Will my age be a factor?

[Unorthodox]

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I'm graduating a year early from high school this year which means I will be 17. I also plan on finishing undergrad in three years which means I will be 20 when and if I get interviews for medical school. Will they think I'm too young?

 

[Mobius1985]

Not if your application reflects your maturity and you have competitive stats and all the usual extracurriculars: research, leadership, clinical experience, community service, and physician shadowing.

 

[UVAbme2009]

I was 20 for the start of interview season. Like Mobius said, it's doesn't matter if you exude maturity.

​

 

[Unorthodox]

Thanks for the advice guys...I think I'm pretty mature for my age. I'm moving to New York City this fall for college (St. John's University) and interned with a neurosurgeon at GWU Hospital earlier this year. Any advice for my undergrad years? When should I start studying for the MCAT?

 

[RapplixGmed]

If you're mature and are otherwise an excellent candidate, it should be no problem. I was successful applying at 20 in the beginning of my app cycle (21 now) after graduating from college in 3 years. Do realize though that 3 years of college experience is usually seen as much weaker than 4 years of college experience. I didn't have the time to do what some of my friends did like study at oxford for a semester or grab a goldwater scholarship so others in your institution graduating in the same year will likely have stronger applications than you given the same gpa and mcat. If you're only considering age however, its only when people apply when they're 19 or earlier that it really raises eyebrows. Good luck!

 

[not respect]

My premed advisor said it will not hurt you at all!

 

[DrHamilton21]

🙂 Dont worry about it, if you demonstrate that your a mature capable individual your age wont be a factor.
I worried about that too when I went on my interviews and saw that most of the candidates were over 23.
I am 20 and have been accepted by three schools (mt sinai, buffalo and uconn)
Good Luck!!! You'll do fine.

 

[edmadison]

I agree that it won't hurt you I just have a question:

Why are you in such a hurry? I can certainly understand wanted to get of high school, but college may be your last time to relax and have some fun.

Take if from someone who has always been very driven and was in a similar situation 20+ years ago: Life is about the journey, not the destination.

Ed

 

[mvenus929]

Maybe. That's the right answer.

Yes, people have been accepted young, but realize that if you apply during your last year, you're only going to have two years to do what most people do in 3-4. You will have to start early, and getting clinical experience and volunteering in is essential.

I applied when I was 19-20 the first time. I got rejected everywhere I applied. So did my friend who was in the same situation... graduated in 3 years and all. I am mature for my age; one of my professors was shocked to find out how young I was, but I didn't get accepted anywhere. Now, I'm working in the real-world, getting ready to apply again, while my friend is working in a graduate program and now considering going for a PhD instead of (or at least before) she goes for an MD/DO.

Just make sure you understand what you're getting into, and realize that there are other options out there. Try to explore them a little before you apply. It'll help.

 

[SuperSaiyan3]

Maybe. That's the right answer.

Yes, people have been accepted young, but realize that if you apply during your last year, you're only going to have two years to do what most people do in 3-4. You will have to start early, and getting clinical experience and volunteering in is essential.

I applied when I was 19-20 the first time. I got rejected everywhere I applied. So did my friend who was in the same situation... graduated in 3 years and all. I am mature for my age; one of my professors was shocked to find out how young I was, but I didn't get accepted anywhere. Now, I'm working in the real-world, getting ready to apply again, while my friend is working in a graduate program and now considering going for a PhD instead of (or at least before) she goes for an MD/DO.

Just make sure you understand what you're getting into, and realize that there are other options out there. Try to explore them a little before you apply. It'll help.

ditto.

 

[Mattabet]

Why are you in such a hurry? I can certainly understand wanted to get of high school, but college may be your last time to relax and have some fun.

👍 to the latter part of this thread. What do you have to gain by applying at 20? It might kind of impress your parent's friends in the "look what my daughter did at school" today way, but that's about it. Maybe you can get in at 20, maybe you can't, but you'd almost certainly be a stronger applicant with a few more years under your belt.

And if I had to go all the way through undergrad without being able to legally drink...? Well, I'd prefer not to think about it.

