2014 Nontrad Applicants' Progress Thread

[PlumbLine]

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29 year old nontrad, former teacher.
AACOMAS submitted, verification pending.
Waiting for post-bacc transcript to be marked as received by AMCAS.
DO cGPA: 3.51
DO sGPA: 3.4
MD cGPA: 3.48
MD sGPA: 3.57
MCAT: 35

Just filled my work/activities section and was surprised to find I had filled out 10 slots. I didn't think I had that many activities/experiences to list.

Also, AMCAS should consider hiring some temp workers to sift through the paperwork. It's annoying to see AACOMAS be all johnny on the spot with everything and AMCAS taking 7 to 10 days to look at something.

Hey MedWonk - I'm also waiting on my post-bacc transcript to be received by AMCAS, (pretty sure you and I are from the same post-bacc), but I was planning on submitting anyway, even before it's received. Any reason you are inclined to wait before submitting? Just to be sure there are no problems?

Good luck to all the non-trads out there. Hopefully we'll be seeing each other at interviews this fall.

 

[vegetara83]

So what is everyone's plan for the MCAT? I took it in 2005 the first time I applied and made a decent score. Too bad the scores are only good for 3 years! I'm thinking about taking the September exam, but I'm kind of intimidated. I have the Exam Krackers series, but I'm wondering if anyone has anything else to recommend. I did find this website MCAT for Me that has videos and a study schedule. The videos and study plan are free, but they recommend using some Exam Krackers books and some Princeton Review books. Looks like it could be helpful!

 

[SpursNut]

I recommend the Princeton Books, they are very thorough and I especially like their verbal stuff. I started of scoring in the 8-9 range but after doing tons of their practice passages I have now been averaging in the 10-11 range. I supplement with Examcrackers 1001 questions to drill home some of the points for Biology/Physics/Chem. I tried the Sn2ed schedule but with a full-time job found it impossible to keep up so I enrolled in a princeton review class that has helped tremendously.

 

[Amygdarya]

about 10 hrs of shadowing in an ER

I second the above suggestion that you need more "clinical exposure" - after all, you need to know what you're getting yourself into.
But I'd like to add that more hours of shadowing may still not cut it: you need to do some volunteering. You don't have to volunteer in clinical settings, but volunteering, say, in an ER (rather than shadowing an ER doc) will cover both clinical exposure and volunteering. Basically, what I'm saying is, volunteering in an ER will be better for your application and, importantly, you will get to interact with patients more than when shadowing, but you'll still see doctor's interactions with patients, some procedures etc. that you see when shadowing.

 

[GT2010]

.

 

[Captain Sisko]

Applying this cycle for the first time. 30 y/o career changer, engaged to a gal ten years ahead of me in this process (she's finishing a fellowship during the app year). did ok in undergrad and grad school, with a 4.0 a la carte postbac over two years. despite the common wisdom in pre-allo I'm hoping my major and coursework will color my middling undergrad gpa, hope my mcat(35+) does that too.

good luck everyone, let's see some more stories!

updating now that I'm verified! i strategically designated some coursework and had my sgpa come back as a 3.9, with a 3.65 cGPA. so psyched right now!

 

[acceptmeplease]

I applied a few years ago, and got rejected without interview invites.

At the time my GPA was great, I was just lacking a solid mcat score and experience. "Just" lacking.

I got married and panicked because I filled out 150 job applications with no success. Now I was too broke to feed my wife and myself much less reapply.

I decided I needed a backup plan that was fool proof regardless of the economy: nursing school.

Throughout nursing school I worked 2-3 jobs 35-45 hours a week.

Now I'm an RN and I raised my mcat to a 27 (significantly better than last time and I haven't had a science class in 4 years). Sgpa is 3.72, cgpa is 3.53, but my last 30 hours gpa is about a 2.89.

Hopefully I will be able to get an interview to a state school, or DO.

 

[Major]

26 myself. Turning 27 this fall. Single, no children. I do have a dog though.

