Completing undergrad at 19 - where to go from there?

[thethalamus]

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I graduated high school early and consequently will receive my bachelor's at 19 (after a full four years of college). I've been told that, regardless of how I attempt to demonstrate maturity, my age would likely be a significant weakness in my application if I were to apply directly from undergrad. I'm fine with taking a gap year and am considering doing a master's with a professor I'm currently working with. But here's my question—assuming the rest of my application is competitive, will that extra year make a sufficient difference? At what point will my age cease to be an issue?

 

[bluepeony]

I graduated high school early and consequently will receive my bachelor's at 19 (after a full four years of college). I've been told that, regardless of how I attempt to demonstrate maturity, my age would likely be a significant weakness in my application if I were to apply directly from undergrad. I'm fine with taking a gap year and am considering doing a master's with a professor I'm currently working with. But here's my question—assuming the rest of my application is competitive, will that extra year make a sufficient difference? At what point will my age cease to be an issue?

How is the rest of your app? Do you have clinical experience and nonclinical volunteering? Did you take the MCAT already?

 

[LeaveNoTrace]

At what point will my age cease to be an issue?

When you are 21: if you took two gap years, your age would no longer be an issue at all. Medical school isn't going anywhere; I'd advise it unless you already took the MCAT and did well. Travel the world, do Americorps, broaden your horizons. Good luck.

 

[JustAUser]

I graduated high school early and consequently will receive my bachelor's at 19 (after a full four years of college). I've been told that, regardless of how I attempt to demonstrate maturity, my age would likely be a significant weakness in my application if I were to apply directly from undergrad. I'm fine with taking a gap year and am considering doing a master's with a professor I'm currently working with. But here's my question—assuming the rest of my application is competitive, will that extra year make a sufficient difference? At what point will my age cease to be an issue?

I know of people who have been accepted to med school at the age of 19 (and one even at 18!) DM me and I can connect you to them.

Have you taken the MCAT yet? How is your GPA? How are your clinical experiences and non-clinical experiences?

Taking a gap year will definitely allow you to strengthen your application. However, while everyone says that being young might raise questions (like you're not mature enough, you don't have enough life experiences and haven't explored other fields, or you're being forced into this field perhaps, and blah blah blah), you can address these concerns in an interview. But to get the interview, you need above average MCAT and GPA.

If you're gunning for the top 20 schools, taking gap years is most likely preferred. But if your goal is to just get into a med school, then it really depends on your stats and ECs.

If your app is already competitive, taking a gap year really serves no purpose. The only pro is that you're strengthening your application but it doesn't have any downside to it. And tbh, being too young is a problem and then being too old is also a problem. If you're in your 20's, I think it's all good.

Texas is the only place that shows age of applicants and matriculants. Couldn't find anything comparable from AAMC.

https://www.tmdsas.com/forms/FinalStatisticsReport-MedEY18.pdf

 

[LeaveNoTrace]

There is the application side of things and also the human side of things. Only you can determine whether you are ready to apply at 19 or not. What do you want out of medicine? Any US medical school? Any MD school? A top medical school? Why are you in this to begin with?

 

[Goro]

I graduated high school early and consequently will receive my bachelor's at 19 (after a full four years of college). I've been told that, regardless of how I attempt to demonstrate maturity, my age would likely be a significant weakness in my application if I were to apply directly from undergrad. I'm fine with taking a gap year and am considering doing a master's with a professor I'm currently working with. But here's my question—assuming the rest of my application is competitive, will that extra year make a sufficient difference? At what point will my age cease to be an issue?

The 19 and 20 year olds we've interviewed routinely get rejected because they come off as too immature.

Hence, I strongly suggest taking a gap year and working.

 

[Angus Avagadro]

Peace Corp. Serving others outside the country. You get maturity in a hurry living in a 2nd or 3rd world country

 

[Tiberius_Claudius_Caesar]

Peace Corps will brown you out quite nicely, and you'll still be younger than most. You hella green brother

 

[thethalamus]

Thank you all for your advice and statistics. I am currently a sophomore and will be done with nearly all of my prerequisites by the end of this academic year. Barring any major collapses, my final GPA should be comfortably 3.95+. I have not yet taken the MCAT, and a big part of this is that I need to plan when to do that.

