4 schools over 20 years

[booniesdoc]

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Hi all, first time posting on here, I'll try and make a long story short. Psych tech nursing school at age 18 - 55 gpa hours at 3.66 total. Fast forward five to ten years and attended another college for classes just kind of screwing around (bored and wanted to learn), then in the middle of those years of classes whenever life threw me a curve ball (major accident, pregnancies, sick kids, whatever came up) I would just drop classes or skip finals etc, thinking that it was just for my enjoyment anyway so who cares what my record showed. Fast forward another five to ten years, I decide I want to be a doctor. Meanwhile I have five kids that I homeschool. Only way I can take classes is online. Get into Penn State and have been getting all A's except for a semester that I got straight C's when my father in law got sick and caregiving fell on me. Withdrew from university the following semester when he died. Since my return, back to straight As. But due to those two C's my GPA is currently only a 3.5. I still have a year or more to go before I finish the B.S. degree. Then I have to go to school number 4 locally (a community college an hour away) so I can do the prerequisites after I graduate from the online school. This is so that I can do in person labs. I figure if I can maintain my current straight A's from here on out I'll have 3.8 from Penn State and the college for prerequisites. With the 3.66 in nursing school, a 2.75 from the second college where I took classes for years just for a hobby, and a 3.8 from my current school and future prerequisites school......how will this mess be looked at and gpa calculated with credit hours at each weighed in? Is it too much of a mess to even try to explain to an adcom? Should I try to raise my dragged down cumulative gpa more with an online mph or something, or just rely on recent gpa? I know they calculate gpa from all your college history. To be honest, until recently I never understood college or that my records would ever matter. Hard to believe that but I'm first to go to college in my family and I really just never knew anything about how college works or that I was shooting myself in the foot by blowing off classes during my second college time. Thanks for any thoughts on the mess I've made for myself.

 

[Philly145]

First thing you need to do is get a sense of what your cumulative and science GPA actually are. Then it becomes clearer about what path you need to take going forward. Search for AMCAS GPA calculator, there's a bunch of spreadsheets where you can input all of your classes from your transcripts to find your GPA.

 

[wolfvgang22]

how will this mess be looked at and gpa calculated with credit hours at each weighed in? Is it too much of a mess to even try to explain to an adcom? Should I try to raise my dragged down cumulative gpa more with an online mph or something, or just rely on recent gpa?

1. See Philly145's response above
2. It is not too much to explain to an adcom, but rehearse your story so you can be concise. Former students, like me, have similar background. It is most important to show how you are able to do the work, and how committed you are since you have made the decision to pursue medicine. Any doubts about your commitment or ability to complete medical school will sink your chances. Tell the facts, but make no excuses when the time comes.
2. Only go for an MPH if you are actually interested in it and might use it in your career. Get all A's in the year or so you have left if you aren't truly interested in the MPH. It's ok to have back up plans (I have a Masters for that reason) but don't waste time or money on an MPH if you won't every possibly use it. You won't fool anyone if you are just trying to pad GPA with online courses, so have a better reason for an additional degree, if pursued.

 

[booniesdoc]

First thing you need to do is get a sense of what your cumulative and science GPA actually are. Then it becomes clearer about what path you need to take going forward. Search for AMCAS GPA calculator, there's a bunch of spreadsheets where you can input all of your classes from your transcripts to find your GPA.

Thanks, I did find this spreadsheet and tried to enter in information, but it asks for freshman, sophomore, etc. status for each class. How do I enter this in when I've been taking classes for nearly 2 decades? I have no idea what my status was considered at each step. When I was entering in classes, the system eventually threw an error and would no longer calculate the GPA. Not sure how to do it.

 

[booniesdoc]

1. See Philly145's response above
2. It is not too much to explain to an adcom, but rehearse your story so you can be concise. Former students, like me, have similar background. It is most important to show how you are able to do the work, and how committed you are since you have made the decision to pursue medicine. Any doubts about your commitment or ability to complete medical school will sink your chances. Tell the facts, but make no excuses when the time comes.
2. Only go for an MPH if you are actually interested in it and might use it in your career. Get all A's in the year or so you have left if you aren't truly interested in the MPH. It's ok to have back up plans (I have a Masters for that reason) but don't waste time or money on an MPH if you won't every possibly use it. You won't fool anyone if you are just trying to pad GPA with online courses, so have a better reason for an additional degree, if pursued.