2.54 cgpa, 2.1 science, 2.85 non-science according to aacomas. I'm applying to just DO schools. I take the mcat this Sept.

I don't know if I will apply this year or not. I probably won't be done with all my retakes until next summer. I'm retaking every class I got below a C in.

I work part time as a phlebotomist and also volunteer quite a bit...

 

[docfrer]

I second the above suggestion that you need more "clinical exposure" - after all, you need to know what you're getting yourself into.
But I'd like to add that more hours of shadowing may still not cut it: you need to do some volunteering. You don't have to volunteer in clinical settings, but volunteering, say, in an ER (rather than shadowing an ER doc) will cover both clinical exposure and volunteering. Basically, what I'm saying is, volunteering in an ER will be better for your application and, importantly, you will get to interact with patients more than when shadowing, but you'll still see doctor's interactions with patients, some procedures etc. that you see when shadowing.

Thanks. I'll see what I can do. I'm slated to shadow weekly so maybe I can work out volunteering on some days instead.

I don't have the luxury of taking off work for weeks to get this done before submitting AMCAS as suggested above.

 

[malaika]

updating now that I'm verified! i strategically designated some coursework and had my sgpa come back as a 3.9, with a 3.65 cGPA. so psyched right now!

you rock!

 

[Amygdarya]

I don't have the luxury of taking off work for weeks to get this done before submitting AMCAS as suggested above.

Neither do I 🙂 Nor many other non-trads who have full time jobs, families and other responsibilities. (At my current job, I took exactly 3 vacation days in over a year.)

Not to be critical, but it's generally assumed that one does clinically related stuff because he or she enjoys it, wants to learn more about medicine etc. and does it for some time before even starting their AMCAS applications, not in the weeks before submitting. You will need to convince adcoms that you know what medicine is about and that you're committed to it; having little clinical exposure makes it harder to achieve this goal. Not to mention it's worth finding out whether you like people throwing up on your shoes before you make a huge commitment of your time, money and effort 🙂

What you can do now though is find more "clinical exposure" opportunities and write about your plans in your application.

 

[MedWonk]

Hey MedWonk - I'm also waiting on my post-bacc transcript to be received by AMCAS, (pretty sure you and I are from the same post-bacc), but I was planning on submitting anyway, even before it's received. Any reason you are inclined to wait before submitting? Just to be sure there are no problems?

Good luck to all the non-trads out there. Hopefully we'll be seeing each other at interviews this fall.

If I understood correctly, the primary won't be marked "Ready for Review" until the transcripts are in, so I figure it doesn't matter unless all the transcripts are marked as received. As soon as the transcript is marked, I'll submit. If the AACOMAS is any indicator, then my transcript would have been delivered on 6/3, so I figure it'll be marked soon. I hope.

 

[MedSchoolMama]

Hello all! 39 yr old undergrad here. Submitted my AACOMAS yesterday. All transcripts and MCAT score are in so verification should start right away. I am nervous, excited, and scared to death all at the same time. My AACOMAS stats are: cGPA- 3.58, sGPA- 3.59, MCAT- 29Q. I feel pretty ok with my stats for DO school.

My MD stats on the other hand are not so stellar. CGPA = 3.36, sGPA = 3.27. My stats are weighed down from poor grades 20 yrs ago. My recent coursework over the last three years has been very good (Mostly A's, some B's, and one C). I took MCAT last August, but am retaking again to have a better shot at my local MD school. I am a giant homer after all.

I want to wish everyone who is applying the very best of luck! Everything we have done until now has brought us to this. We need all the luck we can get, lol.

Wow! I could have written this post! Especially the part about the grades ~20 years ago. Ahhhh youth! Just like you I have a serious upward trend. Nothing below a B+ in my recent coursework and my current school GPA/sGPA is 3.89. The older stuff - well thats terrible. 😱

So, I am an upper 30s mother of three teenagers who is embarking on a second career - hopefully! I work full time in the medical field and am in school full time. I'm pretty busy - but I know a lot of us are in the same boat in this thread.

