Non-Traditional Definition??

[Mr. Peanutbutter]

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Hi All,

Very inconsequential, random question. Does anyone know of a set-in-stone definition of what a non-traditional applicant is? I feel like I've looked all over the place and I can't find anything that explicitly states what qualifies someone as non-traditional for applications.

For example: I am two years out of college, where I majored in Biochem and had plans to get into the pharmaceutical industry. I've been working for the past few years in jobs that I was planning on using as leverage in order to get into Pharma. However, I had a change in heart after working in clinical research and have been prepping for med school apps for the 2018-2019 cycle. I will be 24 (turning 25) if I am offered an opportunity to matriculate in Fall 2019.

Would I be able to consider myself as non-traditional for my applications or do I not meet whatever guidelines I still haven't figured out?

 

[Abradolf_Lincler]

Traditional applicant = applying summer between junior and senior year of undergrad for matriculation in fall immediately after graduation.

Everything else is non-traditional.

 

[tiramisucheese]

I don't agree with the above poster. Most people now are taking gap years, so it's not unusual. There's no official guideline, but this qualifies as non-traditional IMO:

1. Someone coming from a completely different career path (any age with work experience), OR
2. Someone who did take all the prerequisites in college but is now 3+ years out from graduation

Just my $0.02

FYI, there isn't something to select on the application materials that indicates that you're non-traditional.

 

[Mwooster]

Traditional applicant = applying summer between junior and senior year of undergrad for matriculation in fall immediately after graduation.

Everything else is non-traditional.

^that's like the definition from 25 years ago...

I don't agree with the above poster. Most people now are taking gap years, so it's not unusual. There's no official guideline, but this qualifies as non-traditional IMO:

1. Someone coming from a completely different career path (any age with work experience), OR
2. Someone who did take all the prerequisites in college but is now 3+ years out from graduation

Just my $0.02

FYI, there isn't something to select on the application materials that indicates that you're non-traditional.

The average matriculation age of MS1 at US MD schools is 24-25. Of course, the median age is probably more 23-24. The vast majority of successful matriculants takes gap year(s).

Non-traditional applicants in my mind are those who:
1. Didn't major in a science major, like biochem, regardless of intention of being premed or not at that time
and/or
2. served in the military
and/or
3. career changers

A biochem major who took 4 gap years due to reasons such as a failed application cycle or 2 does not make him/her "non-traditional" in my book.

The term "non-traditional" gets used way too liberally on places such as SDN

 

[Osminog]

There's a spectrum between traditional and non-traditional, I think:

At the extreme of "traditional," we have the K-through-MD track -- biology/biochem major, applying between junior and senior years of college.

At the extreme of "non-traditional," we have the 50-year-old ex-military executive chef with an undergraduate degree in comparative literature.

Most of us mortals fall somewhere in between.