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- Feb 7, 2009
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1. Your age and GPA and MCAT if you have it.
23 and no MCAT taken yet. I plan to take it in between my junior and senior year most likely.
AMCAS freshman GPA 2.68, BCPM GPA 2.88, sGPA 4.0.
Only 45 credits of my completed coursework currently is being applied to my degree. I need 180 credit hours total so 135 more credit hours.
2. Your financial and work situation.
I make $30k a year working Mon-Fri in an operating room as a Surgical Services Assistant. I receive Post 9-11 GI Bill benefits. I currently receive a small amount of financial aid money and I have not taken any loans out yet.
3. Your family and significant other situation.
I am married with no children.
4. Your plan or your path to success.
This is a long story. Here is where I am at:
I graduated high school in 2005 and attended a Central Arizona College in Arizona which gave me an academic scholarship. I had a shaky high school career and did not take high level science and math courses. In my first semester in Fall of 2005 my courses/grades were:
Eng 101(3 credit hours)-B
Psy 101(3 credit hours)-A
Phi 112(world religions 3 credit hours)-A
Mat 091(introductory algebra 4 credit hours)-C
Ecn 201(macro 3 credit hours)-W(I was unable to balance the course load)
Semester GPA: 3.15
Honors List
I withdrew from Spring semester 2006 and my courses/grades were:
Bio 156(4 credit hours)-W
HOC 125(CNA course 6 credit hours)-WF(missed a few classes and missed one day of clinicals due to strep throat, I know AMCAS will consider this a F)
NTR 104(nutrition 3 credit hours)-W
Semester GPA: 0.00
Cumulative at this school: 2.16
I signed a unique reserve contract with the United States Navy and was on active duty from September 2006-July 2007 for Basic Training, Naval Hospital Corpsman "A" school, temporary duty Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton, and Field Medical Service School "C" school. I was then transferred to the Navy Reserve and re-started school in January 2008 spring semester at Chandler-Gilbert Community College in Arizona. My courses/grades were:
Eng 102(3 credit hours)-A
Mat 121(intermediate algebra 4 credit hours)-B
Psy 230(intro to stats,3 credit hours)-W(withdrew from switching career choice from goal of Nurse Practitioner to Physician after deciding it wasn't too late for me and that I had what it takes to be a doctor.)
Semester GPA: 3.429
Fall 2008 courses/grades:
Bio 181(1 of 3 for Bio major 4 credit hours)-A
Glg 110(environmental/geological disasters 4 credit hours)-C
Mat 187(pre-calc 5 credit hours)-D(re-taking at Bellevue College which will replace this course with my planned grade of an A), I know AMCAS will still see this even though my school will replace the grade)
Pos 223(civil rights 3 credit hours)-B
Semester GPA: 2.375
Cumulative at this school: 2.696
I re-located from Arizona to Washington State in December 2008. I did not attend school immediately due to being classified as a non-resident and could not afford it. I was involuntarily recalled to active duty from July 2009-Aug 2010. I went to Afghanistan with a Marine Corps unit as their Fleet Marine Force Hospital Corpsman. Upon returning I am now considered a resident due to my military service and maintaing an address here for 1 year. I am now attending Bellevue College and my current courses/grades are:
Mat 099(placed into intermediate 6 credit hours)- C-
Chem 161(1 of 3 for Bio major 6 credit hours)- F
When switching from Semester to Quarters there was a difference in calculating credits and I currently have 45 credits of all the courses listed above applied to my Associate in Science Transfer Degree to University of Washington. A sophomore is considered to have 44-90 credits. All my elective slots have been used due to having to make up lower level math and catch up on science courses. I do not currently have a Bellevue College GPA as this is my first quarter there. I have buckled down and am focusing on maintaining my 4.0sgpa and raising my cumulative.