I am waitlisted at 2 schools now but am reapplying because even though I hope to get into one of the two I might not.... So, yea apply early folks. My aps weren't finished until late oct/nov. Dumb, dumb, dumb. 😡 Applying to broadly this time around as well.

Good Luck Everyone!!!

 

[MedWonk]

26 myself. Turning 27 this fall. Single, no children. I do have a dog though.

2.54 cgpa, 2.1 science, 2.85 non-science according to aacomas. I'm applying to just DO schools. I take the mcat this Sept.

I don't know if I will apply this year or not. I probably won't be done with all my retakes until next summer. I'm retaking every class I got below a C in.

I work part time as a phlebotomist and also volunteer quite a bit...

I think you should wait and bring those GPAs up to at least a 3.0. You won't be competitive for DO unless you do. The exception might be if you're URM and absolutely crush the MCAT, but I think that science GPA pretty much kills your app even if against all odds you got 40+.

 

[PlumbLine]

If I understood correctly, the primary won't be marked "Ready for Review" until the transcripts are in, so I figure it doesn't matter unless all the transcripts are marked as received. As soon as the transcript is marked, I'll submit. If the AACOMAS is any indicator, then my transcript would have been delivered on 6/3, so I figure it'll be marked soon. I hope.

That's a good point. I'm a bit frustrated that HES dragged their feet with my transcript. I just received my copy in the mail today. They said because I was classified as a diploma candidate that they couldn't release it until HCP gave them an update on my diploma status. I had to make several calls to HCP to get them to do something about it. Ugh. oh well. I take the MCAT June 20th so hopefully there's still a good chance that I'll be verified before my score comes back in July.

 

[MedSchoolMama]

i think you should wait and bring those gpas up to at least a 3.0. You won't be competitive for do unless you do. The exception might be if you're urm and absolutely crush the mcat, but i think that science gpa pretty much kills your app even if against all odds you got 40+.

+1

 

[phys2med]

First time applicant here.

26 y/o male. Married. No kids.
B.S. Physics 2011
cGPA 3.74, sGPA 3.9something (4.0 until my horrible ochem 2 class)
MCAT: waiting on score. This will determine whether I complete my application this year or wait another year.
Shadowed radiologist, ophthalmologist, radiation oncologist, ENT surgeon. Total close to 100 hours.
Volunteer: Fostered stray dogs for a few years and will continue to do so. Free physics tutor during my college years w lots of hours and students I helped. Lastly, I created a charity that makes and donates hats for cancer patients. We've had individuals donate hats and yarn and we even have a local middle school crochete club. During the summer we switch focus to newborn sized hats and donate to local childrens hospital.

I finished undergrad with the intention of doing medical physics. However, my wife's dad and my grandfather both got diagnosed with cancer at the same time during my senior year. I spent a lot of time with both of them and their doctors visits and I realized I wanted more direct patient involvement. My wife and I moved in with her parents last year because her father needed help but they couldn't afford to have anyone come by and a regular basis. So while my wife and her mom work I've stayed home and helped him (feeding, bathroom, medications, etc) and took night/online classes to finish my prereqs.

I'm only applying to TX schools simply because my wife and I took months of saving for application costs and we still have to borrow from both my parents and hers to afford it. I took the MCAT on May 23 and my score will dictate if I apply this year or have to retake and apply next year.

 

[MedWonk]

29 year old nontrad, former teacher.
AACOMAS submitted, verification pending.
Waiting for post-bacc transcript to be marked as received by AMCAS.
DO cGPA: 3.51
DO sGPA: 3.4
MD cGPA: 3.48
MD sGPA: 3.57
MCAT: 35 (12 PS, 11 VR, 12 BS)

Just filled my work/activities section and was surprised to find I had filled out 10 slots. I didn't think I had that many activities/experiences to list.

