While there is no early entry into the prestige class anymore by the rules, there is a way to lessen the pain of being a mystic theurge; if you use the Magic School system from Inner Sea Magic.
Eclectic Training (5 Fame): Guilds often require members to master and train in different subjects. When your Fame score in a guild reaches 5, choose one spellcasting class you have at least 1 level in—you increase your effective caster level in that class (including the number of spells you know and can cast per day) by +1, to a maximum caster level equal to your total Hit Dice. Single-classed spellcasters should still pick a class to which this bonus applies, since this bonus is retroactive.
Senior Guild Member (20 Fame): You have become a senior member of the guild. Select a category of magic item (such as magic armor, magic weapon, rod, or staff) that has an association with your guild (if no association seems appropriate, select wondrous item). Using guild contacts, you can gain a 10% bonus on the amount of money you make selling these items.
Esoteric Training (35 Fame): The bonus to caster level you gain from Eclectic Training increases to +3 (but is still limited by your total Hit Dice). You may select a second spellcasting class to gain a +1 bonus to effective caster level.
Guildmaster (50 Fame): You become one of the masters of your guild, and no longer need to pay tuition—every time you would normally pay tuition, you instead earn that amount of gold as your salary.
With Eclectic training, you'll only be two levels behind instead of the usual 3 with one class, and with Esoteric Training, you'll be equal level and 2 level behinds with the other casting class.
With SLA entry gone, that's the only Paizo system I've seen that can make the Mystic Theurge up to par with other casting classes.
Why do all of your players want to play Mystic Theurges?
It would probably have been a better idea to reduce the requirements in general (say, to only requiring 1st level arcane spells and 1st level divine spells, with the skill rank requirements left untouched) rather than provide a strange entry method that only a few characters can qualify for. The general premise that you should not be able to enter a prestige class before 6th level sets the entry bar higher than it needs to be for the multiclass combining prestige classes.
I wonder whether this topic might be addressed in Pathfinder Unchained? It seems to be too obvious an idea not to be mentioned in there.
I also love the concept of the Mystic Theurge. View the thread below for links to some theories about early entry in the class which your DM may find compelling.
http://paizo.com/threads/rzs2pe7x&page=2?Mystic-Theurge#58
there is a way to do it at level 4, based on the FAQ ruling for prestige classes foundd on the dragon disciple page:
"However, spellcasting ability is not inclusive: it is possible (mainly through the use of spell-like abilities) to be able to cast 3rd-level spells but not 2nd-level spells. If you can only cast 3rd-level spells, that does not meet the requirement of "able to cast 2nd-level spells."
what this iplies is, so long as you have a 2nd level spell OR Spell-like ability for both types of magic, then in theory you could get it at level 4 (still need 3 ranks in a few skills)
No, they just got rid of SLA getting you early entry.
oh realy? darn :(
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Most prestige classes take 5 to 6 levels minimum to qualify. It's not a huge issue unless your games tend to stay into the lower levels. If they do tend to stay in the lower levels, David knott 242's idea is pretty good. Lower the requirement. I would try this; change the prerequisite for your game to being able to cast 3 arcane and 3 divine spells of at least 1st level along with the knowledge arcana 3 and religion 3 requirements. That's easily doable at 2nd level for both classes; and if you have a 20 in your primary casting stat for one class (or are a spontaneous caster) it can be done sooner.
Then you can qualify as early as 3rd level; 4th at the latest.
Be a Shaman, the new ACG class that's kind of an odd cross between an Oracle and a Witch but mostly just steals magic from everyone.
Arcane Enlightenment as your wandering hex, some decrepit physical stats and awesome mental stats, the human FCB to add Cleric spells and boom, you're a "Mystic Theurge." Only better, because you're a straight 9th-level prepared spell caster with hexes.
Also you get a second spirit or an archetype or something sweet.