My plan for Bellevue College is as follows:
Fall 2010
Mat 099(intermediate algebra 6 credit hours) C-(re-take)
Chem 161(1 of 3 for Bio major 6 credit hours) F(re-take)(so much for buckling down and mantaining a 4.0 sGPA)
Winter 2011
Mat 099 Re-take(pre-calc 1 5 credit hours)
Chem 161 Re-take( 1 of 3 for Bio major 6 credit hours)
Bio 211(1 of 3 for Bio major, even though I got an A in Bio 181 at CGCC and BC accepted the course I am re-taking to ensure I'm not lost by jumping right into Bio 212 and completing the series at one school)
Spring 2011
Math 141(pre-calc 1, 5 credit hours)
Chem 162(2 of 3 for Bio major 6 credit hours)
Bio 212( 2 of 3 for Bio major 6 credit hours)
Summer 2011
Math 142(pre calc 2, 5 credit hours)
Phy 114(physics 1 of 3 6 credit hours)
Fall 2011
Mat 151(calc 1, 5 credit hours)
Bio 213(3 of 3 for Bio major, 6 credit hours)
Phy 115(physics 2 of 3, 6 credit hours)
(Apply to graduate BC)
Winter 2012
Mat 152(calc 2, 5 credit hours)
Chem 163(chem 3 of 3 for Bio major, 6 credit hours)
Bio 275(Bio Genome Research)
Quarter ends end of March
(Apply for UW transfer deadline 12/15/2011)
Spring 2012
Mat 153(calc 3, 5 credit hours)
Phy 116( physics 3 of 3, 6 credit hours)
Bio 276(Bio Genome Research)
Apply for UW Sumer Quarter 2012(deadline Feb 15)
University of Washington
Summer 2012-2014(age 25-27)
I did not take foreign language and UW Seattle requires 3 quarters so I plan on taking 3 quarters of Spanish while there and O-Chem and other high level Bio/Chem courses such as BIOCHEM, MICRO, A&P.
Possibly go to UW Bothell which is closer and doesnt require foreign language.
Graduate with BS in Bio(Physiology) and minor in either: chem, econ, or psych to broaden my academics and resume.
Planning on doing research here If I can.
MCAT- Prep for 4 months and take in between junior and senior year in April or May. Get scores back in 30 days. Apply to medical school after scores are received unless my score is low then re-take.
Medical School
Fall 2014-2018(age 27-31)
Fund with loans/financial aid/remainder of Post 9-11 GI Bill, HPSP(USN), FAP(USN), or USUHS(USN).
As of now leaning towards Surgery or Emergency Med.
Surgical Residency 5-7 years(age 31-36/38)
Emergency Med Residency 3-4 years(31-34/35)
Potentially change my mind multiple times before then which could change my plan.
Extra Curricular/volunteer work/medical experience:
Central Arizona College:
While attending this school I volunteered for my church with St. Marks Outreach Program(4 hours a week) and Habitat for Humanity(one build). I also worked as a Lifeguard at a community pool.
Chandler-Gilbert CC:
Philosophy Club
Bellevue College:
Psychology Club
Chemistry Club
Docs and Dents Club
Current Certs:
BLS/PALS/ACLS
CNA
ARMA
Expired Lifeguard, CPR, and First Aid for the Professional Rescuer
US Navy
Naval Hospital Corpsman "A" school
Hospital Corpsman Basic Skills course
Field Medical Service School
Combat Trauma Management course
Combat Lifesaver course
Combat Lifesaver instructor course
Combat deployment to Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Freedom
Worked at: Chicago VA hospital, Naval Hospital Great Lakes, Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton, Naval Base Clinic San Diego, Medical Department Phoenix Reserve Center, Medical Department Everett Reserve Center.
Should I be doing more extra-curricular or volunteer work even though I'm positive I want to become a doctor and work side by side with them and have worked in various healthcare positions? Do/will my life experiences make up for my shaky start if I finish real strong?
I currently work in an operating room assisting surgical RN's, PA's, DO's, and MD's. I function as a scrub tech in a limited fashion, a central sterilization tech in a limited fashion, and a CNA certification is required to work there. I am also a RMA(registered medical assistant) with ARMA(American registry of medical assistants). I have also had a great deal of patient care in a clinical setting and on the battlefield in the Navy.
My goal is to get my cGPA and sGPA as close to 4.0 as possible and shoot for a 35+ MCAT score and not attend a DO school. All input is appreciated.
Updated EC's:
Alternating volunteer work between these organizations 4 hours a week:
American Heart Association
American Cancer Association
UW Medical Center
Pacific Science Center
National MS Society
Local Soup Kitchen
Veterans Affairs
Local Environmental Restoration Projects
Currently shadowing Physicians:
Surgery
Anesthesiology
OB/GYN
ER
Neuro Surgery
23 and no MCAT taken yet. I plan to take it in between my junior and senior year most likely.
