Formulating a game plan

[najaboy]

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I don't know why I'm posting this... perhaps for validation or some sort of reassurance that the obstacles I've placed in my own path are not insurmountable. Mostly, however, this is just a rambling stream of conciousness that I'm venting, so please bear with me.

Essentially, I'm trying to come up with a game plan to make myself a viable applicant in a few years.

My younger years are a source of embarrassment to me, as they are but a tale of wasted academic opportunity. Had I exhibited even the tiniest bit of motivation and seized the opportunities that were given to me, I would now be exactly where I want to be in life. Instead, I was lazy and undisciplined, and now have some hurdles to clear before I can become a doctor.

Currently, I'm 32 and have little to none of my pre-req's done. I say "little to none" because some were done via CLEP, and I have seen credit-by-exam policies that vary.

As I've said, my early academic years are a tale of wasted opportunity and talent. I attended Wayne State University, only earning 21 credits out of at least twice as many attempted, with a GPA of 2.16.

In the same time period, I took classes at Macomb Community College, also in MI. My first semester, I took Basic EMT courses and a EMS driving course. Due to absences, my Lab grade was dropped to a C, and my GPA for that semester dropped to 3.54. Although I never sought employment in the field, I did obtain my EMT-B license. Two years later, I enrolled in some more classes at MCC, but again wasted the opportunity and came away from there with an overall GPA of 2.19.

Two months after that semester ended, I enlisted in the Air Force, and did not further my academic experience. However, I do not view that time as wasted, as I gained a wealth of life experience.

Nowadays, I'm employed by the Air Force Reserves in both civilian and military capacities at Patrick AFB, FL. The problem that I am currently facing is that my duty schedule is going to limit my ability to prove myself academically, as I'm only going to be knocking out 2-3 classes per semester. I'm hoping that adcoms can look beyond part-time attendance and take the fact that I'm working for a combat rescue unit with a high ops tempo into account. That, and my choices of undergrad locations to take higher-level classes are limited. I can attend UCF, which is 1.5 hours away, or FIT, which is local, but charges $875 per credit hour.

That being said, I'm estimating my GPA to be in the 3.6-3.7 range before I am ready to apply. As for the MCAT, I'm confident in my ability to perform well enough to be competitive. Just how competitive, however, remains to be seen.

My school of choice is USF, for a multitude of reasons both personal and professional.

 

[DrMidlife]

Good for you for getting back in the game. You may want to amend your plan a wee bit, if you think about the following:

1. Your crappy GPA from before (lots of us non-trads have such) never dies. Those numbers get averaged into subsequent work. So don't overestimate your shiny new fixed GPA. You have to submit every transcript with your med school app; failure to do so can get you kicked out. It's very important to stay above a 3.5 from here on out.

2. It's a bad idea to start taking classes in earnest until you know you can succeed. I'd suggest starting with one (do you need some math?) and see how you do. If you can't balance schoolwork with workwork, wait until you're off active duty and then go at it full time. I failed badly at balancing both. It's entirely possible that military service gave you the maturity and discipline to succeed academically - just don't assume so until you see your new fancy grades.

3. The sooner you begin some medically-related extra-curriculars, the better. Can you leverage that EMT and pick up some hours in a hospital? Volunteering is great. Shadowing is great. Anything where you can smell patients. It's very important to have experiences that give you a very interesting answer to "why do you want to be a doctor?" and to "why should we admit you?"

4. Lots of applicants take the time to do research in a lab under a principal investigator. If you can figure out how to not work during your last year or two of school, you'll have time to do this.

Best of luck to you, and please keep us posted.

 

[relentless11]

I agree with what DrMidLife said. I also want to add the following:

(1) Najaboy, it sounds like you have not completed a bachelor's degree, therefore you will need to complete an undergrad program before applying to many schools. Not all schools require a bachelors degree, some due, while most recommend it. Please correct me if i'm wrong.

(2) Classes only get harder. I do not know what kind of classes you have taken already but a near C/C- average does not bode well in terms of upper division classes. To redeem ones GPA is to do well in upper division science classes. Doing well in classes also gives you a solid foundation to do well on the MCAT. Many higher level classes require passing lower division classes as well.

(3) Being in the USAF is certainly a positive thing. Taking less classes due to outside obligations is certainly reasonable, however adcoms may not put too much emphasis. Med schools are ultimately concerned with your capacity to do well in your course work so you can pass your board exams and have the compassion and clinical skills to be a physician. They want numbers not stories. However when combined with decent numbers, then stories certainly make one unique and thats a GOOD thing.

The key here is not to dwell on WHY you couldn't take enough classes or WHY you didn't do well. The key is to compare yourself to who you will be applying against. Over the past 4 years I've had classmates who had to put their academics on hold to be deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. Upon their return, they had to get their family lives back together again, and then continue with their education. Despite all that, they have still done well in school (3.45 GPA). Others have families, others have dealt with illness and even death in the family.

You are doing the right thing by wanting to take more classes, however you are doing it the wrong way. One should focus on doing well in coursework, and as much classes as possible. You are always competing against the next best applicant, however the problem is there are many better applicants then the one that is "next best" relative to you. So you have a pretty large mountain to climb. Its certainly not impossible, but you have a long and difficult road ahead. I would speculate at least 3-4 more years since you'd probably want to get a bachelors degree too. Good luck!

 

[ExtremeUnderdog]

The above posters have given you excellent advice. A couple of small additions, in regard to:

My school of choice is USF, for a multitude of reasons both personal and professional.

You need to change this mindset - aiming for a particular school is very limiting, especially for those of us who have less than stellar applications. I realize when you begin applying you may expand your list of med school choices, but if you are building your class schedules around the requirements of USF alone right now, then you may be in dire straits in a few years when you realize you are missing something that another school requires. Therefore, investigate broadly, think broadly, and prepare your candidacy for a broad selection of schools.

Also, see if you can talk to some admissions deans/adcom members/staff (at USF and other places) and find out what THEY would like to see you do and how THEY would like you to do it. This can save you a lot of headache, heartache and money in the long run.

P.S. If you will it, it will happen!