Another aspect of the situation is that at age 19 (essentially, right when I graduate) I become eligible to serve a full-time eighteen-month religious mission (primarily proselyting in nature with some service mixed in, potentially in a language other than English though not necessarily, and I'd have no choice in where I'd be sent). On one hand, I'd appreciate the opportunity to serve a mission, but it would also put me back more than eighteen months because I wouldn't be able to begin the application process until my return, would have to solicit updated letters of recommendation, etc. I see myself taking a gap year after college to work and strengthen the "soft" parts of my application either way, and throwing in a purely academic (i.e., non-SMP) master's seems like a nice way to give myself some structure academically and to strengthen an existing faculty relationship.

 

[JoaoMoutinho]

Thank you all for your advice and statistics. I am currently a sophomore and will be done with nearly all of my prerequisites by the end of this academic year. Barring any major collapses, my final GPA should be comfortably 3.95+. I have not yet taken the MCAT, and a big part of this is that I need to plan when to do that.

Another aspect of the situation is that at age 19 (essentially, right when I graduate) I become eligible to serve a full-time eighteen-month religious mission (primarily proselyting in nature with some service mixed in, potentially in a language other than English though not necessarily, and I'd have no choice in where I'd be sent). On one hand, I'd appreciate the opportunity to serve a mission, but it would also put me back more than eighteen months because I wouldn't be able to begin the application process until my return, would have to solicit updated letters of recommendation, etc. I see myself taking a gap year after college to work and strengthen the "soft" parts of my application either way, and throwing in a purely academic (i.e., non-SMP) master's seems like a nice way to give myself some structure academically and to strengthen an existing faculty relationship.

I'm not an adcom so I can't tell you how they would view everything, but I'd say that I can offer some solid perspectives on the second paragraph:

Under no circumstances should you go serve a mission for 18 months for any reason other than that it is 100% what you want to do and what you are fully committed to.

I don't think you suggested this, but just in case the thought crosses your mind, you will not have the ability to go through an application cycle as a missionary. Both things are demanding enough (mentally, emotionally, and just in terms of the time required) that they will be mutually exclusive.

In many cases I would advise you to ask for letters while you are still in close contact with your letter writers and not a year or two down the line–to strike while the iron is hot, so to speak. Many professors (especially those at BYU type places who will understand the 18-month delay) will be more than willing to write a letter for you before you leave and then just submit it when you apply. There are also letter services like Interfolio that can keep letters for later submission, though in that case the dates will be off.

Depending on how you are feeling and the timing of things (and if you decide to actually serve a mission), once you get home you could have an option of working a clinically related job, making sure that you still want to do medicine, and then submitting your app at the appropriate time. If you plan on submitting an app soon after returning from a full-time mission you would need to have most/all of your application components completed before leaving.

Again, I'm not an adcom, but I have multiple shared experiences that give me some qualifications to give advice in this situation. Feel free to PM me if you want to discuss more in depth.

 

[deleted859689]

Thank you all for your advice and statistics. I am currently a sophomore and will be done with nearly all of my prerequisites by the end of this academic year. Barring any major collapses, my final GPA should be comfortably 3.95+. I have not yet taken the MCAT, and a big part of this is that I need to plan when to do that.

Another aspect of the situation is that at age 19 (essentially, right when I graduate) I become eligible to serve a full-time eighteen-month religious mission (primarily proselyting in nature with some service mixed in, potentially in a language other than English though not necessarily, and I'd have no choice in where I'd be sent). On one hand, I'd appreciate the opportunity to serve a mission, but it would also put me back more than eighteen months because I wouldn't be able to begin the application process until my return, would have to solicit updated letters of recommendation, etc. I see myself taking a gap year after college to work and strengthen the "soft" parts of my application either way, and throwing in a purely academic (i.e., non-SMP) master's seems like a nice way to give myself some structure academically and to strengthen an existing faculty relationship.

