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    Tag: 7 year program

    What is a 7 Year Medical School Program?

    Learn all about 7-Year Programs! Article geared towards high school students interested in medical school.
    Ali Tahir October 24, 2020
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    © 2023 - BreakThru Mentoring

    Forum Description

    BreakThru Learner Series:

    What is a 7 Year Medical School Program?

    Table of Contents

    A Shorter Path to Medical School? What is a 7 year Medical School Program?

    When working through the timeline of medical school, it typically consists of four years of undergraduate school followed by four years of medical school. What if someone told you there's a way to shorten that process? Seven year medical school programs are one of those ways. They give you the opportunity to graduate from undergrad in three years with a conditional acceptance for a four year medical school program, shortening an eight year process into seven.

    The Conditional Acceptance

    What exactly does it mean by a conditional acceptance? It means you will automatically be enrolled in the associated medical school if you are able to stay above their requirements. This varies per school, but you can expect something along the lines of needing a 3.5+ GPA and a 508+ MCAT. In some cases, the MCAT is waived entirely! As long as you meet the GPA requirements, you're good to go!

    The Appeal of the 7 Year Medical School Program

    Depending on the combined program you pick, you'll be able to accelerate your medical training, bypass the med school application cycle, and probably reduce a lot of stress. Considering all this, plus the yearly cost of college and the length of time it even takes to become a doctor, these programs are very appealing. A 7 year medical school program reduces the cost of lost time by speeding up the process. We talk about these types of costs in another post under dual degrees. These costs are referred to as 'opportunity costs'.  As you can imagine, since they're so appealing, they're also super competitive. Applying to one of these accelerated programs is like applying to a top-tier college... you'll need to have the resume to back you up.

    When to Apply

    There are two different times when you can apply to these.
    1. As a high school senior
    2. During your freshman or sophomore years of college
    For the high school senior, a strong GPA and SAT are basically required. It's recommended to have at least a 3.8+ unweighted GPA and a 1500+ SAT / 34+ ACT to be competitive for these programs. But that doesn't mean take the easiest high school courses you can find, virtually all of your competition will have obtained these stats while taking AP/Honors level courses. Since you're applying to medicine, AP coursework in biology, chemistry or physics will help show your excellence in the sciences. Each program will have different requirements for acceptance, however you should expect some similarities from school to school.  For an excellent sense of what it takes to get into a 7-year program take at look at Rowan University's Website! Remember, while the minimums may seem lower, the spots are very limited and you likely need scores closer to the aforementioned for a real shot at it. Did You Know: While most of the love goes to these 7 year programs, there a similar programs that go with conditional acceptances but in the 8 year format. A select few actually will condense it into 6 years!

    Warning! Fierce Competition Ahead

    Keep in mind that there are thousands of high school students, so you'll need to have more than just the grades. Consider these three items as must-haves! 
    • Excellent extracurriculars are a must as well, showcasing your leadership and dedication to the medical field.
      • This can mean volunteering at the hospital, being a leader in a medically-oriented high school club, volunteering for American Red Cross, shadowing physicians, or doing a summer medical program.
    • If you're applying to a 7 year program, they want to know you are going to see the whole program through. Make sure to make that clear and to demonstrate that through your actions.
    • Obtaining strong letters of recommendation are also highly suggested! Having teachers or bosses vouch for you can go a long way and can potentially show programs a positive side of you from someone else's perspective.

    From Asking "What is a 7 year medical program?" to Considering "Is it right for me?"

    With all that said, these accelerated or "combined" programs are not for everyone. So how do you know if this is worth pursuing? Well make sure you are...
    • 100% set on becoming a doctor
    • Happy with your school's medical school.
    • Don’t want to have the stress of applying to other medical schools
    • Okay with rushing through your college years 25% faster then normal. 
    • Fine with completing your degree in 3 years
    Carefully Consider: Three years is a very short period of time! While you are moving faster through school, you still need to keep your grades up and you have 1 whole less year to experience college. Keep in Mind: You really won't have a break once medical school starts. Expect to be on a pretty locked-in eight year track, between it and residency.  Otherwise, if you you have any doubt and feel that you are... 
    • Not 100% sold on becoming a doctor, just yet
    • Want to dip your feet in different fields during college (business, public health, etc.)
    • Haven’t done your research into MD/DO vs. PT vs. PA vs. etc.
    • Want the freedom to explore other educational pursuits before making a final decision
    ...then maybe the traditional path is best for you! That's not a bad thing either! Spending 4 years in undergrad gives you more time to explore your interests, get experience, meet people, and mature as a person. Even if you apply and get rejected, that's not going to be harmful to you either! It won't count as a negative in any way when you apply with everyone else for the normal medical school admission cycles. In fact, you could probably get feedback as to what could make you a stronger applicant and then use those remaining years to focus on that! Regardless of what you choose, there are several ways to become a physician. Pick the path that's best for you! We hope that if someone asks you "What is a 7 Year Medical Program?" you can now answer with confidence!

    Next Steps

    If you've decided on applying, find yourself a mentor! Many medical students are happy to pass on their experiences to help you get into your dream program. 

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    The Path to Medical School Can Feel Long And Unclear

    But never forget that we're here to help. Do you have a question about something you just read in our BreakThru Learner Series? Use the BreakThru Feed to Ask and Inspire others with your questions. Our Medical Student Mentors are always here to help you, for free, anytime. -BreakThru, Where Mentoring Happens

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