Question about deferring acceptance

[FirefighterDoc]

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Ive been searching for this question but couldnt find answers......

I was originally set to graduate in 2012 with a degree in nursing. Wanting to pursue medicine i switched from nursing to Biology this past year and i have decided to spend an extra year at my school to finish all of the bio requirements for my major (because i also work two jobs to pay for school).

My adviser suggested still taking the MCAT next spring (my third year), because i will have just finished all the MCAT curriculum classes (my bio, chem, organic chem, and physics).

Provided I do well on that MCAT, is it possible to apply to schools that cycle with the intent of deferring a year to finish my biology degree? I mean i obviously wont mention the deferment on my own, but i wouldnt want to waste a year of a good MCAT score (since it is only good for 3 years). Provided it was a good score and i did wait another cycle, it would only give me one more attempt with that score to apply.

Also i see that most schools say that their requirements for matriculation are 90 credit hours of undergrad. How rare is it to matriculate without a degree (if it even happens)?

Thanks!

 

[MedStudentWanna]

If I recall, most schools say you need 90 credits to APPLY, not matriculate. I think most people have a degree before matriculating.

As for applying with the intention of deferring, keep in mind that (a) you'll be taking interview slots from people who actually do want to begin that year, (b) some schools don't allow you to defer, and (c) schools will know that you won't have your degree by the time med school starts and for that reason, they may not give you a second look.

 

[FirefighterDoc]

Yeah i guess your right, i was just wondering as all. I guess ill just use this as an opportunity to make sure i can have absolutely everything ready and submitted on June 1st so i can be verified ASAP.

 

[Morsetlis]

It is very very rare to enter an American med school without a Bachelor's. The MSAR has the specific numbers for specific schools. Flipping through the pages, I see that between 0-2% of matriculants have no Bachelor's.

 

[Pills Of Soap]

If I were you and wanted to take the MCAT early, I'd just take it and not apply till the next year. That way during that year, you can do more activities and extracurriculars to buff up your app.

Its better to apply with a good app then to rush, especially if you have no reason to do so.

 

[MrCheetah]

Ive been searching for this question but couldnt find answers......

I was originally set to graduate in 2012 with a degree in nursing. Wanting to pursue medicine i switched from nursing to Biology this past year and i have decided to spend an extra year at my school to finish all of the bio requirements for my major (because i also work two jobs to pay for school).

My adviser suggested still taking the MCAT next spring (my third year), because i will have just finished all the MCAT curriculum classes (my bio, chem, organic chem, and physics).

Provided I do well on that MCAT, is it possible to apply to schools that cycle with the intent of deferring a year to finish my biology degree? I mean i obviously wont mention the deferment on my own, but i wouldnt want to waste a year of a good MCAT score (since it is only good for 3 years). Provided it was a good score and i did wait another cycle, it would only give me one more attempt with that score to apply.

Also i see that most schools say that their requirements for matriculation are 90 credit hours of undergrad. How rare is it to matriculate without a degree (if it even happens)?

Thanks!

You do know that you can apply to medical school with a degree in nursing so long as you complete the pre reqs, right?

Forget the degree in Biology, if I were you I'd be doing exactly that. Besides, if you happen to not be accepted you could get a job anywhere in the country for that gap year.

 

[Morsetlis]

A degree in nursing may hurt his GPA more than he thinks. Also, many nursing classes aren't included in the science GPA calculation.

 

[J ROD]

I heard one person getting in without a BA/BS.

4.0 & 38 MCAT....something like that.