Being "ahead" in courses

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Hey SDN I was wondering if there was any advantages to being 'ahead' in your classes besides being able to graduate earlier. Would Student A have more advantage in any way than Student B when it comes to medical school application if Student A has taken more upperdivision courses required for major by Sophmore/Junior year than Student B? Does this 'speed' matter?

I've always thought that it didn't matter, but just wanted to make sure. Thanks!

 

[SissyAlice]

Hey SDN I was wondering if there was any advantages to being 'ahead' in your classes besides being able to graduate earlier. Would Student A have more advantage in any way than Student B when it comes to medical school application if Student A has taken more upperdivision courses required for major by Sophmore/Junior year than Student B? Does this 'speed' matter?

I've always thought that it didn't matter, but just wanted to make sure. Thanks!

No, I don't think so. It might actually hurt your app, because if you finish your degree in 2 or 3 years you have less time for ECs. Also, you'd be young and they might not think you're ready for such a commitment.

 

[DiamondBar]

No, I don't think so. It might actually hurt your app, because if you finish your degree in 2 or 3 years you have less time for ECs. Also, you'd be young and they might not think you're ready for such a commitment.

That's nice to hear; for average intelligent students like me, I can't take 5 upperdivision courses in one quarter and get the A's . I need around 3 to get the grades I want, + 1 class that is easy and doesn't relate to my major. I didn't quite understand students with about the same level of intelligence as me who's ahead, but suffering from GPA a lot. Thanks alice

 

[minerva3121]

The only advantage I can think of is that having more credit hours than your peers will allow you to register for classes earlier. So you have a better chance of getting in the section taught by the higher-quality and/or easier professor.

 

[tima]

It doesn't hurt your med school application. I finished my undergrad in 3 years, had ample time for other EC activities, and was accepted. I also know other med school friends who finished in 3 years because of AP credits.

No, I don't think so. It might actually hurt your app, because if you finish your degree in 2 or 3 years you have less time for ECs. Also, you'd be young and they might not think you're ready for such a commitment.

 

[minerva3121]

It doesn't hurt your med school application. I finished my undergrad in 3 years, had ample time for other EC activities, and was accepted. I also know other med school friends who finished in 3 years because of AP credits.

I still agree with SissyAlice that it might hurt. The average age for first-year medical school students is 24, so med schools obviously value the maturity and life experiences that some younger students lack. Perhaps paul411 could give his opinion, since he graduated in 2.5 years.

 

[tima]

According to 2010 Matriculating Student Questionnaire (MSQ), 43.5% of the matriculates were 20-22, and 41.5% were 23-25 in the 2010 cycle.

I filled out the 2011 MSQ and the data for the previous cycle hasn't been released yet.

https://www.aamc.org/data/msq/

I still agree with SissyAlice that it might hurt. The average age for first-year medical school students is 24, so med schools obviously value the maturity and life experiences that some younger students lack. Perhaps paul411 could give his opinion, since he graduated in 2.5 years.

 

[enTropeeeeeeeee]

Hey SDN I was wondering if there was any advantages to being 'ahead' in your classes besides being able to graduate earlier. Would Student A have more advantage in any way than Student B when it comes to medical school application if Student A has taken more upperdivision courses required for major by Sophmore/Junior year than Student B? Does this 'speed' matter?

I've always thought that it didn't matter, but just wanted to make sure. Thanks!

If you can manage more classes and still maintain an awesome GPA, it will give you free time to purely study for the MCAT. That exam is difficult enough by itself...stacking a full load of courses will make it that much more difficult.

Generally speaking, more classes is inversely proportionate to GPA.

 

[minerva3121]

According to 2010 Matriculating Student Questionnaire (MSQ), 43.5% of the matriculates were 20-22, and 41.5% were 23-25 in the 2010 cycle.

I filled out the 2011 MSQ and the data for the previous cycle hasn't been released yet.

https://www.aamc.org/data/msq/

Oh, then never mind. I was just looking at a bunch of old SDN threads and for some reason they were all listing mid-20s as the average age:

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=354079
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=192386
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=436279

 

[SissyAlice]

According to 2010 Matriculating Student Questionnaire (MSQ), 43.5% of the matriculates were 20-22, and 41.5% were 23-25 in the 2010 cycle.

I filled out the 2011 MSQ and the data for the previous cycle hasn't been released yet.

https://www.aamc.org/data/msq/

Once again might, I'm going to be 22 when I grad and so will most people - so the 20-22 thing is probably weighted toward the 22s.