AMCAS freshman GPA 2.68, BCPM GPA 2.88, sGPA 4.0.
Only 45 credits of my completed coursework currently is being applied to my degree. I need 180 credit hours total so 135 more credit hours.
2. Your financial and work situation.
I make $30k a year working Mon-Fri in an operating room as a Surgical Services Assistant. I receive Post 9-11 GI Bill benefits. I currently receive a small amount of financial aid money and I have not taken any loans out yet.
3. Your family and significant other situation.
I am married with no children.
4. Your plan or your path to success.
This is a long story. Here is where I am at:
I graduated high school in 2005 and attended a Central Arizona College in Arizona which gave me an academic scholarship. I had a shaky high school career and did not take high level science and math courses. In my first semester in Fall of 2005 my courses/grades were:
Eng 101(3 credit hours)-B
Psy 101(3 credit hours)-A
Phi 112(world religions 3 credit hours)-A
Mat 091(introductory algebra 4 credit hours)-C
Ecn 201(macro 3 credit hours)-W(I was unable to balance the course load)
Semester GPA: 3.15
Honors List
I withdrew from Spring semester 2006 and my courses/grades were:
Bio 156(4 credit hours)-W
HOC 125(CNA course 6 credit hours)-WF(missed a few classes and missed one day of clinicals due to strep throat, I know AMCAS will consider this a F)
NTR 104(nutrition 3 credit hours)-W
Semester GPA: 0.00
Cumulative at this school: 2.16
I signed a unique reserve contract with the United States Navy and was on active duty from September 2006-July 2007 for Basic Training, Naval Hospital Corpsman "A" school, temporary duty Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton, and Field Medical Service School "C" school. I was then transferred to the Navy Reserve and re-started school in January 2008 spring semester at Chandler-Gilbert Community College in Arizona. My courses/grades were:
Eng 102(3 credit hours)-A
Mat 121(intermediate algebra 4 credit hours)-B
Psy 230(intro to stats,3 credit hours)-W(withdrew from switching career choice from goal of Nurse Practitioner to Physician after deciding it wasn't too late for me and that I had what it takes to be a doctor.)
Semester GPA: 3.429
Fall 2008 courses/grades:
Bio 181(1 of 3 for Bio major 4 credit hours)-A
Glg 110(environmental/geological disasters 4 credit hours)-C
Mat 187(pre-calc 5 credit hours)-D(re-taking at Bellevue College which will replace this course with my planned grade of an A), I know AMCAS will still see this even though my school will replace the grade)
Pos 223(civil rights 3 credit hours)-B
Semester GPA: 2.375
Cumulative at this school: 2.696
I re-located from Arizona to Washington State in December 2008. I did not attend school immediately due to being classified as a non-resident and could not afford it. I was involuntarily recalled to active duty from July 2009-Aug 2010. I went to Afghanistan with a Marine Corps unit as their Fleet Marine Force Hospital Corpsman. Upon returning I am now considered a resident due to my military service and maintaing an address here for 1 year. I am now attending Bellevue College and my current courses/grades are:
Mat 099(placed into intermediate 6 credit hours)- C-
Chem 161(1 of 3 for Bio major 6 credit hours)- F
When switching from Semester to Quarters there was a difference in calculating credits and I currently have 45 credits of all the courses listed above applied to my Associate in Science Transfer Degree to University of Washington. A sophomore is considered to have 44-90 credits. All my elective slots have been used due to having to make up lower level math and catch up on science courses. I do not currently have a Bellevue College GPA as this is my first quarter there. I have buckled down and am focusing on maintaining my 4.0sgpa and raising my cumulative.
