Hey all,
Currently active duty Air Force officer, looking for anyone with previous experience under any similar conditions. Background: Undergrad BS Chemistry; 3.2 GPA, [In progress] M.S.; Space Systems, Military job: Space Operations. My commitment will be up in fall 2018, and I think I'm ready to finally go forth with life ambitions, and pursue a career in the medical field.
My current plan is to make MCAT prep as a part-time job, and test in late winter/spring 2017, and if I do well, shotgun apply to schools to start in fall of 2018. My specific questions regarding prep can be well answered in other areas, so my main question is in regards to your military leadership. When did you approach them to let them know your goals were outside the military? How receptive were they? I've been told, "if you're going to get out--never tell your commander, because you're just shooting yourself in the foot," but as someone who supervises other folks, I always ask my guys/gals just keep me informed--good or bad. I feel not disclosing my plans/goals with them is sort of shady, for lack of a better term.
I toyed with the idea of rushing to take the test in Sept '16, and finish a rushed application by the 1 Nov deadline for most schools I would like to apply to, however I think with such a low relative GPA, and being several years removed from relevant undergrad courses, I need more time to best prepare to perform well on the MCAT. Also, I'm currently deployed somewhere in the Middle East until late summer, so I would say my preparation wouldn't be optimal.
Any previous active duty folks--anything else you could add about working with your leadership for various waivers, requesting a recommendation, obscure programs the general population has never heard of, or anything related? All insight appreciated!
Currently active duty Air Force officer, looking for anyone with previous experience under any similar conditions. Background: Undergrad BS Chemistry; 3.2 GPA, [In progress] M.S.; Space Systems, Military job: Space Operations. My commitment will be up in fall 2018, and I think I'm ready to finally go forth with life ambitions, and pursue a career in the medical field.
My current plan is to make MCAT prep as a part-time job, and test in late winter/spring 2017, and if I do well, shotgun apply to schools to start in fall of 2018. My specific questions regarding prep can be well answered in other areas, so my main question is in regards to your military leadership. When did you approach them to let them know your goals were outside the military? How receptive were they? I've been told, "if you're going to get out--never tell your commander, because you're just shooting yourself in the foot," but as someone who supervises other folks, I always ask my guys/gals just keep me informed--good or bad. I feel not disclosing my plans/goals with them is sort of shady, for lack of a better term.
I toyed with the idea of rushing to take the test in Sept '16, and finish a rushed application by the 1 Nov deadline for most schools I would like to apply to, however I think with such a low relative GPA, and being several years removed from relevant undergrad courses, I need more time to best prepare to perform well on the MCAT. Also, I'm currently deployed somewhere in the Middle East until late summer, so I would say my preparation wouldn't be optimal.
Any previous active duty folks--anything else you could add about working with your leadership for various waivers, requesting a recommendation, obscure programs the general population has never heard of, or anything related? All insight appreciated!