<p>I will be starting college when I'm 17 and ending when I'm 21. I want to be a pediatrician. I want to apply soon as possible when I get the score I want on the mcat and all my corse requirements. Leading to the question, which would be the best time to apply? After senior year? And if everything goes as planned hopefully I'll be 21 starting med school. Is that too young? And how many years does it take to become a pedatriction? 7? Excluding the 4 I will have already take in College. Also could I pursue the dream of becoming a pediatrician and getting a job with the BS degree I get in psychology?</p>
<p>You’re right; it will take 7 years to become a board-eligible pediatrician after college–four years of medical school and 3 years of pediatrics residency. If you don’t know exactly how long it will take you for sure, you need to read more by yourself about the entire medical field.</p>
<p>Graduating at 21yo isn’t a major problem IF you’ve shown in other ways that you are mature enough to handle the work/organization/etc. It is however something that will be looked at particularly if you are nearly a full year younger rather than just a few months short of 22 by UG graduation.</p>
<p>I was 21yo for over half my first semester of MS and there were only half dozen in my class of 150+ who were younger and most turned 22yo by Xmas break. Only a single 20yo (+6 or 8 months) who graduated HS barely 17 and college in 3 yrs (he’s now a Neurosurgeon if I’m not mistaken). He was an extreme exception however and most of the 3 year Graduates were strongly advised not even to apply regardless of their age – the few who ignored that advice were declined. </p>
<p>Like Tufts said – General Peds is a 3 year Residency after Med School. </p>
<p>Yes, you can get into Med School with a BS degree in Psychology, but your BS wouldn’t have any real impact on becoming a Pediatrician. Once into Med School pretty much all UG degrees become virtually meaningless as the Biology majors lie with the English majors and Engineers and Music majors – though admittedly the Music majors were usually more fun to hang out with during breaks.</p>
<p>OTOH – carts and horses stuff after looking at your other thread, I think you may have more important issues than age to worry about.</p>
<p>My D. is starting Med. School in 3 weeks. She is 21. Nobody ever mentioned/questioned her age. I do not think she is too young, there are probably younger people entering Med. Schools.</p>