Thanks, this is encouraging to hear. I just replied to Philly145 above. I'm having trouble entering in classes to calculate GPA as I'm not sure what to enter for each class under "freshman, sophomore, etc." Hard to figure out when I have so many semesters/years of classes. Also, how does nursing school fit into that? It was 3 semesters but each semester was 18+ GPA hours.

 

[wolfvgang22]

You can do it manually on paper or in a spreadsheet on your PC. If it's a freshman level course, it's freshman. When exactly you took it doesn't matter. If it's a sophomore level course, it's sophomore. (For example, for lots of schools English Literature 1101 is freshman, World Literature 1202 would be sophomore.) If you aren't sure, use the suggested order of classes in the school catalogue. Many courses have pre-requisites and cannot be taken until 2nd or 3rd year of study in a degree program.

You might check and see how far back the med schools you are applying to will even count certain classes as part of your GPA, or if they only count classes for your most recent degree. They may not care about stuff that is 20 years old, but have a cut off of 7 years. That's how it was for me. You should call them if you can't find the information online. You're getting into factors that are unique to your application, so calling and asking specific questions like this to make sure is a good idea.

 

[booniesdoc]

You can do it manually on paper or in a spreadsheet on your PC. If it's a freshman level course, it's freshman. When exactly you took it doesn't matter. If it's a sophomore level course, it's sophomore. (For example, for lots of schools English Literature 1101 is freshman, World Literature 1202 would be sophomore.) If you aren't sure, use the suggested order of classes in the school catalogue. Many courses have pre-requisites and cannot be taken until 2nd or 3rd year of study in a degree program.

You might check and see how far back the med schools you are applying to will even count certain classes as part of your GPA, or if they only count classes for your most recent degree. They may not care about stuff that is 20 years old, but have a cut off of 7 years. That's how it was for me. You should call them if you can't find the information online. You're getting into factors that are unique to your application, so calling and asking specific questions like this to make sure is a good idea.

Okay, that makes sense. Thank you so much, that's very helpful! I'll go through the classes again and figure it out. Calling the schools and seeing how far they look back is a great idea - I'd assumed they counted everything, it would be great if not. Thanks again!

 

[chicandtoughness]

Thanks, this is encouraging to hear. I just replied to Philly145 above. I'm having trouble entering in classes to calculate GPA as I'm not sure what to enter for each class under "freshman, sophomore, etc." Hard to figure out when I have so many semesters/years of classes. Also, how does nursing school fit into that? It was 3 semesters but each semester was 18+ GPA hours.

Use this spreadsheet:

I've improved the AMCAS/AACOMAS GPA Calculator Spreadsheet

Click the link below to view the improved GPA Calculator, and then search (using CTRL+F) for the word "calculator" on its webpage: https://www.reddit.com/r/premed/comments/5gc2ri/welcome_to_rpremed_heres_our_faq/ EDIT (01/25/2020): The calculator has been moved to Reddit since my SDN account...

forums.studentdoctor.net

You will not need to enter in freshman/sophomore, etc. The spreadsheet automatically fills it in for you. (And if it doesn't, let me know - the equation is wonky in that column and it might have gotten messed up).

I have a background with - last I checked - 9 schools. It can be explained, trust me 🙂 Some of us just take a little bit of a winding path to medicine. I have some semesters where I took 32 credit hours (~10 classes - would not recommend). It doesn't affect your GPA any differently to have a semester with more credit hours. They all get averaged in the end.

 

[booniesdoc]

Use this spreadsheet:

I've improved the AMCAS/AACOMAS GPA Calculator Spreadsheet

Click the link below to view the improved GPA Calculator, and then search (using CTRL+F) for the word "calculator" on its webpage: https://www.reddit.com/r/premed/comments/5gc2ri/welcome_to_rpremed_heres_our_faq/ EDIT (01/25/2020): The calculator has been moved to Reddit since my SDN account...

forums.studentdoctor.net

You will not need to enter in freshman/sophomore, etc. The spreadsheet automatically fills it in for you. (And if it doesn't, let me know - the equation is wonky in that column and it might have gotten messed up).