Not everyone can handle taking an increased course load as well as doing enough ECs. Personally, I don't take summer classes because at my school they're a ripoff. And I already have too many credits.

 

[Amba]

The only advantage I can think of is that having more credit hours than your peers will allow you to register for classes earlier. So you have a better chance of getting in the section taught by the higher-quality and/or easier professor.

I can attest to this. Coming in with no AP credits blows because you register essentially last in your class and are stuck with whatever/whoever is left.

 

[StoicJosher]

I still agree with SissyAlice that it might hurt. The average age for first-year medical school students is 24, so med schools obviously value the maturity and life experiences that some younger students lack. Perhaps paul411 could give his opinion, since he graduated in 2.5 years.

I really hope it doesn't hurt . I am 19 (turn 20 in October) and am applying this cycle. I will get my degree in December, 2011 and I spend a paragraph in my essays spinning a speil about how this shows I am dedicated and hard-working. 😎

 

[LifeTake2]

Oh, then never mind. I was just looking at a bunch of old SDN threads and for some reason they were all listing mid-20s as the average age:

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=354079
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=192386
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=436279

You are still correct. If 40% are under 23, then the other 60% must be 23+. And for every mid-30's like myself that raises the average age.


The math says most of that 60 are mid-'20s for an average age of 24ish.

 

[Onres]

Once again might, I'm going to be 22 when I grad and so will most people - so the 20-22 thing is probably weighted toward the 22s.

Not everyone can handle taking an increased course load as well as doing enough ECs. Personally, I don't take summer classes because at my school they're a ripoff. And I already have too many credits.

I still agree with SissyAlice that it might hurt. The average age for first-year medical school students is 24, so med schools obviously value the maturity and life experiences that some younger students lack. Perhaps paul411 could give his opinion, since he graduated in 2.5 years.

You do understand that most are around 22 because that's the "normal" age to graduate? It's not because adcoms picked 22 year olds because they are so much mature than 21 year olds... That's what interviews are for, they're not going to judge anyone based on being too young. Also, consider the difficulty of graduating earlier with the same heavy course load that people do in 4 years. I don't think it makes much of a difference at all, but if it does, it's likely positive.

A lot of people don't get in the first time, or take a couple of years off, or get a masters. That's why the age is in the mid 20s. Let's use common sense.

 

[alwaysaangel]

It will neither help nor hurt unless it affects other aspects of your application (eg lower GPA or MCAT because you overdid it, not enough ECs because you had too heavy of a course load).

Honestly, adcomms quickly glance through your courses before moving onto the rest of your app they rarely notice things that premeds obsess about like:
1) a semester that was a particularly light course load
2) 'finishing a major' earlier or later
3) Taking Ochem, Gchem and Bio all the same semester vs. spreading them out.

They just don't look at these things - they look at what you took and what you got in them. They don't have time to pay attention to much else unless there is something REALLY weird.

 

[Onres]

It will neither help nor hurt unless it affects other aspects of your application (eg lower GPA or MCAT because you overdid it, not enough ECs because you had too heavy of a course load).

Honestly, adcomms quickly glance through your courses before moving onto the rest of your app they rarely notice things that premeds obsess about like:
1) a semester that was a particularly light course load
2) 'finishing a major' earlier or later
3) Taking Ochem, Gchem and Bio all the same semester vs. spreading them out.

They just don't look at these things - they look at what you took and what you got in them. They don't have time to pay attention to much else unless there is something REALLY weird.

Agreed. It makes it worse when pre-meds who aren't too sure about a question answer it anyway.

 

[minerva3121]

Agreed. It makes it worse when pre-meds who aren't too sure about a question answer it anyway.

You do understand that most are around 22 because that's the "normal" age to graduate? It's not because adcoms picked 22 year olds because they are so much mature than 21 year olds... That's what interviews are for, they're not going to judge anyone based on being too young. Also, consider the difficulty of graduating earlier with the same heavy course load that people do in 4 years. I don't think it makes much of a difference at all, and if it does, it's likely positive.

A lot of people don't get in the first time, or take a couple of years off, or get a masters. That's why the age is in the mid 20s. Let's use common sense.

Let's not attack my common sense. I'm speaking from personal experience.

I was originally planning to graduate in 3 years due to AP credits but was discouraged from doing so based on the advice of my premed advisor and what I've read in many threads on SDN. While I'm sure many students have been able to pull off 3 years of undergrad and went straight to med school, adcoms at some schools still have biases against younger students. If you don't believe me, maybe you'll believe LizzyM:

I interviewed someone a year or more ago who was at that time where you will be a year from now.... didn't get in on the first round after graduating in 3 years with AP credits etc. He worked a year as an EMT B and I'm certain he got in during that second cycle. Not Texas but no reason the story should be any different there. You need time and seasoning.

