There is a traditional “calendar year” students primarily go through the educational system – August through May with classes in the summer. Students tend to have the mindset that this is what I’m used to, so this is what I will do. But, even though this is the norm, there are other options. EMU offers their students a chance to start their biomedicine master’s program in January. While it is non-traditional to start taking classes in the spring semester, there are perks I want to share. Maybe these benefits will make you think more about being a non-traditional student yourself!

2 Summers
Like most master’s programs, the biomedicine master’s at EMU is two years long. As a traditional student in this program, you have one summer to squeeze in all the required courses, practicum, work on your thesis research, do your cross-cultural experience. Not to mention all the stuff that happens on the side, like taking the MCAT or DAT, applying to schools, or, I don’t know, enjoying the summer?!

Me? Starting in January allowed me to complete these requirements in two summers instead of one. My first summer I spent completing the required coursework and practicum experience, while the second summer I started collecting data for my thesis and went on a cross-cultural trip to Peru. Splitting the requirements into two summers was a huge benefit to me. It allowed me more time to work over the summer, focus on my applications, and re-take the DAT. Trust me, having that extra summer allowed me to spread out my list of to-do’s as well as keep my sanity!

½ a Gap Year
Let’s pretend you just entered the biomedicine program in 2019. Here a general overview of your timeline as a traditional student:

Start Fall 2019 – Spring 2020 – Summer 2020 – Fall 2020 – End Spring 2021

Question: when would you typically apply for your professional school of choice? Well, if you want to complete the master’s program before you apply to schools, and have a superb, new cumulative and science GPA, you would then submit your applications in Summer 2021. You would not start school until Fall 2022 – one year later … I can hear the weird Spongebob voice in my head. You’re going to have to fill that gap year with something…

Now, let’s pretend you are going to enter as a non-traditional student:

Start Spring 2020 – Summer 2020 – Fall 2020 – Spring 2021 – Summer 2021 – End Fall 2021

Again, same question: when would you typically apply for your professional school of choice? Well, the summer after you’ve finished most of your coursework. Again, you will have a bomb GPA (of course), so you will apply in Summer 2021. You, too, will enter your professional school of choice in Fall 2022, BUT you only have ½ a gap year! I feel this is just enough time to get ready for your future without getting out of the school mentality.

Research…DONE!

The biomedicine thesis research is set up in such a way that we start working on our projects in the spring of our first year, gather data and start our paper in the summer, and present our project at the end of the following fall semester. But…you will then still have one more semester to complete before you graduate…yikes. #senioritis

Me? Oh, after the second fall semester, I’ll be DONE. I will present my thesis in the beginning of December, take finals, and I will GRADUATE. I feel the thesis project is the essence of the program and it takes a lot of energy out of you. Conducting your own research, writing a HUGE paper, and presenting your project to your peers is tough work. By the time your thesis is finished, you are mentally finished. Being finished with the whole program helps, too. #SpringForTheWin

Do you now see the perks of being a non-traditional student?