Apply this round? Or wait...

[NTDOS]

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So I was considering applying this round (2019) to medical schools and as June 1st approaches, it's looking less and less hopeful and was hoping for some advice on how to proceed.

I'm finishing this week at William and Mary with a bachelors in science
Kinesiology Major
Public health minor
Pre-med concentration.

I've also got two associate degrees in science and emergency medical services.
My cGPA 3.48, sGPA 3.39.

My first semester at W&M I got a C in a 450 cardiovascular physiology, and 5 Bs, but 4.0 straight As the past 4 semesters.

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ECs: I'm a Critical Care Flight Paramedic (FP-C) (ACLS, PALS, CPR, TCCC, ITLS, PHTLS, etc.) and field training officer at two private transport EMS agencies, as well as a volunteer (over 3000 hours) at a city 911 EMS agency for the past 7 years.... I also work as a Critical Care Rapid Response Team Medic in the ICU at a local hospital. and previously worked for 3 years in a trauma 1 center in the ER as a paramedic tech. I've only shadowed 2 physicians for a total of 20 hours. And started, own, and solely operate a nonprofit organization doing home repair, safety assessments, lawn care, etc, for disabled and elderly patients trying to maintain their autonomy but unable to keep up with their homes.


I know my GPA isn't very strong, and my ECs are covered (except for hardly any shadowing, but with working 3 jobs, running a nonprofit, volunteering and going to school, there just isn't enough hours in the day) but I have yet to take my MCAT. I'm 30 and have no support (obviously) and because of my first semester, I've had to focus all my time into studying to get my GPA back up from a 2.7. That being said, because of that, I haven't been able to study for the MCAT. I'd like to apply this cycle, but if I take the MCAT mid or late June, I'll only be giving myself 6 weeks to study. For obviously reasons, that's crazy, but if I wait, I won't start until 2021 (when I'm 32) which I also don't want to do. I spent 4 years in the Marine corps with multiple combat deployments overseas in the infantry in Iraq and Afghanistan, spent 3 years becoming a paramedic, took an extra year at community college, and an extra year at w&m. I've had to delay this process repeatedly, and have been in school for a solid 7 years now, and I'm just now finishing my bachelors.

My question is, how should I go about my MCAT? Is it possible to cram in 6 weeks (assuming I spend atleast 4 hours a day studying)? If so, any advice? I've been moving through the Kaplan books and Khan videos... should I just wait? Is it too risky? Should I just wait a year, take it in January and apply next cycle? I can do a year of private military contracting overseas as a paramedic and make some good money in the mean time if I wait, but I really don't want to put anything off anymore...

 

[Ad2b]

1. Congrats on all you HAVE accomplished in your life!

2. Thank you for your service to our great country #NeverForget

3. Your age should be a very irrelevant factor in your decision making

4. If your GPA were higher indicating solid grasp of the core subjects tested on the MCAT, you might be okay taking/studying for it over 6 weeks at 4 hours per day.

But your GPA is ... lacking a bit for MD without a great MCAT score to offset it. For DO, I can't really say but others will surely chime in.

As hard as it might be to wait a cycle, I would take the MCAT when you can consistently score in the 512+ range if not higher on the official AAMC Full Length exams to offset your GPA... which means not taking the exam in 6 weeks but maybe in 3 - 4 months.

 

[ppushpak]

So I was considering applying this round (2019) to medical schools and as June 1st approaches, it's looking less and less hopeful and was hoping for some advice on how to proceed.

I'm finishing this week at William and Mary with a bachelors in science
Kinesiology Major
Public health minor
Pre-med concentration.

I've also got two associate degrees in science and emergency medical services.
My cGPA 3.48, sGPA 3.39.

My first semester at W&M I got a C in a 450 cardiovascular physiology, and 5 Bs, but 4.0 straight As the past 4 semesters.

