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[Granny Watkins]

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[futuremdforme]

Offhand, I'd say that bringing up your GPA is necessary. Your grad level classes don't really count. There are a ton of people who make their own post-baccs using courses like Harvard Extension. Is that an option?

I don't think EMT is necessary. For clinical experience, think outside the box and think nursing homes, hospice, the VA, etc. That would give you time to bring up your GPA and dedicate serious time to your MCAT, because without those two aspects, I don't think your clinical experience will matter that much.

 

[Cawolf]

You should be able to find an inexpensive EMT course at a local community college. There is no need for a fancy, private EMT school - waste of money.

It is also hard to say without knowing what your GPAs and MCAT are. I agree with the above poster that volunteering at a hospice or nursing home would be a good way to gain clinical exposure. You could also look at local hospitals for positions as patient care tech, transporter, or even phlebotomist (depending on your state).

 

[futuremdforme]

I think you misunderstood that part. The grad level coursework was part of my degree as required electives and DO factor into my undergrad GPA like any other undergrad course. So, with a decent MCAT I am thinking that I may not need to spend time and money on a post bacc. What do you think?

Nope, the extension program is probably not an option. I'm in GA.

Oh, that's positive, but I'd think the GPA is still low. I think some schools automatically filter certain GPAs. Most of these are online so they would still be available. I didn't do a postbacc so I can't help on specifics, but good luck!

 

[Cawolf]

It is challenging for you to try to cobble this together last minute. Committing to work as an EMT should be something that is done early on, as the process of training, licensing, and orienting is long. That is why with your time frame many people will suggest volunteering, as the barrier to entry is lower.

 

[NonTrad16]

I graduated with my BS almost a year ago and took the MCAT soon after graduation. My plan was to apply this year, but my score was so poor that I was unable. I have had to change my plans and put off my application. I know MCAT is the biggest part of the app that I have to work on and as much of my time as possible will have to be spent getting a decent score.

That being said, I still need some direction. I cannot spend all of my time working on the MCAT because my app is rather average at the moment and I need clinical experiences. It is very difficult in my area to shadow doctors and so far I have only shadowed one surgeon. Even with my degree and one year experience in a lab I have been unable to find a decent job. Medical scribe jobs would be perfect but are so sparse that I can't get one. I thought EMT work would be beneficial, but some of the reading I have done on here states otherwise. The EMT course is very expensive and I don't want to waste that time and money if its not necessary. Post bacc applications have been unsuccessful and there is one more I have a fairly decent shot at which doesn't open until March. However, my GPA is above a 3.0 and I have a strong upward trend(almost total straight A's) in my last year in upper level and grad level classes as well as making Dean's List. So is a post bacc necessary? SMP?

I am going to set up a career counseling session at my uni, but even then they do not specialize in assisting pre-med students. I am also going to be calling some docs today to see if I can shadow. There isn't really a pre-med program at my uni and there are no advisors that can help me.

What I need is clinical experience that involves patient contact in a hospital setting. Does anybody have any good ideas on how I can do that without spending too much money on courses/programs. Any short(less than a year) training courses?

I can pm my location details to anybody that can help me.

Thanks in advance for reading my novel to those who help.

You may not actually need clinical experience in a hospital (or EMT) setting. You just need patient contact somewhere. If you want higher output for less training/cost, look at hospices, nursing homes, etc. Alternatively, you could call up your local hospital(s) and see what they have available for volunteering. Trying to get paid for clinical work will be more challenging, and unlikely in a short time period. I'd sooner have 10 months of clinical volunteering then 2 months of paid clinical work on my app. I had to work my job while volunteering on the side to gain clinical experience, since I have no credentials for entry level jobs.

Its above a 3.0, but its not 3.0. It may be ok for DO schools from what I've read if I can get a good MCAT and decent expereinces.

Many/most/all? DO schools are well above 3.0 as a realistic minimum. Being more specific isn't going to magically give away your identity, but it may give people the ability to say "Honestly, with a reasonable MCAT you don't need to worry about this aspect as much as XYZ". Or it will allow them to provide more experienced recommendations about an informal post-bac as a means to remedy a lower GPA. The saying 'crap in, crap out' is often true; without (accurate) information, guidance is made more challenging and built on false assumptions.

Yep, for almost a year now I have been looking at hospital job boards and all the jobs require me to get additional certification. Even then, most require at least one year experience and I plan to apply in 2017 if I can get a good MCAT score. So you see how I am unsure about taking on additional training. Being a physician is the goal and my finances are being saved for med school, not additional training that may or may not get me a position where I can get the exp I'm lacking. I'll look into CC EMT programs because I may get financial aid. I've looked at tech school EMT courses and they say even if you are accepted into the school it doesn't mean you are accepted into the EMT program.

Someone else recently remarked in another thread that forgoing an MCAT prep course because you want to save money for med school is shortsighted if that's what you need... if you need one before the other, it can be justified. Similarly, the cost (for EMT training, etc) is a drop in the bucket compared to medical school tuition/COL. Just something to consider if it comes to a training program that you are interested in.

 

[jl lin]

I graduated with my BS almost a year ago and took the MCAT soon after graduation. My plan was to apply this year, but my score was so poor that I was unable. I have had to change my plans and put off my application. I know MCAT is the biggest part of the app that I have to work on and as much of my time as possible will have to be spent getting a decent score.

That being said, I still need some direction. I cannot spend all of my time working on the MCAT because my app is rather average at the moment and I need clinical experiences. It is very difficult in my area to shadow doctors and so far I have only shadowed one surgeon. Even with my degree and one year experience in a lab I have been unable to find a decent job. Medical scribe jobs would be perfect but are so sparse that I can't get one. I thought EMT work would be beneficial, but some of the reading I have done on here states otherwise. The EMT course is very expensive and I don't want to waste that time and money if its not necessary. Post bacc applications have been unsuccessful and there is one more I have a fairly decent shot at which doesn't open until March. However, my GPA is above a 3.0 and I have a strong upward trend(almost total straight A's) in my last year in upper level and grad level classes as well as making Dean's List. So is a post bacc necessary? SMP?

I am going to set up a career counseling session at my uni, but even then they do not specialize in assisting pre-med students. I am also going to be calling some docs today to see if I can shadow. There isn't really a pre-med program at my uni and there are no advisors that can help me.

What I need is clinical experience that involves patient contact in a hospital setting. Does anybody have any good ideas on how I can do that without spending too much money on courses/programs. Any short(less than a year) training courses?

I can pm my location details to anybody that can help me.

Thanks in advance for reading my novel to those who help.

Could not the PB app. situation be b/c you have taken most if not all of the pre-reqs? Career changer PBs will not take students that have taken often > 2 pre-med pre-reqs, much less a boatload?

So, if you are <3.5, it may help you to take an SMP, but it's risky. If you don't do well, you would be screwed. With the issue re: MCAT, who knows how well you will truly do in an SMP?

Regardless, you have to focus on doing well on on the MCAT. If that requires a prep course for you, so be it. Focusing on that and getting clinical experience and combing through all the essentials of my whole application would the priority.
You may not have as much of an advantage w/ the SMP (expensive and risky and time-consuming), if you can't get a competitive MCAT.

At any rate, you haven't really posted specifics, and I get that they are your private info, but no one can give you a decent evaluation on your circumstances if you don't share specifics--not name and addy, etc, obviously, I am talking numbers and relevant application info. Yea, there can be a tough crowd here, but you may also get very helpful insight from others.