Also, AMCAS should consider hiring some temp workers to sift through the paperwork. It's annoying to see AACOMAS be all johnny on the spot with everything and AMCAS taking 7 to 10 days to look at something.

All transcripts received: 6/4/2013
Submitted: 6/13/2013

 

[CajunMedic]

Greetings fellow non-trads. I'm a 36 y/o Paramedic with a wife and a 16y/o daughter. Graduating in December with a degree in Disaster Science and Management. So far my cGPA is roughly 3.4 and my AMCAS sGPA is 2.97, AACOMAS sGPA is 3.0. Made a 23 (10V, 6P, 7B) on the MCAT in January. Retook the MCAT on the 23rd of May and waiting on the score. Here's what my progress has been so far:

LOR's are done and have been sent to the pre-med committee at my school
AMCAS will be finished today and ready to submit, but they're still missing 3 of my transcripts.
Meeting with HPSP recruiter tomorrow to start that paperwork.
Will finish AACOMAS early this week and submit.

Still trying to find a DO to shadow, they're just not that many in this state.

Best of luck to everyone!

AMCAS Submitted as of yesterday, but on hold for 1 transcript (that AACOMAS has already received) applying to LSU-NO, LSU-Shreveport, Tulane, USUHS, and University of Alabama.

AACOMAS almost finished, should be ready to send by tomorrow.

 

[vegetara83]

Started on AACOMAS yesterday. I really need to get my s%&# together! I feel like I am totally slacking behind everyone else. I quit at the personal statement part because I hate writing that sort of thing. I've also got to find a DO to shadow or something because I am only applying DO this cycle.

 

[Captain Sisko]

took the time this morning to assign letters and press the button on submitting my primaries. I'm down a little over a grand, but not regretting it. maybe that'll happen when i drop >$3k on my secondaries 🙂

 

[RyanRt]

I'm starting to get in panic mode. Only two of my letter writers have sent in their letters. I have one more transcript to be received (but that should be in this week). I plan on submitting July 1st. My scores for my second attempt at the MCAT will be released in 10 days. I don't want to even think about it because I worry I didn't do well enough.

Oh, I'm 32 with two kids and a wife. BS in computer science and 5years experience as xray tech. I've improved my GPA from 2.9 to 3.35

 

[acceptmeplease]

I just know a lot of schools do not accept transfers; I'd give it a shot or at least take step 1 and show you can hack it.

 

[anguisette]

took the time this morning to assign letters and press the button on submitting my primaries. I'm down a little over a grand, but not regretting it. maybe that'll happen when i drop >$3k on my secondaries 🙂

Been there, done that. Still don't regret a thing. Hang in there non-trads! 🙂

 

[MackandBlues]

Nontrad checking in. 30 year old pharmacist from Texas. Kept trying to talk myself out of applying but haven't been able to do so. 3.3 cGPA, 3.3 sGPA, projected MCAT 31 to be taken 6/20. I've been told I've got super strong ECs and great LORs so hoping for some love from UTMB and UTHouston at least. Good luck to everyone.

 

[QrtrLifeCrisis]

Rock on everyone!

There's nothing better than a corp of nontrads. I had that during post-bac and miss those guys. Hoping it'll be easy to find each other during med school.

My progress:
-Individual LORs nearly all in, just waiting on my committee letter to be written.
-Finished post-bac with a 4.0 and a final cum. and sc. GPA between 3.6-3.8.
-Waiting for the 5/11 MCAT score release.
-Inputted all of my grades
-Writing and rewriting my PS
-Activities section to be started...
-Glide year job hunt yet to begin.

Quick update:
-5/11 MCAT score: 35!! (PS13, VR11, BS11) So relieved.
-Nearing final draft for PS and Work/Activities
-Undergrad transcript received 6/5 and posted 6/13
-Post-bac transcript sent 6/12, but not received/posted by AMCAS yet
-Waiting for transcript to submit...hope I'm not the only in this boat.