I have a background with - last I checked - 9 schools. It can be explained, trust me 🙂 Some of us just take a little bit of a winding path to medicine. I have some semesters where I took 32 credit hours (~10 classes - would not recommend). It doesn't affect your GPA any differently to have a semester with more credit hours. They all get averaged in the end.

Awesome! I'll go check it out and get back to you. And that is very good to know about your situation - so encouraging! Thank you!

 

[booniesdoc]

Okay so I've run the numbers and I've made some assumptions about my current trend continuing until I apply. The AMCAS GPA calculator says I will have a cGPA of 3.45, a sGPA of 3.59, and an aoGPA of 2.92, with a strong upward trend over the last year or two of 3.8 - 3.9.

I was a psychiatric technician (equivalent to an LVN) when I was in my early 20s. I'll be 40 when I apply (38 now). By the time of application I'll have several years of emergency room volunteering, several years of being a volunteer CASA advocate for foster kids, and zero research unfortunately as it just doesn't fit into my life. I'm a homeschooling mom of 5 kids. Obviously I'm aiming to score as high as possible on the MCAT.

Any advice/tips/prognosis would be greatly appreciated. Thanks everyone so very much!

 

[wolfvgang22]

Doesn't look to bad, sounds like you are on the right track. Continue improving your GPA. You have a good chance.

Focus on doing very well on the MCAT, study for it like your life depends on it, like it is your job. Practice untimed questions, study the ones you get wrong, then practice questions timed. This is how to approach every exam, including the USMLE later. Discipline. Use one good study source, not 12. There is a good MCAT forum here on SDN.

Research is helpful, but not necessary. Test scores are still king along with GPA. You've done enough volunteering.

Don't bring up that you are a parent that home schools 5 kids. That will raise flags about your potential to succeed. I had 3 small kids. They are teens now. You are trying to enter a field that will more or less take 60 to 80 hours per week of your time for at least the next 7 years. Sometimes it is only 40, other times it is 100. I was not able to be around as much as I would have liked due to the demands of training. I was able to see my kids most days.

My advice:
Admissions and later residency must believe being a doctor is your life, and you have to have a plan to handle your personal life. You will not be able to care for kids as a med student or resident. If you have a partner, you will not have as much time together as before. Not really even when studying for the MCAT. Career has to come first to make it. If you have family or someone who can be the main caregiver of your kids, you can do it. You must be a learning machine that performs well, nothing else matters. That's the hard truth. I've seen many nontraditional students like us drop out.

You may wish to consider if it is worth the staggering cost in time and debt. It will be 8 to 10 years before you are an attending. It may be more reasonable to consider being a PA. If had to start over now, that is what I would do. Only do this if you must.

 

[booniesdoc]

Doesn't look to bad, sounds like you are on the right track. Continue improving your GPA. You have a good chance.

Focus on doing very well on the MCAT, study for it like your life depends on it, like it is your job. Practice untimed questions, study the ones you get wrong, then practice questions timed. This is how to approach every exam, including the USMLE later. Discipline. Use one good study source, not 12. There is a good MCAT forum here on SDN.

Research is helpful, but not necessary. Test scores are still king along with GPA. You've done enough volunteering.

Don't bring up that you are a parent that home schools 5 kids. That will raise flags about your potential to succeed. I had 3 small kids. They are teens now. You are trying to enter a field that will more or less take 60 to 80 hours per week of your time for at least the next 7 years. Sometimes it is only 40, other times it is 100. I was not able to be around as much as I would have liked due to the demands of training. I was able to see my kids most days.

My advice:
Admissions and later residency must believe being a doctor is your life, and you have to have a plan to handle your personal life. You will not be able to care for kids as a med student or resident. If you have a partner, you will not have as much time together as before. Not really even when studying for the MCAT. Career has to come first to make it. If you have family or someone who can be the main caregiver of your kids, you can do it. You must be a learning machine that performs well, nothing else matters. That's the hard truth. I've seen many nontraditional students like us drop out.

You may wish to consider if it is worth the staggering cost in time and debt. It will be 8 to 10 years before you are an attending. It may be more reasonable to consider being a PA. If had to start over now, that is what I would do. Only do this if you must.

