Architecture student looking for advice

[breezy16]

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[Chip N Sawbones]

Your grades are definitely good enough to make you competitive for med school. Do well in the prereq courses, retake Physics I if you got a C or worse, and you should be set. At this point your first step should be getting some shadowing time in to make sure that you really want to be a doctor. Helping people can be fun, but what about people who you can't help? What about people who don't appreciate your help? Some of your patients won't even bother to thank you for what you do. Others will get mad at you for not doing more. Others will take you to court and sue you because you were trying to help them, only it didn't work out.

If that didn't dissuade you, then try to find a clinical volunteering opportunity to boost your ECs. Free clinics and emergency rooms are a good place to start. Throw in a little research, do well on your MCATs, and you should be good to go.

 

[Deekle]

If you don't mind me asking, what is your age/marital-kiddo/work status? These can play a role in answering how you juggle EC's with life in general. If you're 21, single and not currently working, I'd say you're in a great position to get everything you need to get done taken care of quite easily. Even if you don't, you're young enough that it won't make a difference. If you're 52, married with triplet kindergartners and working two full time jobs as a trash man and an elephant washer, then things can be a little bit more complicated.

 

[breezy16]

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[Deekle]

Deekle, I am currently single and turning 21 within the couple of months. However, I do not have family support and have a very colorful family background so that also gives me a diversified application. I have a full-ride for undergrad but I'm not sure if I can get help for Med school. Therefore, I'll be trying to work as much as I can to pay for Med school and if I don't get scholarships for the final year of extra classes.

O.K. Breezy....take a deep breath...in through the nose.....out through the mouth.

The good news is, if medical school is really what you want, you're in a great position to make it happen. In fact, you're in a way better position than probably 90% of the people on this nontrad forum.

You're young, single and it sounds like you have some passion and the natural abilities required (based on your GPA).

My best advice to you is to take a stepwise approach. Yes, you should definately get some volunteer\shadowing experience. The shadowing will give you an idea what you are getting into. As for volunteer experience, you are young and that equates to inexperience in a lot of people's minds. I'd work on stretching yourself a bit. Step outside of the box that is "normal" for you. Basically that means don't just go volunteer at the local hospital emergency department and pass out blankets and urine test kits. I would shoot for some community volunteer experience that focuses on underpriviledged folks.

You also need to focus on finishing out your prereqs with the best possible grades. Then move onto the MCAT. It's never too early to start studying. Meanwhile, hopefully you have been developing some relationships with the folks that you will be asking for recommendations. You want great LOR's not just decent ones.

These are the main things that you need to focus on, but are not the only things. You're in the right spot if you want advice. The folks here on SDN will give you the tools you need to succeed.

Keep working hard and remember that you're young and have plenty of time to make this happen so don't get discouraged. If you do, just pop back into the non-trad forum and talk with us old farts...we'll square you away.

 

[washingtondc]

O.K. Breezy....take a deep breath...in through the nose.....out through the mouth.

The good news is, if medical school is really what you want, you're in a great position to make it happen. In fact, you're in a way better position than probably 90% of the people on this nontrad forum.

You're young, single and it sounds like you have some passion and the natural abilities required (based on your GPA).

My best advice to you is to take a stepwise approach. Yes, you should definately get some volunteer\shadowing experience. The shadowing will give you an idea what you are getting into. As for volunteer experience, you are young and that equates to inexperience in a lot of people's minds. I'd work on stretching yourself a bit. Step outside of the box that is "normal" for you. Basically that means don't just go volunteer at the local hospital emergency department and pass out blankets and urine test kits. I would shoot for some community volunteer experience that focuses on underpriviledged folks.

You also need to focus on finishing out your prereqs with the best possible grades. Then move onto the MCAT. It's never too early to start studying. Meanwhile, hopefully you have been developing some relationships with the folks that you will be asking for recommendations. You want great LOR's not just decent ones.

These are the main things that you need to focus on, but are not the only things. You're in the right spot if you want advice. The folks here on SDN will give you the tools you need to succeed.

Keep working hard and remember that you're young and have plenty of time to make this happen so don't get discouraged. If you do, just pop back into the non-trad forum and talk with us old farts...we'll square you away.

use gunner training for the MCAT.

 

[breezy16]

Thank you for your advice. It definitely has me feeling much more relaxed on the subject. I plan on getting my hands on MCAT study material asap so I can begin to acquaint myself with the information.

I guess one more question I have, and I do not know if anyone knows the answer to it, is if I can take my remainder premed courses as a "non degree seeking student" at a local university after I acquire my Arch Bach? Or do I need to take up a Post-bach degree?

 

[Chip N Sawbones]

I guess one more question I have, and I do not know if anyone knows the answer to it, is if I can take my remainder premed courses as a "non degree seeking student" at a local university after I acquire my Arch Bach? Or do I need to take up a Post-bach degree?

If you need to take classes after you graduate, then sign up as a student seeking a second degree as a chemistry or biology major, even if you have no intention of actually getting another degree. That way you'll be eligible for scholarships and you won't be at a disadvantage when registering for classes. Since you're still in college, you might as well just take the prereq classes now and save the time and expense of going back to school later.

 

[breezy16]

If you need to take classes after you graduate, then sign up as a student seeking a second degree as a chemistry or biology major, even if you have no intention of actually getting another degree. That way you'll be eligible for scholarships and you won't be at a disadvantage when registering for classes. Since you're still in college, you might as well just take the prereq classes now and save the time and expense of going back to school later.

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