Can I finish medical school in more than 4 years?

[tmss01]

Hi!
I tried finding a question similar to this but maybe I'm just not that good at using forums but I couldn't find any answer to this question. Is medical school like college where you can lighten your semester workload and finish in more than 4 years. Do they pick the classes you are taking for you? Sidenote: Does podiatry school work the same way?

Thanks for all the help guys!

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[jqueb29]

The only way it can take more than 4 years is if you fail a year. Everybody takes the same classes, with the exception of a few elective rotations in your 4th year.

 

[tmss01]

So if I fail a class, I'd have to retake a whole year of classes?

 

[Lucca]

You can take optional research years at some schools but I don't think this involves taking a "lighter load" or anything of the sort.

 

[StudentofHonors]

There are certainly some programs that allow this to be an option. One that comes to mind is UMN flex M.D. You can take anywhere from 3.5-6 years to finish.

 

[AspiringERMD]

There are certainly some programs that allow this to be an option. One that comes to mind is UMN flex M.D. You can take anywhere from 3.5-6 years to finish.

UIC also allows you to take what is normally your M1 year and spread it across two years so you take a total of five years.

 

[gyngyn]

If I were going to expand any year of my life into two, neither the first nor second year of medical school would be near the top of the list! Especially if I were paying tuition for the expansion.

 

[NickNaylor]

UIC also allows you to take what is normally your M1 year and spread it across two years so you take a total of five years.

I've seen this type of program at multiple schools.

For the OP, though, the curriculum at nearly all schools (with the exception of programs like ones quotes above) is set with little variation except for M4. Even though those programs exist, though, I would be weary of taking advantage of them unless you're not doing well academically. You will almost certainly have to explain yourself to program directors at the residency application phase if you took 5 years to complete the curriculum instead of 4 in the absence of something like a dedicated research year.

 

[gyngyn]

The DDx for an extra year isn't pretty (even when it is disguised as "research").

 

[gyngyn]

So if I fail a class, I'd have to retake a whole year of classes?

The number of classes (systems, blocks) that can be made up without repeating a year varies by school.

 

[darkjedi]

Drexel also offers an extended pre-clinical curriculum.

That said there are also several schools that encourage taking a year off to pursue various things like research, dual degree, or fellowships. This year off usually happens between the 3rd and 4th year.

 

[AspiringERMD]

The DDx for an extra year isn't pretty (even when it is disguised as "research").

Interesting point. I hadn't thought about that. You'd think there'd be some way to inform residencies that it was intentional from the start.

 

[gyngyn]

Interesting point. I hadn't thought about that. You'd think there'd be some way to inform residencies that it was intentional from the start.

Sometimes the individual's natural trajectory dispels the stigma. For example, an undergrad business degree gets an MBA between years 2 and 3...

 

[LizzyM]

The first 2 years of medical school are pretty much like 1st and 2nd grade.

 

[deleted480308]

just cowboy up and finish on time

 

[Goro]

Some people take a leave of absence for health or personal reasons. For example, having a baby, or fixing whatever might be causing them to fail classes (life events, depression, etc).

And, you take a set of mandatory classes (Anatomy, Physiology, etc). Good time mgrs can take an elective or two, like a Public Health class.

The only way it can take more than 4 years is if you fail a year. Everybody takes the same classes, with the exception of a few elective rotations in your 4th year.

 

[pithy84]

Yale medical school usually takes 5 years, but it isn't less intense than 4-year programs.

Boston University has a 5-year option. The first 2 years are spread into 3 years.

I honestly don't see why they spread out the first 2 years. It would make more sense to spread out the final 2 years, because I hear those are more time consuming.

I know someone who spent 5 years finishing Harvard and got into the #1 residency program in the country for a very competitive field. The extra time was for laboratory research.

 

[gyngyn]

The first 2 years of medical school are pretty much like 1st and 2nd grade.

But with EtOH.

 

[Law2Doc]

Hi!
I tried finding a question similar to this but maybe I'm just not that good at using forums but I couldn't find any answer to this question. Is medical school like college where you can lighten your semester workload and finish in more than 4 years. Do they pick the classes you are taking for you? Sidenote: Does podiatry school work the same way?

Thanks for all the help guys!

I think it might be helpful if you could tell us generally why you want to lighten the load and extend the path. If it's. Health reason or childbirth that would be very different than because you fear it otherwise would be too hard academically. med school is really just the lead in for residency, essentially foundation and audition. You'll have to explain why you are lightening the load. And the place hiring you to work crazy 80+ hour a week schedule is going to worry if you felt the not as life or death affecting 60+ hour studying a week during the early med school years was too much for you. Now taking a research year after second or third year is certainly allowed, and those taking dual degrees certainly can have longer paths. But stretching out the med school curriculum itself at most places demands a pretty good reason.