AMCAS application as a non-traditional student

[Marnoona]

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Hello, i may seem clueless but i am just wondering how to apply as a non traditional student through AMCAS application? i have started my AMCAS application but i still didn't see the section for non traditional student, or even if there is any? i really need help and advice about how to apply as a non traditional student on the AMCAS because i have no clue.

P.S here is a brief story about my situation, and why i just decided to apply as a non trad. student... however, i need an advice whether i am truly eligible as a non trad. student or not.
I just graduated this year from BSC[H] of biochemistry at a Canadian university after spending 5 years. I didn't go to a Canadian high school, but i actually came straight from England to Canada and applied to the university, and got accepted within a month. I didn't finish all the years at college when i was in England, as i only finished half of the core requirements of A level (part of British education system for further education prior to high education, which is university). Thus, it was difficult to catch up with all the courses' materials at the university because i didn't have the full knowledge, especially in physics and mathematics, and it was even a bit hard to fit in during the first years. I am 24 years old now, and might consider applying to Masters during the waiting period (wanting to do Post-Bacc) but i have to do MCAT because few of the programs require either MCAT or GRE, so i will be either eligible for acceptance for the Fall or Winter semester. Also, i have to move to the U.S because i am a U.S resident now, so my direction for applying to medical schools would be the U.S medical schools. My GPA isn't very competitive but meets the minimum GPA requirement for applying to medical school. I will sit the MCAT on July 13th for the first time, and of course i will try my best for it (even though i am getting anxious as the day comes closer and closer).

Your advice is really appreciated, thank you 🙂.

 

[Toss]

To answer the first part of your post, a non-traditional student would apply just like any other potential applicant.

The main thing separating a non-traditional student from a traditional student is that the traditional student applies to medical school during junior or senior year of undergraduate college.

The typical non-traditional student is applying years afterward.

That said, I don't know how that would apply to your specific case.

 

[wholeheartedly]

As Toss said, there isn't anything in the AMCAS application to indicate an applicant's status as a nontrad.
Some school's secondaries might ask about how you would add to the diversity of the class or something and you might be able to talk about life experience there.


It seems you feel it's really important or that you get something out of being classified a nontrad student, and I'm afraid to tell you that you don't. Being a nontrad is a pretty vague, nonspecific designation sometimes. Generally it's based on some time off from school at some point and being a little older, but it could also be someone with 2 kids trying to manage college at the normal age perhaps. Or a service man or woman who's taking classes on base overseas trying to get in. Heck, we've had a 16 year who was applying who posted on here to ask questions because he was definitely nontraditional in the younger direction.

Nontrads can bring life some life experience and maturity to the table in a positive way, but we don't get any slack as far as GPA or MCAT scores or having volunteer experiences, or any of the other stuff needed to apply.