FT Software Engineer PT Pre-med

[qwirkz]

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I'm currently working as an independent software development consultant, but have been very interested in going back to school (to eventually apply to med school).

I graduated in 2007 with a B.S. in Computer Science (minors in math, physics, and religious studies - yea, weird, I know) with a GPA of 3.0. Rough, I know.

I work full-time, but my hours are incredibly flexible. Because of this I'm considering going back to a local university about 5 minutes away from my house to pursue a B.A. in Chemistry. One, because I'm genuinely interested in the subject. Two, it'll (with the addition of two BIO classes) fulfill the pre-reqs. And three, because it'll be about 36-40 hours to throw at my abysmal undergraduate GPA. On top of that, of course, I plan on hitting the EC's hard, and crushing (I figure I might as well, right?) the MCAT.

I'll hit all the prereqs within two years, and finish the B.A. in Chem for good measure (or in case I'll need to re-apply) during the glide year.

Would anyone happen to have any advice/criticisms about my approach? Thanks!

 

[sazerac]

The second degree is superfluous for medical school. Get one if you want, but medical schools just want to see good grades in pre recs and a good MCAT score for the academics.

When I was tired of the software scene, I went back to school and declared my pursuit of a second degree, but I never really worked towards finishing it. I just took my pre-recs and left the school when I had accomplished what I wanted to do there.

Go dominate that MCAT, and get used to people on the interview trail asking if you are going to invent the next great EMR when they hear you used to do software.

 

[qwirkz]

Thanks, sazerac!

I've worked for two EMR shops in the past. Would that be something worth noting during the application process, and/or interviews?

 

[QuantumJ]

3.0 is low for med school but not a death sentence. I'm not sure how much 30hrs of 4.0's will pull up your GPA but it would help some. If it gets you a second degree great but it doesn't really matter for med school how many degrees you have or what they are in. If you can bring the gpa up and do well on the MCAT, you'll have a shot at DO. MD may be possible as well.

 

[qwirkz]

Thanks, QuantumJ!

I'm going to sprinkle in some grade replacement in the schedule as well. I didn't do so hot in Physics I (B), and Physics II (C). Ideally I would just retake Physics II, but seeing as how it's been about 9 years since my last physics course hopefully it'll serve as a good replacement and refresher. Especially since they were both 5 credit hours.

EDIT:

Oh, and I've just discovered that Computer Science and Math do NOT count towards my sGPA for AACOMAS. This is go a LONG way to helping me repair assuming (and I'm going to do that) that I go 4.0 on the prereqs.

 

[achieve1]

If you are genuinely interested in Medicine, I would say go for it. I'm pretty much in the same boat as you - computer science graduate, been working now for a couple of years in the field, and decided about a year ago that I would like to be involved in healthcare. I'm planning on going back to school this coming Fall to get the pre-reqs done. Good luck to you!

 

[Bru]

Well I actually did this so it is possible. I ended up working during my first year of my post-bacc but not during my second. At that point I coasted on savings so I could rack up with credits, clinical exposure and other application enhancing activities. I graduated with ~3.2 and raised it to around 3.57 after around ~50 credits.

In terms of your specific plan, as mentioned above the second degree isn't really necessary. I should also note that watch our for when those projects hit crunch time. During my first year when I was full time I had some very unpleasant weeks where both school and work were in sync (in a bad way).

I should also say that I started getting clinical exposure right off the bat and that helped strengthen my app in many ways. I see you have an academic plan but you also need to weave in all the other elements of a successful application.

 

[qwirkz]

If you are genuinely interested in Medicine, I would say go for it. I'm pretty much in the same boat as you - computer science graduate, been working now for a couple of years in the field, and decided about a year ago that I would like to be involved in healthcare. I'm planning on going back to school this coming Fall to get the pre-reqs done. Good luck to you!

Thanks, achieve1! Good luck to you as well! Which class(es) are you starting with?

Well I actually did this so it is possible. I ended up working during my first year of my post-bacc but not during my second. At that point I coasted on savings so I could rack up with credits, clinical exposure and other application enhancing activities. I graduated with ~3.2 and raised it to around 3.57 after around ~50 credits.

In terms of your specific plan, as mentioned above the second degree isn't really necessary. I should also note that watch our for when those projects hit crunch time. During my first year when I was full time I had some very unpleasant weeks where both school and work were in sync (in a bad way).

I should also say that I started getting clinical exposure right off the bat and that helped strengthen my app in many ways. I see you have an academic plan but you also need to weave in all the other elements of a successful application.

Bru, how did you fair on the MCAT, if you don't mind me asking? What was your application strategy (MD vs DO)?

I am in contact with a local hospital about volunteering on the weekends. I worked as a Cardiac Cath. Lab transporter all through college, and I really enjoy the interactions with the patients. Plus, it's usually more fun when they're leaving. Would you happen to have any other suggestions?

How did you go about finding physicians to shadow?

 

[achieve1]

Thanks, achieve1! Good luck to you as well! Which class(es) are you starting with?

Planning on starting with Gen Chem 1 and Gen Physics 1 + the labs. I still plan on working full-time, so just hoping now that I can fit the classes around my schedule.

 

[Bru]

Bru, how did you fair on the MCAT, if you don't mind me asking? What was your application strategy (MD vs DO)?

I am in contact with a local hospital about volunteering on the weekends. I worked as a Cardiac Cath. Lab transporter all through college, and I really enjoy the interactions with the patients. Plus, it's usually more fun when they're leaving. Would you happen to have any other suggestions?

How did you go about finding physicians to shadow?

I scored well on the MCAT with a balanced 35. I am at a US MD school. For a variety of reasons, I did not go the DO route.

In term of suggestions, I'd just look around and see programs there might be at area hospitals. Ideally you want to get a letter out of your experiences so perhaps something more structure would aid that process.

I didn't do any shadowing as I already had a good amount of clinical exposure from my volunteering, clinical research etc.

It's a long haul so just try and pursue any opportunities that may come up and network as much as possible.

 

[Shjanzey]

I pretty much went through the same thing several years ago. My GPA was pretty much the same.

I chose to keep working full time while gathering pre-reqs one class at a time. The biggest lessons I learned

• Start volunteering early and often. Network as much as you can, because it seems to be getting harder to find a physician willing to let you shadow.
• Don't take the MCAT until you have all the prerequisites for taking it done.
• Nights and weekends are for study 😀 -- This really tested my resolve for medicine. If I didn't have the discipline to sacrifice these I wouldn't have made it.
• Dominate all your pre-requisite classes.

I matriculate to my first year at an allopathic school in a couple of months 😀

 

[WhippleWhileWeWork]

• Start volunteering early and often. Network as much as you can, because it seems to be getting harder to find a physician willing to let you shadow.
• Don't take the MCAT until you have all the prerequisites for taking it done.
• Nights and weekends are for study 😀 -- This really tested my resolve for medicine. If I didn't have the discipline to sacrifice these I wouldn't have made it.
• Dominate all your pre-requisite classes.

I matriculate to my first year at an allopathic school in a couple of months 😀

That's pretty much it. Good post.
I'd add "Don't take the MCAT until you're ready for it", also. (a few points over what you want to score on the real thing)