 

[Captain Sisko]

Quick update:
-5/11 MCAT score: 35!! (PS13, VR11, BS11) So relieved.
-Nearing final draft for PS and Work/Activities
-Undergrad transcript received 6/5 and posted 6/13
-Post-bac transcript sent 6/12, but not received/posted by AMCAS yet
-Waiting for transcript to submit...hope I'm not the only in this boat.

👍

rock on 🙂

 

[Shjanzey]

AMCAS Submitted as of yesterday, but on hold for 1 transcript (that AACOMAS has already received) applying to LSU-NO, LSU-Shreveport, Tulane, USUHS, and University of Alabama.

AACOMAS almost finished, should be ready to send by tomorrow.

I am also applying to all the NewOrleans schools. Maybe we'll see each other next year.

I have all my LOR handed out. (1 received/5 pending)
Transcripts have been requested (1 received/1 pending)
All my ECs and Grades have been input.

Still trying to pin down my Personal Statement.
Get my MCAT score on Wed. I am really freaked out about it

 

[wookiewookie]

I'm 29, married with two young children (3 years and 8 months). My sGPA is 3.5 and cGPA around 3.2. I am taking the MCAT this August 2nd, and am very underprepared for it right now and I'm losing steam, as is my husband. I wish I could say he is very supportive (and he says he is and does his fair part), but when it comes down to it, he's just not that into it and doesn't understand my need to do this and believes it will negatively affect our family and our kid's futures. I'm starting to believe him...

I have shadowing and volunteering extra-curriculars for the past 3 years and a great letter of recommendation (presumably) from a D.O. I do not have a letter of recommendation from a recent science teacher and don't really know how to approach this. I have LORs from my undergrad professors (circa 2005), but I have the letters in my possession and don't know how to go about getting these to Interfolio if I needed to. I do have a great LOR from my volunteer coordinator, but my DO school specifically requires only two LORs - one from a DO and one from a science professor. Again, I'm not really sure how to approach this.

I am planning on taking 6 MCAT practice exams prior to the test, but am still concerned about my preparedness. Given that scores take about two weeks to come out, when do you guys think is the latest to take the MCAT and still be eligible for this application cycle? My app on AACOMs is pretty much done (except for the LOR), so I would apply and just wait to send my scores in....

Best of luck to everyone!

 

[phys2med]

I'm 29, married with two young children (3 years and 8 months). My sGPA is 3.5 and cGPA around 3.2. I am taking the MCAT this August 2nd, and am very underprepared for it right now and I'm losing steam, as is my husband. I wish I could say he is very supportive (and he says he is and does his fair part), but when it comes down to it, he's just not that into it and doesn't understand my need to do this and believes it will negatively affect our family and our kid's futures. I'm starting to believe him...

I have shadowing and volunteering extra-curriculars for the past 3 years and a great letter of recommendation (presumably) from a D.O. I do not have a letter of recommendation from a recent science teacher and don't really know how to approach this. I have LORs from my undergrad professors (circa 2005), but I have the letters in my possession and don't know how to go about getting these to Interfolio if I needed to. I do have a great LOR from my volunteer coordinator, but my DO school specifically requires only two LORs - one from a DO and one from a science professor. Again, I'm not really sure how to approach this.

I am planning on taking 6 MCAT practice exams prior to the test, but am still concerned about my preparedness. Given that scores take about two weeks to come out, when do you guys think is the latest to take the MCAT and still be eligible for this application cycle? My app on AACOMs is pretty much done (except for the LOR), so I would apply and just wait to send my scores in....

Best of luck to everyone!

The scores take a month to come in actually so it would be september when you get your score. Everyone says earlier is better so that might be a tad late.

 

[Amygdarya]

I can't believe I got 38 (13/12/13) on my May 18th MCAT!!! I'm so happy! - and so relieved after the last year's 30Q (I didn't respect the beast and hardly prepared for it last year, stupid me). Ooph...

