Graduating a semester early

[squids82]

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Hi all,

I tried searching through the forum but couldn’t find a thread that quite answered my question.

I was wondering if there was a disadvantage in graduating a semester early and, if not, if one needed a very specific plan like one does for a gap year or if it’s important to mention at all?

Thank you!

 

[pBar]

I'm graduating in a week and definitely wouldn't say it has effected my application cycle at all. I wanted to graduate early so I had a good 6 months off before matriculating, not too short and not too long. If you are to graduate a semester early be sure to be able to indicate what your plans are for that semester you have off. While medical schools wont expect that you do something as extensive as a traditional gap year, because of limited time, it is still important to make sure that it is clear that you don't intent to just sit around and not do anything.

 

[squids82]

I'm graduating in a week and definitely wouldn't say it has effected my application cycle at all. I wanted to graduate early so I had a good 6 months off before matriculating, not too short and not too long. If you are to graduate a semester early be sure to be able to indicate what your plans are for that semester you have off. While medical schools wont expect that you do something as extensive as a traditional gap year, because of limited time, it is still important to make sure that it is clear that you don't intent to just sit around and not do anything.

Thank you for your reply!
From your experience would talking about a volunteering/research plan be adequate?

 

[pBar]

Thank you for your reply!
From your experience would talking about a volunteering/research plan be adequate?

I would say so. As long as you have a plan, then you should be okay.

 

[deleted976595]

I’m graduating next week and have had a very successful cycle. For whatever you have planned try to get it corroborated by an LOR writer at least so it isn’t you projecting 500-1000 hours based on nothing (e.g., my PI wrote he was hiring me on full time after graduation). Don’t do it because you want to impress adcoms or anything though. Agree with the poster who said try to pull up the weakest point of your app with your gap semester. In my case, that was research, but I’ve still been very successful with several interviews at highly research focused schools (disclaimer: I have very high stats).

 

[Dr panda]

Do schools really care that much what you do 4-5 months before matriculation or is it another SDN neurosis? I also plan to graduate early so I have more time for family, friends, and couple my own projects before med school starts (given that I will get in from the first attempt). @Goro @gonnif

 

[Goro]

Do schools really care that much what you do 4-5 months before matriculation or is it another SDN neurosis? I also plan to graduate early so I have more time for family, friends, and couple my own projects before med school starts (given that I will get in from the first attempt). @Goro @gonnif

Yet another SDN pathology.

 

[squids82]

Thank you all for your help!