Based on your timeline, a master's makes sense, and while doing a master's you can volunteer, shadow, etc. Honestly would consider a 2 year SMP with linkage and a master's at the end of it. Upper level science classes + some type of research + some kind of linkage. Doesn't have to be a direct linkage program based on your stats and that you have never applied to medical school before, but maybe you would want to consider one. Some SMPs give you the resources to shadow at their hospital and usually have connections to community volunteering.

 

[LeaveNoTrace]

Unless OP really, really wants to be a missionary, I’d recommend Americorps, Peace Corps, or some other volunteer corps instead. That will be much better for their application than missionary work - which means nothing in the eyes of adcoms. As for SMPs...why? OP seems like a strong student. OP: unless you have already taken the MCAT and done well, take two or three gap years and apply when you’re 21 or 22. Good luck with everything.

 

[Princeton Medical Student]

To medical school!

 

[bxz3]

I applied, interviewed, got waitlisted, and accepted when I was 19 and matriculated just after I turned 20. I also submitted my app at the end of November with an LM of 74.5.

 

[caterwaiter]

Go do something fun? Travel? See the world? See anything other than the inside of a classroom for awhile before you commit your life to it.

 

[Goro]

I applied, interviewed, got waitlisted, and accepted when I was 19 and matriculated just after I turned 20. I also submitted my app at the end of November with an LM of 74.5. I was in a cohort of 40 people who all graduated at 19-20 after starting university early and the 2 of us who applied to med school during senior year got in. I know at least 4 people from this group that chose to wait to apply this year and they are also being invited to interviews so I'm really not sure it matters as much as people say it does. I go to UWSOM which is one of the most non traditional highest median ages of matriculated students. If everything else is good I would say shoot your shot. I got a lot of discouraging words about both applying super late (which I would advise against) and applying super young but now am a medical student.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using SDN mobile

You are aware that you're an outlier? Especially in a lucky state like WV.

 

[theKingLT]

You are aware that you're an outlier? Especially in a lucky state like WV.

Sure he/she's an outlier by age, but not necessarily among the age group of under 20 applicants. Gonnif's calculations above predict an ~40% matriculation rate for the under 20 age group, right on par with the national average of all ages, so it seems the age factor is not as strong a disadvantage nationwide as it is at your school

 

[bxz3]

You are aware that you're an outlier? Especially in a lucky state like WV.

My point was I wouldn't have been an "outlier" if I had never tried. I go to school in Washington

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using SDN mobile

 

[Cornfed101]

Under no circumstances should you go serve a mission for 18 months for any reason other than that it is 100% what you want to do and what you are fully committed to.

I agree with this. As an aside, serving a mission makes you grow up really fast. Probably the most growth I have experienced in a 2 year period (at least until having/raising kids).

 

[Holmeslizzle]

OP, I graduated early at 20 and took a gap year (more like 1.5 due to the extra semester). The experience I have had developing my work ethic, making connections, and generally enjoying the hell out of myself in the last year has been invaluable. It's been SO much fun and the best decision I could have made. In interviews, I think that I would have made a fool of myself last year. This year they went swell. You should look inside your mind and see if there's anything you want to do while you have this "intermediate" period of freedom.

Plus, once you start everyone says you can't stop. I've been working to pay my rent but am saving up to go on a two month trip to a bunch of places in the couple months before school.

Your age ceases to be an issue when you feel ready.

 

[JoaoMoutinho]

I agree with this. As an aside, serving a mission makes you grow up really fast. Probably the most growth I have experienced in a 2 year period (at least until having/raising kids).

150% agree here. No kids, but I ended up listing the experience as most significant on my app simply because it is an extremely transformative experience if you are at all committed to what you are doing. Other posters correctly point out that something like Americorps or Peace corps will look better on your application (at least I'm quite certain that the other people are correct). However, when I was deciding whether to list it as a most significant experience, I decided that it merited the designation because it had been both transformative and a key step in my decision to pursue a career in medicine. In my application I said something to the effect of "it is impossible to spend two years focusing on the needs of others full-time without coming out the other end as a different person."

