Ex-teacher turned pre-med, second bachelor's- am I competitive?

[thebaconatrix]

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So I got my first degree, a BA in History from George Washington University (a pretty reputable school) with an overall GPA of 3.41 and a science gpa of 3.7 (only 3 classes). Had no idea what I wanted to do with my life other than take a break from school while debating the pro's and many cons of doing law school or a MPP etc.
I took maxed courseloads through UG1 (my time at GWU) every semester and worked 20 hours a week as an RA the whole time. I started an organization, was on boards for 2 others, and did competitive ballroom dancing. Decided to graduate in 3 years due to the cost of living in DC when I was accepted into Teach for America, and moved to San Antonio.

Teaching changed my entire perspective and inspired my switch into healthcare. However I had virtually none of my prerequisites completed for med school and with the Americorps award I decided to pursue my post-bac for premed. I'm more than halfway done with my coursework now, with a 3.79 Postbac (PB) GPA (all science) with a full-time science courseload. If I play my cards right I will end up with a 3.85-3.9 postbac GPA. I am on track to get my second bachelor's in Biochem since it only adds one semester, and will have a committee letter to support me as well as excellent science faculty LOR.

I am currently working at the only level 1 trauma center ER in south texas as an ER tech, am EMT, EKG, and ACLS certified (will probably get PALS too but later). I will be shadowing and adding volunteering in whatever spare hours I can find. I also have been teaching piano lessons and TAing Calculus-physics as well as Bio 1 so have managed this post-bac GPA while working 36 hours a week.

I plan on studying for the MCAT for the next 8 months and take it in March 2017, apply to Med schools (Hopefully all in Texas) summer of 2017. I don't really know anyone in my situation to compare to or whether my post-bac will bring me up enough (when I combined my postbac and my UG1 it took my overall to a 3.56).

Thoughts? Anything I should add or make sure I do?

 

[Eccesignum]

Ahead of what advice will come about your situation -- first, if that's actually you in your profile photo I'd advise changing it for anonymity.

 

[DrMidlife]

As a reviewer I'm excited about your app if your MCAT is above average. I need to see that academic asset to close the deal. If your score is average or worse, you drown in the pile.

GPA isn't going to be a thing that kills you, specifically 3.56 is w/in 1 std dev of matric average with outstanding recent work. You're in a good state, and if you don't even want to apply outside Texas you don't have to. Your activities are all fine - keep doing some, but you don't have to try to prove anything, you're fine, more ECs won't change your odds. A teaching background is excellent.

IMHO the thing you need to do, which you already know, is to throw everything you've got at the MCAT at the expense of other potential app bumpers and possibly at the expense of some comfort and security. Go to the MCAT forum and spend several hours accumulating a consensus opinion on best practices. Then follow best practices. Look for cautionary tales from those who thought they were 520s and ended up 490s. Spend money. Get obsessed with how to measure your readiness and how to eliminate BS in your self-assessment. Don't hesitate to hire a tutor. And think hard about boundaries: if you are going to prioritize your kids' soccer games the month before your exam over your prep, for instance, and you'd never ask your mom or mom-in-law for the favor of coming to live with you for that month if that's what you really honestly need, for instance, and those kinds of decision points are going to cost you sleep regardless, just accept that now vs. the stress of guilt & regret a year from now.

Best of luck to you.

 

[thebaconatrix]

Ahead of what advice will come about your situation -- first, if that's actually you in your profile photo I'd advise changing it for anonymity.

Thanks- didn't realize it pulled my Facebook since that's how I created my account

 

[eteshoe]

Academically you are on track. But until you crush that MCAT, not much else can be said. Good luck!

 

[DrMikeP]

Ace the MCAT and ur gold.

No mention of age??? Just be aware that some med schools are more older age friendly than others, so if you are ~35+ you might look at admitting stats to see if the particular school has a pattern of only younger students (look at max vs avg age). DO is more age friendly than MD, not sure how schools in TX are.

Also mention Americorp in your ps... it's a big positive.

Best of Luck!

 

[thebaconatrix]

Ace the MCAT and ur gold.

