How many matriculating students are graduating seniors in college?

[LoveMed2015]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Curious about this - in my interviews, I was the rare college senior on the interview train. Most applicants I met were gap/glide years, doing post bacs, non-traditionals, etc. I'm fortunate to be holding MD acceptances, or would have done a gap year or two myself. Are there many other graduating seniors here with acceptances? My professors were as understanding as possible for my exits from campus, which isn't necessarily easier than getting time off from a job, just means we juggle a different set of balls.

 

[sharpstickie]

Graduating senior here... I still look like I'm twelve though.

 

[Rainbow Zebra]

Curious about this - in my interviews, I was the rare college senior on the interview train. Most applicants I met were gap/glide years, doing post bacs, non-traditionals, etc. I'm fortunate to be holding MD acceptances, or would have done a gap year or two myself. Are there many other graduating seniors here with acceptances? My professors were as understanding as possible for my exits from campus, which isn't necessarily easier than getting time off from a job, just means we juggle a different set of balls.

Seems that more than 1/2 of students are more than 1 year out of undergrad. The average age of new M0 is like 24, which is usually 2 years out of a typical 4 year program.

 

[Lucca]

"Trad" is slowly becoming the new "non-trad". The majority of matriculants are still graduating high school seniors but that might change in 5-10 years.

 

[Rainbow Zebra]

"Trad" is slowly becoming the new "non-trad". The majority of matriculants are still graduating high school seniors but that might change in 5-10 years.

I think you mean still graduating undergraduate seniors. Anyway, I disagree, I think seniors going straight to med school is a definite minority.

 

[Lannister]

Not only am I still a senior, but I look very young and I've got a late birthday, so I'll still be 21 when I start med school. I wouldn't be surprised if I'm one of the youngest in my class, unless there's a ton of child prodigies.

Sent from my HTC6535LVW using SDN mobile

 

[LoveMed2015]

"Trad" is slowly becoming the new "non-trad". The majority of matriculants are still graduating high school seniors but that might change in 5-10 years.

In my experience, this seems true: Trad=Atypical or diminishing from matriculants. I felt like a unicorn.

 

[LoveMed2015]

Not only am I still a senior, but I look very young and I've got a late birthday, so I'll still be 21 when I start med school. I wouldn't be surprised if I'm one of the youngest in my class, unless there's a ton of child prodigies.

Sent from my HTC6535LVW using SDN mobile

Same! Depending on my final school choice, I'll either start orientation at 21 or have just turned 22.

 

[Lannister]

Same! Depending on my final school choice, I'll either start orientation at 21 or have just turned 22.

Yay I'm not alone! I'll have a solid month of being 21 (2 months if Case decides to accept me).

Sent from my HTC6535LVW using SDN mobile

 

[Lucca]

I think you mean still graduating undergraduate seniors. Anyway, I disagree, I think seniors going straight to med school is a definite minority.

according to the AAMC charts the median age is 24 and the 25th percentile is about 22 so I guess the "non-trads" already do make up a larger portion of the medical school student pool than the traditional "apply during your senior year" student.

we may have to stop using the words "trad" or "nontrad" and instead start using "K-MD" and "graduated applicant".

Some of my pre law friends use he word "K-JD" to describe "straight through" applicants and I always felt it was needlessly patronizing (Nobody says K-software engineering job, or K-school teacher) but it does kind of reflect that the "trad" applicant is no longer typical (although, I guess, still technically "traditional")

 

[akuko2]

On my interview day I was the only applicant still in college.

 

[Lucca]

@Rainbow Zebra Something that is also interesting is this chart from the Republic of Texas where we do whatever we want most of the time.

https://www.tmdsas.com/Ten Year Statistical Data - Medical.pdf

The average age of the "enrolled" student (aka "matriculant") has steadily decreased from 23.5 in 2006 to 22.2 in 2015.

Here in Texas, traditional still means traditional. This isn't even a median, but an average, so it is susceptible to skewing by a significant number of older applicants but that does not seem to be the case. Appropriately, the average applicant has also been getting younger. It's not surprising given that the Texas applicant pool is necessarily smaller (90% of the Matriculant data points here must, by law, be TX residents) but it is still interesting that the trend is moving in reverse none the less

 

[deleted407021]

I graduated in Dec. and will be matriculating in August ... "glide year"?


Most people I talked to at both interviews held degrees.

 

[Rainbow Zebra]

@Rainbow Zebra Something that is also interesting is this chart from the Republic of Texas where we do whatever we want most of the time.

https://www.tmdsas.com/Ten Year Statistical Data - Medical.pdf

The average age of the "enrolled" student (aka "matriculant") has steadily decreased from 23.5 in 2006 to 22.2 in 2015.

Here in Texas, traditional still means traditional. This isn't even a median, but an average, so it is susceptible to skewing by a significant number of older applicants but that does not seem to be the case. Appropriately, the average applicant has also been getting younger. It's not surprising given that the Texas applicant pool is necessarily smaller (90% of the Matriculant data points here must, by law, be TX residents) but it is still interesting that the trend is moving in reverse none the less

Well, this Damn Yankee could make a comment about red state politics, but I will resist.

