could use advice

[FlStudent]

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Hello fellow non-trads!

I guess like all of us, I have taken an unusual route. I am guessing telling my story will serve as a catharsis for me and hopefully you guys can give me some feedback, b/c all of this is in my head right now. I guess the post turned out pretty long, but I really would appreciate feedback and I tried to make it interesting to read!

I was premed in college, and normal, and was all-right for the first 3 years. I really wanted to be a doctor (from senior yr in high school) because I like the social interactions with the patients and helping people. But slowly, through college, all the science classes kind of burned me out and I didn't see any correlation between the hard sciences and practicing medicine. I guess I was just burning out. I was majoring in anthropology and really enjoyed the discipline, and wondered why am I torturing myself with this premed science-laden route. I finished all my class pre-reqs (except the o-chem 2 hr lab) and it was time for the MCAT. I really struggled with it, the MCAT struggle seemed too huge, and I was sick of studying. I basically quit premed at that point in time and figured it just wasn't for me.

So I graduated, applied to anthropology grad schools, and I am currently 24 and finishing up my master's in anthropology (with spec. in medical anthropology, interestingly enough). I love the classes but there really isn't anything in the field that is worth doing to me. I knew that going in, but I knew I would love the experience of anthro grad school so much. But as a career, I had no idea on what I wanted to do, I was just throwing out ideas to myself. I even thought I might be a Healthcare Administrator or something. But then the whole idea of medicine came back to me. I feel refreshed now and medical school doesn't seem so far away. I know I will love medical school since we will actually get to study actual medicine and applicable things. The old feelings are coming back. I know I have been wishy-washy though, which does not show true grit if you want to do something, but I am back.

So I am recently deciding to redirect my career path. I have three things to do: take O-Chem Lab, take the dreaded MCAT, and apply. Unfortunately, I have not taken a science class now in 3 years and it will be a grueling process to regain the science information and then study for the MCAT and do well. So it is still a process, but one that looks formidable.

Since it is 11/05, I won't be ready for the MCAT at 04/06 (and most likely 08/06, since I won't be able to devote my full attention b/c I will be finishing my fieldwork and thesis), I must focus on taking the MCAT on 04/07, and then apply early in June for the 2008-09 class. By then, I will be.....27, so three years away (whoa, 😱 ) That's not too bad, of course, but three years just to do three little things? Well, the average age nowadays is 25 for incoming med school students.

Since I will be devoting my next three years to this project, I must consider all the angles. Fortunately, I did well in undergrad since I was focused through most of my college career (exc. I got an A in O-Chem I, but under-achieved and recieved a C in O-Chem II since I was ready to quit (or already doing so). My undergrad GPA is decent (Overall: 3.71, Science GPA: 3.45 (a little on the low side, which concerns me!). But I will have a master's degree in anthro (grad GPA ~ 3.6/3.7) which could help me in the process.

Also, does anyone know what to do about getting 2 recs from Science faculty? I have no resource to get these from since I have been away from any science class or teacher for so long! 😕 That worries me!
Another thing that worries me is I am in florida (texas previously) and both places it is unusually difficult to get in med schools.

So, all this is do-able right? It will be an arduous task for the non-trad, but it can be done. What do you suggest I do? How do you suggest I go on this journey? How would you do it? What are your thoughts? Thanks for getting through this long essay. Any comments will be greatly appreciated. I have been struggling with this just by myself so it would be really great to gain some feedback.

 

[fiddler]

27 is fine.

you will just have to decide if you want to do this badly enough or not.

If you do then go back and take the classes you missed and while you are at it, take some refresher classes too. That will take care of your LOR's. I don't see what living in FL has to do with anything. you can apply to the entire nation's med schools.

Then after the classes you will have to study for the MCAT.

The thing is, only you can decide whether you want this badly enough to jump through all the hoops.

good luck.

fiddler

 

[QofQuimica]

Living in FL is a good thing, not a bad thing....whoever told you it was so impossible to get into med school here must have gotten us confused with CA. 😛 We have six med schools in the state right now, including the two DO schools, and there is talk of opening new ones at UCF and FAU. The four allopathic schools are all heavily preferential toward FL residents, even Miami. If you can manage to score around a 30 on the MCAT, you should be competitive for all of the FL schools. Take a look at the MSAR; your undergrad GPA is close to the avg. for the FL schools, or even a little above it.