No mention of age??? Just be aware that some med schools are more older age friendly than others, so if you are ~35+ you might look at admitting stats to see if the particular school has a pattern of only younger students (look at max vs avg age). DO is more age friendly than MD, not sure how schools in TX are.

Also mention Americorp in your ps... it's a big positive.

Best of Luck!

I definitely will mention americorps. I graduated UG1 at age 20, finished teaching at 22, am now 23 and will be applying at 24.

 

[DrMikeP]

I definitely will mention americorps. I graduated UG1 at age 20, finished teaching at 22, am now 23 and will be applying at 24.

That's plenty young, so no worries there. Just be ready to discuss in interviews why the career change and why you won't change again with medicine. "I got bored" is not a good excuse!

Cheers from a fellow Americorps alum!

 

[Eccesignum]

That's plenty young, so no worries there. Just be ready to discuss in interviews why the career change and why you won't change again with medicine. "I got bored" is not a good excuse!

Cheers from a fellow Americorps alum!

Americorps +2

I was asked about that service many times on the trail. Can definitely confirm it's valued.

 

[hall1ms1b]

Ace the MCAT and ur gold.

No mention of age??? Just be aware that some med schools are more older age friendly than others, so if you are ~35+ you might look at admitting stats to see if the particular school has a pattern of only younger students (look at max vs avg age). DO is more age friendly than MD, not sure how schools in TX are.

Also mention Americorp in your ps... it's a big positive.

Best of Luck!

Where can I look at the chart of "age/ older applicant friendly" MD and DO schools? I do have the Msar publication that gives a breakdown of each school. Do I have to look at every single school or is there a bar graph that compares them all ?!


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[DrMikeP]

Where can I look at the chart of "age/ older applicant friendly" MD and DO schools? I do have the Msar publication that gives a breakdown of each school. Do I have to look at every single school or is there a bar graph that compares them all ?!


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

For MD there was a table on the website, for DO I don't think it's that easy but DO schools are age friendly anyway. I don't know of any that aren't.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

 

[Seattle Mariners Fan]

24 you will not face age discrimination anywhere. To reframe your views of the situation:

https://www.mdapplicants.com/profile/31324/mighty-andros

Its possible its a fake, but probably not.

Your cGPA is about .2 below average for matriculants...that's a bigger factor than age, and I don't think that's a big issue per se.

 

[Goro]

You're doing everything right and if you do well on MCAT, the TX schools are yours, except maybe Baylor.

So I got my first degree, a BA in History from George Washington University (a pretty reputable school) with an overall GPA of 3.41 and a science gpa of 3.7 (only 3 classes). Had no idea what I wanted to do with my life other than take a break from school while debating the pro's and many cons of doing law school or a MPP etc.
I took maxed courseloads through UG1 (my time at GWU) every semester and worked 20 hours a week as an RA the whole time. I started an organization, was on boards for 2 others, and did competitive ballroom dancing. Decided to graduate in 3 years due to the cost of living in DC when I was accepted into Teach for America, and moved to San Antonio.

Teaching changed my entire perspective and inspired my switch into healthcare. However I had virtually none of my prerequisites completed for med school and with the Americorps award I decided to pursue my post-bac for premed. I'm more than halfway done with my coursework now, with a 3.79 Postbac (PB) GPA (all science) with a full-time science courseload. If I play my cards right I will end up with a 3.85-3.9 postbac GPA. I am on track to get my second bachelor's in Biochem since it only adds one semester, and will have a committee letter to support me as well as excellent science faculty LOR.

I am currently working at the only level 1 trauma center ER in south texas as an ER tech, am EMT, EKG, and ACLS certified (will probably get PALS too but later). I will be shadowing and adding volunteering in whatever spare hours I can find. I also have been teaching piano lessons and TAing Calculus-physics as well as Bio 1 so have managed this post-bac GPA while working 36 hours a week.

I plan on studying for the MCAT for the next 8 months and take it in March 2017, apply to Med schools (Hopefully all in Texas) summer of 2017. I don't really know anyone in my situation to compare to or whether my post-bac will bring me up enough (when I combined my postbac and my UG1 it took my overall to a 3.56).

Thoughts? Anything I should add or make sure I do?