Thank you, this is encouraging about the gpa. You're also absolutely right about the cost to do this in terms of family sacrifice and everything that goes along with it. It terrifies me to be honest and that fear is what has held me back until now. But no matter how much I've tried to shake the idea and move on,I can't imagine not being a doctor. It's a feeling that I'm sure you're familiar with. It's almost like medicine is choosing you rather than you choosing it.

The plan is that my husband is willing to be the stay at home dad. We considered PA route but that would still require him to switch with me and do the homeschooling, and the PA salary is less than his current so it just doesn't make sense for us. Also, I'd like to be able to do international outreach later and opportunities for that are harder for PAs.

I'm looking to do EM/IM. I know I won't be able to have the level of ambition that others can manage, and I'm okay with that. As I said I would like to be involved with international outreach medicine at some point in the future. I also have thought some about rural medicine.

The fear I have is my relationship with my kids suffering as a result of the time away. Do you think it's possible to make up for quantity with quality, or is it just not the same as being able to be there a lot with them? I know it's also different for dads than moms (we tend to have mom guilt every time we're away from our kids). I don't want my kids to resent it or feel neglected. I've spent 24 hours a day with them for 12 years now so it will be such a dramatic change for us.

I want to do this with all my heart and soul (so bad it hurts!) but I don't want to hurt anyone in the process.

 

[chicandtoughness]

How old are your kiddos? If they're old enough that they can understand what you're going through, it might be fun to make it a family experience, so they feel like they're still connected to you and you don't experience so much of the "mom guilt". I'm thinking of the analogue of families who are trying hard to get out of debt, so they make it a game of saving spare change in a jar, only eating out once a month and making that a huge treat, marking off the debt together on a poster, etc. Maybe you can make it interactive with your kiddos so they also feel like they're "contributing" to your career - make a list of prereqs and stick it on the fridge, cross 'em off together as you do them. Make a "Smash the MCAT" playlist together and celebrate together when you finally DO smash the MCAT. You can model "study time" for them - maybe have your partner monitor them while they do homework in one room while you study in another room, so they feel like "mom is in it with us." Ultimately, they need to understand what you're doing. It would be difficult for a child who expects mom to be around all the time to suddenly never see you, but if you communicate what you're doing it might alleviate their fears.

Personally, as a kid I would have found it so cool if my mom was "going to school" like I was 😀

 

[wolfvgang22]

I think you'll be fine! You've clearly thought a lot about it already.

 

[booniesdoc]

How old are your kiddos? If they're old enough that they can understand what you're going through, it might be fun to make it a family experience, so they feel like they're still connected to you and you don't experience so much of the "mom guilt". I'm thinking of the analogue of families who are trying hard to get out of debt, so they make it a game of saving spare change in a jar, only eating out once a month and making that a huge treat, marking off the debt together on a poster, etc. Maybe you can make it interactive with your kiddos so they also feel like they're "contributing" to your career - make a list of prereqs and stick it on the fridge, cross 'em off together as you do them. Make a "Smash the MCAT" playlist together and celebrate together when you finally DO smash the MCAT. You can model "study time" for them - maybe have your partner monitor them while they do homework in one room while you study in another room, so they feel like "mom is in it with us." Ultimately, they need to understand what you're doing. It would be difficult for a child who expects mom to be around all the time to suddenly never see you, but if you communicate what you're doing it might alleviate their fears.

Personally, as a kid I would have found it so cool if my mom was "going to school" like I was 😀

That's an awesome idea. You're absolutely right! We've done everything else together, we can tackle this as a family too. Thanks so much!

 

[booniesdoc]

I think you'll be fine! You've clearly thought a lot about it already.

Thanks, that is so good to hear. You guys have been really great - thanks for taking the time to encourage me, I really appreciate it!

 

[CougarMD]

Doesn't look to bad, sounds like you are on the right track. Continue improving your GPA. You have a good chance.

Focus on doing very well on the MCAT, study for it like your life depends on it, like it is your job. Practice untimed questions, study the ones you get wrong, then practice questions timed. This is how to approach every exam, including the USMLE later. Discipline. Use one good study source, not 12. There is a good MCAT forum here on SDN.

Research is helpful, but not necessary. Test scores are still king along with GPA. You've done enough volunteering.

