Applying to Med School After 3 Years of UG?

Pre-Med & Medical School Pre-Med Topics
1

<p>Is this possible? What are all the complications, possibilities, etc.? </p>

<p>For example, on UMich Med's site, it says "At least 90 hours of college course work, of which 60 must be from an accredited U.S. based institution." </p>

<p>So, how long is 90 hours of college course work? Can that be done in 3 years? How demanding would one's schedule have to be? I think I've heard of people doing 15 credit hours a semester, so mathematically, it can be done in 3 years but are 15 hours a lot per semester, especially for a freshman premed?</p>

<p>Thanks in advance. </p>

<p>EDIT: Also, would med schools look down on a younger applicant? I'd be 20 if I finished undergrad in 3 years (late b-day). I would like to go to a respected med school so that I would give myself every chance at competitive residencies if I chose to follow that path, so I am wondering now if applying early would shoot down my chances at such med schools.</p>

2

<p>Why the rush? Most schools will expect you to have an undergraduate degree (Bachelor) by the time you matriculate and depending on your undergraduate school this can be done in less than three years, however it will require 120 hours of college work. Therefore, it is technically possible.</p>

<p>I have a friend who completed his Bachelor of Science in two and a half years. He did it by taking 18 credit hour per semester and 6 credit hours per summer. He was able to maintain a 3.8 GPA and was admitted to a top 40 med school. However, he has always regretted doing it because he did not have a life while in college.</p>

<p>Following that path is not going to improve your chances to go to any med school. In fact, it will make it more difficult. You may want to check some of the BS/MD programs out there that are 7 years if that is what you want, but again : why the rush?</p>

3

<p>Well, do schools care about an applicant having a Bachelor’s degree? In Canada, med schools don’t care, for example, as they are just looking for the amazing GPA.</p>

<p>Also, I just figure that undergrad is just one small part of becoming a Doctor and Med School and Residency are where I can really learn what pertains to my future, so I thought that finishing one year sooner brings me closer to my goal of becoming a practicing physician. (I also dread thinking of being 30+ when I become a practicing Doctor, so saving every year seems so significant).</p>

4

<p>It can be done. 90 hours in 3 years would seem to be pretty simple for most people – 15 hours per semester sounds light to me honestly though I guess it depends on what program you are enrolled. I don’t remember doing less than 16 credits in any semester and most of the time it was 18/semester</p>

<p>I don’t know if it’s different now, but in my era we were strongly discouraged from doing this and of all the people I know who tried only a handful were successful - one was your typical genius level kid in my class who’s now a very nice Neurosurgeon and I think he was late 20yo or barely 21yo when he was admitted. The others I remember from the 2 or 3 years around my class were usually folks with special circumstances – late 20’s with excellent academics, but something very unique outside of school.</p>

<p>The idea overall is that maturity levels often are lacking in younger students particularly who push their academics to the exclusion of everything else. One of the differences then was that at most schools you still had to finish your degree in 3 years (120 hours counting summers and advanced credit AP/CLEP). I don’t think most schools had BS/MD combined programs which were designed to be 6 or 7 year programs from the outset.</p>

5

<p>

</p>

<p>Well, in the US most schools do care. Hopkins Med was the first school to make it a requirement and other top schools followed.</p>

<p>

</p>

<p>This thinking tells me that you need some major growing up to do (no offense, please). An adequate undergraduate preparation will be the indication that you are able to handle the academic rigors of medical school, therefore your undergraduate studies are a BIG part of becoming a doctor. And if you are too worried about how old you are going to be by the time you become a practicing doctor, this is my recommendation: forget about medical school.</p>

6

<p>I am not sure I understand the OP’s question. Most people apply to Med. School after junior year (after 3 years in UG). They take MCAT right after spring semester of junior year, apply in a summer and get interviews during thier senior year. That is regular procedure for most, but some decided to do it later. I believe it is easier to take MCAT while all material is fresh. If one is planning to graduate in 3 years, it is a good idea to apply after 2 years, otheriwse they lose one year anyway.
Well and on a note of respected Medical school, all american medical schools are respected. Spot in any will lead you to MD who has to build his reputation from ground zero no matter which medical school he graduated from. Harvard graduate might be in the same office as the lowest ranked medical school graduate and Harvard MD might not be better doctor in comparison to his collegue.</p>

