<p>I am a first year student at a 7 year combined med program and while I am still extremely interested in pursing medicine, I am not enjoying the program and do not feel like I am made for a 7 yr program because I am a very goal-driven person and don’t feel like I have an immediate goal here. I am also having a hard time adjusting to the general laid back atmosphere at the college/ in the program because I have a good amount of free time but I do not feel like I am using that time productively.</p>
<p>I am considering transferring into some of the undergraduate schools that I previously gained admissions to (UChicago, Duke, or Caltech) and was wondering if that is something worth doing. Is it worth giving up my guaranteed admission into a top 30 medical school for a chance at another undergrad institution where I can be pushed/challenged more and get a chance to apply to more prestigious medical schools?</p>
<p>Kklalal,</p>
<p>I’m only familiar with less than a dozen 7 year med programs. It is hard for me to imagine any of them not being difficult. If your goal is to be a physician, why do you feel you are not achieving your goal? The British system of higher education is similar to your program, with less need for humanity/social science courses. I am an older parent, but I have never heard of any program that is laid-back. </p>
<p>If you do have free time, congrats to you. That probably means you are very intelligent and know how to study efficiently. Have you taken advantage of clubs or social activities at your college? </p>
<p>I hope you get more responses from people who are more current than I.</p>
<p>If you apply to Caltech, you would be considered a transfer student. There was one transfer student admitted this year at Caltech. Your odds don’t look good right now. Financial aid for transfer students is very limited.</p>
<p>From what I am aware of (as an admitted student to an 8 year guaranteed med program at a top 25 med school), these programs are laid back in that as long as the student keeps above a certain GPA and complete some required courses, it does not matter what the student majors in. In fact, the majority do not even require you to take the MCAT (in fact, some revoke your guaranteed status if you take it). In this manner, things are streamlined towards achieving MD status.</p>
<p>From my perspective, I would advise you to figure out what your priorities are. I chose Caltech because I knew I was going to have my butt handed to me academically. I arrived on campus knowing that I was gambling with my GPA, and with what I wanted to learn, I had a significant chance of ending up with a GPA that is below the 3.7 ‘comfort zone’. At this point, I am aware that my GPA is not going to be what it would have been at another school, but I’m flexible with my future one way or another. If you truly aim to be a doctor, I would advise you to remain where you are or at least not to come to Caltech because knowledge here comes with costs.</p>