 

[NiCad089]

I'm graduating a year early from high school this year which means I will be 17. I also plan on finishing undergrad in three years which means I will be 20 when and if I get interviews for medical school. Will they think I'm too young?

I was 19 during the application process (just turned 20 a couple days ago). Your age will not be a factor. If you have good grades, good ECs, and good MCATs you will have as good a shot as the older applicants. What matters more is your level of maturity. Also, don't come across as being in a rush. Adcoms don't like that. With me I just kind of found myself in the position to graduate after 2 years but stayed an extra year to finish a second major.

 

[texaslily]

I'm 19 and I'm applying right now(skipped grades but I'm doing 4 years). I'll be 20 if and when I enter med school. I don't really see a reason why age would be a factor -- isn't that age discrimination? (or does that only apply to discriminating against older people?)

Most med schools have a statement similar to this one I took off the harvard website:

It is the strong and consistent policy of Harvard Medical School, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, and Harvard School of Public Health to treat all community members with respect, to provide an environment conducive to learning and working, and to ensure equal access to rights, privileges and opportunities without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, age, national or ethnic origin, political beliefs, veteran status or disability. Harassment on the basis of these characteristics is inconsistent with the above principles and violates obligations of non-discrimination imposed by imposed by law and Harvard policy.

So I've always taken it to mean that they can't (directly) discriminate against younger applicants. And in the interviews I don't think they're allowed to ask for your age directly; so they probably couldn't tell the difference anyway in person.

The only thing I think they'd be worried about is maturity so make sure to demonstrate that you are just as mature as other applicants

 

[rockaction]

Man, imagine all the things you could do if you took a year or two off after school! You won't have that kind of freedom once med school kicks in. Enjoy your life/do something productive, whatever. But you don't really have much to gain by applying that early.

 

[neil100]

I'm graduating a year early from high school this year which means I will be 17. I also plan on finishing undergrad in three years which means I will be 20 when and if I get interviews for medical school. Will they think I'm too young?

I was 19 when I interviewed. What I noticed was that be ready to show your maturity. They are going to scope you out more than a 23-24 yr. old on this aspect. Just show them you can handle the life that comes with pursuing a career in medicine. But to be honest, they really discourage 19-20 yr. olds from med school. They don't say this but when they get together in their meetings it certainly seems that way.
Just look at the stats.
But, just project maturity in your interview and you'll be fine for the most part.

 

[Raryn]

I was 18 when I had my first few interviews, though I'm 19 now....

Would I say that my age was a factor in how the process went for me? Yes. I would say it throws a monkey wrench in the machine that makes it even more of a crapshoot than normal. So my advice would just be to apply rather broadly, because even normal applicants can't predict anything, much less anyone with "unusual" circumstances.

 

[nontrdgsbuiucmd]

depends on the school..i was 20 when I graduated undergrad, married, etc. now many years later I'm starting med school after doing some unorthodox things primarily in the business world..

some schools like experience and maturity; maturity you can gain I'd think at any age, experience takes time to acquire. Can't hurt to apply when you're ready; you'll learn in this process if schools concur that you're ready, or that possibly you need another year(s).

If you intend to work until, say age 70, and it takes a little longer for schools to agree you're ready to start, you will still have many years to practice. More power to you if the schools decide you're ready now!

 

[Merissa87]

I graduated high school a year early also at 16, finished college at 20 and am starting school this fall at the age of 21. Of course at every interview I had I was asked, why did you graduate early, why were you taking CC courses at 15, etc. You have to really show them that you are mature beyond your years and show them what you have learned and all of the growth and maturing you did in college. In my situation, being 16 in college while all your peers are 18 and 19 caused a huge distraction my freshman year and my grades suffered, I had to show them and explain my maturity and that now I can handle medical school. You have space to explain this in secondaries and interviews. Good Luck!

 

[Unorthodox]

Thank you for the advice everybody! It's not that I want to rush and finish college in 3 years because I want to get it over with, but simply because I want to start a career in medicine asap. After my internship at GWU Hospital I realized how much I loved medicine and how interesting it was. However, after reading all these reviews I may consider just staying all 4 years, but I'm not sure yet. Once again, thank you for the advice and good luck with your careers!