Don't bring up that you are a parent that home schools 5 kids. That will raise flags about your potential to succeed. I had 3 small kids. They are teens now. You are trying to enter a field that will more or less take 60 to 80 hours per week of your time for at least the next 7 years. Sometimes it is only 40, other times it is 100. I was not able to be around as much as I would have liked due to the demands of training. I was able to see my kids most days.

My advice:
Admissions and later residency must believe being a doctor is your life, and you have to have a plan to handle your personal life. You will not be able to care for kids as a med student or resident. If you have a partner, you will not have as much time together as before. Not really even when studying for the MCAT. Career has to come first to make it. If you have family or someone who can be the main caregiver of your kids, you can do it. You must be a learning machine that performs well, nothing else matters. That's the hard truth. I've seen many nontraditional students like us drop out.

You may wish to consider if it is worth the staggering cost in time and debt. It will be 8 to 10 years before you are an attending. It may be more reasonable to consider being a PA. If had to start over now, that is what I would do. Only do this if you must.

Everything above is excellent advice. The only other thing I would add is that you need to be willing and able to move multiple times, unless you live in a densely populated (by medical schools and residency programs) place. Even when you’re an excellent applicant, the application seasons do not always turn out the way you want, and The Match is not always kind. EM is incredibly competitive these days, but that could absolutely change post COVID

Figure out what you and your family are willing to sacrifice for this and be prepared that the sacrifice may be too much and you may need to abort.

I also would normally tell you that the fatigue with age is real....but you’ve raised 5 kids so I think you’re good😉

The other thing to remember is that you won’t be getting “real” money, at least to truly compensate you for your time, for 7-8 years until you complete residency. So make sure you calculate into that time the need for child care, tuition and how much your loans would be with a calculation for the interest accrued for those years, the opportunity cost of not being able to contribute to a retirement fund, and that even though residency pay is not terrible, when you do the math for the hours you work both at work and studying at home, it IS pretty terrible.

For reference, non-trad student, started medical school at age 31, did an MD/MPH, just completed residency and now an Anesthesiology attending. I’ve been on the Med school admissions committee for 5 years. It cost me a lot over the last decade, and I don’t mean money. And I didn’t have the relationships that you do that would not be worth breaking. Talk to as many non-trads HONESTLY as you can. Ultimately the decision will be yours, and I didn’t listen to all of those people who told me not to do it because like you, it was a feeling in my soul of something I needed to do.

Good luck🙂

 

[booniesdoc]

Everything above is excellent advice. The only other thing I would add is that you need to be willing and able to move multiple times, unless you live in a densely populated (by medical schools and residency programs) place. Even when you’re an excellent applicant, the application seasons do not always turn out the way you want, and The Match is not always kind. EM is incredibly competitive these days, but that could absolutely change post COVID

Figure out what you and your family are willing to sacrifice for this and be prepared that the sacrifice may be too much and you may need to abort.

I also would normally tell you that the fatigue with age is real....but you’ve raised 5 kids so I think you’re good😉

The other thing to remember is that you won’t be getting “real” money, at least to truly compensate you for your time, for 7-8 years until you complete residency. So make sure you calculate into that time the need for child care, tuition and how much your loans would be with a calculation for the interest accrued for those years, the opportunity cost of not being able to contribute to a retirement fund, and that even though residency pay is not terrible, when you do the math for the hours you work both at work and studying at home, it IS pretty terrible.

For reference, non-trad student, started medical school at age 31, did an MD/MPH, just completed residency and now an Anesthesiology attending. I’ve been on the Med school admissions committee for 5 years. It cost me a lot over the last decade, and I don’t mean money. And I didn’t have the relationships that you do that would not be worth breaking. Talk to as many non-trads HONESTLY as you can. Ultimately the decision will be yours, and I didn’t listen to all of those people who told me not to do it because like you, it was a feeling in my soul of something I needed to do.

Good luck🙂

Great advice. Thank you for sharing that and congratulations on getting through the process yourself!

My husband and I are going to be selling our home in California and I'll only be applying to places that are in lower COL areas so we're hoping to be able to live (very meagerly) off of the proceeds until residency. He'll also have a very small retirement amount every month that will help a bit. We'll still need loans for tuition. But I've also been looking at rural medicine and maybe there will be some opportunity to repay loans through a rural medicine program? I haven't looked into this yet. But we do plan on continuing to live like a resident for a couple years after becoming attending as well.

