<p>I'm thinking about finishing my B.S. and Pre-med studies in 3 years with the help of AP credit and summer programs. Does anyone have any advice? Also, when should I take the MCAT if I plan to apply to Medical School promptly after graduating. How challenging will this be?</p>
<p>Not advisable. With fewer years of coursework and time spent volunteering, shadowing, doing research and being actively involved with on-campus organizations (and less time to garner leadership positions), you will be at a disadvantage when compared to applicants who have taken the standard 4 years to finish their degree.</p>
<p>Doable? Yes. Advisable? No. In the end, it's not important whether you end up practicing for 50 years vs. 51 years. But, I think you'll end up wishing you had spent more time in college. I certainly do (and I spent the full four years).</p>
<p>A friend's D who got in a BS/MD program, finished up her BS part in 3 yrs. She is using her 4th year to get MS courses done in Biomed Eng. Plans to take a year off between BS and MD to finish up her MS (coursework oriented only/ no research) before starting MD.</p>
<p>So, depends on what you plan to do with the year you save prior to going to med school.</p>
<p>My current plan is to take the MCAT and leave UT knoxville and go to UT Memphis under their pre-professional accelerated program. I have 85 hrs after my freshman year, and so will be finished with the 3 year requirements by May 09 at the latest. 1 in 3 Knoxville applicants get in and the average MCAT is like 30, so hopefully it will work out.</p>
<p>I'm finishing in 3 years as well, and this is the end of my second year. I'm not applying because I don't have MCAT scores or enough LOR, and as mentioned, I'm at a huge disadvantage. I plan to enter biotech/pharmaceuticals or work as a researcher part-time for a year after graduation...it'll allow some flexibility for interviews (hopefully!) and give me some money to save for med school, and it's something I want to do. :)</p>
<p>Did that (BS Bio) and then spent my 4th year at Stanford getting BS honors Chemistry. Made med school alot easier. 35 years later: wrong decision. You will have a life of medicine. Docs are the most boring people in the world as all they know is medicine. Take your fourth year and do Shakespear, art, anything but medicine. As an admissions committee person for med schools, I will guarantee that you will "look better" and you will be a better person.</p>