Here's another post from the same thread

while many applicants are only 2 years older than you are...the average age at most med schools is 24. And 4 years of experience at this age is actually a lot. Think about the difference between you at 16 and you now.

Do you feel like you have been through enough challenging life experiences that you could talk about these challenges with an adcom and be articulate about the nuances and complexities of the situations? Having overcome difficulty is thought of as being sort of a prerequisite to a career where you deal with people (and, necessarily, their difficulties) every day.

http://forums.studentdoctor.net/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=10545542

You can look up the the countless other threads about SDN asking for opinions about graduating early and see how they are generally discouraged from doing so.

 

[Onres]

Let's not attack my common sense. I'm speaking from personal experience.

I was originally planning to graduate in 3 years due to AP credits but was discouraged from doing so based on the advice of my premed advisor and what I've read in many threads on SDN. While I'm sure many students have been able to pull off 3 years of undergrad and went straight to med school, adcoms at some schools still have biases against younger students. If you don't believe me, maybe you'll believe LizzyM:



Here's another post from the same thread



http://forums.studentdoctor.net/newreply.php?do=newreply&p=10545542

You can look up the the countless other threads about SDN asking for opinions about graduating early and see how they are generally discouraged from doing so.

I stand by what I said. Like others have said, LizzyM is one person, as is CougarMD.

I agree with alwaysanangel. I think it only affects you as long as it affects other aspects of your application.

 

[DiamondBar]

It will neither help nor hurt unless it affects other aspects of your application (eg lower GPA or MCAT because you overdid it, not enough ECs because you had too heavy of a course load).

Honestly, adcomms quickly glance through your courses before moving onto the rest of your app they rarely notice things that premeds obsess about like:
1) a semester that was a particularly light course load
2) 'finishing a major' earlier or later
3) Taking Ochem, Gchem and Bio all the same semester vs. spreading them out.

They just don't look at these things - they look at what you took and what you got in them. They don't have time to pay attention to much else unless there is something REALLY weird.

Thank you! Exactly the answer I was looking for 🙂

 

[minerva3121]

I stand by what I said. Like others have said, LizzyM is one person, as is CougarMD.

I agree with alwaysanangel. I think it only affects you as long as it affects other aspects of your application.

I understand where you're coming from and respect your opinion. I just wanted to back up my opinion and show that it was informed, since you said "pre-meds who aren't too sure about a question answer it anyway."

 

[Onres]

I understand where you're coming from and respect your opinion. I just wanted to back up my opinion and show that it was informed, since you said "pre-meds who aren't too sure about a question answer it anyway."

That was a different point. Generally speaking, a lot of the blind leading the blind goes on.

 

[tima]

Forget about the average age of a med student, just get accepted and the rest is history.

 

[SissyAlice]

That was a different point. Generally speaking, a lot of the blind leading the blind goes on.

Coming from the exception not the rule 🙄

Sure, someone could get done in 3 years and be awesome, but most people aren't.

Just like someone could get 2.0 their freshman and sophomore years, and then rock out with 4.0s and a 37S. Most people cannot. 4 years is the safe option.

And if you reread my post I did say that 22 was when most people graduate. The diff. between a 22 y/o and a 21 y/o might not be substantial but there is definitively a difference between a 22 y/o and a 20 y/o etc..

 

[paul411]

No, I don't think so. It might actually hurt your app, because if you finish your degree in 2 or 3 years you have less time for ECs. Also, you'd be young and they might not think you're ready for such a commitment.

This is a very important point. Happened to me, not the optimal path to take.

 

[paul411]

I really hope it doesn't hurt . I am 19 (turn 20 in October) and am applying this cycle. I will get my degree in December, 2011 and I spend a paragraph in my essays spinning a speil about how this shows I am dedicated and hard-working. 😎

You're going to have to work slightly harder to prove your maturity and understanding of/dedication to medicine because (unfortunately) you'll start off with some (not all) adcoms slightly wary of your age.

Ask your LoR writers to address this as well (if it's not too late).

 

[StoicJosher]

You're going to have to work slightly harder to prove your maturity and understanding of/dedication to medicine because (unfortunately) you'll start off with some (not all) adcoms slightly wary of your age.

Ask your LoR writers to address this as well (if it's not too late).

I have actually asked my LOR writers to address this and I am pretty sure they will. I am confident that I will have at least four really strong LOR and all of them will address this issue. Hopefully, that, and my interview will set the record straight about age..