We've talked about moving a lot throughout the process and we're okay with it. Because the kids have always been homeschooled (long before Covid homeschooling), we don't have to worry about them leaving their school.

It's such a heavy heavy price to pay, and I've been trying to figure out a way to be at peace with not doing it, but I'm not sure I can.

Thanks for the advice and encouragement!

 

[Dr Tapatio]

As much hate as I'll get for this, I cannot recommend anyone to go to medical school when they have 5 home school kids that they'll deprive from their needed attention and will put through economic struggle for many years (this includes your school loans). I get you have dreams and what not, but you need to think of your kids before yourself

 

[booniesdoc]

As much hate as I'll get for this, I cannot recommend anyone to go to medical school when they have 5 home school kids that they'll deprive from their needed attention and will put through economic struggle for many years (this includes your school loans). I get you have dreams and what not, but you need to think of your kids before yourself

Thanks for your input! I'm not looking to hear just what I want to hear, I definitely want to hear all angles. I appreciate what you're saying and agree to an extent (or I wouldn't be so worried about it). Does it seem more doable and address your concerns that my husband will be staying home with them when I go to school? Either way, they will be with a parent homeschooling them and dedicating 100% to them. Thanks for chiming in!

 

[booniesdoc]

It also may help to know that my husband wants this, and is greatly looking forward to being able to retire from a career that he no longer enjoys. We will also have the means to support ourself from the sale of our property in California. So the kids won't be living in poverty or anything (although we will have to live within a strict budget - but who doesn't). Hope that helps in weighing all the factors. I really appreciate everyone's take on this!

 

[Dr Tapatio]

Thanks for your input! I'm not looking to hear just what I want to hear, I definitely want to hear all angles. I appreciate what you're saying and agree to an extent (or I wouldn't be so worried about it). Does it seem more doable and address your concerns that my husband will be staying home with them when I go to school? Either way, they will be with a parent homeschooling them and dedicating 100% to them. Thanks for chiming in!

That's up to you and your husband and how much you can trust him to do at home what you do for the next 7+ years. I don't see how you'll be able to feed a family of 7 with just your student loans. Add onto that all other expenses that happen (expenses of moving across the country if that happens for med school or residency) and other necessities kids have as they grow up. This is not just the 7 years but it'll include paying back all those loans the years after. Is there a reason why not to go the PA route that's only 2 years and should afford you a high salary with basically similar role?

 

[booniesdoc]

That's up to you and your husband and how much you can trust him to do at home what you do for the next 7+ years. I don't see how you'll be able to feed a family of 7 with just your student loans. Add onto that all other expenses that happen (expenses of moving across the country if that happens for med school or residency) and other necessities kids have as they grow up. This is not just the 7 years but it'll include paying back all those loans the years after. Is there a reason why not to go the PA route that's only 2 years and should afford you a high salary with basically similar role?

I added another reply above that answers that; we will have proceeds from the sale of our home in California at the time of admission that will pay for our costs of living. We will have to live on less but we will be okay financially. The PA route would not be satisfying to me and would not be financially feasible as I would only make as much as my husband currently makes (less actually) and he would still need to retire and stay home with them if I worked full time. So financially that wouldn't be viable.
As far as him being able to do all that I do that's debatable 😛 but he'll get good at it through practice just like I had to. I don't believe men are naturally inferior at parenting or running a household. It just takes practice.
Thanks for the thoughts on it! It's a lot to consider and a huge decision.

 

[Dr Tapatio]

I added another reply above that answers that; we will have proceeds from the sale of our home in California at the time of admission that will pay for our costs of living. We will have to live on less but we will be okay financially. The PA route would not be satisfying to me and would not be financially feasible as I would only make as much as my husband currently makes (less actually) and he would still need to retire and stay home with them if I worked full time. So financially that wouldn't be viable.
As far as him being able to do all that I do that's debatable 😛 but he'll get good at it through practice just like I had to. I don't believe men are naturally inferior at parenting or running a household. It just takes practice.
Thanks for the thoughts on it! It's a lot to consider and a huge decision.

