Thread: summer vs fall

first of all, i've enjoyed reading a lot of the posts on ths site and have been greatly encouraged about AUC. (well, not every post). But anyhow, and i apologize for being the 10,000th person to ask this, but: are there any major pros or cons on starting early summer, vs. starting in the fall? and, if i'm 44 yrs old when i start, will i be the oldest SOB on campus?

Thanks!

44? Not even close.

the only time that starting time matters is if you start in JAN. if you start in winter you have some tough thoughs and descisions to make about the match, the other start dates are fine in that regard.

the only difference is that summer is a smaller class vs. fall, so you could get more one on one time with the teschers if you need and less compition for study areas adn books inthe libary, i also find it to be less cutthroat in the smaller classes.

Later
YODA

thanks, guys!
happy to hear i won't win the old coot award. so, yoda, could you elaborate just a little bit on "cutthroat" ? do students attempt to sabotage one another, or is it just being on an old pirate island that brings out the cutlass-wielding in people?

If you start in May you will be ahead of the game, in terms of making the Match. You will finish in December, which gives you a few extra months, compared to the traditional fall start student. This is an advantage because there is no guarantee that you'll start core clinicals right away, after leaving St. Maarten, nor is there a guarantee that you'll do all of your electives without breaks in between. May is also a great start time because if you fall behind a semester, you're still leaving St. Maarten in April, giving you enough time to still make the Match.

Yoda,

When you say that a student entering in January would have some "tough decisions" about the match, what do you mean? Could you elaborate please...?

If you start in January then you'll finish in August, which puts you behind the standard fall-start U.S. timeline. In order to make the Match, you'll have to start clinicals by November 1st and have almost no breaks between your cores and electives. AUC clinical faculty likes to call this the kamakazi approach to clinicals; it's definitely doable, but will probably be pretty difficult.

So then there is a chance that a January student might have to wait until the next Fall? More or less hanging around for year?

Also, if a student were to get into clinicals by November, would he most likely be given the less competitive spots?

I've been accepted for January, and looking forward to it, but I just want to get this straight in my mind as far as the best way to go.

Originally Posted by vugar215

So then there is a chance that a January student might have to wait until the next Fall? More or less hanging around for year?

YES, a January student might have to sit out and wait for the next Match, that is if they can't get all clinicals and exams done on time.

Originally Posted by vugar215

Also, if a student were to get into clinicals by November, would he most likely be given the less competitive spots?

Core clinical spots are given based on start dates and when students get their Step 1 results. In order to start by November 1st, you will need to start at any place that has an opening. It's difficult to comment on 'competitive' spots because I'm sure these fluctuate depending on individual students wants/needs each semester. Some sites have very limited start dates and if students from the prior semester are already confirmed you may have a difficult time getting in there if you are trying to make the Match.

yeah, what she said.

later
YODA