Graduating in 3 years - A discussion

[DrizzyD]

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Hey, I plan on graduating in three years. Whenever anyone mentions it here on SDN ( I’ve done my research and read through around 15 threads), they always get blacklisted and everyone tries to discourage them. The main thing they say is that you will:
-. .Not have enough EC’s to be competitive to regular applicants
-. .Will not be mature enough
-. .If there is not monetary reason to leave early, STAY. Otherwise you’ll like you’re in too much of a hurry and other things.
-. .Med schools will not think you gained much from your degree
Well, I was thinking, and I think I can agree with some of those points; however, it is different for EVERYONE.
-. .For example, I know people who are extremely mature at age 15, while others are completely immature at 25. So I do not think that point is valid as a blanket statement.
-. .The EC part: For someone who works hard, it is possible. Volunteering and doing research starting from freshmen year, you can match what most people have. Many people who graduate in 3 years have AP credit or Dual Enrollment credit, so they do not need to overload to graduate on time. Thus, you will have enough time to do the EC’s and might be comparable to 4 yearers or greater.
-. .Aside from Money, there are other reasons why you would like to graduate early: Family and age. Some people want to get through the journey as fast as possible. *I do not agree with this, because the journey is half the fun, but to each his own*. The family reason or monetary reasons are valid, and if someone want to, I see no negative.
I have also browsed a few md profiles and I have seen 3 year applicants get accepted.

My question to you: Can you point out anything against a 3 year applicant who does the following?
3.94 GPA
35 MCAT
Good LORs
Double Major: Biology and Humanity ( English, History, ECT.) - Would this be any better than a single major?
600 HRS volunteering
200 HRS shadowing
1 Late author Publication
200 HRS Community Service
3 Year Graduator.

From what I have seen, this applicant has everything it needs to be accepted. Any other ideas?

 

[just one]

That applicant may or may not lack one fundemental aspect of a successful applicant...... A personality

 

[DrizzyD]

That applicant may or may not lack one fundemental aspect of a successful applicant...... A personality

Hmm, I don't agree with that. A personality is derived from things a person likes to do for fun and others. Someone could be interested in sports or music, which would make for a personality. And aside from this, The double major shows they have interests outside science, doing what they like.

 

[Narmerguy]

Well if you're only shooting for an acceptance than I think you'll be fine. However, an applicant of that caliber should have way more opportunities than they could simply because they haven't been at it long enough. Imagine what that kind of applicant could accomplish if he or she had an additional year.

But if your only goal is acceptance, than I think you're solid.

 

[Marcus Brody]

My question to you: Can you point out anything against a 3 year applicant who does the following?
3.94 GPA
35 MCAT
Good LORs
Double Major: Biology and Humanity ( English, History, ECT.) - Would this be any better than a single major?
600 HRS volunteering
200 HRS shadowing
1 Late author Publication
200 HRS Community Service
3 Year Graduator.

From what I have seen, this applicant has everything it needs to be accepted. Any other ideas?

 

[Catalystik]

From what I have seen, this applicant has everything it needs to be accepted. Any other ideas?

A major factor in whether this younger applicant will be accepted is evidence of maturity. I do not see any leadership mentioned or the taking on of responsibility that would indicate maturity in some other way (supporting a family). Nor do I see nonmedical community service. Nor do I see a teaching or mentoring experience. Without some of these, the applicant who might aspire to a highly-selective med school will end up in a lower niche than his stats would have suggested, whether he graduates in three or four years.

 

[searun]

I have never met anyone who is extremely mature at the age of 15. I have met some immature people who are 25. Assuming the OP has a decent personality and can interview without drooling, it is likely that he will get accepted somewhere if the stats and background description are not a figment of his imagination.

 

[willen101383]

I never would have wanted to graduate undergrad in 3 years. Best time of my life by far. I was never premed undergrad so i spent all 4 years getting mediocre grades,lifting a ton, fishing constantly, partying, drifting in the snow in my WRX like a maniac....and having exposure to EtOH in large quantities outside of organic lab 😉

 

[CarlATHF]

200 hours shadowing? Dear god.

 

[bannie22]

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
i am so immature 😀

 

[MrCheetah]

That extra year may afford you more time to mature, but other than that it won't make one bit of difference.. If you really want to get out in three, then do it. I wish I would of.

 

[just one]

Hmm, I don't agree with that. A personality is derived from things a person likes to do for fun and others. Someone could be interested in sports or music, which would make for a personality. And aside from this, The double major shows they have interests outside science, doing what they like.

I never said that the applicant doesn't have interests, I was merely stating that numbers aren't everything. There's a reason why people with a 39 mcat and 3.9 get rejected, because they can't interview and have no personality. A neurosurgeon told me when he was on the admissions board that they saw many extremely qualified applicants on paper. Yet after the interview the panel said they wouldn't let that person operate on a dog let alone a person.

A great personality will not overcome bad stats, but a terrible personality (especially in an applicant with only three years in college) can overshadow numbers a make a committee think.

