<p>assuming that both programs are at the same school, would you rather have a full four year undergraduate experience or an accelerated one? what do you think are the benefits of both? because i've seen some people blindly apply for X year programs without even considering the alternatives.</p>
<p>personally, i prefer an eight year program (i'm in one), though a seven year program wouldn't kill me. a six year one for me is out of the question.</p>
<p>it really depends on the program. some 7 yr programs require summer classes and hardcore cramming of science courses. But others, like Northwestern HPME, requires no summer study and allows you to take whatever you want in undergrad as long as you fulfill the required curriculum. Personally, I strongly prefer a program that allows you to have as much of a normal undergrad experience as possible; you have your whole life to be a doctor and only a few treasured years as a college student. That is one of the main reasons why I chose to attend HPME, as it allows me to have not only a normal, but enhanced undergrad experience at a top university rather than stressful yrs as a regular pre med student. It's up to personal taste, really. Some people want to be doctors as soon as possible and for them, 6 yr programs are the way to go. But I think fully exploring your interests in college is essential to becoming not only a good doctor, but also a good person. Remember, education is a maturing process. Plus, medicine can lead you down many paths...many doctors choose to expand their careers beyond purely clinical medicine.</p>
<p>Well first one has to get into a program, either 6/7/8 year....and that's a challenge (well for me at least since I don't have all those crazy stats that everyone else on here seems to have).</p>
<p>every med program candidate on College Confidential reads to the deaf in their free time (when we're not finding cures for cancer and perfecting the art of superluminal space travel).</p>
<p>we also sleep standing up.</p>
<p>yep, those are the candidates. Now, the one's ADMITTED are already on their way to eliminating deafness, found the cures for three or more fatal diseases, and have secured several contracts with NASA. </p>
<p>plus we don't sleep. every minute sleeping is a minute wasted of not studying/doing philantropic activities/saving the world.</p>
<p>Sleep? Sleep is for the weak ;-)</p>
<p>I would prefer an 8-year program because of the fact that workloads are much more spread out over time. I wouldn't mind a six or seven year one, it's just that usually they require summer study and assignments might be more rushed. It'd be my education that I'll need the rest of my life so I'd prefer not to cut it down just to shave off a few years.</p>
<p>how many six year programs are there? i've only heard of UMKC's.</p>
<p>and i've read about a CC med program candidate who found a cure for lung cancer while saving an entire orphanage from a raging inferno -- blindfolded. the same candidate could bench-press SUVs and reverse dunk on a 12 foot basketball hoop. no joke. these kids are freakin' amazing.</p>
<p>really? I read about a candidate who overthrew an oppressive dictator in Africa, saved two endangered species, and led an expedition to Antartica. I believe he plans to pursue an MD/MPH to study public health care on Mars.</p>
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how many six year programs are there? i've only heard of UMKC's.
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<p>Penn state has one.</p>
<p>how hard is penn's program to get into</p>
<p>Hard....lala adding more characters to the mssg</p>
<p>very, very, very hard. They take the cream of the crop, cut them by half, and those who are remaining are accepted.</p>