Graduating Early from College?

<p>Hi,</p>

<p>I am planning on graduating from early my undergraduate college in 3 or maybe 2 years. I think this would be possible because I have an IB Diploma worth of credit, which in UC's and some other schools is worth a whole year of credit, 14 AP's, and many community college classes. </p>

<p>I plan on going immediately to grad/professional school and would ideally like to attend an elite university in a dual MD/JD program or something similar to this. </p>

<p>Assuming I am able to do what most students would do in 4 years (research, EC's, good rel with professorts etc.) are there any disadvanatges of graduating in 2 or 3 years from college? </p>

<p>I am strictly speaking in an academic sense. I know many of you will say that I would lessen the social experience or hinder social maturation or what not, but please refrain from making such comments.</p>

<p>In the strictly academic sense, yes, you will be at a disadvantage. It is much harder to get into med school after only spending 2 years in college. 3 is a possibility, but it still makes it harder. This is, of course, because the med schools will think you are too young/not mature enough. Why do you want to rush it, though? You have the rest of your life to be a doctor.</p>

<p>One disadvantage of rushing it is in not taking additional elective courses that can expand your mind and be fun. You can approach college as simply a means to an end that should be completed as expeditiously as possible, or you could approach it as an opportunity to explore and experience. The time and experince can help you choose what you'd really like to do as a career. It's possible it may end up not being what you have in mind right now.</p>

<p>Applying to med school after one year simply is not possible (finishing college in two years then starting med school in year 3). There's pretty much no way to get it done. Med schools don't accept AP credit, so you'll need to at least take the year of bio, general chem, organic chem and physics all with lab...Because of prerequisite policies most schools won't allow you to alter the chemistry sequencing, there's also the issue of taking more than 2 labs a week which burns out a lot of people as well as messes up their other opportunities. Throw in the other courses most med schools require for admission - semester or two of english, at least a semester of calc, and then the "suggested" courses - stats, genetics, biochem, physiology, and you can start to see how much time is needed to get through it all. Tack on courses in your major (which most undergrad schools don't allow you to AP or CLEP out of) as well as volunteer work, clinical experience, campus involvement, leadership experience, and studying/taking the MCAT, and there's simply just not enough time. </p>

<p>A bit more specific on the AP stuff, b/c I'm sure that's where you got this idea b/c you have so many credits. The overwhelming majority of med schools simply won't accept AP credit as fulfilling their entrance requirements. So that means if you happened to get a 5 on the AP Chem exam, your undergrad school will probably give you credit (and some will even give you grades for that credit - not all undergrads will) for intro general Chemistry 1&2 and you'd be allowed to start Organic Chem 1 as a frosh. If you finish OChem 1&2, you're thinking you've completed your pre-med requirements b/c you have credit for a year of gen chem and a year of organic. But med schools don't see it that way. They'd only see you as having fulfilled the Organic requirement. If you were to apply, your application would be rejected because you haven't fulfilled their requirements, they have a huge task of figuring out how to fill their class from an applicant pool full of outstanding/accomplished individuals and not meeting requirements is an easy way to start limiting the size.
So what are your options then. I hope you're seeing that you have to actually complete the two years. You can either retake gen chem, or your other option is take the two courses that are above organic chem to fulfill your year of chem requirement - but these two courses are likely analytical chem and physical chem, both well known (almost legendary) ball-busters that have killed many a chem majors GPA.
My point here is that regardless of what you choose, it's still going to take two years just for the pre-med requirements. Throw in all the other stuff required to get into med school and the things you need to do to graduate, and it's impossible.</p>

<p>Furthermore, even applying after two years (graduating in 3, starting med school in year 4) puts you at a disadvantage because you have a smaller record of achievement on your application. All the stuff you did in HS is irrelevant and can't be put on your AMCAS application, and so you're only working with your post-secondary experiences - that's all med schools will consider. It simply is a big disadvantage to only have 2/3 or a 1/2 or less of what your competition has in aggregated time to accrue accomplishments.</p>

<p>The final thing is to follow up on what ucsd<em>ucla</em>dad said, not only in the classroom but also just the college experience. I never have understood the rush to get out. College can be the greatest 4 years of your life if you do it right - why rush through. Take the time to grow intellectually like he's suggested, but also as a person - take the random road trip on a tuesday night, go to all the crazy parties, enjoy football or basketball season because your school is awesome in one of those, play crazy pranks in the dorms, all that sort of stuff. Yes academics are important, but they aren't the end all and be all of college life.</p>

