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Utopify

there is no spoon
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Hello,

I apologize for making this long, but I am hoping to envoke your opinions.

In high school I attended the NYLF on medicine at the U of Maryland. I loved it, but never had the chance to act on my goal to become a doctor. I got married and finished a BS in IT. For the last 6 years I have been programming, analyzing, and developing in the IT field. It is time to make the move. I have decided to sell my house to get out of debt, I have enrolled at CU in the springs and am taking my core classes.

1. My degree is from a small college and I acheived it 70% online, will this be held against me?

2. My core classes are at a different school than where I graduated. Is this bad?

3. Is the applicant field flooded with IT professionals right now due to the internet crash over the past few years, making my chances harder to become accepted?

4. Last question. As you can probably tell, I have recently made this decision to get back into the field. Why does it seem that 'Overall' the attitude is a bit arrogant? I do run into places like this that offer help, guildance, and support. However, for the most part people seem a bit short, giving me either no response, or a rude one, being anything but helpful.

I appreciate everyone's time.

Have a good one'

-utopify
 
Utopify said:
Hello,

I apologize for making this long, but I am hoping to envoke your opinions.

In high school I attended the NYLF on medicine at the U of Maryland. I loved it, but never had the chance to act on my goal to become a doctor. I got married and finished a BS in IT. For the last 6 years I have been programming, analyzing, and developing in the IT field. It is time to make the move. I have decided to sell my house to get out of debt, I have enrolled at CU in the springs and am taking my core classes.

1. My degree is from a small college and I acheived it 70% online, will this be held against me?

2. My core classes are at a different school than where I graduated. Is this bad?

3. Is the applicant field flooded with IT professionals right now due to the internet crash over the past few years, making my chances harder to become accepted?

4. Last question. As you can probably tell, I have recently made this decision to get back into the field. Why does it seem that 'Overall' the attitude is a bit arrogant? I do run into places like this that offer help, guildance, and support. However, for the most part people seem a bit short, giving me either no response, or a rude one, being anything but helpful.

I appreciate everyone's time.

Have a good one'

-utopify


To respond to your questions:

1) Does it say that the classes were online or does it show up as if you went to the school. Many reputable schools have online classes now, including UPenn and others. If it's univ phoenix online you may have a problem, but if it just shows the university name and looks as if you took the classes in person, you should be ok.

2) No, it doesn't matter where your core classes are from. They will consider your undergrad GPA and the post-bacc work you do. I would probably do a postbacc if you haven't taken the science pre-reqs yet. Also, your MCAT will help you if you do well. I wouldn't stress over this question.

3) I don't think the application field is flooded with ex-ITs. Sure, there are going to be non-trads applying every cycle, and maybe slightly more now, but the large majority of applicants is still traditional undergrad or grad students. Shouldn't worry about thsi either.

4)I'm sorry that's what you've encountered. However, you've been around long enough to know how people are, so I wouldn't pay much attention to people that discourage for the sole reason of being dicks. COngrats on your decision to pursue your dream. I hope I was able to help.
 
You indeed have helped. Again, it is people like you who encourage and develop the next generation.

Also, no, it does not say "online" anywhere. I ordered an unofficial transcript to ensure this. Even my degree says nothing to the effect.

Thanks again for the reply, have a fantastic week...

-utopify
 
Talk to a pre-med advisor, or call med school for clarification.
 
You mean, as far as the online schooling is concerned?
 
As long as your BCPM pre reqs are not taken online and you do well on the MCAT I doubt there will be a problem.

Taking your prereqs at a different well known university is a good thing. Just keep plugging away and you will get in. There is a need for physicians with computer knowledge, you might talk about this in your personal statement. Good luck! 🙂
 
I guess some of us may come off as being "short" because most of this info is available online or via books. Yes this is a forum and hence people will ask questions all the time to get immediate feedback *but* sometimes it is really best to either a) call the schools directly and find out from them b) get a good book available at any bookstore or check it out of the library on how to get into medical school c) go to the aamc web page and read until your eyes drop. Nobody but yourself is in charge of this process and knowing EVERYTHING will be in your benefit. Once I knew that this was my goal I probably went over every book known to mankind that gave me insight into this process, went over the aamc web site like my life depended on it, went to individual medical school web sites, etc...it paid off.
 
Funny you mention that! As I am starting the process you speak of. And, in reading the interview archives to the U of Colorado, scroll all the way down, and you will read an interview feedback that exploits the arrogance of the staff. Now, granted this is an opinoin; however, I as mentioned called the school and received this same tone. I am headed over to the aamc web site. Also, the amount of literature available to folks just getting into this is overwhelming; and I can't imagine the medical publishing arena is any different than others when it comes to good books and bad books.

I appreciate the feedback...

-utopify
 
Okay I see what you are trying to convey...arrogant staff at medical schools? I guess it depends on where you are applying to. I did not meet these arrogant folks while I was in the thick of applications/interviews...but I am sure that there are many out there. I can tell you that my experience with the schools that I applied to was excellent and I am ultra non-trad at 38.
 
I think med school admissions departments have thousands of callers. If you call up and ask a very general question they might think you haven't done your homework, ie haven't consulted the "frequently asked questions" on SDN and haven't looked at the AMCAS site and haven't read the book "How to get admitted to medical school" 🙂
 
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