Advice Please...

[Starfishy]

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I’m a non-trad potential med school applicant and I need some help making a decision.

I was a bio major for 2 years in undergrad and I have taken bio, chem,phys, calc. I am missing all the organics and 2 phys labs. My last science class was taken in 2002 (7 years ago). My bcpm gpa is 3.38.

I graduated with a BA in English with a 3.7 gpa. Volunteer work is not a problem as I’ve been involved in some sort of volunteer work since high school. I teach esl classes, bake for soup kitchens, homeless shelters etc… BUT, I am lacking patient contact/physician shadowing. Also, I don’t have any science/medical research experience. I’m working on getting a medical gig now.

So my question is should I try to complete the science courses that I’m lacking (O.Chem I & II, O.Chem lab and 2 physics labs) summer & fall 2009 & take MCAT in 2010? Or should I wait to apply to a formal post bac program starting fall 2010 since my grades are so old and quite frankly I’ve forgotten a lot of that stuff and take the MCAT in 2011?

Any advice is appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[sindadel]

I'd buy the Exam Krackers books now and work through some of the problems to get a feel for how easily the basic science comes back to you. My physics and chemistry pre-reqs were taken in 1994-1995 and I had no trouble with the MCAT. If the problems are reasonably straightforward for you, then I think the faster approach will be good.

In that case, prepare for the MCAT in detail this summer (minus organic), and then lay aside time after your semester finishes to do final review and some full length tests to be prepared for a test date in May/early June. Second semester organic is not heavily covered by the MCAT so don't worry about that.

Formal post-baccs are spendy, and I don't know if you would be eligible having already taken so much of the coursework. I any case - my two cents. I was in a similar situation (I had already taken the physics labs) and the above is basically what I did.

 

[FutureDrB]

Your numbers look good. As for the lack in patient contact, just start volunteering at your local hospital. As for the shadowing, pick up the phone and call some local D.O.'s. I wouldn't worry too much about not having any research experience. I hear it's not as important for D.O., but I could be wrong. I'm probably not going to have any "official research" to list on my application and I'm not worried about it.

As for your remaining courses, seems to me you could knock out OCHEM I and PHYS Lab I this coming fall, and then OCEM II and PHYS LAB II in the spring of 2010.

In the meantime, as the above poster said, pickup the examcrackers stuff for the MCAT and study for a year... Take it in the spring of 2010 an apply first thing in June of 2010. You should be golden for entry in 2011.

 

[NontradICUdoc]

I’m a non-trad potential med school applicant and I need some help making a decision.

I was a bio major for 2 years in undergrad and I have taken bio, chem,phys, calc. I am missing all the organics and 2 phys labs. My last science class was taken in 2002 (7 years ago). My bcpm gpa is 3.38.

I graduated with a BA in English with a 3.7 gpa. Volunteer work is not a problem as I’ve been involved in some sort of volunteer work since high school. I teach esl classes, bake for soup kitchens, homeless shelters etc… BUT, I am lacking patient contact/physician shadowing. Also, I don’t have any science/medical research experience. I’m working on getting a medical gig now.

So my question is should I try to complete the science courses that I’m lacking (O.Chem I & II, O.Chem lab and 2 physics labs) summer & fall 2009 & take MCAT in 2010? Or should I wait to apply to a formal post bac program starting fall 2010 since my grades are so old and quite frankly I’ve forgotten a lot of that stuff and take the MCAT in 2011?

Any advice is appreciated.

Thanks!

Before you do anything, take the time to speak with an admissions representative from the medical school that you would like to go to. They will let you know if your current science grades are too old. If they are not, there is no reason to retake classes that you do not need to. Just sign up for the organic chemistry classes, do not forget about the lab, and be done with it.

when this part is done, prepare for the MCAT and take it when you feel that you are ready.

You are about to embark on a marathon and not a spring. There is no timetable other than your own. Make sure that everything is complete before you apply.

One good resource is the upcoming OldPreMeds conference in Washington D.C. From June 11-13th. www.oldpremeds.com

 

[Starfishy]

I'd buy the Exam Krackers books now and work through some of the problems to get a feel for how easily the basic science comes back to you. My physics and chemistry pre-reqs were taken in 1994-1995 and I had no trouble with the MCAT. If the problems are reasonably straightforward for you, then I think the faster approach will be good.

In that case, prepare for the MCAT in detail this summer (minus organic), and then lay aside time after your semester finishes to do final review and some full length tests to be prepared for a test date in May/early June. Second semester organic is not heavily covered by the MCAT so don't worry about that.

Formal post-baccs are spendy, and I don't know if you would be eligible having already taken so much of the coursework. I any case - my two cents. I was in a similar situation (I had already taken the physics labs) and the above is basically what I did.

Thanks. I'm going to buy the book and do some problems to see if I need extra science help.

 

[Starfishy]

Your numbers look good. As for the lack in patient contact, just start volunteering at your local hospital. As for the shadowing, pick up the phone and call some local D.O.'s. I wouldn't worry too much about not having any research experience. I hear it's not as important for D.O., but I could be wrong. I'm probably not going to have any "official research" to list on my application and I'm not worried about it.

As for your remaining courses, seems to me you could knock out OCHEM I and PHYS Lab I this coming fall, and then OCEM II and PHYS LAB II in the spring of 2010.

In the meantime, as the above poster said, pickup the examcrackers stuff for the MCAT and study for a year... Take it in the spring of 2010 an apply first thing in June of 2010. You should be golden for entry in 2011.

Thanks. I'm attempting to go the MD route. But, I'm considering DO schools as well. I didn't know if it would look bad on my application if I went to school part-time, taking 2 classes in the summer and then 3 classes in the fall.

 

[Starfishy]

Before you do anything, take the time to speak with an admissions representative from the medical school that you would like to go to. They will let you know if your current science grades are too old. If they are not, there is no reason to retake classes that you do not need to. Just sign up for the organic chemistry classes, do not forget about the lab, and be done with it.

when this part is done, prepare for the MCAT and take it when you feel that you are ready.

You are about to embark on a marathon and not a spring. There is no timetable other than your own. Make sure that everything is complete before you apply.

One good resource is the upcoming OldPreMeds conference in Washington D.C. From June 11-13th. www.oldpremeds.com

Thanks. I am totally not trying to rush things. I'm definitely considering 2012 admission. I want to prepare very well for the MCAT and get some more medical stuff on the resume. Thanks for the advice about the schools. I'm going to make a list of schools that I want to apply to and send them an email about my older grades. I'll look into the conference, I'm only an hour away from DC.