Need some advice

[Scott1452]

---

Members do not see this ad.

So I recently decided to try my hand at a 3+4 program at NYCPM. Im a going to be senior at college currently. I rushed my application to be submitted. It was verified yesterday and today NYCPM offered me an interview. I signed up for next week. Im very excited for the opportunity to potentially enter med school this next semester, however it seems so fast and since previously I did not know about the program I wasn't expecting on leaving my undergrad a year early. With this said im struggling to see negatives in the chance.I could have a doctorate by age 25! and they offer a masters program at the same time. And to save a years worth of debt.

Overall what do you guys think. Im hoping at my interview it will be clearer if I like it or not, and whether I should do this.

Also my stats are 3.52 gpa sgpa 3.53 also. Mcat of 25. Do you think they may offer a scholarship if I even get offered a spot?

 

[itsallgood19]

are you trying to secure a spot for the september or january class at NYCPM?

 

[Scott1452]

september

 

[LittleMopeHead]

So I recently decided to try my hand at a 3+4 program at NYCPM. Im a going to be senior at college currently. I rushed my application to be submitted. It was verified yesterday and today NYCPM offered me an interview. I signed up for next week. Im very excited for the opportunity to potentially enter med school this next semester, however it seems so fast and since previously I did not know about the program I wasn't expecting on leaving my undergrad a year early. With this said im struggling to see negatives in the chance.I could have a doctorate by age 25! and they offer a masters program at the same time. And to save a years worth of debt.

Overall what do you guys think. Im hoping at my interview it will be clearer if I like it or not, and whether I should do this.

Also my stats are 3.52 gpa sgpa 3.53 also. Mcat of 25. Do you think they may offer a scholarship if I even get offered a spot?

First off, have you thought carefully on your decision to pursue podiatry? Shadowing experience and really liking the field? Do you feel ready to take on podiatry school? The key to all this is NOT to rush into anything without serious consideration. It seems like your plan is ideal and all-good, graduating with a doctorate by age 25, but I would not recommended that. Remember, when you enter podiatry school you are in with people who may have a masters program, experiences in the medical field, experiences in general, and may have been in the workforce for a long time already. They may have advanced experiences in graduate school already too. You are competing against them, although they are your colleagues. Finish your undergraduate first and secure your future with a bachelor. Then apply to podiatry school. You will get in with your stats, guaranteed, and there will be a spot for you when you apply. Your MCAT will probably be valid still when you apply after graduating undergrad. You will get a scholarship if you apply early. I recommend finishing your bachelor first because anything could happen during podiatry school, and IF you fail at anything, they can dismiss you and you will lose everything (back to square one with no bachelors). It is very risky, and don't rush into this. You talk about the master's program. THIS, I recommend not doing. Ask yourself why do you need it and what do you wish to accomplish with it? Podiatry is not easy and it will take your time 100%. You will have no time to think about the master's program and it will only get in your way of studying your main goal - podiatry. I do not know your potential and only you can tell about that yourself, but this is just my recommendations that's all. Think very carefully about what you are getting into. Good luck.

 

[FootAndAnkle]

Finish your undergraduate first and secure your future with a bachelor. Then apply to podiatry school. You will get in with your stats, guaranteed, and there will be a spot for you when you apply.
[...]
I recommend finishing your bachelor first because anything could happen during podiatry school, and IF you fail at anything, they can dismiss you and you will lose everything (back to square one with no bachelors). It is very risky, and don't rush into this.

So I recently decided to try my hand at a 3+4 program at NYCPM. Im a going to be senior at college currently. I rushed my application to be submitted. [...] I could have a doctorate by age 25!

I think LittleMopeHead is giving you pretty good advice on this - even thought you don't see anything negatives, there are things outside of just failing due to grades that can cause someone to have to leave podiatry school (think major illnesses, accidents, financial disasters, etc.). You've invested this much in your undergraduate education, why take a gamble on something you've paid and worked hard for?

Also, please make sure that D.P.M. is the doctorate you want - remember that it's not like M.D./D.O./Ph.D. where you have a lot of options of what to do with your degree, you really are signing up for one career for life, or at least a very significant portion of it. Podiatry is a great choice, but I agree with LittleMopeHead that it's not a decision to be made hastily. If you can, try to take the time to make sure you're not too swayed by having "a doctorate by age 25" just for the sake of speed and make sure the field really fits your personal ambitions and priorities.

If you interview and get admitted at NYCPM for the 3+4 program, they would also probably be willing to defer your enrollment until a year later so you can enter like a typical student after finishing your undergraduate degree. Take that advice with a grain of salt, however, since I've never been to NYCPM.

 

[Scott1452]

After my first year I would have my undergrad degree completed. So I would only need to finish one year to have that completed.

I think it will be clear if it's right when I interview, I'm hoping it just comes to me.

 

[LittleMopeHead]

After my first year I would have my undergrad degree completed. So I would only need to finish one year to have that completed.

I think it will be clear if it's right when I interview, I'm hoping it just comes to me.

I do not know how the 3+ 4 program work for the schools that have that option, but if you are serious about doing it remember to get all your questions answered and read the fine print on everything. For example, you may have to maintain a certain GPA during your first year or throughout the program, or you may have to finish the program to get both diplomas. I think Scholl does this (they hold undergraduate diploma until you graduate podiatry school), but I'm not too sure and maybe someone from the school can chime in on this. Take our advice above into consideration and think it through carefully. The decision is yours alone. There's no going back once you start and, if anything were to happen, you cannot turn it around. Remember that.