A Few Questions

[Lawguy]

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Hi all,

First post here. I am in the very early stages of considering a career change to medicine, and this forum seems to be a great source of information.

Here's my story: I'm 29 years old, and have been working as a tax attorney at a large law firm for the past few years. I am not entirely unhappy with my career, but I just don't feel the passion for it that I would like to feel for something that consumes such a large percentage of my life, and I think a career as a physician might be right for me.

My undergrad GPA was a 3.47, with almost no science courses (one semester of biology with a lab...and I got an A, for what it's worth). My law school GPA was much better, mainly due to the fact that I matured and worked a lot harder during law school -- a 3.7, which placed me in the top 5% of my class. I have never done any volunteer work in a medical setting, but I plan to start in the very near future (both because I know I will need it if I decide to apply to med school, and because I need to figure out for sure whether this is really what I want).

A couple questions:

1. Would my background and "numbers" make me at all competitive as an applicant to the more selective post bac programs (i.e., Columbia, UConn, Goucher, Bryn Mawr, others I should be considering)?

2. Obviously one weak area on my application is volunteer work. How much is "enough"? I am not looking to matriculate to a post bac program until at least 2007, and possibly even 2008. I hope to volunteer for two or three full days per month until then, although my current work schedule is pretty unpredictable and that will be easier some months than others. Will that be a problem for me with regard to admission to post bac programs?

 

[Lawguy]

Nobody? It's not because of the lawyer thing, is it? 😉

 

[abcd1234]

Your story sounds similar to mine - I worked as a tax accountant as well (not a lawyer though). Not super unhappy but definitely not passionate. Anyway, I left and started a post-bacc program. While I did the program I did a lot of volunteer work and grew more and more excited with the prospects of becoming an M.D. I don't think the previous career path hurts at all. You've learned a lot of skills in that time and become more mature than those right out of college. As far as getting into top schools, you'll need the same as everybody else - great grades and MCAT scores. Your business experience will probably also make you more comfortable in the interviews. GOOD LUCK!!

 

[Lawguy]

Hey, thanks for the words of encouragement! Where are you in the process now; are you finished with post bacc/in med school?

This might seem strange, but I am actually more worried about post bac admissions than the med school admission process. I know that getting into med school will be a challenge, but if I reach that stage, presumably I will have completed a post bacc, will have done some volunteering, and will be somewhat more on an even keel with other applicants, whereas right now, I feel like I have nothing in my background whatsoever that indicates that I have what it takes to succeed in med school (my law school grades prove that I can do well in a rigorous program, but it is not science or medicine related).

Since your background was similar to mine, did you find this to be a problem when you were applying to post bacc programs? Had you done much volunteering or other medical-related work before applying to post bacc programs?

 

[seventiesgal200]

Hey, thanks for the words of encouragement! Where are you in the process now; are you finished with post bacc/in med school?

This might seem strange, but I am actually more worried about post bac admissions than the med school admission process. I know that getting into med school will be a challenge, but if I reach that stage, presumably I will have completed a post bacc, will have done some volunteering, and will be somewhat more on an even keel with other applicants, whereas right now, I feel like I have nothing in my background whatsoever that indicates that I have what it takes to succeed in med school (my law school grades prove that I can do well in a rigorous program, but it is not science or medicine related).

Since your background was similar to mine, did you find this to be a problem when you were applying to post bacc programs? Had you done much volunteering or other medical-related work before applying to post bacc programs?

Many schools that offer post bacc programs (and esp. medical schools) usually like the non-traditional applicants. And you even have a whole other career you've been doing, which shows that you are a lot more more experienced and can take a heavy workload. One thing you need to do is VOLUNTEER. Everyone I have talked to ignored all my other questions regarding this process and said VOLUNTEER. If you can get a volunteer job before post bacc - great. If not, you will definately be in the midst of oppurtunities when you are doing the post bacc.

 

[abcd1234]

Many schools that offer post bacc programs (and esp. medical schools) usually like the non-traditional applicants. And you even have a whole other career you've been doing, which shows that you are a lot more more experienced and can take a heavy workload. One thing you need to do is VOLUNTEER. Everyone I have talked to ignored all my other questions regarding this process and said VOLUNTEER. If you can get a volunteer job before post bacc - great. If not, you will definately be in the midst of oppurtunities when you are doing the post bacc.

I was worried about post-bacc admissions as well but I think they looked mostly at my undergrad grades and not much else. However, med schools will definitely want to see volunteer work in the medical field. Seventiesgal200 is absolutely correct. In fact, I think I spend about 75% of my interview time talking about it.

(Lawguy, I sent you a pm.)

 

[Maurizio]

Hi all,

First post here. I am in the very early stages of considering a career change to medicine, and this forum seems to be a great source of information.

Here's my story: I'm 29 years old, and have been working as a tax attorney at a large law firm for the past few years. I am not entirely unhappy with my career, but I just don't feel the passion for it that I would like to feel for something that consumes such a large percentage of my life, and I think a career as a physician might be right for me.

My undergrad GPA was a 3.47, with almost no science courses (one semester of biology with a lab...and I got an A, for what it's worth). My law school GPA was much better, mainly due to the fact that I matured and worked a lot harder during law school -- a 3.7, which placed me in the top 5% of my class. I have never done any volunteer work in a medical setting, but I plan to start in the very near future (both because I know I will need it if I decide to apply to med school, and because I need to figure out for sure whether this is really what I want).

A couple questions:

1. Would my background and "numbers" make me at all competitive as an applicant to the more selective post bac programs (i.e., Columbia, UConn, Goucher, Bryn Mawr, others I should be considering)?

2. Obviously one weak area on my application is volunteer work. How much is "enough"? I am not looking to matriculate to a post bac program until at least 2007, and possibly even 2008. I hope to volunteer for two or three full days per month until then, although my current work schedule is pretty unpredictable and that will be easier some months than others. Will that be a problem for me with regard to admission to post bac programs?

Hey,

I,m also looking to switch fields (from engineering to medicine). I'm also looking at post-bac programs and it seems that they look mostly at your grades. I don't think they care about much else. I think it's best to focus on getting pre-req courses done and slowly start doing volunteer work from now until you apply to med school. Also, try to do a variety of different things for you volunteer work. It seems that most people shadow a doctor, volunteer in a hospital and that's it. All that is great but I think doing something that will really make you stand out would look better. That's my plan anyway. I hope it works. Good luck. 👍