Updates:
- submitted AMCAS with 2 lower tier schools on June 16th, I will add more schools now that I know my new MCAT score;
- all transcripts are in, waiting on 3 of 4 LORs;
- still working on TMDSAS optional essays, hope to submit my TMDSAS in the next couple of days.

(but wow, I'm so psyched about my new MCAT score I'm actually shaking)

 

[PlumbLine]

I can't believe I got 38 (13/12/13) on my May 18th MCAT!!! I'm so happy! - and so relieved after the last year's 30Q (I didn't respect the beast and hardly prepared for it last year, stupid me). Ooph...

Updates:
- submitted AMCAS with 2 lower tier schools on June 16th, I will add more schools now that I know my new MCAT score;
- all transcripts are in, waiting on 3 of 4 LORs;
- still working on TMDSAS optional essays, hope to submit my TMDSAS in the next couple of days.

(but wow, I'm so psyched about my new MCAT score I'm actually shaking)

Nice! Well done!

 

[DR MOM]

I am 25 and applying this cycle for the first time. I'll be 26 when school starts (and have a nine year old kid!) I applied to 15 schools, AMCAS and TMDSAS. My AMCAS is verified and hopefully Texas will be verified tomorrow. My college is writing me a committee letter because I am within five years of graduation. I've got strong stats for my state schools, but I'm not sure where I'll stand for the AMCAS dream schools I applied for. I don't think it'd be impossible to get in, and I think I'd do well, but I'm not in admissions so who knows.

I'm a URM (Latina), 33 MCAT (PS9/VR13/BS11), and I've been working full time in health related fields since 2011.

I love non-trads and I hope I end up at a school with plenty of us. Good luck everyone!

 

[CajunMedic]

AMCAS Submitted as of yesterday, but on hold for 1 transcript (that AACOMAS has already received) applying to LSU-NO, LSU-Shreveport, Tulane, USUHS, and University of Alabama.

AACOMAS almost finished, should be ready to send by tomorrow.

AMCAS Finally received my last transcript yesterday, waiting on verification.
I'm with my family in Bradenton, fixing to go to the LECOM Open House
Can't seem to find the time to finish AACOMAS
Still dreading and waiting on my MCAT score from the 23rd of May.

 

[PlumbLine]

Submitted 6/12. All transcripts finally marked received 6/21. Fingers crossed that verification goes smoothly and quickly. Good luck everyone!

 

[NuttyEngDude]

AACOMCAS Submitted 6/12
AMCAS Submitted 6/21

 

[Quizlet04]

Sent in app last night...this morning discovered I had put the wrong county on my app in one place. Had to send in an email.

-Still missing one LoE from a science teacher.
-Time to start secondaries.
-Waiting for transcripts to arrive at AACOMAS so I can start that application in full
-Trying to find a DO to shadow. Harder than it sounds, apparently.

 

[GreenMed]

Just wanted to say hello to all my fellow nontrads applying this cycle! I'm 30 and hope to be starting school next fall at 31. My AMCAS is submitted and waiting in the verification cue currently. I feel like the hardest part of the pre-medical process is over... making the decision to change careers, performing well in a post-bac program, taking the dreaded MCAT. I'm genuinely looking forward to the rest of this, which is meeting people face-to-face in interviews and explaining how I came to be sitting across from them.

I second the hope, above, that I also find a nice cohort of non-trads wherever I end up!

 

[LSUsweetheart]

AMCAS Submitted as of yesterday, but on hold for 1 transcript (that AACOMAS has already received) applying to LSU-NO, LSU-Shreveport, Tulane, USUHS, and University of Alabama.

AACOMAS almost finished, should be ready to send by tomorrow.

Hey CajunMedic, looks like we're applying to the same schools. Happy to see another non-trad LA resident.



