Should I apply to medical school before or after graduation ?

[browneyes124]

Hey guys! I need some advice on graduation. My school requires pre med students to take between 17-19 hours per semester. I came in with 18 hours and because I am taking classes in the summer I can graduate Spring 2018. However, because I dropped a class last semester I wont be done with my MCAT pre reqs still either Fall 2017 or Spring 2018. I was planning on taking the MCAT in the spring of 2018 and applying to medical school after I graduated. I didn't see any problem with that but now a lot of pre med and medical students are telling me to graduate later because the application process can be hard and it helps a lot being able to go to your pre med advisor or different professors... I had never really thought of this before because I didn't think you'd need to much help on the application process and that it's just plugging in everything youve done. I mean I know that advisors can help you organize it and tell you when you need to have certain things done by but I don't think advisors are as essential after you've taken the MCAT.
Do you think I should graduate when i originally was suppose to in May 2018 or put it off till Dec. 2018?

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[eteshoe]

Really depends on what you plan on doing with your gap period. If you graduate in May 2018 and apply that summer (June-July) aiming for fall 2019 matriculation, you should be good. Putting off your graduation til December 2018 means you won't be applying until summer 2019 for matriculation in fall of 2020 (or am I misreading your question). You only need need to be able to get LORs - and you can get those before you graduate (or at least inform them). Since this is so far off, you can start working on your PS and other components of your application that you may want someone to review but I don't think you need to delay that much time unless you want to work as a research tech or something before med school for like 2 yrs.

 

[spiffysteve]

I think that the primary benefit for this would be to have people to proof and evaluate your personal statement and essays. In my opinion, you'd be better off graduating earlier (as long as it won't adversely affect your GPA or limit your ECs) in order to apply when you graduate. Just make sure that you do get those essays reviewed by somebody before you send them in.

 

[browneyes124]

Ya I definietly want to be able to go to Med school as early as possible. So if I get my PS and essays reviewed before I graduate then I should be good?

I think that the primary benefit for this would be to have people to proof and evaluate your personal statement and essays. In my opinion, you'd be better off graduating earlier (as long as it won't adversely affect your GPA or limit your ECs) in order to apply when you graduate. Just make sure that you do get those essays reviewed by somebody before you send them in.

efi

 

[spiffysteve]

Ya I definietly want to be able to go to Med school as early as possible. So if I get my PS and essays reviewed before I graduate then I should be good?

Or whenever. If you have built up some good relationships, some of your professors or advisors could be willing to do it over the summer, or you can have them read by other, non-school people. Don't rush them out and do a poor job just to do it before graduation. Try to have them read by people who you know are good writers (professors or not). I personally had mine read by my wife and dad, both of whom are irritatingly good writers.