The focus is primarily on proselyting and nobody will deny that, but there is also a huge community service component to what you do, and you are often spending most of your time with people who are "downtrodden", to use Goro's words. Additionally, you are assigned to work and live with a companion for several months at a time without any say in the matter, and that has taught me more about how to work in a team than any other experience, except maybe being married.

Like cornfed and I both said, however, it is something that you do if and only if it is 100% what you want to do–if your motivation is for any ulterior motive, you're going to have a really bad time, and you won't get much out of the experience except for a permanent farmer's tan. If you're just looking for an experience to gain some age/maturity and that will look good on your app, do the Peace corps, TFA, Americorps etc.

 

[AcceptMePl0X]

The 19 and 20 year olds we've interviewed routinely get rejected because they come off as too immature.

Hence, I strongly suggest taking a gap year and working.

What made them come across as immature? I interviewed when I was 20 (few weeks before my birthday) and felt that I had killed my interview, but ended up getting waitlisted.

 

[Goro]

What made them come across as immature? I interviewed when I was 20 (few weeks before my birthday) and felt that I had killed my interview, but ended up getting waitlisted.

Forgive the snark, but if I have to explain, you won't understand.

 

[LeaveNoTrace]

It's a lack of life experience. In addition, adcoms might look a little closer for signs of immaturity in a 20-year-old applicant than they would in a 23-year-old applicant...and they might well find them. Finally, people are often terrible judges of their own interview performance. Added to that is the fact that your interview isn't the only thing that they are evaluating you on.

 

[ciestar]

You’re what.. 17?
What have you done so far that is outside of your comfort zone (classroom/academia, church)?

You have so much time and opportunity to do something more than school. I didn’t have a clue what I truly wanted at your age. I changed my mind so many times before I graduated. I matriculated medical school at 25.

You’re young. Explore the world and do fun stuff. You have the chance to do it. Medical school isn’t going anywhere.

 

[Matthew9Thirtyfive]

Sure he/she's an outlier by age, but not necessarily among the age group of under 20 applicants. Gonnif's calculations above predict an ~40% matriculation rate for the under 20 age group, right on par with the national average of all ages, so it seems the age factor is not as strong a disadvantage nationwide as it is at your school

I didn’t look at the data but you can’t really say that based just on that one stat. What were the median stats for that age group compared to the rest? What did their apps look like as far as ECs?

 

[JSD2]

You’re what.. 17?
What have you done so far that is outside of your comfort zone (classroom/academia, church)?

You have so much time and opportunity to do something more than school. I didn’t have a clue what I truly wanted at your age. I changed my mind so many times before I graduated. I matriculated medical school at 25.

You’re young. Explore the world and do fun stuff. You have the chance to do it. Medical school isn’t going anywhere.

So much this, take some time to just be a young adult. Travel, volunteer, hang-out with friends. There are so many things this world has to offer, please go out and experience as many of them as possible before buckling down into any profession for the next 30-40 years.

 

[theKingLT]

I didn’t look at the data but you can’t really say that based just on that one stat. What were the median stats for that age group compared to the rest? What did their apps look like as far as ECs?

Ya definitely that stuff matters. Im not sure if AAMC publishes the stat tendencies by group, but I'd guess that those graduating under 20 tend to be pretty high achieving. The point is those young applicants who are accepted are not outliers among their fellow young peers simply based on the fact that they were accepted. At least not more so than any one of us older matriculants are outliers among the many who were rejected or never even made it to applying. OP hasn't shared much about his/her app but if it's strong they shouldnt let the disadvantage in the application process disuade them. With that said there are plenty of other reasons to delay applying and personally I would relax a few years, travel, work, study something non-science, etc. Things that you cant easily do once you start the long commitment to medicine