Graduating in 3 Years?

[BigEast55]

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I am a freshman now at the best SUNY college (I'm sure y'all can connect the dots), and I came in with 34 credits. Since Medical School and residencies are so long I'm considering graduating in 3 years with a Math degree, I wouldn't have to take any extra courseload if I don't want to (I'll be taking 19 credits next semester but that's because there's a course in nutrition offered every other spring that I want to take). I'm already doing biology research, and I plan on starting to volunteer at the mini-hospital close to campus soon, and doing some sort of shadowing this winter at my local hospital. I'm just wondering if this will have any sort of positive/negative effect on med school admissions.

 

[Techmed07]

I think it is great, but you do understand one reason undergrads tank their freshmen year grades is because they take on more than they can chew?



And remember the road to Med School is not a sprint but a marathon.
Take easy, chill enjoy your undergrad... no reason to rush into 24 hour studying.

 

[BigEast55]

Well, I mean this may sound cocky, but Gen Chem and Gen Bio just don't force me to study... I can just read the material once and get A- to A on the tests, and Calculus III (what I'm in now) might be one of the easiest classes I've ever taken, so I don't think a bunch of (mostly math) credits will lead me into 24/7 studying.

 

[Noodleface]

My advisers recommended we don't do that, but I'm graduating a semester early anyways and so far I've been doing pretty well this application cycle. I think they only have a problem with it if you are just doing the bare minimum number of classes and not taking any other classes to enrich yourself. Makes them question whether you care about learning.

Like you, I came in with a lot of credits so it seems I'll have the same total amount of class as someone who graduates in 4 years. They have been pretty understanding about graduating early for financial reasons and would probably be OK with someone doing something else to gain some other kind of experience (I'm doing full time research/work) before med school. As long as you come across as mature and not like someone leaving early because of laziness you should be fine. I don't think they'd consider someone with 30+ AP/IB credits lazy 😉

 

[Techmed07]

Well, I mean this may sound cocky, but Gen Chem and Gen Bio just don't force me to study... I can just read the material once and get A- to A on the tests, and Calculus III (what I'm in now) might be one of the easiest classes I've ever taken, so I don't think a bunch of (mostly math) credits will lead me into 24/7 studying.

.....wow, just wow.

 

[Writer1985]

There was another thread on early graduation a while ago. Opinion was pretty divided. I can tell you, though, that the admissions deans of med schools in my state, during the premed info panel, repeatedly emphasized that they view graduating early "just because" as a negative. Less life experience, essentially. If there are financial or family reasons, then they are more lenient.

If you do go this route, be prepared to explain your reasoning in interviews.

 

[mvenus929]

There was another thread on early graduation a while ago. Opinion was pretty divided. I can tell you, though, that the admissions deans of med schools in my state, during the premed info panel, repeatedly emphasized that they view graduating early "just because" as a negative. Less life experience, essentially. If there are financial or family reasons, then they are more lenient.

If you do go this route, be prepared to explain your reasoning in interviews.

I've been on 3 interviews so far. My age and time in undergrad has not come up once. Considering I was 19 at one of those interviews, you'd think it'd be something that'd come up.

I haven't gotten an acceptance yet, but two of the schools I interviewed at don't give out acceptances until next semester anyway. I have another interview in a couple weeks with my state school. The Dean of Admissions has come down to our school several times, and when asked, he has said that age and graduating early wouldn't adversely affect your application.