2020 Non-Trad Applicants Progress Thread

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Degree in mechanical engineering, worked in software. Typical low engineering GPA (200 credits of Bs :whistle:), 4.0 post bacc. Get my MCAT score in a week. Finished AMCAS and AACOMAS primaries. Started pre-writing secondaries... let’s do this!
 
SDN lurker for MANY (like, almost 10) years, only recently started posting. Mid 30s, former white collar office drone professional.

I submitted my AMCAS primary tonight, and I just wanted pop in and introduce myself now that I've got all this time to be social. Good luck everyone! I believe in you all!
 
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Let's do this!! Currently on vacation so can't really seriously pre-write secondaries, but I was verified by AMCAS two days ago. Everything looks on track for AACOMAS. Non-trad yada yada recovering from a low undergraduate gpa 10+ years ago...
 
Joining the nontrad club.

Made mistakes in early my undergraduate (I believe at least 6Fs ~2.0GPA) before letting dreams take flight and pursuing aviation for a few years, and turning towards medicine after doing some introspection.

AACOMAS submitted today and hopefully, I can finish up some UNE essays.
 
Good luck folks. Be prepared for a long ride, so don't get disappointed if you don't have 72 invites by July 3. It will happen, just be patient and take care of what other business needs to be taken care of in the meantime. Honestly, the interviews were by far my favorite part of the process even though they were nerve-wracking, so you have the best part to look forward to still.
 
DowningJP said:
Joining the nontrad club.

Made mistakes in early my undergraduate (I believe at least 6Fs ~2.0GPA) before letting dreams take flight and pursuing aviation for a few years, and turning towards medicine after doing some introspection.

AACOMAS submitted today and hopefully, I can finish up some UNE essays.
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I'm in a similar boat. If you don't mind me asking, what are your stats? cGPA/sGPA/any post bacc/MCAT score?
 
Cornfed101 said:
Typical low engineering GPA (200 credits of Bs :whistle:)
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Oh god, I am right there with you on the 200 credits of Bs, except I didn't even major in something impressive like engineering. I was an econ/business major who was a little too concerned with partying. I have a LOT of credits because I changed majors twice and also ended up double majoring, so.... Yeah, it has been a major struggle to overcome my 2.9 GPA. Even with three years of postbac the highest it's going is 3.35, so we're going to hope that's enough!
 
stayathomemom said:
Hello! I've been a homemaker since 2006 and I am waiting on the one secondary for the one school I applied to.
Yes, I know.
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So can I be nosy and ask why you're applying to only one school with such baller stats? I mean, I'm sure you'll get into your school no problem, but my goodness. If I had your numbers, I'd be submitting top 20 applications like

271002
 
Hi everyone 🙂

Non-trad, single mom of 21 and 17yr old. Just beginning MCAT studies - as in laying out all materials, trying to wrap my head around where to start.

My stats:
Classic reinvention story. Teen mom, poor performance at first attempts in college 12+ years ago.

Recently: Completed BSc in Bio, 2016 with 3.8sGPA/3.5cGPA

....BUT, factoring in poor grades from many years ago (none in prereqs) drops my cGPA to 2.89.

Currently a Manager of Research & Development in Emergency Med/Trauma for an Ivy League. Hoping that will count as heavy research involvement. Working from home @ ~30 hours per week. Plan to take MCAT in January to allow enough time for studying.

The VP of a program I'm interested in applying to gave me insight this past Friday that my poor grades from years ago aren't something he'd pay any attention to. Said do well on MCAT, write strong PS. Can't speak for all reviewers but it was nice to hear from one.

Best of luck to everyone - can't stop, won't stop!
 
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EmbryonalCarcinoma said:
It was dumb. You don’t need to prepare. Just type relatively quickly and be able to see multiple points of view. I think we’re good at that as nontrads.
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What is Casper? I'm still learning the lingo/acronyms here, looking through/choosing best study materials for MCAT, plan to take in Jan '20.

Then I panic when I see something I've never heard of...omg, am I really even ready?!!
 
Pegetto said:
What is Casper? I'm still learning the lingo/acronyms here, looking through/choosing best study materials for MCAT, plan to take in Jan '20.

Then I panic when I see something I've never heard of...omg, am I really even ready?!!
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I'm assuming you'll be applying next cycle, in which case you won't need to take CASPer until next May, June, or July. Only some schools require it. After you make your list, check and see if any of your schools require it and then sign up on the CASPer website. It doesn't require studying so don't worry about it too much.
 