My plan for Bellevue College is as follows:
Fall 2010
Mat 099(intermediate algebra 6 credit hours) C-(re-take)
Chem 161(1 of 3 for Bio major 6 credit hours) F(re-take)(so much for buckling down and mantaining a 4.0 sGPA)
Winter 2011
Mat 099 Re-take(pre-calc 1 5 credit hours)
Chem 161 Re-take( 1 of 3 for Bio major 6 credit hours)
Bio 211(1 of 3 for Bio major, even though I got an A in Bio 181 at CGCC and BC accepted the course I am re-taking to ensure I'm not lost by jumping right into Bio 212 and completing the series at one school)
Spring 2011
Math 141(pre-calc 1, 5 credit hours)
Chem 162(2 of 3 for Bio major 6 credit hours)
Bio 212( 2 of 3 for Bio major 6 credit hours)
Summer 2011
Math 142(pre calc 2, 5 credit hours)
Phy 114(physics 1 of 3 6 credit hours)
Fall 2011
Mat 151(calc 1, 5 credit hours)
Bio 213(3 of 3 for Bio major, 6 credit hours)
Phy 115(physics 2 of 3, 6 credit hours)
(Apply to graduate BC)
Winter 2012
Mat 152(calc 2, 5 credit hours)
Chem 163(chem 3 of 3 for Bio major, 6 credit hours)
Bio 275(Bio Genome Research)
Quarter ends end of March
(Apply for UW transfer deadline 12/15/2011)
Spring 2012
Mat 153(calc 3, 5 credit hours)
Phy 116( physics 3 of 3, 6 credit hours)
Bio 276(Bio Genome Research)
Apply for UW Sumer Quarter 2012(deadline Feb 15)
University of Washington
Summer 2012-2014(age 25-27)
I did not take foreign language and UW Seattle requires 3 quarters so I plan on taking 3 quarters of Spanish while there and O-Chem and other high level Bio/Chem courses such as BIOCHEM, MICRO, A&P.
Possibly go to UW Bothell which is closer and doesnt require foreign language.
Graduate with BS in Bio(Physiology) and minor in either: chem, econ, or psych to broaden my academics and resume.
Planning on doing research here If I can.
MCAT- Prep for 4 months and take in between junior and senior year in April or May. Get scores back in 30 days. Apply to medical school after scores are received unless my score is low then re-take.
Medical School
Fall 2014-2018(age 27-31)
Fund with loans/financial aid/remainder of Post 9-11 GI Bill, HPSP(USN), FAP(USN), or USUHS(USN).
As of now leaning towards Surgery or Emergency Med.
Surgical Residency 5-7 years(age 31-36/38)
Emergency Med Residency 3-4 years(31-34/35)
Potentially change my mind multiple times before then which could change my plan.
Extra Curricular/volunteer work/medical experience:
Central Arizona College:
While attending this school I volunteered for my church with St. Marks Outreach Program(4 hours a week) and Habitat for Humanity(one build). I also worked as a Lifeguard at a community pool.
Chandler-Gilbert CC:
Philosophy Club
Bellevue College:
Psychology Club
Chemistry Club
Docs and Dents Club
Current Certs:
BLS/PALS/ACLS
CNA
ARMA
Expired Lifeguard, CPR, and First Aid for the Professional Rescuer
US Navy
Naval Hospital Corpsman "A" school
Hospital Corpsman Basic Skills course
Field Medical Service School
Combat Trauma Management course
Combat Lifesaver course
Combat Lifesaver instructor course
Combat deployment to Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Freedom
Worked at: Chicago VA hospital, Naval Hospital Great Lakes, Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton, Naval Base Clinic San Diego, Medical Department Phoenix Reserve Center, Medical Department Everett Reserve Center.
Should I be doing more extra-curricular or volunteer work even though I'm positive I want to become a doctor and work side by side with them and have worked in various healthcare positions? Do/will my life experiences make up for my shaky start if I finish real strong?
I currently work in an operating room assisting surgical RN's, PA's, DO's, and MD's. I function as a scrub tech in a limited fashion, a central sterilization tech in a limited fashion, and a CNA certification is required to work there. I am also a RMA(registered medical assistant) with ARMA(American registry of medical assistants). I have also had a great deal of patient care in a clinical setting and on the battlefield in the Navy.
My goal is to get my cGPA and sGPA as close to 4.0 as possible and shoot for a 35+ MCAT score and not attend a DO school. All input is appreciated.
Updated EC's:
Alternating volunteer work between these organizations 4 hours a week:
American Heart Association
American Cancer Association
UW Medical Center
Pacific Science Center
National MS Society
Local Soup Kitchen
Veterans Affairs
Local Environmental Restoration Projects
Currently shadowing Physicians:
Surgery
Anesthesiology
OB/GYN
ER
Neuro Surgery
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