<p>I have dual enrolled during high school and college to finish my GEs and introductory biology, physics, and chemistry courses (gpa is only about 3.6-3.7). Now I am at a UC with Biochemistry major and can graduate in 2 years. GPA will get higher when the new grades come out! But I am having a hard time finding pre-med work/research...</p>
<p>I have heard a lot of debate from my peers and advisers that applying to med school at age 19 (only 2 years fully in college) can affect my chances of being accepted negatively. However, I really do wish to go through my studies and become a physician in one shot (and escape that new 2016 MCAT ahah)!
Does anyone have any recommendations? Should I consider D.O. and M.D.? What are some medical schools that more accepting to students like me in the U.S.? I heard some med schools don't require MCAT, do they look more into your experience and GPA then?</p>
<p>Thank you so very much! Any feedback is appreciated! :)</p>
<p>To the best of my knowledge, none of the US med schools allow you to apply without the MCAT. There are Caribbean schools that don’t require the MCAT, but those are generally the more shady ones that don’t match many students into a residency.</p>
<p>But yes, applying at that young age and without the typical pre-med activities will definitely hurt your chances at acceptance.</p>
<p>These “typical pre-med activities”, are they volunteer, clinical/research experience, leadership positions, and pre-med related jobs? Are there any others?</p>
<p>All US med schools (DO and MD) require the MCAT. The only schools I’ve heard of that don’t are unaccredited Caribbean med schools. Don’t even think about going to one of those!</p>
<p>I don’t know of any med schools that are especially welcoming to younger than typical applicants. If you have the ECs, GPA, MCAT, LORs etc, you can apply and see what happens, but fewer than 1% of all matriculated med students are 20 or younger</p>
<p>Remember that grades and the MCAT are only one part of the larger picture when it comes to med school admission. ECs, LORs and PS are what gets you the interview. As a younger than typical applicant your CV will get closer scrutiny than will that of an older applicant. And the assumption of the part of adcomms will be that you are likely to be too immature to handle the ethical issues of medicine and lack interpersonal skills required for a physician. The onus is on you to prove otherwise.</p>
<p>Also realize it’s unrealistic to apply with just 1 year of grades from your UC. Adcomms will want to see 2 full years of grades. So plan on taking at least 1 glide year.</p>
<p>You get no brownie points for finishing early or young, instead your application is weaker for not having had 4 years at a university in which to accumulate ECs & accomplishments as well as connect with professors to obtain the best LORs.</p>
<p>Other people will have four full years of university, WOWmom is correct, you should plan for a glide year so you have two full years of UC classes & have taken senior courses and have a chance to get strong LORs.</p>
<p>It’s not that you are actively penalized for being younger, you just have not had the opportunity to compile as impressive a resume as your competitors.</p>
<p>Thank you so much for all of the responses (welcoming more)! I will try my best and take the advises into consideration. Maybe I can apply after 2 years and if I don’t get accepted, try again the 3rd year. Would that be acceptable?</p>
<p>Applying to medical school is an exhausting and expensive process. (Seriously the cost of application fees and interview travel alone can easily run between $5000-$10,000. This doesn’t include things like prep classes/books, interview clothing/shoes, etc.)</p>
<p>For this reason alone you want to have the strongest application that you can and only do it once.</p>
<p>Also re-applicants have a higher bar to jump. Re-applicants are expected to have a significantly improved app the second time around.</p>
<p>I wonder if you could go to law school and tell the committees that you want to get your medical degree to defend doctors in court. On the east coast I have heard of a couple of doctors who did it med school first but you did this way since you were too young for med school at the time. As long as you professed to want to defend doctors.</p>
<p>You need to get that research. You will have a much easier time getting research opportunities while in college than after graduation. Surely some of your Biochem professors would like some lab help or would know people who would.</p>
<p>It’s not the age, it’s the experience. My D is also young, 20. She could have graduated in three years but would have lost the research and TA experiences that I’m convinced have earned her the acceptances she has to med school. So she added a minor so that she could stay for the full four years.</p>
<p>I do not see any reason to rush. Why? You will never have the opportunity (time and money) that you have in UG. Having combo of major(s)/minor(s), pursue persoanl interests (like sport), travel abroad, spend summer doing NOTHING, sleep in until 1-2pm, just being with your friends.
You have so much to do to grow up as a person which ultimately will make you a better physician. Do not accelrate, you will be sorry later. Busy, busy, busy life for many years ahead, at Med. School, and more so during residency. Then you work, family responsibiliteis.</p>
<p>Medical schools like maturity - well, not too much. You are less likely to get in if too young or too old. Medical schools are looking for leadership, intellectual curiosity, commitment - basically all of the things that the undergraduate Ivies look for. Take your time to experience life, do some interesting things, and if you remain interested in medicine, apply at that time.</p>
<p>Many applicants do not do research, by the way. But you need to engage in serious intellectual pursuits to get into medical school. Don’t short change that part of your application. I’ve known world class musicians and chess grandmasters who have gone to medical school without doing research, but obviously they are serious people doing serious things.</p>
<p>Thank you SO SO much to everyone!
I have decided to apply after 3 years It’s nice to lift the pressure to enjoy college while learning so many interesting subjects, meeting awesome people, and have time to study abroad! ^o^ Just a little update, I am now a volunteer research assistant and doing community service, I will keep it up and do more EC as time goes on!
Thank you again, I really appreciate ALL your feedback!
Please add more advises if y’all have time and best wishes to everyone!</p>
<p>“In response to major changes in the priorities of biomedical science and health care, the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai has expanded its renowned Humanities in Medicine (HuMed) program to become the first medical school in the United States to offer early acceptance to college sophomores from any major, with no MCAT requirement, and a progressive approach to medical school preparation for half of each entering class. FlexMed is a groundbreaking new path to medical training at Icahn School of Medicine. It will allow a new cohort of students to join our tradition of cultivating future physicians who are self-directed in their learning, thrive on a culture of academic rigor and mentorship, and have a strong appreciation of human rights and social justice”</p>
<p>^ You wouldn’t choose Mt Sinai’s program JUST because it doesn’t require the MCAT. What it requires is a very high standard of academic excellence and LoRs with a focus on Humanities (i.e. NO science). You’d apply after your sophomore year and if accepted, expect to take summers of rigorous classes including Organic Chem and Inorganic. I only know of one student who is doing this, from Harvard with a 4.0. She’d get a very high MCAT score, so avoiding that test wasn’t her motivation.</p>
Maybe I can apply after 2 years and if I don’t get accepted, try again the 3rd year. Would that be acceptable?</p>
It’s nice to lift the pressure to enjoy college while learning so many interesting subjects, meeting awesome people, and have time to study abroad! ^o^ Just a little update, I am now a volunteer research assistant and doing community service, I will keep it up and do more EC as time goes on!