 

[bannie22]

🙁 i dont have a 3.9

 

[nvermz279]

Why do you want to graduate in three years? Just curious, I have that option and decided against it.

 

[BBender716]

Graduated in three years. Applied right after graduation instead of after my "junior" year so I guess my situation is still relatively normal. However, I was asked to explain multiple times throughout the cycle why I graduated in 3 years. Also, I definitely kept myself involved in medical activities and a regular work schedule during "my year off".

Regardless of what you decide just know that: graduating in 3 years will not make you look smarter or be a "plus", will limit your chance to develop your ECs unless you apply after your senior year, and will only raise questions (not skeptically, just be ready to have a good answer).

That being said, I've had pretty good success this cycle and am happy with my decision.

 

[ddogark]

lol

 

[Bernoull]

Hey, I plan on graduating in three years. Whenever anyone mentions it here on SDN ( I’ve done my research and read through around 15 threads), they always get blacklisted and everyone tries to discourage them. The main thing they say is that you will:
-Not have enough EC’s to be competitive to regular applicants
-Will not be mature enough
-If there is not monetary reason to leave early, STAY. Otherwise you’ll like you’re in too much of a hurry and other things.
-Med schools will not think you gained much from your degree
Well, I was thinking, and I think I can agree with some of those points; however, it is different for EVERYONE.
-For example, I know people who are extremely mature at age 15, while others are completely immature at 25. So I do not think that point is valid as a blanket statement.
-The EC part: For someone who works hard, it is possible. Volunteering and doing research starting from freshmen year, you can match what most people have. Many people who graduate in 3 years have AP credit or Dual Enrollment credit, so they do not need to overload to graduate on time. Thus, you will have enough time to do the EC’s and might be comparable to 4 yearers or greater.
-Aside from Money, there are other reasons why you would like to graduate early: Family and age. Some people want to get through the journey as fast as possible. *I do not agree with this, because the journey is half the fun, but to each his own*. The family reason or monetary reasons are valid, and if someone want to, I see no negative.
I have also browsed a few md profiles and I have seen 3 year applicants get accepted.

My question to you: Can you point out anything against a 3 year applicant who does the following?
3.94 GPA
35 MCAT
Good LORs
Double Major: Biology and Humanity ( English, History, ECT.) - Would this be any better than a single major?
600 HRS volunteering
200 HRS shadowing
1 Late author Publication
200 HRS Community Service
3 Year Graduator.

From what I have seen, this applicant has everything it needs to be accepted. Any other ideas?

Remember u've racing thru, arguably, the best time of ur life. Can you do it? Yes. Should you? this is the question u need to dwell on.

u should enjoy college life and pace things out to avoid being burnt out.. life is not a race, work at a healthy pace and enjoy life..

gdluck

 

[DrizzyD]

A major factor in whether this younger applicant will be accepted is evidence of maturity. I do not see any leadership mentioned or the taking on of responsibility that would indicate maturity in some other way (supporting a family). Nor do I see nonmedical community service. Nor do I see a teaching or mentoring experience. Without some of these, the applicant who might aspire to a highly-selective med school will end up in a lower niche than his stats would have suggested, whether he graduates in three or four years.

Thanks for your response. With those things incorporated, he/she would stand a better chance?

Also, there is 200hrs community service listed (nonmedical)

 

[mvenus929]

I think it depends when you apply, not necessarily how quick you graduate. If you apply after only two years in school (i.e. during your senior and third year), you'll be at a disadvantage when it comes to LORs and grade history (assuming, of course, that you're not a nontrad who has previous academic experiences). There's no two ways around that. If you apply after you graduate, then you'll be at the same level as those applying during their traditional senior year and those who have already graduated.

I graduated in three years. I applied twice... once during my senior year and once after a full year out of school. I've gotten two acceptances so far. Don't discount how much you can grow being out of school for a year (or even in school an additional year).

 

[CaliGirl14]

Lulz.. Go ahead and 'graduate' in three years with your 3.9 and double major.

This totally made my day.

 

[FrickenhugeMD]

I'm not sure you have an accurate idea of how much time you are going to have trying to accumulate 1000 hours of volunteering/shadowing AND a publication on top of that (research is very time demading) in 2 years (assuming you are applying during your junior year, otherwise whats the point in skipping senior year?). All of this while somehow getting through 150+ credit hours for your double major in 3 years while maintaining that 3.9 GPA. Not sure where MCAT studying, or sleeping for that matter fits into this schedule.

Just because there are 168 hours in a week doesn't mean you can use all of them to become the Uber-bestest pre-med ever

 

[FrickenhugeMD]

Of course, while I'm typing a response to this clown he gets banned.

should have known better

 

[nvermz279]

How do people get banned so quickly...? I've seen this happen so many times in the past week or so. Scary stuff...😏

 

[JLC]

I say why not. As long as you are competetive you should do what you want. I know of several of my classmates myself included who graduated in 3 years at hopkins. At my interviews they saw this as a strength and never as a weakness.