Am I on the Right Path?

[Dr. Leo Spaceman]

Hey everybody, this is my first post and I am very excited to hear what you all have to say!

I am graduating next week with a BA in economics with a 3.59 GPA. I have zero prerequisites completed and I am extremely anxious about taking my life in this new direction. It's all so new to me. Here's my plan thus far. Criticism, wisdom and suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Spring 2016: Chemistry I and Physics I
Summer 2016: Chemistry II and Physics II
Fall 2016: OChem I and General Bio
Spring 2017: OChem II and Cell Bio
Summer 2017: Biochem and take MCAT

I am currently employed at a K-12 tutoring center where I work 25 hours per week, am a volunteer adult literacy tutor at my local library and a volunteer at a large hospital. I have also been an enlisted member in the Air National Guard for 2.5 years, have my pilots license and have had several non-medical internships. Most of my classes (except OChem, Cell Bio and Biochem) will be taken at a community college. Thank you so much for taking the time to read this!

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[thatwouldbeanarchy]

Looks like a solid plan to me. When are you planning to apply?

As long as you maintain a good science GPA and give yourself plenty of time to study for and do well on the MCAT, you should be fine. Taking prereqs at CC should be okay (especially since you're a nontrad) but it might be worth looking at a few schools you might be interested in to make sure they don't have a problem with this. As for your EC's, keep up with volunteering and try to shadow a few doctors in different specialties. Not sure if your current hospital volunteering gives you direct patient contact but if it doesn't, you should try to do something that does.

Good luck!

 

[New_Slang]

I recommend the $25 investment of the MSAR subscription to double check that your dream school will take community college courses (some universities are sticklers). It can also give you good insight and will help you set goals to work towards.

I applaud your reasonable approach -- most "newbies" come in here saying they'll take 3 or 4 classes at once and get offended when we tell them to take it easy. I'm glad you seem to have a level head only taking 2 at a time. I did take 3 at a time but I wasn't working and was able to dedicate all my energy to classes (while my husband supported us financially).

 

[Goro]

Taking both Chem and Physics over a summer session is pretty heavy duty.

Many thanks for your service to our country!

If not pilot, how navigator or electronics specialist?

Drone pilot? (we need lots of those!)

Hey everybody, this is my first post and I am very excited to hear what you all have to say!

I am graduating next week with a BA in economics with a 3.59 GPA. My dream throughout college was to be an Air Force pilot, but after discovering I have a few medical problems that disqualify me from that dream, I have decided to pursue medicine. Anyway, I have zero prerequisites completed and I am extremely anxious about taking my life in this new direction. It's all so new to me. Here's my plan thus far. Criticism, wisdom and suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Spring 2016: Chemistry I and Physics I
Summer 2016: Chemistry II and Physics II
Fall 2016: OChem I and General Bio
Spring 2017: OChem II and Cell Bio
Summer 2017: Biochem and take MCAT

I am currently employed at a K-12 tutoring center where I work 25 hours per week, a volunteer adult literacy tutor at my local library and a volunteer at a large hospital. I have also been an enlisted member in the Air National Guard for 2.5 years, have my civilian pilots license and have had several non-medical internships. Most of my classes (except OChem, Cell Bio and Biochem) will be taken at a community college. Thank you so much for taking the time to read this!

 

[Affiche]

Might be easier to take Gen Chem with Biology and Ochem with Physics. Ochem and Biology can both be pretty heavy loads, so I liked taking them during different semesters. Good luck!

 

[Dr. Leo Spaceman]

Thanks so much for all the positive feedback! I'll double check with the medical schools in my area to make sure community college credits will suffice. I also talked to my volunteer coordinator yesterday and she said it would be easy for me to hang around and shadow a few doctors after they get to know me a little better.