CapybaraBerry
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- Mar 9, 2024
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Hi guys,
I'm a chemical engineer who have been working in the industry for almost one year now. Although the pay is good, I still feel the lack of fulfillment in my job, so I want to pursue medical school. I felt like my chances are too low so I'm looking for advices.
Little bit of background, I used to be a pre-med student but I struggle a lot throughout years, mainly because of the lack of understanding my own desire and learning a new language (my family was immigrants to the US). After around 2 years of premed, I moved to Texas and changed my major to chemical engineering to push myself to be more academically serious. However, due to many overlapped courses between 2 majors, a lot of semesters I can only take are 2-3 courses maximum. But I do work outside (around 20-30 hrs/week depends, mainly due to restriction as I have to attending courses during days) as MA, join some clubs in those semesters or just volunteer in different clinics around the city. I'm the main taker of the house (cooking, cleaning, taking care of my siblings, etc.) since both my parents work long hours and days as workers. It takes me 4 years to finish the degree, but it allows me to help my parents in many financial difficulties and sharing the responsibilities.
Even after graduating, I still miss the interactions and the job I used to have as MA. I miss listening to patients about their difficulties, the struggles in their health, and the genuine relief when they see their health improve. I admire the work and the (aggressive) caring of the cardiologist I work with. I still work as MA in weekends even after graduating because I enjoy the job a lot. I'm looking for more volunteer experience in hospital settings to know more about the different departments.
My GPA was 3.2-3.3 during undergraduate (thermodynamics and heat transfer class still give me nightmares).
I have completed the pre-reqs (2 years as premed), although I have good grades but those classes are properly 5-6 years old now.
Both majors combined total approximately to 120 credit hours.
Haven't taken MCAT.
I'm unsure what I should do know. Either:
1. Doing post-bacc for a year to improve my GPA while studying for MCAT. Apply med school. I feel like it's not feasible since I've already completed pre-reqs and my grades in pre-reqs were good.
2. Doing a full time SMP for a year, spend the following months to study for MCAT (or vice versa depends on SMP). Apply med school.
TL;DR: Chemical engineer finished pre-reqs during undergraduate. Did not feel competitive enough for med school since not full-time student and full-time job. What way should I go to have the best chance? Post-bacc or SMP?
Thank you.
I'm a chemical engineer who have been working in the industry for almost one year now. Although the pay is good, I still feel the lack of fulfillment in my job, so I want to pursue medical school. I felt like my chances are too low so I'm looking for advices.
Little bit of background, I used to be a pre-med student but I struggle a lot throughout years, mainly because of the lack of understanding my own desire and learning a new language (my family was immigrants to the US). After around 2 years of premed, I moved to Texas and changed my major to chemical engineering to push myself to be more academically serious. However, due to many overlapped courses between 2 majors, a lot of semesters I can only take are 2-3 courses maximum. But I do work outside (around 20-30 hrs/week depends, mainly due to restriction as I have to attending courses during days) as MA, join some clubs in those semesters or just volunteer in different clinics around the city. I'm the main taker of the house (cooking, cleaning, taking care of my siblings, etc.) since both my parents work long hours and days as workers. It takes me 4 years to finish the degree, but it allows me to help my parents in many financial difficulties and sharing the responsibilities.
Even after graduating, I still miss the interactions and the job I used to have as MA. I miss listening to patients about their difficulties, the struggles in their health, and the genuine relief when they see their health improve. I admire the work and the (aggressive) caring of the cardiologist I work with. I still work as MA in weekends even after graduating because I enjoy the job a lot. I'm looking for more volunteer experience in hospital settings to know more about the different departments.
My GPA was 3.2-3.3 during undergraduate (thermodynamics and heat transfer class still give me nightmares).
I have completed the pre-reqs (2 years as premed), although I have good grades but those classes are properly 5-6 years old now.
Both majors combined total approximately to 120 credit hours.
Haven't taken MCAT.
I'm unsure what I should do know. Either:
1. Doing post-bacc for a year to improve my GPA while studying for MCAT. Apply med school. I feel like it's not feasible since I've already completed pre-reqs and my grades in pre-reqs were good.
2. Doing a full time SMP for a year, spend the following months to study for MCAT (or vice versa depends on SMP). Apply med school.
TL;DR: Chemical engineer finished pre-reqs during undergraduate. Did not feel competitive enough for med school since not full-time student and full-time job. What way should I go to have the best chance? Post-bacc or SMP?
Thank you.
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