<p>I understand that it is possible to graduate in three years from U-M if you meet the 120-credits requirement, in addition to individual requirements set by the various schools. I would really like to graduate earlier not only for financial reasons, but also because I would like to get a head start on medical school. I've acquired enough credits for a sophomore standing, and will follow through with any additional summer/spring term classes that are necessary to make myself a plausible canidate for acceptance by notable medical schools. I am going to be majoring in neuroscience (for pre-med), and have began planning ahead by viewing the course requirements medical schools place on their websites. As an incoming freshman with high ambitions, I would like nothing more than to secure for myself a place in one of the top medical schools in the nation (Michigan, Harvard, UPenn, etc.) </p>
<p>To UMich current students, alumni, and any genuinely-knowledgable person: </p>
<p>Is it possible to attend a top medical university after only three years as an undergraduate, and if so, how should I frame my application to make myself the best three-year applicant (per se) that could be in contention for the aforementioned medical schools? Please answer this question assuming that I will maintain a high gpa in college, achieve an admirable MCAT score, and engage in numerous extra-curriculars. For those of you intent on posting taunts such as "it's not possible" or "you won't," do not bother, as I am aware of the difficulty of this task as well as the subjectivity of the admission officers. I only ask for others' opinions, insight, and possible advice on how I should carry myself throughout college if I'm going make this dream a reality. I am more than willing to work my butt off for the cause, whether it be by spending hours in libraries or forcing myself through countless MCAT preparation books. </p>
<p>Any general comments regarding my aspirations are also welcome.</p>
<p>I’ve had many family friends that are doctors, and when any of them were asked whether completing college in 3 years is a good idea to get a head start on grad school, they’ve always responded that unless there are strong financial motives for doing so, it’s ALWAYS better to graduate in four years. </p>
<p>Since you’re instate, I think you just accept the extra 15k loss (which peanuts compared to the cost of medical school) and just do a fourth year. Not only will you have a stronger application (more time for research, ECs), but you will also have more time to figure out if that’s what you really want to do with your life. Plus for many people, college is one of the best times in their life. Another year of college might lessen the pain of the hell that medical school is (or so I’ve heard).</p>
<p>Just ask yourself when you’re 55, is it really going to matter that you finished college in 3 years? Sure you might have made an extra 150k-200k from working a year earlier but that is going to be offset by the increase in living standards.</p>
<p>When do you find out your medical school admissions results? If it’s before April, then you could try for it after three years (making sure you met all the requirements) and then if it doesn’t work out the way you wanted, take the extra year.</p>
<p>Nevermind, I just read somewhere that you are OSS. Then yes, try to graduate early.</p>
<p>@Infinit Thank you for your response! Although, strictly speaking, I cannot define “strong financial motives,” I daresay I can classify mine as such: I come from a single-income family which has to support two other college educations. If it wasn’t for this, I would see no problem going the four year route, and might actually prefer it when I consider the burden I will have to bear with my current goals. I still hope to get a head start on medical school, but I can relate to your logic of a single year not mattering in the long run, and can assure you that if this were the sole reason for my decision to graduate early, I wouldn’t object to graduating in four years. As it is, I remain adamant that I must graduate early under any circumstances, and seek any advice or guidance that will aid my doing so. Thanks again for your response.</p>
<p>Vladenschlutte- I do not know when decisions are released by medical schools; regardless, for the reasons stated above, I intend to graduate early despite any ill news I may receive. However, as nothing is ever set in stone, I may very well find myself in a situation in which I can and do take the extra year if things don’t work out. Thanks for posting!</p>
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<p>Unfortunately, yes I am.</p>
<p>The best option would be to graduate in three years, take a year off and apply after graduation. That would eliminate may of the early graduation problems. </p>
<p>That said, recognize that you’ll need to take the MCAT in the Spring of your second year, and apply in summer between your second and third years. So, you’ll have 1.5 years to et in your MCAT course work, and two years to put together a resume with clinical exposure, ecs, and all of the other things a med school resume needs. If you can cram all that into two years, it is at least theoretically possible, if highly unadvisable.</p>
<p>Thank you mythreesons. And yes, I suppose I will have to aim to take as many useful courses as I can my first three semesters. I agree that the time restrictions are a bit overwhelming, but am grateful that you reminded me that taking a year-off is always a possibility-I almost feel relieved knowing I have this option available. </p>
<p>Speaking of fitting in important courses, does anyone know what classes will prove most beneficial when taking the MCAT?</p>
<p>I’m assuming that there have been previous threads on this matter, so I would also appreciate anyone directing me to them.</p>
<p>I don’t know if you’ll have much choice because I’m sure you’ll have to complete a lot of prereqs. That being said the most helpful classes are the ones that require a lot of critical thinking. </p>
<p>Physics, Math, Economics, Engineering, Philosophy(helps big time on the verbal) classes will help you on the MCAT. Any class that isn’t primarily passive learning (like biology) will help you.</p>
<p>It really depends on how smart you think you are. My advice if you think you can handle it would to take actual physics classes (not the less quantitative ones that most pre-meds take) and philosophy classes outside of your prereqs if you can stomach it.</p>
<p>Thank you! I will look into all the classes you mentioned, and try to take as many as I possibly can prior to the MCAT.</p>
<p>Physics 140is isn’t bad at all.</p>
<p>If you could get out in 3the and it doesn’t affect anything I would.</p>
<p>I was looking at it for engineering but how the prerequisites are structured its Damn near impossible.</p>
<p>Don’t do it. Medical schools want mature candidates and graduating in three years does not indicate maturity. Getting into any medical school after three years will be very difficult. Getting into a top medical school will be near impossible without significant academic credentials (3.9+, 38+) and rich experiences.</p>
<p>Under what pretense could they possibly reject me, assuming I have a high GPA and MCAT score, and engaged in multiple medicine-related extracurricular activities?</p>
<p>Hey if you can graduate in 3 years that’s great, but many if not most college students change their majors while in college. I was sure I was going to be an engineer and ended up with a business degree. Med school may be the right choice, but be open to other options you may not have considered yet. It really isn’t all about the money (especially with the potential changes in health care). Good luck and GO BLUE!</p>
<p>Definitely agree with blackpen.</p>
<p>Average matriculant age at medical schools is around 23 for a reason. Consider your 3-4 years of undergraduate experiences (traditional) vs. someone else who has those same 3-4 years in addition to several years working, volunteering in the Peace Corps, or something of the like (non-traditional). There’s nothing explicitly bad about being young, but for medical schools looking for well-rounded applicants in a diverse class, a solid non-traditional applicant seems to add a lot more to the class.</p>
<p>Also, something I never appreciated until I actually started interviewing was that there’s actually a lot of non-traditional applicants - some of my interviews were 50-50.</p>
<p>Also, regarding curriculum, I would highly recommend visiting Newnan Advising at LSA and talking to a pre-health adviser there. They have really good materials, including a coursework checklist designed to cover requirements at pretty much all med schools.</p>