Five Years To Graduate

<p>I was wondering if medical schools look down on applicants that took five years to graduate. Right now I'm in my fourth year at an undergraduate UC school and because I red-shirted my freshman year, NCAA gives me the option to attend another year of school on a 100% scholarship. Here are some of my stats and extracurriculars:</p>

<p>Science GPA is 3.73
Cumulative GPA is 3.85
MCAT 32
Double Major: Public Health and Political Science
Volunteer at a Childrens Hospital since Senior year of HS
Work weekends and summers as a Paramedic
2 years of research
I've done some shadowing and internships with a rheumatologist and hematologist
(More extra-curriculars in regards to my Political Science major)
Club memberships (American Medical Student Association - 3 years; iMed - 2 years)
NCAA Division I Soccer - 4 years</p>

<p>Also, I've heard that being mixed (African American and some Native American, although I haven't registered with a tribe) can help my chances at getting into medical school. Is this true, and to what extent?</p>

<p>I really don't know what to do about my fifth year. Will it help me, or will it hurt me? Also, what kind of medical schools should I think of applying to? I just decided this year I wanted to go the medical school route. Please help!</p>

<p>it doesn’t matter how long it takes you to complete undergrad. all that matters is gpa/mcat/extracurrics. you look set. and being an URM helps a lot too.</p>

<p>You’ve got a “reason” for sticking around, so I wouldn’t worry about it. D-1 sports usually capture most people’s eye. </p>

<p>Your race does help you. Commonly, we talk of “the index” here (MCAT score + GPA *10=index), and that being an African American means you can between 8-10 points. Native American’s might be able to add even more. You’re a competitive applicant as it is already, but with your race factored in, you’re in an even better position. </p>

<p>Are you starting your fourth year in the fall? Or are you at the point where you’d be graduating NOW if you were done in 4? </p>

<p>If you’re in the former, you’ve got your senior year to essentially buff your application - continue to volunteer, continue to shadow, continue to accrue leadership positions or experiences, and then start working on a drafts of a personal statement (why did you decide on a career in medicine), and prepare for interviews (mock interviews through your school’s career services office). This assumes you’d be graduating in 2011.</p>

<p>If you would normally be graduating now, but are taking the extra year to play ball, you need to get on your AMCAS application this summer so you can submit it by early July (July 2009 since I’m assuming you want to graduate in 2010, then start med school in the fall of 2010).</p>