 

[LoveMed2015]

according to the AAMC charts the median age is 24 and the 25th percentile is about 22 so I guess the "non-trads" already do make up a larger portion of the medical school student pool than the traditional "apply during your senior year" student.

we may have to stop using the words "trad" or "nontrad" and instead start using "K-MD" and "graduated applicant".

Some of my pre law friends use he word "K-JD" to describe "straight through" applicants and I always felt it was needlessly patronizing (Nobody says K-software engineering job, or K-school teacher) but it does kind of reflect that the "trad" applicant is no longer typical (although, I guess, still technically "traditional")

Lucca, interesting point. If seniors/grad + year 1/grad + year 2s (common definition of Trad) are all lumped together, there is no way of knowing if there is a statistical difference in acceptance rates individually, and if these rates are diminishing or increasing over time. The biggest shakeup in admissions of course is the new MCAT, and if this drives down or up the K-MD or Trad success rates we won't see for another year. I constantly see "pre med" participants offering advice to incoming hopefuls telling them to retest at a particular MCAT threshhold, or how to pick their schools based on their own MCAT number, when I personally only know my own experience with IIs and acceptances. If you aren't at adcom or have secret MSAR data for the incoming class of 2020, it seems like unfounded advice to tell these pre-cycle students such concrete direction: these opinions can only be based on personal experience or SDN acceptance posts, which do not necessarily represent the entire matriculating class like you would see in MSAR data.

 

[akuko2]

@Rainbow Zebra Something that is also interesting is this chart from the Republic of Texas where we do whatever we want most of the time.

https://www.tmdsas.com/Ten Year Statistical Data - Medical.pdf

The average age of the "enrolled" student (aka "matriculant") has steadily decreased from 23.5 in 2006 to 22.2 in 2015.

Here in Texas, traditional still means traditional. This isn't even a median, but an average, so it is susceptible to skewing by a significant number of older applicants but that does not seem to be the case. Appropriately, the average applicant has also been getting younger. It's not surprising given that the Texas applicant pool is necessarily smaller (90% of the Matriculant data points here must, by law, be TX residents) but it is still interesting that the trend is moving in reverse none the less

I'm from Louisiana, where the public school systems are horrid. Maybe the strong public schools and in state universities in Texas are preparing younger applicants to start medical school out the gate.

 

[LoveMed2015]

I graduated in Dec. and will be matriculating in August ... "glide year"?


Most people I talked to at both interviews held degrees.

You took the MCAT, were applying and interviewing before you graduated, I would guess. From advice I've read, you'd be considered "graduating" not "graduate + 1 year", but who know if it makes any difference anyway! Yet another way to peel this onion? Since we don't get to watch the little man in the corner behind the green curtain and how we are all sorted out, I'm just happy to have a seat. All that matters is you are going to be a doctor in the end. If the applicant cycle coming along behind us is helped by comparing their portfolio to anyone else here, all the better.

 

[Lucca]

Lucca, interesting point. If seniors/grad + year 1/grad + year 2s (common definition of Trad) are all lumped together, there is no way of knowing if there is a statistical difference in acceptance rates individually, and if these rates are diminishing or increasing over time. The biggest shakeup in admissions of course is the new MCAT, and if this drives down or up the K-MD or Trad success rates we won't see for another year. I constantly see "pre med" participants offering advice to incoming hopefuls telling them to retest at a particular MCAT threshhold, or how to pick their schools based on their own MCAT number, when I personally only know my own experience with IIs and acceptances. If you aren't at adcom or have secret MSAR data for the incoming class of 2020, it seems like unfounded advice to tell these pre-cycle students such concrete direction: these opinions can only be based on personal experience or SDN acceptance posts, which do not necessarily represent the entire matriculating class like you would see in MSAR data.

We have an idea based on percentiles released by the AAMC on what the new MCAT might mean. However you are right, we don't know concretely what will happen. Adcoms such as @gyngyn on this sight have suggested that "adcoms did focus on the center of a curve", however they "moved the center to 510" as opposed to the AAMC's 500. Unless the qualitative evaluation of the MCAT has changed, that number does seem to agree with what SDN considers "competitive" (508+) for a successful cycle given the rest of the application is in order, LORs that don't hurt you, applying on time, etc.

 

[Lucca]

I'm from Louisiana, where the public school systems are horrid. Maybe the strong public schools and in state universities in Texas are preparing younger applicants to start medical school out the gate.

I would hardly call Texas' public school system strong outside of the public systems within certain suburbs of Austin, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio although I will say that we are probably in better shape than Louisiana. It's a big state! I love my university and it has given me a great education. If other Texas posters on this site are any indication (@ElCapone for example) I suspect other universities in Texas (other than Rice which is the one most known to the rest of the Union) also do a good job of preparing their students not just for medical school but in general.

Except for TAMU. TAMU is awful. 😉 JK. #tamusucks

 

[cardzkp]

Graduating senior here... I still look like I'm twelve though.