Here's what I suggest that you do:
1) Make an appointment to meet with one or more of the admissions directors of the state med schools here. (At UF, you'd talk to Robyn Sheppard. At Miami, you'd talk to Dr. Hinkley. At USF, you'd talk to REL Larkin. I'm not sure whom you'd talk to at FSU, but I'm guessing it's Dr. Eveland.) When you go to this meeting, bring a copy of your transcripts (grad and undergrad), a CV listing all of your work and volunteering experiences, and ask this person to give you honest feedback about the strengths and weaknesses of your app, as well as advice on what you could do to make yourself more competitive.
2) You didn't mention whether you were volunteering and shadowing. If you're not, you should start ASAP. All of the FL med schools put a lot of weight on your ECs, and you can also get a LOR this way from a physician if one gets to know you well. It is not important to have a lot of ECs, but you should have a few that you are passionate about and that you devote time to over a course of months or even years. At least one should be some kind of volunteering, and at least one should be some kind of exposure to the medical field. You WILL get asked in your interviews what shadowing and volunteering experiences you have had.
3) You asked about LORs: as a non-trad, you will not be expected to have the same LORs that trads have (i.e., from undergrad coursework). You should get one from your PI (and probably one from a second prof with whom you have taken a class), one or two from your volunteering and shadowing experiences, and one or two from profs of the science courses you still have to take. (Your organic prof is fine.)
4) Finally, don't worry about your age. 27 is young. The avg. age at some of the FL schools is older anyway. (USF's MSI class avg. age is 25, which was one of the things I really liked about that school. 🙂 ) And there are quite a few of us on this board, myself included, who are going to be in our 30s as MSIs. 😉

Good to you, and feel free to PM me if you have any more questions about applying as a FL resident.

 

[unfrozencaveman]

For all the logistics, Q is right on, so listen to the above. I just wanted to add that three years ago, I WAS you. I had a very random (but extremely enjoyable) history of science degree, Florida resident, fear of MCATs, the whole nine.
When I started this entire shindig, staring down the barrel of doing all this stuff, it seemed ridiculously arduous, and a massive uphill battle. All I can say is that once the ball gets rolling (...and it's too late to turn back....!!!), it goes very VERY quickly, and it's a lot more fun than you would think. Granted, I still have people saying, as someone did today, "you're not in med school yet??", but I'm almost there. And at the ripe old age of 26 (27 in a mere few weeks- and another thing, does that put me in my *late* twenties?), I look back over all the entire thing that seemed so ridiculously hard three years ago and thing "eh that wasnt that bad". So good luck, you'll be fine!

And although Q just said it- DO NOT LEAVE FLORIDA.... It's hands down the best state for school admissions (I think).

 

[QofQuimica]

Ironically, I think the only state that is better for pre-meds than FL is the other one the OP mentioned: TX. They have one more school than we do, and they only pay about $6500 per year in tuition. You can't beat that. 😎 Plus they have the match system there, so they don't have to worry about second looks or all the BS that the rest of the country has to deal with.

 

[medworm]

If you show maturity and do well, you can get a LOR from your O Chem Lab instructor. Try establishing some rapport with your instructor, go to office hours, etc.

Also, maybe one from your grad school, in medicinal anthropology or whatever's most relevant to medicine.

Good luck.

 

[Law2Doc]

Ironically, I think the only state that is better for pre-meds than FL is the other one the OP mentioned: TX. They have one more school than we do, and they only pay about $6500 per year in tuition. You can't beat that. 😎 Plus they have the match system there, so they don't have to worry about second looks or all the BS that the rest of the country has to deal with.

That was what confused me about the post as well. I would have loved to have been a Texan when applying, with its many schools and match system or Florida with its big in state preferences. But 27 sounds a bit young for med school to me. 😀