early graduation... does it help?

[sportsfreak]

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I am graduating from college only after 3 years. I am applying to medical schools this summer and was wondering if finishing college early is looked down on or the opposite by medical schools?
also anyone have suggestions what I should do with my free year to help with getting into med school?

 

[GoSpursGo]

I don't think it's seen as good or bad by itself; however, you're still expected to have the usual amount of medically-related extracurriculars that show that you know what it means to be a doctor. You'll be at a disadvantage since you'll have a full year less than most applicants to get those ECs, but if you can pull it off I don't think the schools will care much.

 

[majahops]

To add to what GoSpursGo said...

... also, college is an excellent vessel for maturation. Every year I spent in college added to my fruition and maturation as a human being at least five-fold as much as years elsewhere have.

That being said, it's always a sign of dedication and ability to be able to do in 3 years what a vast majority do in 4.

 

[searun]

The title of your thread is "Early graduation - does it help?" No, it does not help, it does not give you any advantage in the med school admissions process. No admissions committee is going to give you extra points for finishing in 3 years instead of 4 years. The real question is "does graduating in 3 years hurt me?" Often it does. But if your application is solid, solid gpa and MCAt, and you have all of the EC's that most people get in 4 years, then you should be ok, unless you seem immature when you interview.

Bottom line is that there is no advantage to graduating early for med school admissions. Probably a disadvantage in many cases. But really strong applicants do fine, despite, not because of their relative youth. Some students seem to think that med school admissions committees are wowed by kids who graduate in 3 years. Quite the opposite, I think you get more scrutiny about your maturity in these cases.

 

[sportsfreak]

well either way I am still removed from high school for 4 years if I get in this year...i know i won't have the college experience of a senior year but I thought it makes no sense just to take classes and pay all that money especially since i am at an expensive college

 

[majahops]

You're absolutely correct. Don't worry about it, they may not even notice until they get down to the nitty gritty anyway. First they will look at your #s and ECs... before they notice you finished in 3 yrs... at least the majority of reviews of your app will do this.

well either way I am still removed from high school for 4 years if I get in this year...i know i won't have the college experience of a senior year but I thought it makes no sense just to take classes and pay all that money especially since i am at an expensive college

 

[Compass]

If it's a money thing, then it's reasonable. However, you might be judged to have seen college as a "task" rather than as an "experience" towards medical school. If possible, explain it at some point in your application.

Also, did you select your major because it was simple to complete in 3 years? That could be bad as well.

 

[searun]

well either way I am still removed from high school for 4 years if I get in this year...i know i won't have the college experience of a senior year but I thought it makes no sense just to take classes and pay all that money especially since i am at an expensive college

That is fine. If the economics make sense for you, than go for it. My point is that you do not get extra credit for finishing early. One can be a math genius and blow away the faculty at MIT at age 17, but most parents of a dying child, want to hear the news from someone with some gravitas. Medicine is much more than intellectual firepower. Maturity and experience are as important as intellectual ability. Patients want and need the whole package in their doctors.

 

[sportsfreak]

"Also, did you select your major because it was simple to complete in 3 years? That could be bad as well." (Compass)

well when I started college I didn't know I would finish early, I am a Biology major with a decent gpa (3.70 both science and overall) Ill be taking MCATs in june so hopefully that works out

Should I talk about this in my personal statement?

 

[witness23]

no. i graduated a year early it did not help me at all. in fact, i would bet a few dollars it hurt me.

even if it was for economic reasons, graduating early made no sense. i was immature. i would not do it again. the collegiate atmosphere is nothing like the real world.

 

[witness23]

do not write about that in your PS. that is not what the PS is about.

 

[sportsfreak]

ok...thx all