Chances?

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I am interested in feedback re my chances for med school. Also, please feel free to PM me if you need to be really brutal. I am in my early 30s.

UG GPA:
3.8 Overall
3.9 Major

Law School: 3.5

Math/Science Prereqs:
Biology I, II - A 10 years ago
Chem I and II - A 6 years ago
Phys I and II - A 6 years ago
Stats - A 6 years ago

Need
Org I and II
Calculus
Others? (I have all humanities for most).

I haven't taken the MCAT.

5 years as attorney practicing pharmaceutical and health law.
1 year working as rehab assistant in acute trauma center after UG.
Volunteer as attorney for child victims of DV since law school.

 

[DrMidlife]

You're in great shape. You might win Most Impressive Extra-Curriculars. Maybe put in a few hours in an ER, so that you have recent clinical exposure, but really it's not necessary.

Look carefully at the schools you'll be applying to, because some expire prereqs. For example, UMass (not that you'd be applying there) puts a 6 year limit on prereqs. On the other hand, I took physics in 1988 and got away with it.

Ochem can really do a number on you, so don't hesitate to get a tutor.

Spend money on MCAT prep. I expect that with a 35 you can get into any school you want.

I suggest that you give a number of physicians the opportunity to talk you out of this, and listen hard to the reasons why NOT to do it. Educate yourself silly.

Go get 'em. Keep us posted.

 

[Seneca20]

You should be just fine, just get the rest of those pesky pre req's outta the way. The O Chem should help you out on the MCAT. Definitely take a prep class. I'm partial to PR b/c you'll spend more time in class, and that can be helpful after taking so much time off. All your EC a experience will be a huge asset in your application and interviews (aside from a 1 or 2 MD schools that don't like us over 30 folks). Best of luck to ya. PM is you have any Q's.

 

[Law2Doc]

I am interested in feedback re my chances for med school. Also, please feel free to PM me if you need to be really brutal. I am in my early 30s.

UG GPA:
3.8 Overall
3.9 Major

Law School: 3.5

Math/Science Prereqs:
Biology I, II - A 10 years ago
Chem I and II - A 6 years ago
Phys I and II - A 6 years ago
Stats - A 6 years ago

Need
Org I and II
Calculus
Others? (I have all humanities for most).

I haven't taken the MCAT.

5 years as attorney practicing pharmaceutical and health law.
1 year working as rehab assistant in acute trauma center after UG.
Volunteer as attorney for child victims of DV since law school.

The biggest concern I would have is how schools will regard how long ago you took most of the prereqs. Some places have finite rules for how long prereqs are good for. Most places want to see recent success in the sciences but don't have a hard and fast rule. A good rule of thumb tends to be to retake anything over 5-7 years old (bearing in mind that at least another year will pass before you are ready to apply, so most of your stuff will be over the 7 year mark.). I would probably check with the schools you are most interested in to see what their policy is. Probably worth doing that before studying for the MCAT because that might shift your timeline a bit, and no point trying to review eg bio for MCAT purposes yet if you are going to have to retake the who course before the MCAT anyhow.

Your law school GPA won't really factor into the application process, so it's not meaningful. Your legal experience will be an asset, but you have to spin it right. I suggest you dig up some of the older threads advising folks who are making the law to medicine jump. You need to be running toward medicine and not away from the law to play this hand successfully. So get your back story in order.

 

[nontrdgsbuiucmd]

I am interested in feedback re my chances for med school. Also, please feel free to PM me if you need to be really brutal. I am in my early 30s.

UG GPA:
3.8 Overall
3.9 Major

Law School: 3.5

Math/Science Prereqs:
Biology I, II - A 10 years ago
Chem I and II - A 6 years ago
Phys I and II - A 6 years ago
Stats - A 6 years ago

Need
Org I and II
Calculus
Others? (I have all humanities for most).

I haven't taken the MCAT.

5 years as attorney practicing pharmaceutical and health law.
1 year working as rehab assistant in acute trauma center after UG.
Volunteer as attorney for child victims of DV since law school.

Sounds like you're in pretty good shape regarding being competitive so far, a couple additional thoughts/notes, however: (ps I'm in CO, Denver area; not sure if you're local CO as well)

1) what's your math/science/biology/chemistry gpa? Sounds good from your courses listed, this is something viewed heavily by med schools. It'd be a though to buy the aamc book so that you can see each school's stats.

2) A number of schools are looking for recent medical clinical volunteer work with patient interaction, I'd suggest you check with the schools regarding what they suggest. Medical research is also considered favorably.

3) I presume you did very well on the LSAT given your background/grades. I nailed the GMAT before b-school. The MCAT is different; much of it is knowledge, without having all those chem/physics rules in your head, the test will be very difficult. Review course or self study (examkrackers is a good one) is highly recommended, + 1 1/2 - 2 months fulltime prepwork prior to the MCAT.

finally, I agree with several posters about checking if prereqs will still "count". given their age of completion. I suspect generally they will, but a way to show you can do science now is to complete some coursework on physiology, (ie Anatomy & Physiology) biochem, cell/molecular biology, or genetics. All are covered on the MCAT.

good luck!

 

[Law2Doc]

2) A number of schools are looking for recent medical clinical volunteer work with patient interaction, I'd suggest you check with the schools regarding what they suggest.

ALL allo med schools are going to require clinical experience of some sort, where you are exposed to doctor-patient interactions. It generally needn't be volunteer. The acute trauma center stint the OP describes may count toward this "requirement", but something more recent would also probably be expected.

 

[gman33]

Get a volunteer position in a hospital.
I'd retake the BIO and Chem. Some schools will want to see this and it would be good for the MCAT.
Don't take too many courses at once. Make sure you continue your trend of good grades.

If you do this and do well on the MCAT, you will be very competitive for most schools.

You may be able to get away without retaking the bio/chem, but contact any schools you will be applying to if you decide to go that route.