How to Get into 3-year Medical Schools

Becoming a doctor takes a long time. 4 years of undergrad, 4 years of medical school, 3-7 years of residency, and 1-3 years of fellowship. AND on top of that 75% of medical students have to take a gap year before they even start medical school.

What most people don’t know is that there are ways to streamline and accelerate that pathway. I don’t mean taking shortcuts. I mean strategically taking advantage of pathways and programs you may have not even known existed!

I got my MD at 23 years old because I knew about these pathways early enough to be able to actually work towards them and apply. Now I teach students how to do the same, so they don’t miss out on opportunities they could have taken simply because they didn’t even know those options existed.

In this email series, we’re discussing the Fast Track Intensive system for medical acceleration.

We've covered Plan A (BS/MD/DO programs), Plan B (Early Assurance Programs) and Plan C (Accelerated 3 year undergraduate) + AP planning.

Today we're about Plan D: 3-year Medical Schools. These are medical schools in the United States that are designed to help students graduate in 3 years instead of 4 and grant the student a guaranteed residency spot.

We’ll be talking about how to find these schools, how to apply for them, who they’re for, and what specialties they give access to.

Before we dive in, I want to let you all know about my course Fast Track Intensive which not only teaches you the plans A-E acceleration strategy, but helps you design your own personal timeline to becoming a doctor more efficiently.

As a doctor and surgeon who graduated from a 7-year BA/MD program, I truly believe saving even one year on this very long path can give students some of their lives back and reduce the anxiety and personal investment it takes to enter this noble profession.

For my subscribers (that’s you!) you can take advantage of the insider price of $149.99 here but this offer is ending and once it does, this link will no longer be active.

Now, let’s get into the good stuff:

Here's the truth. Traditional medical school in the US has been four years for a long time because that's how the system developed. It’s not the same way in most other countries where medical school is 5-7 years right after high school.

Over the past decade, more schools have created accelerated 3-year MD pathways designed to shorten that timeline without skimping on competency. These programs are now organized under a consortium called the Consortium of Accelerated Medical Pathway Programs (CAMPP) — a network of schools in the US and Canada that share information, outcomes, and best practices for these accelerated curricula.

In the beginning, these programs were designed to help fill the physician shortage so they mostly focused on getting students into primary care specialties. But the consortium has grown! And they’re not just for primary care anymore.

There are 3 year tracks to anesthesia, EM, OB/GYN, Surgery, and even highly competitive subspecialties like Derm, ENT, and Orthopedics! Here's a list of all specialties and every school that offers a 3 year track into that specialty.

So what exactly is a 3-year MD program?

At the most basic level, a 3-year pathway allows you to finish medical school in 3 years instead of 4, and still earn the same MD degree. These aren't "shortcuts" where you skip clinical training or reduce core competencies. You still complete required coursework, exams, and clinical rotations. What changes is how the curriculum is structured: summer sessions are built into the schedule and clinical exposure starts earlier so there's no wasted time between years.

You've probably heard of some of the schools that offer these tracks. NYU Grossman School of Medicine has one of the most established 3-year pathways in the country where students complete all requirements in three years and are prepared to enter residency just like their four-year counterparts.

There are other schools, too. Rutgers New Jersey Medical School offers a 3-year primary care-focused accelerated MD track where students immerse in clinical learning early and have opportunities to match into affiliated family medicine or pediatrics residencies. Penn State College of Medicine also has a 3-year MD program that can funnel you into one of the most competitive residencies, neurosurgery!

Why are these programs growing? There are three major reasons. First, they reduce the time and cost of medical education, which is huge when the average tuition plus living expenses can easily exceed $200,000.

Second, many accelerated pathways are tied to direct or conditional acceptance into residency programs, especially in primary care specialties — meaning you graduate not just faster, but with less uncertainty about your next step.

And third: to address physician shortages, especially in underserved areas, and to provide efficient training without compromising quality.

Let's be honest, though: 3-year MD programs are not for everyone. The curriculum is compressed and very little time is reserved for electives, research years, or long breaks. It usually requires early clarity around your career goals, and in some cases, a commitment to a specific specialty track. If you're unsure what field you want to pursue or you value the time to explore, the traditional four-year route may still be a better fit.

