I just signed up for all my classes today, but I keep having doubts as to whether I am making the best decision to skip out on an opportunity. I have the option of applying for a 7 year combined pre-med program (2 yrs undergrad, 1 yr service abroad, 4 yrs med school) a month or two into my freshman year. Looking back on your undergrad/med school experience, if the opportunity would have been there, do you wish you would have done a combined program with a guaranteed acceptance to a medical school (as long as you keep a 3.5 gpa)? For a while, I wasn't willing to consider this kind of program because I wanted the "typical" undergraduate experience and I wasn't 100% set on becoming a physician. After doing research this summer and shadowing a doctor, however, I have decided that I am 100% sure that medicine is something I want to pursue. Would doing a combined program be detrimental long-term in regards to a shortened undergraduate education, and, thus, less preparation for medical school? Also, is a guaranteed medical school acceptance worth taking lots of hours (and maybe even summer school) for two years to get your pre-reqs out of the way? Any advice/suggestions in response to my predicament? If I decide to pursue this program I will have to alter my freshman year schedule to complete the med school pre-reqs as quickly as possible and will have to interview with the med school officials in charge of the program early in the fall.
Combined 7 Year Program or Traditional Route??
- Thread starter atxgirl
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I would go for it!
You get the full experience of undergrad still -- just not as long.. but with less stress worrying about medical school [but it can cause MORE stress worrying about your GPA]. And the year of service abroad sound fun (and probably maturing).
Just be careful about the GPA -- my school has a early acceptance program to their med (but the full 4-years) and about 1/4th of the early acceptance people get knocked out because they can't maintain the 3.6 GPA [[I know I did. arghhhh]] It will be alot of work getting all the pre-reqs done in 2 years... so I would recommend just doing 12-hours a semester and staying very focused (if 12-hours is possible).
My friend was in a 6-year program for dental school and she loved it! She just couldn't get two Cs in her undergrad and she was in (luckyyyy)
edit: I just noticed you were the girl asking about freshman schedule.
My recommendations are:
DO NOT FORFEIT YOUR AP CREDIT if you are accepted in this program (I think you already passed out of biology and genchem)
take higher level biology courses to make sure you understand everything better... it will help you in the long run
I ALWAYS found higher level courses easier than intro classes because they are much more specific.
year1 - take calculus (if required for your program), english classes
year2 - take ochem/physics
don't take more than 15-hours a semester. watch your gpa.
Don't take ochem over the summer. it sucks balls.
You get the full experience of undergrad still -- just not as long.. but with less stress worrying about medical school [but it can cause MORE stress worrying about your GPA]. And the year of service abroad sound fun (and probably maturing).
Just be careful about the GPA -- my school has a early acceptance program to their med (but the full 4-years) and about 1/4th of the early acceptance people get knocked out because they can't maintain the 3.6 GPA [[I know I did. arghhhh]] It will be alot of work getting all the pre-reqs done in 2 years... so I would recommend just doing 12-hours a semester and staying very focused (if 12-hours is possible).
My friend was in a 6-year program for dental school and she loved it! She just couldn't get two Cs in her undergrad and she was in (luckyyyy)
edit: I just noticed you were the girl asking about freshman schedule.
My recommendations are:
DO NOT FORFEIT YOUR AP CREDIT if you are accepted in this program (I think you already passed out of biology and genchem)
take higher level biology courses to make sure you understand everything better... it will help you in the long run
I ALWAYS found higher level courses easier than intro classes because they are much more specific.
year1 - take calculus (if required for your program), english classes
year2 - take ochem/physics
don't take more than 15-hours a semester. watch your gpa.
Don't take ochem over the summer. it sucks balls.
Last edited:
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deleted202457
I'd say go for it. There would be a lot less stress on you and you can just enjoy your time in college. Plus no MCAT and volunteering and all that. The only thing is make sure that is absolutely where you want to end up for med school b/c you'll be stuck there and it may be too late to try for somewhere else if you change your mind.
