Is this true ?

[singularity]

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This question may have already been asked on this forum. I do apologize if that be the case. I'm desperately wanting to become a Doctor. I've heard it said that in order to be considered for admission into med school, you must complete your four year degree in four years. Logic being the adcom's want to be assured you can handle the course load of med school. I work full time and don't think I could do this. Is it possible to go part time, and be considered by at least some med schools ?




Justin

 

[nlax30]

Absolutely NOT the case. There's many of us who have taken longer than 4 years to get our degree for whatever reason.

 

[DrMidlife]

I took 16 years to finish my first bachelors.

 

[EddieMD]

Nah, total length of time it takes to get a degree doesn't matter from what I've heard. HOWEVER, most admissions committees like to see that you're challenging yourself with a full, difficult course load each semester. One school I applied to said they like to see a minimum of 16 credits per semester.

One professor said the reasoning is that an "A" in O-chem when you're only taking one other class and have a job doesn't mean nearly the same as getting an "A" in o-chem while taking a full load of upper division science AND have a job AND are a school leader AND volunteer; assuming the med school scrutinizes your application, which some don't, but I think most do.

I remember having a few non-trads in my undergrad classes that did all the above with three kids at home; and all I could say was damn, they'll make it (and they did). Adcoms like to see that you can perform under pressure.

 

[Lacheln]

One professor said the reasoning is that an "A" in O-chem when you're only taking one other class and have a job doesn't mean nearly the same as getting an "A" in o-chem while taking a full load of upper division science AND have a job AND are a school leader AND volunteer; assuming the med school scrutinizes your application, which some don't, but I think most do.

Ok, let's keep expectations reasonable here. I think that answer is skewed more towards the traditional undergrad. No, you don't have to finish your undergrad in 4 years. Yes, you need to be able to demonstrate that you're able to excel academically under a load. But if you are going to a reputable school, working full-time, and have a volunteer commitment, I think A's in 2 classes at a time is sufficient. When I was doing that I can assure you I was working pretty f'ing hard, and I'm proud of what I accomplished. If an adcomm can't appreciate that then it's not the school for me.

 

[EddieMD]

But if you are going to a reputable school, working full-time, and have a volunteer commitment, I think A's in 2 classes at a time is sufficient.

Hmm, I'll concede this. My response was assuming a part-time job I suppose, as I thought that was more common among college students. I was just relaying what an admissions officer told me. But, I think you may be right in assuming such advice is geared more towards traditional students.

 

[Lacheln]

Hmm, I'll concede this. My response was assuming a part-time job I suppose, as I thought that was more common among college students. I was just relaying what an admissions officer told me. But, I think you may be right in assuming such advice is geared more towards traditional students.

Well, this is the nontrad forum and he did say he was working full-time. 😉

 

[nontrdgsbuiucmd]

This question may have already been asked on this forum. I do apologize if that be the case. I'm desperately wanting to become a Doctor. I've heard it said that in order to be considered for admission into med school, you must complete your four year degree in four years. Logic being the adcom's want to be assured you can handle the course load of med school. I work full time and don't think I could do this. Is it possible to go part time, and be considered by at least some med schools ?




Justin

That's the tough part about this whole process, the psychological games. To answer the main question, I don't believe any school would make it necessary that an applicant finish undergrad in 4 yrs or less, too many things could come up & too many good applicants would be excluded. But to double check, you could phone each school you're interested in to confirm their requirements.

That said, throughout this process there is the "all else being equal, we prefer the applicant who.." (fill in the blank here with: has medical research experience/publications, employment in medical field, higher gpa, higher mcat, more shadowing experience, broader shadowing experience, more advanced science courses, took heavier courseload, more leadership experience, etc.). I really like the MSAR book because it provides a note of reality here on at least some of those areas. My suggestion is to do the best you can in every area considered, making sure to have experience in the main areas (shadowing, volunteer clinical experience, etc)

 

[singularity]

You guys are great.








thank you,
Justin

 

[MtnGntx]

Took me 17 years to finish my undergrad degree...😴

HA! Beat DrMidlife by a whole year!

It don't matter OP.... nuthin but a thang.

 

[Law2Doc]

One professor said the reasoning is that an "A" in O-chem when you're only taking one other class and have a job doesn't mean nearly the same as getting an "A" in o-chem while taking a full load of upper division science AND have a job AND are a school leader AND volunteer; assuming the med school scrutinizes your application, which some don't, but I think most do.

I remember having a few non-trads in my undergrad classes that did all the above with three kids at home; and all I could say was damn, they'll make it (and they did). Adcoms like to see that you can perform under pressure.

Actually most nontrads come through postbacs, and most postbacs tend to have folks taking two classes at a time, and those folks get in at a decent rate, so no, there is no stigma to taking "Ochem when you're only taking one other class". The timing of coursework counts less than the grades and the overall impression of the application. Schools like to see that you get A's in the prereqs and that you succeeded in other forums, such as employment. I would ignore many of the hard and fast rules that are spouted about number of courses you need to take at a time, how rapidly you need to complete degrees and the like.

 

[keitaiKT]

Actually most nontrads come through postbacs, and most postbacs tend to have folks taking two classes at a time, and those folks get in at a decent rate, so no, there is no stigma to taking "Ochem when you're only taking one other class". The timing of coursework counts less than the grades and the overall impression of the application. Schools like to see that you get A's in the prereqs and that you succeeded in other forums, such as employment. I would ignore many of the hard and fast rules that are spouted about number of courses you need to take at a time, how rapidly you need to complete degrees and the like.

Amen to that, Law2Doc. I am not ashamed to say that I left my job and did a post-bacc while only taking 2 classes a semester (with lab) and doing volunteer work. I had no trouble getting interviews and acceptances. It doesn't matter how much you are doing, how many jobs, volunteer commitments, children, etc that you have if you can't get decent grades in the classes.