It’s important to know, however, that graduates from accelerated tracks report similar levels of preparedness, satisfaction, and residency success as students from 4-year programs, so there is no evidence that the accelerated timeline harms performance.

The other thing worth understanding: the degree is the same. A 3-year MD or DO graduate holds a fully accredited degree, is eligible for ACGME residency training, and can pursue unrestricted U.S. licensure. This is not a shortcut credential. It is the same credential, earned faster.

If you're thinking about pursuing a 3-year MD program, here are the key questions you should be able to answer before you commit:

First, do you know what specialty you want to pursue? Second, are you comfortable with limited electives and a year-round curriculum? And third, what does the residency placement process look like? Some programs guarantee positions at affiliated hospitals, others use conditional ranking in the National Resident Matching Program.

Finally, let me take some time to address some myths about these programs:

"They're only for primary care."

This is probably the most common misconception, and it is not accurate.

Yes, many accelerated medical school tracks started out that way, but it is not the current reality. Multiple programs now offer tracks into a wide range of specialties, and graduates are matching into competitive fields.

→ You can see the full list of 3-year medical schools organized by specialty here.

If you have a specialty in mind and want to know whether a 3-year program exists for that path, that is where to start.

"You're locked into a home residency."

Depends on the program.

Some 3-year programs do have home residency agreements. If you accept a spot, you are committing to match at their affiliated program. That is a real trade-off you need to understand before applying.

But many programs do not work that way. You’ll have to look into what your specific school offers.

"They're more competitive than regular medical school."

Actually, the application process is exactly the same as traditional medical school. Most 3-year tracks admit students from within their own students after the first or second year already in med school. So you don’t even have to decide to do a 3 year track until after you get in to medical school but you should consider choosing a medical school that offers the 3 year track as an option because not all schools do.

"It must cause burnout. Three years isn't enough time."

The research actually shows that there are no differences in burnout rates. Another point worth mentioning: Canada, the UK, and Australia train physicians in 5 to 6 years directly from high school. The United States 4-year medical school model is not a biological requirement. It is a historical convention. The idea that 3 years is inherently not enough time to train a physician is not supported by international evidence, and it is not supported by outcomes data from U.S. programs either.

So who are these programs actually for?

Despite all this, I do not think 3-year programs are the right fit for everyone.

They are best for students who have clarity on what they want to do, and who are comfortable with a structured, accelerated timeline. If you need more exploratory time in medical school to figure out your direction, the 4-year model may serve you better. But you should know these options exist so you can make an educated decision.

And if you know what you want to do and you want to reduce time and debt, these programs deserve serious consideration.

Fast Trackers to MD Timeline:

9th-11th Grade: This is future knowledge for you right now, and that is fine. File it for later. The goal at your stage is building the premed profile that keeps all options open. Learn how to do that with Fast Track Intensive.

12th Grade and College Freshmen: You should know about the 3 year med schools but your priority right now is actually focusing on BS/MD, Early Assurance Pathways, and possibly 3-year undergrads (Plans A-C in Fast Track Intensive).

College Sophomores and Juniors: If you are starting to think about medical school applications, 3-year programs should be on your list if you have specialty clarity and want to compress your timeline. Build your school list with a backup plan in mind, always.

-Dr. Samarrai

Fast Track to MD

PS: You cannot leverage pathways you don't know exist. Don’t settle for generic premed advice. Learn from a surgeon who walked the accelerated path already in Fast Track Intensive. Subscriber pricing of $149.99 available for a limited time.

If this resonated, don’t let it be a one time insight.

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BS/MD programs are one way to accelerate your premed journey, but they are not the only way. I got my MD at 23 and now I teach students how to leverage systems and pathways to help them accelerate.

Find my full course here where we discuss strategies to implement accelerated medical pathways including BS/MD, EAPs, 3-year undergrad curriculums, international acceleration, and 3-year med schools.

Let’s get you on the Fast Track to MD!