"People tend to be older and older who are applying to medical school," Shetty says. "It's an advantage to be as mature as you can."

While a master's degree is important, Shetty says his advanced standing status has also helped him succeed in Core lotteries.

Unlike Shetty, economics concentrator Billy Chen '98-'97 says he accepted advanced standing not for any tangible benefit but simply for a "sense of achievement."

Why Not?

By electing to accept advanced standing, however, students also face numerous potential disadvantages.

"What I tell people is the main advantage of advanced standing is getting out in three years and the main disadvantages is getting out in three years," says James E. Davis, head tutor of the Chemistry department.

Because they are required to take one Core course during each term as an undergraduate and meet all concentration requirements, advanced standing students have less room for electives than their friends.

"You really don't have the time to explore and do all the things you ought to be doing during your college time and just have time not to burn out," says Professor of Biology William M. Gelbart '67, one of the department's head tutors.

Those advanced standing students who want to take extra electives typically face a heavier course load, he adds. Advanced standing students are also at a disadvantage when they apply for fellowships, Buford says.

"You're at a comparative disadvantage in competing for fellowships because the University requires you to complete your applications one year earlier," he says.

Deciding to Do It

Students who are eligible for advanced standing must decide whether to accept it by the second semester of their first year, Foster says.

To help individual students to make that decision, Foster encourages students to speak with both departmental advisers and peer counselors, upper class advanced standing students.

"We want to make sure that students understand that when they do rescind it, they can't reclaim it," she says.

Should students decide later in their career that they do not want to graduate in three years, Foster says the procedure is simple, students fill out a form and accept two additional cores.