<p>On the other hand I know several people who have gotten into med school after graduating in three years from college.Actually have a friend who did high school in 2, college in three and is one of the top surgeons in our area. Both of his kids are graduating from college in three years to pursue med school. For others majors, well I did it in three in science field, my bro di a doulbe in math/accounting in three, and I know kids ho have done it in 2.5. Know a kid who did under grad in two plus a couple summers and went on to PHD(physics I think) at HYPS. Like high school where some kids get out in three it depends on the kids. Some find college the means to an end (like high school) and not the four year "aura like " experience that many see as so important (some save money this way too). Interestingly enough many people in my family have elected not to do the whole four years. They had things they wanted to do , grad school, professional school, careers. Decide what you like, check into the issues about the premed credits, make sure you have room for research, and community service that is big now for some meds school. Talk to the profs that write recomends. See what they say.
When I was younger Northwestern did the 2-4 underegrad/med school program and there are 3-4 programs still so some people must think it is doable. Know all the constraints and parameters. Then decide.</p>

<p>jenskate1</p>

<p>are you saying I am at an automatic disadvantage if I graduate early from undergrad for grad schools?</p>

<p>Many graduate and professional schools openly discourange applicanrs from graduating in fewer than four years.</p>

<p>My S was just like you, Jason. After one semester at Berkeley, he was officially a junior due to AP and CC classes. He thought he would graduate in 2.5 years total. Somewhere over the past six months, he realized that he was rushing through his undergrad experience. For what? So that he could start law school at 20? So he could start his career at 23? He understands now that college is not a race to the finish, but a journey to be savored. There is no other time in your life like the undergrad years. I would encourage you, by all means, to make your plans but anticipate that at some point you might change your mind. You don't want Berkeley or Chicago to be a fast-food gorge-fest, but rather an 8-course meal that you look back on with satisfaction and maybe a little bit of awe.</p>

<p>I know you don't what to hear the "growth" and "social' aspect of it, but they are factors. </p>

<p>I graduated in three years from Wellesley back in the late 70s, and while I was really pleased with myself at the time, looking back, I regret it. I also did a double major, which meant I really had to focus on getting all the right courses in. I did part of it by taking extra courses each semester, plus I had APs and some college credits from courses I did in high school. </p>

<p>I feel like I missed out on some of the intellectual delights of a good school because I always had to stay "on task" to get every thing done. Ditto with some of the social aspects. I also feel that while I did well in school, I would have had a richer experience if I were intellectually more mature, which is something that I missed out on by not having a senior year. </p>

<p>Everyone's different, but if I had a "do-over" I'd go all four years, try more opportunities that got thrown my way that I didn't have time for, and take a few more courses in things that I was really interested in, not spreading myself so thin across a couple of majors.</p>

<p>Don't get me wrong - while I was doing it, it was a lot of fun, it's just that I missed out on some of the important aspects of college with this approach.</p>

<p>Yup, that's pretty much what I am saying.</p>

<p>"Furthermore, even applying after two years (graduating in 3, starting med school in year 4) puts you at a disadvantage because you have a smaller record of achievement on your application"</p>

<p>My two cents worth: If you want to be in med school as soon as possible, apply early and see if you get in. Some people really don't like being undergraduates and just want to start medical training as soon as possible. Some med schools will take accept them. It's all good.</p>

<p>My high school's principal discussed this very issue the other day. He graduated early as an undergraduate in order to pursue graduate work. His conclusion was, "What was the point? It just meant that I started work much sooner than my friends? And my undergraduate time was much more fun than work!".</p>

<p>college is not a race to see how fast you can get out on the other end. I so wish I had taken the time to study more history, literature, botany, psychology..........Instead, I went into a major at a UC, that stacked the deck with required courses and I entered college with advanced standing. Many years later, I regret missing out of the classes I could have/should/would have taken, as well as the opportunities for extra-curriculars of college, internships, etc. </p>

<p>Jason, slow down and enjoy your college years. (Do graduate in 4 years if you can and spare your parents the extra cost, however!)</p>