Hello all, I'm new to this forum. I been wondering whether this is possible because I might have to do it due to not wanting too much borrow money. By doing 3 years, I believe I can save a lot. However, I hear that their is a new MCAT for 2015. It adds biochemistry to the prerequisites. That means one year of general chem, organic chem and one semester of biochemistry. I don't want to take a gap year (due to not wanting to burdening my parents who are very low in income at the moment). Is there any way to do 3 years and go straight to medical school with the new MCAT? Thanks 🙂
Undergrad 3 years to save money?
- Thread starter auspice
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Sure but you would have to apply during the summer of your sophomore year. Can you accomplish having good stats and ECs in only two years? Many schools won't like it, but you probably have a chance if you're determined.
Thanks for replying, but how would I take Biochemistry on the second year if I'm also taking Organic Chemistry. It seems that most schools would require two semesters of Organic before one can move to Biochemistry...
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A few of my friends have gone this route, and it worked out just fine. They had average ECs, MCAT around low 30s, but really high GPAs. They went to state schools, and this is n=3. So definitely feasible, you really have to be on top of your game though.
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One of them took biochem and orgo II simultaneously. Others took biochem the year after orgo, but before they matriculated.
So I will have to take Organic II and Biochemistry in one semester!
Edit: I believe that my questions have been answered! Thanks to everyone who replied. 🙂
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So I will have to take Organic II and Biochemistry in one semester!
Very little of orgo is actually needed for biochem. If you put in the work for college classes, a lot of the time it pays off. Yes there will be a workload involved, but if you are really dedicated I see no reason as to why you can't come out successful.
Thank you for your encouragement! I just hope I can pull it off...
I believe that my question has been answered and thank everyone for their contribution. 🙂
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Glad I could help, and don't get intimidated before these classes even start. Most people already convince themselves of things they won't be able to accomplish, and it never gets them far as motivation can. Best of luck with everything!
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So I will have to take Organic II and Biochemistry in one semester!
Edit: I believe that my questions have been answered! Thanks to everyone who replied. 🙂
Just something to keep in mind--pre-reqs (like biochem) need to be completed by the time you matriculate. If you apply in the summer after your second year and intend to take biochem in the fall following (your third year), you'll fulfill the requirements without having to double up on everything.
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If you really want to do undergrad in 3 years, then just apply after you graduate. You will have a year "off" of secondaries, interviews and what not but that's pretty normal, you could also work full time in this year if you need the money.
I don't know your financial situation but I have many friends who came from backgrounds where their family could provide no assistance and through a mixture of working and loans they were fully able to support themselves.
They weren't particularly smart with their money either, so I imagine that if you planned and handled things well you could do this well.
Its not that difficult to work 3 days a week if you are smart with your time.
EDIT: I notice you set you didn't want to take a gap year, but maybe I'm missing something. What is stopping you from working full time in this gap year and not burdening your parents? Seriously, start working in a decent restaurant part time early, and in a year or so try to wait tables. Easy, flexible and good money.
I don't know your financial situation but I have many friends who came from backgrounds where their family could provide no assistance and through a mixture of working and loans they were fully able to support themselves.
They weren't particularly smart with their money either, so I imagine that if you planned and handled things well you could do this well.
Its not that difficult to work 3 days a week if you are smart with your time.
EDIT: I notice you set you didn't want to take a gap year, but maybe I'm missing something. What is stopping you from working full time in this gap year and not burdening your parents? Seriously, start working in a decent restaurant part time early, and in a year or so try to wait tables. Easy, flexible and good money.
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I second this. I would strongly encourage re-considering your opinion on a gap year. There are many advantages and few disadvantages to a gap year. If you find even a mediocre job, you will not be burdening your parents.
$10/ hour x 45 hours/week = ~$1300/ month after state taxes (assuming a nearly full federal income tax return).
If you live at home, you will have over $13,000 to work with to help your parents pay for food, your loans, even rent.
This would allow you to apply after college. This means:
1) Longer and more meaningful ECs (many other applicants are applying in between their 3rd and 4th year too! But you just won't have that fourth year).
2) More time to spend on your interviews and app (your third year would likely be horrible with 20 credits and having to cope with the stress of an app cycle).
3) Time to spend with your family and recoup from the burnout that is highly probable from a 3 year undergrad at a good school. ( This is in my opinion the most important!!) After I did an engineering/premed undergrad, taking some time to myself was absolutely one of the best choices I made during undergrad.
4) Getting some work experience to talk about during interviews (and it is a good life experience if you haven't had to already).
5) If you can get a job doing something academic (like research), you can not only get paid but work towards publications and presentations that will help you in the future. This is exactly what I am doing and I could have a couple pubs and a couple presentations from my gap year that are relevant to medicine... I can see these helping me in my residency search.
There are plenty small perks too. Please feel free to PM me if you have any questions at all. Best of luck!
$10/ hour x 45 hours/week = ~$1300/ month after state taxes (assuming a nearly full federal income tax return).
If you live at home, you will have over $13,000 to work with to help your parents pay for food, your loans, even rent.
This would allow you to apply after college. This means:
1) Longer and more meaningful ECs (many other applicants are applying in between their 3rd and 4th year too! But you just won't have that fourth year).
2) More time to spend on your interviews and app (your third year would likely be horrible with 20 credits and having to cope with the stress of an app cycle).
3) Time to spend with your family and recoup from the burnout that is highly probable from a 3 year undergrad at a good school. ( This is in my opinion the most important!!) After I did an engineering/premed undergrad, taking some time to myself was absolutely one of the best choices I made during undergrad.
4) Getting some work experience to talk about during interviews (and it is a good life experience if you haven't had to already).
5) If you can get a job doing something academic (like research), you can not only get paid but work towards publications and presentations that will help you in the future. This is exactly what I am doing and I could have a couple pubs and a couple presentations from my gap year that are relevant to medicine... I can see these helping me in my residency search.
There are plenty small perks too. Please feel free to PM me if you have any questions at all. Best of luck!
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I'm going to third the gap year option. You're not going to look as good on paper after two years in college than someone who has 3-4 years on their application. Plain and simple. I can attest that you can get into medical school with only 3 years in undergrad, but it's difficult to do so going straight through.
I don't regret the fact that I had to take a gap year (I actually took 2), and it's something that I highly advocate. You'll be a better person for it, if only because you'll have a little mental break from things.
I don't regret the fact that I had to take a gap year (I actually took 2), and it's something that I highly advocate. You'll be a better person for it, if only because you'll have a little mental break from things.