As for me, I'm 26 and graduated in 2009 with a BS in biochemistry. Submitted my aacomas app 2 weeks ago to 15 schools, and submitted my amcas app Thursday to 9 schools. My undergrad stats are superlow (way below 3.0), but I currently have a 3.6 sci and cum gpa in a non-thesis masters program that I'll be finishing in December. Applying to any school is going to be a stretch, but I met with admissions at LSU-NO this week and learned they have a 32+ hour rule. Basically if you take 32+ hours of post-bac/grad work, they'll completely ignore your undergrad gpa and use the new gpa. Makes me super happy! Just gotta add one more class in the fall to put me at 33 hours. I'm hoping more schools follow this rule! Best of luck to everyone 🙂

 

[PinknGreenMD]

... I am only applying to one school this year to see how things go. I kinda have a really good feeling about it though, so hopefully it will all work out.

Good luck everyone! 😍

Please oh please don't apply to JUST 1 school. 😱 especially after you have been wanting this for so long!!!

 

[PinknGreenMD]

I have shadowing and volunteering extra-curriculars for the past 3 years and a great letter of recommendation (presumably) from a D.O. I do not have a letter of recommendation from a recent science teacher and don't really know how to approach this. I have LORs from my undergrad professors (circa 2005), but I have the letters in my possession and don't know how to go about getting these to Interfolio if I needed to. I do have a great LOR from my volunteer coordinator, but my DO school specifically requires only two LORs - one from a DO and one from a science professor. Again, I'm not really sure how to approach this.

I am planning on taking 6 MCAT practice exams prior to the test, but am still concerned about my preparedness. Given that scores take about two weeks to come out, when do you guys think is the latest to take the MCAT and still be eligible for this application cycle? My app on AACOMs is pretty much done (except for the LOR), so I would apply and just wait to send my scores in....

Best of luck to everyone!

There are some schools that only take letters of recommendation from the max of 2 years. So if it is over 2 years old, I would call the schools you want to apply to and ask them the max age of the letter of recommendation because you are non-traditional and see what they say.

Also, most DO schools have a deadline of like February, March some even April so you have time to submit.. the only thing is .. if the school you want does rolling admissions, then it would be the sooner the better and then submit the scores once you get them but go on and submit your app now. totally up to you.

 

[Pose]

I'll add myself here.

I'm 26, graduated with a degree in economics and Arabic in 2011. Have worked full time as an ED tech for six years, but quit in 2012 after finishing my prereqs (aside from orgo II) via informal postbacc. After school I left to hike the Appalachian Trail (I also did some fundraising for a charity during this). Nontrad for a lot of reasons, but mostly because I moved away from home when I was 16 or so after dropping out of high school, and then went on to move to the Middle East on a gov't grant to learn Arabic, and then proceeded to "goof off" and backpack various parts of the globe.

Applying both MD and DO.

ECs: Very limited. I have been tutoring recently incarcerated adults for the GED since April, and shadowing an MD twice per week since April. When I wasn't working/studying, I was traveling. I know this will hurt me. Some tutoring experience. My hike/fundraising is listed. Dean's list, Honors Program, my gov't grant.

sGPA: 4.0.
cGPA: 3.94.
MCAT*: tbd, but my AAMC average was 32 with a 29-36 range.

AACOMAS submited on the 17th, AMCAS submitted on the 21st. All transcripts in.

*I had the worst MCAT experience ever though, so I'll vent about it again here. The first time I attempted to take the MCAT (May 11th), I went OOS to take the exam. When I arrived I learned there was a registration error I was not made aware of until the day of the exam, so I was not able to test. The next day I was to fly to Ireland for 3 weeks to hike one of their long trails. Alas, I had to cut that trip short by two weeks and fly to Bangor, ME to take an 8am test on May 23rd. On May 23rd, my second attempt to take the exam, the power/Internet went out at around 7:30am. We were delayed by an hour or so until it was repaired, but still able to test. And then, because I have obviously pissed off an MCAT deity, the proctor put the wrong student on my exam because of our similar names, meaning that the exam had to be voided. It took over another hour until they could get the exam reset via phone with the AAMC. When I was allowed to finally begin my exam, my computer shut off on the first passage. This exam was also voided. Another hour on the phone with the AAMC until my test was reset for a second time. Needless to say when I was able to take the exam, I was really worked up and upset and ultimately ran out of time on two sections. I am hoping for at least a 29.

