Matriculation w/out degree

[#41]

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Hi there. I posed this question on the pre-med forum, but I'd like to have some med students perspectives on this. What do you think about entering med school without having earned an undergraduate degree? I have the opportunity to do so, but I'm not sure if this is a good idea.

Thanks for the replies.

 

[aphistis]

Unless you're earning the bachelor's for your own edification, I wouldn't worry about it. A year less in school is a year more in practice, and nobody will even notice your doctoral degree doesn't have a bachelor's sitting next to it on the wall. Good luck 😀

 

[#41]

Thanks a lot. I appreciate your thoughts.

 

[nabeya]

I have 148 hours from undergrad but never officially graduated with my BS degree. Will this affect me in terms of licensure when I graduate med school? I know most states just require the 90 hours of pre-reqs, but I wonder if there are other states out there that strictly require a undergrad degree to get a license.

 

[Adcadet]

I don't think not having the degree (BS/BA) will matter once you have you MD. If given the opportunity, I think I would jump at the chance to skip a year of undergrad. Of course, there is something to be said for taking time off and maturing.

 

[#41]

Since I started this thread, I've talked to a few physicians about entering med school w/out a degree, and they've all strongly opposed doing this. One of them cited a president of a local hospital who was recently fired, one of the reasons being he didn't have an undergraduate degree. They all also said a degree is imperative for securing entrance into a good residency program.

 

[12R34Y]

Somehow I don't think getting a good residency spot depends on your BA/BS. I personally would have loved to have gotten in without a degree.
later

 

[Teufelhunden]

Originally posted by #41
One of them cited a president of a local hospital who was recently fired, one of the reasons being he didn't have an undergraduate degree. They all also said a degree is imperative for securing entrance into a good residency program.

Uhhh...this is 100% dead wrong. Residency programs could care less whether or not you got your B.S. or not.

Whoever told you this is pulling your leg.

 

[ItsGavinC]

Originally posted by #41
Since I started this thread, I've talked to a few physicians about entering med school w/out a degree, and they've all strongly opposed doing this. One of them cited a president of a local hospital who was recently fired, one of the reasons being he didn't have an undergraduate degree. They all also said a degree is imperative for securing entrance into a good residency program.

Wow, somebody (or a whole group of peeps) is really trying to pull the wool over your eyes.

Why would it matter if you have a lesser degree if you hold an advanced degree? That's like caring about a college graduate having to redo a year of elementary school (or something lame such as that).

 

[phillymed]

Although this was a while ago,
Altot of the GI generation guys (including my grandfather) went to med school with out college degrees. They were drafted out of college (back when they could do that) - had their pre med req's and just went to med school.
Yep, if your medschool dont care that you have a B.S., just go for it.
The other way to look at it is maybe you could do a year of research after MSII. A lot of folks do this. Theres a lot of funding opportunities, and you'll probably help your residency chances by a bit. The asset to doing it then is that youll have a strong background and do more sophisticated work than you could to as a college student.

 

[#41]

99% of the students at the school I will be attending have degrees. Residencies are very competitive. You think that someone with a degree will be looked at the same way as someone without an undergraduate degree???

 

[LP1CW]

Why would having your AB or BA matter? To me, it's like caring about whether or not someone has a GED or a high school diploma. The most recent degree should be the relevant one. Am I missing something? I can't believe that a doc got fired because he didn't have a college degree. They might have cited that, but there had to be other reasons.

 

[12R34Y]

#41,

NO, it does not matter to a residency program director where you got your BA or whether you have your BA.

He/she will be looking at things like rotation grades, step I/II, letters of rec, etc.....don't you think these things are a tad bit more important?

two scenarios: marginal medical student, average board scores, decent clinical grades AND has a communication degree!

OR

student who aces first 2 years, has great board scores and clinical grades and awesome letters of rec showing that he will make an excellent physician and no degree.

who do you think the PD will pick?

 

[#41]

12R34Y, in that case, I would also pick the latter student. But what if both students had similar stats and letters, but one student had a degree and the other didn't? Wouldn't you be curious as to why this student was not able to, or didn't choose to, get a BA?

 

[12R34Y]

Nope, wouldn't care at all.

Obviously, they got into medical school just like the other candidate AND more than likely were exceptional to perfect for the 90 hours they did take or they wouldn't have been let into an american medical school anyway..............

so actually, i would probably tend to think that the person who was ABLE to actually get into medical school without a degree may be very special.

Regardless, BOTH applicants finished medical school.......the same boards, the same clerkships everything.........

it is very similar to graduating from college and later finding out that the they didn't get a high school degree somehow........who cares they have a college degree now. kind of supercedes that if you know what i mean.

later