At the end of the day, I get it. I entered med school as second career. It would have been easier to do PA, but sometimes it's just not what you're looking for

I didn't mean your husband was or should be inferior by virtue of being male, but there are men that aren't interested in that. I don't think that makes them less just like a woman not interested in that doesn't make her less

Good luck

 

[booniesdoc]

At the end of the day, I get it. I entered med school as second career. It would have been easier to do PA, but sometimes it's just not what you're looking for

I didn't mean your husband was or should be inferior by virtue of being male, but there are men that aren't interested in that. I don't think that makes them less just like a woman not interested in that doesn't make her less

Good luck

Absolutely. Understood. Thanks for helping me think this through. And congratulations on getting into med school and being able to live your dream! It's exciting but scary!

 

[booniesdoc]

Okay so I've run the numbers and I've made some assumptions about my current trend continuing until I apply. The AMCAS GPA calculator says I will have a cGPA of 3.45, a sGPA of 3.59, and an aoGPA of 2.92, with a strong upward trend over the last year or two of 3.8 - 3.9.

I was a psychiatric technician (equivalent to an LVN) when I was in my early 20s. I'll be 40 when I apply (38 now). By the time of application I'll have several years of emergency room volunteering, several years of being a volunteer CASA advocate for foster kids, and zero research unfortunately as it just doesn't fit into my life. I'm a homeschooling mom of 5 kids. Obviously I'm aiming to score as high as possible on the MCAT.

Any advice/tips/prognosis would be greatly appreciated. Thanks everyone so very much!

Correction: I think I did a more accurate one which gives my cGPA as 3.45 and my sGPA as 3.49

 

[Stranger00120]

I applied with 9 colleges; you'll likely get some questions about your path if you get interviews, but it isn't detrimental. I've gotten four interviews this cycle, and I've gotten two acceptances, so it can definitely be done.

 

[booniesdoc]

I applied with 9 colleges; you'll likely get some questions about your path if you get interviews, but it isn't detrimental. I've gotten four interviews this cycle, and I've gotten two acceptances, so it can definitely be done.

Wow that’s awesome! Congratulations!!! Thank you so much for sharing this. It’s a huge encouragement!

 

[Stranger00120]

Wow that’s awesome! Congratulations!!! Thank you so much for sharing this. It’s a huge encouragement!

Thanks! I'm definitely nontraditional. This was my fifth cycle, so don't necessarily be surprised if you aren't accepted first round, but keep improving and you'll land somewhere. Each cycle has improved for me, and I'm going to be a doctor, starting this journey at 34.

 

[booniesdoc]

Thanks! I'm definitely nontraditional. This was my fifth cycle, so don't necessarily be surprised if you aren't accepted first round, but keep improving and you'll land somewhere. Each cycle has improved for me, and I'm going to be a doctor, starting this journey at 34.

It takes a LOT of patience and determination to keep trying for five cycles! What do you think were the main factors that led to such success this cycle? Great job!!

 

[Stranger00120]

It takes a LOT of patience and determination to keep trying for five cycles! What do you think were the main factors that led to such success this cycle? Great job!!

I did a master's program (not an SMP), and I finished with a 4.0. It gave me fresh research to talk about (no pubs, but trying to cut down to submit), I got fresh letters of recommendation to go along with my science LORs, and my program had a lot of time spent in the hospital (pre-COVID). I also got a DO letter, which I hadn't had before, through doing additional shadowing on my own.

In my personal statement the last two cycles I told a really different story than the one I had told the previous three, because I had been inspired by some new experiences.

I'm going to a DO school, which I'm perfectly happy with, and I've got one more interview with another school coming up. Of the three completed interviews I've had two acceptances and a waitlist. Last year I interviewed at two schools and was waitlisted at both. I applied earlier this year, because last year I wanted to finish my fall semester classes and get those new LORs before I applied. Honestly, not doing my first year online seems like it's better for me, even though I'm losing out on year of being an attending.

 

[booniesdoc]

I did a master's program (not an SMP), and I finished with a 4.0. It gave me fresh research to talk about (no pubs, but trying to cut down to submit), I got fresh letters of recommendation to go along with my science LORs, and my program had a lot of time spent in the hospital (pre-COVID). I also got a DO letter, which I hadn't had before, through doing additional shadowing on my own.

In my personal statement the last two cycles I told a really different story than the one I had told the previous three, because I had been inspired by some new experiences.