StayWandering said:
So can I be nosy and ask why you're applying to only one school with such baller stats? I mean, I'm sure you'll get into your school no problem, but my goodness. If I had your numbers, I'd be submitting top 20 applications like

View attachment 271002
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Valid question!
Mostly, I know this career choice will take a toll on my family, so by applying only locally I'm limiting that effect. We won't need to relocate. Additionally, we have lots of family and social support here (understatement of the year), plus my husband is in a good place job-wise here too, and we wouldn't have that if we moved.
In the end, I want to go into family medicine and my local school has an awesome program for that. Plus I don't really care about prestige.
 
stayathomemom said:
Valid question!
Mostly, I know this career choice will take a toll on my family, so by applying only locally I'm limiting that effect. We won't need to relocate. Additionally, we have lots of family and social support here (understatement of the year), plus my husband is in a good place job-wise here too, and we wouldn't have that if we moved.
In the end, I want to go into family medicine and my local school has an awesome program for that. Plus I don't really care about prestige.
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All great reasons, and totally understandable why you'd want to stay local. I joke about school prestige, but it truly is about the best fit and I think you need to go where you'll be happiest. My top choice schools aren't big names, but they have great missions and exciting "extras" (e.g., community involvement programs, interesting research opportunities). Since you want to do family medicine, the world is really your oyster. Medicine needs more people like you.

The only upside to not receiving your secondary yet is that you'll have plenty of time to prewrite!
 
Nontraditional student, married, 2 kids, and finishing up my master's program in the Fall. This summer I'm currently taking a class, research, and studying for the MCAT(August). It's been a stressful road but I hope this is the cycle for me.
Submitted AMCAS- June 21st(awaiting verification) and AACOMAS- around 26(verified)
Applied to two schools each until my MCAT score comes back.
Good luck everyone!!
 
Non-trad (3 years out of college now) working as a research monkey assistant at a private hospital in the south. Great upward trend after having a crappy freshman year (3.7+ GPA per semester.)

Never gone into debt from college (I am so lucky for this.) How am I supposed to pay for secondaries though? I'm looking at a $1600 bill just to pay for them alone (assuming I pass every screen at schools who don't beg for money look at apps before sending them out.) Am I gonna have to find a loan somewhere? Not sure how that all works
 
FutureSurgical said:
Non-trad (3 years out of college now) working as a research monkey assistant at a private hospital in the south. Great upward trend after having a crappy freshman year (3.7+ GPA per semester.)

Never gone into debt from college (I am so lucky for this.) How am I supposed to pay for secondaries though? I'm looking at a $1600 bill just to pay for them alone (assuming I pass every screen at schools who don't beg for money look at apps before sending them out.) Am I gonna have to find a loan somewhere? Not sure how that all works
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I am putting it all on a credit card and trying to ignore the deafening internal screaming.
 
StayWandering said:
I am putting it all on a credit card and trying to ignore the deafening internal screaming.
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Chase Saphire Reserve gives you $650 bucks after you spend $4000 (which we will mostly all do anyway!) Just a heads up!

Don't know why I so rarely frequent the Non-trad forums, these are my people!

Hi! I am a nontrad by pathway as opposed to age (24). Went high school to military to married to homeowner to father to undergrad to dropout to full-time work to undergrad again! lowish first 2 years, perfect next two years, high MCAT, looking forward to the cycle!
 
good luck guys! I am a non-traditional who is matriculating in a few weeks. you can do it!!!!! I am 33, army vet, immigrant, finance to biochemistry career change, multiple MCATs. If you have any questions about any of this, - please PM me, i wll be happy to help with anything i can.
 
Joining this club!

I graduated in 2016 with a BS in psychology, worked as a research assistant in pulmonary at BIDMC in boston for a year, then went back to NJ, became an EMT and finished my remaining 6 pre-medical courses I needed! Applying DO/MD

Strong upward trend from a low freshman year GPA
 
arjusmc said:
Nontrad, veteran(USMC infantry) current paramedic ORM, divorced, one kiddo. undergrad -3.17cgpa, 3.30sgpa-BSBA-Finance. postbacc(80hours) 3.95 cgpa, 3.89sgpa 504 mcat. Applying both MD and DO.
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good luck devil
 
Checking in. Still waiting for secondaries to work on (maybe I should have had a better list) but so far 1 II at MD & DO and 1 WL for II at DO. Hoping this week we all get some progress!
 
EmbryonalCarcinoma said:
1 II out of 7 secondaries complete for MD sounds like you have a pretty good list tbh
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Thanks! I feel this way because I chose my schools based on being closer to my wife (within a two state radius) who just became an intern. I applied to some schools that I probably had no business applying to but I had the "ya never know" mentality! Re-inventors can't be too choosy and if I was single, I'd feel better if I applied a little more strategically around the country.
 
MemeLord said:
Doin good so far. They come in waves. 2 II, nothing for three weeks. 2 more II, going on nothing for three weeks...
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Yep, basically the same here. Better to have them spaced out though I suppose. Makes it easier to schedule them around working full time.
 
2020NonTrad said:
Yep, basically the same here. Better to have them spaced out though I suppose. Makes it easier to schedule them around working full time.
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I wanted them to Have more before school started lol I still have a month until school starts but only like 2 open dates, due to work as you say.
 
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