--------------------------------------

ECs: I'm a Critical Care Flight Paramedic (FP-C) (ACLS, PALS, CPR, TCCC, ITLS, PHTLS, etc.) and field training officer at two private transport EMS agencies, as well as a volunteer (over 3000 hours) at a city 911 EMS agency for the past 7 years.... I also work as a Critical Care Rapid Response Team Medic in the ICU at a local hospital. and previously worked for 3 years in a trauma 1 center in the ER as a paramedic tech. I've only shadowed 2 physicians for a total of 20 hours. And started, own, and solely operate a nonprofit organization doing home repair, safety assessments, lawn care, etc, for disabled and elderly patients trying to maintain their autonomy but unable to keep up with their homes.


I know my GPA isn't very strong, and my ECs are covered (except for hardly any shadowing, but with working 3 jobs, running a nonprofit, volunteering and going to school, there just isn't enough hours in the day) but I have yet to take my MCAT. I'm 30 and have no support (obviously) and because of my first semester, I've had to focus all my time into studying to get my GPA back up from a 2.7. That being said, because of that, I haven't been able to study for the MCAT. I'd like to apply this cycle, but if I take the MCAT mid or late June, I'll only be giving myself 6 weeks to study. For obviously reasons, that's crazy, but if I wait, I won't start until 2021 (when I'm 32) which I also don't want to do. I spent 4 years in the Marine corps with multiple deployments overseas in the infantry, spent 3 years becoming a paramedic, took an extra year at community college, and an extra year at w&m. I've had to delay this process repeatedly, and have been in school for a solid 7 years now, and I'm just now finishing my bachelors.

My question is, how should I go about my MCAT? Is it possible to cram in 6 weeks (assuming I spend atleast 4 hours a day studying)? If so, any advice? I've been moving through the Kaplan books and Khan videos... should I just wait? Is it too risky? Should I just wait a year, take it in January and apply next cycle? I can do a year of private military contracting overseas as a paramedic and make some good money in the mean time if I wait, but I really don't want to put anything off anymore...

Wait a year. MCAT studying in 6 weeks should be more like 12 hours a day rather than 4 hours. 3 months is the recommended time. Don’t rush to take it then get a bad score and set yourself back after you’ve worked so hard. Per other people on SDN being a veteran gives you some leeway in some medical school admissions. I think your GPA is fine and clearly you have corrected your earlier mistakes with 4 4.0 semesters. Take your MCAT this August or September if you feel really pressed for time and if you are okay applying to DO you can apply this late cycle to DO Schools and likely get in if you score well enough. Try to aim for 510+ In general. Make sure to get some more shadowing hours and especially shadow a DO if you are interested in applying that route.

 

[DO_or_Die]

I would take the MCAT by late July and if your score is >500 I would apply DO. I'm an RN with admittedly not even half your experience, but I feel that DO's prefer non traditional student w/ clinical experience. The DO cycle also runs later so if you were complete in your app by September you could expect interviews. Just apply broad and make sure that your ps and secondaries are up to snuff. Good luck! (Also, see if you can shadow some of your docs for maybe 30 more hours if possible just to check off that box)

 

[futuremdforme]

I would take the MCAT by late July and if your score is >500 I would apply DO. I'm an RN with admittedly not even half your experience, but I feel that DO's prefer non traditional student w/ clinical experience. The DO cycle also runs later so if you were complete in your app by September you could expect interviews. Just apply broad and make sure that your ps and secondaries are up to snuff. Good luck! (Also, see if you can shadow some of your docs for maybe 30 more hours if possible just to check off that box)

I don't think this is good advice. MD schools often have more resources and cost less. The OP has a good chance at getting in if s/he applies next year with a stellar MCAT. I think it's worth applying to both next year after putting in the full effort of getting the best score possible.

OP, I was in a really similar situation in terms of age, really wanting to apply a year early -- it was the best decision I ever made to postpone. I got into a much, much, MUCH better school than I would have otherwise. And one year really did not make the difference, but being stuck at a worse school which would have cost me more money would have.