I'm going to a DO school, which I'm perfectly happy with, and I've got one more interview with another school coming up. Of the three completed interviews I've had two acceptances and a waitlist. Last year I interviewed at two schools and was waitlisted at both. I applied earlier this year, because last year I wanted to finish my fall semester classes and get those new LORs before I applied. Honestly, not doing my first year online seems like it's better for me, even though I'm losing out on year of being an attending.

Wow great job and way to really stick in there and do what’s best for you. Very wise and very patient. Congratulations again!! And thanks for sharing details of the process- it helps to really see how much efforts can pay off!

 

[Stranger00120]

Wow great job and way to really stick in there and do what’s best for you. Very wise and very patient. Congratulations again!! And thanks for sharing details of the process- it helps to really see how much efforts can pay off!

Thanks! I'm glad to share my experience, now that I can actually say that I've been accepted. It's been a really long process, but I think it will be worth it. Feel free to PM me if I can offer any help.

 

[booniesdoc]

Thanks! I'm glad to share my experience, now that I can actually say that I've been accepted. It's been a really long process, but I think it will be worth it. Feel free to PM me if I can offer any help.

Thanks so much!

 

[Dave1980]

Thanks so much!

Although I wish you the best hollisterdoc I think your plan is crazy. I can't recommend throwing away anymore time, energy, and money into pursuing med school.

 

[booniesdoc]

I hope any of you guys who encouraged me on this thread will see this. I just wanted to let you all know I maintained my recent straight A’s all this time and finished out with a cGPA and sGPA right around where we predicted. I scored a 514 on the MCAT in May, and I just filled out secondaries for medical school! I went to one interview so far and am waiting to see what will happen this cycle. My kids and I are doing great and I have really incorporated the team effort approach that chicandtoughness suggested. The kids and my husband are excited and are my biggest supporters. We’ll see what happens! Thanks everyone for all your time and help!

 

[wholeheartedly]

I hope any of you guys who encouraged me on this thread will see this. I just wanted to let you all know I maintained my recent straight A’s all this time and finished out with a cGPA and sGPA right around where we predicted. I scored a 514 on the MCAT in May, and I just filled out secondaries for medical school! I went to one interview so far and am waiting to see what will happen this cycle. My kids and I are doing great and I have really incorporated the team effort approach that chicandtoughness suggested. The kids and my husband are excited and are my biggest supporters. We’ll see what happens! Thanks everyone for all your time and help!

Congrats on your accomplishments! Keep us posted.

 

[chicandtoughness]

I hope any of you guys who encouraged me on this thread will see this. I just wanted to let you all know I maintained my recent straight A’s all this time and finished out with a cGPA and sGPA right around where we predicted. I scored a 514 on the MCAT in May, and I just filled out secondaries for medical school! I went to one interview so far and am waiting to see what will happen this cycle. My kids and I are doing great and I have really incorporated the team effort approach that chicandtoughness suggested. The kids and my husband are excited and are my biggest supporters. We’ll see what happens! Thanks everyone for all your time and help!

Congrats!!! This is already a huge accomplishment - straight A's AND a 514 (especially with prereqs + homeschooling 5 kids + all the other stuff that moms do!) So glad to hear that your family is supporting you all the way. Crossing my fingers for you this cycle!

Here's some additional inspiration I stumbled upon 😉

Mom of 9 graduates from medical school, plans to become a neurosurgeon

Sarah Merrill's children range in age from 20 to 8-years-old.

www.goodmorningamerica.com

 

[booniesdoc]

Thanks guys!!! And thanks for the story chicandtoughness, I'm off to read it now! 🥰💃

 

[booniesdoc]

Oh my goodness I just read it and had to fight the tears! Amazing!! ❤️ 🥳💃

 

[booniesdoc]

Hi everyone! Just wanted to let you all know I’ve been accepted!!! I still can’t believe it! Thank you all so much for all the support! 🥳🥰🥳

 

[chicandtoughness]

Hi everyone! Just wanted to let you all know I’ve been accepted!!! I still can’t believe it! Thank you all so much for all the support! 🥳🥰🥳

Yaaaaay!! Congrats supermom and future doctor!

 

[booniesdoc]

Yaaaaay!! Congrats supermom and future doctor!

Lol 💃 Thank you!! 🥰🥳