Lmao me too Mr. Graduating Senior Baby Face here.... I'm 21 but look 15. Every volunteer position I've held, without fail, will have someone question me: "are you old enough to be here?"

 

[LoveMed2015]

We have an idea based on percentiles released by the AAMC on what the new MCAT might mean. However you are right, we don't know concretely what will happen. Adcoms such as @gyngyn on this sight have suggested that "adcoms did focus on the center of a curve", however they "moved the center to 510" as opposed to the AAMC's 500. Unless the qualitative evaluation of the MCAT has changed, that number does seem to agree with what SDN considers "competitive" (508+) for a successful cycle given the rest of the application is in order, LORs that don't hurt you, applying on time, etc.

Yes, I agree. We know how to translate old percentile numbers to new percentile numbers. If I'm surmising this correctly, AMCAS introduced the new exam format to push more admissions towards the 50th percentile. So other than the helpful adcoms here, noone knows how these new numbers will translate to acceptances, just how to match them up with the old scale. Will the charts published by AMCAS show more 50th-55th percentile applicants being accepted once updated with the new scale, for example? I'd hope most hopeful premeds look at the admissions statistics based on their race/gpa/mcat. I'm curious to see if these numbers move up (better chance) or down (adcoms broadly still not favoring those 50th percentile students). Time will tell I guess next spring when our class data is published.

 

[bpislife]

Yay I'm not alone! I'll have a solid month of being 21 (2 months if Case decides to accept me).

Sent from my HTC6535LVW using SDN mobile

Try not even being 21 yet -_- (But by the time med school starts, I will be!)

 

[LoveMed2015]

Try not even being 21 yet -_- (But by the time med school starts, I will be!)

You can't buy vodka? *gasp*

 

[bpislife]

You can't buy vodka? *gasp*

brb crying 🙁

 

[CARCOSA]

I will still be 21 when I matriculate... but I agree with OP, in all of my interviews I was the youngest if not the second youngest (there was this 19yr old from Duke at one of my interviews). A lot of the candidates that I interviewed with either had their Master, PhD, or took 2 or so years out of undergrad to work.

 

[LoveMed2015]

brb crying 🙁

Sorry little bpislife, did not mean to sling salt.

 

[MedHopeful09]

.

 

[blackgirlmd]

Yep graduating senior! I look no older than 12.

 

[cantankerous]

I think you mean still graduating undergraduate seniors. Anyway, I disagree, I think seniors going straight to med school is a definite minority.

Or maybe the sarcasm went over your head

 

[Lucca]

Or maybe the sarcasm went over your head

I wasnt being sarcastic, actually, just dumb lol

 

[Glandzburg]

About half of our class of 175 is straight out of college. Keep in mind that a fair chunk of students take 4 1/2 or 5 years to complete UG, so they would be about 23 upon matriculation.

 

[cantankerous]

I wasnt being sarcastic, actually, just dumb lol

lol you should have just ran with it, bruh

 

[terra330]

There were definitely some people straight out of college at my interviews, but they seemed to be the minority. Most seem to have taken 1 gap year. I found most were younger than me. (I'm 24)

 

[golfman7]

Most of the people at my interviews seemed to be out for a couple years, including myself.

 

[rocklobstr]

I'm coming straight out of college, but I spent 5 years getting my UG degree

 

[tantacles]

Curious about this - in my interviews, I was the rare college senior on the interview train. Most applicants I met were gap/glide years, doing post bacs, non-traditionals, etc. I'm fortunate to be holding MD acceptances, or would have done a gap year or two myself. Are there many other graduating seniors here with acceptances? My professors were as understanding as possible for my exits from campus, which isn't necessarily easier than getting time off from a job, just means we juggle a different set of balls.

At my school, it's about half and half.

 

[Pagan FutureDoc]

N=1 here but the majority of my class graduated last year. Without polling them I'd say 1/3 to 40% of them were separated from College by one or more years. Mostly it was gap years but there were a couple of career changers.

Btw, the term glide year is new to me. Anyone care to fill me in on that?

 

[histologywiz]

I'll barely be 21 ( By about a month) when I start medical school in the fall. Definitely felt much younger then all of my peers on interview day but I always have that feeling

 

[LoveMed2015]

Thanks for the comments. I've seen gap/glide used interchangeably, but thought glide means you are moving back home with your parents aside from whatever else you may be doing to shore up your next application cycle.

 

[oOKawaiiOo]

Lmao me too Mr. Graduating Senior Baby Face here.... I'm 21 but look 15. Every volunteer position I've held, without fail, will have someone question me: "are you old enough to be here?"

Baby face too. The worst part....... getting hit on by high school girls. They all call me a liar when I tell them I'm +25.

 

[LoveMed2015]

Hmm, I guess these terms have a few very different uses. See http://www.brynmawr.edu/healthpro/glideyear.html, http://www.princeton.edu/hpa/faq/postgraduation/, https://gs.columbia.edu/postbac/workshops-and-information-sessions.

 

[piii]

If I never took off years after undergrad, I would always regret not having more fun life experience as an adult before med school.