age may just be a number but until you reach age 18 you are considered a minor and there are certain legal protections afforded you by law. That's going to limit what you can do and how you are treated in the workplace or where you can go as a volunteer. I'm not familiar with Canadian law but I imagine it is similar to the US.

Canadian schools are very tough so stay in school an extra year if you can to get your GPA up and prep for the MCAT intensely because you need to really shine in that regard to make it into a Canadian medical school.

Not sure about how European schools would approach your application. Most are 6-7 year programs that start right after HS. You are almost the same age as the first year students in medical training there but you already have quite a bit of college done -- the credits may or maynot transfer and you'd be a "one off" from overseas which might make you a less desirable candidate. It might be worth inquiring directly with the European schools that interest you but only if you see yourself migrating to Europe. Do go with your eyes wide open if you have any intention of returning to practice in Canada and be sure you know if that is a reasonable pathway. It can be very difficult to practice in the US as an FMG -- I'm not sure about Canada in that regard.
 
coucouloulou said:
Hi everyone,

I'm currently in 2nd year of my B.Sc. and something's been nagging me : I'll graduate at 17, and if everything goes well I'll start med school at 17 (18 by the end of september). I'm keeping a low profile on my age because it wouldn't have helped in getting a job, etc, and I don't want to be treated differently by my classmates.
My question is : will it have negative consequences on my applications?
To specify a bit, I did all of high school and did 2 years in 1 in middle school, and went through primary school pretty fast. I have a full-course load (18 cr/semester), 27h/week job, about 100h in non-clinical volunteering (working on more at the moment), which I hope can prove to med schools that I'm "mature". The other problem is that I can't sign up for the regular hospital volunteering programs because it's 18+, so I don't really know where to get clinical experience...
My grades aren't ideal right now (a few accidents...), GPA is around 3.5. I've started studying for the MCAT and I'm aiming for a 520+ (let me dream!).
I've been wanting to post about this for a while, just never had the courage to do it haha

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Impressive. With this type of momentum, you will go very far.

If it is meant to be, it will be meant to be a year from now, 5, 10, 15 years from now. In other words, dont rush it. You are doing great! Dont let your drive to do it all right away undermine your true goal: having a strong application when you finally submit one. You seem focused on meeting a timeline. Be focused on meeting all of the requirements in whatever time frame it takes. Quality > Timeframe

Slow and steady wins the race! Keep going.

I am proud of you. Ese es mi hijo/hija!
 
Pagan FutureDoc said:
At 16-17 a student would have to be truly exceptional, check all the boxes, demonstrate unparalleled maturity, and have strong reasons for becoming a doctor.
Click to expand...

This -- I strongly suspect this is one of the factors motivating the OP to apply NOW! before age dilutes his/her specialness.

Don't do it! Take an extra year or two to grow up and experience the world, to mature more as an adult person, and yes - to add to your resume. Your co-applicants will have five extra years on you to build resumes. Take two of those years to build yours -- Peace Corps is a great idea. So is 6-12 months of backpacking around the world followed by a year of EMT work or research tech experience.

Honestly, if you do this, a smaller number of people will know (because the age gap won't be as apparent) but those who do will be even more impressed that you demonstrated the maturity to postpone medical school, explore the world and enjoy your life.
 
Osminog said:
OP, I don't know why you didn't mention you're Canadian in your original post.

Canadian medical schools are notoriously hard to get into -- harder to get into than schools in the US.

Some of the advice from other posters obviously doesn't apply, since I assume you're looking to practice medicine in Canada (e.g., LizzyM's recommendation to learn Spanish).

Good luck!
Click to expand...

Second this. Canadian here. 3.5 GPA for Canadian med schools with a 520 MCAT will still not get you interviews. Save your money. 3.9+ GPA and 520GPA, then you have a shot.

Take time to boost that GPA. Way too early to apply at 17.
 
Does he need Harvard-level stats to get into Canadian medical schools - and how would they look at a couple years of 4.0 DIY postbacc with a 520? Would that be enough to be competitive?
 
Goro said:
The Peace Corps is not the solution to every medical school application problem either.
Click to expand...
No. Becoming a member of the Canadian Royal Mounted Police is the solution to every medical school application problem ever.
 
LizzyM said:
Get at least 2000 hours (one year full time) of work experience hands-on with patients before applying. Getting certified as a nursing assistant (CNA) or EMT
Click to expand...
2,000 just for OP or a typical applicant? If no, then how many hours do you think a typical applicant should have?
 
Here I sit at nearly 18, rotting in high school and selling my soul for my EMT-B.
Damn.
 
Veni vidi vicii said:
2,000 just for OP or a typical applicant? If no, then how many hours do you think a typical applicant should have?
Click to expand...
To be top of the heap in terms of clinical experience, an applicant should have at least a year of full-time experience. Most admitted applicants are not "top of the heap" in that category but have some other attribute such as 4.0 and/or 522 and/or a publication, etc that sets them apart from 99% of the other applicants.
 
Maturity is becoming more and more important to medical schools. I agree with a lot of these SDNers that you should take some time to gain clinical experience and mature some. Medicine is getting tougher all the time so it would be good for you to experience it before school.
 
LizzyM said:
To be top of the heap in terms of clinical experience, an applicant should have at least a year of full-time experience. Most admitted applicants are not "top of the heap" in that category but have some other attribute such as 4.0 and/or 522 and/or a publication, etc that sets them apart from 99% of the other applicants.
Click to expand...
Well, he is fluent in Spanish and French. Don't know how much this will set him apart from other applicants. It's certainly worthwhile for him to spend a year or two working a job that'll get him a lot of clinical experience.
 
Thanks for all the replies! I have a few clinical experience opportunities lined up, so I’m gonna try to get as many hours as possible.
I also would probably go for a US med school, or McGill as my Canadian dream school (French is my first language).
In Canada a lot of schools drop 1st year or worst grades etc, so my GPA is actually higher than 3.5. My target at the moment with all semesters included is 3.8 and MCAT 525 (I’m good at cars without having actually started practicing, so I guess that’ll be helpful), with a strong upward trend.
If I manage to do 2 semesters (maybe with one during the summer) of full-time clinical experience, that would be a good amount right?

PS : I’m a she haha
 
Do the Canadians do medical school like the Americans, or do people generally enter at 18, fresh out of high school? If it's an American-style process, you might want to get some more life experience before you go, get a year of clinical experience. Even so, your age might count against you till you're 20 or so. Not saying it can't be done, though, with stellar stats, good clinical experience, and a good interview.
 
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