19 years old and switching paths: need general advice please

[Joner]

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This is my first post on the SD network and would like to start off by introducing myself. I am a 19 year old student who has just finished his 5th and final semester at a Quebec CEGEP in the Social Sciences. Ever since I was a young lad I always thought of medicine as a potential career opportunity; however, a few obstacles in life got the best of me and I lost sight of this dream by early adolescence. This indifference then forced me into the general arts program instead of taking the environmental science courses during high school (which are necessary pre-reqs to even begin anything science-related, as you all probably know). Therefore, I will be focusing on obtaining these pre-reqs and will apply into an arts program at a local university (Mcgill or Concordia) by winter 2012. While in my undergrad, I will take the necessary Medicine pre-reqs as electives and apply into Mcgill's medicine faculty by 2016.

In the interim I will focus on my extracurriculars and cv so that I improve my candidacy for medicine. So far, in terms of volunteer work and hospital experience, my cv consists of:

February 2007 - September 2009 - Volunteered at the local YMCA for two years (3 hours every week, total approx. 300 hrs) - I do not volunteer anymore.

March 2010 - Current - Health Unit Coordinator at a local hospital (I have experience on the Ob/gyn, surgical, internal medicine, and oncology floors).
Is this considered good? Especially at my age? I am the by far one of the youngest employees at the hospital.


- Any advice on research experience? I can't seem to find any opportunities that don't require previous experience or a degree..

- Anymore general advice? Feedback on what I already have? I understand that I am underqualified but I am eager to find opportunities that will improve the way admission committiees view my application.

Thank you VERY MUCH, 🙂

Joner.

 

[MilkmanAl]

You are absolutely on the right track. It can often be hard for college freshmen to get involved in research, but perseverance will eventually pay off. Keep up the volunteering and clinical experience, and make sure you get good grades (take easy classes if/when you need to). When the MCAT rolls around, do everything in your power to dominate it. There's not a lot to it other than that.

I'm going to move this to the Pre-Allo forum, for it sounds to me like you're done with high school.

 

[Joner]

Thanks for the fast response! I appreciate it.