7

<p>When it says “At least 90 hours of college course work, of which 60 must be from an accredited U.S. based institution”, does that mean I should have the 90 hours already completed by the time I apply or does that mean I will have the 90 hours done after the end of my third year?</p>

<p>I now realize that I am just going to take the regular 4+4, but I’m still a little curious and if anyone would like to comment go ahead, I’d find it interesting to read more responses.</p>

<p>@MyOpinion, now, I don’t want to start an argument but in India, for example, right out of high school students enroll in 5 year programs where upon completion a MBBS is granted. (I believe it is called MBBS). In India, this MBBS is enough (MD requires addition 2 years of schooling) to be fully qualified. I assume other places in the world are like this as well (straight from HS to 5 or 6 yr. program). </p>

<p>Now, your point was that UG education is a large part of becoming a doctor. However, I don’t see why things such as organic chem, inorganic chem, and other courses would play a large role/be relevant to a doctor. So, if these 5 or 6 year programs produce adequate doctors partly due to the fact that they omit unnecessary requirements, courses, etc. then why is undergrad a huge part of growing up? In other countries (once again, no argument, just curious to read responses), a Doctor is qualified and ready for practice regardless of age. If a Doctor is 22 or 23 when he or she attains a MBBS, then so be it, as long as they are capable, which they are.</p>

<p>(I think the residency is only a couple of years, not 100% sure, but we’re talking about probably 5 + 2 for a ready to practice Doc w. MBBS or 5 + 2 + 2 for MD Doc ready to practice…once again, the MD isn’t a huge deal, that’s just what people do over in India if they want to come over to the US to practice b/c the MD is widely recognized in N.A.)</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.ehow.com/how_6720257_become-doctor-india.html[/url]”>http://www.ehow.com/how_6720257_become-doctor-india.html&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

8

<p>^^^ I am not sure where you want to go with this. If you want to study medicine in the US, you should not be too concerned about what the requirements are in Canada, India or anywhere else for that matter. Those comparisons, whether valid or not, won’t help you at all here. </p>

<p>You need to be very aware of the factors that will make you a successful applicant in the US, and adjust to them.</p>

9

<p>One thing I see from time to time on this forum and student doc is the idea that a MD is essentially a technical degree, a vocational degree, a “mechanical” degree. This mindset does not mesh very well with what most med schools are looking for in 2010 and (likely) beyond. This applies even more at the highly ranked med schools.</p>

<p>Do the 4 years of UG. Take some courses that broaden your worldview, or enlighten your religious and political positions, or titillate your senses, or scare the crap outta you. Or, maybe if you are really lucky, all of the above. At once. ;)</p>

<p>Don’t be a drone. Don’t be a drudge.</p>

10

<p>^Yea, I was sure of taking the regular path but I was just curious to see what people thought of other situations. I’ll be sure to go the traditional way.</p>

11

<p>To echo MyOpinion, a HUGE part of undergrad is just the “growing up” part, which includes: moving away from home, figuring out how to live on your own, meeting new people, having novel and meaningful experiences, learning to solve problems, learning to work as part of a team, developing critical thinking skills, determining what path you might want to take with the rest of your life, and figuring out exactly what things make you “tick.” The raw subject matter isn’t the key. If it were the key, medicine would be a vocational track like curmudgeon mentioned.</p>

<p>Have you ever stopped to wonder why the average age for entrance into most med schools approaches mid-twenties? That’s not because it’s skewed by the random 50 year old career changer. It’s because medical schools value so much more than someone who can churn out an A on a test–they’re looking for people, not drones, and to make good people…you often need lots of time.</p>

<p>And from a “step back and analyze this situation” standpoint, if applying to med school after 3 years of undergrad (working on the assumption that you wouldn’t bother completing the 4th year and getting your bachelor’s) were a good idea, and in fact made people stronger candidates for competitive residencies, don’t you think it would be a much more common and encouraged practice? I’d be VERY leery of going completely against the med school application process grain (because the process itself is excruciating) by applying early, if I were you.</p>

<p>Obviously this only holds if you were essentially wondering about the pros and cons of applying with or without a bachelor’s degree.</p>