Hi, I am a seventeen year old junior at UT Austin. Recently I graduated extremely early from high school because of a special dual enrollment program in Georgia. I realized I would be going to medical school at the age of 19. What does medical schools think of very young applicants? Does that enhance or take away from the application? I’ve done all the regular premed stuff like volunteer at hospitals, keep an extremely high gap (4.0) and build a resume.
I don’t think age is that much of a barrier if you have all the qualifications; outside of the US, most people who go on to become doctors do start their medical studies at age 18/19, like in Australia, the UK, France, etc.
Any thought in taking a gap year between undergrad/Med school and do research?
Many of the top colleges seem to be having their students go that route. You do not have to try and jam in studying for MCAT and get apps together. Plus gives you a stronger resume. Talk with your Med School Advisor.
Good Luck
Age won’t be a barrier, but the onus is on you to demonstrate you have the emotional maturity to handle med school. Expect adcomms to put you under greater scrutiny than other applicants. You will also need to have all the expected pre-med ECs and your ECs will be compared against those who have spent 4 years in undergrad developing their ECs.
FWIW, there was a 19 year old first year med student in the class behind D1.
^This is the bigger factor. If you are spending 4 years at UT-Austin then I wouldn’t be too concerned. If you’re also rushing through UT, I’d recommend a gap year(s) to beef up the app.
^^^^ I was wondering how Doogie Howser got his EC’s squared away at Age of 10 and finished Med School in 4 years after?
^^^I mean he probably got M1 & M2 waived because he knew all the material. As for everything else, maybe he didn’t go to a super prestigious med school and thus didn’t need as many ECs to get in?