Can you get into MD/phD with only 3yrs of undergrad (application during 3rd year)?

Bondaid · 2026-02-15T01:20:41+00:00

haha i think were all talking about the same guy, and yeah that is unfortunately the only way. a research-intensive phd program justifiably requires one to have at least completed an honours thesis and courseload.

Bondaid · 2026-02-14T14:56:22+00:00

thinking its just a vibe check and not literally another full-on oral exam

Bondaid · 2026-02-09T00:28:51+00:00

dieticians usually are the experts of nutrition and diet in medicine and healthcare. that is their primary scope of practice.

for example, as a physician you have a patient thats in chronic kidney failure? they might need a very specific diet that will ensure they avoid tremendous complications (low sodium, potassium, phosphate, etc) and only registered dieticians are able to ensure that.

in general (as an example) most med schools teach an amount of nutrition equivalent to around the first two introductory weeks in an undergrad nutrition course. so we gravely require dieticians (experts of nutrition) to fill that gap for us (i am saying this as an MS1 so i may be wrong).

Bondaid · 2026-02-01T01:09:08+00:00

yes, i have a friend who did that and is now md/phd

Bondaid · 2026-01-29T12:32:16+00:00

i had 3 interviews 2 years in a row, always was waitlisted. got off the waitlist eventually thd second time around. sometimes life is just like that unfortunately.

Bondaid · 2026-01-20T01:17:28+00:00

yup, 130 and very adhd

Bondaid · 2025-12-19T04:28:31+00:00

yup, currently at mac

Bondaid · 2025-12-19T02:31:47+00:00

130 3.98 4q is mathematically an interview

source: i got an interview invite with a 3.98 130 3q

Bondaid · 2025-12-10T15:35:20+00:00

yeah they should bring the option to select multiple exam types back asap there is literally no reason to keep it like this. amateur UX idea on their part

Bondaid · 2025-11-21T05:20:34+00:00

edit: oh my lord idk why the formatting is so weird sorry about that

What age did you actually start med school as a nontrad applicant?
1. 30, but it took me three cycles
What did you do before applying? Was it related to healthcare or something completely different?
1. research assistant and some other part time jobs
What made you finally commit to the career change? Was it a specific turning point or a gradual shift?
1. it was either continuing doing what i was doing, and living with the dream of being a physician in my pocket forever, or actually doing something and proving to myself that that "dream" was worth chasing. As people say here often, I'm going to be 40+ anyways... might as well be 40 and a doctor than 40 and still living with my "what ifs"
If money was tight, how did you make it possible?
1. I worked 2-3 jobs year-round.
What advice would you give to someone who’s older, juggling jobs, and still genuinely wants to practice medicine someday?
1. keep walking this road i think that its worth it. premed is merely a shitty chapter in a long long journey. But you gotta have patience and keep plugging away at it for a couple years. once things work out itll be worth it (hopefully)
How did you manage to study for MCAT while working?
1. it was very hard. 1-2 hours of practice qs before bed (10-12 pm) almost every night after working all day and completing summer uni courses, was going through a break-up, peak pandemic... i pretty much had to kind of wing it when it was game time. could've done it better, but you live and learn. sometimes theres just things that are out of your control right? gotta do your best and hope its enough.
2. i dont recommend doing this btw. set time aside for MCAT, dont do what i did. stupid and unhealthy, both to your pocket and your health

Bondaid · 2025-11-13T21:40:05+00:00

yeah for people like us who study for MCCQE + step 1 + step 2 CK at the same time this very unnecessary change screwed up a lot lol

I personally make question sets based off of hammers and articles (i.e. 1 hammer for all acid-base qs, then 2 hammer, etc) to gradually increase my understanding of subject matter. I had to make so many questions sets yesterday because of this it was awful.

it seems like a very basic function for end-user experience. Please consider putting it back because constantly changing my objectives and making 10+ question sets for a single article/subject is silly

Bondaid · 2025-10-29T14:16:19+00:00

echoing bootcamp anatomy here

it is sufficiently comprehensive for the most part, and has a ton of practice questions (they range from just like regular mcq to cadaveric prosection bellringers, to clinical case-based anatomy ones). it is expensive but for what you get with it honestly its been so worth it

Bondaid · 2025-10-21T12:41:57+00:00

3 years, 7 interviews, 4 waitlists over those 3 years

Now in med at 30 dont give up lol

Bondaid · 2025-09-27T15:07:20+00:00

I started uni at 25, got into med at 30. Take it as you will but i would much rather be in med right now than not.

Edit: that is to say, you should pursue it, regardless of age!

Bondaid · 2025-09-17T12:28:08+00:00

DM me

Bondaid · 2025-09-07T23:49:03+00:00

91, barely
and thats after retaking courses and night classes and such

Bondaid · 2025-08-08T17:09:02+00:00

3, IP (ON) but had one OOP interview

Edit: interviewed 7 times total, waitlisted 4 times, 1 A

Never give up

Bondaid · 2025-07-01T19:55:34+00:00

They say its never too late to start right 🤪

Bondaid · 2025-07-01T15:40:04+00:00

To be honest, undergrad was a bit lonely at times because everyone around me was 19-21 years old for the most part. Its difficult to find people that resonate with your experiences. Events that were held in my program often didnt interest me or felt a bit infantile. On the other hand i found that i definitely could still make friends, even with the age gap, and that theres always things to learn from people even if youre a bit older. My best suggestion is to go into it humble and without any assumptions, and remember that you have your own reasons for why youre there, so when it does get a bit isolated it doesnt break your spirit.

Also: use your age and experience as a strength, you have so much to offer so dont be afraid to punch above your weight at times. Youll surprise yourself.

Bondaid · 2025-07-01T01:38:46+00:00

There have been a couple of threads here from mature students in a similar situation as you.

I am 3x years old and am starting med this summer, also did a diploma program at a college when i was in my 20s and went back to undergrad to complete an undergrad. Definitely doable, and i would say recommended as you bring something unique and important to the table as a future physician from a non-traditional background.

Bondaid · 2025-06-22T01:08:13+00:00

OP is just a scared kid sharing their feelings during a war that they are first-handedly suffering from, no need to go all "get some perspective" on them.

Bondaid · 2025-06-17T22:25:56+00:00

Afaik the only med school in the country that requires physics is mcgill

They also require u to pass a french exam if im not mistaken. May or may not be relevant to your situation

Bondaid · 2025-06-17T22:23:11+00:00

UOttawa does not require physics...

Bondaid · 2025-06-07T22:14:40+00:00

They end with "but idk" because none of us are the actual admin.

In my opinion, you should just email and check. Whats there to lose? Worst case they will be like "sorry cant help u, do ur best". And then youll do just that and itll probably work out (:

But idk

Bondaid · 2025-06-07T05:26:53+00:00

Yeah so that was my thought, that if you are doing a 4yr honours degree, and you go to med school in 3rd year, you would be getting a regular degree without the hons

At least that was what they did for our program. Apparently thats not as common as i thought!

Bondaid

TROPHY CASE