Advice on Post-Baccs

[careerchanger1]

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Hello everyone, I am applying for post-bacc programs for Summer/Fall 2013 entry and was hoping to get people's advice on a few different topics. Sorry for the long post, but appreciate any advice any of you may have.

First, my quick story so you have a better sense for how to tailor your advice...high enough GPA and SAT scores to be considered competitive, worked on Wall Street since graduating seven years ago. I am pursuing a career in medicine now because it has always been my passion (not going to fully explain here) but was essentially not feasible for my family financially when I was in high school. However, after having worked for a number of years, it's now feasible for me to make finally make the change.

Second, my concern on my application is that I have no recent clinical volunteer experience (fairly difficult to have done with my work hours), but will be starting a volunteer program at a hospital by mid-November, so should get at least a few weeks of volunteering before I submit applications. I did volunteer at a hospital for a summer during my sophomore year of high school and did research at NIH during my junior/senior year of high school.

Third, my questions:

1) What is considered a 'competitive' or reasonable amount of clinical volunteer experience to have?

2) Would any of the post-bacc programs take into consideration my experience volunteering at a hospital and NIH in high school?

3) I'm trying to come up with a list of schools to apply to. So far, I know I'm applying to JHU, NYU, Goucher, Bryn Mawr, Penn, Columbia. Any other good programs I should apply to (especially one-year programs)?

4) What is everyone's view on 1 year vs. 2 year programs? Anyone know if the 2-year programs allow people to do it in 1 year if they so desire (such as NYU)?

5) Any feedback or critique on my 'story' that I provided above?

Really appreciate any help you can provide.

 

[johnnyscans]

Hello everyone, I am applying for post-bacc programs for Summer/Fall 2013 entry and was hoping to get people's advice on a few different topics. Sorry for the long post, but appreciate any advice any of you may have.

First, my quick story so you have a better sense for how to tailor your advice...high enough GPA and SAT scores to be considered competitive, worked on Wall Street since graduating seven years ago. I am pursuing a career in medicine now because it has always been my passion (not going to fully explain here) but was essentially not feasible for my family financially when I was in high school. However, after having worked for a number of years, it's now feasible for me to make finally make the change.

Second, my concern on my application is that I have no recent clinical volunteer experience (fairly difficult to have done with my work hours), but will be starting a volunteer program at a hospital by mid-November, so should get at least a few weeks of volunteering before I submit applications. I did volunteer at a hospital for a summer during my sophomore year of high school and did research at NIH during my junior/senior year of high school.

Third, my questions:

1) What is considered a 'competitive' or reasonable amount of clinical volunteer experience to have?

2) Would any of the post-bacc programs take into consideration my experience volunteering at a hospital and NIH in high school?

3) I'm trying to come up with a list of schools to apply to. So far, I know I'm applying to JHU, NYU, Goucher, Bryn Mawr, Penn, Columbia. Any other good programs I should apply to (especially one-year programs)?

4) What is everyone's view on 1 year vs. 2 year programs? Anyone know if the 2-year programs allow people to do it in 1 year if they so desire (such as NYU)?

5) Any feedback or critique on my 'story' that I provided above?

Really appreciate any help you can provide.

1. The short answer. At least a hundred. The long answer, as many as it takes to convince yourself that there is no other career path for you. You've been working for seven years, and by the looks of it your last clinical exposure was during high school. How do you know that you're going to enjoy medicine, at all? What is it about your current job/career that you're unsatisfied about? Keep in mind: you're going to go from making (presumably) good money to making pretty much nothing for 10+ years. Think long and hard if you're ready to make that change.

I would try to get at least 100+ clinical hours (of both shadowing and volunteering) before I started a full-time post-bacc. The last thing you want is to bust your butt during a post-bacc only to apply with far too few clinical hours. That, my friend, would be application suicide.

2. No. You graduated 7+ years ago. College is 4 years. That's 11 years since you've stepped into hospital/research lab. If you graduated last year it would be a different story.

3. List looks good. My advice, don't rush these pre-reqs. Most one year programs have you taking orgo, physics and biology at the same time. If you've been out of school for a while you could be in for a shock. Physics and Orgo are no joke.

4. I'd recommend the two-year plan for everyone. I'm on the two year plan. I have more than enough time to volunteer, do research, study and pursue hobbies. I also have had room in my schedule to take electives (cell bio, molecular bio, biochem, A&P).

5. Your story has a few glaring holes. You have no recent clinical exposure or experience. You mention your family wasn't financially secure enough for you to do medical school out of HS; how do you plan on affording a post-bacc program and medical school and managing your loans during residency (during which you'll make +/- $50,000/year for an 80 hour work week). How do you know you're still interested in medicine. What are your reasons for pursing medicine? How does your job history, personality and your experiences highlight that you're fully understanding of what a career in medicine requires?

I went from making $75,000/year + bonus to living off of loans and my parents generosity. While my friends are vacationing and buying all types of fun stuff I'm at home studying or teaching or volunteering or in the lab. It it tough at times? You bet. Would I have it any other way? Nope.

Think long and hard before you make this jump. Make damn certain that there is no other career path for you.

Good luck.

 

[Goucher2013]

+1 on everything johnnyscans wrote. It seems like quite a few Wall Street people apply to programs like Goucher every year. The ones I've known had prolonged medical experiences such as working as an EMT-B on the side. You might be able to come across as unusually compelling despite significant medical exposure, but I wouldn't overestimate the odds.

Here's my hunch for what it's going to come down to: You could either wait and gain some relevant experiences, then apply to 1-year programs. Or you could start a two-year program right away and gain those experiences while you study part time.

 

[thlaxer]

4. I'd recommend the two-year plan for everyone. I'm on the two year plan. I have more than enough time to volunteer, do research, study and pursue hobbies. I also have had room in my schedule to take electives (cell bio, molecular bio, biochem, A&P).
...
Think long and hard before you make this jump. Make damn certain that there is no other career path for you.

I'd recommend the two-year plan as well, especially so for someone who's been out of school for a number of years.

And definitely do get some more recent clinical experiences before you make the jump.. Good luck!

 

[careerchanger1]

Really appreciate the thoughts.

I will be starting a volunteer program in the next two weeks, so hopefully, I'll get enough hours and experience to demonstrate my interest/understanding of the field ahead of submitting post-bacc applications in January.

 

[johnnyscans]

Really appreciate the thoughts.

I will be starting a volunteer program in the next two weeks, so hopefully, I'll get enough hours and experience to demonstrate my interest/understanding of the field ahead of submitting post-bacc applications in January.

Starting in two weeks puts you at November 21st. Figure you won't have much time over Thanksgiving to volunteer. Even at 6 hours/week you're only looking at 50-ish hours come the end of January. What type of volunteering will the program have you doing?

With that said, remember, make sure that you've convinced YOURSELF that you're ready for this commitment. You're looking at very little income for 10+ years all while taking some of the most difficult classes you can imagine. If you're not dead set on this path it will tear you apart.

 

[careerchanger1]

Totally agree with you, which is why I'll be doing a bunch of shadowing to make sure I'm convinced before submitting any apps.

As for the actual volunteer experience, I'm pretty sure it will be mostly making beds, transporting patients, handing out water to patients, that sort of thing.

Have you seen volunteer experiences that are more substantial in terms of patient contact?

My experience in high school was actually very hands on....I would bath, feed, change diapers, take vitals for elderly patients and all with no supervision....I'm pretty sure I wasn't supposed to be given this type of responsibility. From what I've seen looking around now, I haven't found many opportunities that allow volunteers to do this type of work anymore. Any suggestions on where to look for better volunteer opportunities?