 

[Amygdarya]

Nice! Well done!

Thank you PlumbLine!

.I moved away from home when I was 16 or so after dropping out of high school, and then went on to move to the Middle East on a gov't grant to learn Arabic, and then proceeded to "goof off" and backpack various parts of the globe.

Wow, I think adcoms will be very interested in your story.
Sorry about your negative MCAT experience and hope you did well despite that!

 

[MedWonk]

AACOMAS verified 6/14
AMCAS ready for review 6/13

 

[malaika]

*I had the worst MCAT experience ever though, so I'll vent about it again here. The first time I attempted to take the MCAT (May 11th), I went OOS to take the exam. When I arrived I learned there was a registration error I was not made aware of until the day of the exam, so I was not able to test. The next day I was to fly to Ireland for 3 weeks to hike one of their long trails. Alas, I had to cut that trip short by two weeks and fly to Bangor, ME to take an 8am test on May 23rd. On May 23rd, my second attempt to take the exam, the power/Internet went out at around 7:30am. We were delayed by an hour or so until it was repaired, but still able to test. And then, because I have obviously pissed off an MCAT deity, the proctor put the wrong student on my exam because of our similar names, meaning that the exam had to be voided. It took over another hour until they could get the exam reset via phone with the AAMC. When I was allowed to finally begin my exam, my computer shut off on the first passage. This exam was also voided. Another hour on the phone with the AAMC until my test was reset for a second time. Needless to say when I was able to take the exam, I was really worked up and upset and ultimately ran out of time on two sections. I am hoping for at least a 29.

Wow!! I think I'd give up on that day and either reschedule or something. There's no way anyone should take an exam after all that. The forces were def not with you that day 🙁 I wish you a score you are very happy with. Miracles do happen.

 

[Major]

Hey CajunMedic, looks like we're applying to the same schools. Happy to see another non-trad LA resident.



As for me, I'm 26 and graduated in 2009 with a BS in biochemistry. Submitted my aacomas app 2 weeks ago to 15 schools, and submitted my amcas app Thursday to 9 schools. My undergrad stats are superlow (way below 3.0), but I currently have a 3.6 sci and cum gpa in a non-thesis masters program that I'll be finishing in December. Applying to any school is going to be a stretch, but I met with admissions at LSU-NO this week and learned they have a 32+ hour rule. Basically if you take 32+ hours of post-bac/grad work, they'll completely ignore your undergrad gpa and use the new gpa. Makes me super happy! Just gotta add one more class in the fall to put me at 33 hours. I'm hoping more schools follow this rule! Best of luck to everyone 🙂

Hey how friendly is LSU-NO to OOS? I couldn't find any stats on their website in regards to accepting OOS

 

[PinknGreenMD]

Hey how friendly is LSU-NO to OOS? I couldn't find any stats on their website in regards to accepting OOS

all I can say is ... More than Shreveport 🙁 ... Look at the MSAR for specifics..

 

[acceptmeplease]

I'm a Louisiana applicant, too. Anyone know if The LSUs are nontrad friendly?

 

[vegetara83]

I went to an open house for the one school I am going to apply to yesterday. All I can say is that I am totally in love! I still won't be taking the MCAT 'til September 'cause I don't think there's any way I can be prepared sooner than that due to work, but it did motivate me to get a move on the rest of my application so I can submit before my MCAT scores are in.

 

[CajunMedic]

I'm a Louisiana applicant, too. Anyone know if The LSUs are nontrad friendly?

I haven't heard much about Shreveport, but I know a few non-trads that graduated from LSU-NO and said it was. I got some pretty positive feedback at the Mock Interviews this year.