Contributed Post: 7-Year Medical Programs: Why an Accelerated Program was right for me (and might be for you too)

This is an article contributed by a high school senior who will be attending a 7 year Medical Program next year, in response to my post on "7 Year Medical Programs: Why I Don’t Like Them (But Why You Might)". 

I am 100% sure that I want to become a doctor, and I want to make the most out of my life. I selected to attend an accelerated seven-year medical program because I wanted to do what was right for my career and future, not just what would fulfill my ego.

If you need one year to understand yourself and to discover your true goals in life, by all means, take it. These programs are for those who know that they are cut out to be doctors. There will always be times in life where you will have the opportunity to make commitments. If you feel as if you are mature enough to make a commitment to such a program, make it. However, if you are wary of making such a life-determining commitment at this age, the path of attending a normal undergraduate program still remains. Even if you are not sure at the beginning of senior year, it does not hurt to apply to these programs so that you can increase your options when you are making a final decision.   

Back in April, when it came to making my college decision, I had narrowed down my options to Johns Hopkins University (JHU)  and The College of New Jersey’s 7-Year Accelerated Medical Program with New Jersey Medical School (TCNJ/NJMS). I ultimately committed to the seven year medical program because I had no issue with letting go of the Hopkins’ reputation. I sought out advice from students currently enrolled in both programs and reached out to current doctors, including those who graduated from highly ranked schools and programs. Every single one of the doctors I consulted had the same consensus; they all recommended selecting the accelerated medical program. However, they all also warned that the program is only meant for those who are absolutely certain that they want to become doctors. Although Johns Hopkins University had been my dream school since third grade, I was able to let go of my ego. I knew that I could not go wrong with either of these two choices, I made the decision that would serve me best in the future.

Disclaimer: If you are not sure that you want to become a doctor, an accelerated medical program is not meant for you. Even if you are 99% sure of becoming a doctor, do not enroll in a seven year medical program, because that 1% of uncertainty could honestly make you miserable.
 

• You might have to let go of your ego  

If you care more about the reputation of the school you go to than the education you receive, then you should, without a doubt, attend (or at least strive for) a top undergraduate school. However, if you care more about your career overall than validation from others’ perception of the school you attend, it is worth looking into the accelerated medical programs. When I first received my acceptances to JHU and the TCNJ 7-year program, I was almost certain that I was going to attend JHU because of its reputation and ranking.  However, as I further pondered the pros and cons of both programs, I realized that the only thing binding me to JHU was my ego. It definitely wasn’t easy letting go of the opportunity to one of the best pre-med undergrad universities in the nation, but I realized that I had to think long-term. Even after I had decided that I was going to attend TCNJ/NJMS, I took two more weeks to officially commit because I had to make sure that I was certain about my commitment. After much self-reflection, I became content with my decision and reached the point that I would not regret my decision.   
 

• Medical school educations are not as different as you might think.

Do you know what undergraduate school or medical school your doctor attended? Chances are, you don’t. Although the reputation of the school that you attend carries a lot of weight in fields such as business, it does not matter as much for doctors. It undeniably feels great to graduate from Harvard Medical School, but the quality of the education received across all medical schools in mainland America is not as different as you might think. The primary difference between any of these schools is the funding for research, which is especially important if your aspirations lie in academia or if you have intentions of pursuing a PhD. However, this does not dramatically impact the quality of the medical education received by MD candidates who hope to become practicing physicians. The education at medical schools has been both streamlined and standardized, especially due to the national board exams. That being said, if I had to opportunity to attend Harvard Medical School at the same cost as New Jersey Medical School, I would go to Harvard any day. Obviously, the quality of education might slightly differ between medical schools, the difference in education is not as large as many individuals hype it up to be. The disparity in reputation remains, but the disparity in actual education has significantly decreased.
 

• The value of being stress-free with Guaranteed Acceptance is priceless

If I decided to attend Hopkins, I would only have the possibility of attending a highly ranked medical school. I would have to stress myself out for another four years trying to manage MCATs, my GPA, extracurriculars, sleep, and a social life; I would then need to apply to insanely competitive medical schools.  Ultimately, it could have ended not worth it in the long run. By attending the TCNJ/NJMS program, I will have the opportunity to avoid such a stressful lifestyle that’s prone to causing burnout. I will now have the opportunity of pursuing my passions and be able to truly enjoy my undergraduate experience. At TCNJ, I would have to maintain a 3.6 GPA and take the MCAT by the spring of my junior year. This specific program has no minimum MCAT requirement. Due to the simplicity of these requirements, I will have more time to explore my hobbies and I will even be able to pursue a major in Economics at TCNJ. Most of the students in the program can graduate within two years and have the opportunity to pursue a master's degree, partake in research, or study abroad for an entire year.  This reduced stress, allows these students to not worry about creating a cookie-cutter resume; instead, they can partake in activities that truly excite them.
 

• Residency matches matter

What truly matters for aspiring doctors, is where they are matched for their residencies. Residencies primarily look at Board Exam scores and the GPA of each of the applicants. Although it is true that students at highly ranked medical schools get into better residencies than students at lower ranked medical schools, this standard does not hold true for students in most of the accelerated medical programs. When comparing the residency match list of students from the 7-year TCNJ/NJMS to the list from Hopkins Medical School, it is apparent that the percentage of students attending top-tier (Harvard, Hopkins, Stanford) residencies is similar.
 

• Financially, there’s a clear advantage

Not all Hopkins undergraduates end up at (top-tier) medical schools--there are Hopkins undergraduates that eventually attend NJMS, and in that case, I would have been in the same position, only after spending over $250,000 more.  In my situation, attending Hopkins for four years of undergraduate studies would have cost me nearly equivalent to what it costs to attend the TCNJ/NJMS program for all seven years.
 

• Age is just a number. Doesn’t mean much for maturity. However, one year does make a difference

Do not let anyone tell you that you are not mature enough to make life changing decisions at the age of 17 or 18. If you know that you want to become a doctor, then pursue that passion. However, if your parents are forcing you to become a doctor, or you are not sure about it, then do not commit yourself to such a program, you will be hurting only yourself in the long run. Although you will be giving up one year of your undergraduate experience, you will be gaining one more year of life, to pursue the career that you love. Doctors already start practicing at such a late age, that the idea of starting a year early has a very attractive appeal.  
 
Each program is different. Do your research before applying and committing to one if you are admitted. Some have difficult criteria to maintain, be it a GPA requirement or a MCAT prerequisite. Not all combined program are built the same-- some aren’t necessarily “guaranteed”. Talk to the students, faculty, and people around you. TCNJ’s 7 year program may not be right for everyone, but it was the perfect fit for me.
 
**This article focuses on the TCNJ/NJMS program because I will be attending that program. Every program differs and has its own pros or cons.**


Note from tanzerina:
Thanks for submitting this article! All information is valuable information and hopefully this opposing side offered a different insight on the topic. Remember, if you want to submit an article too (whether it's about a specific experience like a summer job or program or just a general helpful article on a topic of your interest), just mention it in the form on my home page - it's important to get as many stories and information out there! :)

Thanks for reading!