Chances of a non-tradional applicant getting in..?

[A_Shah]

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I was seriously considering carribean med school (Ross Med). What do you guys think?

 

[dr. deez]

acceptances depend on the candidate... no one here is on an ad com so you won't get a concrete answer, but i say you should go for it. there's nothing to lose.

 

[Medical123]

A lot of nontraditional applicants get accepted into medical school every year. Unfortunately, your MCAT is probably what is hurting you the most. Most medical schools give very little consideration to people who have subpar MCAT scores, despite all of their other outstanding characteristics. Try retaking the MCAT in April and get your score up and maybe you will have some good news during the next application cycle if you don't succeed this time around.

Good luck!

 

[kat13]

It never hurts to try, esp. with all of the experinece that you have. Have you looked into osteopathic schools (you sound like a great candidate)? With your physical therapy background you do great with the whole manipulation aspect of osteopathy! PM me if you want to know more about it.

 

[bw07]

Your MCAT isn't making it past the interview screens. Assuming a good personal statement and LORs, it's your only deficiency. I would 1) re-take the MCAT this April if possible and hopefully your score will increase to around 30. 2) re-evaluate which schools you're applying to 3) apply to some osteopathic schools at the same time. 4) work on your statement if necessary, get help with it.

I wouldn't go for the Carribbean schools if you can get into an osteopathic school.

 

[Mike59]

In addition to the sub-par MCAT score, adcoms do not view other health professionals "jumping fields" with favor. Contrary to what one would expect, your PT background may be hindering your success.

Sure, you will find the occasional nurse or pharmacist who made it into med school, but allied health graduates often have the highest rejection rates of all applicants (see the MSAR for evidence). Nurses lead the pack year after year in this statistic.

 

[Iron Horse]

Don't get down on yourself. Like others have said, your MCAT is the obvious piece of your application that needs work, the other aspects sound very good. The good news is that it's easier and faster to address a low MCAT score versus a poor GPA. Focus on preparing for a retake, and be sure to do as well as you can and you should be fine.

I'd also opt for US vs Carib. The allo versus osteo question is more of a personal preference issue you should decide for yourself. Good luck and stay positive.

 

[Jiten]

If I were u, with such good background and extra curriculars, I would take the MCAT once more, with all my heart and get a score of atleast 30. You will certainly get in somewhere. DO NOT give up...trust me, many schools have average age of 24-25...so u would be just an year older when u apply once again (if u do not get in this year) in the next application cycle! I will not go to DO school if i only wanna be an MD. Good Luck!

 

[Trix]

With the exception of that 25 MCAT your application is solid.

I would definitely re-take the MCAT before opting for the Carribean. Your options after graduating from a US medical school (MD or DO) are much greater than if you go the Carribean route, and you are only 25!! Another year may seem like a lifetime, but it will go by quickly.

 

[NYCGurl]

Atman -

I'm also a "field-jumper" so I wish you luck. I'll be graduating with a Nursing degree this year but plan to finish up my prereqs and take the MCATs next year.

I've also heard what Mike59 was saying about adcoms frowning on applicants that are already in the healthcare field - anyone have any ideas why? I feel like my experience has only made me even more sure of what I'm getting myself into and why I want to do it. If it's fickleness they're worried about, how come they don't feel similarly about all career-changers? 🙄

 

[efex101]

Due to the shortage of some healthcare fields they may question why the change, if you really want to "help" they may think that staying doing what you are doing would be best for patients. This is just my 0.2, have no data to back this up.

 

[Zoobaby]

I'm 26 and I just got in. You are technically nontraditional because you didn't go directly from undergrad, but many schools won't really think of you that way until you're 30+. Your age is no problem.

Get that MCAT up to 30 and you'll probably get in somewhere.

 

[Mike59]

Originally posted by efex101
Due to the shortage of some healthcare fields they may question why the change, if you really want to "help" they may think that staying doing what you are doing would be best for patients. This is just my 0.2, have no data to back this up.

You are totally correct. The MSAR will back this up (as I said in my post above). Adcoms will question why you are leaving PT, and what would stop you from leaving medicine 10 years from now. Be prepared to defend yourself.

 

[tonem]

Be sure to check out

www.oldpremeds.net

The august founder (oldmandave) of that organization is a former RT. You'll find that there are many people with similar experience to yours pursuing the same goal. Good luck.

 

[JJNY]

Originally posted by Zoobaby
I'm 26 and I just got in. You are technically nontraditional because you didn't go directly from undergrad, but many schools won't really think of you that way until you're 30+. Your age is no problem.

Get that MCAT up to 30 and you'll probably get in somewhere.

Yeah, what he said! 😀

I'm 27 and just got in. Your application is great, except for the MCAT... you know what to do.

 

[pallhaco doce]

Ditto on the other comments: prep for questions about why you are leaving and retake the MCAT to score a bit higher. I am 29 (soon to be 30) and was accepted, so do not be too preoccupied with age. FYI, my previous existence was as an academic.

Go geezers!

Good luck,
PD

 

[A_Shah]

Do you think Physical therapists are included in this report. MSAR??

 

[UCSBMed1]

Does anyone know why Adcoms view allied health professionals unfavorably?

I ask because I wanted to be a Pharmacist for a long time, and I wrote about it in my Personal Statement. Do you think it might hurt my chances?

 

[bigdan]

Atman-
Best of luck to you!
We are QUITE similar - I'm an OT at age 25, looking for med school.
As everyone else has identified, your MCAT scores are sub par...check some of the literature out there regarding ave. med schools admission MCATs. I'm fairly confident in saying that virtually none of the US med schools have an ave. of 25. I've spoken to a few students at the "local med school" (SUNY Syracuse) who had 26 and 27, but I've heard that a good rule of thumb in AT LEAST 9s in all areas, and a 30 overall is ideal. That test score needs to rise.
I've done some discussion with Ad Comm members from a few schools about my chances (SUNY Syr. and Univ. of Mich). Both asked WHY the change, and I told them my personal feelings. If you have identified specifics as to why you know medicine is right for you, it seems that you would have a good chance. An MD did tell me that being a therapist will only begin to help me in MS III and beyond, so for admission and basic science years, we're the same as everyone else.
Good luck and keep in touch!