Any advice on where to begin?

[jmahn13]

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I did post a thread a while back in a similar vein as this, but I chose to focus on other things for a while, and I fear it would be pointless to try to inject new life into a thread that's already a year old.

Does anybody have any tips on where I should even begin? I skated through my BA in History from the University of Washington, where I graduated in 2013. I worked as a police officer for a couple years after that. Then I moved across the country to be near family, where I currently work what is essentially a dead-end job at a factory. The pay is alright, and it provides me with medical and dental insurance, but that is about it. I know I could be doing more, and I have always had an interest in medicine. I never really believed I could grind through the pre-req's until now, which I realize puts me at a significant disadvantage. It has been so long since I've been in college that none of my professors would remember me enough for any letters of recommendation, which would be pointless anyway because I never really stood out except for in a couple of my upper level history classes. And I have given though to the NP or PA route, but I fear I would get through that and feel like I could just be doing MORE.

How did some of you other non-trads begin your journey? I'd love to hear from anybody with similar experiences (or lack thereof) before their decision to pursue a career in medicine.

 

[mk04447]

What do you mean "how did we take the first steps"? We took them. In my case, there was a year of laughter. A year or ridicule. And, a year of envy before my goals were accepted. If you can't weather the storm, don't try; that way you'll never have to be humble or learn to live with success.

 

[futuremdforme]

My background is different than yours but was not med related. People asked out of interest but I did really well - accepted to 4 schools (applied to 11). Working as a police officer sounds like a really neat background, and you would be able to discuss untreated mental illness and social determinates of health which interact with people's involvement with corrections.

Since you have to take pre-reqs anyway, might as well aim to get LORs from those profs. Get to know them, say you like their lecture style, ask if they need a TA the next year, or if they have research where you could participate so they can say something other than you got an A.

To get started, I would find a volunteer gig and start building hours (once a week or every 2 weeks from now until you start med school). And start with a pre-req - get As.

 

[gyngyn]

Doctors love cops (and ex-cops). This won't be a problem.

 

[AnotherLawyer]

I did post a thread a while back in a similar vein as this, but I chose to focus on other things for a while, and I fear it would be pointless to try to inject new life into a thread that's already a year old.

Does anybody have any tips on where I should even begin? I skated through my BA in History from the University of Washington, where I graduated in 2013. I worked as a police officer for a couple years after that. Then I moved across the country to be near family, where I currently work what is essentially a dead-end job at a factory. The pay is alright, and it provides me with medical and dental insurance, but that is about it. I know I could be doing more, and I have always had an interest in medicine. I never really believed I could grind through the pre-req's until now, which I realize puts me at a significant disadvantage. It has been so long since I've been in college that none of my professors would remember me enough for any letters of recommendation, which would be pointless anyway because I never really stood out except for in a couple of my upper level history classes. And I have given though to the NP or PA route, but I fear I would get through that and feel like I could just be doing MORE.

How did some of you other non-trads begin your journey? I'd love to hear from anybody with similar experiences (or lack thereof) before their decision to pursue a career in medicine.

Don't overthink this. Enroll in Bio 1 or Gen Chem 1, get an A, take another class, get an A, repeat. That should get you well on your way. This process can seem so daunting that we lose sight of what we should be doing today and instead worry about all the stuff that we'll have to do at some future point. Try not to succumb to that type of thinking.

To answer your question specifically, I enrolled in Gen Chem 1.

 

[Blanky]

Don't overthink this. Enroll in Bio 1 or Gen Chem 1, get an A, take another class, get an A, repeat. That should get you well on your way. This process can seem so daunting that we lose sight of what we should be doing today and instead worry about all the stuff that we'll have to do at some future point. Try not to succumb to that type of thinking.

To answer your question specifically, I enrolled in Gen Chem 1.

This exactly. Maybe start slow with only Gen chem 1 and lab and then take Gen chem 2 and add in bio or physics if you are feeling stronger. Stay motivated and do some shadowing you might be surprised the position you find yourself in within 1-2 years.

 

[coppernickel]

This exactly. Maybe start slow with only Gen chem 1 and lab and then take Gen chem 2 and add in bio or physics if you are feeling stronger. Stay motivated and do some shadowing you might be surprised the position you find yourself in within 1-2 years.

I second this. You're fine, just shadow, decide MD vs PA, then take prereqs.

If you have time, volunteer at your local ER. That might connect the dots so they can see your police career stemming from the same values that brought you to this point to enter healthcare. Or something in that vein. You obviously have a service oriented character, so let it shine.

I also had a change in career, not like yours but still different: analyst to EMT/ED tech/nurse aide. You have an advantage you don't know which is that you haven't taken your prereqs yet. Ace them because that's almost a blank canvas there.