<p>Here's my situation: I'll be entering my first year at college this fall and I've decided on pre-med. I have AP credit for all three general sciences but plan to waive that credit and retake those classes with labs, and all the other required work obviously. Even without the credit from those 3 AP courses, I'll be entering with over 30 credits out of the 120 for graduation. Money is also an issue, as I'll be going to an out of state school with a pretty hefty price tag. </p>
<p>Is it feasible to graduate in three years, taking my science classes and what I need to complete a major? And if so, how would a timeline for the path to medical school work? Would I be able to matriculate to a med school the following fall, or would I have to take a year off between graduating and going to med school (Assuming I get into one haha)?</p>
<p>You wouldn’t HAVE to take a year off, but not doing so would harm your admissions cycle.</p>
<p>Thanks bluedevilmike, how so?</p>
<p>Most applicants have all four years of undergrad on their transcripts at time of application. A good chunk of them have three. You’d have two if you tried to go straight through. You’d be missing the most meaningful chunks of coursework, etc.</p>
<p>You would have to take the MCAT and apply after your second year. In addition to what bluedevilmike said, I would also think your extracurriculars would be lacking as well. Its possible but don’t say we didn’t warn you.</p>
<p>It’s definitely possible; I had classmates who did it. But they were really superstars as undergrads – I’ve seen a LOT of borderline candidates get seriously harmed, too.</p>
<p>Taking a 4th year off to work and make money or to travel Europe (the old English / Renaissance Man Education) would not hurt your chances.</p>
<p>But why would you want to do college in 3 years? Part of college is to explore new things which you will never have a chance to do. ie take a Shakespeare class, take Art, Take English… Rushing through school will hurt you in that most med schools do not want “Doogie Howsers”. Yes there are exceptions. But you would be a better candidate and a better person to use your extra time to explore new things.</p>
<p>Plenty of folk do it, but if you are trying to get into a top research school consider trying to do a paid stint at a research lab for a year.</p>
<p>It’d be hard to do, you could probably do it though, taking a full course load every semester and taking summer school. I guess it’d prepare you for not having a life once you leave college. </p>
<p>I would say don’t do it. Take all 4 years to graduate and enjoy these years. You aren’t going to be able to get this time back and these are the best years of your life. Get out and experience new things you don’t want to be someone that spent all their time during college in the library. Once you enter medical school you aren’t going to have a life.</p>